Celeste is working in Istanbul, misty Turkish city of mosques, bazaars and palaces, with the sparkling blue sea flowing through its centre. Yet her dream adventure abroad is turning out to be more like a nightmare. Her rich students at the swanky language school seem more interested in their manicures and designer clothes than in her English lessons. The morose, stubbly caretaker of the orphanage where Celeste volunteers stares at her beloved boys like a vulture sizing up its next meal. Worst of all, Celeste's landlady is doing a bad job of hiding a shady secret: she lets slip puzzling comments that don't make sense, leaves sinister charms around the house, and puts magic spells in places she should not be going. One day, Celeste's favourite boy goes missing from the orphanage, and Celeste discovers that she herself is the target of her landlady's dark plot. Can Celeste save the child - and save herself - before her landlady destroys her? This mystery adventure which unfolds along the shores of the Bosphorus will entice fans of Khaled Hosseini, Alexander McCall Smith and Jason Goodwin.

'SICILIAN CARD GAMES an easy-to-follow guide' gives very clear instructions for twelve Sicilian card games, with photographic illustrations. It is the ONLY book of Sicilian card games in print worldwide. Sicily has its own unique deck of playing cards, and a wealth of games exclusive to the island. PACKS OF SICILIAN PLAYING CARDS CAN BE ORDERED ON AMAZON.COM Card games are central to festivities at Christmas, Easter and other family gatherings. Some games are hilarious, and simple enough to be enjoyed by young children yet a great way to make them practise mental arithmetic. Other games are quite challenging. Most village squares have a full-time squadron of old men who play outdoors, smacking their winning cards down like a butcher with a meat cleaver. The games in the book are: Buona sera Signorina, Cavalli, Cu cu , Camicia, Asino, Sette e Mezzo, Trentuno, Centocinque, Briscula, Tresette, Terziglio, Scopa. 'SICILIAN CARD GAMES an easy-to-follow guide' includes an interesting explanation of the origins of Sicilian playing cards. This book makes an entertaining and economical gift for all ages."