the bitter truth

*Winner of the CWA Historical Dagger 2023*'A great insight into Renaissance Florence. What I love about these books is the seamless weaving of factual history with a great story' – Abir MukherjeeFlorence. Spring, 1537.When Cesare Aldo investigates a report of intruders at a convent in the Renaissance city's northern quarter, he enters a community divided by bitter rivalries and harbouring dark secrets.His case becomes far more complicated when a man's body is found deep inside the convent, stabbed more than two dozen times. Unthinkable as it seems, all the evidence suggests one of the nuns must be the killer.Meanwhile, Constable Carlo Strocchi finds human remains pulled from the Arno that belong to an officer of the law missing since winter. The dead man had many enemies, but who would dare kill an official of the city's most feared criminal court?As Aldo and Strocchi close in on the truth, identifying the killers will prove more treacherous than either of them could ever have imagined . . .The Darkest Sin is an atmospheric locked-room thriller by D. V. Bishop, set in Renaissance Florence and is the sequel to City of Vengeance.

A SHELF AWARENESS BEST BOOK OF 2025 - A CBC BOOKS BEST CANADIAN FICTION BOOK OF 2025 - A CRIMEREADS BEST BOOK OF 2025 The natural enemy of a Korean is another Korean. When North Korean spymaster Doha Kim is mysteriously killed in Oxford, his protégé, Yohan Kim, chases the only breadcrumb given to him in Doha's last breath: "Soju Club, Dr. Ryu." In the meantime, a Korean American CIA agent, Yunah Choi, races to salvage her investigation of the North Korean spy cell in the aftermath of the assassination. At the centre of it all is the Soju Club, the only Korean restaurant in Oxford, owned by Jihoon Lim, an immigrant from Seoul in search of a new life after suffering a tragedy. As different factions move in with their own agendas, their fates become entangled, resulting in a bitter struggle that will determine whose truth will triumph. Oxford Soju Club weaves a tale of how immigrants in the Korean diaspora are forced to create identities to survive, and how in the end, they must shed those masks and seek their true selves.

Set amongst the snow-covered mountains of the Austrian Alps, Midnight in the Snow is the story of a forbidden attraction that will reveal long-buried secrets, from Sunday Times bestselling author of Christmas at Tiffany's, Karen Swan.Award-winning director Clover Phillips is riding high when she encounters Kit Foley; a surfer and snowboarder as well-known for controversy as he is for winning championships.Involved in an accident that had devastating consequences for a bitter rival, Kit has never spoken about what really happened that day. Determined to find out the truth, Clover heads to the snowy wilderness of the Austrian Alps, sharing a romantic winter wonderland with a man who can't stand her.But as she delves deeper, Clover finds herself both drawn to Kit, and even more convinced he's hiding something. Is Kit Foley really as cold as he seems?***What readers are saying about Midnight in the Snow:'Heartwarming, romantic, uplifting. Great writing that wraps you like a blanket''Real and wonderfully, subtly painted so that, yet again, her novel makes you stay up until silly o'clock''An amazing gift for taking you to fabulous locations & gradually unwrapping secrets about her characters''Glamorous, thrilling and unashamedly romantic'

“The Nanny kept me in white-knuckled suspense until the very last page. Gilly Macmillan's breakout thriller is a dark and twisted version of Downton Abbey gone very, very wrong.” — Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author The New York Times bestselling author of What She Knew conjures a dark and unpredictable tale of family secrets that explores the lengths people will go to hurt one another. When her beloved nanny, Hannah, left without a trace in the summer of 1988, seven-year-old Jocelyn Holt was devastated. Haunted by the loss, Jo grew up bitter and distant, and eventually left her parents and Lake Hall, their faded aristocratic home, behind. Thirty years later, Jo returns to the house and is forced to confront her troubled relationship with her mother. But when human remains are accidentally uncovered in a lake on the estate, Jo begins to question everything she thought she knew. Then an unexpected visitor knocks on the door and Jo's world is destroyed again. Desperate to piece together the gaping holes in her memory, Jo must uncover who her nanny really was, why she left, and if she can trust her own mother... In this compulsively readable tale of secrets, lies, and deception, Gilly Macmillan explores the darkest impulses and desires of the human heart. Diabolically clever, The Nanny reminds us that sometimes the truth hurts so much you'd rather hear the lie.

"The Nanny kept me in white-knuckled suspense until the very last page. Gilly Macmillan's breakout thriller is a dark and twisted version of Downton Abbey gone very, very wrong." - Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author The New York Times bestselling author of What She Knew conjures a dark and unpredictable tale of family secrets that explores the lengths people will go to hurt one another. When her beloved nanny, Hannah, left without a trace in the summer of 1988, seven-year-old Jocelyn Holt was devastated. Haunted by the loss, Jo grew up bitter and distant, and eventually left her parents and Lake Hall, their faded aristocratic home, behind. Thirty years later, Jo returns to the house and is forced to confront her troubled relationship with her mother. But when human remains are accidentally uncovered in a lake on the estate, Jo begins to question everything she thought she knew. Then an unexpected visitor knocks on the door and Jo's world is destroyed again. Desperate to piece together the gaping holes in her memory, Jo must uncover who her nanny really was, why she left, and if she can trust her own mother... In this compulsively readable tale of secrets, lies, and deception, Gilly Macmillan explores the darkest impulses and desires of the human heart. Diabolically clever, The Nanny reminds us that sometimes the truth hurts so much you'd rather hear the lie.

Bloomsbury presents The Wolf's Oath by Tim Hodkinson, read by Rycharde Everley.This thrilling Viking adventure in the epic Whale Road Chronicles sees outcast prince Einar and his crew take on their most bitter foes.Einar and the Wolf Coats sail back to the northern realms in order to honour a dying man's last wish by placing his sword into the hands of his son.As they get closer to their destination, they encounter a fearsome band of Viking mercenaries. Einar is keen to join forces, but the Wolf Coats are vehemently opposed... until a violent skirmish makes both sides realise they will be stronger together.First though the Wolf Coats must pass a test: prove themselves to their new allies by discovering the truth behind strange tales of bloodshed in the far north.Einar soon realises he may have signed up for more than he intended, for he must cross swords with allies of his bitter enemy: Eirik, the Serpent King.A powerful action-adventure novel perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell, Ben Kane and Matthew Harffy.Reviews for Tim Hodkinson'Epic, violent storytelling and great fun to read' The Times'Highly recommended!' Theodore Brun'Will leave you breathless for more' Richard Cullen'A superb author of dark age fiction' Simon Turney

A love story for Christmas—now a Hallmark Channel original movie—from the #1 bestselling author of The Christmas Box and The Walk. Elise Dutton dreads the arrival of another holiday season. Three years earlier, her husband cheated on her with her best friend, resulting in a bitter divorce that left her alone, broken, and distrustful. Then, one November day, a stranger approaches Elise in the mall food court. Though she recognizes the man from her building, Elise has never formally met him. Tired of spending the holidays alone, the man offers her a proposition. For the next eight weeks—until the evening of December 24—he suggests that they pretend to be a couple. He draws up a contract with four rules: 1. No deep, probing personal questions 2. No drama 3. No telling anyone the truth about the relationship 4. The contract is void on Christmas Day The lonely Elise surprises herself by agreeing to the idea. As the charade progresses, the safety of her fake relationship begins to mend her badly broken heart. But just as she begins to find joy again, her long-held secret threatens to unravel the emerging relationship. But she might not be the only one with secrets.

Ancient powers are waking . . .The Scarab Path is the fifth book in the critically acclaimed epic fantasy series Shadows of the Apt by Adrian Tchaikovsky.The war with the Wasp Empire has ended in a bitter stalemate, and Collegium has nothing to show for it but wounded veterans. Cheerwell Maker finds herself broken in ways no doctor can mend, haunted by ghosts of the past. Meanwhile, the powerful Wasp Empress is regaining control over those imperial cities that refused to bow to her. But she draws her power from something more sinister than armies and war machines.Only her consort, the former spymaster Thalric, knows the truth. As assassins seek to end him, he finds his life and his loyalties under threat once again. And in an ancient city beyond the desert, a terrible secret stirs beneath its stones.The Scarab Path is followed by the sixth book in the Shadows of the Apt series, The Sea Watch.The entire series is narrated by Ben Allen (Alien Clay). Listeners love the series in audio:'Fantastic narration that really got you to imagine this amazing world''You get consumed into the world and its characters''The characters are distinct with masterful accents''The narration and sound design is jaw-dropping''Ben Allen's narration was frankly phenomenal all the way through'

Two sisters. One heartbreaking secret. And a past that cannot stay buried. In the depths of a harsh winter, Erica and Beth Calcott return to the house where they spent idyllic summers as children. As Erica sorts through her late grandmother's belongings, strange fragments of family history and vivid memories break from the surface of the present day...Memories of their cousin, Henry, who disappeared one summer long ago, and of their grandmother, a bitter woman, full of a deep, dark hatred. As Erica sifts through remnants of the past, a secret emerges, reaching all the way back to a beautiful heiress in turn-of-the-century Oklahoma. As past and present converge, Erica and Beth must come to terms with two terrible acts of betrayal and the heartbreaking legacy left behind. Your favourite authors love Katherine Webb's sweeping historical dramas: 'An enormously talented writer' Santa Montefiore 'Webb have a true gift for uncovering the mysteries of the human heart and exploring the truth of love' Kate Williams 'Katherine Webb's writing is beautiful' Elizabeth Fremantle 'A truly gifted writer of historical fiction' Lucinda Riley 'Katherine's writing is rich, vivid and evocative' Iona Grey

From the twice Booker-shortlisted author of The Reluctant Fundamentalist and Exit West, a story of love, loss, and rediscovery in a time of unsettling change One morning, Anders wakes to find that his skin has turned dark, his reflection a stranger to him. At first he tells only Oona, an old friend, newly a lover. Soon, reports of similar occurrences surface across the land. Some see in the transformations the long-dreaded overturning of an established order, to be resisted to a bitter end. In many, like Anders's father and Oona's mother, a sense of profound loss wars with profound love. As the bond between Anders and Oona deepens, change takes on a different shading: a chance to see one another, face to face, anew. 'A transformative tale . . . compellingly readable and strangely musical' Guardian 'With this big-hearted novel of ideas, Mohsin Hamid confronts challenging truths with insight, wisdom, and - above all else - limitless compassion' Tayari Jones, An American Marriage

Set amongst the snow-covered mountains of the Austrian Alps, Midnight in the Snow is the story of a forbidden attraction that will reveal long-buried secrets, from Sunday Times bestselling author of Christmas at Tiffany's, Karen Swan. Award-winning director Clover Phillips is riding high when she encounters Kit Foley; a surfer and snowboarder as well-known for controversy as he is for winning championships. Involved in an accident that had devastating consequences for a bitter rival, Kit has never spoken about what really happened that day. Determined to find out the truth, Clover heads to the snowy wilderness of the Austrian Alps, sharing a romantic winter wonderland with a man who can't stand her. But as she delves deeper, Clover finds herself both drawn to Kit, and even more convinced he's hiding something. Is Kit Foley really as cold as he seems? *** What readers are saying about Midnight in the Snow: 'Heartwarming, romantic, uplifting. Great writing that wraps you like a blanket' 'Real and wonderfully, subtly painted so that, yet again, her novel makes you stay up until silly o'clock' 'An amazing gift for taking you to fabulous locations & gradually unwrapping secrets about her characters' 'Glamorous, thrilling and unashamedly romantic'

The stunning sequel to Daughter of the Moon Goddess delves deeper into beloved Chinese mythology, concluding the epic story of Xingyin-the daughter of Chang'e and the mortal archer, Houyi-as she battles a grave new threat to the realm, in this powerful tale of love, sacrifice, and hope. After winning her mother's freedom from the Celestial Emperor, Xingyin thrives in the enchanting tranquility of her home. But her fragile peace in this Asian fantasy is threatened by the discovery of a strange magic on the moon and the unsettling changes in the Celestial Kingdom as the emperor tightens his grip on power. While Xingyin is determined to keep clear of the rising danger, the discovery of a shocking truth spurs her into a perilous confrontation. Forced to flee her home once more, Xingyin and her companions venture to unexplored lands of the Immortal Realm, encountering legendary creatures and shrewd monarchs, beloved friends and bitter adversaries. In a journey filled with political intrigue and shifting alliances, Xingyin has to overcome past grudges and enmities to forge a new path forward, seeking aid where she never imagined she would. As an unspeakable terror sweeps across the realm, Xingyin must uncover the truth of her heart and claw her way through devastation-to rise against this evil before it destroys everything she holds dear, and the worlds she has grown to love . . . even if doing so demands the greatest price of all.

A retelling of a historic Russian tragedy about family conflict, love, and murder for young readers seeking accessible classics. As Dimitry struck him Grigory screamed and fell back, the blood streaming horribly from his head. Dimitry bent over him, trying to stop the flow with his handkerchief which turned soaking red in an instant. Alexey, Ivan and Dimitry Karamazov were sent away by their father Fyodor when they were very young. Now the three brothers are together again - but will Dimitry's bitter quarrel with Fyodor spoil their homecoming? Dimitry and his father both want to marry the beautiful Grushenka. Fyodor is old and ugly, but offers her wealth and security. Will she accept either of them, and if so, who? The sickly, timid servant Smerdyakov confesses to a terrible crime. Is he telling the truth? Can the deadly rivalry between father and son be settled peacefully, or must it end in tragedy? Real Reads are accessible texts designed to support the literacy development of primary and lower secondary age children while introducing them to the riches of our international literary heritage. Each book is a retelling of a work of great literature from one of the world's greatest cultures, fitted into a 64-page book, making classic stories, dramas and histories available to intelligent young readers as a bridge to the full texts, to language students wanting access to other cultures, and to adult readers who are unlikely ever to read the original versions.

The twenty-seventh mystery featuring Inspector Ikmen, star of BBC Two's gripping crime drama series The Turkish Detective. Inspector Mehmet Süleyman is on holiday in Romania when his distant cousin calls. Nurettin Süleyman has bought the Wooden Library, an ancient building in Istanbul once owned by their ancestor. He needs help cataloguing its priceless contents and who better for the job than Mehmet's old friend Çetin Ikmen? As Ikmen sets to work, he detects a terrible smell pervading the library that leads to the discovery of a rotting corpse. The dead body is that of Senol Ulusoy, the man who sold Nurettin the library . . . A long-running feud between the two families comes to light, as does the bitter rivalry between the three Ulusoy brothers, fuelled by their father's cruel manipulation. Then pathologist Arto Sarkissian makes a shocking discovery that turns this case on its head, and Süleyman's detective team must dig deep to reveal a truth that is rooted in the past as well as the present . . . Praise for Barbara Nadel's I kmen mysteries: ' Complex and beguiling : a Turkish delight' Mick Herron ' Ikmen is one of modern crime fiction's true heroes , complex yet likeable, and the city he inhabits - Istanbul - is just as fascinating' The Times 'Barbara Nadel's distinctive Istanbul-set Inspector Ikmen thrillers combine brightly coloured scene setting with deliciously tortuous plots ' Guardian

_______________ 'In a literary age of diet and dearth, Tartt invites us to feast ... the opening tragedy strikes a note of rich, flamboyant Southern Gothic that resonates throughout' - Independent 'You will rarely have read better ... Because of Tartt's mastery of suspense, this book will grip readers all the way through to its bitter end' - Guardian 'Destined to become a special kind of classic - a book that precocious young readers pluck from their parents' shelves and devour with surreptitious eagerness, thrilled to discover a writer who seems at once to read their minds and to offer up the sweet-and-sour fruits of exotic, forbidden knowledge' - New York Times Book Review _______________ Donna Tartt's huge selling second novel, follow up to the worldwide bestseller The Secret History The sunlit rails gleamed like dark mercury, arteries branching out silver from the switch points; the old telegraph poles were shaggy with kudzu and Virginia creeper and, above them, rose the water tower, its surface all washed out by the sun. Harriet, cautiously, stepped towards it in the weedy clearing. Around and around it she walked, around the rusted metal legs. One day is never, ever discussed by the Cleve family. The day that nine-year-old Robin was found hanging by the neck from a tree in their front garden. Twelve years later the family are no nearer to uncovering the truth of what happened to him. Inspired by Houdini and Robert Louis Stevenson, twelve-year-old Harriet sets out to find her brother's murderer - and punish him. But what starts out as a child's game soon becomes a dangerous journey into the menacing underworld of a small Mississippi town.

Now in paperback, this beautifully dark and enthralling YA features a mysterious disappearance in a secluded Appalachian town. For fans of House of Hollow and Wilder Girls! In rural Caball Hollow, surrounded by the vast National Forest, the James women serve up more than fried green tomatoes at the Harvest Moon diner, where the family recipes are not the only secrets. Like her sisters, Linden was born with an unusual ability. She can taste what others are feeling, but this so-called gift soured her relationship with the vexingly attractive Cole Spencer one fateful night a year ago . . . A night when Linden vanished into the depths of the Forest and returned with no memories of what happened, just a litany of questions—and a haze of nightmares that suggest there’s more to her story than simply getting lost. Now, during the hottest summer on record, another girl in town is gone, and the similarities to last year’s events are striking. Except, this time the missing girl doesn’t make it home, and when her body is discovered, the scene unmistakably spells murder. As tempers boil over, Linden enlists the help of her sisters to find what’s hiding in the forest . . . before it finds her. But as she starts digging for truth—about the Moth-Winged Man rumored to haunt the Hollow, about her bitter rift with Cole, and even about her family—she must question if some secrets are best left buried.

Edith Wharton s acclaimed novel of love, duty, and half-known truths in Gilded Age New York society, with a foreword by bestselling author Elif Batuman Dutiful Newland Archer, an eligible young man from New York high society, is about to announce his engagement to May Welland, a suitable match from a good family, when May s cousin, the beautiful and exotic Countess Ellen Olenska, is introduced into their circle. The Countess brings with her an aura of European sophistication and a hint of perceived scandal, having left her husband and claimed her independence. Her worldliness, disregard for society s rules, and air of unapproachability attract the sensitive Newland, despite his enthusiasm about a marriage to May and the societal advantages it would bring. Almost against their will, Newland and Ellen develop a passionate bond, and a classic love triangle takes shape as the three young people find themselves drawn into a poignant and bitter conflict between love and duty. Written in 1920, Edith Wharton s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about a time and place long gone by 1870s New York City beautifully captures the complexities of passion, independence, and fulfillment, and how painfully hard it can be for individuals to truly see one another and their place in the world. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

Edith Wharton s acclaimed novel of love, duty, and half-known truths in Gilded Age New York society, with a foreword by bestselling author Elif Batuman. A Penguin Vitae Edition Dutiful Newland Archer, an eligible young man from New York high society, is about to announce his engagement to May Welland, a suitable match from a good family, when May s cousin, the beautiful and exotic Countess Ellen Olenska, is introduced into their circle. The Countess brings with her an aura of European sophistication and a hint of perceived scandal, having left her husband and claimed her independence. Her worldliness, disregard for society s rules, and air of unapproachability attract the sensitive Newland, despite his enthusiasm about a marriage to May and the societal advantages it would bring. Almost against their will, Newland and Ellen develop a passionate bond, and a classic love triangle takes shape as the three young people find themselves drawn into a poignant and bitter conflict between love and duty. Written in 1920, Edith Wharton s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about a time and place long gone by 1870s New York City beautifully captures the complexities of passion, independence, and fulfillment, and how painfully hard it can be for individuals to truly see one another and their place in the world. Penguin Classics presents Penguin Vitae, loosely translated as Penguin of one s life, a deluxe hardcover series featuring a dynamic landscape of classic fiction and nonfiction that has shaped the course of our readers' lives. Penguin Vitae invites readers to find themselves in a diverse world of storytellers, with beautifully designed classic editions of personal inspiration, intellectual engagement, and creative originality.

Bestselling author Joanne Harris illuminates the heartbreak and quiet horror of dementia in this beautiful yet haunting ghost story. *** Out on the moor, in the snow, a house stands beneath a pylon. It is a house full of memories, and full of old things. And, in the dark, when the pylon sings in the wind, it is a house full of ghosts and fading memories . . . The house, Kirkhill, has a new occupant - just moved in, fresh from a bitter divorce and looking for a fresh start. The moor is the perfect place for it: isolated, beautiful in the changing seasons, peaceful, and with just enough of the previous owners belongings that it's a perfectly self-contained and cosy home. Only as nights start to draw in, and the weather takes a turn, so does the house. The cosy isolation becomes menacing, animals begin acting strangely, and it seems someone could be watching the house. Soon, the diaries of the previous owners begin to reveal a terrible tragedy which befell Kirkhill - one which its new occupant may be unable to escape . . . *** A beautiful, gripping read for fans of Piranesi and The Winter Ghosts, this is a beautiful yet haunting ghost story for a frosty day. Praise for Joanne Harris: 'So wise, so atmospheric, so beautifully written' - Marian Keyes 'I sobbed at the end because I couldn't bear to leave... One of the world's finest storytellers' - Joanna Cannon 'Haunting, obsessive and just a little nutty, like a freshly-made praline' - Elisabeth Luard 'Mouthwatering... your sense are left reeling' - Observer 'Sheer pleasure from start to finish' - James Runcie 'Sensuous and thought-provoking' - Daily Telegraph 'I devoured it in one go' - Christopher Fowler 'A place of magic and mysteries - Monica Ali 'A novel that shimmers with brilliance and truth' - Kate Williams 'Is this the best book ever written? Truly excellent' - Literary Review

The ghost of a recently deceased chocolatier believes he was murdered, and it's up to young witch Brynn Warren to use her magical gifts and old-fashioned sleuthing skills to find out how he really met his bitter end in this enchanting new Evenfall Witches B&B Mystery. After spending months unable to use her powers, Brynn Warren is once again using her gift and working at her family's bed-and-breakfast. Her heart is full, and although one of her aunts wonders if it might be a little more full with a bit of romance in her life, Brynn is certain that finding love again is not in her future. In fact, she can't imagine anyone being more certain of anything…except for maybe, the recently deceased Mortimer Sweete. He's certain he's been murdered, and he wants Brynn's help to bring his killer to justice. Mort is positive he knows who killed him: his business partner's wife, Cookie, who had been trying to get them to sell the candy shop for months. But Brynn doesn't share his conviction. After all, the coroner ruled his death natural causes, and Mort did have health problems in life. But with Cookie putting up a For Sale sign for the shop already, Brynn knows she can't just let it go. Trying to solve a might-be murder while attempting to stop her aunt from meddling in her personal life seems like a recipe for disaster. If Brynn wants to bring Mort's spirit peace, she'll have to rely on all her skills-both magical and mundane-to uncover the truth. Story Locale: New England Series Overview: Brynn Warren runs a B&B with her aunts and uses traditional sleuthing and her magical abilities to solve crimes in this charming cozy mystery series.

'Whenever I want to read a book I know will be good, I go to Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Her genres are ever changing, her ability to take on a wild story each time is incredible' TAYLOR JENKINS-REID, author of Daisy Jones and the Six The Grand Season has just begun and already Nina's debut among Loisail's most notable socialites has gone disastrously awry. Nina has always struggled to control her gift of telekinesis, which has earnt her the nickname the Witch of Oldhouse. When Hector Auvray, the renowned entertainer, arrives in town, Nina is dazzled. He too has a telekinetic talent and sees her not as a witch, but ripe with magical potential. Under his tutelage, Nina's talent blossoms, as does her love for him. But great romances are for fairy-tales, and Hector is hiding a secret bitter truth from Nina - and himself - that threatens their courtship. The Beautiful Ones is a sweeping tale of love and betrayal and the struggle between conformity and passion. Discover why readers love The Beautiful Ones 'Jane Austen with added magic!' reader review 'An exquisitely written historical comedy of manners . . . her writing is elegant, rich in description and filled with characters that come vividly to life' reader review 'A completely charming and fun soap opera of a book! There's gossip, mean beautiful women and a great heroine you can't help love' reader review 'An emotionally intelligent novel that orbits around a tender, slow romance . . . one not to miss' reader review 'I adore the way that Silvia writes her characters . . . I can't put her stories down and yet am so sad when I reach the conclusion. Silvia writes stories to be savoured' reader review 'A wonderful book, full of twists and turns and unexpected surprises which kept me utterly gripped from start to finish' reader review 'I had an absolutely fantastic time with The Beautiful Ones and I would readily recommend it' reader review

The ghost of a recently deceased chocolatier believes he was murdered, and it's up to young witch Brynn Warren to use her magical gifts and old-fashioned sleuthing skills to find out how he really met his bitter end in this enchanting new Evenfall Witches B&B Mystery. After spending months unable to use her powers, Brynn Warren is once again using her gift and working at her family's bed-and-breakfast. Her heart is full, and although one of her aunts wonders if it might be a little more full with a bit of romance in her life, Brynn is certain that finding love again is not in her future. In fact, she can't imagine anyone being more certain of anything…except for maybe, the recently deceased Mortimer Sweete. He's certain he's been murdered, and he wants Brynn's help to bring his killer to justice. Mort is positive he knows who killed him: his business partner's wife, Cookie, who had been trying to get them to sell the candy shop for months. But Brynn doesn't share his conviction. After all, the coroner ruled his death natural causes, and Mort did have health problems in life. But with Cookie putting up a For Sale sign for the shop already, Brynn knows she can't just let it go. Trying to solve a might-be murder while attempting to stop her aunt from meddling in her personal life seems like a recipe for disaster. If Brynn wants to bring Mort's spirit peace, she'll have to rely on all her skills-both magical and mundane-to uncover the truth.

A secret from the past. A storm in the present. A killer with an invitation. Thirty years ago, two children found a pirate's map hidden in a damp Visby prison tower, swearing a blood oath to find a shipwreck looter's treasure on the desolate island of Gotska Sandön. But secrets that begin in the dark rarely stay there. Now, just before Christmas, one of those children, Erik Hansson, is found frozen to death in his car. The official ruling is suicide by rare plant poison - but the truth is far more sinister. Detective Inspector Maria Wern is at her breaking point. Caught in a bitter divorce and facing death threats for her testimony against a criminal kingpin, she needs to disappear. When an opportunity arises to join a getaway to the remote Gotska Sandön, she takes it - unaware she is walking into a trap designed decades ago. As a winter storm cuts the island off from the world and the electricity fails, Maria's sanctuary becomes a slaughterhouse. Trapped with six other women - including her own distraught best friend - Maria realizes with horrific clarity that they haven't been brought here to heal. They have been brought here to die. In this chilling ninth installment of the Maria Wern series, Anna Jansson delivers a masterful 'And Then There Were None' for the modern age. On Gotska Sandön, the only thing more dangerous than the storm is the person standing next to you. 'If you dare to risk your night's sleep, 'Not Even the Past' is highly recommended.' - Hallands Posten Sweden

Two 19th century stage illusionists, the aristocratic Rupert Angier and the working-class Alfred Borden, engage in a bitter and deadly feud; the effects are still being felt by their respective families a hundred years later. Working in the gaslight-and-velvet world of Victorian music halls, they prowl edgily in the background of each other's shadowy life, driven to the extremes by a deadly combination of obsessive secrecy and insatiable curiosity. At the heart of the row is an amazing illusion they both perform during their stage acts. The secret of the magic is simple, and the reader is in on it almost from the start, but to the antagonists the real mystery lies deeper. Both have something more to hide than the mere workings of a trick. ****** 'Really amazing. I love the epistolary nature of the novel and how the story stretches through time, but my favourite bits were all between the two warring illusionists. I can't believe how far the two of them went to prolong their feud of pranks. It was great seeing two professionals unwilling to harm their craft still work around all the little niceties to get at one another.' Goodreads reviewer, 'Duelling illusionists' ongoing battle in the late Victorian era has consequences for future generations. This is a masterpiece of epistolary style writing. The reader is set up, mirroring the art of the illusionist. The Prestige explores issues relating to social class and gender, artistry vs science, one's perspective shaping the truth, and the dangers of limitless ambition. The illusionists' duel and their quest to be true masters provides for a couple of intriguing Faustian bargains in this truly marvelous novel. Yet we, as readers, are also being deceived until it all finally unravels. One of the best novels in a structural sense that I've read. Well worth the time.' Goodreads reviewer, 'Gripping; eerie, hard to put down. Every time I thought I had a good sense of what was going on, Priest pulled the rug out of from under his plot and I'm still not sure what actually happened. Demands a re-read.' Goodreads reviewer, 'A suspenseful and gripping story, Christopher Priest demonstrates his storytelling skill in this compelling tale of two turn-of-the-century competing British stage magicians and their feud that trickles down through their descendants.' Goodreads reviewer, 'The setting is in present day, with descendants of two famous magicians trying to figure out what happened to their great-grandfathers. They do this by reading the journals/books of their forefathers. What they find out will really amaze you. This book will keep you guessing, and once the guessing stops, things get really weird. But it's a good kind of weird.' Goodreads reviewer,

The Shadowhunters must catch a killer in Edwardian London in this dangerous and romantic sequel to the #1 New York Times bestselling novel Chain of Gold, from New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Cassandra Clare. Chain of Iron is a Shadowhunters novel. Cordelia Carstairs seems to have everything she ever wanted. She's engaged to marry James Herondale, the boy she has loved since childhood. She has a new life in London with her best friend Lucie Herondale and James's charming companions, the Merry Thieves. She is about to be reunited with her beloved father. And she bears the sword Cortana, a legendary hero's blade. But the truth is far grimmer. James and Cordelia's marriage is a lie, arranged to save Cordelia's reputation. James is in love with the mysterious Grace Blackthorn whose brother, Jesse, died years ago in a terrible accident. Cortana burns Cordelia's hand when she touches it, while her father has grown bitter and angry. And a serial murderer is targeting the Shadowhunters of London, killing under cover of darkness, then vanishing without a trace. Together with the Merry Thieves, Cordelia, James and Lucie must follow the trail of the knife-wielding killer through the city's most dangerous streets. All the while, each is keeping a shocking secret: Lucie, that she plans to raise Jesse from the dead; Cordelia, that she has sworn a dangerous oath of loyalty to a mysterious power; and James, that he is being drawn further each night into the dark web of his grandfather, the arch-demon Belial. And that he himself may be the killer they seek.

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER The extraordinary retelling of one of the greatest Greek myths told through the women of the Trojan war - from the Booker Prize-winning author of The Silence of the Girls. Perfect for fans of The Odyssey and Madeline Miller's Circe and Song of Achilles. 'Myth for a MeToo age. Pat Barker returns to Homer in this gory but unexpectedly uplifting novel' Sunday Times Troy has fallen. The Greeks have won their bitter war. They can return home as victors - all they need is a good wind to lift their sails. But the wind has vanished, the seas becalmed by vengeful gods, and so the warriors remain in limbo - camped in the shadow of the city they destroyed, kept company by the women they stole from it. The women of Troy. Helen - poor Helen. All that beauty, all that grace - and she was just a mouldy old bone for feral dogs to fight over. Cassandra, who has learned not to be too attached to her own prophecies. They have only ever been believed when she can get a man to deliver them. Stubborn Amina, with her gaze still fixed on the ruined towers of Troy, determined to avenge the slaughter of her king. Hecuba, howling and clawing her cheeks on the silent shore, as if she could make her cries heard in the gloomy halls of Hades. As if she could wake the dead. And Briseis, carrying her future in her womb: the unborn child of the dead hero Achilles. Once again caught up in the disputes of violent men. Once again faced with the chance to shape history. Masterful and enduringly resonant, ambitious and intimate, The Women of Troy continues Pat Barker's extraordinary retelling of one of our greatest classical myths, following on from the critically acclaimed The Silence of the Girls. 'Readers turn to Barker's novels for their plain truths and clear-eyed sense of our history and creation stories. But the sombre clarity of her writing is offset by a luminous wisdom' Sunday Times 'The Women Of Troy's immediate beauty is its accessibility and Barker's precise, elegant writing' Metro 'Barker has always looked on the world with the combination of a cold eye and a sympathetic understanding. Her characterisation is sharp, her sympathy deep' ipaper

Cordelia Carstairs seems to have everything she ever wanted. She’s engaged to marry James Herondale, the boy she has loved since childhood. She has a new life in London with her best friend Lucie Herondale and James’s charming companions, the Merry Thieves. She is about to be reunited with her beloved father. And she bears the sword Cortana, a legendary hero’s blade. But the truth is far grimmer. James and Cordelia’s marriage is a lie, arranged to save Cordelia’s reputation. James is in love with the mysterious Grace Blackthorn whose brother, Jesse, died years ago in a terrible accident. Cortana burns Cordelia’s hand when she touches it, while her father has grown bitter and angry. And a serial murderer is targeting the Shadowhunters of London, killing under cover of darkness, then vanishing without a trace. Together with the Merry Thieves, Cordelia, James and Lucie must follow the trail of the knife-wielding killer through the city’s most dangerous streets. All the while, each is keeping a shocking secret: Lucie, that she plans to raise Jesse from the dead; Cordelia, that she has sworn a dangerous oath of loyalty to a mysterious power; and James, that he is being drawn further each night into the dark web of his grandfather, the arch-demon Belial. And that he himself may be the killer they seek.

Welcome to Rover's Rest, Scotland's most luxurious hotel for dogs and their humans, where tails wag, blood is spilled and alibis are chewed to pieces . . . The only thing that Detective Dexter Hound loves as much as his two Shih Tzus is solving murders. Or it was. When his investigation into a suspicious death is shut down by his superiors, he quits the force in protest. Invited by an old friend whose beloved Labradors he once rescued, Dexter arrives in the Scottish Highlands as guest of honour at her exclusive hotel. Dexter discovers not the relaxing break he'd hoped for but a world of simmering tension, bitter rivalries and guests with everything to hide. At least there's Annie, the chambermaid who glides effortlessly between staff and guests, and straight into Dexter's confidence. Then, the hotel is rocked by a discovery of a body. Checked in under a false name, she was hiding from something... or someone. Only Dexter sees through her disguise: she was the prime suspect in a case he never managed to solve. When a violent storm cuts the hotel off from the mainland, Dexter is forced to become a detective once more. As the bodies begin to pile up, Dexter teams up with sharp-witted Annie to uncover the truth before the killer strikes again. With no way in or out, suspicion spreads quickly among Rover's Rest's eccentric clientele: a reality TV star and her influencer fiancé, an opera diva, a family on the brink of collapse, and the hotel's enigmatic owner, who seems to know more than she's saying. In a place where identities are curated as carefully as the dogs, nothing is quite what it seems. A darkly comic mystery about privilege, family secrets and second chances, Murder at the No 1 Canine Hotel introduces a new detective with a nose for trouble. But never fear: no dogs were harmed.

'When you finish, you'll know yourself better, you'll understand the people you care about better' ANGELA DUCKWORTH, author of Grit 'Teeming with wisdom, insight, empathy, and sparkle. One of the best books I have ever read' CASS R. SUSNSTEIN, co-author of Noise A founding father of behavioural economics reveals the hidden logic of negative emotions with a clarity and humour that make our worst feelings strangely easier to bear. Every age has its illusions. Ours is that happiness is the natural human condition. Behavioural economist George Loewenstein argues the opposite: that our lives are inextricably shaped by the darker emotions we spend so much time trying to avoid. In The Opposite of Happiness, he draws on decades of influential research-as well as insights from literature and from his own life experiences-to offer a tour de force reexamination of the role negative emotions play in our lives: why pain is stickier than pleasure, how the modern world makes bad feelings worse, and why our attempts to escape misery usually only sharpen its sting. Those who struggle to find and sustain happiness are not unlucky or flawed, he argues, but merely human, suffering the slings and arrows of an inherently negative nature. This knowledge comes, however, not as a bitter pill but as much-needed solace for anyone navigating the frustrations and heartbreaks of modern life. In this fascinating deconstruction of negative emotions and their behavioral consequences, Loewenstein explains how features of our mind, like memory, attention, and self-esteem, conspire to keep us down. He reveals the downside of supposedly uplifting feelings like hope, and untangles misery's intertwined forms: guilt and shame, jealousy and envy, loneliness and depression, impatience, boredom, and regret. Drawing from a first-of-its-kind Misery Survey, Loewenstein shares participants' stories about, and insights into, the diversity of negative emotions that collectively weigh us down. Providing a provocative and refreshing counter argument to the self-help industry, The Opposite of Happiness shares a sobering, deeply human, and ultimately comforting truth: The sooner we understand our negative natures, the sooner we will stop feeling guilty about failing to achieve lasting bliss, and the better connected we will be to others who share the same, or their own unique mix of, negative emotions.

“This book blew me away, completely. Gripping from page one, I—quite literally—couldn’t put it down.”—Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners Growing up, Mallory Dodge learned that the best way to survive was to say nothing. And even though it’s been four years since her nightmare ended, she’s beginning to worry that the fear that holds her back will last a lifetime. Now, after years of homeschooling, Mallory must face a new milestone—spending her senior year at a public high school. But she never imagined she’d run into Rider Stark, the friend and protector she hasn’t seen since childhood, on her very first day. It doesn’t take long for Mallory to realize that the connection she shared with Rider never really faded. Yet soon it becomes apparent that she’s not the only one grappling with lingering scars from the past. And as she watches Rider’s life spiral out of control, Mallory must make a choice between staying silent and speaking out—for the people she loves, the life she wants and the truths that need to be heard. Praise for The Problem with Forever: “We’re left breathless and a little haunted and wanting more.”—Danielle Paige, New York Times bestselling author of Dorothy Must Die “Heartbreakingly real…a remarkable novel about the power of first love and the courage it takes to face your fears.”—Kami Garcia, #1 New York Times bestselling author Also from #1 bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout: If There’s No Tomorrow Bitter Sweet Love (The Dark Elements #0.5 / digital-only prequel novella) White Hot Kiss (The Dark Elements #1) Stone Cold Touch (The Dark Elements #2) Every Last Breath (The Dark Elements #3) Storm and Fury (The Harbinger series #1) Rage and Ruin (The Harbinger series #2) Grace and Glory (The Harbinger series #3)