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KJ Parker''s new novella is a darkly witty historical fantasy. A group of scholars are asked to do the impossible by a ruthless king. The cost of refusal being death, of course.History isn''t truth...it''s propaganda.Academics can be cocky. Atop their perches of authority high above the thrumming masses of the unquestioning world they can begin to think themselves gods. It is extremely rare for this authority to be tested. But a challenge from an idiotic, power-hungry king?that''ll do it.Our narrator is one of a dozen professors at the University of the Kingdom of Aelia. Early one morning, all of them are rounded up for an audience with their dictator, Gyges. You see, Gyges is new to the job?he only just invaded Aelia last year?and like any good tyrant, he''s looking to expand his empire. But he doesn''t think his public image can take the hit of (another) unjustified assault. No problem, he''s come up with a plan?have the scholars construct an ancient city from scratch that justifies his right to the lands of the neighboring city-state.Now these bookworms must put their heads together to do the impossible. They must make history. Because if they don''t, they''ll lose their heads all-together.

Book Two of the Temptations Series! Serena is on the hunt for the real killer of Jordan Harris.As she gets closer to the truth, she finds a fact that will completely devastate her.Slade is going to prison, but why?

After the peace & love of Woodstock, the fury and disaster of Altamont...December 1969. Woodstock and the Flower Power wave have swept the East Coast and in response, the West Coast turns up the decibels with a festival of their own on the Altamont racetrack in Northern California. The biggest bands are booked, The Rolling Stones are headlining, and 300,000 people are expected for this peace, love, and rock''n''roll event.Jenny and her friends hop in their Volkswagen van and road trip from Los Angeles, the smell of marijuana trailing behind them, the promise of good music and good times ahead of them. Shortly after their arrival, tensions rise, a fight breaks out in the crowd, and pandemonium ensues. Hired to ensure security and paid in beer, the Hells Angels begin moving the crowd away from the stage with bats and chains, but the poorly organized event quickly spirals out of control and the dream of a ''Woodstock West'' takes a deadly turn.Altamont follows the story of Jenny and each of her friends as they navigate love, friendship, and their own personal demons all while trying to make it out of the concert alive. It was supposed to be a beautiful, free festival—a celebration of love and sharing. Instead, the Altamont Speedway Free Festival became the symbol of the end of an era.Illustrated by the cult artist of The Walking Dead in a vintage style borrowed from pop art of the 1960s, Charlie Adlard and Herik Hanna mix fact with fiction as they explore this infamous moment in cultural history by giving us a disenchanted portrait of a free and dreamy youth, marked by the Vietnam War.

Five people gather on a fabulous Greek island, each one hoping that ten days in the sun, writing their life stories, will magically fix their lives.Rose Talisman is pinning it all on a fresh start.Five years after her career imploded, she is opening a retreat in Corfu. The understated, luxurious Villa Artemis is surrounded by wild pines and sea views.Just six guests. One week. Time for Rose to help them face their secrets – and move forwards.But Rose has staked everything on the retreat. It has to work – or she loses it all. And people’s secrets have a way of revealing themselves in ways no one expected.Nobody’s past is staying hidden for long…Will that include Rose’s, too?

When Rex Sutherland and his employer, Eleanor, Dowager Duchess of Drakeford, find a body by the lake of Bircham Manor, Her Grace ? or ?HG? as Rex calls her ? is reluctant to let it ruin their picnic.After all, HG is a sleuthing professional and at home with crime scenes, having cracked many a case with Scotland Yard?s top dog, Inspector Whipple, over the years.The duchess has been invited to the manor by her friend Colonel Crispen Percival-Travers, alongside a host of other esteemed guests, for a weekend of high tea and hobnobbing. So, she sends for Whipple to assist her and Rex in weeding out the culprit from this cast of sophisticated suspects.There is much unearthing to be done. Between love triangles and brotherly rivalries, rumours from servants and village gossip, Rex, HG and Whipple barely have time for their cocktails or cream fancies.And then a second body is found.Can the unlikely trio get to the bottom of these oh-so posh murders? And, when a besuited gentleman of influence turns up with a threat for the talented threesome, will they come to find they?ve bitten off more than they can che? Posh Murder is everything we love about 1920s, Agatha Christie-style whodunits: opulent, wildly entertaining, and about as posh as murder can get.

BOOK THREE OF THE FEARLESS SERIESDalilah Gallagher has, once again, gotten herself into a tight spot with the devious Nottingham. Her unexpected pregnancy, while still married to Nottingham, put her into a position where she feel that she is trapped. For Nottingham is presumed the father of the unborn child.But, if there is one thing that Dalilah knows, it is that Nottingham will never get his hands on this child.Can Dalilah find a way out of her impossible situatio? r has Nottingham trapped her, once and for all?

Northern California, end of summer. Fire Hazard Severity Zone: Very High.A mysterious death.On the anniversary of her mother''s death, CEO-in-waiting Robyn Sandoval goes for a morning run. She knows her father - a local fire fighting hero - is desperate to speak to her, to tell her something he wants her to know before she starts her new job leading the corporation that owns most of their Northern Californian town of Destino. But when Robyn arrives, she finds him dead.A devastating fire.Meanwhile, after months of drought, a freak forest fire ignites on the mountain ridge looming over the town. Destino has never burned; its unique position protected by the seemingly insurmountable barrier of the ridge, a favourable wind direction, and a belief long held by the community that they are categorically safe.A life split in two.Robyn is shaken to the core by her father''s death, and her life is shattered in two, the fabric of her reality shorn by the sheer force of her grief.The next time she wakes, everything is different: her father is alive, and there''s no sign of the fire on the ridge.To understand what is happening, she has to confront not only the secrets of her past but both versions of her present. Because back in her world, the fire is spreading and the time to find answers is running out...

‘A gritty and captivating tale of resilience, violence and the power of female solidarity’ HARPER'S BAZAAR‘This unflinching debut builds relentlessly to a heart-stoppingly dramatic climax’ DAILY MAIL‘Haunting, lyrical and thoroughly gripping’ CLARE FISHER‘Thrilling, poetic, dark and alive – a shimmering gemstone of a debut’ ALICE ASHFrom the river it comes. To the river it always returns. Alex, Lauren and Nancy are three women each trapped in their own lives, swept along by forces beyond their control. Alex is isolated in her abusive marriage, and struggles to keep her growing family together; Lauren is doing what she can to provide for her two boys; and Nancy dreams of escaping the care home that her son abruptly moved her into. But there’s another character in this story. Beckoning, menacing, hiding within bushes and behind shadows. What unites these women? And can they break the cycles holding them back?

High Hill Manor has hidden a secret for decades. Now it will finally be revealed.Chloe Carter is the new girl. After leaving her previous school in a whirl of vicious rumours, she desperately needs a new start.But things don’t go as Chloe had hoped. Head girl Emily Ashbourne has it out for Chloe from the beginning.When Emily falls from the school belltower – in suspicious circumstances – the whole school comes under scrutiny, including Chloe. But it is Mr Aides, the much-loved music teacher, who is arrested for Emily’s murder.Twenty years later, Chloe greets Mr Aides at the gates on the day of his release. She is ready to reveal all. But the truth may not be what she thinks it is and when people close to the events of that fateful day wind up dead, Chloe realises that the truth might cause more harm than good…A dark academia thriller perfect for fans of When We Were Silent, The Four, The Trial and My Dark Vanessa.

Pátý díl bestsellerové série Kostičas je konečně tady! Krajinochodkyně Paige Mahoneyová se poprvé po více než deseti letech ocitla mimo území Scionské republiky. Za jiných okolností by z toho měla radost, jenže ve skutečnosti netuší, jak se jí to podařilo. Z posledního půlroku si vůbec nic nepamatuje, a netuší proč. Revoluce však nepočká. Paige proto míří do Benátek, kde program Domino odhalil důkazy o tajném plánu Scionu. Než se Paige bude moci vrátit do Londýna, musí se pokusit rozkrýt operaci, která by během několika týdnů srazila celou Evropu na kolena. Brzy se ukáže, že jediný, kdo by mohl obnovit její ztracené vzpomínky, je Arcturus Mesarthim, který by mohl mít v rukou také klíč ke svržení Scionu. Oba si přejí totéž — zasadit nečekaný a fatální úder, který by zvýšil jejich šance na vítězství.

** FROM THE NY TIMES and Costa shortlisted author, comes a NEW standalone thriller**The truth might set her free ... but will it be the death of her?When blood spatter expert Claudia O’Shiel finds herself on stage to talk about the most famous criminal case in recent history, she has a choice to make: explain how her evidence put away the man responsible for the brutal double murder? Or tell them the truth – that the real killer is still out there, and if she tries to expose this conspiracy, it won’t just be her life on the line.A taut, intelligent suspense novel for fans of Val McDermid, Elly Griffiths and Tana French, The Good Liar is about power, class, and the lengths we''re willing to go for family.Praise for Denise Mina''Crime-writing royalty'' IAN RANKIN''A delight'' ANN CLEEVES''Highly original'' THE TIMES ''Darkly brilliant'' OBSERVER

'Roberta Kray really is the queen of crime writing!' Reader Review ? ?'Roberta Kray continues to delight her fans with this new novel' Jessie Keane'Exciting and intriguing. Roberta is at the top of her game with this absolute banger!' Mandasue HellerSome secrets are worth killing for. Julia left London years ago, but now she's back - and so are the ghosts of her past. Angel Glover was her childhood best friend until the day everything changed. Now Angel is dead, and Julia is certain it wasn't just some tragic accident. Determined to uncover the truth, she starts asking questions. But the Mansfield estate hasn't changed. The same faces are there - Tom, Lindsey, Pauline, Frankie - the ones she and Angel used to roll with. And they know more than they're letting on. The deeper Julia digs, the more the warnings come. Even Inspector Vyse tells her to tread carefully. But Julia's not going anywhere. She owes Angel that much. And on these streets, loyalty is a dangerous thing - because some secrets are worth killing for... Readers agree, no one does crime like Kray!'Brilliant read as always. Loved the characters. Can't wait until the next book' Reader Review ? ?'So many complex characters in this one! Such a heart warming ending though. I highly recommend this book' Reader Review ? ?'This book was excellent from start to finish, Once you start to read it you will be turning your pages to find out what happens next especially as it full of great twists and turns that will have you gripped' Reader Review ? ?'Roberta Kray delivers another captivating story with this gangland novel. True to her usual high standards, the book presents an intriguing mystery featuring a mix of compelling characters' Reader Review ? ?'The writing style is tense, with the different storylines seamlessly intertwined and plenty of twists and turns. I couldn't put the book down. What a treat. This will keep you up until late at night but in a good way' Reader Review ? ?

From the bestselling author of The Bookseller of Inverness comes the unforgettable story of a Scottish town on the cusp of change and the group of townspeople whose lives will be irrevocably altered over the course of one tumultuous year. ----------------------------------------------------------'Rich, insightful . . . [an] impressive novel' Sunday Times'Shona MacLean's novels are smart, soulful and deeply engrossing. An exceptional, wise and compassionate storyteller, she can make any 'historical period sing with life' Antonia Hodgson'Superbly researched, entirely convincing, very clever and at times unbearably poignant. I loved it.' Andrew Taylor'Riveting' Daily MailCromarty, The Black Isle, 1831. As seagulls shriek and rise on the coastal winds, a circulating library in the bustling port town of Cromarty is meeting for the first time. Ostensibly united by a love of books, the demands of social convention have brought together a disparate group of people. Charlotte Mackenzie, the remote and fragile wife of the local laird, seeks an escape from a loveless marriage; her best friend, Rachel Mackay, a former governess who is ardently in love with her own older husband, the town's minister; the young schoolmaster, John Learmonth, newly arrived from Edinburgh with secrets in tow; and the gentle bank clerk, Ludovic Cameron who dreams of a new life across the ocean, far from his erstwhile schoolmate, the malevolent Farquhar Hossack. When the laird befriends a wounded officer, a chain of events is set into motion that threatens to upset the delicate equilibrium of the community. Against the backdrop of mass emigrations, an encroaching cholera epidemic, political unrest and the campaign to abolish chattel slavery in the British Caribbean, the people of Cromarty must negotiate their new world and each other, flitting in and out of each other's lives through one extraordinary year. The Cromarty Library Circle is a richly woven and immersive portrait of connected lives, changing fortunes and the often-unseen forces that shape our destinies. ----------------------------------------------------------Praise for Shona MacLean'MacLean can make any period sing with life' Antonia Hodgson'An excellent work of historical fiction' Literary Review'A wonderful storyteller' The Times'Well-researched and fascinating' Guardian

SHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN’S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2026SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE 2025WATERSTONES FICTION BOOK OF THE MONTHA moment is all it takes to shatter a family. The echoes last a lifetime... ‘Ferociously smart and full of surprises’ Eleanor Catton‘Engrossing... Full of brains and mystery’ TelegraphOne evening, ten-year-old Louisa and her father, Serk, take a walk out on the breakwater. They are spending the summer in a coastal Japanese town. Hours later, Louisa wakes on the beach, soaked to the skin. Her father is missing: presumably drowned. This sudden event shatters their small family. As Louisa and her American mother return to the US, Serk's disappearance reverberates across time and space, and the mystery of what really happened that night slowly unravels. A Book of the Year for the Guardian, Time, New Yorker, Esquire, Vanity Fair, FT and Barack Obama‘Big, bold and surprising’ Guardian‘Illuminates the buried secrets of the human heart’ Oprah Daily‘Gorgeous... Almost impossibly heartbreaking’ New York Magazine‘It will make your head spin in the best way’ Dakota Johnson‘Endlessly dazzling’ VogueREADERS LOVE FLASHLIGHT‘Compelling, fascinating, original. Read this book’‘Five stars. Heartbreaking’‘A beautifully written story of a family across decades’‘I loved it - the best read in years. Glorious’‘Absolutely brilliant’

Collected together for the first time: the first three volumes in the delightful Witches of Lychford cozy fantasy series. A trio of witches (local priest, local crank, local magic shop owner) work to save the sleepy hamlet of Lychford from supernatural forces bent on its destruction. Only they know the truth—that Lychford lies on the boundaries between worlds, and that the destruction of the border will open wide the gateways to malevolent beings beyond imagination. But what can three rural witches do to guard against the unknow? his volume includes:Witches of LychfordThe Lost Child of LychfordA Long Day in Lychford

David’s best mate died falling off a cliff – and he was the last to see him alive. Fifteen years later, he returns to Arbroath, where another death forces him to face the past. A darkly funny, gripping debut from one of Scotland’s finest writers – newly reissued. 20th ANNIVERSARY EDITIONINTRODUCTION BY CHRISTOPHER BROOKMYRE‘Very funny, with a touching and believable romance thrown in’ Kate Saunders,The Times‘[A] pacy debut thriller. . . Johnstone skilfully coaxes the reader into identifying with these difficult-to-love characters and maintains the tension and drama’Metro‘[Leads] to comparisons with the Scots writer Christopher Brookmyre … with a touch of romance [and] a gripping action sequence in the final chapters’ Scotsman________________Your best mate just fell off a cliff in mysterious circumstances. You were the last person to see him alive. What do you d? f you're David Lindsay from Arbroath, you leg it – and don’t go back. Not for fifteen years. Then Nicola Cruickshank – yes, that Nicola, the girl you always fancied but never had the guts to speak to – gets in touch. She wants you back for a school reunion. At the very place it happened. Of course you say yes. Not to lay ghosts to rest, but because you still fancy Nicola. The thing is, if you are David Lindsay, then returning to Arbroath isn’t going to bring closure. Because when someone else tumbles off the cliffs – an act the locals now call tombstoning – David has a choice: run away again, or finally find out why people around him keep dying…____‘Detailed and atmospheric descriptions … funny and sparky dialogue’ Sunday Herald‘Excellently written, intriguing storyline, and different from anything else around. A very impressive debut’ Allan Guthrie‘A brilliant new author … a rollicking tale of mystery set in Auld Reekie and the east coast town of Arbroath...’ The List‘A vibrant and engaging debut, by turns humorous, irreverent and poignant’ Bill Duncan ‘A seductive and thrilling evocation of what lurks beneath the surface of small-town Scotland – or, indeed, small-town anywhere’ Christopher BrookmyrePraise for Doug Johnstone‘Tense, funny and deeply moving’ Mark Billingham‘Nobody portrays modern Edinburgh better than Doug Johnstone … speaks volumes about the power of story’ Val McDermid ‘An engrossing and beautifully written tale that bears all the Doug Johnstone hallmarks in its warmth and darkly comic undertones’ Herald Scotland‘Wonderful characters: flawed, funny and brave’ Sunday Times‘Gripping and blackly humorous’ Observer ‘A must for those seeking strong, authentic, intelligent female protagonists’ Publishers Weekly‘This enjoyable mystery is also a touching and often funny portrayal of grief ... more, please’ Guardian‘Some of the most unique characters in crime fiction’ Daily Express‘Underlines just how accomplished Johnstone has become’ Daily Mail‘Keeps you hungry from page to page. A crime reader can’t ask anything more’ Sun ‘A thrilling, atmospheric book … Move over Ian Rankin, Doug Johnstone is coming through!’ Kate Rhodes  ‘Johnstone never fails to entertain whilst packing a serious emotional punch’ Gytha Lodge  ‘One of the greats of Scottish crime fiction´ Luca Veste‘An unstoppable, thrilling, bullet train of a book … I totally loved it’ Helen Fields‘Expertly written, with poise, insight and compassion’ Mary Paulson-Ellis‘A terrific read with all of Johnston’s trademark warmth and wicked wit’ A K Turner  ‘Some of the best female characters in crime fiction. Pitch-perfect balance of dark and light … disturbing, compassionate and brilliantly funny’ Sarah Hilary'An absolute joy to read … full of such wonderful characters, brilliantly realised, with more peril and intrigue' James Oswald‘A unique brand of crime fiction boasting rare heart and depth’ Ambrose Parry

ATTEND THE BIGGEST MAGICAL TOURNAMENT AND PRE-ORDER WHISPERS MOST DEADLY, THE SEQUEL TO THE MAGICALLY MYSTERIOUS WHISPERS MOST FOUL . . . --Rose would have left the dark halls of Dunhollow Academy forever – but she cannot leave Sylvie, her heart and soul, behind in the Academy’s rotten core. And after months honing her newfound magic, Rose is stronger now – ready for whatever the elites of Dunhollow can throw at her. Or so she thinks.She hasn’t bargained on the academy hosting The Ashwood Tournament, a prestigious, once-in-a-decade contest against rival magical academies. The prize is glory, but the stakes are deadly - only the most elite contestants stand a chance.No one is surprised when Sylvie is among the chosen.But then Rose’s name is selected too…--Readers loved the previous book:‘I wish I could give Whispers Most Foul 10 stars! This is one of the best books I’ve read this year’ ***** Reader Review‘This book has me second guessing my ability to solve mysteries!’ ***** Reader ReviewI was promised a gothic fantasy full of mystery, romance, magic and a dash of horror and it delivered! ***** Reader Review‘The dark academia aesthetic and narrative was so captivating and immersive – you can tell that Emma was writing what she knew, because she captured it perfectly!’ ***** Reader Review‘Atmospheric and full of gut-wrenching emotions’ ***** Reader Review‘The novel balances everything out, with each chapter alternating between its academic world and its supernatural elements’ ***** Reader Review

The path to happiness is rarely easy . . . A young woman struggles against family loyalty and class prejudices in this engrossing saga - perfect for fans of Josephine Cox, Rita Bradshaw and Catherine Cookson. In the notorious back streets of 1930s Salford, Suzannah Clark is left to raise her two siblings after their mother walks out. Her father Jacob is a tailor, but his sight is failing and so - despite local outrage at her controversial career choice - Suzanna learns his trade to support the household. Suzannah has caught the eye of the most eligible of bachelors, Edward Lyle. But Edward's father Noel, a wealthy businessman, is appalled that Edward has fallen for a girl from the slums. Noel is determined to end the relationship. When Suzannah's brother is seduced by the rapacious Rina Taylor, scandal and tragedy follow. Now Noel has the ammunition he needs to prise his son away from Suzannah - or so he thinks. But Suzannah and Edward are less malleable than he imagines . . . What readers say about The Tailor's Wife:'I thoroughly enjoyed this story from beginning to end. Full of suspense, good and evil' ?'The characters in this book were so true to life. Exceptionally good storyline - I just couldn't put it down' ?'Truly lovely and exciting storyline about the tailor and his expanding family. This is the first book I have read by this author but it will certainly not be my last' ?'I always enjoy Alexandra Connor's books and this book was no exception. She captures human nature to a tee' ?'A great intriguing story. With deceit, love and murder, it keeps you wanting to speed read because it keeps you so involved. Highly recommend' ?

From the New York Times-bestselling, National Book Award-winning, Booker Prize-longlisted author of Apeirogon and Let the Great World Spin‘Vivid, potent, beautiful’ Maggie O’FarrellAt the turn of the twentieth century, Nathan Walker comes to New York City to take the most dangerous job in the country: digging the tunnel far beneath the Hudson that will carry trains from Brooklyn to Manhattan. In the dark bowels of the riverbed, the workers – Black, white, Irish and Italian – dig together. Above ground, the men keep their distance from one another. But a dramatic accident on a bitter winter’s day welds a bond between Walker and his fellow workers, which will both bless and curse three generations. A love story of other times for these, our times, This Side of Brightness is an unforgettable story of race, faith and family. ‘Riveting and devastating’ Observer‘McCann writes with unusual truthfulness about poverty, degradation and love’ Daily Telegraph ‘Brilliant … A dramatic memorial to the working-men who built the greatest of modern cities’ Financial Times