'Tense, gripping and atmospheric' - CHRIS WHITAKER 'Gripped me from its shocking start' - SARAH YARWOOD-LOVETT 'I highly recommend it' - LYNDA LA PLANTE CBE ________________ TWO MISSING BACKPACKERS. ONE VAST OUTBACK. DS Lucas Walker is on leave in his hometown, Caloodie, taking care of his dying grandmother. When two young German backpackers, Berndt and Rita, vanish from the area, he finds himself unofficially on the case. But why all the interest from the Federal Police when they have probably just ditched the heat and dust of the outback for the coast? Working in the organised crime unit has opened Walker's eyes to the growing drug trade in Australia's remote interior - and he becomes convinced there is more at play. As the number of days since the couple's disappearance climbs, Walker is joined by Rita's older sister. A detective herself with Berlin CID, she has flown to Australia - desperate to find her sister. Their search becomes ever more urgent as temperatures soar. Even if Walker does find the young couple, will it be too late? This deeply atmospheric thriller is the gripping opening of a new crime series for fans of The Dry by Jane Harper, Cara Hunter and Chris Whitaker. ________________ Praise for Outback 'Tense, atmospheric and gripping. I eagerly await the next DS Walker thriller' - CHRIS WHITAKER 'A hot read. I highly recommend it.' - LYNDA LA PLANTE CBE 'A tense, twisty read that gripped me from its shocking start, immersed me in its sun-scorched landscape, then raced to its satisfying conclusion' - SARAH YARWOOD-LOVETT 'Nail-bitingly tense. A startlingly well-accomplished debut.' - JOHN MARRS 'A setting so vivid it's almost a character within itself' - BECCA DAY

In a beach paradise, an unspeakable crime is committed. The only witness lies in a coma, fighting for her life... Australia's Gold Coast: On a stunningly beautiful stretch of coastline, a young mother is brutally murdered and her daughter, Gabby, is left in a coma, with her life hanging in the balance. DS Lucas Walker has just arrived in Surfer's Paradise for some much-needed recovery after injuries sustained in his last investigation. But he is soon pulled into the dark twists and turns of this home invasion gone wrong, vowing to find the men responsible. As Walker digs deeper into the dark underbelly of this shimmering city by the ocean, a case from his own past resurfaces, with deadly consequences. And as eight-year-old Gabby, the sole witness her mother's murder, wakes in her hospital bed, Walker is in a race against time to stop those responsible before they return to silence her forever... Don't miss the next instalment in the tense and gripping DS Lucas Walker series. Fans of The Dry by Jane Harper, Cara Hunter and Chris Whitaker will be hooked from the very first page until the final breathtaking conclusion. Readers are gripped by Patricia Wolf: 'Nail-biting thriller!... From the beginning I was hooked! The outback setting provides the perfect backdrop... A thrilling ride that had me holding my breath through its finale. Highly recommended' Reader review, 5 stars 'Finished this book within a day... I honestly loved it, really had you guessing who the murderer was 'til the last minute' Reader review, 5 stars 'Great, suspenseful mystery... The last 30% turned me into a nervous wreck!' Reader review, 5 stars 'If you're a Jane Harper fan, pick up this book by Patricia Wolf!' Reader review, 5 stars

Everyone agrees that what we do in schools should be based on what we know about how the brain learns. Until recently, however, we have had few clues to unlock the secrets of the brain. Now, research from the neurosciences has greatly improved our understanding of the learning process, and we have a much more solid foundation on which to base educational decisions. In this completely revised and updated second edition, Patricia Wolfe clarifies how we can effectively match teaching practice with brain functioning. Encompassing the most recent and relevant research and knowledge, this edition also includes three entirely new chapters that examine brain development from birth through adolescence and identify the impact of exercise, sleep, nutrition, and technology on the brain. Brain Matters begins with a ""mini-textbook"" on brain anatomy and physiology, bringing the biology of the brain into context with teaching and learning. Wolfe describes how the brain encodes, manipulates, and stores information, and she proposes implications that recent research has for practice-why meaning is essential for attention, how emotion can enhance or impede learning, and how different types of rehearsal are necessary for different types of learning. Finally, Wolfe introduces and examines practical classroom applications and brain-compatible teaching strategies that take advantage of simulations, projects, problem-based learning, graphic organizers, music, active engagement, and mnemonics. These strategies are accompanied by actual classroom scenarios-spanning the content areas and grade levels from lower elementary to high school-that help teachers connect theory with practice.