the bitter truth

A killer brew with a touch of magic. Alexis Belrose has spent the past year building a quiet life in Larkspur Valley, Colorado. Running The Cozy Purrch, a cat café nestled in the mountains, she serves specialty drinks to friendly locals and finds homes for rescued cats. It's the perfect place to hide from a dangerous past and the coven she fled without looking back. But Alexis has a secret. She's a witch who can communicate telepathically with cats. And her four permanent feline residents see and hear everything that happens in their small mountain town. When her dear friend Hazel is found dead in the alley behind the café, staged to look like an accident, Alexis knows the truth. This was murder. And her cats witnessed it. The problem? She can't exactly tell Sheriff Iris Scott that her grumpy black and white cat Gus can identify the killer by scent. With suspicion swirling and the real murderer still walking free, Alexis must investigate on her own. Using her cats as covert operatives, she begins untangling a web of small-town secrets, bitter rivalries, and old grudges worth killing for. As Alexis gets closer to the truth, threatening notes appear and break-ins escalate. Someone knows she's asking questions. Someone wants her to stop. And if she's not careful, the killer might decide that the nosy café owner knows too much. But Alexis isn't just fighting for justice. She's fighting to protect the life she's built and the community that's slowly becoming home. Even if solving this murder means using the magical abilities she's spent years hiding. In a town where everyone knows everyone, trust is dangerous. And in a cozy café full of cats with opinions, nothing stays secret for long. Purr-colated Poison is the first book in The Cozy Purrch Café Mysteries, a paranormal cozy mystery series featuring a witch in hiding, telepathic cats, and a mountain town with more magic than anyone suspects. Perfect for fans of Amanda M. Lee, Annabel Chase, and readers who love their mysteries with a side of whiskers and witchcraft.

“There’s so much to love in Susan Bickford’s newest novel, Dread of Winter: a profound sense of place, the visceral evocation of a bitter winter’s cold, a dead-on depiction of the pit of despair that is the opioid epidemic, and language so beautiful on the page it’ll give you goosebumps. I’m a newcomer to Bickford’s work, but I’m putting her on my list of must-read authors. You should, too.” —William Kent Krueger The remote town of Oriska, New York, hasn’t been home for Sydney Lucerno for thirteen years. She’s escaped the creeping addictions and long-simmering anger that are as much a part of the landscape as the bitter cold. But when she gets the call that her mother is dying, every secret and fear she left behind is waiting to welcome her back. Two days later, her mother’s lover is dead too. And Sydney’s sworn to protect a half-sister she never knew she had, a prickly teenager named Maude, with an opiate habit and a bad-news family. But more lies and feuds are poised to spring from every once-familiar corner. The predators Sydney thought she’d escaped are threatening both her and Maude. To get free, Sydney will have to discover the truth about what happened when she left—and decide what should stay buried, deep in the unforgiving snow . . . Praise for A Short Time to Die “By the end of the first chapter I was totally hooked.” —Lisa Black “Gripping; chilling, and original . . . is sure to stay with you for a long, long time.” — Eric Rickstad “Kept me reading late, late into the night, to an ending I never expected.” —Taylor Stevens

Pre-order the gripping new mystery in the Hidden Norfolk series, from multi-million-copy bestselling author J M Dalgliesh. A family estate with a deadly secret... When a young man's body is discovered on a remote stretch of farmland in Norfolk, DI Tom Janssen's quiet morning is shattered. He is surprised to learn that the victim was a stable hand at Vale Racing - a yard steeped in tradition, where reputation and credibility are everything. It isn't long before Tom finds bitter rivalries hidden beneath the surface of the Vale family estate. Whispers spread that the yard's future is at risk. And the victim's private life - which he kept secret, even from those closest to him - begins to emerge. When another dead body turns up, Tom realises that everyone on the estate is lying to him. No one wants the truth to come to light. But which of them is capable of murder? Readers love J M Dalgliesh: 'Fantastic' ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ 'The best detective series I've read' ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ 'You can't put these books down' ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ 'J M Dalgliesh never disappoints' ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ 'Like watching Shetland on TV' ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ 'So much tension' ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿

Barbara Nadel's gripping Ikmen mysteries are the inspiration behind The Turkish Detective, BBC Two's sensational eight-part TV crime drama series, out now. Brothers Ugur and Lokman Bulut are locked in a bitter inheritance battle and need a sample of their mother's DNA to contest her Will. But when her body is exhumed, her corpse is found to be missing and a fresh body, with its heart removed, has been put in her grave. Assigned to the case, Inspector Mehmet Süleyman quickly realises that the heart has been illegally harvested, and his team has a murder inquiry on its hands. Meanwhile, retired inspector Çetin Ikmen is tracking down a missing person: Sevval Kalkan, a once-famous actress, who has joined an underground movement called the Moral Maze, whose mission is to help the destitute living on Istanbul's streets. The unidentified body in the grave cannot be Sevval's, but her shocking reappearance leads Ikmen to fear that she, too, is a victim of organ harvesting... Joining forces, Süleyman and Ikmen confront Istanbul's darkest underbelly to expose the horrifying truth of a city in crisis.

Wit and wisdom abound in this illustrated gift book from Fresh Cut Grass, Critical Role’s favorite robot therapist! Join Fresh Cut Grass, an extremely helpful and empathetic robot, as they dispense hilariously unusual but well-meaning advice to the members of Bells Hells. As the adventuring party’s licensed therapist*, FCG grows frazzled trying to help everyone with every single problem that crops up—and soon realizes that they’ve forgotten one very important member of the crew: themself! With FCG as your guide, you’ll learn important gems such as: Truth is like engine oil. It might taste bitter, but you gotta drink it!** Do unto others as if you know what the word “unto” means. And more! Written by cast member Sam Riegel and featuring beautiful, full-color illustrations by Thorn L. Knight, this is the perfect gift for Critters of all ages who need a friendly reminder that taking care of themselves is important in order to have a Smiley Day! *Not actually licensed or a therapist. **Do not drink engine oil.

The queen of the Victorian mystery, New York Times bestseller Anne Perry returns with the 22nd novel in the William Monk series REVENGE IN A COLD RIVER. An adversary Monk cannot remember threatens everything he holds dear - will he survive what is to come? London, 1869 : The body of a middle-aged man is found tangled in a mass of rope and wooden wreckage near the dockside of the River Thames. Commander William Monk of the River Police is called when initial investigations reveal the man was shot in the back. When he learns that the man was a master forger who had just escaped prison, Monk's interest is immediately piqued. But as his investigations lead him ever deeper into the murky world of smuggling and forgery, Monk is forced to confront his own forgotten past. The unsolicited interference of an old foe takes precedence as it becomes clear to Monk that a bitter enemy is back for revenge and has him in his sights. With his life and career in imminent danger, can Monk navigate his way to the truth before it is too late? Commander William Monk - A man with no past has only his conscience and instinct to guide him.

Jennifer Armentrout Harbinger Series Box Set: Storm and Fury, Rage and Ruin, Grace and Glory Discover the world of The Harbinger, an epic romantasy realm of angels, gargoyle protectors, and rising demons, from the #1 bestselling author of the Blood and Ash series. Read every book in the New York Times bestselling Harbinger series by Jennifer L. Armentrout starring a girl with an explosive secret whose hiding place has just been discovered... Eighteen-year-old Trinity may be going blind, but she can see and communicate with ghosts and spirits. Her gift is the reason she’s been in hiding for years in a compound guarded by Wardens—shape-shifters who protect humankind from demons. If the demons discover the truth about Trinity, they’ll devour her to enhance their powers. When Wardens from another clan arrive with reports that something is killing both demons and Wardens, Trinity’s world implodes. Not the least because one of the outsiders is the most annoying and fascinating person she’s ever met. Zayne has secrets of his own—but working together becomes imperative once demons breach the compound and Trinity’s secret comes to light. To save her family and maybe the world, she’ll have to trust Zayne. But all bets are off as a supernatural war is unleashed.... Read the full Harbinger series: Storm and Fury (The Harbinger series #1) Rage and Ruin (The Harbinger series #2) Grace and Glory (The Harbinger series #3) Also from #1 bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout: 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) If There’s No Tomorrow The Problem with Forever

Phil Collins' Hello, I Must Be Going! was more than a follow-up to Face Value - it was the sound of an artist turning heartbreak into armour. Released in 1982, Hello, I Must Be Going! captured Phil Collins at a crucial turning point. Still carrying the emotional fallout that had shaped his solo debut, Collins returned with an album that felt harder, sharper, more rhythmic, and more defensive. Where Face Value sounded shocked and exposed, Hello, I Must Be Going! sounded like a man trying to convince himself he no longer cared - even though every drum hit, every wounded vocal, and every tender ballad proved that he did. This book explores the album in depth, tracing its anger, humour, soul influence, dark storytelling, emotional ballads, and growing pop confidence. From the stark defiance of "I Don't Care Anymore" to the Motown warmth of "You Can't Hurry Love," from the unsettling atmosphere of "Thru These Walls" to the exhausted tenderness of "Why Can't It Wait 'Til Morning," the album reveals Collins at his most conflicted and revealing. Inside, you'll discover how Hello, I Must Be Going! helped define the Phil Collins sound: huge drums, clean production, emotional directness, soul-pop instincts, wounded balladry, and an increasingly familiar public personality. The book also examines Collins' parallel work with Genesis, his rise as a solo live performer, his growing presence on television and in music videos, and how this album pointed directly toward the global breakthrough of No Jacket Required. Both bitter and melodic, defensive and vulnerable, funny and wounded, Hello, I Must Be Going! remains one of Collins' most important early solo albums - the bridge between private pain and worldwide superstardom. This is the story of Phil Collins hardening his wounds into craft - and proving that "I don't care anymore" was never the whole truth.

A spine-chilling, heart-pounding suburban horror novel at the heart of the genre, perfect for fans of T. Kingfisher, Cassandra Khaw, and Catriona Ward. In 1998, desperate loneliness pushes preteen Amber to ignore the misgivings of her family, particularly her younger sister, when she befriends the troubled new kid in the neighborhood-a boy with dead eyes, a fascination with fire, and no remorse. Their turbulent relationship is brief but creates lasting consequences. Twenty-two years later, in 2020, he resurfaces to kill Amber's parents, and is in turn betrayed by his accomplice and killed in Amber's childhood home. After the deaths, Amber inherits the house and, in an effort to save money, moves in with her husband and two children, hoping to reclaim some sense of stability in the grief and chaos surrounding her. Instead, she finds that the familiar walls are haunted by more than just bitter memories and lockdown stress. She shifts in and out of dreamlike trances, her reflection won't blink, and a menacing voice whispers to her from the gathering shadows. Although she tried to brush off the strange happenings as stress-fueled hallucinations, Amber is soon forced to admit that something much more real-and more dangerous-haunts her family. But Amber has deadly secrets of her own, and she must resolve these long-buried truths or lose the life she's contrived for herself.

Longlisted for the Center for Fiction's First Novel 2026 prize “Brutal and unforgiving, but aching with so much emotion.” —People In this sinister and surreal Southern Gothic debut, a woman escapes into the uncanny woods of southern Georgia and must contend with ghosts, haints, and most dangerous of all, the truth about herself. When Judith Rice fled her childhood home, she thought she'd severed her abusive mother's hold on her. She didn't have a plan or destination, just a desperate need to escape. Drawn to the forests of southern Georgia, Jude finds shelter in a house as haunted by its violent history as she is by her own. Jude embraces the eccentricities of the dilapidated house, soothing its ghosts and haints, honoring its blood-soaked land. And over the next thirteen years, Jude blossoms from her bitter beginnings into a wisewoman, a healer. But her hard-won peace is threatened when an enigmatic woman shows up on her doorstep. The woman is beautiful but unsettling, captivating but uncanny. Ensnared by her desire for this stranger, Jude is caught off guard by brutal urges suddenly simmering beneath her skin. As the woman stirs up memories of her escape years ago, Jude must confront the calls of violence rooted in her bloodline. “An absolute stunner of a book” (Lee Mandelo, author of Summer Sons), On Sunday She Picked Flowers explores retribution, family trauma, and the power of building oneself back up after breaking down.

An instant New York Times Bestseller and August 2017 LibraryReads pick! "Penny's absorbing, intricately plotted 13th Gamache novel proves she only gets better at pursuing dark truths with compassion and grace." -PEOPLE "Louise Penny wrote the book on escapist mysteries." -The New York Times Book Review "You won't want Louise Penny's latest to end....Any plot summary of Penny's novels inevitably falls short of conveying the dark magic of this series.... It takes nerve and skill - as well as heart - to write mysteries like this. 'Glass Houses,' along with many of the other Gamache books, is so compelling that, for the space of reading it, you may well feel that much of what's going on in the world outside the novel is 'just noise.'" -Maureen Corrigan, The Washington Post When a mysterious figure appears in Three Pines one cold November day, Armand Gamache and the rest of the villagers are at first curious. Then wary. Through rain and sleet, the figure stands unmoving, staring ahead. From the moment its shadow falls over the village, Gamache, now Chief Superintendent of the Sûreté du Québec, suspects the creature has deep roots and a dark purpose. Yet he does nothing. What can he do? Only watch and wait. And hope his mounting fears are not realized. But when the figure vanishes overnight and a body is discovered, it falls to Gamache to discover if a debt has been paid or levied. Months later, on a steamy July day as the trial for the accused begins in Montréal, Chief Superintendent Gamache continues to struggle with actions he set in motion that bitter November, from which there is no going back. More than the accused is on trial. Gamache's own conscience is standing in judgment. In Glass Houses, her latest utterly gripping book, number-one New York Times bestselling author Louise Penny shatters the conventions of the crime novel to explore what Gandhi called the court of conscience. A court that supersedes all others.

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BESTSELLER ECPA BESTSELLER A story of love that won't let go-no matter what! California's gold country, 1850. A time when men sold their souls for a bag of gold and women sold their bodies for a place to sleep. Angel expects nothing from men but betrayal. Sold into prostitution as a child, she survives by keeping her hatred alive. And what she hates most are the men who use her, leaving her empty and dead inside. Then she meets Michael Hosea, a man who seeks his Father's heart in everything. Michael obeys God's call to marry Angel and to love her unconditionally. Slowly, day by day, he defies Angel's every bitter expectation, until despite her resistance, her frozen heart begins to thaw. But with her unexpected softening comes overwhelming feelings of unworthiness and fear. And so Angel runs. Back to the darkness, away from her husband's pursuing love, terrified of the truth she no longer can deny: Her final healing must come from the One who loves her even more than Michael does…the One who will never let her go. A powerful retelling of the story of Gomer and Hosea, Redeeming Love is a life-changing story of God's unconditional, redemptive, all-consuming love. Includes a six-part reading group guide!

Perfect for cynics, realists, and everyone sick of toxic positivity, producer and internet wit Elan Gale's unapologetically snarky anti-affirmations prove that sarcasm is the ultimate self-care. Not everyone's here to "live, laugh, love." For those of us who prefer to roll our eyes and keep it moving, Elan Gale's Unspirational 2027 Day-to-Day Calendar delivers a darkly funny year of cranky quips, bitter truths, and hilariously unhelpful "inspirations" that skewer the soft-focus positivity of traditional affirmations.Features include: No single-use plastic Page size 4.606 x 4.606 Recyclable chipboard easel backer for desk or tabletop display Full-color tear-off pages Back of pages are blank for notes or shopping lists Day/Date reference on each page Combined weekend pages Official major world holidays and observances Daily sarcastic "unspirational" messages that mock delusional positivity and sentimental affirmations.

Longlisted for Fiction Book of the Year at The Saltires: Scotland's National Book Awards 2026 A brand new crime series from the award-winning author of the Harry McCoy books 'A notably original protagonist . . . swept up in a high-level conspiracy reaching from Whitehall's corridors of power to Berlin and Rudolf Hess's doomed flight to Scotland . . . enthralling' Financial Times 'Great storytelling . . . I loved it' Peter James, #1 bestselling author of the Roy Grace series March 1941. Joseph Gunner is back on the streets of Glasgow after being wounded on the front lines in France. Keeping the pain in his leg at bay with the help of morphine, Gunner, a former detective, is hoping to lie low as the Luftwaffe begins bombing Glasgow. But when he runs into his old boss Drummond, he is persuaded to help examine a body found in the wreckage. When it turns out to be that of a German, mutilated to disguise his identity, Gunner reluctantly agrees to investigate. As he begins to hunt for the truth Gunner runs into old flames and bitter enemies, before finding himself embroiled in a high-level conspiracy that reaches far beyond his hometown of Glasgow. Partly inspired by the true story of Rudolf Hess's secret mission to broker appeasement with Britain during the Second World War, Gunner is an atmospheric and addictive new thriller from one of Britain's best-loved writers. 'Great stuff . . . a vivid sense of place and time and what a main character!' Ian Rankin, #1 bestselling author of the Rebus series

#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE ECPA BESTSELLER The classic story that has captured the hearts of millions worldwide: a tragically wounded soul, the man called to marry her, and the only love that heals all. Now available in a beautiful keepsake, linen-bound edition! “A literary masterpiece, reminding us that God’s love is unconditional.”—Debbie Macomber California’s gold country, 1850. A time when men sold their souls for a bag of gold and women sold their bodies for a place to sleep. Angel expects nothing from men but betrayal. Sold into prostitution as a child, she survives by keeping her hatred alive. And what she hates most are the men who use her, leaving her empty and dead inside. Then she meets Michael Hosea, a man who seeks his Father’s heart in everything. Michael obeys God’s call to marry Angel and to love her unconditionally. Slowly, day by day, he defies Angel’s every bitter expectation, until despite her resistance, her frozen heart begins to thaw. But with her unexpected softening comes overwhelming feelings of unworthiness and fear. And so Angel runs. Back to the darkness, away from her husband’s pursuing love, terrified of the truth she no longer can deny: her final healing must come from the One who loves her even more than Michael does . . . the One who will never let her go. A powerful retelling of the story of Gomer and Hosea, Redeeming Love is a life-changing story of God’s unconditional, redemptive, all-consuming love.

From Jennifer L. Armentrout, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Primal of Blood and Bone , comes the beginning of a heartstopping romantic fantasy series about angels, demons and gargoyles where a girl with an explosive secret hiding place has just been discovered… Eighteen-year-old Trinity Marrow may be going blind, but she can see and communicate with ghosts and spirits. Her gift is the reason she’s been in hiding for years in a compound guarded by Wardens—shape-shifters who protect humankind from demons. If the demons discover the truth about Trinity, they’ll devour her to enhance their powers. When Wardens from another clan arrive with reports that something is killing both demons and Wardens, Trinity’s world implodes. Not the least because one of the outsiders is the most annoying and fascinating person she’s ever met. Zayne has secrets of his own—but working together becomes imperative once demons breach the compound and Trinity’s secret comes to light. To save her family and maybe the world, she’ll have to trust Zayne. But all bets are off as a supernatural war is unleashed… Perfect for fans of: Forced Proximity Found Family Forbidden Love Gargoyles & Shapeshifters Angels & Demons Supernatural Romance Read the full Harbinger series: Storm and Fury (The Harbinger series #1) Rage and Ruin (The Harbinger series #2) Grace and Glory (The Harbinger series #3) Also from #1 bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout: 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) If There’s No Tomorrow The Problem with Forever

The following historical statements all appear in well-established textbooks, and have become part of our common culture. Which of them would you say are true? * The Catholic Church incited and actively colluded in nearly two millennia of anti-Semitic violence, and Pope Pius XII is still rightfully known as 'Hitler's Pope'. * Only recently have we become aware of ancient and remarkably enlightened Christian gospels, which narrow-minded Catholic authorities tried to suppress. * Once in power as the official Church of Rome, Christians quickly and brutally persecuted paganism out of existence. * The fall of Rome and the ascendancy of the Church precipitated Europe's decline into a millennium of ignorance and backwardness, which lasted until the Renaissance. * Initiated by the pope, the Crusades were but the first bloody chapter in the history of unprovoked and brutal Christian colonialism. * The Spanish Inquisition tortured and murdered huge numbers of innocent people for 'imaginary' crimes, such as witchcraft and blasphemy. * The Catholic Church persecuted and tried to suppress scientists such as Galileo, and the Scientific 'Revolution' therefore occurred mainly in more tolerant Protestant societies. * Being entirely comfortable with slavery, the Catholic Church did nothing to oppose its introduction in the New World, or to make it more humane. * Until very recently, Catholicism's hierarchical view of the ideal state has resulted in its bitter resistance to all efforts to establish more liberal governments and its eager support for right-wing dictators. * It was the Protestant Reformation that broke the repressive Catholic grip on progress and ushered in capitalism, religious freedom and the modern world. In this powerful and persuasive book Rodney Stark subjects these and other widely-held beliefs to a rigorous historical assessment. He gives a compelling account of how each of them became accepted as the conventional wisdom, how egotism and ideology often worked together to create false or highly distorted pictures of people and events, and how we need to work hard to recover the truth if we're to undo the cultural damage that centuries of anti-Catholic history has done. Contents: 1. Sins of Anti- Semitism 2. The Suppressed Gospels 3. Persecuting the Tolerant Pagans 4. Imposing the Dark Ages 5. Crusading for Land, Loot, and Converts 6. Monsters of the Inquisition 7. Scientific Heresies 8. Blessed Be Slavery 9. Holy Authoritarianism 10. Protestant Modernity

Performed with passion and dark depth by Tara Langella, Connor Crais and Veronica PaceIn a town where the dead won't stay buried, is love salvation . . . or the deadliest game of all?Blackthorn is a tautly written, deliciously gothic tale from J. T. Geissinger, author of TikTok sensation Pen Pal. This is Deborah Harkness' A Discovery of Witches meets a spicier Masters of Death by Olivie Blake.Twelve years ago, Maven Blackthorn fled her small hometown, leaving behind the wreckage of her mother's suspicious death. But now, drawn back for her grandmother's funeral, Maven steps onto Blackthorn soil once more, only to find herself thrust into a fresh nightmare: her grandmother's body has vanished.The Blackthorns immediately suspect the Crofts - the ruthless titans of Croft Pharmaceuticals, whose bitter blood feud with the Blackthorns has spanned generations. But when Maven comes face-to-face with Ronan Croft, the son of her mother's suspected killer and the only man she ever loved, she discovers the forbidden passion they once shared is as alive - and dangerous - as ever.As long-buried family secrets claw their way to the surface, betrayal lurks behind every whisper, and old vendettas ignite anew. The deeper Maven digs for answers, the more treacherous the game becomes. And the one man she can never seem to escape is hiding a truth that could burn their whole world down . . .*Blackthorn is an addictive gothic romance with darker themes and scenes that may not be suitable for everyone. Please refer to the author's content note at the beginning of the audiobook.Tropes include . . .- Revenge- Touch her and die- Shadier than shade hero- Forbidden romance- Grumpy/grumpy- Plot twists galore- Beauty and the Beast- Enemies to lovers

Daughter. Sister. Artist. Fraud. London, 1854. Isabella Granger yearns to see her paintings hung in a gallery even more than she yearns for true love. When her father departs for the Crimean War, entrusting his gallery correspondence to her, she seizes the opportunity to present her own work as his - breaching their long-standing agreement that she must be married before she exhibits. Haunted by guilt - and the consequences of getting caught - Isabella resolves to find a husband before his return, and grows optimistic following a chance encounter with a naval officer. The only obstacle is his imperious, bitter captain, whose unsettling perception is rivalled only by the power he has to expose her, despite standing accused of far worse. Isabella's choice to stake her future on merit and legacy will force her hand - and her heart - in ways she never thought possible, and unearth the hidden, uncomfortable truths she can no longer afford to avoid. With lush prose, moral complexity, and a chronically ill yet fiercely passionate heroine, this slow-burn Victorian romance will appeal to readers of Jane Austen, Elizabeth Gaskell, and the Brontë sisters. Featuring nine interior illustrations by the author and a richly researched bibliography, Counterfeit Most Cruel is more than a novel - it's an homage to love and to literature.

From Jennifer L. Armentrout, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Primal of Blood and Bone, comes the beginning of a heartstopping romantic fantasy series about angels, demons and gargoyles where a girl with an explosive secret hiding place has just been discovered… Eighteen-year-old Trinity Marrow may be going blind, but she can see and communicate with ghosts and spirits. Her gift is the reason she's been in hiding for years in a compound guarded by Wardens-shape-shifters who protect humankind from demons. If the demons discover the truth about Trinity, they'll devour her to enhance their powers. When Wardens from another clan arrive with reports that something is killing both demons and Wardens, Trinity's world implodes. Not the least because one of the outsiders is the most annoying and fascinating person she's ever met. Zayne has secrets of his own-but working together becomes imperative once demons breach the compound and Trinity's secret comes to light. To save her family and maybe the world, she'll have to trust Zayne. But all bets are off as a supernatural war is unleashed… Perfect for fans of: Forced Proximity Found Family Forbidden Love Gargoyles & Shapeshifters Angels & Demons Supernatural Romance Read the full Harbinger series: Storm and Fury (The Harbinger series #1) Rage and Ruin (The Harbinger series #2) Grace and Glory (The Harbinger series #3) Also from #1 bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout: 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) If There's No Tomorrow The Problem with Forever

It means something to be a client. It means he gets my loyalty, whether he deserves it or not. It means he gets my absolute best for the price of an hourly fee. It means in a world where every person has turned against him there is one person who will fight by his side for as long as there is a battle to be fought. —Victor Carl Author of the acclaimed novels Fatal Flaw, Bitter Truth, and Hostile Witness, bestselling writer William Lashner crafts dark, witty, engrossing tales of suspense involving one of the most intriguing characters of modern popular fiction: Victor Carl. A defense attorney who lives his life in shades of gray, Victor Carl fights all the right fights for all the wrong reasons. With a failing legal practice, a dead-end love life, a pile of unpaid traffic tickets, and a talent for mixing it up in tough working-class bars and sparring with obstinate cops, Victor skates on the razor's edge of legal ethics in search of the easy buck. But the one absolute in Victor's life is loyalty, especially to a client—even if he happens to be dead. Like Joey Cheaps, a no-account who takes a knife to the throat down on the waterfront, but not before he shares with his lawyer his part in a terrible crime. With his client murdered, Victor must search for a killer. But solving the crime means investigating the darkest spot in Joey Cheaps's misspent youth, sending Victor on a twisting journey that leads to a missing suitcase stuffed with money, photographs of a mysterious naked woman, and a Supreme Court justice with a secret to hide. And most dangerous of all, Victor steps into the crosshairs of a vengeful enemy with a past full of pain and a taste for blood. As thrilling as it is darkly evocative, Past Due is a superb tale of crime and justice that takes the intrepid Victor Carl into brilliant new territory and confirms William Lashner's place among the top suspense writers of our time.

In this mystery in the Sebastian St. Cyr series, the aristocratic investigator is drawn into a sordid world of greed, desperation, and the occult when the husband of his former lover is accused of murder. Regency England, September 1812: After a long night spent dealing with the tragic death of a former military comrade, a heart-sick Sebastian learns of a new calamity: Russell Yates, the dashing, one-time privateer who married Kat Boleyn a year ago, has been found standing over the corpse of Benjamin Eisler, a wealthy gem dealer. Yates insists he is innocent, but he will surely hang unless Sebastian can unmask the real killer. For the sake of Kat, the woman he once loved and lost, Sebastian plunges into a treacherous circle of intrigue. Although Eisler's clients included the Prince Regent and the Emperor Napoleon, he was a despicable man with many enemies and a number of dangerous, well-kept secrets-including a passion for arcane texts and black magic. Central to the case is a magnificent blue diamond, believed to have once formed part of the French crown jewels, which disappeared on the night of Eisler's death. As Sebastian traces the diamond's ownership, he uncovers links that implicate an eccentric, powerful financier named Hope and stretch back into the darkest days of the French Revolution. When the killer grows ever more desperate and vicious, Sebastian finds his new marriage to Hero tested by the shadows of his first love, especially when he begins to suspect that Kat is keeping secrets of her own. And as matters rise to a crisis, Sebastian must face a bitter truth-that he has been less than open with the fearless woman who is now his wife.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection! It's a new star-crossed, LGBTQ+ romance about the magic of first love in a lush YA historical fantasy from the acclaimed author of We Are the Ants and Brave Face, Shaun David Hutchinson. Jack Nevin's clever trickery and moral flexibility make him the perfect assistant to the Enchantress, one of the most well-known stage magicians in turn-of-the-century Europe. Without Jack's steady supply of stolen tricks, the Enchantress's fame would have burned out long ago. But when Jack's thievery catches up to them, they're forced to flee to America. Their new fortune awaits at Seattle's 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific World's Fair, a dazzling historical setting. The Enchantress is convinced they're going to be rich and famous until a new magician arrives on the scene. With two rival magicians now vying for the spotlight, Laszlo's show overshadows the Enchantress, leaving Jack no choice but to hunt for the secrets to his otherworldly illusions. But what Jack uncovers isn't at all what he expected. Behind Laszlo's tricks is Wilhelm—a boy with secret powers who can seemingly perform real magic. Jack and Wilhelm have an instant connection, and as the rivalry between the Enchantress and Laszlo grows, so too does Jack and Wilhelm's affection. But in this story of found family and first love, can Jack choose between the woman who gave him a life and the boy who is offering him everything? It's a stirring tale about the magic of love from award-winning author Shaun David Hutchinson. A Star-Crossed Romance: As assistants to bitter rival magicians, Jack and Wilhelm must keep their growing affection a secret. But in the glittering chaos of the World's Fair, some secrets are impossible to keep. 1909 World's Fair: Step into the magic and marvel of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, a world of dazzling new technology, stage illusions, and the whispers of real magic around every corner. The Boy with Real Magic: Wilhelm isn't just an assistant; he's the secret to his master's impossible tricks—and a prisoner to the man who stole him from his family years ago. High-Stakes Magical Rivalry: From stolen illusions in the back alleys of Paris to a dangerous magical duel in the heart of Seattle, Jack must unravel the truth before the competition turns deadly.

Guillotines made of gold still cut off heads. In the Civilized World, everyone is rich, yet money doesn't buy safety. It only buys a gold coffin. The real currency is having the right allies. Low-citizens survive by joining high-citizens' exclusive inner circles, trading loyalty for protection from laws that govern speech, dress, and posture-and punish mistakes with public beheading. Low-citizen Loredana Waldsten already knows the cost of breaking the rules. Once a rising fencing prodigy, she lost the right to carry weapons after killing a high-citizen in a brutal locker-room attack. The courts erased his death to preserve his family's honor. Now she's unarmed, legally defenseless, and enrolled at the elite Grandmaster University, where champagne spills into the gutters and reputations are built on death duels. When Loredana's father, a low-citizen politician, publicly challenges the high-citizens, she becomes a target. Some classmates demand her execution. Others hunt her for sport. And by law, she's forbidden to fight back. Her only chance of survival lies with Edmund Prew, a charming yet ruthless high-citizen student she's been warned against. His family has been locked in a bitter feud with Loredana's for years, and he wants nothing to do with her until a lost bet forces him to protect her within his inner circle. What begins as a scandalous, strategic alliance turns perilous as they fall for each other. Because the man Loredana killed was more than an average high-citizen. And if Edmund ever learns the truth, the only person keeping Loredana alive may become the one most determined to kill her.

Guillotines made of gold still cut off heads. In the Civilized World, everyone is rich, yet money doesn't buy safety. It only buys a gold coffin. The real currency is having the right allies. Low-citizens survive by joining high-citizens' exclusive inner circles, trading loyalty for protection from laws that govern speech, dress, and posture-and punish mistakes with public beheading. Low-citizen Loredana Waldsten already knows the cost of breaking the rules. Once a rising fencing prodigy, she lost the right to carry weapons after killing a high-citizen in a brutal locker-room attack. The courts erased his death to preserve his family's honor. Now she's unarmed, legally defenseless, and enrolled at the elite Grandmaster University, where champagne spills into the gutters and reputations are built on death duels. When Loredana's father, a low-citizen politician, publicly challenges the high-citizens, she becomes a target. Some classmates demand her execution. Others hunt her for sport. And by law, she's forbidden to fight back. Her only chance of survival lies with Edmund Prew, a charming yet ruthless high-citizen student she's been warned against. His family has been locked in a bitter feud with Loredana's for years, and he wants nothing to do with her until a lost bet forces him to protect her within his inner circle. What begins as a scandalous, strategic alliance turns perilous as they fall for each other. Because the man Loredana killed was more than an average high-citizen. And if Edmund ever learns the truth, the only person keeping Loredana alive may become the one most determined to kill her.

A moving and harrowing portrait of the lives of Iranians across five decades, tracing the promise of the 1979 Iranian revolution, its betrayal by forces of autocracy, and a people’s undying spirit of resistance "One of the most perceptive books on modern Iran in years." —The New York Times Book Review "The best book to understand Iran today. . . . impossible to put down." —EDWARD FISHMAN, author of Chokepoints "A masterwork of reporting. . . . a kind of skeleton key for understanding the present moment." —JONATHAN BLITZER, author of Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here In 1979, a revolution in Iran swept aside a monarchy, fueled by the Iranian people’s dreams of social justice and political freedom. But in the years that followed, the movement’s leader, Ayatollah Khomeini, and his acolytes instead built a system that served their narrow faction and worsened beyond imagination the brutality and corruption that had existed under the previous government. In Stolen Revolution, award-winning journalists Yeganeh Torbati and Bozorgmehr Sharafedin tell the entwined stories of six Iranians who, together, have lived the arc of modern Iranian history in all its bitter twists and enduring hopes. We meet Mehdi Karroubi, a devotee of Khomeini, who rose to the heights of power before being cast out of the inner circle. Hila Sedighi, a young activist, gave voice through her poetry to her peers’ hopes and shattered dreams. Amir Moghadam, an ambitious government bureaucrat, witnessed corruption and graft on a scale that impelled him to take enormous risks to expose the truth. Said Rahmani returned to Iran to spark a start-up boom in his native country and encountered a ruthless security state. And Rozhin Yousefzadeh and Kosar Eftekhari, both born in the 1990s, joined a mass movement that confronted a ferocious state apparatus: the Woman, Life, Freedom protests. All have paid an enormous price for resisting the government’s strangling rule. Today, Iran is caught between crisis and hope. In this vivid and unforgettable narrative, Stolen Revolution centers ordinary Iranians and their destiny, and conveys a gutting view of life in a modern authoritarian state.

Now available in a single, abridged paperback, Ian Kershaw's Hitler is the definitive biography of the Nazi leader. Ian Kershaw's two volume biography, Hitler 1889-1936: Hubris and Hitler 1936-1945: Nemesis, was greeted with universal acclaim as the essential work on one of the most malign figures in history, from his earliest origins to the final days of the Second World War. Now this landmark historical work is available in one single, abridged edition, tracing the story of how a bitter, failed art student from an obscure corner of Austria rose to unparalleled power, destroying the lives of millions and bringing the world to the brink of Armageddon. 'Supersedes all previous accounts. It is the sort of masterly biography that only a first-rate historian can write' David Cannadine, Observer 'The Hitler biography for the twenty-first century' Richard Evans, Sunday Telegraph 'I cannot imagine a better biography of this great tyrant emerging for a long while' Jeremy Paxman 'Magisterial ... anyone who wishes to understand the Third Reich must read Kershaw, for no one has done more to lay bare Hitler's morbid psyche' Niall Ferguson, Sunday Telegraph 'For the present generation, Kershaw's Hitler stands out as a clear beacon of truth, illuminating a dark age of terror and mendacity' Mail on Sund 'An achievement of the very highest order' Michael Burleigh, Financial Times Ian Kershaw (b. 1943) was Professor of Modern History at the University of Sheffield from 1989-2008, and is one of the world's leading authorities on Hitler. His books include The 'Hitler Myth', his two volume biography Hitler 1889-1936: Hubris and Hitler 1936-1945: Nemesis, and Fateful Choices: Ten Decisions that Changed the World, 1940-1941. He was knighted in 2002.

In a town where the dead won't stay buried, is love salvation . . . or the deadliest game of all? Blackthorn is a tautly written, deliciously gothic tale from J. T. Geissinger, author of TikTok sensations Pen Pal and Ruthless Creatures. A sizzlingly sexy and gut-wrenching tale, this is Deborah Harkness's A Discovery of Witches meets a spicier Masters of Death by Olivie Blake. Twelve years ago, Maven Blackthorn fled her small hometown, leaving behind the wreckage of her mother's suspicious death. But now, drawn back for her grandmother's funeral, Maven steps onto Blackthorn soil once more, only to find herself thrust into a fresh nightmare: her grandmother's body has vanished. The Blackthorns immediately suspect the Crofts - the ruthless titans of Croft Pharmaceuticals, whose bitter blood feud with the Blackthorns has spanned generations. But when Maven comes face-to-face with Ronan Croft, the son of her mother's suspected killer and the only man she ever loved, she discovers the forbidden passion they once shared is as alive - and dangerous - as ever. As long-buried family secrets claw their way to the surface, betrayal lurks behind every whisper, and old vendettas ignite anew. The deeper Maven digs for answers, the more treacherous the game becomes. And the one man she can never seem to escape is hiding a truth that could burn their whole world down . . . Fans LOVE Blackthorn . . . 'Creepy, sexy, fast-paced, and just unhinged enough to keep you guessing' 'Their banter?? EVERYTHING. The tension?? Chef's kiss. The gothic vibes were immaculate, eerie forests, candlelight danger, so dark it'll have you on edge' 'Phenomenal! I literally have no words for this book' *Blackthorn is a page-turning gothic romance with darker themes and scenes that may not be suitable for everyone. Please see the author's content note at the beginning of the book. Tropes include . . . Revenge Touch her and die Shadier than shade hero Forbidden romance Grumpy/grumpy Plot twists galore Beauty and the Beast Enemies to lovers

She had her reasons for leaving... When former rodeo star Hayes Matthews returns to Tree Fork Ranch to care for his injured uncle, he's shocked to find Bailey Logan-his first love-working there. He never understood why she vanished years ago, and now, seeing her, more beautiful than ever, he wants answers. He swears he won't fall for her again, no matter how strong the pull. Bailey's carving out a future as a silversmith, selling her work at rodeos, but when her best friend needs help hiding a prized horse from a bitter ex, Bailey returns to her hometown of Marietta, Montana. Living rent-free in her family's run-down homestead, she trades labor for boarding space at the neighbor's ranch-never expecting Hayes to be part of the deal. Seeing him brings back all the emotions Bailey tried to forget. She ghosted Hayes to chase her dreams, afraid of repeating her mother's mistakes-giving up everything for love. Now here they are, together during the Copper Mountain Rodeo, and Hayes more tempting than ever. Hayes wants the truth. Bailey wants-much to her horror-Hayes.

A New York Times Critics' Top Book of 2021 "An impressive combination of diligence and verve, deploying Ackerman's deep stores of knowledge as a national security journalist to full effect. The result is a narrative of the last 20 years that is upsetting, discerning and brilliantly argued." -The New York Times "One of the most illuminating books to come out of the Trump era." -New York Magazine An examination of the profound impact that the War on Terror had in pushing American politics and society in an authoritarian direction For an entire generation, at home and abroad, the United States has waged an endless conflict known as the War on Terror. In addition to multiple ground wars, the era pioneered drone strikes and industrial-scale digital surveillance; weakened the rule of law through indefinite detentions; sanctioned torture; and manipulated the truth about it all. These conflicts have yielded neither peace nor victory, but they have transformed America. What began as the persecution of Muslims and immigrants has become a normalized feature of American politics and national security, expanding the possibilities for applying similar or worse measures against other targets at home, as the summer of 2020 showed. A politically divided and economically destabilized country turned the War on Terror into a cultural-and then a tribal-struggle. It began on the ideological frontiers of the Republican Party before expanding to conquer the GOP, often with the acquiescence of the Democratic Party. Today's nativist resurgence walked through a door opened by the 9/11 era. And that door remains open. Reign of Terror shows how these developments created an opportunity for American authoritarianism and gave rise to Donald Trump. It shows that Barack Obama squandered an opportunity to dismantle the War on Terror after killing Osama bin Laden. By the end of his tenure, the war had metastasized into a bitter, broader cultural struggle in search of a demagogue like Trump to lead it. Reign of Terror is a pathbreaking and definitive union of journalism and intellectual history with the power to transform how America understands its national security policies and their catastrophic impact on civic life.