Quercus Publishing

'Will keep you on the edge of your seat from its first page to its last page' -Jared Diamond, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Guns, Germs, and SteelFrom ancient megalodons to fearsome Great Whites, this book tells the complete, untold story of how sharks emerged as Earth's ultimate survivors, by world-leading paleontologist John Long. Sharks have been fighting for their lives for 500 million years and today are under dire threat. They are the longest-surviving vertebrate on Earth, outlasting multiple mass extinction events that decimated life on the planet. But how did they thrive for so long? By developing superpower-like abilities that allowed them to ascend to the top of the oceanic food chain. John Long, who for decades has been on the cutting edge of shark research, weaves a thrilling story of sharks' unparalleled reign. The Secret History of Sharks showcases the global search to discover sharks' largely unknown evolution, led by Long and dozens of other extraordinary scientists. As the tale unfolds, Long introduces an enormous range of astonishing organisms: a thirty-foot-long shark with a deadly saw blade of jagged teeth protruding from its lower jaws and bizarre sharks fossilized while in their mating ritual. With insights into the threats to sharks today, how they contribute to medical advances, and the lessons they can teach us about our own survival, The Secret History of Sharks is a riveting look at scientific discovery with ramifications far beyond the ocean. 'This book is the work of a master scientist and storyteller. It will make you see sharks in a new way: not as blood-thirsty monsters that we should fear, but as nature's ultimate survivors' - Steve Brusatte, New York Times bestselling author of The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs'Readers will want to sink their teeth into this' - Publishers Weekly'Thoroughly researched and wonderfully narrated, The Secret History of Sharks makes a convincing case that the story of sharks is nothing less than the story of life on Earth. Highly recommended!' - Nate Blakeslee, New York Times bestselling author of American Wolf

***The brand-new festive cosy mystery in the Kitt Hartley series - pre-order now!***While making merry at the York Christmas Book Fair, Kitt Hartley finds herself drawn into a murder mystery with a festive twist. The victim is Leonard Bell, a festival volunteer who suddenly drops dead during his performance of A Christmas Carol.The next day, police identify the cause of death as an unknown toxin. Fearing for his own life, Bell''s lab partner Kevin Ripley enlists Kitt''s help to track down the killer - before it''s too late. As Kitt and her team begin to investigate the poisoning, they uncover a twisting web of long-held grudges and stolen antidotes. But even with surprise help from some very old friends, can Kitt unravel the truth? Or will the invisible assassin escape unpunished?Cosy up to enjoy this new Kitt Hartley murder mystery starring some surprise bookish guests, set at the most wonderful time of the year.Readers love the Kitt Hartley Mysteries:''What a fantastic, enthralling read'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐''A well-crafted, satisfying mystery'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐''Perfect for winter months besides the fire'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐''I loved it. I know you will, too'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐''I couldn''t put this book down'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐''Absolutely loved it'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A fascinating, tragic and instructive story, vividly told' Sunday TelegraphRoger Lewis, in his no-holds-barred biography, exposes a Peter Sellers the world little knows. Recognized as the greatest British comic since Charlie Chaplin, Sellers was the grand master of fifty-five films - from Dr. Strangelove, to Being There and the Pink Panther hits. But shadowing his phenomenal career was a history of increasingly bizarre behaviour involving psychotic violence, compulsive promiscuity, drug abuse and humiliating self-destructive obsessions with people including Princess Margaret, Sophia Loren, Liza Minnelli and each of his four wives (Ann Hayes, Britt Ekland, Miranda Quarry and Lynne Frederick). He alternately showered his wives and children with gifts and then threatened to kill them. Sellers' fluidity as an actor made for a terrifying madness that grew like a slow metastasizing cancer throughout his adult life. The Life and Death of Peter Sellers concludes with his premature death at the age of 54, 'sick at heart and alone in those sunless hotel rooms', so recoiled from intimacy that no one really knew him anymore. PRAISE FOR THE LIFE AND DEATH OF PETER SELLERS'It is a mad book - but then the subject is a madman. I love Lewis's passion ... I recommend it' Sunday Times'Reinventing the genre as well as reassessing its subject with formidable intelligence, this book is a remarkable achievement' Literary Review

A hilarious and heartfelt rom-com for anyone who''s lost their faith in love.WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO FIND THE ONE?Sophie Smalls is happy with her life. She has a fabulous flat in London, a high-flying career in advertising, wonderful friends and a family she adores. But recently, something has been playing on her mind. Sophie is in her mid-forties and has never been in love. And when she sees on Instagram that the only man she''s ever properly fancied is engaged, a thought that was nagging at her becomes a full-blown crisis. Panicked google searches follow, but luckily the internet is full of articles on how to fall in love and where to find it. One in particular catches her eye: ''365 days of Yes'' by Alex Stewart. Sophie decides to use this article as a guide - to say yes to everything and to put herself out there at all costs . . . to do anything for love. What could go wrong?

Discover the 50 key developments and events that form the backbone of the story of humanity. People often complain that in history lessons at school they were taught just a few topics - the Romans, the Tudors, the Nazis - and how they have no idea about what happened in between. Offering stimulating outlines of key developments in the history of the world, this book aims to remedy this. Author Ian Crofton brings history to life in essays ranging from ancient Egypt to modern China, from the Vikings and the Mongols to the French Revolution and the Cold War.

'Like a vintage Kate Hudson romcom having an affair with an Agatha Christie novel' TASHA CORYELLAll's fair in love and . . . murde? ara, Hollywood make-up artist, has always dreamt of finding the kind of love promised by her favourite romantic comedies. But after years of false starts and crushing disappointment, she's given up on her own happily-ever-after to focus on her career. So when an old director friend enlists her to makeover the celebrities invited to his murder mystery weekend, Mara gladly agrees. Beautiful tropical island, an easy job: win-win. To Mara's horror, also invited is her ex: Austin. Gorgeous, tattooed, trouble-but-worth-it Austin. After the actor left her heartbroken, she swore to never let him get close again. But when one of the group is found dead, their weekend of fun and games turns deadly serious. Mara is forced to work with Austin if they're going to make it out alive - even if her heart doesn't survive. Amidst a cloud of suspicion and tropical thunderstorms, can love strike twic? EADERS LOVE KATIE BOHN'S ROMANCE IS DEAD'A page-turning mystery and a sweet, sexy romance all in one' ALICIA THOMPSON'Witty and captivating' ? READER REVIEW'[An] incredibly fun combination of spice and chills!' SIENNA SHARPE'A perfect blend of romance and mystery' ? READER REVIEW'One-hundred percent fun!' CARLIE WALKER

Adapted from the major television series created by Mark Gatiss - out now!'A delicious read' ? READER REVIEWLondon, 1946. Gabriel Book is an erudite and unconventional London bookseller married to Trottie, the owner of the wallpaper shop next door. He is also a sleuth who uses the chaotic riches of his stock to crack the puzzling cases that come his way. He does not work alone. Book's shop is a magnet for waifs and strays - some of whom bring mysteries of their own to his door. There's Nora, sometime bookseller and true crime enthusiast; Dog, connoisseur of ginger biscuits and then Jack, whose arrival at the shop forces Book to confront a loose end from his own past. Clever, endearing and entertaining, Bookish is a warm-hearted and unexpected mystery, about books, murder and the secrets we all keep.

Pre-order the next adventure in this bestselling mystery series featuring France's favourite country cop, Bruno, as he investigates the brutal murder of a woman newly arrived to the quiet town of St. Denis . . . Bruno Cour? es, chief of police of the Dordogne town of St Denis, is no stranger to murder. But when he receives a phone call from his friend, Pamela, reporting a fatal attack on her newly arrived lodger, Josette Quirit, he is forced to recuse himself from the investigation due to his close ties to the case. Luckily, he has a project to distract him. For hundreds of years, the market of St. Denis has been the beating heart of the small town. Now, suddenly, customers and stallholders alike have fallen away dramatically. Frustrated with his work - where a new, young detective has been brought in to replace him - Bruno throws himself into breathing new life into his beloved market. But it's not long before Bruno finds himself caught up in the investigation again when it transpires that Josette is not quite the kindly nurse she first appeared to be... Praise for The Dordogne Mysteries:'Makes you want to buy a plane ticket and immerse yourself in deepest France' Irish Independent'A charming French village, great food, eccentric characters and a mystery to nudge things along . . . Savoury indeed' Seattle Times'Consistently charming. . . . Bruno Courreges may be a small-town cop, but he's anything but small-minded. Walker . . . has created a character who's endearingly human and worldly wise' Booklist'Everyone needs a friend in southern France to go spend some time with, and Walker has opened Bruno's door to anyone who has a few hours to join him in the simple joys of la vie en rose' The Washington Independent

'Summer days and new relationships are rendered with a grace that is lyrical at times but also ironic and comic, in a tone perfectly-pitched' Colm Tóibín'Compelling, vibrant, and dazzling' Brandon Taylor, Booker shortlisted author of Real Life'Very human, very real but also, fundamentally, extremely fun to read' Rebecca Watson, author of Little ScratchA New Statesman 25 best books to read in 2025. London, 2012. Johnny Voghel is stuck. He has a dead-end job at a small university and a wilting relationship and is grieving the death of his parents. When his half-brother Lawrence returns to the old family home from Chicago after a period of estrangement, Johnny decides to do everything he can to win back his affection. It's a quest he pursues with the help of Lawrence's childhood sweetheart and a pair of mysterious and seductive students adrift in the city during the height of Olympics fever. A generational saga that takes place over a fortnight, and a comedy about confusion and loss, The Boys follows Johnny as he revisits old grievances, cultivates new friendships - and tries to take control of his fate.

Linda is entering her third life. Her last chapter ended in tragedy and heartbreak. She has left her family home in Leipzig, escaping to a rural farmhouse in the Saxon countryside. Here, Linda's days are quiet and simple, revolving around the upkeep of the house, feeding the chickens and tending the garden. But a chance encounter with her neighbour punctures Linda's routine. And through this new, surprising friendship, Linda begins to reach once more towards happiness. In her signature crafted prose, bestselling author Daniela Krien explores what it means to meet another version of yourself later in life, and how to surrender to new realms of love and acceptance. PRAISE FOR DANIELA KRIEN"Highly recommended" Sunday Times"Utterly captivating" Woman and Home"Sympathetic and clear-eyed" Financial Times "Unfailingly impressive" Irish Times"Sparse and precise" Telegraph"A beautiful novel of what it is to be a women in modern Europe" New European

'The very definition of unputdownable' David Peace'Mason packs more into 200 pages than many writers do at twice the length' Sunday TimesIn the first months of 2020 there was a spate of murders of Black sex workers in northern cities. One of them was Ella Bailey, last seen talking to a punter in an alley in Sheffield city centre, and although no trace of her was ever found, the punter, Michael Godley, soon confessed to all three murders. Five years later, as another sex worker is murdered in the same district, the bag Ella had been carrying with her reappears, hanging on the door handles of a café, and a local vagrant claims to have seen Ella sitting on a bench in a churchyard near the site of the murder. South Yorkshire Police call in the Finder. So begins a search that takes him back to the strange days of the pandemic, to talk to those who knew Ella best, such as her wayward girlfriend 'Loz', abusive boyfriend Caine Poynton-Smith and respectable foster-parents still struggling to come to terms with Ella's life. How did their intelligent, strong-willed daughter - bright student and national schoolgirl athletics champion - end up in that alle? s fear grips the city, our Finder must court danger to discover the truth.

'Vivid, tremendous, unforgettable' - KIM STANLEY ROBINSON * Winner of the Best Novel Award from the British Science Fiction Association ** Shortlisted for the Arthur C. Clarke Award ** A Guardian best science fiction book of 2025 *Decades from now, two women sit beside a campfire and reflect on their life stories. Activist Lucy's earliest memories are of living with her grandparents during the 2020 pandemic and discovering her grandmother's love of birds. Filmmaker Hester was born on the day of the Chornobyl explosion and visits the site years later to film its feral dogs in the Exclusion Zone. Here she meets Lux, the wolf dog who will give her life meaning. Over half a century, their journeys take them from London to the Highlands to Somerset, through protests, family rifts, and personal tragedy. Lucy joins the fight to restore Britain's depleted natural habitats and revive the species who once shared the island, whilst Hester strives to give a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves. Both dream of a time when there are wolves again. A novel of life and of hope, WHEN THERE ARE WOLVES AGAIN is perfect for fans of Clade by James Bradley and The Wolf Border by Sarah Hall.

For a Yellow Jersey narrates the many remarkable lives of the women's Tour de France. A race which has, in its various incarnations, acted as a microcosm of the women's bike racing scene as a whole. Like the careers of many of its participants, the race itself represents an inspiring story of survival against the odds and in the harshest possible conditions. Paul Maunder tells this chequered story which dates back to 1955 and features false starts, media indifference and financial mismanagement. Above all, however, this is the story of the phenomenal athletes who have competed in these races. From Marianne Martin's surprise win in the 1984 event, to the intense rivalry of Jeannie Longo and Maria Canins in the late 1980s, to the modern-day Dutch dominance, there are as many dramatic tales in the women's race as the men's. We meet the key personalities who have made women's racing so entertaining over the past forty years. It's time to celebrate the history of the women's peloton. Women's racing has its own fascinating culture - tough, collaborative, political, maverick. Those who have campaigned for equality are driven, bloody-minded and above all, passionate about cycling. This is their story.

Geraint Thomas is one of Britain's most loved sports stars. He's won Olympic gold medals, finished first, second and third at the Tour de France, and stayed at the top of his sport for almost two decades as other riders and eras have come and gone. This is the story of his epic journey - from the streets of suburban Cardiff to the Champs-Elysees in Paris, from the mountains of the Alps to the cobbles of northern Europe. The races, the rivals, the triumphs and the magical moments none of us will ever forget.

'Brilliant . . . A fantastic page-turner' Katy Brent, author of HOW TO KILL MEN AND GET AWAY WITH ITTHEY'RE A PERFECT MATCH. BUT IS SHE ABOUT TO GET BURNE? vy Harcourt's been as unlucky in love as she's been successful in writing. A bestselling romance author with a sad relationship track, it's pretty clear there are no good men left in New York. Until she rescues a dog escaped from his owner in the park, and runs into Liam. Good-looking, charming, British, hot-architect Liam. The same exact person as the love interest in her next book. When an instant connection leads to a whirlwind relationship, Ivy is convinced she's found the dream man. Except he might be too perfect. He might be hiding something. And Ivy may not be telling everything she knows. Praise for SO HAPPY TOGETHER by Olivia Worley'Dark and clever' People'Addictive' Liv Constantine'So twisted' Ashley Winstead

*** The Instant Sunday Times Number One Bestseller!***Welcome to Harker Academy for Deviant Defense. Keep your daggers sharp, and your wits even sharper. Viv Abbot is an average twenty-one-year-old girl. She lives in an expensive city where the rent is too high, works long hours at a thankless job, and is dating a guy she doesn't even like in the hopes of winning her prickly mother's approval. She just also happens to be a demon hunter. Ever since her father's murder, she's been forced to hunt deviants alone, meaning everyone, including her family, sees her as an outsider . . . Until the day she crosses paths with a dangerously alluring demon, Reid Graveheart. The reformed deviant tells her of a school for people just like her: Harker Academy for Deviant Defense. If she enrolls, she'll learn to hone her craft, work with other hunters, and never be alone again. But Viv has a deadly secret. One that not even her new friends at Harker can know about. Not when the school might hold the answers to untangling the mystery surrounding Viv's father's death. When strange occurrences begin to plague the students, Viv will have to figure out who she can trust, and fast. All while trying to ace her classes, not fall for a demon, and make it through her first year at Harker in one piece. How hard could that be?