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Leo Varadkar shares his fascinating experience as Irish prime minister at a time of much change and turbulence, in this remarkably honest memoir.Leo Varadkar was an unlikely Taoiseach – the youngest on taking office in 2017, the first Taoiseach to be gay, and the first person of colour to be Taoiseach.Equally unlikely was his decision to bow out of politics in his mid-forties. Now, liberated from the constraints of office, he tells his fascinating story with characteristic courage and candour, and provides a unique insight into the formation and evolution of a senior politician.In Speaking My Mind Leo Varadkar shares his pride in helping to bring about transformational changes, such as marriage equality. He describes experiences that only a prime minister could have – speaking frankly to Pope Francis on the legacy of church abuses, connecting with Barack Obama about both being the ‘tall, dark guy with the funny name’, navigating challenges such as the pandemic and the fallout from Brexit. And he writes honestly about the costs that go with the immense privilege of holding high office.Speaking My Mind is a revealing, intimate and important memoir from a singular public figure.

The heart-pounding and emotional new thriller about marriage and deceit from the author of Richard and Judy Book Club pick, The Twins. 'An unforgettable crime novel…that brings emotional intensity to a still unfolding scandal' The Times, Pick of the Month, SeptemberCHRIS FLETCHER IS A MAN WITH SECRETS . . . One woman dead. Nineteen years ago, policeman Chris Fletcher's lover was found dead in an abandoned house. One woman missing. Now, his loyal wife has disappeared without a trace. A man with everything to lose. There's no doubt that he's guilty, but of which crim? RAISE FOR TO LOVE A LIAR'A beautifully written novel about the secrets with a marriage and the past coming back to haunt you' Claire Douglas, bestselling author of The New Neighbours‘A clever and twisting story of loyalty and lies, marriage and mystery’ Chris Whitaker, bestselling author of All The Colours Of The Dark‘A riveting and poignant tale of love, death and betrayal’ Oyinkan Braithwaite, bestselling author of My Sister, the Serial Killer‘A tensely written and thoughtful thriller that will stay with you long after you’ve put it down’ Jennie Godfrey, bestselling author of The List of Suspicious Things‘A spellbinding tale of deception and betrayal. Fantastically twisty storytelling' T.M. Logan, bestselling author of The Daughter

READ THE BRILLIANTLY FUNNY, ONE-OF-A-KIND PAGE-TURNER FROM AUTHOR AND BELOVED TV PRESENTER, STEVE JONES''Sensational. I loved it. An absolute thrill ride'' John Niven''Spectacular. Terminally Kill reads like Richard Osman with more blood. A tale of morality, mortality and what happens when a life takes you beyond breaking point'' Tony Parsons ----Ray might be about to die. But he’s sure as hell not going quietly . . .Former policeman Ray ‘Sugar’ Leonard is no stranger to bad breaks. But even Walter White never had to open up and share his feelings with a bunch of misfits like Ray’s chemotherapy group: a giant God-bothering Welsh bouncer, a sharp-suited wannabe Wolf of Wall Street, and a misanthropic, potty-mouthed little old lady.Compared to that lot, getting mugged on his way home from the clinic was almost a relief.But Ray is not your average victim. And when his training kicks in and his would-be attacker winds up dead, he wonders, who else might be equally deserving of such summary justice? After all, he’s got cancer, what’s he got to lose?Then Ray lets slip his new philosophy to the group and it soon becomes clear that he’s not the only one with murder in mind . . .----READERS ARE LOVING TERMINALLY KILL‘A mixture of life lessons and friendships with some murders, tears and laughter thrown in for good measure. If you''re going to read any book, make it this one!’ ***** Reader Review‘Ray was such a brilliant, brilliant character. I loved him from the start. I don’t know how to describe Terminally Kill other than it’s fantastic’ ***** Reader Review‘Brilliant, absolutely brilliant! I absolutely love this book’ ***** Reader ReviewPRAISE FOR STEVE JONES:''Joyously unpredictable, clever and witty’ RUTH JONES''Funny, fast-paced and moving’ SATURDAY LIVE‘Very funny … echoes of Nick Hornby’ YOU’RE BOOKED

Britain's most beloved storyteller returns with a twisting adventure of obsessive love and elegant espionage . . . ---‘Extravagantly enjoyable' THE TIMES‘William Boyd once again brings to the spy novel his particular storytelling genius’ MICK HERRON‘Boyd is one of my favourite authors – he never disappoints’ KATE ATKINSON‘The Predicament is ingenious, thrilling and wonderfully entertaining’ JOHN BANVILLE'Boyd’s addictive storytelling is at its very best as he navigates a collision of chance, ambition and human frailty' HER MAJESTY QUEEN CAMILLA---Gabriel Dax, travel writer and accidental spy, is back in the shadows. Unable to resist the allure of his MI6 handler, Faith Green, he has returned to a life of secrets and subterfuge. Dax is sent to Guatemala under the guise of covering a tinderbox presidential election, where the ruthless decisions of the Mafia provoke pitch-black warfare in collusion with the CIA. As political turmoil erupts, Gabriel's reluctant involvement deepens. His escape plan leads him to West Berlin, where he uncovers a chilling realisation: there is a plot to assassinate magnetic young President John F. Kennedy. In a race against time, Gabriel must navigate deceit and danger, knowing that the stakes have never been higher . . . In The Predicament, the second novel starring accidental spy Gabriel Dax, William Boyd weaves yet another masterful tale of suspense, loyalty, love and the dark temptations of spy craft.

PRE-ORDER THIS FIERCE, WITCHY RETELLING OF IRISH MYTHOLOGY, FROM AN UNFORGETTABLE NEW VOICE IN MYTHIC FICTIONRULER. MOTHER. GODDESS. WARRIOR.PERFECT FOR FANS OF ELODIE HARPER''S THE WOLF DEN, ROSIE HEWLETT''S MEDEA AND COSTANZA CASATI''S CLYTEMNESTRA-----They called me The Morrigan. I was magnificent. I was multitudes.They twisted my story, stripped me away. But I will tell it now in my own voice.It begins, as all the best stories do, in darkness.From an ancient, storm-tossed sea, a tribe of gods reach the rocky shores of Ireland.Among them, a strange, hungry, red-haired girl. A girl who can change shape, from bird to beast to goddess. A girl who dreams of battle, of blood, of death and power.She does not know yet that a woman who seeks to rule will always be in danger – or that there are far more treacherous figures in this land than the gods who raised her.She does not know that one day love will burn so deep in her heart that its scars will never heal. That she will know pain so raw and pure it will almost tear her apart.She does not know that her journey will take a thousand years. That her name will be remembered for a thousand more.She is The Morrigan, and she is waiting: a girl with rage coiled in her chest. Beautiful, powerful, ravenous rage. A rage that will live forever.An electric debut retelling of Ireland’s mythic goddess of war, from a bold and powerful new voice.

'Phillips O'Brien is one of the keenest observers of modern strategy, and his new book takes a deep historical look at the evolution of warfare and its implications for conflicts like the ongoing one in Ukraine' Francis Fukuyama--------------------War and power are two of the most-widely discussed issues in all of human history, and yet they are, time and again, misunderstood — often disastrously so. Whilst we might think the outcome of war is determined by so-called ‘Great Powers’ who dominate their opponents with their impressive size and military prowess, the reality of modern conflict, as renowned strategic historian Professor Phillips Payson O’Brien demonstrates, is very different. He urges us instead to look for ‘Full Spectrum Powers’. For if we are considering how powerful a nation is and who will win a war, we need to think less about weapons, and more about the economies and societies that produce them; less about individual battles, and more about sustaining campaigns and alliances in which states operate. Using fascinating examples from the late 19th century to the present day, War and Power explains how misunderstanding war and power has led to terrible, even preventable conflicts – such as the war in Ukraine – and how more accurate analysis can help us consider the potential conflict between the US and China. War and Power provides a bold new way of understanding the dangerous world around us. --------------------'Phillips O'Brien is always fantastic. Heterodox. He's pretty scathing, even about Biden administration policy . . . A really interesting book' Paul Krugman, Distinguished Professor of Economics'As Phillips O'Brien points out in this important book, the character of war evolves, but some of the underlying truths, particularly from the second World War, are still very much with us.' Eliot Cohen, Professor Emeritus at Johns Hopkins SAIS

THE CLOSER YOU GET, THE FURTHER YOU HAVE TO FALL.Munich, 1936. All eyes are on the Bavarian capital for the upcoming Olympic games. As athletes fight for gold and the Nazis fight for power, Detective Sebastian Wolff faces a battle of his own.A famous actress has disappeared and Wolff has been ordered to find her, fast. But Elena Lang is no ordinary film-star: she is the mistress of Joseph Goebbels - Hitler''s right-hand-man in the party that Wolff despises.But corruption runs deep in Munich and Elena is just the first to go missing. In a search that will take him from high society to the city''s darkest corners, Wolff is about to learn just how easily the hunter becomes the hunted: this is a city on the brink of war, and some enemies are better left alone.Walking the tightrope between justice and jeopardy, Evil in High Places is the gripping new historical thriller from the million-copy-bestseller, Rory Clements.

PRE-ORDER THE BRAND NEW CORNISH NOVEL FROM BESTSELLING AUTHOR HILARY BOYD‘A very storied story. It drew me in and kept me gripped.’ – Sue MoorcroftPeggy Gilbert wasn’t quite ready to leave London behind. But partner Ted’s yearning for a fresh start has led to a leap into the unknown. Life on the Cornish coast hasn’t quite been what she expected; despite the healing sea breeze, she yearns for the bright lights of the city.But when neighbour Lindy offers her a lifeline, she finally begins to embrace village life, basking in the friendship of someone who seems to be its beating heart. But beneath Lindy’s seemingly perfect surface simmer secrets that are soon threatening Peggy’s future in Pencarrow Bay. Can she fight to remain in the community she has come to love? And save her future with Ted?Perfect for fans of Phillipa Ashley, Jill Mansell, Jenny Colgan and Trisha Ashley

A major reassessment of one of Britain’s most strange and fascinating kings, James I of England and VI of Scotland James VI & I, who died 400 years ago, was one of Britain’s most consequential and interesting monarchs, not least in creating the British monarchy itself by joining the English and Scottish thrones. A major intellectual, James''s preoccupations ranged from witchcraft and theological controversy to hunting, diplomacy, poetry and sartorial fashion. The ''Mirror of Great Britain'' was a spectacular jewel that gave symbolic endorsement to James''s vision of British union, but mirrors themselves - with their limitless capacity to magnify, illuminate and distort - supplied James with one of his favourite literary metaphors. Ruler of Scotland for nearly four decades before his accession to the English throne in 1603, James was a ‘cradle king’ whose long reigns encompassed extraordinary dramas, including his abduction in the ‘Ruthven Raid’ in 1582 and his attempted assassination in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. In his lifetime, James often confounded contemporaries’ expectations while his posthumous reputation has been distorted by crude stereotypes.Closely attentive to James’s own words – in numerous publications, manuscript musings, topical verse and private correspondence – Clare Jackson''s wonderful new book tells the story of this highly unusual monarch with great flair and insight.

PRE-ORDER THE SPELLBINDING MEMOIR NOWOne of the world’s bestselling storytellers, Lesley Pearse writes brilliantly about survivors. Why? Because she is one herself . . .Born during the Second World War, Lesley’s innocence came to an abrupt end when a neighbour found her, aged 3, coatless in the snow. The mother she’d been unable to wake had been dead for days. Sent to an orphanage, Lesley soon learned adults couldn’t always be trusted.As a teenager in the swinging sixties, she took herself to London. Here, the second great tragedy of her life occurred. Falling pregnant, she was sent to a mother and baby home, and watched helplessly as her newborn was taken from her.But like so many of her generation, Lesley had to carry on. She was, after all, a true survivor. Marriage and children followed – and all the while she nurtured a dream: to be a writer. Yet it wasn’t until at the age of 48 that her stories – of women struggling in a difficult world – found a publisher, and the bestseller lists beckoned.As heartbreaking as it is heartwarming, Lesley’s story really is A Long and Winding Road with surprises and uplifting hope around every corner . . .

VISUALLY AND EMOTIONALLY RICH, TAKE A LOOK INSIDE ART SPIEGELMAN'S MODERN CLASSIC, MAUS'If you are serious about comics or the Holocaust, this book should be on your shelf' San Francisco Book Review*****************************MAUS is widely renowned as one of the greatest pieces of art and literature ever written about the Holocaust. Readers adore it, and it's studied in colleges and universities all over the world. In MetaMAUS, Art Spiegelman re-enters the world of his Pulitzer-prize winning graphic novel to probe the questions that it often evokes: Why the Holocaust? Why mice? Why comic? ncluding never-before-seen sketches, alternate drafts, family photos, diary entries and the transcript of his interviews with his father Vladek as well as an interview with Art himself, MetaMAUS is as ground-breaking as the masterpiece whose creation it reveals. The perfect gift, this vital companion is a must-read for any fan of MAUS. *****************************'Richly rewarding...The book serves as a masterclass on the making and reading of comics' The New York Times Book Review'A fascinating meditation on art, writing, and one of the darkest periods in human history' The Atlantic'MetaMaus will leave even the most ardent admirers of Maus newly in awe of its author's creative courage, ingenuity and stamina' San Francisco Chronicle

The new novel from Claire Alexander, author of Meredith, Alone, is available to pre-order now!Three generations of women. Three life altering events. As they discover the truth of their heritage, they''ll discover what makes the pieces of us... At fifty-eight Minnie McAllister isn’t an old woman. But as Alzheimer’s ravages her mind, her brain says otherwise.Cat McAllister is tackling everything life can throw at her. And just when she thinks it can’t get any worse, she’s faced with the discovery that Minnie might not be the mother she once knew.Meanwhile, Cat''s daughter, Ruby McAllister, who is staring at a two very blue lines, faces a decision that will change the course of her life.As three generations of women are pulled in three different directions, each are forced to learn lessons about themselves that they never could have imagined. Praise for Meredith, Alone:''Gorgeous. I shed tears. Very, very touching, sweet and hopeful'' MARIAN KEYES''Heartbreaking and glorious . . . [An] absolute joy of a novel'' HEAT, ''BOOK OF THE WEEK''''Beautiful, moving and unexpectedly timely'' DAISY BUCHANAN''Touching and funny and sad and hopeful. I loved Meredith, Alone so much!'' JANE FALLON ''If you like a book that makes you feel all the feels, this is the one to go for'' MIRANDA DICKINSON''I bowed down to the brilliant author of this brilliant book'' GILLIAN McALLISTER''Sweet, moving, funny and hopeful, with a courageous heroine who sweeps you up'' JENNIFER SAINT

HEARTSTOPPER MEETS BUFFY IN THIS ROM-COM ABOUT LOVE AND VAMPIREDOM, PRE-ORDER NOW! --Of course, Brennan would have to get unexpectedly turned into a vampire.But if there’s one thing he can do, it’s pretend life’s still fine when it''s not.However, being bloodthirsty is complicated: especially after the super-cute librarian, Cole, catches him drinking from a stolen blood bag.To Brennan’s surprise, Cole is happy to keep his secret, and even seems to . . . maybe like him?Perhaps vampiredom isn’t looking so bad.That is until rumours of a missing student and strange blood-sucking attacks start to swirl around campus.Brennan must quickly uncover the truth before all signs point to him.The stakes couldn’t be higher . . .--Praise for A Good Vampire''s Guide to Blood and Boyfriends:-"I couldn''t slurp this book up fast enough! The Good Vampire''s Guide To Blood and Boyfriends has the perfect combination of biting wit, heart-fluttering romance, and blood-thirsty heroes you can''t help but root for." Jason June, New York Times bestselling author"The Good Vampire’s Guide to Blood and Boyfriends will have you laughing, swooning, and checking over your shoulder at night for an adorable undead boyfriend of your own. A charmingly fun love story about self-acceptance and leaving your mark on humanity?with or without fangs." Brian D. Kennedy, award-winning author of A Little Bit Country and My Fair Brady"Including all the tropes that readers love about vampires and a few new twists, The Good Vampire’s Guide to Blood and Boyfriends is charming and romantic. With tender moments sprinkled amid laughter and suspense, Jamie D’Amato has crafted a heartfelt and entertaining read." F.T. Lukens, New York Times bestselling author of Spell Bound and So This Is Ever After"Equal parts hilarious and heartfelt, The Good Vampire’s Guide to Blood and Boyfriends is perfect for readers craving a little bite with their romantic comedy." Margie Fuston, award-winning author of Vampires, Hearts, & Other Dead Things and The Revenant Games

''Skwerl, Cheese, Dickhead Mike, the White Russian—these characters are totally addictive. I couldn’t put Sheepdogs down. A thriller and comedy in one, it’s a wild ride'' HARLAN COBENA sly, funny, action-packed thriller introducing an instantly iconic spy duo, from the author of New York Times bestseller 2034Skwerl and Cheese are down on their luck. Skwerl, who is resourceful like a squirrel (Marines win battles, not spelling bees), used to work for the CIA’s elite paramilitary wing. He was unceremoniously fired after a raid went bad in Afghanistan. ‘Big Cheese’ Aziz, a legendary pilot – his nation’s Maverick – is equally hard up. So Skwerl recruits Cheese into an anonymous network of so-called sheepdogs, who operate in the shadowy moral grey zone between predator and prey.Their first mission? To repossess a private jet stranded on a remote Ugandan airfield. Their fee: a commission on the jet’s $5 million value. But nothing about the job seems to add up. Their contact goes missing. Their handler is as mysterious as the real source of the money. And when the women in their lives get involved – one pregnant wife and one dominatrix – the stakes skyrocket overnight.From the jungles of Kampala to a glamorous hotel in Marseille, from a veteran-run pizzeria in Kyiv to a Panera in northern Virginia, Skwerl and Cheese must navigate an increasingly tangled set of loyalties where no one and nothing is what it seems. Globe-trotting and page-turning, full of heart and humour, Sheepdogs is a wild ride through the underbelly of modern war and intelligence.

Rose Thenlif, an outcast at the elite Dunhollow Academy of Witchcraft for her inability to cast spells, keeps her head in books, away from the sneers of her talented but insufferable academic rival Sylvie. But when classmates begin to disappear, Rose discovers that she alone can see their ghosts — and when Sylvie becomes Rose’s latest ghostly vision, the reluctant pair must team up to uncover the deadly mystery that lies at the heart of Dunhollow, before time runs out. But are either prepared to face the most haunting of secrets, one buried deep in both their hearts?

A story that grips IrelandWhen recently widowed Jason Corbett hired a wholesome young American, Molly Martens, to care for his two young children, there was nothing to suggest she was a fantasist - and that her obsession with his children would end in his death.In 2011, Jason and Molly married and settled in her native North Carolina. Just four years later, Jason was found beaten to death on the floor of the marital bedroom. The only others in the house were Jason''s children, his wife and his parents-in-law. In a stunning twist, Molly and her father Tom, a former senior FBI agent, admitted to killing Jason but claimed self-defence, saying he had a record of domestic abuse.A Deadly Marriage is the shattering story of how a wealthy and well-connected American family framed the victim of an horrific killing as the aggressor, destroyed his name and served minimal jail time. Full of fresh on-the-ground reporting by journalist Brian Carroll, who has spent months in North Carolina, it is the definitive account of an extraordinary case.