Search results for ""little, brown book group""

'Please stop staring at me whilst I'm on the loo I simply want a peaceful poo.'In this uplifting, funny and giftable collection of poems, general force for good Emma Conway explores motherhood in all its glory. A mum to two young humans herself, she revisits the days of potty training and toddler tantrums, deep-dives into first days of school and watching your babies grow into little people, and writes frankly about life after having kids, embracing the mum bod and giving zero sods.Written with huge amounts of warmth and love (and just the right amount of cynicism), this is the reassuring hug-in-a-book all mums need.

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ONE DETECTIVE. ONE MURDERER. BUT WHICH IS WHICH?'Fresh, gripping and addictive! An absolute gem' ALLIE REYNOLDS'If there is a finer crime debut this year, it will be a surprise' DAILY MAIL'Clever and bold' LISA GARDNER'The book everyone's going to be talking about' KAREN DIONNE'A brilliant debut from an excellent new voice ' MY WEEKLY________________Remie Yorke has one shift left at the Mackinnon Hotel in the remote Scottish Highlands before she leaves for good. Then Storm Ezra hits.As temperatures plummet and phone lines go down, an injured man stumbles inside. PC Don Gaines was in a terrible accident on the mountain road. The only other survivor: the prisoner his team was transporting.When a second stranger arrives, Remie reluctantly lets him in from the blizzard. He, too, is hurt. He claims to be a police officer. His name is also Don Gaines.Someone is lying and, with no means of escape, Remie must work out who. If the cold doesn't kill her, one of these men will get there first . . .And don't miss Martin Griffin's unbelievably tense and explosive new thriller, The Last Visitor, available to pre-order now________________What real readers are saying about The Second Stranger'Plenty of heart-stopping moments, twists and turns. A fast-paced story, atmospheric, intriguing, with a great ending. I loved it' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'I enjoyed the excellent descriptions of the hotel, weather and conditions . . . I felt every gust of wind and slammed door' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'A swiftly moving and menacing plot. The remote, atmospheric and unsettling backdrop make this eerie, chilling and unpredictable suspense' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'The suspense and drama build throughout . . . Very clever and unexpected' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'I could not put it down. Would definitely recommend!' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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'Night at the Museum as reimagined by Michael Crichton and Stephen King. . . Luke Dumas's uncommonly intelligent novels thrill me and move me and thrill me some more' - A.J. Finn, best-selling Author of The Woman in the WindowA haunted paleontologist returns to the museum where his sister was abducted years earlier and is faced with a terrifying mystery in this chilling novel, perfect for fans of Katy Hays's The Cloisters and Dan Brown. Dr. Simon Nealy never expected to return to his quiet Pennsylvania hometown, let alone the Hawthorne Museum of Natural History. He was just a boy when his six-year-old sister, Morgan, was abducted from the museum under his watch. The guilt has haunted Simon ever since. But after the loss of the aunt who raised him, Simon feels drawn back to the place where Morgan vanished without a trace.But from the moment he arrives, things aren't what he expected. The Hawthorne is a crumbling ruin and plummeting toward financial catastrophe. Worse, Simon begins seeing and hearing things he can't explain: strange animal sounds. Bloody footprints that no living creature could have left. A prehistoric killer looming in the shadows of the museum.Terrified he's losing his grasp on reality, Simon turns to the handwritten research diaries of his predecessor and uncovers a blood-soaked mystery in the making that could be the answer to everything - if he can solve it before it's too late.Praise for Luke Dumas'Devilishly smart' -Kirkus Reviews, starred review'[A] stellar debut, a complex whydunit'-Publishers Weekly, starred review'Clever, twisty. . . imbued with emotional and psychological insight. . . left me thrilled and looking over my shoulder' -Paul Tremblay, author of The Cabin at the End of the World'A delicious walk along the razor's edge between the imagined and the supernatural' -Andrew Pyper, author of The Demonologist'Readers, beware: this novel is not safe and will have you questioning what's real for many sleepless nights to come'- Clay McLeod Chapman, author of The Remaking'I consumed this book breathlessly, and every time I think of its jaw-dropping ending, I feel a chill all over again'- Megan Collins, author of The Family Plot'A modern-day Gothic tale with claws, it latches into you and doesn't let go' -Jennifer Fawcett, author of Beneath the Stairs

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AMSTERDAM 1980A city in turmoil: rife with drug abuse, riots and terror threats in the run-up to the coronation of Queen Beatrix. As Amsterdam's police force is overwhelmed by the civil war between law enforcement and squatters, local neighbourhood policeman Piet Huizen is seconded from his hometown Alkmaar to this cauldron. It should be daunting but he feels strangely liberated from the responsibilities of home and everyday work. Together with his three colleagues from across the country, he's only there temporarily and can even laugh at his own provincial outlook. Until a student goes missing.AMSTERDAM NOWDetective Lotte Meerman doesn't want to hear about her father Piet Huizen's past because his month in Amsterdam in 1980 led directly to her parent's divorce. The less she knows, the better it is. Then two men die. Their deaths are not treated as suspicious but Lotte realises there is something that links the deceased men: they were both children of her father's former team-mates. And the more she investigates the circumstances of their deaths, the more Lotte comes to realise that she could be next on the list...Praise for Anja de Jager:'Succeeds as a portrait of both a city and, in its heroine, a delightfully dysfunctional personality' Sunday Express'Impressive' The Times

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The reckoning is coming...In an isolated house by Dugort pier a body is found. DS Lucy Golden is shocked to discover that the victim, Sandra Byrne, is a sister of one of her old school friends. To further complicate matters, Ben Lively, one of Lucy's colleagues, is the chief suspect. Lucy must put aside her bias in order to uncover the truth. But the deeper she digs into Sandra's life, the more the past starts to unravel and the less she seems to know. How do you solve a murder when all you have are lies?As Lucy desperately tries to sort out what is true from what is not, Rob, her ex-husband and ex-con, makes a reappearance.And when the reckoning for past mistakes finally arrives, nothing is what it seems.Praise for Martina Murphy'The Branded pulls you straight into the story, snares you, and won't let you escape until you turn the last page' Patricia Gibney'A novel that raises the bar for crime procedurals. . . artful, measured and gripping' Shots Magazine'A twisty mystery, a moody setting and a troubled cop on a tricky case. What more could you want?' Peterborough Evening Telegraph

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In this new mystery for Max Tudor, he is forced to revisit the past to solve a very recent case of murder...Max Tudor thought he'd left the world of deceit when he resigned from MI5 to become an Anglican priest. Then his bishop asks him to return to his Oxford college, St Luke's, to investigate the death of its chaplain, and Max realizes there's no leaving the past behind. At first, Max agrees with the official police verdict of death by natural causes. The Rev. Ace Graybill was as harmless a man as ever lived. It's difficult to see how he managed to cross anyone capable of murder.And the suspects are all above reproach: the celebrated Principal, the cautious bursar, the wise librarian, and a raft of benign students and academics. But someone in the college wanted the kindly chaplain dead... and looks can be very deceiving.Praise for G M Malliet'A superb novel, a wonderful read.' Louise Penny'G M Malliet has brought the village cosy into the twenty first century... Wicked Autumn is a refreshing read for everyone who loves a really good murder.' Charles Todd'There are certain things you want in a village mystery: a pretty setting, a tasteful murder, an appealing sleuth... Malliet delivers all that.' New York Times Book Review'For readers who relish a traditional mystery with a satiric edge, perfect for a cozy fireside read' - The Boston GlobeFrom the series named "Best Mystery of the Year" by Library Journal and The Boston Globe

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Lady Georgiana Rannoch juggles secret missions from the Queen, her beau, and her mother in this mystery in the Royal Spyness series.When royal sleuth Georgie Rannoch receives a letter from her dearest friend Belinda, who's in an Italian villa awaiting the birth of her illegitimate baby, she yearns to run to her side. If only she could find a way to get there! But then opportunity presents itself in a most unexpected way-her cousin the queen asks her to attend a house party in the Italian Lake Country. The Prince of Wales and the dreadful Mrs. Simpson have been invited, and Her Majesty is anxious to thwart a possible secret wedding.What luck! A chance to see Belinda, even if it is under the guise of stopping unwanted nuptials. Only that's as far as Georgie's fortune takes her. She soon discovers that she attended finishing school with the hostess of the party-and the hatred they had for each other then has barely dimmed. Plus, she needs to hide Belinda's delicate condition from the other guests. And her dashing beau, Darcy's (naturally) working undercover on a dangerous mission. Then her actress mother shows up, with a not-so-little task to perform. With all this subterfuge, it seems something is bound to go horribly wrong-and Georgie will no doubt be left to pick up the pieces when it does.

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During WW2 there was a rumour that German spies were landing by parachute in Britain, dressed as nuns...'Spy-masterful storytelling' Sunday Post'Delightfully old-fashioned and prudent of prose, McCall Smith unspools his tales' Daily Mail'[Adds] another treasure to McCall Smith's already glittering library' New York Journal of BooksConradin Muller was an unusual spy. He was recruited in Hamburg in June 1943, much against his will, and sent on his first, and only, mission in late September that year. He failed to send a single report back to Germany, and when the War came to an end in May 1945, he fell to his knees and wept with relief.From a highly reluctant German spy who is drawn to an East Anglian nunnery as his only means of escape, to the strange tale of one of the Cambridge spy ring's adventures with a Russian dwarf, these are Alexander McCall Smith's intriguing and typically inventive stories from the world of espionage.

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Lady Georgiana Rannoch is just back from her honeymoon with dashing Darcy O'Mara when a friend in need pulls her into a twisted Gothic tale of betrayal, deception and, most definitely, murder. . . .I am a bit at loose ends at the moment. My cook, Queenie, is making my new role as mistress of Eynsleigh something akin to constant torture as Darcy is off on another one of his top secret jaunts. And Grandad is busy helping wayward youths avoid lives of crime. So when my dearest friend, Belinda, inherits an old cottage in Cornwall and begs me to go with her to inspect the property, I jump at the chance.After a heart-stopping journey in Belinda's beast of a motorcar, we arrive at the creaky old cottage called White Sails and quickly realize that it is completely uninhabitable. Just when I'm starting to wonder if I would have been better off trying to get Queenie to cook a roast that hasn't been burnt beyond all recognition, we meet Rose Summers, a woman Belinda knew as a child when she spent time in Cornwall. Rose invites us to stay at Trewoma Hall, the lovely estate now owned by her husband, Tony.Belinda confesses that she never liked Rose and had a fling with Tony years ago, so staying with them is far from ideal but beggars can't be choosers as they say. Trewoma is not the idyllic house Belinda remembers. There's something claustrophobic and foreboding about the place. Matters aren't helped by the oppressively efficient housekeeper Mrs. Mannering or by the fact that Tony seems to want to rekindle whatever he and Belinda once had right under his wife's nose.Our increasingly awkward visit soon turns deadly when a member of the household is found murdered and all clues point to Belinda as the prime suspect. I soon learn that some long buried secrets have come back to haunt those in residence at Trewoma Hall and I'll need to sift through the ruins of their past so Belinda doesn't lose her chance at freedom in the present. . . .

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'A new Simon Brett is an event for mystery fans' P. D. James'Murder most enjoyable' Colin DexterThe latest hair-raising adventure featuring the aristocratic brother and sister sleuthing duo!Praise for Simon Brett'One of British crime's most assured craftsmen . . . Crime writing just like in the good old days, and perfect entertainment' Guardian'Few crime writers are so enchantingly gifted' Sunday Times'Simon Brett writes stunning detective stories. I would recommend them to anyone' Jilly Cooper

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What would lockdown internet sensation Britney Spears aka Jackie Weaver do? Are you tired of being patronised, talked over and told to READ THE STANDING ORDERS? (Perhaps not that last one.)For every woman who has endured that I-know-what's-best-for-you tone, this is the book for you. The feminist political icon we didn't know we needed, the indomitable Jackie Weaver shares her own standing orders for life:· Zoom etiquette (don't be another Julie's iPad)· Asserting yourself in the workplace· Making change in your local community· Dealing with tiresome men who go on and on (and on)No-nonsense, witty and incisive, Jackie Weaver will show you that you do have the authority here. This is an essential handbook for getting things done without fuss, keeping cool in the face of adversity and pressing mute on the noise.

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Ireland 1941. A German spy escapes from Mountjoy Prison, clearly with inside help. Yet no one wants to catch him. When the head of Garda Special Branch sends Inspector Stefan Gillespie to find out why, it must be in secret. But he meets a web of deceit in which the past's dark shadows loom over the lies of the present. Alone, except for an alcoholic private detective and a woman who could betray him to the IRA, Stefan embarks on a journey that drags him into a plot to attack British interests in Ireland and an attempt on the life of the IRA Chief-of-Staff by his own men. Crossing into war-torn Northern Ireland, he is suddenly unprotected, a rogue policeman to the Royal Ulster Constabulary, a dangerous spy to the IRA.Praise for Michael Russell'Complex but compelling . . . utterly vivid and convincing' Independent on Sunday'A superb, atmospheric thriller' Irish Independent'A thriller to keep you guessing and gasping' Daily Mail'Atmospheric' Sunday Times

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'Benjamin's latest captivating mystery will keep the reader hooked to the very last page while also bringing the city of Bologna to fascinating life. Bravo!'Camilla Trinchieri, author of Murder in Chianti'Excellent! This time, English detective Daniel Leicester takes us on a hairpin ride through the glamorous, perilous world of Formula One. An absorbing portrayal of what happens when wealth, rivalry and corruption collide, this is a compelling read from a writer who knows Italy inside out and is at the top of his game.'Eleni Kyriacou, author of The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou, selected for BBC 2 Between the Covers Book Club 2023'Raced through this latest in the fab crime series featuring English 'tec Dan Leicester. Set in the murky world of Formula 1, this souped-up thriller should ensure that Tom Benjamin takes his rightful place at the front of the crime-writing grid' Trevor WoodWhen an old man makes a bequest to investigate the mysterious death of his son, English detective Daniel Leicester follows a trail leading to one of Bologna's wealthiest families - makers of some of the world's most coveted supercars. He soon discovers that beneath the glitz and glamour of the Formula One circuit lurk certain people, with sinister interests, who may just be prepared to kill to keep their secrets. Time and tide wait for no man - or woman - and while biology obliges one of Faidate Investigations' team to finally undergo a long-delayed operation, history catches up with another. Shadowing a suspect along one of Bologna's blood-red porticoes or mixing with the glitterati in the paddock at Imola, the English detective comes to learn in Italy the past not only has a long tail, but its sting can be deadly.Praise for Italian Rules'There are two major stars in this book, the laconic private eye Daniel Leicester and the city of Bologna itself. Tom Benjamin mixes these ingredients perfectly making Italian Rules a really great read.' Ian Moore, author of DEATH AND CROISSANTS' Benjamin skilfully combines a cracking crime novel with a love letter to Italian cinema . . . Italian Rules is an absolute treat' Trevor WoodPraise for Tom Benjamin"Tom Benjamin does it again! Last Testament in Bologna is another brilliantly-immersive crime mystery, seeped in the culture and scenery of Italy, that leads you through a compellingly-twisty plot balanced with authentic and heartfelt characterisation, and unspools to a perfectly satisfying conclusion." Philippa East'The locale is brought to life . . . the plot keeps you guessing' The Times'A slow-burning, tense and brooding thriller' The Herald Scotland'Tom Benjamin's debut novel blows the lid off a political cauldron in which Leftist agitators, property moguls, the police and city elders struggle for survival and dominance' Daily Mail'It's an immensely promising debut, which leaves the reader feeling they really know the city.' Morning Star'Another great crime novel set in Bologna' Reader Review'The mystery smolders away nicely and the wrap-up throws some curve balls. Another indulgent offering in this rewarding series.' Reader Review

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This book is inspired by true events but is not a biography.The truth is My Truth is not The Truth, and that's as honest as I can be. It's partially true, rather than painfully true, and I have possibly been economical with the truth, Your Honour.Basically, I made this sh*t up . . .While James Blunt's crimes against music are well-documented, he also has some stories that are not. In Loosely Based On A Made-Up Story, James reveals his most riotous anecdotes to date for your amusement - and his parents' horror - in this highly anticipated non-memoir.From his questionable Norfolk roots, eccentric family, boarding school antics, misjudged military service, rise to music stardom and tour escapades, James delves into his (surprisingly) fascinating life to date. What do you do when your mother writes irate emails to the future prime minister defending your honour? What does it take to run a male escort agency? And why exactly should you refrain from crowd-surfing? Find out here, folks . . .Were the stories in this book grossly exaggerated in an attempt to impress? Maybe. But one thing is for certain: you won't want to miss it.

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'The first in an effervescent new mystery series. . . a treat for historical mystery lovers looking for a new series to savour (or devour)' NEW YORK TIMES'A gorgeous debut mystery with a charming and fearless sleuth . . . spellbinding' SUJATA MASSEY'Told with real warmth and wit. . . A perfect read for fans of Alexander McCall Smith and Vaseem Khan' - ABIR MUKHERJEEA NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF 2022Murder and mayhem . . . monsoon season is coming._____________________________Solving crimes isn't easy.Add a jealous mother-in-law and having to wear a flowing sari into the mix, and you've got a problem.When clever, headstrong Kaveri moves to Bangalore to marry doctor Ramu, she's resigned herself to a quiet life.But that all changes the night of the party at the Century Club, where she escapes to the garden for some peace - and instead spots an uninvited guest in the shadows. Half an hour later, the party turns into a murder scene. When a vulnerable woman is connected to the crime, Kaveri becomes determined to save her and launches a private investigation to find the killer, tracing his steps from an illustrious brothel to an Englishman's mansion. She soon finds that sleuthing in a sari isn't as hard as it seems when you have a talent for maths, a head for logic and a doctor for a husband.And she's going to need them all as the case leads her deeper into a hotbed of danger, sedition and intrigue in Bangalore's darkest alleyways . . .BOOK ONE IN THE BANGALORE DETECTIVES CLUB SERIES*INCLUDES A BONUS CHAPTER OF DELICIOUS INDIAN RECIPES* ___________If you love murder mystery series like Alexander McCall Smith's The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Vaseem Khan's Baby Ganesh Agency and Ovidia Yu's Crown Colony series, you won't want to miss THE BANGALORE DETECTIVES CLUB, Book One in a brand new series from Harini Nagendra'Told with real warmth and wit. . . Harini Nagendra has created an intricate and fiendish mystery with a wonderful duo of amateur sleuths Kaveri and Ramu at its heart, and capturing the atmosphere and intensity of Bangalore in the roaring twenties. I can't wait for the next instalment. A perfect read for fans of Alexander McCall Smith and Vaseem Khan' - ABIR MUKHERJEE'Riveting. [Nagendra's] use of colonial history is thoroughly fascinating, with devastating depictions of the airy condescension of the British. A fine start to a promising series' BOOKLIST Starred Review'Harini Nagendra takes us to a wonderfully unfamiliar world in this delightful debut mystery. . .I couldn't put it down' VICTORIA THOMPSON, USA Today bestselling author of Murder on Madison Square'Absolutely charming . . . this one is a winner!' CONNIE BERRY, USA Today best-selling and Agatha-nominated author of The Kate Hamilton Mysteries.'An enjoyable trip back in time with a spunky young woman for company.' R V RAMAN, author of Fraudster and A Will to Kill 'This lush mystery will transport you to heady 1920s Bangalore, where new bride Kaveri stumbles into sleuthing-while dragging her doctor-husband into the fray. Mouth-watering fashion and food set against simmering colonial intrigue in this delicious whodunit can be devoured in one sitting.' SUMI HAHN, author of The Mermaid from Jeju'I loved The Bangalore Detectives Club . . . Kaveri especially is charming.' OVIDIA YU, author of The Cannonball Tree Mystery'Nagendra makes her fiction debut with an exceptional series launch. . . rich, edifying, and authentic' Publishers Weekly, Starred Review'Deliciously exotic' Sunday Post

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When new bride Kaveri Murthy reluctantly agrees to investigate a minor crime during the blood moon eclipse to please her domineering mother-in-law, she doesn't expect to stumble upon a murder - again.With anti-British sentiments on the rise, a charismatic religious leader growing in influence, and the fight for women's suffrage gaining steam, Bangalore is turning out to be a far more dangerous place than Kaveri ever imagined, and everyone's motives are suspect.Together with the Bangalore Detectives Club - a mixed bag of people including street urchins, nosy neighbours, an ex-prostitute and a policeman's wife - Kaveri once again sleuths in her sari and hunts for clues in her beloved 1920s Ford. But when Kaveri's life is suddenly put in danger, she realizes that she might be getting uncomfortably close to the truth. So she must now draw on her wits and find the killer -- before they find her...Praise for Harini Nagendra 'A gorgeous debut mystery with a charming and fearless sleuth . . . spellbinding' SUJATA MASSEY'Told with real warmth and wit. . . A perfect read for fans of Alexander McCall Smith and Vaseem Khan' - ABIR MUKHERJEE'A cosy mystery that warmly illuminates a time and place not often examined in fiction' VASEEM KHAN'A beautifully painted picture of a woman's life in 1920s India' M W CRAVEN'A delight' CATRIONA MCPHERSON'The classic whodunnit with the added appeal of a female sleuth in Colonial India. . . fascinating' RHYS BOWEN'Told with real warmth and wit. . . Harini Nagendra has created an intricate and fiendish mystery with a wonderful duo of amateur sleuths Kaveri and Ramu at its heart, and capturing the atmosphere and intensity of Bangalore in the roaring twenties. I can't wait for the next instalment. A perfect read for fans of Alexander McCall Smith and Vaseem Khan' - ABIR MUKHERJEE'Riveting. [Nagendra's] use of colonial history is thoroughly fascinating, with devastating depictions of the airy condescension of the British. A fine start to a promising series' BOOKLIST Starred Review'Harini Nagendra takes us to a wonderfully unfamiliar world in this delightful debut mystery. . .I couldn't put it down' VICTORIA THOMPSON, USA Today bestselling author of Murder on Madison Square'Absolutely charming . . . this one is a winner!' CONNIE BERRY, USA Today best-selling and Agatha-nominated author of The Kate Hamilton Mysteries.'An enjoyable trip back in time with a spunky young woman for company.' R V RAMAN, author of Fraudster and A Will to Kill'This lush mystery will transport you to heady 1920s Bangalore, where new bride Kaveri stumbles into sleuthing-while dragging her doctor-husband into the fray. Mouth-watering fashion and food set against simmering colonial intrigue in this delicious whodunit can be devoured in one sitting.' SUMI HAHN, author of The Mermaid from Jeju'I loved The Bangalore Detectives Club . . . Kaveri especially is charming.' OVIDIA YU, author of The Cannonball Tree Mystery'Nagendra makes her fiction debut with an exceptional series launch. . . rich, edifying, and authentic' Publishers Weekly, Starred Review'Deliciously exotic' Sunday Post

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'A universal love story' Guardian'Beautiful and very funny' Brett Anderson'This book glows in the heart of the reader' Max Porter'This book is such a sneaky head f*ck - an epic poem in an ancient style about the brutalities of modern love, a masculine interrogation of feminine heartbreak, a really beautiful way to spend an evening' Lena DunhamThe second time you came, we went from bar to bar to bar. It made the city feel smaller. Like a map we were folding to the size of a stamp. We were good at that. We could have fit an entire universe inside a matchbox. Love builds up little by little and that's why it makes people reach for words like root and sediment and other words to do with rocks and trees. But what about the dismantling? Does it happen that way too? Because it feels like it is happening much, much faster. And I am reaching for words like landslide and like wave and like storm ...Exquisitely crafted, wildly imaginative and as darkly funny as it is moving, Hourglass is a revolutionary love story. It turns time upside down, combs the intimate wreckage of heartbreak for something universal, and asks what it means to lose what you love.'Hourglass will stay with me for a long time. Hypnotic' Lemn Sissay'Evocative, ecstatic and saturated with off-kilter wit' Alexandra Kleeman

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Ten years after the debut of the international bestseller The Whisperer, the challenge begins again.The phone call to the police arrives at dusk from an isolated farmhouse, fifty miles from the city. A terrified woman's voice pleads for help. But a violent storm rages in the area and the first available patrol only succeeds in reaching her hours later. It is too late. Something perturbing has happened, something which leaves the investigators in the dark. Just one person is able to reveal the message hidden behind this act of evil, but this person is no longer a policeman. She left her work as a missing persons investigator and withdrew from society to live an isolated existence beside a lake; her daughter Alice her only companion. Even so, when she is called upon to help with this case, Mila Vasquez cannot shirk her duty. The investigation involves her closely . . . more than she could ever believe.It is a game and it has only just started.Because he is always a step ahead.

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The twenty-third book in the perennially adored The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series.Grace Makutsi's husband, Phuti, is in a bind. An international firm is attempting to undercut his prices in the office furniture market. Phuti has always been concerned with quality and comfort, but this new firm seems interested only in profits. To make matters worse, they have a slick new advertising campaign that seems hard to beat. Nonetheless with Mma Ramotswe's help, Phuti comes up with a campaign that may just do the trick.Meanwhile, Mma Makutsi is approached by an old friend who has a troubled son. Grace and Phuti agree to lend a hand, but the boy proves difficult to reach, and the situation is more than they can handle on their own. It will require not only all of their patience and dedication, but also the help of Mma Ramotswe and the formidable Mma Potokwani in order to help the child.Faced with more than her fair share of domestic problems, Mma Makutsi deals with it all with her usual grace. That, along with the kindness, generosity, and good sense that the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is known for, assure us that in the end, all these matters will be set right.

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For more than two centuries Egypt was ruled by the most powerful, successful, and richest dynasty of kings in its long end epic history. They included the female king Hatshepsut, the warrior kings Thutmose III and Amenhotep II, the religious radical Akhenaten and his queen Nefertiti, and most famously of all for the wealth of his tomb the short-lived boy king Tutankhamun. The power and riches of the Pharaohs of the 18th Dynasty came at enormous cost to Egypt's enemies and most of its people. This was an age of ruthless absolutism, exploitation, extravagance, brutality, and oppression in a culture where not only did Egypt plunder its neighbours but Egyptian kings and their people robbed one another.3,500 years ago ancient Egypt began two centuries in which it became richer and more powerful than any other nation at the time, ruled by the kings of the 18th Dynasty. They presided over a system built on war, oppression, and ruthlessness, pouring Egypt's wealth into grandiose monuments, temples, and extravagant tombs. Tutankhamun was one of the last of the line and one of the most obscure. Among his predecessors were some of the most notorious and enigmatic figures of all of Egypt's history. Pharaohs of the Sun is their story, showing how the glamour and gold was tainted by selfishness, ostentation, and the systematic exploitation of Egypt's people and enemies.

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'Elegant and multi-focal. Glorious!' Simon GarfieldThe humble pair of glasses might just be one the world's greatest inventions, allowing millions to see a world that might otherwise appear a blur. And yet how much do many of us even really think about these things perched on the ends of our noses? In this eye-opening history Travis Elborough traces the fascinating true story of spectacles: from their inception as primitive visual aids to monkish scribes right through to today's designer eyewear and the augmented reality of Google Glass. And taking in along the way such delights as lorgnettes, monocles, pince-nez, tortoise-shell 'Windsors' and Ray Ban aviator shades. Peering into early theories about how the eye worked, he considers the theological and philosophical arguments about the limits of perception by Greek thinkers, Roman statesmen and Arab scholars. There are encounters with ingenious medieval Italian glassmakers, myopic Renaissance rulers and spectacle-makers and opticians, brilliant, mad, bad and dangerous to know, in the Londons of Samuel Pepys, Dr Johnson and Sherlock Holmes.We learn how eyeglasses were the making of the silent movie star Harold Lloyd and the rock n roller Buddy Holly and helped liberate an exasperated John Lennon from Beatlemania. Get hip to horn-rims with Dizzy Gillespie and Michael Caine And see girls in glasses through the lenses of the crime fiction by Dorothy L Sayers and Raymond Chandler and the full-screen figure of Marilyn Monroe. Through the Looking Glasses is about vision and the need for humanity to see clearly, and where the impulse to improve our eyesight has led us. The society of the spectacle may finally be upon us . . . but how much of it do we really see?

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In 1861, the great journalist and social advocate Henry Mayhew published London Labour and the London Poor, an oral history of those living and working on the streets of Victorian London. Nothing on this scale had been attempted before.On the surface, the streets of London in 1861 and in 2019 are entirely different places. But dig just a little and the similarities are striking and, in many cases, shocking. Taking Mayhew's book as inspiration, Jennifer Kavanagh explores the changes and continuities by collecting and mapping stories from today's London. Beggars, street entertainers, stalls selling a variety of food, clothes, second-hand goods, thieves and the sex trade are all still predominant. The rise of the gig economy has brought a multitude of drivers and cyclists, delivering and moving goods, transporting meals and people, all organized through smart phones but using the same streets as Mayhew's informants. The precarity faced by this new workforce would also be familiar to the street-sellers of Mayhew's day. In terms of resources, gone are the workhouses, almshouses, paupers' lunatic asylums. Enter shelters, day centres, hostels, and food banks. Let Me Take You By The Hand is an x-ray of life on the streets today: the stories in their own words of those who work and live in our capital.

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'Chris Brookmyre is a genius, every new book of his is a cause for celebration' --- RICHARD OSMAN'Keeps you guessing until the very end - after an avalanche of revelations and twists' --- THE TIMES, BOOK OF THE MONTHOne hen weekend, seven secrets... but only one worth killing forJen's hen party is going to be out of control...She's rented a luxury getaway on its own private island. The helicopter won't be back for seventy-two hours. They are alone. They think.As well as Jen, there's the pop diva and the estranged ex-bandmate, the tennis pro and the fashion guru, the embittered ex-sister-in-law and the mouthy future sister-in-law. It's a combustible cocktail, one that takes little time to ignite, and in the midst of the drunken chaos, one of them disappears. Then a message tells them that unless someone confesses her terrible secret to the others, their missing friend will be killed. Problem is, everybody has a secret. And nobody wants to tell.PRAISE FOR CHRIS BROOKMYRE'Strikingly original and definitively Brookmyre - there's nothing he can't do'Mick Herron'I recommend The Cut SO HIGHLY! A fast-paced thriller, lovely characters, [and] it kept me guessing'Marian Keyes'A twisty spiralling rabbit hole of a book that draws you deeper with every chapter. Brilliantly original, compulsively readable, right to the final page'Ruth Ware'Dark, heartfelt, stylish and thrilling, the kind of wonderfully original tale I just adore. Chris Brookmyre is a storytelling mastermind'Chris Whitaker'This is a special novel. A brilliant, original, up-to-the-minute tale with all of the dark, edgy, humorous brilliance we've come to expect from one of the finest crime fiction writers in the world'Abir Mukherjee

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'These Benson and de Vere stories are unputdownable... A five star bravura performance. This writer gets better and better' A.N. WilsonThe Hither Green murder...William Benson knows what it's like to be accused of something you didn't do - the fear, the vulnerability and the nightmare of watching your life unravel. Now he speaks on behalf of those who have no voice, defending anyone who claims to be innocent. This time, it's Karmen Naylor, estranged daughter of a south London crime boss, fighting a murder charge and desperate to be believed. But Benson becomes trapped into a grudge match between two rival clans, endangering himself and those he loves. Tess de Vere is by Benson's side but she's keeping something from him. A stranger on the trail of a secret death squad operating in Northern Ireland during the Troubles brings a terrible secret into the heart of her own life. And he won't go away.Can Tess and Will find their way through all the secrets and the lies? Should justice always be served - and if so, at what cost?Praise for the Benson and de Vere series'Assured storytelling and highly intriguing moral complexity. I tore through it' Chris Brookmyre'The courtroom scenes are brilliant, and Benson really comes alive under pressure. Stubborn, fitful and contradictory, he's a highly individualised creation' Spectator'Punchy dialogue and devious plotlines . . . compelling' The Times

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Love Lin-Manuel Miranda's hit musical Hamilton? Discover the untold story of the brilliant Eliza Schuyler Hamilton!Coming of age in revolutionary New York, Elizabeth Schuyler is proud to champion the fight for independence. And when she meets Alexander Hamilton, Washington's penniless but passionate right hand man, she's captivated by the young officer's charisma and brilliance. Despite the perilous times and Alexander's background, they fall in love and are soon married. From glittering balls to bloody street riots, the Hamiltons are at the centre of it all - including America's first sex scandal, which forces Eliza to struggle through heartbreak and betrayal to find forgiveness. And when a duel destroys Eliza's hard-won peace, the grieving widow fights her husband's enemies to preserve Alexander's legacy. But long-buried secrets threaten everything Eliza believes about her marriage and her own legacy. Questioning her tireless devotion to the man and country that have broken her heart, she's left with one last battle - to understand the flawed man she married and imperfect union he could never have created without her . . .Haunting, moving, and beautifully written, Dray and Kamoie use thousands of letters and original sources to tell Eliza's story as it's never been told before - not just as the wronged wife but as a strong woman who shaped an American legacy in her own right.'Full of history, engaging characters who shimmer on each page, and a tremendous love story, this is a book for everyone' Karen White, New York Times bestselling author'An unforgettable story of the woman behind Hamilton - a triumph!' Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author'My Dear Hamilton is the book of the year' Kate Quinn, USA Today bestselling author of The Alice Network'Historical fiction at its most addictive!' Stephanie Thornton, author of The Tiger Queens'An incredible, surprising, and altogether lovely tribute to the woman who stood beside one of the most unknowable, irascible, energetic, and passionate of men' Lars Hedbor, author of The Path: Tales from a Revolution

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'One of the clearest and most thorough statements of an argument often made about the country: that its government has relied on constant stimulus to keep growth strong, an addiction that is bound to backfire. Second, he comes closer than any previous writer to covering the Chinese economy as Michael Lewis, the hugely popular author of The Big Short, might do. His analysis is informed but accessible, animated by anecdotes and characters, some colourful, some verging on tragic . . . McMahon is among the most compelling of the many analysts who conclude that China's economic miracle will end painfully' The EconomistThe world has long considered China a juggernaut of economic strength, but since the global financial crisis, the country's economy has ballooned in size, complexity, and risk. Once dominated by four state-owned banks, the nation's financial system is a tangle of shadow banking entities, informal financial institutions, and complex corporate funding arrangements that threaten growth, stability, and reform efforts. The country has accumulated so much debt so quickly that economists increasingly predict a financial crisis that could make 'Brexit' or Greece's economic ruin seem minor, and could undermine China's ascent as a superpower. Earlier this year, President Xi Jinping issued an urgent call for reform that gives the country until 2020 to transform its economy - a vaguely-defined objective that most economists agree is unrealistic. Whether or not China will be responsible for the next global recession, as some experts forecast, the fate of its economy will have far-reaching consequences for the rest of the world. Yet the inner workings of China's financial system are still very much a mystery to most outsiders. Now more than ever, as the country's slowing economy is being felt around the globe, it is essential to understand how China allowed its economy to become so mired in debt. China's Great Wall of Debt is a penetrating examination of the country's opaque financial system and the complex factors - demographic shifts; urbanization; industrialization; a pervasive over-reliance on debt-fueled investments - that have brought the country to the brink of crisis. Anchored by stories of China's cities and its people; from factory workers and displaced farmers to government officials and entrepreneurs, the narrative will take readers inside the country's ghost cities, zombie companies, start-ups, and regulatory institutions as McMahon explains how things got so bad, why fixing the problems is so hard, and what the economic outlook means for China and for the rest of us.

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This is the story, based on fact, of a boy who couldn't speak until the age of seven. Now twenty, he describes the events of his life.Four-year-old Shahaab has not started talking. The family doctor believes there is no cause for concern; nevertheless, Shahaab is ridiculed by others who call him 'dumb'. Young Shahaab doesn't understand what the word means and thinks it is a compliment, until one day his cousin plays a trick on him to prove to everyone that the boy truly is the neighbourhood idiot.When his mother recounts the incident to her husband, Shahaab is crushed to learn that his father also thinks the boy's speech impediment indicates that his son is an idiot and thus brings shame on the family. Shahaab soon recognizes that his father's love and esteem is concentrated on his older brother, Arash, and his younger sister, Shadee. In his innocent and deeply hurt child's mind, he begins to believe that the 'good' and 'intelligent' children like his older brother are their fathers' sons. On the other hand, children like him who are 'clumsy' and 'problematic' are their mothers' sons. From that moment on, his world, which he thought was filled with beauty and kindness, suddenly turns harsh, full of anger and insult. He begins to lash out, taking childish revenge on those around him, encouraged by his two imaginary friends, Esi and Bibi.No one in the family can understand Shahaab's wild behaviour except his maternal grandmother, who seems to possess the understanding and the kindness he so desperately craves. Their growing bond leads to a deep friendship in which Shahaab is able to experience some happiness and finally find his voice.

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How did the delphinium get its name? Which parts of the body lend their names to auriculas and orchids? Who are the gentian, lobelia and heuchera named after? Why are nasturtiums and antirrhinums connected? What does an everlasting pea have to do with Indian miniature paintings?These are some of the questions answered in Peter Parker's adventurous exploration of the mysteries of Botanical Latin.Evolved over many centuries and often thought to belong to the rarefied world of scholars and scientists, this invented language is in fact a very useful tool for everyday gardening. It allows us to find our way around nurseries; it sorts out confusions when two plants have the same English name; and it gives us all kinds of information about how big or small a plant will grow, what shape or colour it will develop, and what habitat it prefers.In his lively survey, Parker agues that Botanical Latin is not merely useful, but fun. The naming of plants draws upon geography, social and medical history, folklore, mythology, language, literature, the human body, the animal kingdom and all manner of ancient beliefs and superstitions.The book, beautifully illustrated with old woodcuts, explains how and why plants have been named, includes handy lists of identifying adjectives, and takes the reader down some of the stranger byways of human endeavour and eccentricity.

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'Mark Lewisohn knows the Fab Four better than they knew themselves' The GuardianThis extended special edition of Mark Lewisohn's magisterial book Tune In is a true collector's item, featuring hundreds of thousands of words of extra material, as well as many extra photographs. It is the complete, uncut and definitive biography of the Beatles' early years, from their family backgrounds through to the moment they're on the cusp of their immense breakthrough at the end of 1962.Designed, printed and bound in Great Britain, this high-quality edition consists of two beautifully produced individual hardbacks printed on New Langely Antique Wove woodfree paper, with red-and-white head and tail bands and red ribbon marker. The two books will sit within a specially designed box and lid featuring soft touch and varnish finishes. The whole product comes shrinkwrapped for extra protection. Mark Lewisohn's biography is the first true and accurate account of the Beatles, a contextual history built upon impeccable research and written with energy, style, objectivity and insight. This extended special edition is for anyone who wishes to own the complete story in all its stunning and extraordinary detail. This is genuinely, and without question, the lasting word from the world-acknowledged authority.'Mark Lewisohn is the world's leading Beatles historian and writer' Nothing is Real - A Beatles Podcast 'An absorbing and enthralling account of the lives of all the leading players, written with integrity and honesty' thecavernclub.com

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'Essential reading for anyone who wants to understand history - and then go out and change it' Barack Obama'The authentic voice of Mandela shines through this book' The Times'Burns with the luminosity of faith in the invincible nature of human hope and dignity' Andre Brink'Splendid... This is his story and the story of that struggle and a people's victory' Desmond TutuThe riveting memoirs of the outstanding moral and political leader of our time, Long Walk to Freedom brilliantly re-creates the drama of the experiences that helped shape Nelson Mandela's destiny. Emotive, compelling and uplifting, Long Walk to Freedom is the exhilarating story of an epic life; a story of hardship, resilience and ultimate triumph told with the clarity and eloquence of a born leader.

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'A brilliantly funny new voice' Jenny ColganImagine the worst day of your life... Now imagine living it on repeat...This Friday the 13th has been particularly unlucky. Jess has been fired, she's gone from dating two guys to none and she's been kicked out of her flat. As she falls asleep, she is filled with relief that this terrible day is over. Tomorrow she will try to fix things, tomorrow cannot be any worse than this. Except it is. Maybe not worse... but exactly the same. When Jess wakes up the next morning, it is Friday the 13th again. And again. And again. And again. Jess knows how this goes, she's seen the films: this is her wake up call. But she had no idea she needed a wake up call. How is Jess supposed to work out where she's gone wrong when, as far as she's concerned, she's been having the time of her life?Perfect for fans of Mhairi McFarlane, this modern-day Groundhog Day is the ultimate escape for anyone who has ever wanted a do-over.'Hilarious and utterly unputdownable' Woman's Own'Such fun, and so deftly written, with a perfect ending.' Jill Mansell'A gem - funny, warm, and surprising' Adam Kay'A poignant and original debut all in one' Sun

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THE MOST TALKED ABOUT BOOK OF THE YEAR'As filthy as it is funny, you won't be able to put it down' Dolly Alderton'Extremely funny, touching and wonderfully refreshing on women and sexual desire' Marian Keyes'You will be intoxicated by this witty and honest exploration of female desire' Elle'Insatiable is a story about loneliness and trying to fit in, about our desire to be loved and included, how it's easy to confuse being wanted with being used. It'll draw people in with the shagging, but people will stay because they're rooting for Violet.' Evening StandardStuck in a dead-end job, broken-hearted, broke and estranged from her best friend: Violet's life is nothing like she thought it would be. She wants more - better friends, better sex, a better job - and she wants it now. So, when Lottie - who looks like the woman Violet wants to be when she grows up - offers Violet the chance to join her exciting start-up, she bites. Only it soon becomes clear that Lottie and her husband Simon are not only inviting Violet into their company, they are also inviting her into their lives.Seduced by their townhouse, their expensive candles and their Friday-night sex parties, Violet cannot tear herself away from Lottie, Simon or their friends. But is this really the more Violet yearns for? Will it grant her the satisfaction she is so desperately seeking?Insatiable is about women and desire - lust, longing and the need to be loved. It is a story about being unable to tell whether you are running towards your future or simply running away from your past. The result is at once tender and sad, funny and hopeful.*'This novel shines with dark humour, sharp intelligence, sizzling sex scenes, and a piercing portrayal of loneliness. Not even the most insatiable reader could ask for more.' Katherine Heiny'Filthy, funny, and raw, Insatiable is utterly addictive' Louise O'Neill'Come for the absolute filth and stay for the empathetic and sensitive way that Daisy Buchanan writes about all the chaos and conflict of being a young woman in a hard-edged, hard-faced world.' Red'A piercing insight into the unreal demands modern women place on themselves and told with real humour and energy, we love this book so much' Stylist'A raucous unravelling of female desire and bodily pleasures, in all their maddening complexity' Emma Jane Unsworth'Few books out in the early half of the year are as flat-out entertaining as Buchanan's fizzy, filthy story of a young woman's sexual awakening.' i paper'I'd call Insatiable Jilly Cooper for the Instagram generation, but that wouldn't do this book justice' Lauren Bravo'Daisy brings characters to life like no other writer, pumping them full of humour, vulnerability and sexy sexy sex' Lucy Vine'Gloriously rude and brave about the nature of women's desire' Sophia Money-Coutts'I raced through this funny, filthy and utterly compelling debut about female sexuality, ambition and vulnerability... I'm still thinking about it long after turning the final page.' Daily Mail'I can't believe this is a fiction debut - she writes stories like she's been doing it for fifty years' Laura Jane Williams'Insatiable is an unashamedly filthy and yet deeply sensitive exploration of female desire, aspiration and vulnerability, and Daisy is an exciting new voice in contemporary fiction.' Hannah Beckerman'It reminded me of Bridget Jones's Diary - if Bridget were bisexual and Daniel Cleaver were a couple who were into group sex.' Julie Cohen'Erica Jong for the Instagram age.' Keith Stuart'Intelligent, observant prose that gives a snap-shot of life experienced by millennial women.' Kate Sawyer'Like going for a drink with your wisest and smuttiest friend' Jessica Moor'Funny, filthy ... Buchanan offers astute social observation, while the development of Violet as an ardent yet vulnerable heroine to root for makes her a millennial counterpart to Jilly Cooper's Bella or Octavia.' The Sunday Times

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It was shit. Then the shit hit the fan. Would someone find a way of making it worse? Of course they would! Welcome to THE SHITSHOW...'There's a lot going on these days. Trump, Brexit, Call the Midwife . . . The rise of the robots . . . The rise of Easy Peelers . . .The authors of the bestselling Is It Just Me Or Is Everything Shit? series present an hilarious examination of the new age, asking:~Is Donald Trump a literary character?~The AI/robot takeover: has it already happened?~Are the animals ganging up on us too?~What is an LGBT sandwich?~Would you like to make it as an influencer?~Is Brexit Britain like the 1950s, or the 1930s, or, er, the 780s?~What is 5G?~What is consciousness?~Do you need a smart toilet?~Are you stronger than clickbait?Just get on with it!Whatever 'it' is.

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Acknowledged as Rebecca West's fictional masterpiece, The Fountain Overflows introduces the crisis-ridden Aubrey family. This Real Night continues their remarkable story.It is the early 1900s. With the disappearance of Piers, her feckless and gambling husband, and the sale of some valuable paintings, Clare Aubrey has a firmer grip on the purse strings. Rose and Mary are at music college, struggling for artistic perfection, while the self-assured Cordelia has fallen into the role of art dealer's assistant. Richard Quin, beloved younger brother, is contemplating Oxford. The children's coming of age, with its gradual acceptance of love and loss, becomes all the more poignant as the events of the First World War gather pace...

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Cousin Rosamund unfolds the final chapters of the saga that began with The Fountain Overflows, Rebecca West's acknowleged masterpiece, and continued with This Real Night.As the glitter of the 1920s gives way to the Depression, Rose and Mary find themselves feted and successful pianists. But their happiness is diminished by their cousin's unfathomable marriage to a man they perceive as grotesque. Lacking her cousin Rosamund's intuitive understanding, Rose looks to the surrogate wisdom of Mr Morpurgo, while quiet days with Aunt Lily and the Darcys at their pub on the Thames offer respite from the tensions of foreign concert tours. With approaching middle age Rose gains in perspective. Yet the most exciting development still awaits her: the discovery of and delight in her own sexuality...

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INTRODUCED BY MAGGIE O'FARRELL'A great work of literature, the product of a questing, burning intellect' MAGGIE O'FARRELL 'Even if the themes being explored might seem irrelevant . . . this is not the case' GUARDIAN'I loved the unnerving, sarcastic tone, the creepy ending' PARIS REVIEW Based on the author's own experiences, The Yellow Wallpaper is the chilling tale of a woman driven to the brink of insanity by the 'rest cure' prescribed after the birth of her child. While she is isolated in a crumbling mansion, in a room with bars on the windows, the tortuous pattern of the yellow wallpaper winds its way into the recesses of her mind. Charlotte Perkins Gilman was America's leading feminist intellectual of the early twentieth century and a brilliant writer, editor and speaker. The Yellow Wallpaper is her masterpiece.

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The new Great British Bake Off Book - KITCHEN CLASSICS - is available now!A Bake for All Seasons is The Great British Bake Off's ode to Nature, packed with timely bakes lovingly created to showcase seasonal ingredients and draw inspiration from the changing moods and events of the year.Whether you're looking to make the best of asparagus in spring, your prize strawberries in summer, pumpkin in autumn or blood oranges in winter, these recipes - from Prue, Paul, the Bake Off team and the 2021 bakers themselves - offer insight and inspiration throughout the year. From celebration cakes to traybakes, loaf cakes, and breads to pies, tarts and pastries, this book shows you how to make the very best of what each season has to offer.

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At the start of 2021 Richard Herring was diagnosed with testicular cancer. For a man whose output includes a stand-up tour titled Talking Cock and who regularly interrogates our attitudes towards masculinity, it was a diagnosis that came with additional layers of complexity.Telling Rich's personal story alongside an exploration of what defines masculinity and 'maleness' in society, Can I Have My Ball Back? is not your typical cancer memoir. Whether they're nuts, bollocks, gonads or family jewels; from the phrase 'grow some balls' to infamous WWII songs about Hitler; Rich unpicks the tangle of emotions around his own testing times.

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'Sharp, bawdy, yet still deeply touching. It's shockingly elegant, and elegantly shocking' LENA DUNHAM'A very funny novel about falling for a fantasy and finding love for one's own self' MELISSA BRODER, author of The Pisces'Funny, horny, heartbreaking' CAROLINE O'DONOGHUE, author of Promising Young Women____________________Eliott is a TV writer with a perfect-penised boyfriend. He's living the dream.But behind the glossy veneer he's been papering over cracks, and they're starting to show. He's creatively stifled, he's drinking a little too often and his cerebral palsy makes him feel like gay Shrek.When River walks in, Elliott's life is turned upside down in the best way. River is funny, charming and makes him feel seen. But maybe that's part of the deal when you hire a sex worker.Eliott is lost and he needs someone, anyone, to point him in the right direction. After all, it's a long limp towards redemption.A hilarious, sexy, ground-breaking debut novel about the intersection of queerness and disability, and discovering who you really are.____________________What readers are saying about Just By Looking at Him'Darkly funny and poignant''Such a fresh take . . . I was gripped from the first page''Brutally honest, funny and poignant look at modern life through the lens of disability''This book is honest, hilarious, and raw . . . I loved literally every character''The author has such a strong voice and has created in Eliot a character that I will not soon forget . . . I found myself laughing out loud''Reads like your favorite whip- smart sitcom everyone looks forward to at the end of the day''One of the funniest books I have ever read'

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GOLD. THEFT. MURDER. A ROAD TRIP TO DIE FOR.'An unrelenting page-turner' CHRIS WHITAKER, author of WE BEGIN AT THE END'A triumph' THE i'The real star is the desolate Outback' THE TIMES'Thrilling . . . It left me breathless' ALEX MARWOOD, author of THE WICKED GIRLS'Perfectly paced' SCOTSMAN'Razor-sharp wit meets pumping action' FEMI KAYODE, author of LIGHTSEEKERS'Beautifully done' LITERARY REVIEW'A thrilling cross-country chase through remote Australia' SUNDAY POST'A breathless Outback chase' THE AGE____________Charlie and Nao are strangers from different sides of the tracks. They should never have met, but one devastating incident binds them together forever.A man is dead and now they are unwilling accomplices in his murder there's only one thing to do: hit the road in the victim's twin cab ute, with a bag of stolen gold stashed under the passenger seat.Suddenly outlaws, Nao and Charlie must make their way across Australia's remote outback using only their wits to survive. They'll do whatever it takes to evade capture and escape with their lives . . .Thelma & Louise for a new generation, No Country for Girls is a gritty, twisty road-trip thriller that follows two young women on the run across the harsh, unforgiving landscape of Australia.__________What readers are saying about No Country for Girls'What an incredible, high octane, thrilling ride this book is!' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'I desperately wanted to know what happens next' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'I loved the characters and the setting, which was described with vivid and rich imagery' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'Incredibly well plotted' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'Tense and thrilling . . . Highly recommended, there are absolutely no slow bits to this story' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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Your favourite Scottish detective returns in 2023 in an enthralling new mystery'Immensely exciting and atmospheric' ALEXANDER MCCALL SMITH 'Move over Rebus' Daily Mail 'Exciting, pacy, authentic' ANGELA MARSONSHOW DO YOU SOLVE A MURDER, WHEN ALL YOU HAVE ARE QUESTIONS?___________When a prominent MSP goes missing, DSI William Lorimer wastes no time in investigating. Robert Truesdale was fronting the controversial campaign to legalise drugs in Scotland, and his enemies were numerous. With every passing day, the chances of finding him alive grow slimmer.Then the worst happens. A car bomb explodes in a nearby village, and the blackened body pulled from the wreckage appears to be Truesdale's. Yet there are details that don't add up and soon Lorimer is questioning whether the victim was all he claimed to be.Lorimer calls on the assistance of his friend, PC Daniel Kohi, who has infiltrated a local gang as part of a police initiative to crack down on drug-related crime in Glasgow. As their investigation draws them into the dark heart of Glasgow's criminal underworld, Lorimer and Kohi discover that danger is everywhere and nobody is as they seem.___________ WHAT READERS SAY ABOUT ALEX GRAY "I have read every book in the Lorimer series and each one has been a pleasure" ***** "Alex Gray is a master storyteller" ***** "She never disappoints" ***** "I cannot wait for the next book" ***** "Her writing always keeps me engrossed" *****

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'Vanessa Savage hooks her readers and keeps them dangling till the very last page' Daily MailA family with a secret.A past about to catch up with them. At thirty, Hanna has finally decided she's better off without her family. They hold her responsible for the incident that ruined their lives fourteen years ago and they've barely spoken since.But then, whilst browsing a true crime website, she sees her family home listed as the site of a brutal murder. Number of victims: three. Date of crime: today. When the police investigate, they find no bodies, but the house is abandoned. Hanna's family have disappeared.To find them, Hanna will have to confront what happened all those years ago.And the person determined to make her pay for it . . .

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THE NEW UNPUTDOWNABLE THRILLER FROM THE RICHARD AND JUDY BOOK CLUB AUTHOR'Celia Walden is masterful' PATRICIA CORNWELL'Intriguingly delicious' JANE CORRY'Utterly enthralling' BP WALTER'Wickedly sharp' CAZ FREAR_______________________When you've got a house to die forBe careful who you let in . . .Colette spends a lot of her time at Addison Square, one of the most desirable addresses in West London.She knows the place and the people better than anyone. But the wealthy residents she works for can barely remember her name. Which is unfortunate, because Colette knows all about them.She sees all their secrets.Even the ones they'd kill to protect.___________________PRAISE FOR CELIA WALDEN'Tense, full of twists, and impossible to put down' HELEN FIELDING'I adored it' GILLIAN MCALLISTER'Fearless, stylish, suspenseful and immensely entertaining' LOUISE CANDLISH'A runaway train ride of a thriller' SUN

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'Lottie Parker is one of the most compelling characters in Irish detective fiction' LIZ NUGENT'An action-packed, twisty tale of murder' SUNDAY INDEPENDENT'Addictive . . . There's a reason why she has sold more than one million copies' IRISH INDEPENDENT____________Bubbles of cold sweat trickled down Faye's spine. The hole wasn't empty. Before she could turn and run, she caught the two sightless eyes staring up at her. Only then did she scream.When Faye Baker discovers a fragile child's skull behind the walls of her new home, Detective Lottie Parker is called to investigate. The house has been owned for years by the family of Faye's boyfriend Jeff, so when Jeff starts acting suspiciously, Lottie wonders what he might be hiding . . .Lottie doesn't have long to dig deeper before a child's bones are found by eleven-year-old Gavin on nearby railway tracks. The bones don't match the small skull behind the walls, but Lottie can't ignore the coincidence. Someone out there must be missing their loved ones and it's up to her to put right a terrible wrong.Unable to shake a feeling of foreboding, Lottie goes to speak to Faye, and discovers that she hasn't turned up for work. When Faye's body is found stuffed in the back of her car, Lottie needs to find out who wanted her to keep quiet.As Lottie hunts for Faye's killer, the case takes a darker turn when Gavin goes missing. Faye and Gavin are connected only by the grisly body parts they discovered. But who are these little victims and why has their killer come back? Can Lottie find the answers before another precious life is taken?This thrilling new novel from bestselling author Patricia Gibney will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. If you like Jane Casey, Liz Nugent and Alex Gray, you'll love Buried Angels.____________What everyone is saying about Buried Angels:'Well this book has certainly given me back my reading mojo. It is simply brilliant. I devoured this book in a day and honestly couldn't put it down. This is possibly one of my favourite Lottie Parker books' Goodreads Reviewer, FIVE STARS'Patricia really knows how to spin a tale! Addictive page turner. So many heart stopping moments. This one left me speechless' Goodreads Reviewer, FIVE STARS'Detective Lottie is at her best . . . twists and turns that had you on edge of your seat it's the best book yet and I'm looking forward for more' Daily Life, FIVE STARS'Gripping and totally compulsive . . . 100% the best yet!! This is book eight of the wonderful D.I. Lottie Parker series set in Ragmullin, Ireland and oh boy it a real humdinger of a read and my favourite one of the series so far . . . Well we have one heck of a fantastic mystery going on with lots of twists, more murders, frozen body parts OMG it's all happening here !! I love Lottie Parker she really is an amazing character' Goodreads Reviewer, FIVE STARS

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AS SEEN ON BBC TWO'S HIT TV-SHOW 'THIS FARMING LIFE''A heartwarming tale of life on the land' Alan Titchmarsh'There's love and loss, challenge and adversity, but above all it's warm, insightful and inspiring' Helen Skelton'Will inspire any reader to look at the countryside - and all those who work there - with newfound appreciation' Jimmy Doherty 'Uplifting, charming and beautifully written' Adam HensonEmma Gray was just twenty-three when she moved to an isolated farm in Northumberland, becoming Britain's youngest solo shepherdess. In the seasons that followed, Emma fell in love with its rolling fields, surrounding forest and sturdy farmhouse, tending her sheep and training her dogs - and even found romance.But when Emma finds herself suddenly alone again, heartbroken and recovering from a serious accident, she wonders if her isolated existence is still such a sensible idea. Even if she recovers, how could she make a proper living on Fallowlees Farm?In her heartwarming book, Emma tells the story of how she picked herself up and expanded her cattle herd, added more horses to her menagerie, and became one of the country's most successful breeders and trainers of Border Collies - unexpectedly discovering true love and lasting happiness along the way.Written with warmth and humour, My Farming Life is a joyous celebration of nature and community, and a delight for anyone who's ever dreamed of living closer to the countryside.

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'A timely tome for navigating these domicile days' Evening StandardAre you one of the millions of people now working from home?It's not easy but it needn't be stressful.The Ultimate Guide to Working from Home will help you set up your desk, stay sane, healthy and be more productive than ever, even if you have family or housemates at home with you. You'll learn how to get in the zone, how to maintain focus and how to reward yourself as you work. You'll learn the importance of setting and maintaining boundaries both inside and outside the home and how to establish a routine that suits your lifestyle.And you may not want to return to the office at all once this is over. The Ultimate Guide to Working from Home can help you with that, too. Packed with research and helpful statistics, you'll also find tips for managers and employees alike on how to approach more flexible working when the time comes.Stop typing 'how to set up a work station at the kitchen table' into the search bar late at night.Start getting the most out of working from home, today.

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The heart-warming and life-affirming new novel from the New York Times bestselling authorSometimes the end of the road is just the beginning . . .After the devastating loss of her twin brother, Hope Goodwin packs up her things and moves across the country for a fresh start. Arriving in Oceanside, Hope finds solace walking on the beach and teaching history at the local high school. Until she meets Cade Lincoln and everything changes.Cade, like Hope's twin brother, is ex-military, and after suffering an injury in the line of duty he is discharged and left to deal with his problems alone. Despite their personal struggles, Hope and Cade grow close, and their friendship blossoms into a love neither could have ever expected.But as Hope and Cade begin to move forward in their new life together, secrets from the past resurface and put their relationship to the test. Will the couple find a way through together?Perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley, Phillipa Ashley and Jenny Colgan, The Best Is Yet to Come is the most heart-warming and life-affirming story about new beginnings and finding love in unlikely places.

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THE BRAND NEW SAGA SERIES BY MAGGIE MASON - MEET THE HALFPENNY GIRLS. . . 'In the grand tradition of sagas set down by the late and great Catherine Cookson ' Jean Fullerton on Blackpool LassDown on their luck, all the have left is friendship . . .It is 1937 and Alice, Edith and Marg continue to face hardships every day, growing up on one of the poorest streets in Blackpool. Penniless, their friendship has helped them survive this far, but it'll take more than that to see them through the dark days that lie ahead . . .Alice is coping with a violent father and the weight of the duty she carries to support her family, Marg is left reeling after a dark secret about her birth comes to light and threatens to destroy the life she knows, and Edith is fighting to protect her alcoholic mother from the shame of their neighbours and keep her brother on the straight and narrow.A chance encounter at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom promises to set their lives on a new path, one filled with love and safety and hope for a brighter future. Will The Halfpenny Girls, who have never known anything but poverty, finally find happiness? And if they do, will it come at a price?The first in a brand new series from reader favourite Maggie Mason, The Halfpenny Girls is the perfect heart-warming family saga about overcoming hardship and the value of friendship. Perfect for fans of Val Wood, Kitty Neale and Rosie Goodwin.Readers LOVE Maggie Mason's Blackpool sagas:'5 stars - I wish I could give it more. Wonderful read.''Another must read book''What a brilliant book. I couldn't put it down!''I was hooked from the first page . . . this author is a must read''A totally absorbing read'

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