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Retired Scotland Yard detective Joe Loxley’s peaceful retirement with his wife in the New Forest is abruptly shattered when, out of the blue, he begins receiving a series of threatening notes.Events take an even more sinister turn when the body of a philanthropic local businessman, Roger Turnbull, is found shot dead in the forest. As the murder investigation unfolds, each shocking discovery exposes the creeping reach of urban crime, extending its ominous grip deep into the hills of Purbeck. Meanwhile, the harassment of Loxley and his wife escalates to new levels of menace.What follows is a twisting tale of greed and fear, with the possibility of sudden death a constant, chilling companion.

A Fine Piece of Jade is a fictionalised account of the author’s mother’s experiences during the Japanese occupation of China and the rise of Communist China.The story follows Wang Qí and Yuányuán, two girls sent from their privileged homes to a missionary school in Wuhan’s French Concession during World War II. Through war, revolution, and political oppression, the fiercely independent Wang Qí and the ever-cheerful Yuányuán form a bond that gives them strength, though greater dangers may lie closer than they expect.The novel explores the struggles of women in a male-dominated society, contrasting those who conform with those who fight for change. It celebrates resilience, friendship, and faith in times of loss and betrayal, while weaving Chinese mythology into a vivid portrayal of Hankou under occupation.

Charlie Mellon is a self-made man who doesn’t always have the plans the right way up. What he does have is a heart of gold, a wife he loves, and one thousand left-foot Adidas trainers.However, "life has flicked a small stone of causation sliding down the hill of fate" for Charlie, and very soon, his house—and even his wife—could be swept away.To prevent this, all he needs to do is find 1,000 right-foot Adidas trainers, be in two places at once, and dodge the murderous intent of a builder who completely misunderstands Charlie’s complicated relationship with the man’s wife.That can’t be too difficult, can it?The Three Wives of Charlie Mellon is the story of one man’s determined—and sometimes hilarious—attempt to keep his life from falling apart.

A tale of thwarted love set in a place where the boundaries between the real and the virtual are dangerously blurred, and where your dearest memories may not be your own. A place where desire for a single person is heresy. Welcome to the Virtuality.Patrick clings to poignant memories of his earlier, illicit relationship with Eva. When she goes missing, he embarks on a journey that takes him to the dark heart of The Virtuality.He comes to realise that his own memories of grief for his deceased mother and his fractured relationship with Eva are fundamental to the very functioning of this virtual world—a world that doesn''t want you to leave. Ever.

In near-future NewBrit, where only Winners succeed, Maz Tallis is a Loser. All she wants is the expensive medicine that could save her half-brother, Kyle.As her final term at Albion House Academy begins, Maz enters the Manticore Challenge, a competition offering the winner 1,000 Life Chances—credits that can be exchanged for life-saving treatments. For Maz, this could be her only shot at getting the medication Kyle so desperately needs.To improve her chances of winning, Maz comes up with a bold plan. But when Felix, a charismatic Winner, steals her idea, they become fierce rivals. To make matters worse, Kyle gets a superbug, making the need for treatment even more urgent.As Maz uncovers a disturbing secret at the heart of the competition, she faces an agonising dilemma: save her brother or expose the threat. Battling self-doubt and a corrupt system, Maz must decide if she will risk everything to reveal the truth. And will she find a way to save the people she loves without losing herself?

In a tangled web of betrayal and revenge, Lucy''s life comes to a brutal end, and four women emerge, each claiming to be her killer.Lucy, in her thirties, lives with her nine-year-old daughter, Paige, from a previous marriage. Over the years, Lucy has wreaked havoc on the lives of four women: Jennifer, her best friend with whom she shares a tumultuous history; Clara, Lucy''s estranged younger sister; Gillian, whose husband lost his job because of Lucy''s manipulations; and Rosa, her ex-husband''s new wife.Each of these women harbours a deep-seated hatred for Lucy and possesses both the motive and means to kill her, but all four are claiming responsibility for her murder.Who is truly to blame?This is not your typical whodunnit; it’s a gripping who-didn’t-dunnit. Rosa, Jennifer, Clara, and Gillian recount their stories, each insisting on her role in Lucy''s demise.

The Time for Lovers is a captivating memoir of self-discovery and transformation. Britt Ahlfert Brown recounts her formative experiences as a teen-age au pair in Paris, and later as a model in Rome’s vibrant Dolce Vita of 1959. Among the extraordinary people and lovers she encounters is Rad. After her marriage and divorce to an American doctor, with whom she has two children, she tries without success to reconnect with Rad.Years later, Britt revisits Italy with her second husband, John. They met when she was fifty-five, and he was twenty-eight. Their love is now strong in its thirty-second year. John’s interest in meeting the lovers of her youth leads to the rediscovery of Rad. These intertwining past and present love stories show love’s power over age and challenge societal prejudices about age and love.The Time for Lovers is a testament to the unpredictability of life, encouraging readers to explore the unknown and follow their own path.

Forbidden but Allowed is an intimate memoir of a British expatriate navigating life in Saudi Arabia from 1984 to 1998, an era when the Kingdom was a strict and closed society.At thirty, Bizzie Frost moved from Kenya to Jeddah with her two children to join her airline pilot husband, Richard. Struggling initially with depression because of the restrictions on women, she soon discovered unexpected opportunities. Making the most of each one, Bizzie built a successful career as a wedding photographer and journalist, gaining unique insights into Saudi traditions, culture, religion and daily life.The memoir captures the thrill of exploring the reefs in the Red Sea, and sleeping under the stars in remote mountains and deserts, at the same time reflecting on the cultural differences of each area. As the influence of the religious police grew and restrictions tightened following the Gulf War of 1991, Bizzie’s tolerance was pushed to the limit.Beyond a personal narrative, Forbidden but Allowed offers a vivid snapshot of a society in transition, balancing the challenge of restrictive norms with moments of surprising liberation. Blending adventure with cultural reflection, it provides a rare glimpse into a world that has since undergone significant change.

From an idyllic childhood in Bristol, with my gag-a-minute dad inspiring me to become a comedian, to dreadful teenage years in Bolton where education overlooked me, and all I learnt was how to be funny.My first job gave me a taste of success and confidence, followed by my real education in the RAF. Butlins gifted me an enduring smile, and in Liverpool, I worked with the less fortunate while crossing paths with future stars.Then came seventeen wonderful years of stand-up comedy, which took me across the UK and abroad, entertaining the British Forces, before a TV career began in failure, only to rise from the ashes with Di, the love of my life, and a new career in Maths and Science.Packed with wildly funny tales, this book isn’t half a good story – or is it?

In 1940, Jersey teenager Michael Le Breton’s peaceful life is shattered by the German invasion of the Channel Islands. His older brother, Jacques, draws him into the island’s resistance efforts, but their family faces its greatest danger when they decide to hide Konstantin, an escaped Russian prisoner. Konstantin, one of many Eastern Europeans brought to Jersey as slave labour, is deeply scarred by his brutal experiences, making his relationship with the family tense and volatile.As Michael navigates these dangers, the situation becomes even more precarious when his twin sister, Amy, befriends a disillusioned German soldier. Michael is forced to confront the harsh realities of war. What unfolds changes his life forever.

Cairo, 2010. As the vast city swelters in the summer heatwave, anti-government protesters take to the streets.When visiting businessman Geoff Ward is kidnapped, his client Khaled and Khaled’s sister, Layla, a prominent activist, set out to find the Englishman. Meanwhile, back in the UK, Geoff’s wife, Angie, frustrated by her feelings of helplessness and the government’s apparent ineffectiveness, contacts an old family friend, Shimon, to ask for help.Who has taken Geoff and why? Can his would-be rescuers work together to find him? And how will Angie and her two teenage children cope with his disappearance?

Moscow, 1958. At the height of the Cold War, secretary Lois Vale is on a deep-cover MI6 mission to identify a diplomatic traitor. She can trust only one man: Johann, a German journalist also working covertly for the British secret service. As the trail leads to Vienna and the Black Sea, Lois and Johann begin an affair but as love grows, so does the danger to Lois.A tense Cold War spy story told from the perspective of a bright, young, working-class woman recruited to MI6 at a time when men were in charge of making history and women were expendable.

In the mid-1970s, a rapidly growing college becomes a playground where young lecturers, barely older than their students, balance ambition with maturity. The competitive atmosphere, marked by jealousy and corruption, blurs the lines between innocent play and darker rivalries.Lecturers, seen as professionals with full control over their classrooms, usually uphold their responsibilities. However, one day, indulgence and recklessness lead to a situation spiralling out of control, putting two lives at risk. The identities of those in danger and those who have endangered them remain a mystery, until two lecturers, the eager Gillian and the hesitant Roger, embark on solving it, leading to a scandal that will affect the futures of both lecturers and students, guilty and innocent alike.

Nic loves to perform magic tricks, but after the girls at school made fun of her, she hid her passion, thinking she’d never be good enough.When Nic''s class goes on a school trip to the Thames Tunnel to celebrate its famous Fancy Fair, she sees her two bullies vanish. Curious to find out what happened, she steps through a mysterious alcove and finds herself at the original Fancy Fair—over one hundred and fifty years in the past!Meanwhile, Nikolai’s life isn’t going so well. Another magician has taken his dad’s spot to perform, and his brother, Amos, has gone missing. With rumours of kidnapped children spreading through town, Nikolai is worried. Then, out of nowhere, a mysterious girl appears, claiming she’s from the future—and says that two of her classmates have disappeared.To solve the mystery, Nic and Nikolai must work together. But can a neurodivergent girl from the present, a magic-student failure, really help a boy who’s a master at designing tricks and picking locks? Nic isn’t so sure, but she knows she has to try!

When siblings Sam and Jude are forced to leave London for a quiet village in the countryside due to their mother''s illness, they expect boredom and isolation. But the village isn’t as peaceful as it seems. Next to their new home is an old graveyard with dark secrets.One night, Sam sees strange flashing lights in the graveyard. He realises the village has mysteries waiting to be solved. Sam and Jude team up to uncover a mystery that has haunted the village for centuries.Can they help the spirits that wander the village? Can they stop the monster who’s collecting souls?With time running out, Sam, Jude, and their friends must act quickly to solve the puzzle before the Soul Collector claims his next victim.

Detective Inspector Theresa Heppolette investigates a shocking incident during a performance of Romeo and Juliet that devastates a school community on the island of Jersey.As she delves into the case, Heppolette uncovers a world where drugs, sex, and dysfunctional families mirror the dark themes of Shakespeare''s play. The investigation introduces her to a host of intriguing characters—both staff and students—some charming, others less so. Among them is Archie Morton, the Head of English who directed the play. Both he and Heppolette, divorcees in their 30s, find themselves drawn to each other, sparking the possibility of a romance that proves love isn’t just for the young…