Search results for ""simon schuster ltd""
Simon & Schuster Ltd Tiny Crab is a Tidy Crab
Tiny Crab is a tidy crab, and a crab who LOVES his beach. So, when he invites a few friends to come and join his favourite place, he knows they will look after it, too . . . won’t they? But what if they don’t? And, worse, what if LOTS of friends arrive then leave rubbish EVERYWHERE, which Tiny Crab is forced to tidy up. Maybe even the smallest voices need to make themselves heard.
£6.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd Solo: Can a dog called Solo be part of the pack?
A terrific book to encourage sharing and making new friends – not to mention the perfect present for dog lovers! 'Adam's lively hounds are a scratchy, inky delight!' – Sara Ogilvie, illustrator of The Detective Dog Meet Solo the dog. This is his island – and these are his things and his humans. So when a group of other dogs turn up, Solo doesn’t like it – not one bit – and he tells them so quite firmly. He doesn't want to share his things and he thinks they're running out of control (although it does look quite fun...). Only, once the others have gone, Solo finds that he misses his new friends, and races to get them back. Will Solo come to see that no dog is an island, and that some things are just better with friends? Find out in this irresistible author-illustrator debut from Adam Beer, the illustrator of Mammoth. Also by Adam Beer:Mammoth (written by Anna Kemp)
£6.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd Rake's Progress: My Political Midlife Crisis
A unique, revealing and entertaining insight into the political dramas of recent times.Rachel Johnson was born into what has been described by some as the UK’s most famous political family, and by others as ‘Poundshop Kennedys’. She was always keen to avoid the family business at all costs and plough her own furrow as a broadcaster, novelist and journalist. But, after the referendum to leave the EU in 2016, she felt the heavy hand of fate. When an insurgent centre party burst onto the scene in 2019, she felt compelled to stand for something rather than nothing – which happened to be just as her own older brother, Boris, was making his final assault on Downing Street. As some joked, she went into politics to spend more time with her family. Rake’s Progress tells the extraordinary story of what happened next. From long silences on the radio when asked tricky policy questions to loud curses from David Cameron during tennis matches, Rachel reveals all about her brief political career. Taking on Ann Widdecombe and the Brexit Party, would she and her party make history – or become a forgotten footnote in the rolling omnishambles of British politics? Beyond her own story, Rake’s Progress highlights the importance of standing up for your beliefs and the challenges of life in the public eye, and takes the reader behind the scenes, from the campaign trail to the ‘Westminster bubble’ and the carpeted corridors of power. Written with great honesty and self-deprecating humour, this is a book that reveals the very human side of politics.
£8.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd Here We Are
It is Brighton, 1959, and the theatre at the end of the pier is having its best summer season in years. Ronnie, a brilliant young magician, and Evie, his dazzling assistant, are top of the bill, drawing audiences each night. Meanwhile, Jack – Jack Robinson, as in ‘before you can say’ – is everyone’s favourite compère, a born entertainer, holding the whole show together. As the summer progresses, the off-stage drama between the three begins to overshadow their theatrical success, and events unfold which will have lasting consequences for all their futures. Rich, comic, alive and subtly devastating, Here We Are is a masterly piece of literary magicianship which pulls back the curtain on the human condition. 'One to watch for 2020' according to:The Sunday Times The TimesThe Daily Telegraph The Guardian Financial Times Evening Standard The Scotsman The Irish Times 'He tells simple, truthful stories about what feel like real people. Here We Are is a welcome addition to a proud legacy.' The Big Issue The variety of voices and its historical and emotional reach are so finely entwined, it is as perfect and smooth as an egg. Passages leap out all the time, demanding to be reread, or committed to memory... It is perhaps too simple to say that Swift creates a form of fictional magic, but what he can do with a page is out of the ordinary, far beyond most mortals’ ken.' Rosemary Goring,The Herald'Here We Are is a subtle portrait of a vanished world, with moving passages about the problems of wartime evacuees returning to impoverished London life after the wonders of the countryside.' The Independent ‘In Here We Are, Swift does not just dwell on the pivotal moments of our lives, but traces their shockwaves both forward and back. Moving seamlessly from pre-war to post, from the events of one illusory, youthful summer to the present, we are given candid access to the innermost reflections of three people who loved and betrayed each other. The end result is the stuff of life, an enduring mystery that Ronnie, Evie, Jack - that we all - must live with. I thought it was wonderful.’ Joseph Knox, author of Sirens‘As with all his books, it’s the moments of quiet, undramatic poignancy that stay with you’ Sunday Express‘a quietly, devastating, magical novel’ Telegraph‘With a wizardry of his own, Swift conjures up an about-to-disappear little world and turns it into something of wider resonance’ Sunday Times ‘We are propelled into something extraordinary…Swift’s closing account of a mundane world momentarily pierced by a shaft of numinous mystery is magnificent’ New York Times ‘Graham Swift has perfected a distinctive style…his beautiful new novel Here We Are…is a work of magic: neither trick nor illusion, but a flash of truth’ Wall Street Journal ‘Swift captures the tragicomedy of life’ Washington Post ‘Here We Are is a paragon of the magic of compressed narration…Once again, Swift has demonstrated wizardry in his ability to conjure magic out of ordinary lives' NPR USA ‘ ‘“Here we are.” How easily those three small words can vanish in expected niceties—and how loaded they can be with bewilderment at the inexorable ‘‘tilt of the world’’. Graham Swift conjures them all, and more, in this short, word-perfect novel' Sydney Morning Herald ‘Graham Swift is the quiet master of fiction' The Age, Melbourne ‘An ethereal foray into the vanishing world of the magician…beautiful, breath-taking and heart-wrenching' Australian Women’s Weekly ‘In 2016 with his book Mothering Sunday Graham Swift reached a high plateau of storytelling art...Graham Swift‘s new novel Here We Are is on the same high plateau as Mothering Sunday' Süddeutsche Zeitung, Germany ‘The beauty of Graham Swift‘s books is that he gives you what you want without your knowing that you wanted it. How does he achieve this magical feat? It remains his secret. What a magician' Tagesspiegel, Germany ‘Swift is a master of the nuance and the hint, of what remains unsaid. In this respect a novel about magic and illusion seems exactly the right terrain for him...Once again he proves that he is one of the great conjurers of contemporary literature' Wiener Zeitung, Austria ‘Swift employs an unadorned but intense, musical prose that bathes the events described in an elusive gleam…Not for the first time Graham Swift captures the magic and mystery of ‘ordinary’ lives' Het Parool, Netherlands ‘The author knows, as always, how to render the human condition with a light touch… To catch the magic of life in words: an undertaking Graham Swift has mastered like no one else' De Telegraaf, Belgium ‘Swift doesn’t write, he whispers. His work is characterised by stories of ordinary life that, thanks to his mediation, always reveal a universal dimension…Here We Are is yet more proof of his incredible soft-voiced technique…a perfect example of Swift’s ability to touch the hidden poetry in every human being' Corriere della Sera, Italy It is one of those wonderful tales that one could have read fifty years ago or discovered half a century hence with the same delight, one of those novels of timeless beauty—thanks to the art of Graham Swift, who has no equal in evoking the atmosphere of an era while probing human psychology with irony and tenderness' L’Express, FrancePraise for Mothering Sunday: 'Bathed in light; and even when tragedy strikes, it blazes irresistibly… Swift’s small fiction feels like a masterpiece’ Guardian ‘Alive with sensuousness and sensuality … wonderfully accomplished, it is an achievement’ Sunday Times ‘From start to finish Swift’s is a novel of stylish brilliance and quiet narrative verve. The archly modulated, precise prose (a hybrid of Henry Green and Kazuo Ishiguro) is a glory to read. Now 66, Swift is a writer at the very top of his game’ Evening Standard ‘Mothering Sunday is a powerful, philosophical and exquisitely observed novel about the lives we lead, and the parallel lives – the parallel stories – we can never know … It may just be Swift’s best novel yet’ Observer
£13.49
Simon & Schuster Ltd A Conspiracy of Bones
THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'A thrilling read from one of my favorite writers' KARIN SLAUGHTER 'Read this book' DAVID BALDACCI 'One of the absolute best thrillers of the year' JEFFERY DEAVER 'You will find it hard to put down' MARK BOWDEN *** EVERY BODY HAS SECRETS It’s sweltering in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Temperance Brennan, still recovering from neurosurgery following an aneurysm, is battling nightmares, migraines, and what she thinks might be hallucinations when she receives a series of mysterious text messages, each containing a new picture of a corpse that is missing its face and hands. Immediately, she’s anxious to know who the dead man is, and why the images were sent to her. An identified corpse soon turns up, only partly answering her questions. To win answers to the others, including the man’s identity, she must go rogue. With help from a number of law enforcement associates including her Montreal beau Andrew Ryan and the always-ready-with-a-smart-quip, ex-homicide investigator Skinny Slidell, and utilizing new cutting-edge forensic methods, Tempe draws closer to the astonishing truth. But the more she uncovers, the darker and more twisted the picture becomes . . .***Don't miss the new high-stakes Temperance Brennan thriller – THE BONE HACKER is available for pre-order now . . .*** Praise for A Conspiracy of Bones and Kathy Reichs: 'A Conspiracy of Bones shows off Kathy Reichs’ dazzling new level of plotting mastery. A thrilling read from one of my favorite writers' KARIN SLAUGHTER, #1 internationally bestselling author of The Last Widow and The Good Daughter 'One of the absolute best thrillers of the year! Both Temperance Brennan and Kathy Reichs are at the top of their games in this brilliant rollercoaster of a tale. I can’t recall when this many twists have been so masterfully woven into a novel. But, of course, it’s not all about plot. The characters, too—good, bad and in between—come breathtakingly alive with heart-gripping effect. A great series has just gotten greater' JEFFERY DEAVER, #1 internationally bestseller author of The Bone Collector and The Never Game 'Don't miss this one! The corpse is ghastly. The investigation is intense. So many pulse-pounding twists and surprises—it kept me guessing till the end!' R.L. STINE, bestselling author Goosebumps and Fear Street 'Tempe Brennan is back, dealing with health issues, career setbacks, and the nagging—and driving—fear of inadequacy that is the flipside of her talent. Reich's fast-paced, tightly-constructed, and very contemporary story dives underground here, both literally and virtually, as she follows the thinnest of threads deeper and deeper into a shocking conspiracy. You will find it hard to put down' MARK BOWDEN, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Last Stone and Black Hawk Down 'No face, no hands, and a ton of breathtaking questions. I dare you to figure out all the red herrings. So utterly good! This is Kathy Reichs doing what she does best: sorting through the bones until the shocking end' BRAD MELTZER, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Escape Artist 'Kathy Reichs writes smart—no, make that brilliant—mysteries that are as realistic as non-fiction and as fast-paced as the best thrillers about Jack Reacher or Alex Cross' JAMES PATTERSON 'Nobody does forensics thrillers like Kathy Reichs. She’s the real deal' DAVID BALDACCI 'Kathy Reichs continues to be one of the most distinctive and talented writers in the genre. Her legions of readers worldwide will agree with me when I declare that the more books she writes, the more enthusiastic fans she’ll garner' SANDRA BROWN 'Each book in Kathy Reichs’s fantastic Temperance Brennan series is better than the last. They’re filled with riveting twists andturns. No matter how many novels she writes, I just can’t get enough!' LISA SCOTTOLINE 'Every minute in the morgue with Tempe is golden' THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW 'Brennan is a winner, and so is Reichs' DAILY NEWS
£18.00
Simon & Schuster Ltd Space Hopper: 'Charming and powerful' –Marjan Kamali
Pre-order JOE NUTHIN'S GUIDE TO LIFE, the extraordinary new Helen Fisher novel, out in paperback Summer 2024.THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY DEBUT OF 2021This is a story about taking a leap of faithAnd believing the unbelievable They say those we love never truly leave us, and I’ve found that to be true. But not in the way you might expect. In fact, none of this is what you’d expect. I’ve been visiting my mother who died when I was eight.And I’m talking about flesh and blood, tea-and-biscuits-on-the-table visiting here. Right now, you probably think I’m going mad. Let me explain… Although Faye is happy with her life, the loss of her mother as a child weighs on her mind even more now that she is a mother herself. So she is amazed when, in an extraordinary turn of events, she finds herself back in her childhood home in the 1970s. Faced with the chance to finally seek answers to her questions – but away from her own family – how much is she willing to give up for another moment with her mother? Space Hopper is an original and poignant story about mothers, memories and moments that shape life. *** Praise for Space Hopper *** 'A nostalgic, time-travelling romp' The Independent ‘Uplifting’ - Cosmopolitan ‘A quirky book full of wisdom’ – Woman & Home ‘I really enjoyed Space Hopper. It’s such an unusual, intriguing novel. It’s the first in ages that actually *interested* me’ Marian Keyes ‘Prepare to be entranced by this slightly bonkers novel. […] Brilliantly exploring themes of grief, love and loss, and peppered with cultural references that will delight anyone who grew up in the 1970s, Space Hopper will draw you in and keep you hooked right up until the last page’ – Heat, Book of the Week ‘Conjuring up Rowan Coleman’s The Summer Of Impossible Things and The Time Traveller’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, Space Hopper is the story of Faye who has a happy and loved life but lost her mother as a young girl. Then she stumbles across a way to travel back through to time to 1977, where she meets both her mother and her younger self. It sounds bonkers but it’s beautiful and explores grief, acceptance and love – providing much-needed solace right now’ Stylist ‘This is a magical, moving story about past and present, grief and healing, choices and yearning. A heart-warming, touching novel’ Platinum ‘It’s hard to believe that this is a debut, it’s so confidently written. This is a story that will sing to all’ Woman’s Way ‘A quirky story, full of love and laughter’ Best ‘Filled with nostalgic references, this heartfelt book is a lesson on living in the here and now’ My Weekly ‘Quirky, magical and wise. A wistful reflection on the love between a mother and daughter' Woman / Woman’s Weekly ‘Unprecedented times call for unprecedented novels…sounds odd but it works because of Fisher’s beautifully clear writing and the radiant sincerity of the heroine...Love, childhood, motherhood; whether you can or should fix the past, it’s all in this amazing book' Daily Mail 'A quirky, nostalgic tale' Daily Express
£13.49
Simon & Schuster Ltd Toot, Toot, Hettie!
It's a very busy morning on Treacle Street, and Hettie is waiting at the bus stop on the way to her Invention Workshop. Hettie really hopes that the bus won't be late today - she MUST make it to the Workshop in time for the big reveal of her latest invention! Whoever can be in all these weird and wonderful vehicles? Lift the flaps to find out! Young readers will delight in the busyness and enticing detail of the vehicles on Treacle Street, filled with characters that we have come to know and love.Other books in the Treacle Street lift-the-flap series by Kate Hindley:Marcel's Parcels Prima's Missing Bunnies Where's William's Washing?
£6.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd Supertato: Evil Pea Rules: A Supertato Adventure!
From bestselling, award-winning duo Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet comes the story of the much-loved Supertato's nemesis - The Evil Pea. Now in board book! It's all very well being a superhero and saving the day... but what if there was no one there to cause the chaos? To provide these heroes with their chances to shine? Would we even need superheroes?! Fortunately, this isn't something we will have to worry about any time soon. The Evil Pea is BACK! And this time he has his biggest, most dastardly plan yet to take over the supermarket… 'There's lots of anarchic fun to be had in this joyous romp of a story with a very Christmassy feel ... Full of humour, action and excitement, with glorious illustrations, this is another winner from a great team.' Parents in TouchOther titles in the Supertato series:SupertatoSupertato: Veggies AssembleSupertato: Run Veggies RunSupertato: Veggies in the Valley of DoomSupertato: Carnival CatastropeaSupertato: Books Are Rubbish (WBD)Supertato Sticker Book Supertato: Bubbly Troubly Supertato: Night of the Living Veg Supertato: The Great Eggscape Supertato: Presents Jack and the BeanstalkSupertato: Mean Green Time Machine
£6.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd Learning to Swim
FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF LAST ORDERS AND MOTHERING SUNDAY, reissued for the first time in Scribner Graham Swift’s first collection of short stories confirms his power to bring an edge of the extraordinary, the dangerous or the subversive into otherwise familiar, safe, even comforting settings. On a holiday beach, a mismatched couple wage a sexually charged war for the devotion of their literally floundering son. A family doctor, oppressed by his own domestic insecurities, intimidates an apparent time-wasting patient. A zookeeper becomes the keeper of a bizarre fixation . . . While vividly evoking a recognisable English geography, these startling stories have an eye for the foreign, for the experience of refugees or for less definable zones of bewilderment and strangeness. More than one has a touch of the ghostly. Highly located yet haunted and haunting, they penetrate a hidden world of human dislocation.‘Graham Swift should be read by everyone with an interest in the art of the short story’ Paul Bailey, Evening Standard‘A masterful collection of stories’ USA Today
£8.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd The Art Thief
The true story of the world’s most prolific art thief, who accumulated a collection worth over $1.4 billion. A spellbinding portrait of obsession and flawed genius, from the bestselling author of The Stranger in the Wood. For centuries, works of art have been stolen in countless ways from all over the world, but no one has been quite as successful at it as the master thief Stéphane Breitwieser. Carrying out more than 200 heists over nearly ten years - in museums and cathedrals all over Europe - Breitwieser, along with his girlfriend who worked as his lookout, stole more than 300 objects, until it all fell apart in spectacular fashion. In The Art Thief, Michael Finkel brings us into Breitwieser’s strange and fascinating world. Unlike most thieves, he never stole for money, keeping all his treasures in his home, where he could admire them to his heart’s content. Possessed of a remarkable appreciation for art and an innate ability to assess practically any security system, Breitwieser managed to pull off a breathtakingly number of audacious thefts. Yet these strange talents bred a growing disregard for risk and an addict’s need to score, leading Breitwieser to ignore his girlfriend’s pleas to stop - until one final act of hubris brought everything crashing down. This is a riveting story of art, crime, and an insatiable hunger to possess beauty at any cost. As a real page-turner that seems almost unbelievable in its twists and turns, The Art Thief explores the true story of the art collector who went to extreme lengths to expand his personal collection – and the thrill of the heist that kept him going.
£12.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd The Shop Girl's Soldier: A heart-warming family saga set during WWI and WWII
**Don't miss Karen Dickson's brand new family saga The Dressmaker's Secret – out in paperback and eBook now** AS WAR APPROACHES, WILL HER LOVE GUIDE HIM HOME?‘An exciting, fresh and talented new voice – a five-star read!’ CAROL RIVERS, author of Molly’s Christmas Orphans Southampton, 1905. Ellie-May and Jack have been inseparable since birth. They are best friends, having grown up together on the same street. But when Jack and his mother fall on hard times they are thrown into the workhouse, and he and Ellie-May are forced into a goodbye. Four years later, now aged sixteen, Jack returns to Southampton and is reunited with Ellie-May. Quickly they both realise that their feelings for each other go beyond friendship, and with Jack home for good the pair are finally free to be together. But when WWII approaches, Jack’s duty to his country is hard to ignore and when he enlists to fight, they are once again torn apart. Will Ellie-May and Jack find their way back to each other before it’s too late? A brand new wartime family saga, perfect for fans of Rosie Goodwin and Val Wood Praise for Karen Dickson: ‘A compelling saga that will hold you fast from the first page to the last. Loved it’ VAL WOOD, author of The Lonely Wife 'This rollercoaster of a novel draws you in from the first page. Expertly researched and a fabulous storyline with real heart… I devoured this in one sitting and look forward to more from this author. In short a gem of a read' FIONA FORD, author of Wartime at Liberty’s 'A delight to read... Lily Hayter is a wonderful heroine whose resilience and integrity shine through as she struggles to claim a life of her choosing and find a family. At the heart of the story is a warmth and humanity that makes it a truly uplifting read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and was sorry when I reached the end because I wanted to linger in Dickson’s world. I eagerly await more from Karen Dickson' VICKI BEEBY, author of The Ops Room Girls 'The characters in this novel are so believable that I cared deeply about them from the first chapter. A heartfelt, hopeful account of one young woman’s fight to keep her child safe when all the odds are against her. Atmospheric and beautifully written' JAN CASEY, author of The Women of Waterloo Bridge
£7.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd The Postcard: the perfect holiday read for summer 2019
FROM THE ACCLAIMED AUTHOR OF THE LAST PEARL AND DANCING AT THE VICTORY CAFE, this is a beautiful novel about family secrets and redemption.How far will one woman journey to uncover a long-lost family secret? 1930s, London. Having grown up on a secluded Scottish estate with her aunt Phoebe, Caroline is shocked to discover that Phoebe is actually her mother and flees to Egypt in rebellion. Quickly finding herself in an unhappy marriage, Caroline has an affair with an old flame, but soon finds herself pregnant with his child. With her personal life in tatters and WWII approaching, she volunteers to smuggle valuable information into Europe for the British government. But when Caroline finally returns from war, her baby is gone. Will she be able to track him down? 2002, Australia. When Melissa discovers a postcard addressed to 'Desmond' among her recently deceased father's effects, she is determined to discover this person's identity and his relationship to her father. She embarks on a journey that will take her across oceans to discover more about her family's past . . . Praise for Leah Fleming: 'I enjoyed it enormously. It's a moving and compelling story about a lifetime's journey in search of the truth' RACHEL HORE, bestselling author of LAST LETTER HOME 'A born storyteller' KATE ATKINSON
£7.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd Ordinary Hazards
For fans of Celeste Ng comes a transfixing debut novel about how life’s small decisions can ultimately yield the most powerful consequences. Everyone always wants to know why relationships fail. It’s a spiteful curiosity thing, schadenfreude, but also a self-preservation thing. People want to understand how to avoid the fall.The answer is complicated. There isn’t one reason, one event. It has something to do with smoking cigarettes and drinking all night. It takes into account thousands of hours of labour on a small house, projects finished and unfinished. It is late-night conversations and inside jokes and making love and having a child. The answer is wrapped up, shrouded and ensconced in prioritization, ambition and work. Caring about these things is not the problem. Not caring about them is death. Emma has settled into her hometown bar for the evening. It was in this very room that she met Lucas a few years back, on a blind date. Nine months ago, in unimaginable circumstances, they divorced. As Emma listens to the locals’ banter, key facts about her life story begin to emerge and the past comes bearing down on her like a freight train. A powerhouse in the business world, why has she ended up here, now a regular in the last bar on the edge of a small town? What is she running away from? And what is she willing to give up in order to recapture the love she has lost? As Emma teeters on the edge of oblivion, becoming more booze-soaked by the hour, her night begins to spin out of control with shocking results. ‘Seen through keen eyes and full of deep feeling, Ordinary Hazards delves into the psyche of a woman grappling with grief, loss, and the burdens of inheritance. Anna Bruno vividly renders the messiness of a single human life in all its joy and heartbreak.’ —CLAIRE LOMBARDO, author of The Most Fun We Ever Had ‘Crisp, haunting, and intelligent. Beneath the surface of this booze-soaked, small town, dive bar novel lies a devastating story of loss, guilt, and grief. Bruno’s narrator proves a dark, funny, unflinching companion as you descend with her, step by step, towards the revelation of what has led her to the bar tonight.’ —STEPHEN MARKLEY, author of Ohio 'Quiet but emotionally engaging, this atmospheric novel has a raft of enduring characters who prompt her memories. Bruno has a gift for observation which she uses to produce a haunting examination of love, loss and grief.’ —Fanny Blake, Daily Mail
£8.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd Operation Black Key: The must-read action thriller from the Sunday Times bestseller
Perfect for fans of Ollie Ollerton, Andy McNab and Stephen Leather - the new compulsive thriller from Sunday Times bestseller and bomb-disposal expert, Kim Hughes GC. THE ENEMY IS CLOSE TO HOME . . . Left reeling from the disappearance of his daughter and ex-wife, Staff Sergeant Dom Riley is a haunted man. After months of investigating, he has exhausted nearly all leads in his hunt for answers. As Riley decides to make one final, desperate push for the truth, it emerges that multiple bombs have been located on board a civilian cruise ship and he is thrown into action in the middle of the ocean. With little information on the person behind the threat other than the alias BaseHeart, Riley must keep his head together if he has any chance of neutralizing the threat. And it’s not long until the first bomb detonates. But it’s not the journey, nor the bombs themselves, that pose the real danger. In fact, in travelling halfway across the Atlantic Ocean, Riley will ultimately learn that the enemy is much closer to home . . .PRAISE FOR KIM HUGHES GC ‘A taut thriller that seizes your attention from the first page’ Daily Express ‘A terrific start to a new series . . . Light the blue touch paper and retire to a comfortable chair’ The Times ‘A powerful tale from an author who knows his stuff. Addictively compelling, you’ll be reading into the small hours’ Alan McDermott, author of the Eva Driscoll thrillers ‘Gripping . . . The plot beautifully twists several parallel and intertwining story-lines together, at pace. There is a bit of something for everyone here: military detail, spy conspiracy, dastardly terrorist plot and the pieces of the jigsaw all fall into place nicely. Thoroughly recommended’ Army Rumour Service ‘Kim Hughes is the man who stands between us and oblivion' Andy McNab, author of Bravo Two Zero
£8.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd 999 - My Life on the Frontline of the Ambulance Service
In this updated edition, taking in his experiences during the coronavirus pandemic, Dan Farnworth brings vividly to life his astonishing times as a medic working on the frontline of the UK Ambulance Service. When the 999 call goes out, he has little idea what he will find - and how he will cope with the challenges he faces when he gets there. Having worked in the emergency services for more than fifteen years, Dan Farnworth has seen it all. There was the time he was called to take away a dead body - only for the 'corpse' to jolt back into life and demand to know what he was doing in her house. Earlier in his career, he unwittingly disturbed a crime scene as he shared the sad news of the victim's death with her son. Along with the 18,000 other paramedics in the UK who serve us day and night, Dan constantly finds himself pushed into extraordinary circumstances where he not only has to deal with those he has been sent to help, but also their worried families and friends - and even with irate drivers who object to his ambulance getting in their way as he desperately works to save someone's life. There is a special camaraderie among paramedics, and 999 - Life on the Frontline is packed with stories that are sometimes sad, occasionally hilarious, often moving but always inspirational. However, the work also takes its emotional toll, and Dan won an ITV NHS Heroes Award after setting up the Our Blue Light Campaign that helps those in his profession suffering from PTSD - something that struck him after a truly shocking event. His story will make you see our ambulance service in a completely new way.
£8.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd England Football: The Biography: 1872 - 2022
SHORTLISTED FOR FOOTBALL BOOK OF THE YEAR AT THE BRITISH SPORTS BOOK AWARDS LONGLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR PRIZE ‘The greatest story in English sport told beautifully by one of its greatest writers’ Gary Lineker 'A spellbinding piece of work' Oliver Holt; 'Absolute tour de force' Henry WinterAward-winning writer Paul Hayward delivers a compelling and unmissable account of the story of the England men's football team, published as they prepare for the World Cup in Qatar. On 30 November 1872, England took on Scotland at Hamilton Crescent in Glasgow, a match that is regarded as the first international fixture. More than 5,000 fans watched the two sides play out a 0-0 draw. It was the first of more than a thousand games played by the side, and the beginning of a national love affair that unites the country in a way that few other events can match. In Hayward's brilliant new biography of the team, based on interviews with dozens of past and present players and coaches, including Viv Anderson, Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and current coach Gareth Southgate, we get a vivid portrait of all aspects of the team's story, reliving highlights such as the World Cup victory in 1966 and the time when football came home in Euro 96, as well as the low points when the players were obliged to give the Nazi salute in 1938 and the era when England's hooligan fans brought shame on the nation. From Stanley Matthews and Bobby Moore through to more modern heroes such as Paul Gascoigne, David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and Harry Kane, Hayward brings a large cast of characters to life.For anyone who wants to understand England football, and why it means so much to so many, England Football: The Biography is an essential and vital read.
£22.50
Simon & Schuster Ltd The Wager
THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES NO. 1 BESTSELLER *LONGLISTED FOR THE 2023 BALLIE GIFFORD PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION* *SELECTED AS ONE OF BARACK OBAMA'S FAVOURITE BOOKS OF 2023*'The beauty of The Wager unfurls like a great sail... one of the finest nonfiction books I’ve ever read' Guardian ‘The greatest sea story ever told’ Spectator‘A cracking yarn… Grann’s taste for desperate predicaments finds its fullest expression here’ ObserverFrom the international bestselling author of KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON and THE LOST CITY OF Z, a mesmerising story of shipwreck, mutiny and murder, culminating in a court martial that reveals a shocking truth. On 28th January 1742, a ramshackle vessel of patched-together wood and cloth washed up on the coast of Brazil. Inside were thirty emaciated men, barely alive, and they had an extraordinary tale to tell. They were survivors of His Majesty’s ship the Wager, a British vessel that had left England in 1740 on a secret mission during an imperial war with Spain. While chasing a Spanish treasure-filled galleon, the Wager was wrecked on a desolate island off the coast of Patagonia. The crew, marooned for months and facing starvation, built the flimsy craft and sailed for more than a hundred days, traversing 2,500 miles of storm-wracked seas. They were greeted as heroes. Then, six months later, another, even more decrepit, craft landed on the coast of Chile. This boat contained just three castaways and they had a very different story to tell. The thirty sailors who landed in Brazil were not heroes – they were mutineers. The first group responded with counter-charges of their own, of a tyrannical and murderous captain and his henchmen. While stranded on the island the crew had fallen into anarchy, with warring factions fighting for dominion over the barren wilderness. As accusations of treachery and murder flew, the Admiralty convened a court martial to determine who was telling the truth. The stakes were life-and-death—for whomever the court found guilty could hang.
£18.00
Simon & Schuster Ltd The Flight of Cornelia Blackwood
‘Dark and compelling, a slow-motion collapse; I read it in 24 hours with my heart in my mouth. So good!’ Julie Cohen, author of TogetherEveryone knows what Cornelia did all those years ago. But no one knows what she will do next. Cornelia Blackwood lives a quiet life. When she goes to the corner shop to buy milk, people whisper behind her back. Her one constant, her rock, is her husband. But when he doesn't come home from a work conference, she is left alone to try to pick up the pieces. And before long, the secret he has hidden from her for all these years is laid bare. From a supremely talented storyteller, The Flight of Cornelia Blackwood is a powerful novel of motherhood, loss and loneliness and how we can make damaging choices when pushed to our emotional edge. ‘Dark, tragic … at once heartbreaking and compelling’ Daily Express ‘As heart-breaking as it is captivating, [...] you’re left with no choice but to put life on hold while you race to the end’ Woman and Home ‘A searing portrait of motherhood, mental health and profound loss’ heat ‘A captivating, deeply affecting read’ Fabulous ‘A deeply moving novel’ Woman’s Weekly ‘A powerful, compelling and emotional rollercoaster of a novel’ Hannah Richell, author of The Peacock Summer ‘This story of motherhood and secrets handles a difficult subject with skill and sensitivity' Catherine Isaac, author of You Me Everything ‘This heart-wrenching story explores postpartum psychosis with compassion’ Prima ‘A powerful and talented voice' Rachel Hore, author of Last Letter Home 'A brave and moving story about how much can be lost and what happens next' Alison Moore
£8.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd Save Me from Dangerous Men: The new Lisbeth Salander who Jack Reacher would love! A must-read for 2019
'Action-packed and razor sharp' LEE CHILD This SUNDAY TIMES CRIME CLUB STAR PICK is for fans of gritty, darkly funny thrillers like Killing Eve and anyone who loves Kimberley Chambers, Jessie Keane, Marnie Riches, Emma Tallon or Kerry Barnes. *Bookseller by day. Bad ass by night. Nikki Griffin owns a bookshop in California that has a resident cat, Bartleby. She drinks neat Jameson and rides an Aprilia motorcycle. She’s a Private Investigator who spends her days talking about books and her nights fighting for women – and she could beat you in a fight, blindfolded.Nikki is the hero you’ve been waiting for. When she's hired to tail a woman accused of selling company secrets by the CEO, she thinks it will be just another job. By the time she realises that something is off, it’s already too late – a body has been found. Suddenly, Nikki is pulled into a race to find answers before somebody finds her.The bad guys may have started this – but Nikki is going to finish it. *** Praise for SAVE ME FROM DANGEROUS MEN *** 'When she's not advising customers on reading choices in her secondhand bookshop in un-gentrified Oakland, California, Nikki enjoys issuing righteous street justice, whether it be nailing a cheating husband bang to rights or persuading an abusive boyfriend to back off — and boy, is she persuasive. Hired to investigate an employee suspected of selling a firm's tech secrets, she gets drawn into a deeper mystery and even deeper danger. Lucky for her, and us, she's smart as paint and brave as a lioness' Sunday Times Crime Club (starred review) 'Pulses with daring and risk. Nikki Griffin, bookseller by day and private investigator by night, takes on men who hurt women and makes them sorry. Calm, complex, lethal, and fascinating, she’s the revenge fantasy you want right now' Taylor Stevens, New York Times bestselling author of Liars’ Paradox and The Informationist 'Action-packed and razor sharp - Jack Reacher would love Nikki Griffin' Lee Child 'Save Me from Dangerous Men is one of those rare thrillers that draws you in so relentlessly that you find yourself getting kicked out of bed and reading all night on the sofa. If you’re a fan of Jack Reacher or Lisbeth Salander, you are gonna love Nikki Griffin. This is an outstanding debut novel to what promises to be an exceptional series. Highly, highly recommended' Douglas Preston, #1 New York Times bestselling co-author of the acclaimed Pendergast series 'Lelchuk has created a fabulously compelling central protagonist in Nikki Griffin, a psychologically disturbed woman with her heart in the right place' 'One of my most favourite things about this novel is the literary allusions and references littered throughout the narrative' 'Wonderfully entertaining'
£7.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd The Book of Mysteries
'Delightfully magical and brilliantly told' Abi Elphinstone, author of Sky Song on The Boy With One Name Welcome to the Badlands ... a hidden part of our world full of creatures which most people think exist only in fairy tales and nightmares.Ruby is trying to change the future. Her fate is in the hands of the council as they prepare to decide once and for all if girls can be Badlanders too.Jones is running from his past. He’s determined to help Ruby fulfil her destiny, but first he will need to shake off the vengeful ghost of Maitland, the Master he betrayed. Then they are challenged to solve a notoriously unsolvable case from The Book of Mysteries, and Ruby and Jones think it might just be the lifeline they need. But there’s a reason no Badlander has ever returned from Great Walsingham, and the two friends will have to rely on more than magic if they want to survive…Dive into a world of magic in an adventure perfect for fans of Abi Elphinstone, Jonathan Stroud and J.K. Rowling.
£6.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd One Got Away: A gripping thriller with a bada** female PI!
Do you want to read crime with a dose of black humour and strong, violent-when-necessary heroines? Do you like women who don’t take any sh*t? Then this book is definitely for you. Think Villanelle – but she’s on your side. * Nikki Griffin, our bookseller-by-day, badass PI-by-night heroine, is back in the new must-read thriller from S. A. Lelchuk. *** Praise for SAVE ME FROM DANGEROUS MEN *** 'Pulses with daring and risk. Nikki Griffin, bookseller by day and private investigator by night, takes on men who hurt women and makes them sorry. Calm, complex, lethal, and fascinating, she’s the revenge fantasy you want right now' Taylor Stevens, New York Times bestselling author of Liars’ Paradox and The Informationist 'Action packed and razor sharp - Jack Reacher would love Nikki Griffin' Lee Child 'Save Me from Dangerous Men is one of those rare thrillers that draws you in so relentlessly that you find yourself getting kicked out of bed and reading all night on the sofa. If you’re a fan of Jack Reacher or Lisbeth Salander, you are gonna love Nikki Griffin. This is an outstanding debut novel to what promises to be an exceptional series. Highly, highly recommended' Douglas Preston, #1 New York Times bestselling co-author of the acclaimed Pendergast series
£8.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd Too Many Bubbles
A hilarious, rhyming adventure that all starts with washing the dog . . . perfect for getting even the most reluctant bathers excited about bathtime! It's time to bathe the dog, but be careful with the bubble bath . . . Uh oh! Before you know it, the dog's escaped and there are bubbles everywhere – in the hallway, down the street and even in the zoo! But who's going to clean up all this mess, and what will Mum say? Find out in this riotous, rhyming story, which is great fun to read aloud, from the fabulous new pairing, YouTube superstar David Gibb, and Dan Taylor, who has written and illustrated several titles in Campbell's First Stories series, including Cinderella and Hansel and Gretel.
£6.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd The Friends of Harry Perkins
CONTAINS TWO NEVER-BEFORE-PUBLISHED SHORT STORIES: 'The Lord Cardinal' and 'The Man Who Shot the President' 'Harry Perkins was buried on the day that America declared war on China.' The definitive post-Brexit novel, and long-awaited sequel to the bestselling A Very British Coup. 'Brexit Britain was a gloomy place. True, the Armageddon that some had prophesied had not occurred, but neither had economic miracle promised by the Brexiteers. Instead there had been a long, slow decline into insularity and irrelevance. The value of the pound had fallen steadily against the Euro, the dollar and the Yuan. The much vaunted increase in trade with the Commonwealth had not materialised. The Americans, too, were proving particularly obstreperous. Even now after a nearly decade of negotiations no significant agreements had been reached. At the UN there was talk of relieving the UK of its seat on the Security Council.' In post-Brexit Britain, the country's international standing is the lowest it's ever been, and social tensions have reached boiling point. Fred Thompson - former aide to the left-wing prime minister, Harry Perkins - is determined to put things right. As he climbs the political ranks, though, Thompson learns that principles must be compromised and dangerous bargains struck if he is to attain the only office high enough to truly make a difference. At once a gripping political thriller and a chilling prognostication of where we may be headed, this taut, insightful and engrossing novel is essential reading for our troubled times. 'Brilliant, chilling and all too plausible.' Alastair Campbell 'Terrific...measured, heart-stopping, moving, clear-eyed'. Stephen Frears ‘A very knowledgeable and pleasurable political thriller.’ Mark Lawson, The Guardian ‘Faced with the horrors of Brexit and a Conservative government overrun by dubious right-wingers .. . the beleaguered one-nation wing of the Tory party and even the tabloid press appear suddenly as a force for good. One of the tantalising questions is whether they are really out to help . . .’ Robert Shrimsley, Financial Times ‘Brexit has been a catastrophic failure . . . Trying to undo it means confronting all the pent up frustration that led to Brexit in the first place. This produces the deepest irony of all and the one that gives the novel its peculiar bite . . .’ David Runciman, London Review of Books ‘A book that seeks your X in the ballot box.’ The Spectator ‘The friends of Chris Mullin – and they are legion at Westminster – have been eagerly awaiting this book and they will not be disappointed. A brilliant, topical sequel to A Very British Coup.’ Andrew Adonis, The House ‘Briskly placed . . . spartan . . . and most affecting.’ Irish Times ‘Excellent . . . a worthy sequel to a true classic of political fiction.’ Matthew d’Ancona ‘Mullin has the knack of pithy description, adding touches of colour and wit.’ Glasgow Herald
£8.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd Summer at the Kindness Cafe: The heartwarming, feel-good read of the year
'ONE OF THE GENRE'S STANDOUT STARS - THERE IS SO MUCH HEART IN THIS BOOK!' heat Escape to the beautiful town of Littlewood with this heart-warming read, perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley, Holly Hepburn and Jo Thomas. Welcome to Brew, a cafe where kindness is almost as important as coffee... almost!Abbie has fled London and the humiliation of not being able to make rent after being made redundant. Her sister, Louise, unlucky in love, has thrown herself into her career at the local hospital. And Eszter, who has travelled from Hungary with her daughter Zoe, is hoping to fulfil her husband's dying wish: to reunite his family. This summer, three very different women are inspired by the random acts of kindness written up on the Kindness Board at Brew, and decide to make a pact to be kinder to others and to themselves.Can a little bit of kindness really change your life? Eszter, Abbie and Louise are about to find out!**Summer at the Kindness Cafe was previously published as a four-part serial titled Random Acts of Kindness. This is the complete story in one package.**Your favourite authors LOVE Summer at the Kindness Cafe: 'A heart-warming read - cosy and comforting. I loved it!' HEIDI SWAIN‘Utterly gorgeous, a totally heart-warming, beautiful story. I loved every single page!’ HOLLY MARTIN'A really lovely story - heart-warming and life affirming' JO THOMAS‘Warmth and kindness on every page’ SHEILA O'FLANAGAN‘I adored Summer at The Kindness Café - it's such a cosy, heart-warming read’ JENNIFER JOYCE'Summer at the Kindness Cafe ticks all the feel-good boxes' HOLLY HEPBURN, author of A Year at the Star and Sixpence‘An entertaining and timely reminder that a random act of kindness can change not only someone's day, but also someone's life’ PENNY PARKES, author of Best Practice‘Such an uplifting, warm story, with characters I already feel like I know. I loved every minute of it!’ CRESSIDA MCLAUGHLIN‘Victoria Walters has such a wonderful, fresh voice and the characters really do leap off the page. The perfect pick-me-up, and a timely reminder of the importance of kindness in every part of life’ PHOEBE MORGAN
£7.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd Rainbow Flamingo
This one young flamingo, Adele was her name, Knew under HER wings something wasn’t the same. Whilst quite unremarkably pink from outside … Inside were some colours she struggled to hide! Adele wants nothing more than to be just like all the other flamingos. But hiding who she really is feels horribly tough. Can Adele find the courage to celebrate her true colours? Perfect for fans of Perfectly Norman, this thought-provoking and touching story empowers children to embrace their uniqueness and have the courage to stand out. ‘A riotous, dazzling, joy-filled book, brimming with hope and warmth’Ian Eagleton, award-winning author of Nen and the Lonely Fisherman ‘An explosion of colour, humour and joy. I loved it and can’t wait for my kids to read it!’Abi Elphinston
£11.69
Simon & Schuster Ltd Berlin: The Story of a City
'My only complaint is that it was so fascinating I wish it had been longer. What a story!' Philip Mansel BERLIN is Europe’s most fascinating and exciting city. The great movements that have shaken Europe, from the Reformation to Marxism, have their origins in Berlin’s streets. With its unique dialect, exceptional museums, experimental cultural scene, its liberated social life and its honest approach to its history, it is as challenging a city as it is absorbing. Too often Berlin is seen through the prism of Nazism and its role on the front line in the Cold War. Important, frightening and interesting as those periods are, its history starts much earlier. Telling the story of its people and its rulers, from its medieval origins to the present day, this is a fascinating and informative history of an extraordinary city.
£10.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd I Am A Girl From Africa: A memoir of empowerment, community and hope
'From the first page to the last, I could not put down this book. I am a Girl from Africa is a story that can uplift and inspire every girl and boy from every part of the world. Beautifully told, and beautifully lived.' Angela Duckworth, author of GritA powerful memoir about a girl from Africa whose near-death experience sparked a dream that changed the world. She squeezes my hand and smiles. “I am here to feed hungry children in the village, because as Africans we must uplift each other.”I don’t understand what it means to uplift others, but I nod.I know that I can finally stand up. I will search for food. I will live. When severe draught hit her village in Zimbabwe, Elizabeth, then eight, had no idea that this moment of utter devastation would come to define her life purpose. Unable to move from hunger, she encountered a United Nations aid worker who gave her a bowl of warm porridge and saved her life. This transformative moment inspired Elizabeth to become a humanitarian, and she vowed to dedicate her life to giving back to her community, her continent and the world. Grounded by the African concept of Ubuntu - 'I am because we are' - I Am a Girl from Africa charts Elizabeth’s quest in pursuit of her dream from the small village of Goromonzi to Harare, London and beyond, where she eventually became a Senior Advisor at the United Nations and launched HeForShe, one of the world’s largest global solidarity movements for gender equality. For over two decades, Elizabeth has been instrumental in creating change in communities all around the world; uplifting the lives of others, just as her life was once uplifted. The memoir brings to vivid life one extraordinary woman’s story of persevering through incredible odds and finding her true calling - while delivering an important message of hope and empowerment in a time when we need it most.
£9.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd Ori's Stars
A touching and beautiful tale by the author of Ziggy and the Moonlight Show Far out in the depths of space lives Ori. Tired of living alone in the darkness, Ori discovers how to create a star and before she knows it, she has created hundred of them. As they light up the sky around her, figures far and wide begin to flock to the stars and soon Ori realises that she isn't alone after all. An outstanding tale of the power of friendship to shine through even the darkest of nights!
£6.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd Count and Play with Barry the Fish with Fingers
Barry the Fish with Fingers has lots of favourite activities! He loves painting and knitting, amongst other things, and being with his friends. Can you help Barry count his five favourite activities on his fingers? And find out what he loves doing best!A boldly illustrated and fun way for little ones to discover new activities and to practise counting from one to five, from the creators of the bestselling Supertato series. PRAISE FOR BARRY THE FISH WITH FINGERS: 'One of the best covers and titles this year complete with sparkly orange foil' The Bookseller 'This is rather fishy fun' Families Magazine 'The use of colour and illustrations is very effective… I would definitely recommend this book to other parents' Red House
£6.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd Messy Wonderful Us
ESCAPE TO ITALY WITH THE PERFECT UPLIFTING AND EMOTIONAL SUMMER READ 'An impossibly seductive love story, underpinned by a heart-breaking secret' ROSIE WALSH ‘What a stunning novel. That hot, sultry setting - Allie's refreshing straightforwardness, Ed's absolute swooniness - I loved it’ BETH O'LEARY‘An emotional and uplifting book about secrets, family and identity. Such a joy! So rich and engaging, 5 stars’ ADELE PARKSIn late 1983, a letter arrives from Italy, containing secrets so unthinkable that it is hidden away, apparently forever. More than three decades later, it is found . . . by the last person who was ever supposed to see it. When Allie opens an envelope in her grandmother’s house, it changes everything she knows about her family - and herself. With the truth liable to hurt those she loves most, she hires
£8.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd The Age of Miracles: the most thought-provoking end-of-the-world coming-of-age book club novel you'll read this year
'A stunner from the first page - an end-of-the-world, coming-of-age tale of quiet majesty. I loved this novel ' Justin Cronin, author of The PassageWHAT IF our 24-hour day grew longer, first in minutes, then in hours until day becomes night and night becomes day? What effect would this slowing have on the world? On the birds in the sky, the whales in the sea, the astronauts in space, and on an eleven-year-old girl, grappling with emotional changes in her own life...? One morning, Julia and her parents wake up in their suburban home in California to discover, along with the rest of the world, that the rotation of the earth is noticeably slowing. The enormity of this is almost beyond comprehension. And yet, even if the world is, in fact, coming to an end, as some assert, day-to-day life must go on. Julia, facing the loneliness and despair of an awkward adolescence, witnesses the impact of this phenomenon on the world, on the community, on her family and on herself. 'It is never what you worry over that comes to pass in the end. The real catastrophies are always different - unimagined, unprepared for, unknown…'
£9.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd First Man: The Life of Neil Armstrong
Soon to be a major motion picture, First Man by James Hansen offers the only authorized glimpse into the life of America’s most famous astronaut, Neil Armstrong – the man whose “one small step” changed history. In First Man, Hansen explores the life of Neil Armstrong. Based on over 50 hours of interviews with the intensely private Armstrong, who also gave Hansen exclusive access to private documents and family sources, this “magnificent panorama of the second half of the American twentieth century” (Publishers Weekly, Starred Review) is an unparalleled biography of an American icon. When Apollo 11 touched down on the moon’s surface in 1969, the first man on the moon became a legend. Hansen vividly recreates Armstrong's career in flying, from his seventy-eight combat missions as a naval aviator flying over North Korea to his formative transatmospheric flights in the rocket-powered X-15 to his piloting Gemini VIII to the first-ever docking in space. For a pilot who cared more about flying to the Moon than he did about walking on it, Hansen asserts, Armstrong's storied vocation exacted a dear personal toll, paid in kind by his wife and children. In the years since the Moon landing, rumors swirled around Armstrong concerning his dreams of space travel, his religious beliefs, and his private life. This book reveals the man behind the myth. In a penetrating exploration of American hero worship, Hansen addresses the complex legacy of the First Man, as an astronaut and as an individual. In First Man, the personal, technological, epic, and iconic blend to form the portrait of a great but reluctant hero who will forever be known as history's most famous space traveler.
£10.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd Life Ruins
‘Will suck you in from the first page’ Stephen Booth, author of Fall Down DeadIn a small northern town, girls are disappearing. You won’t see it in the papers and the police aren’t taking any notice, but the clues are there if you know where to look. Becca sees that something is wrong, but she’s been labelled ‘difficult’ thanks to her troubled past. So when a girl is so savagely beaten she can’t be identified, and Becca claims she knows who she is, no one will believe her. With the police refusing to listen, Becca digs for evidence that will prove what she is saying. But her search for justice will put herself and those closest to her in danger – and once she finds the truth, will anyone even listen?WHY READERS LOVE LIFE RUINS . . . 'A powerful, thought-provoking story, which perfectly evokes the bleak Yorkshire landscape . . . a vital read for any crime fan' Kate Rhodes, author of Pulpit Rock ‘I couldn’t put it down . . . If you’re looking for a crime thriller set firmly in the real world and populated with characters who feel completely authentic, Life Ruins is the book for you’ Sheffield Telegraph'Life Ruins has all the elements I love in a novel - complex characters, an insidious underlying menace, and haunting landscapes. This dark story will suck you in from the first page' Stephen Booth, author of Fall Down Dead 'Explores real issues, from the perspective of real, damaged people, and told with a real warmth and understanding. Danuta Kot raises the bar for all crime writers' Michael Jecks, author of Pilgrim's War ‘Poignant about the lives of people who struggle against grief, loneliness, abuse or hardship in their lives . . . A terrifically good read’ Amazon reader ‘A real belter of a book. There isn't a minute to catch your breath. Tension, suspense, mystery, it's almost supernatural. Highly recommended’ Amazon reader
£8.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd Supertato Run Veggies Run
Another laugh-out-loud story from the bestselling Supertato series in a brand new cased board book format. Meet Supertato! The supermarket superhero with eyes everywhere. It’s Sports Day in the supermarket and all the veggies are in training. Everyone has been practising hard and is ready and raring to go. However, a new competitor joins the event, accompanied by The Evil Pea, and is determined to win all the prizes. Things don’t seem quite right… but will Supertato be able to foil his nemesis’ plan in time? The fabulous character from Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet, the bestselling, award-winning creators of Barry the Fish with Fingers, I Need a Wee and Norman the Slug with the Silly Shell.Perfect for fans of Oi Frog!Praise for Supertato: 'Hilarious... One of the funniest picture books this year - read it and laugh out loud!' Creative Steps Magazine 'Hendra introduces another very silly but irresistible creation in the grand tradition of Barry, Norman, Keith et al.' BooksellerPraise for Norman the Slug with the Silly Shell: 'Lovely glittery illustrations and simple text make this a must for pre-schoolers' The Daily MailPraise for No-Bot the Robot with No Bottom: 'Fabulously funny and wonderfully warm' Liverpool Echo 'Fans of Barry, Norman and Keith will absolutely adore this new wonderfully eccentric new character' MumsnetOther titles in the Supertato series:SupertatoSupertato: Veggies AssembleSupertato: Evil Pea RulesSupertato: Veggies in the Valley of DoomSupertato: Carnival CatastropeaSupertato: Books Are Rubbish (WBD)Supertato Sticker Book Supertato: Bubbly Troubly Supertato: Night of the Living Veg Supertato: The Great Eggscape! Supertato: Presents Jack and the BeanstalkSupertato: Mean Green Time Machine
£6.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd Hamish and the Terrible Terrible Christmas and Other Stories
'HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!' Frank Cottrell Boyce on Hamish and the WorldStoppers 'Poor Danny Wallace! Once kids get their hands on this quirky and hilarious book, they're gonna be bugging him to write Hamish stories 'til he's 97' Tim Minchin on Hamish and the WorldStoppers The important task of saving the world doesn't stop just because it's Christmas, so get ready for THREE festive adventures featuring Hamish Ellerby and his pals in the PDF! Can Hamish stop a whole hoard of rampaging Terribles hoping to ruin Christmas? How will Elliot deal with a sneaky sweet salesmen determined to give Starkley a sugar-crash to remember? And, what will Alice do when faced with an unexpected Christmas Eve visitor? Tis the season to be jolly, but will this turn out to be a TERRIBLE Christmas for Starkley? Fa La La La La La La La ARGH! Praise for the Hamish series: 'All the with and warmth of Dahl & Blake at their best. Irresistible.' Phil Earle 'Original, quirky and super silly' The Sun 'Like David Walliams, Wallace is a comedian turned children's author. Of the two, Wallace's writing is the funnier.' The Sunday Times 'vividly imagined ... bristling with one-liners' The Guardian
£7.26
Simon & Schuster Ltd We've Got Talent
A brilliantly empowering gender-busting book about doing exactly what you love and being exactly who you are! Sam and Olivia are VERY excited about the school play. They love singing, they love dancing, they love doing their own thing! But when the roles PERFECT for them go to someone else - they know they have to hatch a plan, while always remembering the most important thing: No matter what we look like: WE'VE GOT TALENT!
£6.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd Perfect Tunes
'Shows the ways in which we are all, always, having to reimagine the story of our lives' Refinery29'Really smart and exceptionally good' Curtis Sittenfeld'A moving investigation of love, loss and parenthood' Esquire'Mind-blowing . . . brilliant and fearless' Elif BatumanThe perfect song. The biggest dream. The love of her life. It’s the early days of the new millennium, and Laura has arrived in New York City’s East Village in the hopes of recording her first album. A songwriter with a one-of-a-kind talent, she’s just beginning to book gigs with her beautiful best friend when she falls hard for a troubled but magnetic musician whose star is on the rise. Their time together is stormy and short-lived – but will reverberate for the rest of Laura’s life. Fifteen years later, Laura’s teenage daughter is asking questions about her father, questions Laura does not want to answer. Laura has built a stable life in Brooklyn that bears little resemblance to the one she envisioned all those years ago, and she’s taken pains to close the door on what was and what might have been. When her best friend – now a famous musician – comes to town, opportunity knocks for Laura for a second time. Has growing older changed who she is and what she most wants? After all the sacrifices and compromises she’s made along the way, how much is she still that girl from Ohio, with big talent and big dreams?Funny, wise and tender-hearted, Perfect Tunes explores the fault lines in our most important relationships, and asks whether dreams deferred can ever be reclaimed.
£8.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd Winner Kills All: A fast-paced bodyguard thriller for fans of Killing Eve
‘RJ Bailey has created a serial hero to rival Jack Reacher himself’ TONY PARSONSFor fans of BODYGUARD and KILLING EVE – in a fierce game of cat and mouse, the rules are simple: winner kills all. Sam Wylde is hot on the heels of her ex-husband who has snatched her daughter, Jess. An in-demand former bodyguard, Sam was once the best in the business, and now those skills are about to be tested, because as she arrives in south east Asia, having tracked their movements to the seedy nightclub scene in Bali, Sam discovers that she too is being hunted. When an enemy she thought long-dead appears, threatening to thwart her search for Jess, the stakes are raised and Sam must fight to stay one step ahead at all times. Can she save the only person who truly matters to her before it’s too late? Or will the vicious thug Sam thought she’d killed finally take his revenge – and her daughter along with it?Winner Kills All is a breathless race against time, with plenty of twists and turns along the way. A gripping thriller perfect for fans of Simon Kernick and Mason Cross. 'A heroine with an attractive combination of domestic angst, kick-ass action and distinctly unladylike vocabulary. Pulse-quickening fun’ SUNDAY TIMES‘Star Pick’ 'Claustrophobic, compelling and completely gripping' ROBERT ELMS
£7.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd King Otter
When an adorable otter finds a box filled with fancy clothes and a crown, he declares himself King Otter, ruler of his riverside realm. He wastes no time in ordering his loyal subjects to throw him the biggest, grandest parade in history! But will this be a party to remember, or will the King's bossy demands make for a royal disaster? A fabulous fable about the importance of friendship from Jane Porter, author of Pink Lion and illustrator of Wings!
£6.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd The Golden Treasure: Two friends on the adventure of a lifetime!
And when they opened the chest . . . Max saw the greatest treasure of all. He realised he’d had it with him all along.Max knows that the best thing ever to take into school for show-and-tell would be the glowing treasure chest he's spotted on the Unreachable Shelf, but how will he ever get there? Max and his cuddly dog Toffee set off on a magical quest for the golden treasure, only to discover that sometimes the treasure you've been looking is a lot closer than you think . . . Perfect for fans of Tom Percival and David Litchfield, The Golden Treasure is a warm and inviting read that encourages children to appreciate what they have.
£6.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd Marcel's Parcels
Treacle Street is a new lift-the-flap board book series that's perfect for fans of Acorn Wood and Pip and Posy! It's a bright sunny morning on Treacle Street, and Marcel the postman's trolley is FULL of parcels. Join him on his rounds to find out who they're all for – and lift the flaps to find out what's inside!
£6.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd Dark Tides: The compelling new novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Tidelands
THE COMPELLING NEW NOVEL FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF TIDELANDS. Number One bestselling author Philippa Gregory's new historical novel tracks the rise of the Tidelands family in London, Venice and New England. Midsummer Eve, 1670. A turbulent time to seek the truth . . . A wealthy man waits outside a poor London warehouse to meet with Alinor, the woman he failed twenty-one years before. He has everything to offer: money, land, status. He believes she has the only thing he cannot buy: his son and heir. Meanwhile in New England, Alinor’s brother Ned cannot find justice in the New World, as the King’s revenge stretches across the Atlantic and turns the pioneers against each other and against the American Indians. Then, a beautiful widow, Livia, arrives from Venice. She claims Alinor as her mother-in-law and has come with the news that Alinor’s son Rob has drowned in the dark tides of the lagoon. But is this true or could this woman be an imposter . . . ?From London to New England and Venice, the dark tides always rise, and with them come secrets and enemies . . .‘A gripping read spanning London, Venice and New England, all beautifully observed by Gregory’ Woman & HomePraise for Tidelands, the first in the Fairmile series: ‘A gripping and intelligent portrait of a woman fighting to survive in a hostile world’ The Times ‘The first in a planned series . . . The author crafts her material with effortless ease. Her grasp of social mores is brilliant, the love story rings true and the research is, as ever, of the highest calibre’ Elizabeth Buchan, Daily Mail ‘Vivid and beguiling – Philippa Gregory at her best’ Woman & Home‘A compelling novel that shines a light on the struggles of 17th century women’ Daily Mirror‘The novel's power lies in Gregory's evocative portrayal of the tidelands and the everyday lives of those who are bound to them’ Sunday Express ‘Philippa Gregory returns with an English Civil War novel that excels in everything she does best. Historical events are written with breathless immediacy, keeping the reader enthralled even if they know the outcome’ Alys Key, The i ‘If this novel is the first sign of what's to come then readers are in for a treat’ Emma Lee-Potter, Daily Express
£18.00
Simon & Schuster Ltd Shell
'The day the great man sang, heat blazed in haloes over Bennelong Point. This is what Pearl will remember, later, this is what she will say: that his voice turned the air holy. Men, sweat-slicked, stood with bowed heads or hung off scaffolds, swatting at flies and tears. Few looked at the singer; they needed all their senses to hear. Needed their whole bodies, skin and eyes and hearts, to absorb what they couldn’t say: that sacredness had returned to this place. It flowed through them on a single human voice, through their bodies and the building that was rising beneath their hands.' ‘A shimmering love letter to Sydney, with the husk of the emerging Opera House its beating heart … Required reading‘ Australian Women’s WeeklySydney, 1960s: newspaper reporter Pearl Keogh has been relegated to the women’s pages as punishment for her involvement in the anti-war movement, and is desperate to find her two young brothers before they are conscripted. Newly arrived from Sweden, Axel Lindquist is set to work as a sculptor on the Sydney Opera House. Haunted by his father’s acts in the Second World War, he seeks solace in his attempts to create a unique piece that will do justice to the vision of Jørn Utzon, the controversial architect of the Opera House’s construction.Pearl and Axel’s lives orbit and collide, as they both struggle in the eye of the storm. This is a soaring, optimistic novel of art and culture, and of love and fate.A beautifully crafted, spellbinding story of love, loss and identity, set in the shadow of the Vietnam War, for readers who loved All the Light We Cannot See and The Goldfinch. Praise for Shell: ‘Destined to become a classic due to the exquisite imagery of [Olsson’s] prose. If the test of contemporary fiction is whether a second reading delivers fresh layers of insight and meaning, the answer here is an unequivocal yes’ Caroline Baum, Sydney Morning Herald, The Best Books of 2018 ‘This narrative of war and hope, architecture and yearning, and old and new world, makes Shell a novel of energy and enlightenment, and, to boot, a source of delightful reading' Thomas Keneally, author of Schindler’s List and In the Name of the Father ‘A luminous look at a city at a time of change, a time when the building of the Sydney Opera House was a reach for greatness' The New York Times ‘Olsson’s writing is beautiful, captivating, and is enough in itself to recommend this book … Her descriptions are vivid, evocative’ New York Journal of Books ‘This is a novel with a sharp eye, a warm heart and sprawling ambitions, painted on the most splendid canvas of all’ The Australian 'War, architecture, guilt, salvation, politics – this book has a little bit of it all... A fascinating look at Australia during the Vietnam War, the creation of the Sydney Opera House, and the ever-present battle between the violence of war and the beauty of art. Recommended' Historical Novel Society ‘Kristina Olsson is such a graceful, wise and perceptive writer. The woman’s massive heart is one big literary taproot feeding all of us answers about the Australian condition’ Trent Dalton, bestselling author of Boy Swallows Universe
£8.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd The Behaviour of Love
‘A remarkable case study in the unpredictability of attraction . . . fresh and memorable’ Guardian ‘Even-handed and sensitive, this psychologically acute novel is a compassionate reflection on the commitments we make, both professional and personal’ Esquire 'A superb writer, moving with crisp, swift strokes over the thorny question of how far people ever change’ Daily Mail From 2016 Man Booker longlisted Virginia Reeves comes a moving and riveting new novel about the head doctor of a mental institution whose marriage and job come under threat when he and a younger patient develop a relationship. Doctor Ed Malinowski believes he has realized most of his dreams. A passionate, ambitious behavioural psychologist, he is now the superintendent of a mental institution and finally turning the previously crumbling hospital around. He also has a home he can be proud of, and a fiercely independent, artistic wife Laura, whom he hopes will soon be pregnant. But into this perfect vision of his life comes Penelope, a beautiful, young epileptic who should never have been placed in his institution and whose only chance at getting out is Ed. She is intelligent, charming and slowly falling in love with her charismatic, compassionate doctor. As their relationship grows more complicated and Laura stubbornly starts working at his hospital, Ed must weigh his professional responsibilities against his personal ones and find a way to save both his job and his family. A love triangle set in one of the most chaotic, combustible settings imaginable, The Behaviour of Love is an incredibly compulsive, poignant exploration of marriage, lust, and ambition from one of America's great young literary talents. ‘Reeves’s theme – as in her debut – is the limits of forgiveness. She’s a superb writer, moving with crisp, swift strokes over the thorny question of how far people ever change’ Daily Mail Praise for Work Like Any Other: ‘A striking debut about love and redemption, the heavy burdens of family and guilt and learning how to escape them. Powerfully told and lyrically written, there is not a false note in this book. Reeves is a major new talent’ Philipp Meyer, author of The Son ‘Work Like Any Other is an exceptional novel told in clear, direct, and starkly beautiful language. Virginia Reeves has a gift for bringing to life all the tensions that emerge wherever people, place, and progress collide. I absolutely loved it’ Kevin Powers, author of The Yellow Birds ‘Assured and absorbing… a potent mix of icy honesty and heart-wrenching tenderness’ Jim Crace ‘Beautifully written, this is an unusual and moving debut’ Sunday Times ‘A slow-burning pleasure. Brutal, beautiful, and to some significant extent, redemptive’ Daily Mail
£8.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd Red Sparrow
THE MAJOR MOTION PICTURE starring Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Edgerton and Jeremy Irons. Dominika Egorov, former prima ballerina, is sucked into the heart of Putin's Russia, the country she loved, as the twists and turns of a betrayal and counter-betrayal unravel. American Nate Nash, idealistic and ambitious, handles the double agent, codenamed MARBLE, considered one of CIA's biggest assets. He needs to keep his identity secret for as long as the mole can keep supplying golden information.Will Dominika be able to unmask MARBLE, or will the mission see her faith destroyed in the country she has always passionately defended? 'A great and dangerous spy-game is being played today between Russian intelligence and the CIA. Very few people know about it, including many of our politicians in Washington. But Jason Matthews does, and his thrilling Red Sparrow takes us deep inside this treacherous world. He's an insider's insider. He knows the secrets. And he is also a masterful story-teller. I loved this book and could not put it down. Neither will you' Vince Flynn 'Not since the good old days of the Cold War has a classic spy thriller like Red Sparrow come along. Jason Matthews is not making it up; he has lived this life and this story, and it shows on every page. High-level espionage, pulse-pounding danger, sex, double agents and double crosses. What more can any reader want?' Nelson DeMille
£8.09
Simon & Schuster Ltd Making An Elephant
FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF LAST ORDERS AND MOTHERING SUNDAY, and reissued for the first time in Scribner, a brilliant collection of essays, as well as brand new material, that will delight and intrigue readers. In Making an Elephant, Graham Swift brings together a richly varied selection of essays, portraits, poetry, and reflections on his life in writing. Full of insights into his passions and motivations, and wise about the friends, family, and other writers who have mattered to him over the years, this is a revealing and intimate collection. Kazuo Ishiguro advises on how to choose a guitar, Salman Rushdie arrives for Christmas under guard, and Ted Hughes shares the secrets of a Devon river. There are private moments, too, with long-dead writers, as well as musings on history and memory that readers of Swift’s novels will recognize and love.Praise for Mothering Sunday: 'Bathed in light; and even when tragedy strikes, it blazes irresistibly… Swift’s small fiction feels like a masterpiece’ Guardian ‘Alive with sensuousness and sensuality … wonderfully accomplished, it is an achievement’ Sunday Times ‘From start to finish Swift’s is a novel of stylish brilliance and quiet narrative verve. The archly modulated, precise prose (a hybrid of Henry Green and Kazuo Ishiguro) is a glory to read. Now 66, Swift is a writer at the very top of his game’ Evening Standard ‘Mothering Sunday is a powerful, philosophical and exquisitely observed novel about the lives we lead, and the parallel lives – the parallel stories – we can never know … It may just be Swift’s best novel yet’ Observer
£18.00
Simon & Schuster Ltd A Chain Across the Dawn
Bigger spaceships. Bigger explosions. Bigger planets. Bigger problems. It's been three years since Esa joined the ranks of the Justified after her rescue from the fanatical murderers the Pax. Together, Esa and her mentor Kamali travel from planet to planet, searching for children with supernatural abilities. It's hard work, but Esa has never felt more assured of her place in the universe. On a visit to a planet so remote that its inhabitants never learned that the Sect Wars ended over a hundred years ago, they learn that the Justified are not the only people searching for gifted children. There is a creature with unexpected powers who will stop at nothing to get its hands on the children that Esa and Kamali are trying to rescue. With their latest recruit in tow -- a young Wulf child named Sho -- Esa and Kamali will travel halfway across the galaxy in pursuit of answers. But the answers only lead to more questions, and the danger will only increase as their terrifying nemesis turns his eyes on them.* * * Praise for Drew Williams and his debut novel, THE STARS NOW UNCLAIMED* * * ‘The only thing more fun than a bonkers space battle is a whole book packed with bonkers space battles. Come for the exploding spaceships, stay for the intriguing universe’ Becky Chambers, author of The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet ‘A total blast’ Rob Boffard, author of TracerPirates, smugglers, soldiers, spies, snarky spaceships, and really big guns . . . and that's just the first chapter. The action gets bigger, the stakes get higher, and I loved it!’ Claire North, author of The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August ‘A non-stop SF actioner, The Stars Now Unclaimed is a rollercoaster of a read and thoroughly enjoyable debut’ Jamie Sawyer, author of The Lazarus War ‘A massive, galaxy-spanning tale of war, betrayal, friendship, and the kind of commitment people make to a better future even at the cost of their own lives. You don't want to miss this amazing, kick-ass book’ K.B. Wagers, author of Behind the Throne ‘Kamali is a kick-ass heroine who gets the job done and never loses her sense of humor . . . The action is non-stop, and filled with brilliant and unexpected laugh-out-loud moments… a sci-fi thrill ride from start to finish’ Catherine Cerveny, author of The Rule of Luck ‘A fast, fun, and heartfelt adventure through a truly unique universe. From the first page to the last, it's impossible to put down’ K.S. Merbeth, author of Bite
£8.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd More Perfect: The Circle meets Inception in this moving exploration of tech and connection.
'A spectacular exploration of the power of technology. Upon finishing the final page I was left breathless and bereft. A feat of creativity, written with great heart, this is science fiction at its best' Saara El-Arifi, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Final Strife"What does it feel like to wake up in the Panopticon? It’s like waking up for the first time ever. It’s like waking up with a third eye." When Moremi connects her brain to the Panopticon, a network which allows you to see inside the minds and dreams of others, she believes that it will save her from depression, loneliness and, eventually, death. That is until she meets Orpheus. Orpheus was brought up in isolation by a Neo-luddite father. He was raised to question everything, including the government who plan to make the connection procedure compulsory. They promise that connecting everyone to the Panopticon will end human suffering and usher in a more perfect world. But when Orpheus and Moremi uncover the dark side of the technology, they find themselves on opposite sides of a radical divide, between those who believe that the Panopticon will save humanity, and those who will stop at nothing to destroy it. More Perfect is The Circle meets Inception in an immersive and futuristic story that explores love, loneliness and the limits of technology’s ability to save a humanity who might not want to be saved. Praise for Temi Oh 'A major new voice. Read Temi Oh today. Everybody will be reading her tomorrow' Stephen Baxter, author of World Engines 'An ambitious 500-page coming-of-age blockbuster . . .Oh is excellent at portraying the aching sense of loss on a one-way trip to the stars' Guardian 'A tightly wound, emotional epic that asks important questions . . . This novel is a brilliant, beautiful debut. Reading it will change your heart' Christian Kiefer, author of Phantoms
£12.99