For dreamer Clare, a chance encounter with old family acquaintance Marcus brings up haunting memories of a childhood holiday, as they try to come to terms with the events and magic that have shaped their lives. They meet by chance in a department store, having not seen one another since a long-ago summer in Guernsey that was marred by tragedy. He lost his son, Tom, in inexplicable circumstances; she was Tom's friend and the last person to see him alive. The novel flits backwards and forwards in time, from the present-day affair fuelled by grief and loneliness, to the summer when Tom went missing - a time filled with sunshine and enchantment, moving inexorably towards heartbreak. The Magic Places is a spellbinding tale of the power of stories and imagination.

By the time Sir Arthur Conan Doyle had completed the twelve stories for The Strand Magazine that are gathered together in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, he was already growing tired of his most famous creation, but the financial incentive to continue was too great. So began the second series of stories, known as The Memoirs; these introduced such notable characters as Holmes' indolent brother, Mycroft, and Holmes' most dangerous adversary, Professor James Moriarty, the 'Napoleon of Crime'. The collection included such stories as 'The Adventure of the Resident Patient' and 'The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter', which Doyle would list later as amongst his favourites. It was to Moriarty that was delegated the task of ending the career of the world's finest consulting detective in a final, fatal encounter at The Reichenbach Falls in Switzerland in the concluding tale, 'The Final Problem'.

Cats. Our oldest companions. They have befriended us, consoled us and given us many memories. No cat lover can doubt there is nothing quite as satisfying as the loyalty of a feline friend. But sometimes, it can go a little too far. Something that Dr Richard Cooper, recently widowed, is about to find out. The hard way. On a reminiscent fly fishing trip, Mr Gregory Rose is hunting the rainbow trout. But out on the loneliness of the lake, he discovers, to his dismay, that there is more than just fish that lurk in the depths. Sometimes ita s our own past that we cana t help but bring up to the surface.

THE BOOK THAT EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT . . . THE NO. 1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'Again, Rachel is fabulous. Beautifully written, pure 5-star Keyes - clever, lively, funny, compelling' NINA STIBBE 'Funny, heartbreaking, achingly real - Keyes has dones it again. Gorgeous. I absolutely loved it' JANE FALLON 'Beautifully written, funny, heart-breaking and always wise. A proper treat' DAILY MAIL 'An entertaining, growingly poignant contemporary tale' SUNDAY TIMES 'No other author marries heartbreak and hilarity so seamlessly' MAIL ON SUNDAY 'Marian's mastery of story and character is as impressive as ever' HEAT 'BOOK OF THE YEAR' ***CONGRATULATIONS TO THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS AUTHOR OF THE YEAR 2022*** SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOLLINGER EVERYMAN WODEHOUSE PRIZE FOR COMIC FICTION _________ Back in the long ago nineties, Rachel Walsh was a mess. But a spell in rehab transformed everything. Life became very good, very quickly. These days, Rachel has love, family, a great job as an addiction counsellor, she even gardens. Her only bad habit is a fondness for expensive trainers. But with the sudden reappearance of a man she'd once loved, her life wobbles. She'd thought she was settled. Fixed forever. Is she about to discover that no matter what our age, everything can change? Is it time to think again, Rachel? _________ 'It will break your heart and nourish your soul . . . Her finest novel yet' NIGELLA LAWSON 'A sequel worth the wait . . This garrulous, fast-paced read offers the joy of a reunion with not just Rachel, but the rambunctious Walsh clan. An entertaining, growingly poignant contemporary tale' SUNDAY TIMES 'Funny, heart-breaking and so wise' DAILY MAIL 'Utterly brilliant, wise and funny. So fabulous. I adore it' CATHY KELLY 'Wow! It's excellent and it's everything. Funny, gorgeous, exquisite' DAISY BUCHANAN 'A smashing sequel. Keyes delivers punchy home truths with wit and charm' TELEGRAPH 'Like slipping into a warm, bubbly bath' GOOD HOUSEKEEPING FAMOUS FANS AND WHY THEY LOVE RACHEL'S HOLIDAY 'Marian's writing is the truth. With big laughs' Dawn French 'A giant of Irish writing' Naoise Dolan 'Will make you laugh and make you cry, but will also reveal the truth of who you really are' Louise O'Neill 'Keyes weaves the joy and pain of life in a unique and magical way' Cathy Rentzenbrink 'One of the most honest writers writing today' Pandora Sykes 'Compassionate, tender, incisive writing' Lucy Foley 'Her talent for tackling serious issues with such humanity and wit is balm for the soul' Nigella Lawson 'Marian Keyes is a brilliant writer. No one is better at making terrifically funny jokes while telling such important, perceptive and agonizing stories of the heart. She is a genius' Sali Hughes 'Irresistible, profound. Keyes's comic gift is always evident' Independent 'Joyful. Keyes' clever way with words and extraordinary wit. People stared at me as I laughed to myself' C.L. Taylor 'A born storyteller' Independent on Sunday

THEY'RE BAAAAACK.

Their first caper, "The Spellman Files," was a "New York Times" bestseller and earned comparisons to the books of Carl Hiaasen and Janet Evanovich. Now the Spellmans, a highly functioning yet supremely dysfunctional family of private investigators, return in a sidesplittingly funny story of suspicion, surveillance, and surprise.

When Izzy Spellman, PI, is arrested for the fourth time in three months, she writes it off as a job hazard. She's been (obsessively) keeping surveillance on a suspicious next door neighbor (suspect's name: John Brown), convinced he's up to no good -- even if her parents (the management at Spellman Investigations) are not.

When the (displeased) management refuses to bail Izzy out, it is Morty, Izzy's octogenarian lawyer, who comes to her rescue. But before he can build a defense, he has to know the facts. Over weak coffee and diner sandwiches, Izzy unveils the whole truth and nothing but the truth -- as only she, a thirty-year-old licensed professional, can.

When not compiling Suspicious Behavior Reports on all her family members, staking out her neighbor, or trying to keep her sister, Rae, from stalking her "best friend," Inspector Henry Stone, Izzy has been busy attempting to apprehend the copycat vandal whose attacks on Mrs. Chandler's holiday lawn tableaux perfectly and eerily match a series of crimes from 1991A--92, when Izzy and her best friend, Petra, happened to be at their most rebellious and delinquent. As "Curse of the Spellmans" unfolds, it's clear that Morty may be on retainer, but Izzy is still very much on the case...er, cases -- her own and that of every other Spellman family member.

(Re)meet the Spellmans, a family in which eavesdropping is a mandatory skill, locks are meant to be picked, past missteps are never forgotten, and blackmail is the preferred form of negotiation -- all in the name of unconditional love.

In Die honger hart moet Julia Naude haar peetpa se ongewone voorwaarde behou om die plaas, wat sy saam met die plaasbestuurder geerf het, te beskerm. In Deel van die pakket staan Gita van Duinen op die drumpel van ’n nuwe lewe, maar meer veranderinge le voor. In Verskuilde liefde, keer dr. Edmund Wiese terug uit die buiteland. Hy moet vrede maak met die lee kol wat sy broer, Fanie, agtergelaat het. En drie weke later maak hy ’n onverwagse ontdekking wat sy prioriteite verander.

This is a fictional story about a young boy named Icon, a respected old-timer named Sir Jack, and a wise old wizard called Halvyn. Icon has the dream to become a world tennis champion. Sir Jack is about to become his teacher. Wizard Halvyn magically guides them! Many children have dreams about imaginary adventures alongside their heroes. The only difference with Icon is that he begins to live his dream. The theme of the story is values. Much of the action and adventure in this book correlates directly to everyday lessons in life. Icon's adventures are both personable and exciting. They lead to plenty of action and surprises that will encourage all young people to truly believe they can achieve their goals.

The Theory of (Not Quite) Everything by Kara Gnodde is a heartfelt, intelligent and uplifting novel about true love in all its forms . . .

Bound together by their parents’ tragic death, devoted siblings Mimi and Art have different ideas about everything – most recently, how Mimi should find love.

Mimi believes that love is more than just a numbers game. Art, a maths genius, thinks people are incapable of making sensible decisions, especially about romance. That’s what algorithms are for.

So, when Mimi meets someone, Art starts looking for a glitch. Because something doesn't add up and Art fears he's in danger of losing his sister forever . . .

In this fourth book, the eagerly awaited sequel to When Twilight Ends, the anti-hero Adam Collins - now Aiden Carter - is in his new role as Head of Security (Asia) for a major US investment group and resident in Tokyo. Suddenly, after four years, 'the Office' - the Secret Intelligence Service aka M16 - has reappeared in his life with a proposition. He was to find this 'favour' involved a kidnapped teenage girl, the daughter of a media mogul in Tokyo. The brief: locate and extract - alive if possible. With his female partner, on loan from Japanese intelligence, Adam must revert to his previous life to negotiate a dangerous path through the clans of the Yakusa - the Japanese mafia - with an unknown 'mole' attempting to block them at every turn, including rendering them 'inoperable'. In a race against time, they must travel the length of Japan, with their lives in increasing danger at every turn. The author is noted for the depth of information and accurate detail in his writing, taking the reader on a rollercoaster ride into the world of international intelligence and the Japanese underworld. Although this book is classified as fiction, the author leaves it to the reader to identify the facts from the fiction.

Boxed gift set of Tolkien’s classic masterpieces, fully illustrated throughout in watercolour by the acclaimed and award-winning artist, Alan Lee, Conceptual Designer on Peter Jackson’s THE HOBBIT films.

Since they were first published, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings have been two books people have treasured. Steeped in unrivalled magic and otherworldliness, these works of sweeping fantasy have touched the hearts of young and old alike. Between them, nearly 150 million copies have been sold around the world. And no editions have proved more popular than the two that were illustrated by award-winning artist, Alan Lee – the Centenary edition of The Lord of the Rings and the 60th Anniversary edition of The Hobbit.

Now, the new hardback editions of these beautifully illustrated works have been collected together into one boxed set of four books. Readers will be able to follow the complete story of the Hobbits and their part in the quest for the Ring – beginning with Bilbo’s fateful visit from Gandalf and culminating in the dramatic climax between Frodo and Gollum atop Mount Doom – while also enjoying over seventy full-page colour paintings and numerous illustrations which accompany this epic tale.

Your ability to change everything - including yourself - starts here

Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact, Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing.

But it's the early 1960s and her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute take a very unscientific view of equality.

Forced to resign, she reluctantly signs on as the host of a cooking show, Supper at Six.

But her revolutionary approach to cooking, fuelled by scientific and rational commentary, grabs the attention of a nation.

Soon, a legion of overlooked housewives find themselves daring to change the status quo. One molecule at a time.

This special clothbound edition makes the perfect gift, featuring stunning endpapers, sprayed edges, and never-before-seen, exclusive content by the author.

What would you do if you found out that you had a year of healthy living left - but probably no more than that? Deborah stumbles into her own version of this scenario smack-dab in the middle of her Scottish family's Christmas holiday time. And she decides not to tell a soul. Then the fun startsa | (The) Last Year tells the story of that year. Nothing turns out the way she expects, of course. And her bucket list seems to include catching up on some neglected bits of her history, back in the United States. Including being haunted by a doppelgAnger whose life doesn't seem to suffer, like Deborah's, from a pre-selected sell-by date. Deborah's story turns out to be odder than she'd expected when she got hit with the unexpected news. And she gets to burn through her savings on some adventures, without feeling guilty. So, maybe there's an upside to knowing what's likely to be your nemesis? Deborah's year might turn out to be the best one she's ever lived.

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of It Starts with Us and It Ends with Us—the long-awaited finale to the bestselling Maybe Someday series returns with all the characters you fell in love with.

What is more important? Friendship, loyalty, or love?

Ridge and Sydney are thrilled to finally be together guilt-free. But as the two of them navigate this freedom, Warren and Bridgette’s relationship is as tumultuous as ever, and Maggie grapples with her illness.

When she comes across an old list of things she wanted to do “maybe one of these days,” Maggie decides to live life to the fullest and accomplish these dreams. Maggie keeps Ridge updated on her adventures, but he can’t help but worry, even as Sydney grows more and more suspicious about their friendship. But if she’s going to move past this jealousy, she’ll need to reconcile how she and Ridge came together with the fact that Maggie will always be in their lives somehow…or end up walking away from the man she loves so much.

Featuring new songs by Griffin Peterson, this emotive and satisfying finale proves that maybe someday might be right now.

Structure is Character. Characters are what they do. Story events impact the characters and the characters impact events. Actions and reactions create revelation and insight, opening the door to a meaningful emotional experience for the audience. Story is what elevates a film, a novel, a play, or teleplay, transforming a good work into a great one. Movie-making in particular is a collaborative endeavour - requiring great skill and talent by the entire cast, crew and creative team - but the screenwriter is the only original artist on a film. Everyone else - the actors, directors, cameramen, production designers, editors, special effects wizards and so on - are interpretive artists, trying to bring alive the world, the events and the characters that the writer has invented and created. Robert McKee's STORY is a comprehensive and superbly organized exploration of all elements, from the basics to advanced concepts. It is a practical course, presenting new perspectives on the craft of storytelling, not just for the screenwriter but for the novelist, playwright, journalist and non-fiction writers of all types.

Chris Bean is a well-known Cornish fisherman participating daily in catching, marketing and industry issues for more than four decades. His passions are oil painting, geology and fitness. He has had the good fortune to serve as a fisheries consultant in many countries of the developing world. The fictional work of Dahab draws on his rich and varied experiences while working overseas with grass-roots people combined with the knowledge retained from his original profession as a mine geologist. Friends have described him as a hopeless romantic.

A young girl elopes to Manchester from an unhappy home in the Midlands. Pruella Fielding is transformed by a subterfuge, into a spectacularly mysterious journalist beyond her wildest dreams. But she is in danger from the step family she absconded from, who are intent on getting their hands on her deceased father's fortune in the only way possible - murder. Three men form part of her life. One her editor, the man behind her pseudonym 'Ella Child', her childhood sweetheart and a Yank from Boston. She is torn between remaining the quiet country girl with no pretentions, or the famous writer attracting all the media hype and a notoriety, which she fears will destroy her.

There are many facts and much imagination in this story and it is difficult to distinguish fact from fiction. I know, but will you be able to find the difference?