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'A cleverly observed and deeply authentic novel about a marriage in turmoil, and the power the past can have over our present. Arresting and engaging ... Convincing characters and layers of intrigue' HOLLY MILLERTristan and Izzy are on the brink of marital breakdown. Sex has become less than perfunctory and distance shadows their interactions. The arrival of their new neighbour may just be their salvation: or, will she be their undoin? ivacious, enigmatic and enticing, Viv piques both Tristan and Izzy’s interest, her appearance in their lives offering them diversion from their faltering marriage and a window into the people they might be were it not for each other. But as Viv becomes an ever-increasing presence in their lives, the couple are forced to confront the long-ignored truths about themselves, each other and their pasts that have been a silent, spectral presence between them for years. At this fork in their marriage, they will face the most difficult decision: to cleave together for the sake of their union, or to walk away. A story about how the ripples in a relationship can become waves, The Single Neighbour holds a mirror up to the promise of domestic bliss, and asks whether an extinguished spark can ever be relit. __________________________________________________________________Praise for Hotel 21:'Beautifully told' HEAT'Fresh, funny and touching' HOLLY MILLER'Dark and joyous' WOMAN'S WEEKLY

With guidance from Mayo Clinic's pregnancy experts and weekly prompts for tracking your personal experiences and memories, this keepsake journal helps prepare you every step of the way as you get ready to meet your baby. Pregnancy can be a wild ride — full of changes, unknowns, and excitement. Capture the moments big and small in this keepsake journal. Inside you’ll find guidance for each week of pregnancy from the experts at Mayo Clinic, to help you manage each phase of your baby's development with confidence — including when to expect to feel baby kicks, how to relieve nausea and back pain, how to care for your mental health during and after pregnancy, and what's "normal" in each trimester. Reflective prompts empower you as you prepare to meet your baby. Monthly pages provide a spot for tracking key measurements from your prenatal checkups.   Inside you'll also find: Milestones in your baby’s development, with spaces for reflection Expert insight into your changing body as baby grows Tips for navigating the many decisions throughout pregnancy Questions to discuss with your partner Guidance on when to buy baby gear, look for infant care, consider birth preferences and more Coaching in preparing for birth Monthly pages to record your measurements and key memories An interior pocket to store ultrasound pictures And much more Whether you’re tracking each day or just the highlights, Mayo Clinic Pregnancy Journal is your one-stop personalized resource for a healthy pregnancy and a confident, empowered start to your journey in parenthood.

To travel through Italy is as close as one gets to being in paradise. For centuries, writers, artists, architects, and merchants have been drawn here, inspired by the beauty of Venice, Florence, Naples, and Rome. Countless books, paintings, poems, and sculptures are evidence of its undying appeal, and over the past 60 years, the country has become one of the world's top travel and holiday destinations. The loveliness of Italy is, if not eternal, certainly enduring, and the easygoing and relaxed Italian lifestyle is still unrivaled. Here, some of Italy's most amazing landscapes and diverse regions are honored, like Tuscany, Umbria, the Amalfi Coast, and, no less magical, the Aeolian Islands off the coast of Sicily. In these mythical surroundings are legendary hotels full of atmosphere, where novels are set, movies are made, weddings are celebrated, and famous love stories consummated: Villa d'Este on Lake Como, the Pellicano Hotel in Porto Ercole, the Il San Pietro on the Amalfi Coast, and the Palazzo Margherita in Basilicata—to name just a few. Angelika Taschen also reveals where to find more secret and hidden jewels—from the Locanda Cipriani, a destination for food lovers on the island of Torcello, to the romantic Castello di Vicarello in Tuscany and the atmospheric Masseria Moroseta in Puglia.

'A tale of love, trust, and betrayal. Delicate and dangerous.' JULES ARBEAUX A GREAT LOVE. A PALACE BENEATH THE SEA. A DEVASTATING BETRAYAL. A doomed love story created the city of Ys, it's fitting that another one would end it . . . Nolwenn is a lighthouse keeper, and her life's purpose is to defend her beloved city of Ys. But when a dangerous tide threatens Ys, the queen instead tasks Nolwenn with collecting rare seasilk - enough to shield the city from the deadly sea monsters that threaten it. Determined to fulfil her task, Nolwenn searches for the seasilk, only to be attacked by the very sea monsters the queen warned her about. She's saved by Morvan, a sea-dwelling korrigez with the torso of a human and the tail of a fish, who drags her deep beneath the sea to the coral palace of Ys-below. Although terrified and homesick, Nolwenn can't deny that Ys-below is strange and beautiful - and so is Morvan. And the more time Nolwenn spends below the surface, the less she is sure she wants to leave . . . As danger draws ever nearer and Ys remains precariously unprotected, Nolwenn must decide between her heart and her home. As lush as it is lyrical, this is an atmospheric retelling of the legendary lost city Ys, following two lovers and their connection between two different worlds - one on land and one beneath the waves. AUTHORS LOVE LAUREN WIESEBRON'S WRITING'A sweeping debut that shimmers with romance and folklore . . . a lyrically layered fantasy that enchants from the first page' ELIZABETH LIM'A dark enchantment with a beautiful heart. Its narrative spell is rich and poignant and will sweep you away' M.A. KUZNIAR'An enchanting Slavic fairytale of dark whimsy, magic, and a touch of romance. Perfect for a cold winter's night' GEORGIA SUMMERS

New foods can be a BIG deal for a LITTLE kid! The acclaimed Feel Better Book series now offers an upbeat rhyming story that tackles the challenge many kids face when trying new foods. It uses principles of choice and encouragement, reminding kids that everything they love now was new once, and that food can be fun! Includes a Note to Parents and Caregivers with more information about ways to help support kids in expanding their comfort with different foods.  Read all of the Feel Better Books! A Feel Better Book For Little Worriers, A Feel Better Book for Little Tears, A Feel Better Book for Little Poopers, A Feel Better Book for Little Tempers, and A Feel Better Book for Little Sports. 

'A pure delight' Debbie Johnson, bestselling author of The Comfort Food Cafe A second chance for forever? Ten years ago Maeve would have given anything to be standing side-by-side with Lando Nancarrow, she in a flowing white bridal gown and he in a sharp tux that emphasized just how handsome he is. But after one unforgettable night at her beloved Cornish beach hut, Lando disappeared and Maeve was left alone… until the surprise arrival of their daughter months later. Now, with Lando’s return, Maeve finds the dream she’d long given up on coming true as she’s talked into posing as the ideal bride to Lando’s dashing groom in a campaign to promote her new beach hut weddings venture. With their undeniable chemistry evident in every single look of love for the camera, is it possible that a true ‘I do’ could finally be on the horizon for Maeve and Lando? Praise for Jane Linfoot 'Immersive … an emotional story' ? 'Utterly wonderful … grin worthy … emotionally touching … this book settled itself in my heart and settled my heart in the process' ? 'Beautiful … A great summer read' ? 'Great from start to finish … laugh out loud moments' ? 'Drawn in from the start … I didn't want [it] to end' ? 'Entertaining … Funny and romantic' ? 'Loved every minute' ? 'You will fall in love' ? 'I have been waiting for this part of the series to come out! … stunning, I read it in 24 hours!' ? ‘I loved every single page.’ ? ‘The cosiest book … The perfect mood booster!’ ? 'A real page turner full of love and friendship.' ? ‘Sparkling, laugh-out-loud, romantic’ Phillipa Ashley ‘The perfect holiday read to warm your heart’ Tracy Bloom ‘A pure delight…fabulous, fun and unforgettable’ Debbie Johnson

A collection of ancient spells and incantations, translated and interpreted for today’s reader, brings long-ago meanings closer for those engaged in magical practices of manifestation, prophecy, love, protection, healing, curses, and even vengeance. Each page of Ancient Spells and Incantations holds verses adapted from text unearthed through extensive research—grimoires, letters, and trial transcripts from across the ages and around the world. Many of these were tucked away in university libraries not easily accessible even to one actively in search of them. Enid Baxter Ryce painstakingly researched this collection, finding fragments from across the centuries. Translating some from Latin and Old English herself, Enid has made the spells accessible to today’s witches. What was once whispered or chanted, spiraling in cursive, or carved in stone, still echoes like a song. The words that survived connect us to that ancient magic, and we can feel the truth and power. As we marvel at these ancient magical words, we think of our ancestors. Thanks to them, scraps of papyrus, shards of pottery, secret books, and hissed recipes can, hundreds of years later, still show themselves to those who seek them.

WITH A NEW INTRODUCTION BY JOANNE HARRIS'Feverish, hungry, astonishing' New York Times'One of the greatest imaginative achievements of English culture' GuardianAmid a raging snowstorm, Mr. Lockwood seeks shelter at Wuthering Heights, a house high on the barren Yorkshire moors. It's not long before the house's secrets reveal themselves: carved into the windowsill, the names Cathy and Heathcliff lead Lockwood to discover the intense, obsessive relationship that unfolded years before; the devastating betrayal; and a revenge that continues to haunt their descendants. Shocking critics upon publication, Emily Brontë's wild, defiant tale of love and vengeance remains one of the most provocative, inventive works of literature today. 'Will there ever be a novel that burns with more passionate intensity?' Independent

‘Chilling’ FINANCIAL TIMES ‘Tom Ripley, eat your heart out’ NPR ‘Eerie, shocking, provoking’ GILLIAN FLYNN A chilling, captivating novel about the dark secrets that surface after the shocking disappearance of a charming, mercurial teacher at an elite boarding school. Who is Francis Fox? A charismatic, young English teacher joins an elite New Jersey boarding school. Francis Fox quickly beguiles many of his students, their parents and his colleagues, while leaving others in the small town wondering where he came from and why his biography is so enigmatic. When Fox disappears and parts of an unidentified body are discovered in nearby woods, the community begins to ask disturbing questions about the charming, mercurial teacher, and who he might really be. A hypnotic tale of crime, complicity and revenge, Fox is an unsettling portrait of a cunning predator, which illuminates the darkest corners of the human psyche. ‘Breathless and febrile … an utterly mesmeric account of how one man’s crimes can affect an entire community’GUARDIAN ‘Impressive and unsettling’NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW ‘Rich in suspense, diabolical secrets and psychological insight’ECONOMIST ‘Mesmerising … another masterclass from one of America's greatest writers’ MICHAEL CONNELLY, author of The Lincoln Lawyer

‘A novel to marvel at … ingenious’ SOPHIE MACKINTOSH ‘Astonishing’ MICHAEL MAGEE ‘Wicked and beguiling’ AMY TWIGG The acclaimed author of The Doloriad returns with a wildly imaginative new novel following a reclusive graduate as her attempts to navigate campus conspiracies set her on a collision course that will upend her life. In a famed but crumbling university city overrun by vegetation, where power is held in a fragile balance between the academics and a contingent of rogue gardeners, Agathe spends her days listlessly propping up the career of her fraudulent professor boss. One day, a campus scandal erupts: Adam, a contrarian and the pet student of her boss, comes into heated conflict with a rising young professor, with both men claiming discrimination. As the crisis consumes the university, Agathe’s boss instructs her to gather information by befriending Adam. Agathe soon finds herself both caught up in the events tearing the city apart and increasingly drawn towards the alluring student at the heart of it all. But can anyone be taken at their word in a struggle over the truth? Coursing with icy suspense and rendered with violent precision, The Vivisectors is a new kind of love story for a broken era. Missouri Williams holds up a mirror to humanity’s most intimate contradictions in a novel of blazing spiritual reckoning. ‘Missouri Williams writes with a gothic angularity that puts her in a category of one. She swims in deep waters and surfaces now as a major writer for our age’ PAUL LYNCH, author of Prophet Song ‘The anti-feel good hit of the year’ FERNANDO A. FLORES, author of Brother Brontë ‘The extraordinary imagination of Missouri Williams’ AMINA CAIN, author of Indelicacy ‘Clever, wilful, daring … I had such a blast reading it’ SUSANNAH DICKEY, author of Common Decency ‘Hypnotic … this remarkable novel will haunt me for some time’ SARA BAUME, author of Seven Steeples ‘Beautiful, disturbing … I adored this book’ HARRIET ARMSTRONG, author of To Rest Our Minds & Bodies ‘As brilliant as it is dark … unlike anything I’ve read before’ VULTURE

Riley Wright is starting at Heverton Junior School with one awkward disadvantage: her MAJORLY embarrassing dad is the new head teacher …!! 🦄 🌈 📓🦄 🌈 'A lively fun-filled story’ — Dame Jacqueline Wilson New school, new friends (hopefully!). Riley Wright has to figure out how to fit in, pin down a talent for the talent show, look out for her unpredictable new BFF Emmie and face down super mean girl Harper … As someone who gets a lot of stuff wrong, when will Riley finally get something RIGHT? KIDS LOVE RILEY! ‘Mel is a great writer. Can’t she just publish like three of these at the same time?’ – Anaya, 9 ‘I definitely recommend Riley Wright!’ – Lily, 8 AUTHORS LOVE RILEY TOO! 'A lively fun-filled story that children will love’ — Dame Jacqueline Wilson ‘As funny as Lottie Brooks, with the madcap energy of Pamela Butchart, Riley Wright is smart, sharp and totally relatable. I loved it!’ – Abie Longstaff, author of The Magic Potions Shop and The Fairytale Hairdresser series ‘I love Riley! A fun and charming book bursting with energy.’ – Laura Dockrill, author of Darcy Burdock ‘Instantly engaging, hugely appealing and full of laughs. Riley Wright is a wonderfully bright and bubbly new voice in the diary style format – like a younger female Wimpy Kid.’ – Andy Shepherd, author of The Boy Who Grew Dragons ‘It is impossible not to smile at every page and cheer out loud for the new girl in school, Riley Wright. With a big personality and heart to match, Riley is just the BFF that readers have been waiting for. A fresh, funny and utterly charming book, from start to finish.’ – Clara Vulliamy, author of Dottie Detective ‘Riley and her BFF are a laugh-out-loud unstoppable duo, taking readers on a giggly, squirmy tour through the ups and downs of junior school. Packed with laughs, oops moments and best friend fun.’ – Vashti Hardy, author of Harley Hitch ‘An adorable, fun and feel-good story. Readers will love Riley with her electrocuted chicken hair, her relatable worries and her sparky attitude. A new series that’s sure to become a favourite.’ – Rashmi Sirdeshpande, author of Hari Kumar Ultimate Superstar ‘I loved it! Funny, heartwarming and very engaging.’ – Harriet Muncaster, author of Isadora Moon ‘Hilarious, heartfelt and filled with so many memorable moments. Get ready for Riley Wright to be the best friend you never knew you needed. Why be right when you can have so much fun being wrong!’ – Jo Clarke, author of Libby and the Parisian Puzzle ‘Riley Wright is ADORABLE! Funny, zippy and relatable – these books will become fast favourites.’ – Perdita Cargill, author of Diary of an Accidental Witch ‘Riley Wright thinks she is Awkward, Accident-prone, and Annoyingly Average. I think she's AMAZING and AWESOME! A hilarious, endearing and uplifting read which made me laugh and cringe on Riley's behalf in equal measures. I can't wait to see what Riley does next!’ – Serena Patel, author of Anisha Accidental Detective ‘As a parent, Dad is absolute parent-goals but as a reader, who was once a child with major hair frizz issues, Riley is a character I think everyone young person can relate to. I was giggling away from the first page and desperately wishing I had a Secret Understairs Library too! Mel Taylor-Bessent has created a perfect read for those who love a funny book – it’s feel-good Louise Rennison for junior school readers.’ – Swapna Haddow, author of Dave Pigeon ‘Massively fun and laugh out loud. I loved this book. Riley Wright is going to become your new BFF!’ – Jenny McLachlan, author of Fairy vs Wizard ‘Riley Wright ticks ALL the WRIGHT boxes with all the scented rainbow pens, a tonne of hilarity and oodles of heart. This is the kind of book I’d have devoured as a kid! And I’m prett

From the author of A Ghost in the Throat, an unforgettable book - both history and ghost story - that will leave you gasping by its final page. In the city of Cork, a derelict Victorian mental hospital is being converted into modern apartments. One passerby has always flinched as she passes the place. Had she lived in another time, she too might have found herself held within those walls. Now, she notices a sign: FOR SALE. It is the first of many signs. Guided by an irresistible impulse, she follows them. Soon, she is trespassing, stealing, absconding from the routine of mother, spouse, daughter, as she uncovers a chorus of startling voices: those of the women who knew the hospital best. They murmur from archives and old records. They haunt from stairwells and walls. In them - and in one figure in particular -- she may find meaning and solace, righteous anger, salvation even. Or her final vanishin? work of sublime intensity and tenderness, Said the Dead breaks the boundaries between worlds -- past and present, imagined and real, fact and fiction -- to make something new and lasting: an experience full of danger, full of love and full of truth. Praise for the work of Doireann Ní Ghríofa'The effect is electric, like seeing a ghost returned to life.' New Statesman 'Obliterates every clear definition of genre and form . . . Astounding and utterly fresh.' Irish Independent'Lush, lyrical prose that dazzles readers from the get-go . . . sumptuous, almost symphonic, in its intensity.' Sunday Times'Past versus present, blood versus milk, birth versus death . . . dichotomies abound, but the questions of women's lived experiences and who history remembers link them all.' Paris Review

This is a story about you. It is the history of who you are and how you came to be. It is unique to you, as it is to each of the 100 billion modern humans who have ever drawn breath. But it is also our collective story, because in every one of our genomes we each carry the history of our species - births, deaths, disease, war, famine, migration and a lot of sex. In this captivating journey through the expanding landscape of genetics, Adam Rutherford reveals what our genes now tell us about human history, and what history can now tell us about our genes. From Neanderthals to murder, from redheads to race, dead kings to plague, evolution to epigenetics, this is a demystifying and illuminating new portrait of who we are and how we came to be.

Uncooperative animals, underperforming crops, and rather less than best-laid plans pursued with unbridled enthusiasm. Clarkson's farm is the gift that keeps on giving. But, as one overseas visitor* admitted, he only came to Diddly Squat because he just didn't believe that Jeremy could be so incompetent. Not one to be discouraged, however, our hero decides to bring his misunderstood entrepreneurial flair to bear on a new venture: a pub. And just a few short weeks later, the doors open on The Farmer's Dog. All British produce, Hawkstone beer on tap, a private bar for farmers and a vintage tractor hanging from the ceiling. The perfect country pub. A welcome distraction from sustainable farming initiatives, psychedelic wheat, angry protests in central London and a headbutting goat. What, you may be asking, could possibly go wrong? On top of the lavatories packing up and the electricity running out, you mean? As the Cotwolds' newest publican quickly discovers, there's a lot more to landlording than pulling pints. Just as well, then, that he still has Lisa, Kaleb, Cheerful Charlie and Gerald to help him through. Especially now his doctor's told him he's got to become a vegetablist … *along with the whole of the rest of China, apparently

How can you catch a killer when everyone is lyin? hen Detective Kim Stone is called to the crime scene, what she sees leaves her speechless and she knows she's up against a truly twisted killer. But when she breaks the devastating news to the victim's wife, Kim can't help feeling that something isn't quite right about her reaction. Twenty-four hours later, the whole family has disappeared... Then a second body is found staked to the ground in a local nature reserve. But what links them is a fiercely guarded secret... one that the police are helping to hide. Faced with deceit from those she should be able to trust, Kim is in deep water like never before. Can she unlock the shocking truth and stop the killer before he strikes agai? n absolutely jaw-dropping crime thriller from the number one, multi-million-copy bestselling author of the incredibly addictive Detective Kim Stone series. See what readers are saying about Twisted Lies:'OMG!!! SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO US ANGELA!!!! JUST WOW!!!! Seriously love, love LOVED this book!!!!.. I was on the edge of my seat, biting my nails whilst feeling my heart pounding into the silly hours of the morning... one of the best books I have ever read!!!' Bookworm86, ?'You won't want to put it down until you've finished... will make your heart beat faster and keep you hooked from the first page... Fab, fab, fab - what more can I say!!' Stardust Book Reviews, ?'WOW! Just Wow!... took me on an emotional roller coaster... I've definitely given this book 6 out of 5.' John's Book Shelf, ?'You can't stop reading it until the fantastic ending... mesmerizing and riveting! I find it insulting to even rate it giving between one to five stars, because how many stars should you give to the sun?' The World Is Ours to Read, ?'I must have uttered WTF out loud and in full many times... I read it one afternoon...I devoured the pages, and couldn't get enough.' Rachel's Random Reads, ?'You are thrown straight into the action...I was invested in this book from the first page... gripping, thrilling... my favourite book of the year.' NetGalley reviewer, ?'Gripping, clever, unputdownable, thrilling... deserves MORE THAN FIVE STARS.' Goodreads reviewer, ?'Exceptional... I was hooked from the very first page... 1000% recommend.' NetGalley reviewer, ?'You know it's a fantastic book when you start it in the afternoon, hurry through all your normal "life chores" in a race to get into bed and continue reading... totally worth a night of uninterrupted, heart-pumping reading!' BookwormCatLady, ?

The enthralling new drama in the epic story of Caratacus: the barbarian king who led the tribes of Britannia against mighty Rome . . . WHILE THE MILITARY LEADERS OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE WATCH FROM THE SIDELINES, BRITANNIA'S WARLORD CARATACUS FIGHTS TO UNITE THE WARRING TRIBES. AD 43, Britannia. A barbarian land . . . Caratacus is warlord of his tribe. Only King Cunobelinus holds more power. The island's clans are constantly at war. Caratacus has relentlessly driven new alliances, but those are ready to crumble at any provocation. A situation King Verica, an implacable enemy, is keen to exploit, with the support of ever-ambitious Rome. And Rome has a spy in Cunobelinus's inner circle. The elders believe their island is impregnable. Caratacus is powerful enough to ignore their mockery, as he calls on thousands of men to enlist, and prepare to defend their homeland. But even Caratacus cannot be certain that an army of warriors and ragtag bands of farmers can be turned into a disciplined fighting force that can defy the mighty military machine poised to invade. Caratacus and his men are preparing for the most deadly battle of their lives. The future of their world is at stake. Readers are gripped by the books of Simon Scarrow and T. J. Andrews:'A riveting read from start to finish. Cannot wait for the next instalment' ?'The characters in this book are brilliantly created, full of depth and lively description' ?'Thundering good adventure . . . I regretted having to put it down to go to bed' ?

Following on from its successful launch in 2009, Collins Wild Flower Guide – the ultimate reference book for wild flower enthusiasts – now enters its third edition. It is now completely up to date, including the most recent BSBI common names and the extra species recently discovered in the British Isles. Featuring all flowering plants, including trees and grasses, and ferns, this fully revised and updated field guide to the wild flowers of Britain and northern Europe is the most complete illustrated, single-volume guide ever published. Leading botanical artists have been specially commissioned to ensure accurate, detailed illustrations. Species are described and illustrated on the same page, with up-to-date authoritative text aiding identification. Plants are arranged by family, with their key features highlighted for quick and easy reference. The text offers a complete account of over 1,900 wild flowers of Britain and Ireland, along with a summary of their European distribution. Collins Wild Flower Guide is an indispensable guide for all those with an interest in the countryside, whether amateur or expert.

This tense, psychically aware thriller hooks the reader from the first page when a local policeman arrives at the home of an isolated crofter in search of a young fugitive. Blood Hunt is a tale of, love, murder, divided loyalties and the awful human instinct to hunt a fellow animal down - even to death. From the moment Sandy opens his door we enter into the ancient world of crime and punishment, action and retribution, of passion and the centrality of a woman’s power, brought bang up to date by a precise, psychologically acute narrative of the killed and the killer. Who is right? Who is wrong? What is the story behind this tale of terror and revenge? Blood Hunt plots these questions and more, as, step by step, it takes the reader across a wild and remote landscape that is the stuff of myth and fable. Gunn is a major Scottish writer with an international reputation; this beautiful new edition aims to re-establish him as a central figure in Scottish letters.

Anne Cholawo was a typical 80s career girl working in a busy London advertising agency, when in 1989, holidaying in Skye, she noticed an advert for a property on the Isle of Soay - 'Access by courtesy of fishing boat'. She had never heard of Soay before, let alone visited it, but something inexplicable drew her there. Within ten minutes of stepping off the said fishing boat, she had fallen under the spell of the island, and after a few months she moved there to live. She is still there. When she arrived on the remote west coast island there were only 17 inhabitants, among them the legendary Hebridean sharker Tex Geddes and his family. Today, including Anne and her husband Robert, there are only three. This book describes her extraordinary transition from a hectic urban lifestyle to one of rural isolation and self-sufficiency, without mains electricity, medical services, shops or any of the other modern amenities we take for granted. Anne describes the history of Soay and its unique wildlife, and as well as telling her own personal story introduces along the way some of the off-beat and colourful characters associated with the island, notably Tex's one-time associate, the celebrated writer and naturalist, Gavin Maxwell.