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The charm of Madrid is elusive, but for those who know how to find it, Madrid has magic. Its magic can be found in the shadow cast over the present by the past. In this Traveller's Reader, a city that was once the seat of power for perhaps the most ambitious political enterprise the western world had seen since the fall of Rome, the Spanish Empire, is brought to life in vivid diaries, letters, memoirs and histories. The Earl of Clarendon describes seventeenth-century bullfights; Salvador Dali plays a surrealist joke on a snooty barman at the Ritz; Rubens visits the Alcázar; Manet is at the Prado; generals and anarchists meet in the Puerta del Sol. The many stories included here evoke for today's tourist the dramas and personalities of a city's past, by drawing on the eyewitness accounts and commentaries of visitors and residents of earlier centuries. Hugh Thomas has chosen these and other vivid snapshots of Madrid's history from diaries, letters, memoirs and novels across five centuries to delight and fascinate the armchair and prospective traveller alike.

'Full of kindness, even tenderness... He is a brilliant writer: opulently gossipy as few are these days, but also truthful, witty, wise and stoical' Rachel Cooke, Observer 'Everett is a brilliant writer - funny, waspish, warm and seductive' Camilla Long, The Times Richly imagined and extraordinarily affecting... Everett is a terrific storyteller' Hadley Freeman, Sunday Times Eight stories of love and loss, drama and glamour, hope and rejection, from a writer at the height of his powers. In Rupert Everett's first, glorious collection of stories, he takes us on an exhilarating journey with a cast of extraordinary characters. A blackly humorous story of a chaotic and emotional funeral in Paris. Oscar Wilde's last night in Paris, vividly evocative, unflinching and elegiac. A Russian-American countess who confronts sex and age in a Wiltshire teashop. The ferociously unforgiving life of an L.A. talent agency and the unexpected twist that launches a completely different kind of career. The deathbed confession of a woman who left home for 1850s India, never to return. A story of emigration, love and grief. And a beautifully evocative and touching portrayal of Proust's creative life and his childhood. A brilliantly witty, funny and tender collection of stories that draws on the wealth of film and TV ideas Rupert Everett has created over the course of his career, The American No will delight and surprise his many fans. 'Rupert Everett is one of my favourite writers. He's brilliantly witty, acutely perceptive and highly sensitive, and his writing is incredibly good. His stories are both moving and tender, often outrageous, and funny too. A gifted storyteller' Santa Montefiore

Mid-winter, St. Andrews, Scotland: When a university lecturer fails to turn up for class, he is found dead at home, with evidence of having committed suicide. A female student reports to the police that she was having an affair with him and knows he would never commit suicide. Toxicology results turn up Class A drugs in his system, and DCI Andy Gilchrist and his associate, DS Jessie Janes, are called in to investigate. The initial enquiry soon turns into a murder investigation, and when Gilchrist and Jessie dig deep into the man's background they uncover a criminal past, a history of romance scams, and several bank accounts containing hundreds of thousands of pounds. A forensic search of the man's computer hard-drives reveal a lengthy trail of heartbroken women tricked into parting with their savings in a futile search for love. Did one of those scorned women seek revenge and kill him? Or did his criminal past finally catch up with him?PRAISE FOR T.F. MUIR: 'Rebus did it for Edinburgh. Laidlaw did it for Glasgow. Gilchrist might just be the bloke to put St Andrews on the crime fiction map.' Daily Record 'A truly gripping read, with all the makings of a classic series.' Mick Herron 'Gripping and grisly, with plenty of twists and turns that race along with black humour.' Craig Robertson 'DCI Gilchrist gets under your skin. Though, determined, and a bit vulnerable, this character will stay with you long after the last page.' Anna Smith 'Gripping!' Peterborough Telegraph

THE PAGE-TURNING NEW MYSTERY IN THE BESTSELLING HAMISH MACBETH SERIES! ------------ Sergeant Hamish Macbeth is craving peace and quiet. But visitors to his home village of Lochdubh, nestled in the Scottish Highlands, have other ideas... Hamish and the new love in his life, Claire, have holiday plans. But thoughts of rest and relaxation are rudely interrupted by the arrival of a new constable, complete with a surprise, and a secret. Hoping the grand re-opening of his local pub will be a good distraction from Constable Forbes's intrigue, Hamish gets a nasty surprise when he's confronted by a family who have a score to settle with a missing man. Discovering a murdered woman's body puts further pressure on Hamish, especially when he learns that she's linked to the missing man... but who are they, and why were they in Lochdubh? With a host of questions, a growing list of suspects and ever more bewildering circumstances, the arrival of the odious Detective Chief Inspector Blair is truly the last thing Hamish needs. As Hamish's sworn enemy, why is Blair interested in this case? Hamish vows to find the murderer before anyone else falls victim. Never has a quiet life seemed further from his grasp! ------------ Praise for the Hamish Macbeth series . . . 'It's always a treat to return to Lochdubh' New York Times 'Unmissable!' Peterborough Telegraph 'First rate ... deft social comedy and wonderfully realized atmosphere' Booklist 'Beaton catches the beauty of the area's natural geography and succinctly describes its distinct flavour' Library Journal 'Befuddled, earnest and utterly endearing, Hamish makes his triumphs sweetly satisfying' Publishers Weekly

'An excellent debut... creates a beautiful picture in the mind's eye, making one want to go and discover this lovely location... and best of all. I didn't see the ending coming' - Amazon reviewer, ---------- To whom it may concern, I write regarding the death of Inpektor Ivan Furlan of Koper Police. The man we have arrested is not guilty... High-flyer Petra Vidmar, the youngest serving female detective in Slovenia, has her sights set on an international career. But when an anonymous plea to rectify a gross miscarriage of justice lands on her desk, she knows she can't leave local crime behind her just yet. The victim is a fellow police officer, and it seems the letter writer is too... In the picturesque coastal resort of Koper, the sun shines, the sea glitters and the delicacies are delicious. But Petra quickly discovers that beneath even the most scenic of settings, there lurk blackmail, corruption, family feuds... and murder. Asking difficult questions in her bid to uncover the truth behind Inpektor Furlan's death, Petra feels a community, and her colleagues, turning against her. She's determined to see justice done, but will this close-to-home case launch her promising career... or break it? ---------- An astonishing debut from an exciting new voice in the world of crime fiction, Death in the Adriatic is a clever, twisty tale perfect for fans of Donna Leon, Philip Gwynne Jones and the Inspector Montalbano mysteries.

One of TIME Magazine's Most Anticipated Books of 2025 . One of LitHub's Most Anticipated Books of 2025. 'Acutely empathetic, thoroughly researched, funny, irreverent and moving' Observer 'What a book! Has the lyricism and intelligence of a literary masterpiece, and the urgency of a thriller' Marianne Levy, author of Don't Forget to Scream 'So interesting, astute and beautifully crafted. I loved it' Lucy Jones, author of Matrescence In the summer of 2020, when Amanda Hess was pregnant for the first time, a routine ultrasound screening detected a mysterious abnormality in her baby. Without hesitation, she reached for her phone, looking for answers online. But rather than allaying her anxieties, her search unleashed a destabilizing onslaught of data and technology, and she was vulnerable - more than ever - to conspiracy, myth, judgement, commerce and obsession. In Second Life, Hess tells her deeply personal story of a pregnancy that falls outside the fêted category of 'normal'. But this is also a story about all of us. For as she made her way through a bizarre digital world of pregnancy apps, prenatal genetic tests, gender reveal videos, rare disease Facebook groups, 'freebirth' influencers and hospital reality shows, Hess realised that ideas of eugenics, surveillance, ableism and hyper-individualism are being sold through shiny technologies to a new generation of parents. At once funny, surreal and heartbreaking, Second Life asks compelling questions about how our most fundamental human experiences are fractured and reshaped by technology.

'Heart-stopping' ANN CLEEVES'Nail-biting' ANDREA MARA'Exceptional' JOHN CONNOLLY'Genius' STEVE CAVANAGH------------Katie lives a quiet life. She likes her small Derry neighbourhood. She likes her job as a barmaid at O'Reillys. And she loves her daughter, Hope.But everything changes when she is approached by two detectives. They want Katie to tell them the things she hears at work. To become their informant.In this city, Katie knows the dangers of talking to the police. Yet with Hope's safety at risk should she refuse, she is trapped between two impossible choices.Crossing the O'Reilly brothers could cost her everything. Her only chance of survival is if she can remain the one that they least suspect . . .Agripping, heart-wrenching thriller that explores the fine line between right and wrong, justice and revenge, and how you choose your side when everyone is guilty . . .------------'Truly an edge-of-your-seat book' PATRICIA GIBNEY'A propulsive read from start to finish' JO SPAIN'Gritty, heart-stopping . . . I raced through every page' SAM BLAKE'Gripping and compulsive' CLAIRE ALLAN'My heart hasn't stopped hammering since I started this book' ANDREA CARTER Three estranged brothers - Michael, a priest, David, a policeman, and James, a career criminal - are brought suddenly face to face once more in a town on the Inishowen peninsula when Amir, a Syrian refugee, robs a restaurant and then claims sanctuary in the local church. In offering the man refuge, Michael, the parish priest, enflames tensions in a town already febrile over the opening of a Direct Provision centre housing asylum seekers. Things become complicated when David, alongside Garda Maria Da Gama, discovers that Amir is a unwitting pawn in a much larger conspiracy and the restaurant he robbed was laundering stolen money for an organised crime gang led by David's brother. Then Amir goes missing from the church just as the O'Kane brothers are called to their dying father's bedside. As protestors take to the streets and tempers rise, David must race against time to find Amir even as a long buried family secret which bound the three brothers in blood boils to the surface and forces each of them to face the consequences of the choices they have made.Praise for Brian McGilloway 'A compulsive police procedural, but it's so much more than that: thought-provoking, compassionate and beautifully-written. McGilloway is one of the finest crime-writers working today' Ann Cleeves 'Blood Ties is one of those rare gems; a beautifully written crime novel that's also brilliantly paced, skillfully plotted and utterly absorbing. Brian McGilloway is, quite simply, a master of his art. Bravo' Jo Spain 'Brian McGilloway's police procedurals are a masterclass in crime fictions' Andrea Carter 'A clever, engaging and beautifully crafted police procedural' Irish Independent 'Some of the very best crime fiction being written today' Lee Child on Bad Blood 'This dazzling, labyrinthine debut impresses not only for the authentic depiction of a troubled community and the conflicts of a fallible detective, but also for the intense portrait of the borderlands themselves; as beautiful and terrible as the secrets they keep' Guardian 'McGilloway's Borderlands was one of last years most impressive debuts. Does Gallows Lane pass the feared second-novel test? Easily.' The Times 'McGilloway skilfully handles the tangled threads of a conspiracy surrounding an old crime, to make a satisfying mystery with an attractive central character.' Sunday Telegraph

'Blistering, whip-smart... Exit Wounds has pace, heart, conviction and some of the finest action writing this side of the Reacher novels... a masterclass in thriller writing' - Liam McIlvanney----------Dead men sometimes do tell tales... When the death of an old friend means a trip back to Northern Ireland, Connor Fraser welcomes the distraction from his troubles at home in Stirling. His estrangement from his partner, Jen, is growing ever-more painful, and he can only watch helplessly as his beloved grandmother's health deteriorates. When he spots three familiar faces at the funeral, faces with ties to Northern Ireland's bloody past, Connor suspects his friend's death was more than a tragic accident. But before he can investigate, he's lured into a trap and attacked. Pursued by ruthless professionals who don't care if they bring Connor to their bosses alive or dead, he must go off-grid. As he tries to untangle the web of deceit that has ensnared him, he's faced with choices, and losses, that threaten to break him. A mystery of the past could destroy the peace of the future. With his back to the wall, can Connor unravel it all, before it's too late?----------Praise for Neil Broadfoot: 'A true rising star of crime fiction' - Ian Rankin'I've followed the Connor Fraser series from the start and it just gets better. If you like Reacher, you'll LOVE this. An action thriller but with more emotion, more heart, more nuance, more...everything. Broadfoot is a master craftsman.' - Helen Fields'Wonderfully grisly and grim, and a cracking pace' - James Oswald'A frantic, pacy read with a compelling hero' - Steve Cavanagh

'The sharpest exercise in decolonising fiction in Singapore's literary landscape. It is also, simply, really fun to read!' - Ong Sor Fern ---------- 'Til death do us part... Singapore, 1947. Newlyweds Su Lin and Le Froy are in the Cameron Highlands, an idyllic pocket of countryside on the tropical Malay Peninsula. But this is no honeymoon ... Le Froy is on a protection assignment for powerful businessman Max Moreno and his wife Elfrieda, whose associates have been brutally murdered. But the hideaway cannot protect the Morenos from vicious threats and ghostly sightings, and when Elfrieda vanishes with a stash of precious emeralds, Su Lin and Le Froy fear the worst. The only clue to Elfrieda's disappearance is rotting fruit from a rose apple tree, piled outside her lodge. When monsoon floods make escape from the Highlands impossible, Su Lin is determined to find Elfrieda with time to spare to get to know her new husband. But when Max's body is discovered surrounded by rose apples, passion turns to policing: Su Lin and Le Froy must work together try to prevent further deaths, including their own. ---------- Praise for Ovidia Yu: 'One of Singapore's finest living authors' - South China Morning Post 'One of the most likeable heroines in modern literature' - The Scotsman 'Chen Su Lin is a true gem. Her slyly witty voice and her admirable, sometimes heartbreaking, practicality make her the most beguiling narrator heroine I've met in a long while' - Catriona McPherson 'Charming and fascinating with great authentic feel. Ovidia Yu's teenage Chinese sleuth gives us an insight into a very different culture and time. This book is exactly why I love historical novels' - Rhys Bowen 'Unassuming, brilliantly observant' -SCMP 'Ovidia Yu's writing helped me peel back the layers to understand Singapore. The story and Chen Su Lin's initiative and tenacity, set against a backdrop of wartime Singapore, intrigued both the historian and the mystery lover in me' - Kara Owens CMG CVO, British High Commissioner to Singapore

'Really outstanding' Jonathan Dimbleby At 8:15 a.m. on August 6th, 1945, the Japanese port city of Hiroshima was struck by the world's first atomic bomb. Built in the US by the top-secret Manhattan Project and delivered by a B-29 Superfortress, a revolutionary long-range bomber, the weapon destroyed large swaths of the city, instantly killing tens of thousands. The world would never be the same again. The Hiroshima Men's unique narrative recounts the decade-long journey towards this first atomic attack. It charts the race for nuclear technology before, and during the Second World War, as the allies fought the axis powers in Europe, North Africa, China, and across the vastness of the Pacific, and is seen through the experiences of several key characters: General Leslie Groves, leader of the Manhattan Project alongside Robert Oppenheimer; pioneering Army Air Force bomber pilot Colonel Paul Tibbets II; the mayor of Hiroshima, Senkichi Awaya, who would die alongside over eighty-thousand of his fellow citizens; and Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist John Hersey, who travelled to post-war Japan to expose the devastation the bomb had inflicted upon the city, and in a historic New Yorker article, described in unflinching detail the dangers posed by its deadly after-effect, radiation poisoning. This thrilling account takes the reader from the corridors of the White House to the laboratories and test sites of New Mexico; from the air war above Nazi Germany and the savage reconquest of the Pacific to the deadly firebombing air raids across the Japanese Home Islands. The Hiroshima Men also includes Japanese perspectives - a vital aspect often missing from Western narratives - to complete MacGregor's nuanced, deeply human account of the bombing's meaning and aftermath.

'Not many books make me laugh out loud but this one absolutely did!' - Amazon reviewer ---------- Una McMurray is puzzled. Surely, statistically, the international cat show scene shouldn't be this... lethal? Keen to make her mark in her new job in pet insurance, Una's first task is to calculate whether cat ownership extends human lifespan. Tragically, that's not the case for prizewinning cat owner Jeff Bridgely - a most improbable accident has ended his dreams of triumphing at the upcoming International Cat Show. When a second competitor dies in mysterious circumstances, the maths just doesn't add up. Una vows to resolve this suspicious data discrepancy and impress her new project team, especially condescending Tim and ambitious trainee Patti. After borrowing Pedro the cat and brushing up on her feline facts, Una dives deep undercover in the cutthroat world of cat shows. Competition is fierce, but what Pedro lacks in pedigree, he makes up for in character. Although as Pedro's odds of winning shorten, so do Una's chances of survival... Armed with razor-sharp logic, analytical expertise and a scruffy moggy sidekick, can actuary Una catch the cat show killer before she becomes the latest fatal statistic? ---------- Readers love the Una McMurray Mysteries series! 'Laugh out loud funny with great characters . . .a warm and entertaining story. I really loved it' - Amazon reviewer 'Any book with death in the title that can make me laugh is worth picking up!' - Amazon reviewer 'A great addition to the cosy crime collection, it's funny and smart and has an original and interesting detective in Una' - Amazon reviewer 'Three actuaries walk into a cat show in Balham . . . high-stakes hilarity ensues. Amongst fictional detectives, Una McMurray is a gem. Her voice combines wit, warmth and satire. This is such a fun read' - Robert Holtom, author of A Queer Case 'Clever and very funny' - Ian Moore, author of Death and Croissants 'Eleanor Oliphant meets The Thursday Murder Club' - Jessica Irena Smith, author of The Night of the Crash 'Deliciously fun mystery that gest serious about the body count, with clues that really do add up! Loved following Una seeing the risks at every turn - and having to overcome them if she's to save those she loves. #TeamPedro - Sarah Yarwood-Lovett, author of the Dr Nell Ward Mysteries series 'Witty and fun' - Woman's Own 'Terrifically funny and endearing' - Belfast Telegraph 'Impressive... full of unusual ideas and amusing relationships' - Morning Star

TOM THORNE IS BACK WITH HIS MOST SHOCKING CASE YET... ____________ 'Billingham only gets better' MICHAEL CONNELLY 'Sensational, masterful, sharp and shocking' CHRIS WHITAKER 'The best Tom Thorne novel yet' MICK HERRON 'One of crime fiction's finest' KARIN SLAUGHTER 'Billingham is on top form' THE TIMES ____________ "Three dead coppers, Tom, maybe four by lunchtime." The targeted murder of four officers is only the first in a series of attacks that leaves police scared, angry and, most disturbingly of all, vengeful. As Tom Thorne and Nicola Tanner dig into the reasons for the violence, a deeper darkness begins to emerge: the possibility that these murders are payback. The price paid for an unspeakable betrayal. To uncover the truth, Thorne will be forced to question everything he stands for. He can trust nobody, and the shocking secrets revealed by one terrible night will fracture his entire world. ____________ WHAT REAL READERS SAY ABOUT WHAT THE NIGHT BRINGS 'An absolute masterclass in how to keep the reader gripped' 'I feel the need for a lie down after reading this. Nothing, but nothing, could have prepared me for the emotional rollercoaster that is What the Night Brings' 'An absolutely fantastic book, and shows why Mark Billingham is one of the best at what he does' 'The DI Tom Thorne series is definitely one of the best in the crime fiction genre. The author reduced me to tears with this latest episode' 'Billingham is a master of crime fiction'

'If this book is not popular with fans of The White Lotus, something is definitely awry . . . (a] sumptuously set mystery' Daily Mirror 'Invokes Italy's most exquisite island as a setting for myth and murder . . . Truly evocative' Financial Times 'Tension that keeps us rooted to the page' Daily Mail ------------ An island of myth, legend . . . and murder? As the summer sun beats down on the ancient town of Acitrezza, a folk festival plays out in the picturesque harbour. Music, laughter and the aroma of local delicacies fill the air, and a traditional pantomime draws a crowd. For rookie journalist Nedda Leonardi, it's just another day's reporting in a calendar of unremarkable events. Until that is, the performers dive in the sparkling Ionian Sea for their finale... and emerge with a corpse. Could this be Nedda's big break? After one trick too many, Calogero Maugeri, self-styled Magus and con artist, is a wanted man. But his attempts to clean up his act and keep a low profile are thwarted when it's revealed he has a suspicious connection to the dead man pulled from the sea. A young reporter keen for a scoop and a reformed swindler desperate to clear his name... can this improbable pair solve the most unusual of murders? Discover the first mystery in your new favourite crime series set on Italy's most beautiful island: Sicily. A gripping and atmospheric page-turner, perfect for fans of Andrea Camilleri's Inspector Montalbano series. ------------ Praise for Philip Gwynne Jones: 'I devoured all Philip's novels' Val McDermid 'Clever and great fun' The Times 'An irresistible concoction of crime and culture' Daily Mail 'As delightful as a Spritz by the Rialto - a must for all Italy lovers' David Hewson 'Superb - always gripping, beautifully constructed and vivid' Stephen Glover 'Sinister and shimmering' L.S. Hilton, bestselling author of Maestra 'Vividly described' Literary Review 'The lively, colourful narrative scuds along as briskly as a water taxi...you'll enjoy the ride' Italia Magazine

A moving, genuine, and hilarious collection of essays about fame, glamour, infamy, and the power of writing your own story, from Page 3 model turned writer Keeley Hazell. For much of her life, Keeley Hazell has been labelled and pigeonholed. Growing up in a poor working-class family made her a certain kind of person (the kind who scrounged for chicken and chips money and once set a car on fire). Becoming a topless model after winning the Sun newspaper's 'Page 3 Idol' competition made her a certain kind of person (one with big boobs and few thoughts, to hear anyone else tell it). And as glittery as being one of the UK's most successful glamour models may seem, Keeley's fairytale success quickly turned into a nightmare. After becoming a victim of revenge porn and a particularly disastrous interview with a high brow British newspaper, Keeley began re-examining her life. She learned about feminism, objectification, and systemic misogyny on a wonderful journey of personal growth, and with a flick of her hair, quit modelling, walked away from a fat pay check, and moved thousands of miles away from everything she had come to know. Reinventing herself as an actress and writer, she starred in award-winning short films, as well as horrors, dramas, and comedies before facing her most challenging job on the massive hit series Ted Lasso - rewriting what it means to be Keeley both on-screen and in real life. Everyone's Seen My Tits is a powerful, funny, high spirited essay collection. From growing up on a council estate and her tumultuous relationship with fame to overcoming adversity, finding feminism, and finding herself, these essays chronicle one woman's coming-of-age and coming into herself. A personal journey with universal appeal as girls worldwide continue to battle how they are perceived, who they really are, and what they can be.

'Completely gripping and incredibly addictive... I absolutely loved it and can't recommend it highly enough!' - The Book Magnet blog ---------- Life as a missing person is absolute murder... When artist Eloise Ford hears that human remains found in an abandoned mine are believed to be those of long-missing teenager Elizabeth King, the shock sends her reeling. It can't be true. Eloise knows this for a fact because... she is Elizabeth King. Now, her carefully curated life in Cornwall is falling apart. Her husband is acting strangely, her children aren't speaking to her and she can't sell a painting for love nor money. But much more worrying are the signs that someone knows exactly who she is... and why she had to vanish thirty years ago. Eloise needs answers. Is her son's ex-girlfriend just plain annoying... or does she know something? Will the detection skills of the online 'Truth Seekers' group prove more than amateurish? What's the real story behind those village newcomers? And just how far would she go to keep her family, her friends, and her fraudulent life, safe? ---------- Readers and reviewers love The Vanishing Act! 'I have laughed, I have gasped at the twists, I have loved characters, I have hated characters. This is crime fiction laced with dry wit that is incredibly clever' - Random Things Through My Letterbox, 'I loved this book... it just kept on giving and delivering. Just as I thought I had it mapped out - wham! Another curve ball. Another direction. Another secret or lie exposed. And all so expertly plotted, and very ably executed' - Amazon reviewer 'Cleverly plotted with many surprises and twists' - Amazon reviewer 'Witty and twisty' - My Weekly 'Ingenious and impossible to put down' - Yours 'I absolutely loved it and flew through it; the perfect combination of suspense, heart and humour!' - Laura Marshall, author of Friend Request 'I raced through this intriguing, twisty and darkly funny thriller!' - Roz Watkins, author of The Red House 'Cleverly plotted and compulsively readable' - _fortheloveofbooksx 'I couldn't put this down - such a clever, witty mystery, with great twists and a brilliant cast of characters who aren't always what they seem... I loved it!' - Nicci Cloke, author of Her Many Faces 'A deliciously darkly funny thriller of the very best kind' - Fiona Cummins, author of When I Was Ten 'As well as a good mystery, Jakeman writes warm and funny dialogue that brings the relationships between the characters thoroughly to life' - The Morning Star ---------- Perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty, Lisa Jewell and Kristen Perrin, this clever, darkly comic thriller will keep you glued to the pages!

THE TIMES HISTORY BOOK OF THE YEAR 2025 The late 17th century saw the rise of a new phenomenon that would transform Britain forever: party politics. Beginning with a furious dispute over whether to allow a Roman Catholic - James II - to become king, the division between Whig and Tory marked the chief political battlelines of a ferociously polarised country for several tumultuous generations. The Rage of Party traces the thrilling story of how these two parties - one representing the established social forces of squire, church and monarchy; the other the rising forces of financial power and Protestant Dissent - settled the defining debates of the age, culminating in a dramatic fight to the death over peace, piety and the Protestant Succession in the age of Queen Anne. Their bitter disputes over religion, economics and the constitution profoundly influenced many of the forces and institutions that shaped the modern world, ranging from the City of London and the Bank of England to the Union between England and Scotland and the British Empire. From vicious pamphlet wars and some of history's most corrupt and riotous elections through a revolution, multiple assassination attempts and enough scandals to make even the most louche modern politician blush, this brilliantly researched book shows how a motley crew of rakes, hypocrites, cunning tricksters and scheming clergymen engaged in not only a political confrontation that threatened a second civil war, but a culture war that still finds echoes in 21st-century Britain. 'This is a lucid and exciting account of high and low politics in the crucial years of Whig and Tory battles following the Glorious Revolution, when Great Britain was created, and a new world of money, war and empire dawned. George Owers grippingly recounts the culture wars, paranoia, self-seeking and skulduggery that are "both recognisable and strange". Recognizable because "we are all still, in our heart of hearts, either Whig or Tory", and we are still grappling with their legacy' - Robert Tombs, author of The English and their History 'This book is a delight. Written with vivacity and veracity it sheds light on the miracle of English party politics' - Maurice Glasman 'We tend to think of our current age as uniquely fractious but as George Owers shows in his engrossing new book, it is a kindergarten compared to the "Rage of Party" this country experienced in the late seventeen and early eighteenth centuries. The story he tells so vividly has it all: political divisions, religious strife, immigration controversies, fake news, arguments over foreign policy, Anglo-Scottish tensions - polarisation all round!' - Brendan Simms, author of Europe: The Struggle for Supremacy, 1453 to the Present 'A highly readable account of the beginnings of the party system in Britain, with insights that are relevant for understanding of politics in any era. George Owers's vivid recreation of the conflict of Whigs and Tories illuminates what was a crucial period in the rise of Britain as a major European and global power' - David Hayton, editor of The History of Parliament: The House of Commons 1690-1715 'Today's party politics absorbs us. When did British party politics begin and how? George Owers's book provides a compelling analysis, brilliantly interweaving vivid vignettes into a masterly narrative' - Mark Goldie, Emeritus Professor of History, University of Cambridge

‘Wild glamour, class conflict, buried secrets and a cameo appearance by Hetty Feather are all delivered with Wilson’s inimitable, intensely readable flair, interspersed with Nick Sharratt’s cheery illustrations’ - The GuardianA new sparkling and glamorous novel from the beloved, bestselling children’s author, Jacqueline Wilson! In a little cottage on the edge of the grand Somerset Estate, Mona lives with her aunt - a dressmaker to the lady of the house. Life on the edge of the Somerset Estate means that Mona knows she will never have a life full of beautiful clothes and riches. But soon, that will all change . . . When Lady Somerset dies and a new member of the family inherits the house, Mona is propelled into a life of razzle-dazzle parties, new Bohemian friends and wonderful trips to London. However, even with these changes Mona discovers that she cannot dance away from her past. A glittery trip back in time, from the author of Hetty Feather and Tracy Beaker! Autorid: Jacqueline Wilson, Nick Sharratt

Pre-order the brand new Tracy Beaker story today! Tracy Beaker is back, and she’s a mum now… Jess and Tracy Beaker are the perfect team. Jess thinks Tracy is the best mum ever (even when Tracy shouts at her teachers). Tracy is fun and daring, but she also works hard to give Jess the family home she desperately wanted when growing up in the Dumping Ground. Their flat might be a bit mouldy but it’s their happy home. But when Sean Godfrey –Tracy’s rich new boyfriend – comes onto the scene, Jess is worried things are going to change. What if Sean wants to turn Jess’s brilliant mum into a new person altogether? Sean’s superstar mansion and fancy cars might have been Tracy’s childhood dream, but maybe the Beakers’ perfect home was right in front of them all along… My Mum Tracy Beaker is a fantastic new story, reuniting readers with a much-loved old friend. Just like old times, it’s packed full of illustrations from Nick Sharratt throughout. Pre-order today and be one of the first to read Tracy’s new story! Praise for Tracy Beaker: 'An appealing mix of events and reactions that are both entertaining and moving. A book that lingers in the mind long after it is put down.' (The Guardian) 'A breath of fresh air. It is entertaining yet tender but by no means sentimental when it confronts the need we all have for commitment in relationships, for trust, for love ... A real bonus is that the book genuinely celebrates the act of writing – and not by preaching, I promise.' (The School Librarian) ‘Jacqueline Wilson is hugely popular with 7- 10 year olds; she should be prescribed for all cases of reading reluctance.’ (The Sunday Independent) Autorid: Jacqueline Wilson, Nick Sharratt, Nick Sharratt

Tomas wants to be like his father strong, brave and fearless. Pappi is a mountain guide, often away from home. He has taught Tomas to love the mountains, but also to fear their dangers the winds and blizzards, the treacherous paths, the giddying slopes. Above all, Tomas fears the Brockenspectre a huge, shadowy creature that lives alone in the heights, waiting for unwary climbers. Its looming figure haunts his thoughts and his dreams. When Pappi goes out one day and fails to return, Tomas knows its up to him to search up on the high mountain passes, where dangers await. Will Tomas find his father . . . or will the Brockenspectre find him? Autorid: Linda Newbery, Pam Smy

From the day she is discovered unconscious in a New England cemetery at the beginning of the twentieth century nothing but a bowling ball, a candlepin and fifteen pounds of gold on her person Bertha Truitt is an enigma to everyone in Salford, Massachusetts. She has no past to speak of, or at least none she is willing to reveal, and her mysterious origin scandalises and intrigues the townspeople, as does her choice to marry and start a family with Leviticus Sprague, the doctor who revived her. But Bertha is plucky, tenacious and entrepreneurial, and the bowling alley she opens quickly becomes Salfords most defining landmark with Bertha its most notable resident. She changes the town forever: her singular spirit resonating powerfully through every board and brick and bone. In a voice laced with insight and her signature sharp humour, Elizabeth McCracken has written an epic family saga set against the backdrop of twentieth-century America. Bowlaway is both a stunning feat of language and a brilliant unravelling of a familys myths and secrets, its passions and betrayals, and the ties that bind and the rifts that divide. Autorid: Elizabeth McCracken

Marcus Berkmann has been a freelance writer since 1988, working for newspapers and magazines and occasionally writing a book, like this one. He reckons to have written literally millions of words in that time, several of them in the right order. This, his 13th or possibly 14th book, is about those years of writing: the triumphs (few), the heartbreaks (many), the sackings (more than you would expect), the biscuits (many, many more than you would expect). In it he somehow makes the act of staring out of a window wondering what to say next seem both fascinating and, in some strange way, enviable, whereas, like most writers, he rarely leaves the house other than to go to the pub or the off-licence. Often asked how you become a writer, his advice remains: Please do not. There's already enough competition out there and we don't need any more. His advance for this book was about enough to buy a packet of Jaffa Cakes. Autorid: Marcus Berkmann

A concise history of the Caribbean's long and fascinating history, from pre-contact civilisations to the present day This is a concise history, intended for travellers, but of inestimable value to anyone looking for an overview of the Caribbean and its mainland coastal states, with a focus on the past few centuries. The history of the Caribbean does not make much sense without factoring in the cities - Pensacola, New Orleans, Galveston - and the ambitions of the states on its continental shores, notably the United States. This account is grounded in a look at the currents and channels of the sea, and its constraints, such as the Mosquito Coast, followed by the history of 'pre-contact' civilisations, focusing on the Maya and the Toltec Empire. With the arrival of the Europeans, from the late fifteenth century to the early years of the seventeenth century, the story becomes one of exploration, conquest and settlement. Black charts the rise of slave economies and the Caribbean's place in the Atlantic world, also the arrival of the English - Hawkins and Drake - to challenge the Spanish. He examines the sugar and coffee slave economies of the English, French, Spanish and Dutch, also the successful rebellion in Haiti in the eighteenth century, and how the West Indies were further transformed by the Louisiana Purchase, the American conquest of Florida and the incorporation of Texas. He discusses the impact of Bolivar's rebellion in Spanish America, the end of slavery in the British Caribbean, and war between Mexico and America; also the defeat of the South by the Union, the American takeover of the Panama Canal project from France, and the Spanish-American War. The first half of the twentieth century focuses on growing US power: intervention in Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Haiti and the Dominican Republic; Cuba as an American protectorate, and civil wars in Mexico. The Cold War brought new tensions and conflict to the region, but the same period also saw the rise of the leisure industry. The last part of the book looks at the Caribbean today - political instability in Venezuela and Colombia, crime in Mexico, post-Castro Cuba - and the region's future prospects. Autorid: Jeremy Black

It was a quiet day for the funeral. Until the bomb went off... Midwinter in Poland, and Dania Górska and her brother Marek are in Warsaw, attending the funeral of her old piano teacher, Jakub Frydman. At the graveside is rabbi Salomon Steinberg and several former pupils. As the service draws to an end, a figure is glimpsed through the mist throwing a wreath into the open grave. And as the mourners file out of the cemetery, they hear an explosion: the grave of Jakub Frydman has been destroyed and the perpetrator - the unexpected guest at the graveside - has made a clean getaway. But who was the intended victim? Was it an antisemitic attack - but against the old teacher, or the rabbi? Or was it drugs related... and Dania and her investigative journalist brother the targets? Now Dania has to trade Dundee for Warsaw to follow up leads on an international drugs syndicate - and find a resolution to this most unexpected and deadly of crimes. Praise for Hania Allen 'Nicely nasty in all the right places . . . The story rattles along until bringing the curtain down with an unnerving twist' Craig Robertson 'A fresh new find for crime fans ... the plot is intriguing, the characters are well drawn, and the end comes with an unnerving twist. Extremely readable' Sunday Post 'Captivating characters and an intriguing plot. A great new find for crime fans' Lin Anderson 'Pitch-perfect . . . a witty, tense crime novel written in a highly readable style' Russel D McLean Autorid: Hania Allen

'Just the thing to chase the blues away' M. C. BeatonFollowing the butler's death and the cook's retirement, the ever-gullible Lady Lavinia replaces them with a power couple who are determined to thrust the crumbling estate into the 21st century. The Dowager Countess reluctantly agrees to hold a big-ticket Christmas gala and silent auction with a mystery celebrity flying in from Monaco as the guest of honour.Needless to say the newcomers' make a few enemies in their quest to change the status quo and when one body is discovered in the Victorian stumpery and a second, in the ha-ha, it seems that their high-flying past is catching up with them. Meanwhile, Kat is dealing with the theft of a valuable doll that had been earmarked for the auction. When it turns out that all the ticket money has vanished and there never was a celebrity guest, it's up to Kat to save the day and bring the cold-blooded killer to justice.Praise for Hannah Dennison:'The perfect classic English village mystery but with the addition of charm, wit and a thoroughly modern touch' Rhys Bowen'Downton Abbey was yesterday. Murder at Honeychurch Hall lifts the lid on today's grand country estate in all its tarnished, scheming, inbred, deranged glory' Catriona McPherson'Will delight fans and new readers alike' People's Friend'A fun read' Carola Dunn'Sparkles like a glass of Devon cider on a summer afternoon' Elizabeth Duncan Autorid: Hannah Dennison

'Very readable . . . the history of the late 20th century empire music business' Bret Easton EllisImagine you've made it. You and your friends have hit the big time in music and you're going to be a star. But then, quite suddenly, it's over. Your best friends don't want you anymore, and you're on the outside. Perhaps they're tired of your bad habits, they think you're not good enough, or they sense you just don't want it as much as they do. Whatever the cause, you're a reject. So, what do you do next?Featuring a player rejected by both Nirvana and Soundgarden who became a decorated special forces soldier, Britpoppers who spiralled into addiction before becoming novelists and missionaries, the terrifying story of Guns N' Roses' first drummer, super-rejecting band leaders, self-destroying rappers, troubled hard rock bassists and girl-band burnouts, The Rejects takes an intimate, thoughtful look at people who've been kicked out of bands, what they experienced and what came afterwards.Coming from a writer with twenty years' music industry experience, The Rejects is a sympathetic study of some of music's most fascinating characters, and what happens when the dream comes crashing to an end. The result is a compelling alternative history of popular music. Autorid: Jamie Collinson

From the minds of renowned economists Avinash Dixit, Susan Skeath, and David McAdams comes the Sixth Edition of the most approachable game theory text, rooted in rigorous research and engaging examples. Assuming no prior knowledge of game theoryonly a principles level of economic educationand exposure to only high-school level algebra, this books examples appeal to students of all different interests and experiences while maintaining an empirical approach. The new edition applies game theory to topics like digital currency and the politics of the war in Ukraine, and includes more thorough coverage of behavioral economics as well as new material on auction design. Autorid: Avinash K. Dixit, Susan Skeath, David McAdams

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER Scenic Wye Valley isn't the typical place for a rock story to begin, but when Echo & the Bunnymen hit the studio to record their ground-breaking debut album, Crocodiles, it was anything but ordinary. The album was the making of the band - cultivating a cult following which would soon evolve into staggering mainstream success. Their lives would never be the same again. In Echoes, legendary guitarist and founding member of Echo & the Bunnymen, Will Sergeant, recounts the band's whirlwind rise to stardom with his trademark wryness and intelligence. Sharing never-before-told anecdotes - including the heady Rockfield Studio sessions and touring across the US, playing sold-out shows at Whisky a Go Go and experiencing the iconic New York club scene from dusk 'til dawn - and accompanied by snapshots of the cultural, social and political scene at the time, this is a memoir to remember. Autorid: Will Sergeant

As an asset class, commodities are now as important as stocks and bonds - and with rapid growth in demand, profit opportunities in commodities are larger than ever. But today's computer-driven markets are volatile and chaotic. Fortunately, you can profit consistently - and this tutorial will show you how. Building on more than 30 years of market success, George Kleinman introduces powerful trend-based techniques for consistently trading in your "sweet spot" for profits. Kleinman reveals exactly how the commodities markets have changed - and how you can use consistent discipline to avoid "shark-infested waters" and manage the market's most dangerous risks. Ideal for every beginning-to-intermediate level trader, speculator, and investor, this guide begins with the absolute basics, and takes you all the way to highly-sophisticated strategies. You'll discover how futures and options trading work today, how trading psychology impacts commodity markets even in an age of high-frequency computer trading, and how to avoid the latest pitfalls.Kleinman offers extensively updated coverage of electronic trading, today's contracts, and advanced trading techniques - including his exclusive, powerful Pivot Indicator approach. Three previous editions of this tutorial have become international best-sellers. But the game has changed. Win it the way it's played right now, with Trading Commodities and Financial Futures, Fourth Edition.

Since losing her parents in a car crash as a teen, Allie has struggled to cope. Meeting Rory finally made things easier. She's come to rely on him for almost everything, so when he disappears while filming a documentary in the West of Ireland, she fears she'll come undone. Again. Tap... When a couple arrive at the Dublin apartment she and Rory share, claiming to be the new tenants, Allie is distraught. Why did Rory let out their home without telling her? And - where is he? Tap-tap... She seeks refuge at the run-down and reputedly haunted Raven Cottage in the Slieve Bloom mountains, where she and Rory were planning to move one day. Allie slowly starts to build a life for herself - and begins to believe that she might manage to make it alone. Tap-tap-tap... But then Rory's car is found submerged at the end of a pier, nowhere near where he was supposed to be -- and the body in the driver's seat isn't his. Alison starts to revisit her memories of their time together, and begins to question if she can trust them... Praise for Andrea Carter's Inishowen Mysteries series 'Atmospheric and vivid' The Irish Times 'I adored this traditional crime novel; it's modern day Agatha Christie with Ben as Miss Marple' Irish Examiner 'The colourful cast of characters may be fictional, but the landscapes, towns and villages are instantly recognisable' Irish Daily Mail 'A beguiling heroine - clever, sympathetic and bearing a weight of guilt' The Times Autorid: Andrea Carter

Liverpool is a unique city within the United Kingdom - in terms of its dialect, hedonism, friendliness, rejection of 'Englishness', and most pertinently, its politics. It is bastion of working-class left-wing politics like no other - as evidenced by the suspension of a Liverpool FC match after the death of the Queen, for fear the Liverpool fans would boo the minute's silence. Yet it was not always so, and Liverpool's transformation from a stronghold of working-class Toryism to its current identity is a remarkable remaking. It shows how a unique history, of triumph and tragedy, in particular the legacy of Hillsborough and subsequent boycott of the Sun - has led to its distinctive status today. Liverpool's idiosyncrasies mean we need to explore its history to understand how it has become what it is now - for the story of Liverpool is key to understanding modern Britain: trade, racism, Empire, deindustrialisation, immigration, and popular culture have all left an important imprint. It is of the UK but its modern identity is defined in part in opposition to 'Britishness'. This book will discuss the origins of Scouse separateness, the importance of football within the city, the unusual history of the Scouse accent, Liverpool's politics, culture, and rivalry with Manchester, the Liverpudlian diaspora, and the UK's love-hate relationship with the city. It will intersperse the story of the city with Swift's own story: relating what he learned about the city during the first 18 years of his life; what he subsequently learned about outsiders' views of Liverpool and its citizens in the 18 years since he left; and his impressions of how the city has changed whenever he returns. Autorid: David Swift

What lies beneath?Venice, June 2020. The city has returned to the Venetians during a merciful pause in the Covid pandemic, and few overseas visitors are to be seen. Yet Dominic Vicari, a British private investigator haunted by loss, has travelled across Europe to the tiny island of San Francesco del Deserto. Its population now consists of five Franciscan brothers and three pilgrims on retreat. Or, rather, two pilgrims and a dead man.Nathan Sutherland is called in when Vicari's broken body is found at the base of the campanile, his death seemingly nothing more than a terrible accident. But Nathan isn't so sure and sets out on an investigation that will reunite him with an old friend and an old adversary, and the discovery of a terrible secret hidden at the heart of the lagoon.Praise for Philip Gwynne Jones'The plot is a masterwork of intrigue' Daily Mail'Gwynne Jones's talent for evoking place and atmosphere is clear as ever' Literary Review

Una McMurray is puzzled. Surely, statistically, the international cat show scene shouldn't be this... lethal?Keen to make her mark in her new job in pet insurance, Una's first task is to calculate whether cat ownership extends human lifespan. Tragically, that's not the case for prizewinning cat owner Jeff Bridgely - a most improbable accident has ended his dreams of triumphing at the upcoming International Cat Show.When a second competitor dies in mysterious circumstances, the maths just doesn't add up. Una vows to resolve this suspicious data discrepancy and impress her new project team, especially condescending Tim and ambitious trainee Patti.After borrowing Pedro the cat and brushing up on her feline facts, Una dives deep undercover in the cutthroat world of cat shows. Competition is fierce, but what Pedro lacks in pedigree, he makes up for in character. Although as Pedro's odds of winning shorten, so do Una's chances of survival...Armed with razor-sharp logic, analytical expertise and a scruffy moggy sidekick, can actuary Una catch the cat show killer before she becomes the latest fatal statistic?----------Readers love the Una McMurray Mysteries series!'Clever and very funny' - Ian Moore, author of Death and Croissants'Eleanor Oliphant meets The Thursday Murder Club' - Jessica Irena Smith'Deliciously fun mystery that gest serious about the body count, with clues that really do add up! Loved following Una seeing the risks at every turn - and having to overcome them if she's to save those she loves. #TeamPedro - Sarah Yarwood-Lovett, author of the Dr Nell Ward Mysteries series'Witty and fun' - Woman's Own'Terrifically funny and endearing' - Belfast Telegraph'Impressive... full of unusual ideas and amusing relationships' - Morning Star

Drawing on the author's work with primates - as well as on psychological experiments, language and anecdote - The Arrogant Ape explores the widespread idea that humans are superior to animals, arguing that we need to divest ourselves of this belief in order to stop the destruction of the planet.Showing that humanity's inherent belief that superior intelligence and importance is misplaced, and that both are learned and acquired by the time we are adults, Christine Webb also explores how our belief that we are 'above' nature has contributed to climate change as well as to pandemics like Covid 19.For readers of Entangled Life, Other Minds and The Hidden Life of Trees, The Arrogant Ape looks at the link between human exceptionalism and the ecological crisis for the first time.

In her international bestseller The Bookseller of Kabul, award-winning journalist Åsne Seierstad studied life in Afghanistan before and after the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001. Now twenty years later, the Taliban is back in power, and Seierstad returns with The Afghans, a book to help us understand Afghanistan's past, present and future, told through the lives of three unforgettable people. In her compelling, intimate and thought-provoking new book, Seierstad introduces us to three people whose lives have been shaped by the fall and rise of the Taliban - Jamila, Bashir and Ariana - as well their families, friends, foes and co-fighters. Jamila is a women's rights activist; Bashir is a Taliban commander; Ariana is a law student who had one semester left when the Taliban came to power. The stories of these three Afghans encompass love, loss, revolt and war as well as the everyday rhythms of family life. Through them, we experience and come to understand the lead-up to the Taliban retaking power in 2021, how the first year of Taliban rule unfolded, and where this leaves Afghans today, and tomorrow.Praise for Åsne Seierstad:'An intimate portrait of Afghani people quite unlike any other' Sunday Times on The Bookseller of Kabul'Has the feel of a non-fiction novel - irresistible' New York Times on One of Us

During WW2 there was a rumour that German spies were landing by parachute in Britain, dressed as nuns...Conradin 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. 'Spy-masterful storytelling' Sunday Post

In the rapidly advancing landscape of science and technology, humanity stands at the threshold of unprecedented possibilities, particularly in the realm of human enhancement. Theologians, philosophers, ethicists, and scientists engage in profound discussions about the ethical, moral, and spiritual implications of enhancing the human experience. What does it mean to be human in the face of technological augmentation? How do religious traditions perceive the ethical boundaries of human enhancement? Can spirituality coexist with the pursuit of enhancing our physical, cognitive, and emotional capacities? This volume embarks on comprehensively exploring these questions and more, drawing from diverse theological perspectives, ethical frameworks, and scientific insights. This book aims to bridge the gap between theology, ethics, and emerging technologies by fostering an interdisciplinary dialogue. It encourages readers to contemplate the intricate relationship between humanity's quest for enhancement and the enduring spiritual questions that have captivated human minds for centuries.

Elsie is a sexy, funny, and fiercely independent woman in South London. But, at just 28, she is also tired. Though she spends her days writing tender poetry in her journal, her nights are spent working long hours for minimum wage at a neighbourhood gay bar.The difficulty of being estranged from her family, struggle of being continually rejected from jobs, and fear of never making money doing what she loves, is too great. But Elsie is determined to keep the faith, for a little longer at least. Things will surely turn around. They have to.As she tries to breathe through the panic attacks, sleeping with her hot and spirited co-worker Bea isn't exactly straightforward and offers Elsie just another place to hide.As Elsie tries to reconnect with her best friend Juliet, her fragile world spirals out of control. Can Elsie steady herself and not fall through the cracks?

In this emotionally rich first memoir, the New York Times bestselling author of True Biz retraces her path out of the hearing world and into the deaf community - and seeks to understand the journeys her own children must take.Sara Novi¿'s early years were filled with music, Bible study, and a strong desire to fit in. But when she failed her school's mandated hearing test, her worldview was thrown into chaos. Desperate not to be marked as different, she told no one, staying in the hearing world for as long as she could by brute force. Eventually unable to ignore the fact that she was deaf, Novi¿ sought out other deaf people and was welcomed into a tight knit community rooted in the beauty and joy of American Sign Language. Novi¿ realized that rather than maintaining the facade of her old life or trying to straddle two worlds, she would need to cultivate a life in the space between. Now the mother of two young sons - one, biological and hearing, the other, adopted and deaf-Novi¿ reflects on her life both before and after parenthood. She's raising her children within the deaf world, offering them things her younger self needed, all the while knowing that as her children grow, their own paths will branch off from hers in ways she cannot fully predict or plan for. Interwoven with Novic's personal story is a remarkable portrait of America through reflections on some of its most complex histories: the rise of the Christian right, the thorny world of international adoption, and above all, the deaf and disabled communities' stubborn survival in the face of persistent oppression. Novi¿'s clear, bold voice is one readers will hold onto, learn from, argue with, and be inspired by, as she asks us to recognize difference as a source of opportunity rather than fear, as a chance to draw families and communities together, and to build something new.

'The sun of the Adriatic fills the pages and the plot is pitch perfect . . A great summer time crime read' - NetGalley reviewer ---------- It's high summer in Slovenia. The charming resort town of Portoro is swarming with holidaymakers, and Detective Petra Vidmar is losing her cool. Fresh from her success solving the baffling murder of a beloved colleague, Petra's been enjoying sunshine, ice cream and very little crime in her new home on the stunning Slovenian coast. Life is blissful . . . until a superyacht drifts into the harbour with a body sprawled on deck. Steffi de Vries was a star on the social media scene, but her glittering career and picture-perfect life were brutally cut short. It seems that among her millions of followers, were many enemies: jealous boyfriends; ambitious rivals; illicit lovers and vengeful business partners. But who took their dislike beyond their phone screen and into real life? Petra and her assistant Policist Ale Koren soon find themselves deep in the world of wealth, glamour, luxury and 'likes'. But not all is as it seems . . . can they prise off the filter of perfection to reveal the murderous truth? ---------- Following Death on the Adriatic, this is Georgina Stewart's second twisty, clever mystery set on the breathtakingly beautiful Slovenian coast. Perfect for fans of Tom Hindle, Robert Thorogood and Donna Leon. ---------- Praise for Death on the Adriatic: 'I thoroughly enjoyed this book... the description of the Slovenian coast made me feel that I was there. Hopefully this is the first in a series as I would love to go again!' - Amazon reviewer, 'An excellent debut novel from a promising young writer... the setting is wonderful... and best of all, I didn't see the ending coming. I look forward to this novel becoming a series' - Amazon reviewer, 'If you want to read a good mystery, set in a lovely place and featuring great characters, this is the right book!' - Amazon reviewer, Autorid: Georgina Stewart

Set against the backdrop of the most beautiful city on earth, this is a gripping and atmospheric crime novel perfect for fans of Donna Leon and Andrea Camilleri. __________________________________________ The city of Venice is alive with celebrations for Redentore, the most spectacular festival of the year. The streets are lined with revellers eating and drinking, and boats travel along the canals into the bacino of San Marco in anticipation of the firework display. It's going to be a night to remember, and all the more so for Nathan Sutherland and his wife Federica, who have been invited to an exclusive party in the company of the British Ambassador. The festivities take a turn, however, when Nathan suddenly finds himself struggling for breath and is rushed to hospital. Tests show he has all the symptoms of aconite poisoning, a toxin derived from the deadly wolfsbane plant. An unfortunate accident? Or a deliberate attempt to poison him? As Nathan investigates, he discovers many guests might just have had a motive for murder . . . Praise for Philip Gwynne Jones 'I devoured all Philip's novels and felt transported to Venice with a new intimacy' Val McDermid 'An irresistible concoction of crime and culture' Daily Mail 'As delightful as a Spritz by the Rialto - a must for all Italy lovers' David Hewson 'Clever and great fun' The Times 'The lively, colourful narrative scuds along as briskly as a water taxi...you'll enjoy the ride' Italia Magazine 'Sinister and shimmering . . . as haunting and darkly elegant as Venice itself' L.S. Hilton Autorid: Philip Gwynne Jones

Every mark tells a story. This one ends in blood. The next darkly funny thrill-ride of a book in the Sunday Times bestselling Washington Poe series. 'Dark, funny and twisty' - Lisa Howells, Crime Monthly A MONSTER. A MOTHER. A MURDER? When Vice Admiral Boyer, RN (retd) died without leaving a will, his estranged daughter inherited his - not inconsiderable - estate. Called home to sort through his belongings, she found an AegisBox - a tamper proof safe within a safe designed to self-destruct if anyone without the code attempts to open it. Unable to walk away without the truth, she uncovered something so horrifying it launched the biggest investigation in the National Crime Agency's history. Five years later, Washington Poe is unwittingly, and unwillingly, sucked into its gravity... Finally able to escape the authority they railed against, Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw are enjoying their new jobs as private detectives or - as the sign on their door says - 'Gumshoes for Hire'. When a teenage girl walks into their office, looking for the mother she long believed to be dead, they agree to take the case. As Poe and Tilly investigate the girl's claims, they find themselves drawn into a murky world of trafficking, pornography and prostitution. Will they be able to help the girl find her mother, or will the dark forces at work, who will stop at nothing to protect themselves, get there first... PRAISE FOR M. W. CRAVEN: 'A brutal and thrilling page-turner' - The Sun 'It's got everything. Everything' - Chris Whitaker 'Intelligent. Sophisticated. Intriguing.' - Mari Hannah 'One of the most memorable police officers we've encountered in a long time' - The Independent 'One of the best crime writers working today' - Stuart Turton 'Two of the most compelling characters in crime fiction' - Fiona Cummins 'A high-octane thriller that won't disappoint' - Guardian 'One of the best new detective duos in decades' - Abir Mukherjee 'So dark and twisty' - Elly Griffiths 'Twists and turns like a country lane' - Peter Robinson Autorid: M. W. Craven