Quercus Publishing strana 17 z 24

From National Book Award Finalist Laird Hunt, a masterful collection of interwoven stories capturing one summer''s day in Reagan-era Indiana.Candy Wilson has forgotten to buy the paprika. Turner Davis needs to get his zinnias in. Della Dorner told her mother she was going to Milky Freeze, but that''s not where she''s really headed on her new Schwinn five-speed.Float Up, Sing Down is the story of a single day. But in that day, how much teeming life! The residents of this rural town have their routines, their preferences, their joys, grudges, and regrets. The old-timers savor past triumphs, cast back to lives circumscribed and defined by the World Wars, wonder what might have been. Youngsters covet cars, karate moves, kissing; they writhe in the first blushes of love or pain or independence. Gossip is paramount. Lives are entwined. Retired sheriffs climb corn bins and muse on lost love, French teachers throw firecrackers out of barn windows, and teenagers borrow motorcycles to ride the back roads.Each of the fourteen stories of Float Up, Sing Down follows one character''s ''day-in-the-life'' in one of Hunt''s most beloved and enduring landscapes. As the book unfolds these lives echo and glance off of one another with elegance and warmth, a tenderness born of strength. In the tradition of Willa Cather, Sherwood Anderson, Elizabeth Strout, and Edward P. Jones, this is a symphony of souls, a masterful portrait of both loneliness and community by one of our great limners of American experience.

Born of the sun and moon, shaped by fire and malady, comes a young woman whose story has never been told . . .They call her Sycorax. Seer. Sage. Sorceress.Outcast by society and all alone in the world, Sycorax must find a way to understand her true nature. But as her powers begin to grow, so too do the suspicions of the local townspeople. For knowledge can be dangerous, and a woman''s knowledge is the most dangerous of all . . .With a great storm brewing on the horizon, Sycorax finds herself in increasing peril - but will her powers save her, or will they spell the end for them all?A beautifully written and deeply moving imagining of what came before Shakespeare''s The Tempest from the author of A Girl Made of Air.Readers are LOVING Sycorax''Spellbinding and empowering'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐''A truly beautiful and heart-breaking story'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐''I couldn''t put it down!'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐''Compelling and emotional'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Samson Kolechko has been assigned a most perplexing case - though it is mostly perplexing because it''s hard to understand why selling the meat of one''s own pig constitutes a crime. But apparently it does, and at the insistence of the Chekist secret police officer assigned to "reinforce" the Lybid police station, Samson does his diligent - if diffident - best.Yet no sooner has he got started than his live-in fiancée Nadezhda is abducted by striking railway workers who object to the census she''s carrying out. And when you factor in a mysterious thief in the police station itself, a deadly tram accident that may have been pre-meditated, and the potential reappearance of the culprit in the case of the silver bone, it''s no wonder the "meat case" takes a back seat.But it is in the pursuit of that petty-fogging, seemingly mundane matter that Samson''s fate lies - and Nadezhda''s too, for the two are inextricably entwined.Translated from the Russian by Boris DralyukReviews for The Silver Bone - Longlisted for the International Booker Prize"Andrey Kurkov is often called Ukraine''s greatest living writer, and it is a gift for crime fiction fans that he writes in this genre" New York Times"Wildly enjoyable . . . A glorious aural portrait of a city in dangerous flux . . . I finished The Silver Bone wishing to read more" Guardian

"A compelling slice of mid-century espionage that expertly blends history with possibility. All comparisons that will inevitably be made with le Carré are entirely apt" Tim Glister''Edward Wilson seems poised to inherit the mantle of John le Carré'' Irish Independent1949: William Catesby returns to London in disgrace, accused of murdering a ''double-dipper'' the Americans believed to be one of their own. His left-wing sympathies have him singled out as a traitor.Henry Bone throws him a lifeline, sending him to Marseille, ostensibly to report on dockers'' strikes and keep tabs on the errant wife of a British diplomat. But there''s a catch. For his cover story, he''s demobbed from the service and tricked out as a writer researching a book on the Resistance.In Marseille, Catesby is caught in a deadly vice between the CIA and the mafia, who are colluding to fuel the war in Indochina. Swept eastwards to Laos himself, he remains uncertain of the true purpose behind his mission, though he has his suspicions: Bone has murder on his mind, and the target is a former comrade from Catesby''s SOE days. The question is, which one.

THIS BOOK IS NOT SAFE TO READ AT WORK.And honestly, the less you know about it before reading . . . the better!Twenty year old Temperance Verus has never been kissed. But that''s what the basilisk is for.Along with thirteen other contestants, Tem must train with a basilisk to learn the power of seduction and win the prince''s hand in marriage. When Tem is matched with Caspen, the Serpent King, she realizes she might actually stand a chance.But with tensions rising between the basilisks and the humans, Tem is torn in two directions. As her bond with Caspen deepens, so does her connection with the prince. And when she uncovers a terrible secret about the royal family, Tem finds herself caught between two worlds . . . neither of which she can survive without.Read this book if you like any of the following: Golden fangs; inappropriate use of a claw; hot men with daddy issues; hot women with daddy issues; witty banter; long, dextrous fingersGuaranteed to make you blush (and then some), Kiss of the Basilisk is like if fanfic Draco Malfoy went on the Bachelor and had to compete with a snake. Sounds fun, doesn''t it? That''s because it is!!PRAISE FOR KISS OF THE BASILISK"So you''re thinking, ''A basilisk? Really?'' The answer is YES. REALLY. This book changed me."- @katiec"Absolutely not safe for work, but so addicting you''ll read it in the break room anyway."- @bookbiche"I had to pray the rosary before and after each chapter."- @ktgroberts"Too hot to read in one sitting, pace yourself."- @michaela.whitney"A wild ride."- Lindsay''s mom"What Lindsay''s mom said."- @girly_pop_00

The instant Sunday Times bestsellerSOME MURDERS CAN''T BE SOLVED IN JUST ONE LIFETIME.''A five-star start to a dazzling new series . . . Smart, original and utterly masterful'' Janice Hallett''A pleasure from finish to start'' Anthony Horowitz''Fresh and exciting with both humour and thrills, Griffiths'' first book in her new series knocks it out of the park'' Shari LapenaAli Dawson and her cold case team investigate crimes so old, they''re frozen - or so their inside joke goes. Most people don''t know that they travel back in time to complete their research.The latest assignment sees Ali venture back farther than they have dared before: to 1850s London in order to clear the name of Cain Templeton, the eccentric great-grandfather of MP Isaac Templeton. Rumour has it that Cain was part of a sinister group called The Collectors; to become a member, you had to kill a woman...Fearing for her safety in the middle of a freezing Victorian winter, Ali finds herself stuck in time, unable to make her way back to her life, her beloved colleagues, and her son, Finn, who suddenly finds himself in legal trouble in the present day. Could the two cases be connected?Get ready for an original, transportive and characterful new crime novel from no. 1 bestselling author Elly Griffiths. Perfect for those missing the Dr Ruth Galloway series and for any crime and historical fiction fans.A Sunday Times bestseller w/c 17/02/2025

**PETER MAY: OVER 3 MILLION COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE****''A TERRIFIC WRITER'' MARK BILLINGHAM**Set in Southern Spain, A Silent Death is the scorching thriller from worldwide bestselling author of The Lewis Trilogy, Cast Iron and I''ll Keep You Safe.A SILENT VOWSpain, 2020. When expat fugitive Jack Cleland watches his girlfriend die, gunned down in a pursuit involving officer Cristina Sanchez Pradell, he promises to exact his revenge by destroying the policewoman.A SILENT LIFECristina''s aunt Ana has been deaf-blind for the entirety of her adult life: the victim of a rare condition named Usher Syndrome. Ana is the centre of Cristina''s world - and of Cleland''s cruel plan. A SILENT DEATH John Mackenzie - an ingenious yet irascible Glaswegian investigator - is seconded to aid the Spanish authorities in their manhunt. He alone can silence Cleland before the fugitive has the last, bloody, word.Peter May''s bestseller unites a strong, independent Spaniard with a socially inept Scotsman; a senseless vendetta with a sense-deprived victim, and a red-hot Costa Del Sol with an ice-cold killer.

''Shaw''s novels combine a strong central character with an atmospheric setting and original plots'' Sunday TimesIf only Alexandra Cupidi had turned south instead of north, it would have been her who had discovered the dead woman.Convinced the report of a body on the beach is a false alarm, D S Cupidi darts to Folkstone with her daughter Zoe in toe to scan the area. But this time her instincts are off and it is Zoe who discovers Mimi Greene''s body on the shoreline.A regular wild swimmer with her friends, it is perplexing that she would have been out swimming alone, especially in bad weather. Putting aside her daughter''s traumatised state, D S Cupidi must find the truth behind Mimi''s death.Meanwhile, Jill Ferriter receives a letter from a man named Stephen Dowles. Convicted of murder in the 90''s, he''s been in prison for more than twenty years. In the letter he claims to be her father. Jill must lean on Bill South in the absence Cupidi, and finding out that he knew Stephen Dowles from a historic case, Bill sets out to uncover the facts around Dowles'' conviction, revisiting old colleagues and criminals. The Wild Swimmers is an explosive return to the DI Alexandra Cupidi Series, where the waters of the Folkstone shoreline bring encounters that could never be foreseen..

The Falcons have become the empire's enemy in THE DROWNING SEA, the unmissable sequel to THE BURNING LANDS Romara Challys and her Falcons are Vestal Knights, who have shed blood to uphold the Triple Empire against the destructive Vyr Rebellion. But now, the Falcons have become the empire's enemy. Having learned that elobyne, the magical crystal that empowers the knights, is catastrophically destructive, the Falcons vow to save their world. But speaking truth to power is perilous, and Romara is the empire's prisoner, facing a torture and death at the hands of her former masters. Her comrades, big-hearted Gram, the prodigy Soren, and the erling mage Elindhu, are seeking her rescue, but the forces arrayed against them seem insurmountable. Meanwhile, her loyal second, Jadyn, and the mercurial thief Aura, are seeking the aegis, an alternative magic, following a path laid down centuries before. But hunting them are Vazi Virago, the Order's Exemplar, and the fearsome lictor, Yoryn Borghart; who want the aegis for their own devious ends. The seas are rising, harvests are failing, refugees flooding across borders are sparking wars, and the destructive rebellion threatens civilisation. The End of All Things is coming, the priests and seers say. Coros is doomed. If the Falcons can't save their world, who can?'Full of nuanced, loveable characters whose complex relationships with each other and with themselves make The Burning Land a compulsively readable adventure not to be missed!' Sebastien de Castell, author of The Malevolent Seven

Billie Carlson takes on a thrilling new case in the next instalment of this gripping series.YOU CAN''T ESCAPE THE PAST.The future is looking bright for Billie Carlson. With her child safely home and a new relationship on the horizon, she hasn''t felt so settled in years.But when Billie takes on a new client, Elizabeth Fletcher, it''s clear trouble is imminent. Elizabeth has killed a man in self-defence. She met him in a bar but he''d turned aggressive, attacking Elizabeth in the middle of the night when she caught him going through her husband''s desk drawers. Refusing to go to the police for fear her husband will find out, Elizabeth wants Billie to work out who he was - and what secrets he was looking for. Can Billie help Elizabeth, or is she in way over her head?

''Wise and playful and tender and beautiful'' Bobby Palmer''So brilliant, so original and lovely and funny, that it reminds you of the point of reading'' Rebecca Wait''Climb up here, Little Alien. Sit next to me. I will tell you about life on this planet. I will tell you how it goes''From her first words to her first day at school, Little Alien can''t help but get things wrong. She doesn''t understand the world the way others seem to, and the world doesn''t seem to understand her either. Her anxious mum and meticulous dad, while well-intentioned, are of little help.But when Little Alien sees a documentary about the Voynich Manuscript - a mediaeval codex written in an unknown language and script - she begins to suspect that there are other people who feel just like her. Convinced that translating this manuscript will offer the answers she needs, she sets out on a journey that will show her a delicious taste of freedom.So begins this charming, witty, and profoundly moving novel about the power of language, the wonder of libraries - and how to find a path that fits, when you yourself do not.''Unique and thoroughly engaging. It is insightful and funny and gently poignant. By telling the story of one little alien, Alice Franklin has told the story of many'' Pip Williams, author of The Dictionary of Lost Words''Totally addictive and brilliant . . . Life Hacks for A Little Alien is sure to find its place as one of the best loved works of fiction'' Aimée Walsh, author of Exile''Immersive, moving, and fizzing with humour, I couldn''t put this book down and I still can''t let the character go'' Paula Lichtarowicz, author of The Snow Hare''A rare energy lights this wonderful book: a unique recipe of humour, heart, frankness, and an unstoppable fascination with language'' Han Smith, author of Portraits at the Palace of Creativity and Wrecking''Witty, bold, heart-warming and entirely delicious. I devoured it'' Jyoti Patel, author of The Things that we Lost

''A spellbinding modern fairytale, sexy and warm and full of hope and the power of love'' BOLU BABALOLA''Funny, sexy and breathtakingly romantic'' EMILY HENRYOne florist. One pianist. One love story . . . One hundred years in the making.Ricki Wilde has many talents, but being a Wilde isn''t one of them. As the impulsive, artistic daughter of a powerful Atlanta dynasty, she''s the opposite of her famous socialite sisters. In her bones, Ricki knows that somewhere, a more exciting life awaits her.So, when she is invited to rent the bottom floor of a Harlem brownstone, Ricki jumps at the chance for a fresh start. She leaves behind her wealth and chaotic romantic decisions to realize her dream of opening a flower shop. Then one evening in February, as the heady scent of night-blooming jasmine fills the air, Ricki encounters a handsome stranger who knocks her world off balance in the most unexpected way.Set against the backdrop of modern Harlem and Renaissance glamour, A Love Song for Ricki Wilde is a swoon-worthy love story of two passionate artists drawn to the magic, romance, and opportunity of New York.*** THE USA TODAY BESTSELLER ***Praise for A Love Song for Ricki Wilde''Magical and steamy . . . their love story is literally written in the stars'' Red''An evocative story of love against the odds'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review''Williams never ceases to surprise and delight!'' Robinne Lee''A magical, aesthetic, lyrical, sublime, timeless love story'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review''It''s a showstopper'' Publishers Weekly''Punchy and poignant, sweeping and yet so intimate'' Kennedy Ryan''Quirky, suspenseful, and unforgettable'' Booklist Starred Review''Reads like the best kind of love song: tender, smart and sexy'' Leah Johnson''An epic romance'' GlamourEveryone''s falling for Tia Williams''A sexy, modern love story to start the summer off right'' Reese Witherspoon''Modern, beautiful, emotional, sexy and funny!'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ reader review''A smart, sexy testament to Black joy'' Jodi Picoult''Tia Williams conjures a seductive fantasy'' Rumaan Alam''Such a beautiful love story'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ reader review''Hilarious, romantic and incredibly sexy'' Hello!''''I literally couldn''t put it down'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ reader review

''Damien Lewis is both a meticulous historian and a born storyteller'' Lee Child''Now that''s a Great Escape! How 34 members of the SAS evaded 5,000 Nazi troops in blizzard conditions, after wreaking havoc in Italian mountain ambush ... The full gripping story of Operation Galia and the incredible escape that followed.'' Mail OnlineFIVE OF THE MOST DARING ESCAPES CARRIED OUT BY THE SAS DURING WORLD WAR TWOSAS Great Escapes Three recounts how warriors of the world''s most famous fighting force, the SAS, carried out five of the most daring escapes of World War Two. Ranging from the very birth of the SAS, to the post D-Day battles for Nazi-occupied Europe, these gripping true stories cover some of the most iconic operations of the regiment, and its key characters, while also including untold tales of courage and endurance beyond compare.Told in classic Damien Lewis style, each account plunges the reader into the escapees'' experiences - sharing the most terrifying yet astounding moments of their lives. They include unimaginable accounts of survival in the face of staggering odds, episodes of nerve-wracking bluff and deception, plus knife-edge ambushes withenemy forces hell-bent on wreaking vengeance.In this new volume of incredible special forces feats, bestselling author Damien Lewis has worked closely with World War Two veterans and the families of those portrayed, accessing wartime diaries, letters, mission reports, interrogation transcripts and more, to relate how the men of the SAS were hunted by the enemy and forced to fight their way out of certain death or capture. Around every corner, upon every decision and every movement lurked the possibility of discovery. Yet with every step, breath and turn taken, these fugitives epitomized the do-or-die spirit of the SAS to overcome.

Get some sun this month with The Island Getaway by Lucy Diamond ☀️''A slice of escapism ... temptingly conjured up'' THE TIMES''The perfect holiday read, it''s impossible to put down'' WOMAN''S WEEKLYThe dream holiday just got complicated . . .On the sun-drenched island of Kefalonia, the new arrivals at The Ionian Escape hotel are hoping for a break from everyday life. But some of them are bringing a lot of baggage . . .Disgraced TV star Miranda Vallance feels like the worst person in the world. Her sister won''t speak to her and her job''s on the line. She''s desperate to put things right, but how?Eighty-two-year-old Evelyn Chambers has come to fulfil a promise to the love of her life. If she can steel herself to go through with it, that is . . .And when celebrity chef Frank Neale checks in, rumours swirl around the hotel. But is it his wife, Leonora, who has more of a reason to escape to Greece?The Island Getaway is a big-hearted novel from the queen of bestselling fiction, celebrating second chances, true love and the life-affirming joy of unlikely friendships.''Intricate, colourful, beautifully told . . . Lucy Diamond writes with such charm and warmth'' HAZEL PRIOR''A wonderful, warm tale of intertwined lives in a gorgeous Greek setting'' LULU TAYLORReaders love Lucy Diamond''I can''t wait for my next book from Lucy Diamond'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐''Fabulous story telling and the most wonderful reading experience . . . spellbinding'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐''Another book by Lucy Diamond that I couldn''t put down'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐''I love all of Lucy''s books'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐''Lucy writes with such warmth and sympathy'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Praise for Lucy Diamond''Fabulous, uplifting and life-affirming'' MY WEEKLY''Lucy has a way of dropping you into the heart and minds of her characters'' FIONA PALMER''Warm, tender, but also funny'' THE SUN''No one does real life like Lucy Diamond'' VERONICA HENRY

''Addictive, thrilling, intoxicating'' LISA JEWELL''An utter white-knuckle ride of a plot'' LUCY FOLEY''A must-read'' SARAH PEARSEIn this paradise you won''t like what you see . . . When Nina''s father dies, she inherits a gleaming dream vacation home in a balmy tropical paradise - one she had no idea existed. The house is extraordinary: state-of-the-art, all glass and marble. How did her sensible father ever have enough money for this? And why not tell her about it? Desperate to uncover why he hid such a big secret, she decides to visit.Maria, once an ambitious medical student, is now a nanny for the super-rich. The money''s better, and so are the destinations - like this new assignment in the British Virgin Islands. But when her wards never show, Maria begins to make herself at home, spending her days luxuriating by the pool. There''s just one rule: Don''t go in the basement. But her curiosity might just get the better of her. And soon, she''ll wish her only worry was not getting paid.As both women''s timelines intertwine, dark secrets start to unravel and one thing quickly becomes clear - nothing could have prepared them for what they are about to encounter.''Sinister, stylish and shocking'' CHRIS WHITAKER''It will leave you breathless'' JANE FALLON''A seductive, expertly plotted page-turner'' LOUISE CANDLISH''An utter white-knuckle ride of a plot'' LUCY FOLEY''Smart and spinge-tingling'' HARRIET WALKER''Engaging, twisty and highly original'' PETER JAMES''Utterly compelling, twisted and original'' LUCY CLARKE''An astonishing adrenaline rush of a novel'' DANIELLE TRUSSONI''Addictive, thrilling, intoxicating'' LISA JEWELLREADERS LOVE CATHERINE STEADMAN***** ''Love, love, love this book''***** ''Can''t wait for her next one'' 5* reader review***** ''Literally couldn''t put it down'' 5* reader review***** ''Absolutely gripping'' 5* reader review***** ''So many twists and turns'' 5* reader review

From Elly Griffiths, bestselling crime author, writing as Domenica de Rosa, comes a heartfelt, witty story of one woman''s journey from heartbreak to adventure, full of gorgeous Italian flavour. Emily Robertson looks like the woman who has it all: the lovingly restored Tuscan farmhouse, the three beautiful children, the successful, attentive husband. But when her husband dumps her by text, she has to face up to some stark home truths. She has no money, her cleaner hates her, her eldest girl is out of her depth with the local seducer, her middle daughter is dangerously underweight, and her darling baby is fast becoming a brat. She doesn''t even have any Italian friendsEven as Emily admits that she''s not living the Tuscan dream, she finds herself drawn into the village of Monte Albano and discovers the genuine Italy, darker and more intriguing than she had ever imagined. If she can get over a lingering obsession with her youthful first love, an attractive stranger might be about to show her the time of her life...************************What readers are saying about The Secret of Villa Serena''Wonderful . . . it will take you to Tuscany'' 5* Reader Review''Couldn''t put it down'' 5* Reader Review''A brilliant read'' 5* Reader Review''Romance, comedy . . . brilliant, it has it all'' 5* Reader Review''A lovely book to get lost in'' 5* Reader Review