Little, Brown Book Group

A STUNNING NEW HARDBACK COLLECTION OF DAPHNE DU MAURIER''S THIRTEEN DARKEST STORIES - INTRODUCED BY INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER STEPHEN KING''Her talent is a bright light that will guide you. These remarkable stories await'' STEPHEN KING''A marvellously dark, unsettling collection. I loved it'' SARAH WATERS''Unputdownable . . . After Midnight promises to never let you sleep again'' LUCY ROSE''Daphne du Maurier is the Godmother of Fear'' ALICE SLATER***On a sharp December day, the wind changes - and the birds begin to gather. In the twisting alleyways of Venice, a grieving couple catch a glimpse of their lost child. A woman returns home to find no trace of her existence. From the inimitable imagination of Daphne du Maurier, these thirteen stories pierce to the dark heart of our relationships: between men and women, humanity and nature, love and obsession, the future and the past. Uncanny, provocative and spine-crawlingly terrifying, these tales will keep you up long after midnight. Whatever you do, don''t look now . . .PRAISE FOR DAPHNE DU MAURIER:''Masterful, troubling and wickedly seductive'' Sarah Perry''Du Maurier is mistress of the sleight of hand in fiction'' Maggie O''Farrell''She was able to make worlds in which people and even houses are mysterious and mutable, not as they seem'' Olivia Laing''The master of slow-burning menace'' Stacey Halls''Daphne du Maurier remains the indisputable queen of the sophisticated literary thriller . . . often imitated and never, ever surpassed'' Laura Shepperson''A glittering collection of dark gems . . . Du Maurier was the queen of creepiness, and a writer of extraordinary talent. These stories will introduce you to her dark imaginings and keep you up well into the night. Do have nightmares. They''ll be good ones'' Anna Mazzola

Getting clean was just the beginning... DJ Fat Tony has lived a thousand lives: celebrated nightlife icon, survivor of decades-long addiction to drugs, alcohol and sex, and a LGBTQ activist who navigated trauma, abuse, and the AIDS epidemic. In Recover Me, Tony charts his journey from the hard graft of addiction to self-acceptance, affirming that recovery is not a destination but an ongoing commitment to accountability. Tony's story is marked by setbacks - dishonesty, victimhood, toxic relationships, and relapses into old behaviours - but also by moments of breakthrough and growth. He learns to navigate the complexities of early recovery, the allure of chaos and drama, and the necessity of honest self-inventory. Mixed with stories that are darkly humorous and oftentimes painful, Tony also gives advice on how to make amends, rebuild family relationships, and develop healthy boundaries, both with others and yourself. Written with expertise from integrative therapist Tara Day, the book offers therapeutic insights and reframes addiction through a trauma-informed, psychological lens to explore the nature of addiction and the lifelong process of healing. This is recovery with all the mess left in. No twelve-step sainthood, no empty promises. Just the truth about what it takes to break cycles, build boundaries, and find your own version of happy ever after - even if you still think you don't deserve it. For anyone battling addiction, shame, or just the weight of their own story, Recover Me shows that recovery doesn't end, but deeper healing is always possible.

25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITIONThe cult-classic novel that inspired the smash-hit, blockbuster film and musical. Don't miss the new tour of the musical beginning in February as well as the prequel series Elle, coming to Prime in July. One rule Elle was learning fast was this: blondes do not have more fun in law school. Delta Gamma president and pink-obsessed Elle Woods has just been dumped by the man she thought she'd marry. Warner Huntington III has traded his homecoming queen for Harvard Law - and now Elle's determined to follow, proving she has the beauty and the brains to be his perfect match. (What, like it's hard?)But acing the LSATs is only the beginning. At Harvard, Elle's Californian charm makes her an outsider among her preppy classmates. Then a high-profile case lands in her lap, and Elle realises she might be the only one who can save fitness queen, Brooke Vandermark. This is Elle's moment to shine - and it turns out being underestimated might just be her greatest advantage...

Prepare to be entranced by this utterly unique, historical fantasy novel with a fairytale feel from the million-copy bestselling M. R. Carey, author of The Girl With All the Gifts.In a kingdom forgotten by history, a legend unfolds . . .Wounded in his county''s endless wars, former soldier Mag Tresti finds work in the home of a reclusive widow, Jannae Mirchella. But Jannae is more than she seems. A witch of great skill and might, she hides her powers and her deep-laid plans behind a mask of harmless respectability. When a dead demon falls out of the sky, the fates of the soldier and the witch are irrevocably intertwined. On the demon''s body Mag finds a tinderbox - an artefact of terrifying magical power that can not only grant his every wish, but also change the fate of nations. This is a tale of spellcraft and devilry, of witchcraft and trickery - of the wickedness that resides within a few, the goodness that lies deep within us all, and the choices on which our lives turn.''M.R. Carey is a master of imagination and suspense'' Gareth L. Powell''Carey is a writer with big ideas at the heart of his fable-esque storytelling'' SciFiNow''Carey writes with compassion and fire - strange and surprising and humane'' Lauren Beukes

A thousand years ago, the Knights of the Round Table made an oath to protect the realm forevermore. It's safe to say they didn't think it all the way through. Now Britain is embroiled in the Second World War, and the knights are still fighting the enemies of the realm. They're also fighting each other - Kay and Lancelot haven't spoken since Agincourt, and everyone wishes Agravain would stop speaking entirely. Isolde - known in myth and legend for her tragic romance with the knight Tristan - is fed up with her tragic reputation. In a time when women have more freedom than ever before, she's determined to strike out on her own. But when she discovers old enemies working alongside the Nazis, she realises she can't fight all of them by herself. It might be time to get the old band back together . . . From the Sunday Times bestselling Thomas D. Lee comes this sharp and witty caper, asking what happens when knights in armour return to fix the problems of a more modern world . . .

THE PERFECT GIFT FOR FATHER'S DAYNo one had ever played tennis quite like Björn Borg. With his incredible athleticism, powerful shot-making and distinctive style, he became a sensation after he burst onto the scene aged just 15. As he ascended to the pinnacle of men's tennis, Borg experienced unprecedented stardom and success that changed the game forever. Hailed as one of the most talented players to ever step onto a tennis court, Borg collected the game's highest honours, including eleven Grand Slam titles - with five consecutive Wimbledon titles - establishing himself as one of the greatest of all time. Then he stunned the sporting world by announcing his retirement at the age of 26 and disappeared from tennis. After all these years of silence, Borg is ready to share everything. In this candid memoir, Borg takes us through all the major moments in his career, shares insights into his rivalry with John McEnroe - considered one of the best in the sport's history - and their legendary 1980 Wimbledon final, and explains his shock retirement. Borg writes candidly about his personal life - for so long kept under wraps - including his childhood, his early stardom and his uncomfortable relationship with fame, alongside all the highs and lows of his unmatched career. For the first time, readers will get Borg's own account of his career, his choices, and the experiences that shaped him as a person, from his childhood right up to today. This look behind the curtain at an enigmatic player who has fascinated generations of tennis fans, is ultimately a fascinating look at the making of sporting legend and, for readers who know nothing about tennis, a rare glimpse into an extraordinary, compelling life.

During some of the darkest days of the Royal Family, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, has quietly risen to become the respected and much-loved face of a family in turmoil. In this inspiring biography, bestselling author Sean Smith tells the remarkable story of Sophie Rhys-Jones; a young woman with a winning smile who captured the heart of a Prince and the nation. From her fun-filled days in rural Kent and nervous beginnings at the Palace, to becoming a powerful voice on world issues and being acclaimed as a 'trailblazer' by Hillary Clinton, this is an intimate portrait of a woman who has achieved much while enduring the pressures of life as a wife, mother and Royal. Whether keeping important secrets, navigating tabloid exposés or surviving near-death experiences, Sophie has done so with dignity and strength. Inside, discover the secret of Sophie's long-lasting love for Prince Edward; her unshakeable bond with the late Queen; her friendship with the future Queen, Kate; and her frosty relationship with Princess Diana. Amid family upheavals and media obsession, it is Sophie who is saving the day.

For fans of Michelle Paver and Sarah Waters, the second in a quartet of exquisitely haunting ghost stories set in the wilds of Scotland. The Isle of Stroma, 1896. Tom Torrance has been sent to oversee the completion of a new lighthouse, which will guide ships through one of the most dangerous stretches of water in the United Kingdom. The construction so far has been plagued by difficulties, giving rise to superstitious whisperings amongst the men, but Tom is a man of sense and science. He will not be cowed by stories of hauntings and bad omens. Yet Tom is unprepared for the conditions on the island: the isolation and delirium of the endless summer nights. He soon learns that the real dangers on the island have nothing to do with the wild waves. There are some problems that science cannot answer, and some threats so ancient and strange, that nothing can keep them at bay. PRAISE FOR ELAINE THOMSON'I was so impressed by Hawthorn' MICHELLE PAVER, author of Dark Matter'Delightfully brooding and gloriously gothic' CJ COOKE, author of The Book of Witching 'A hugely entertaining and evocative treat' BRIDGET COLLINS, author of The Binding 'A new classic' SARA SHERIDAN, author of The Fair Botanists'The best Scottish ghost story of the 21st Century so far' HERALD 'A wonderfully atmospheric ghost story' 5* NETGALLEY REVIEW'A truly haunting tale, beautifully written' 5* NETGALLEY REVIEW

'Brilliant and electrifying... I loved every trash-talking, spandex-wearing and body-slamming page of it' Dan Schreiber, Host of 'No Such Thing As A Fish'A behind-the-scenes look at the weird and wonderful world of professional wrestling. Wrestling is at a new peak of popularity, but for years it has operated as an unregulated soap opera with controversial storylines and surprising presentations. It is a world where fact and fiction are regularly blurred, where stereotypes dominate and ruthlessness reigns supreme. But what does this eccentric phenomenon tell us about our society and culture? And why does it matte? n Lords of the Ring, Dan Higgins, makes it his mission to find out. Examining the myriad ways that our social, cultural and political landscape intersects with the sport, he explores how wrestling relates to and has shaped our ideas about gender, race, national identity and sexuality. Higgins also turns to the sport's relationship with politics - including how Donald Trump cultivated a character on the scene - shining a light on the key characters inside and outside of the ropes, as well as their unlikely, unusual and sometimes dark stories.

'Clues for a murder are rather like ingredients for a recipe. Put them together in the right way and the results can be very satisfying...'The brand new book in the Whitstable Pearl crime series, starring restauranteur and detective Pearl Nolan - now a major TV drama, starring Kerry Godliman!For almost two centuries, St Alfred's Church in Whitstable, Kent, has held special significance in the lives of its parishioners - including for private detective, Pearl Nolan, owner of the Whitstable Pearl restaurant. Pearl's son, Charlie, was christened in the church and her oyster fisherman father, Tommy Nolan, is buried in the old churchyard. Now, St Alfred's is about to play another part in Pearl's life as the setting for her wedding to Canterbury police detective, DCI Mike McGuire. But two fateful events are about to threaten this happy occasion - the discovery of a body on hallowed ground and the return of a ghost from Pearl's own past... Praise for Julie Wassmer's Whitstable Pearl mysteries:'While Oxford had Morse, Whitstable, famous for its oysters, has Pearl . . . True to the tradition of classic crime, [Julie Wassmer] weaves a strong story into a setting that has more to offer than murder and mayhem' Daily Mail'As light as a Mary Berry Victoria sponge, this Middle-England romp is packed with vivid characters' Myles McWeeney, Irish Independent'All of the thrills without any of the gore' The Sun'My new favourite author in the genre' George Galloway'Comforting, cosy and entertaining with excellent Agatha Christie-style reveals. I love these books!' Jane Wenham-Jones, author of Mum in the Middle

'Six Savage Thrones beguiles with lush prose and blazes with feminine rage . . . The final twist left me on tenterhooks, desperate for the next book' Venetia Constantine, no 1 Sunday Times bestselling author of The Last Starborn SeerSix Savage Thrones is the heart-stopping epic fantasy sequel to the instant Sunday Times bestseller Six Wild Crowns. The kingdom of Elben is in turmoil. One of its magical palaces lies in ruins at the bottom of the ocean and the king is on the hunt for the traitor Queen Seymour. He will not stop until he brings her to her knees. No one would ever suspect Queen Howard of treachery or spy craft, but she is no longer content to be the king's songbird. She will see to Henry's downfall. But there is a new gentleman at court, one who seems to know more about her true motives than he should - is he friend or fo? ueen Cleves has already survived a war. She knows what she must do to protect herself, but now she finds herself fighting a longing for another queen that is so fierce it might swallow her up. Amidst the turmoil, King Henry's sister Cecilia vies for the power she has been denied. But the queens will soon learn they must work together to break the bonds that tie them to the king. For Henry is delving deeper into strange old magics, ones that could birth a monster. Praise for the Queens of Elben series:'A glittering, magnificent epic, dripping with menace and brimming with female empowerment. Absolutely incredible' Francesca May, author of Wild and Wicked Things'A ferocious tale of female rage and the strength of sisterhood' S.A. MacLean, author of The Phoenix Keeper'A beautifully written tale of resistance, rebellion, and sisterhood, with an ending that will leave you heartbroken and breathless for more' M. H. Ayinde, author of A Song of Legends Lost'Six Wild Crowns is a beautiful feminist epic, a luscious and luminous read' Tasha Suri, author of The Jasmine Throne'Enchanting and brutal. Holly Race's prose, like her queens, sizzles with power and purpose' Frances White, author of Voyage of the Damned'Fiercely imaginative and beautifully written' Sunyi Dean, author of The Book Eaters'Six Wild Crowns is a blade sheathed in silk: slick, sensuous, yet sharp enough to cut' Lyra Selene, author of A Feather So Black'A masterfully crafted sequel that pulls no punches, Holly Race is fast becoming the true queen of historical fantasy' Author of the The Undetectables

'Few people have a better understanding of how endangered free speech has become in these islands than Ben Jones. This urgent cry for its restoration is a must read' Toby Young'To call Island of Strangers "unflinching" is to understate its tenacity and courage. It is forthright - territorial - yet it maintains a distinctive English politeness that will force its critics to address its argument: this is no polemic, but it is an unmistakable act of defiance.' The CriticBRITAIN IS BEING TRANSFORMED. IT IS UNFREE. AND IT IS GETTING WORSE. As mass migration reshapes Britain's population, an increasingly authoritarian state attempts to manage the resulting hyper-diversity by suppressing freedom of speech. We see this in two-tier policing, in attempts to criminalise blasphemy against Islam, and even in the private sector where thousands have lost their jobs or have been punished for expressing their beliefs. In Island of Strangers, Ben Jones - a director of the Free Speech Union - shows how multiculturalism came just as Britain was losing its sense of itself, as Christianity declined, and how its elite embraced a creed of 'diversityism'. Grounded in a long view of Britain's history, this book gets to the fundamental causes of why Keir Starmer's UK feels so unfree. The free speech crisis isn't just a passing problem. Silencing dissent is now built into how the fractured UK is governed. Different identity groups are increasingly locked in competition to protect their sacred ideas. The most potent challenge to Britain's tradition of free speech comes from within Islam. This book is unafraid to grapple with these truths. Increasingly it seems impossible even to define who 'we' are, much less what we believe or what unites us. Do we really have more in common than that which divides us? Increasingly it feels like we don't. Taking Keir Starmer's infamous line, this book argues that Britain has been transformed into 'an island of strangers'.

ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE BRITISH WRITERS OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY''Lehmann legitimised a type of writing that took on deep personal themes'' ENGLISH PEN''Full of her sensibility, her funniness, her own peculiar acumen'' ELIZABETH JANE HOWARD ''Lehmann has always written brilliantly of women in love'' MARGARET DRABBLE Two sisters: Madeleine and Dinah. One husband: Rickie Masters. For many years now, Dinah, exotic and sensual, has conducted a clandestine affair with Rickie. Madeleine, calm and resolute, has accepted that her marriage has been of limited success. Rickie''s sudden death makes widows of both sisters in this highly imaginative novel that explores with extraordinary insight the sublimity, the rivalry and the pain of personal relationships.''She makes a mood, an atmosphere, which is never forgotten . . . The inner voice of women talking to themselves about their love affairs, knowing that it is hopeless, having to go ahead anyway, expecting the end as soon as it begins. That, of course, is what Rosamond Lehmann does best'' SUNDAY TIMES

It is a truth universally acknowledged that boys will be boys and girls have to grow up . . . Over the past decade, girlhood has repainted the cultural landscape pink. From Taylor Swift's Eras tour to Barbiemania, this nostalgia for girlhood has become a billion-dollar business, seen in the music we listen to, the clothes we wear and the 2000s movies (and their long-awaited sequels) we watch on repeat. But at a time when women's rights are being rewritten, this resurgence in girlhood is complicated. Women are caught between a genuine desire to relive the wild freedom, joy and safety found in girlhood, while facing an ever-growing pressure to hold onto their youth. The world demands women continue to look like girls, yet they are rarely given the space to actually be girls. In I'm Just a Girl, journalist Jess Bacon introduces readers to the 'second girlhood', the extended adolescence that allows us to recover the part of ourselves we left behind. Reconnecting with our inner girl is an empowering act of rebellion. It offers a return to creativity and play that can ultimately improve our relationships, our mental wellbeing and establish a renewed sense of self. It is a reclaiming of what was once taken from us. For far too long we have been presented with a false choice between womanhood and girlhood - this book is a celebration of a new way of being where we can fully embrace both.

ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE BRITISH WRITERS OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY ''Lehmann legitimised a type of writing that took on deep personal themes'' ENGLISH PEN''Full of her sensibility, her funniness, her own particular acumen'' ELIZABETH JANE HOWARDIn 1933 we meet Rebecca, heroine of The Ballad and the Source - but in a different world, on many levels. Betrayed by her married lover, Rebecca arrives alone at a small Caribbean island. Here, along with the splendidly eccentric members of the British expatriate colony, she meets the former ace pilot Johnny, crippled now, a misanthropic recluse: for both of them their passionate affair the powerful life force love can be. Here too she encounters voices from the past and the vibrant spirit of Mrs. Jardine - voices which remind Rebecca of the girl she was and the woman she could become. This is a poignant, uplifting novel about the lives we leave behind, our eternal quest for love, and the answers we seek when our faith is shaken.

THE BRAND NEW REVELATORY ROYAL MEMOIR FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES AND NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR PAUL BURRELL. 'A moving and at times jaw-dropping account - not just of his two decades when he had a ringside seat at the heart of the Royal Family, but also of the years since,' Richard Kay, DAILY MAIL'For twenty-one years I was in a privileged position and shared the lives of the Queen and Princess Diana. Now that neither of these two wonderful women are here, that duty continues for me in the need to protect their legacy.'For over two decades, Paul Burrell was a silent witness to the making of history - first as footman to Queen Elizabeth II, then as butler to King Charles III (then Prince of Wales), and, most famously, as a confidante of the late Princess Diana. Now, with a unique perspective shaped by time and change, he's ready to share his own story alongside theirs. His bestselling memoir, A Royal Duty, about his friendship with Diana, sent shockwaves around the world, selling over two million copies. But it is only, in the wake of the Queen's passing and the commencement of a new royal era, Burrell feels he can finally tell his story in full. In this deeply personal and intimate memoir, Burrell shares many untold stories of his life at home and abroad with the Royals. With warmth, candour, and rare insight, he recounts unexpected moments of intimacy with the Queen, who gently guided a fresh-faced, 18-year-old Burrell through palace life. He speaks candidly about the tensions that simmered during those years - including the breakdown of Charles and Diana's marriage and his own complex relationship with Princes William and Harry. He also reveals his heartache at parting with three of the most significant women in his life - the Queen, Diana and his wife Maria - all while navigating his own personal journey to happiness as well as a battle with prostate cancer. Heartfelt, sincere and rich in detail, this is the memoir of a man who has lived and learned in the most extraordinary of ways.