Warm Winter Read

Published on 03 June 2026

Public libraries across Victoria and Tasmania invite adults aged 16+ to take part in the 2026 Warm Winter Read Enjoy time to read, connect with readers across the state, and take part in a program designed purely for reading pleasure. With great prizes to be won and fun ways to participate, winter is the perfect season to curl up with a good book.

Participants can register and log their reading either online at

readbooks.com.au/wwr

Our reading ambassadors have shared some wonderful recommendations to get you started:

The uncollected plays of Shaun Micallef / Micallef, Shaun,
2017-11

Sixty-seven days / Weldon, Yvonne,
Random House Australia · 2022-07-05
'We don't say any words - everything has been said through two sets of eyes, two entangled souls and endless kissing.' Evie has been raised in the heart of Aboriginal Redfern, by a proud trailblazing Wiradjuri family. She remembers so much about the previous world - the Dreamtime, the ancestors, and the knowing - but she also harbours a dark pain that is becoming almost too much to bear. And then Evie meets James, a young man radiating pure love who fills her life with light. On the cusp of adulthood, with their whole lives ahead of them, they travel to Evie's beloved country, the central west of New South Wales and the Riverina regions. Swimming in the waters of the Kalare, as known by the Wiradjuri, and in the Murrumbidgee, singing with her ancestors, listening to the spirits. The new world created between Evie and James is one they did not know they were missing. Now they can't leave it alone. They are no longer separate - they are one, they are whole together - until a sudden event leaves them seeking answers to one of life's most eternal questions- is love strong enough to withstand anything? An intense and mesmerising story of first love and longing, suffused with Wiradjuri Dreaming, family and culture, about a future dreamt and a future taken, by an important new voice in Australian fiction.

Future-steading : live like tomorrow matters : practical skills, recipes + rituals for a simpler life / Miles, Jade,
2021-08-03
A stunningly illustrated practical guide to growing, preserving and sharing the food that grounds us.

The tea ladies / Hampson, Amanda,
Random House Australia · 2023-04-12
A wickedly witty cosy crime novel set in Sydney in the swinging sixties, ideal for fans of Richard Osman and Bonnie Garmus. She keeps everyone's secrets, until there's a murder... Sydney, 1965: After a chance encounter with a stranger, mild-mannered tea lady Hazel Bates becomes an accidental sleuth, stumbling into a world of ruthless crooks and racketeers in search of a young woman she believes to be in danger. In the meantime, Hazel's job at Empire Fashionwear is in jeopardy. The firm has turned out the same frocks and blouses for the past twenty years and when the mini-skirt bursts onto the scene, it rocks the rag trade to its foundations. War breaks out between departments and it falls to Hazel, the quiet diplomat, to broker peace and save the firm. When there is a murder in the building, Hazel and her network of tea ladies put themselves in danger as they piece together clues that connect the murder to a nearby arson and a kidnapping. But if there's one thing tea ladies can handle, it's hot water.

The compost coach : make compost, build soil and grow a regenerative garden - wherever you live! / Flood, Kate,
Murdoch Books · 2023-08
Spin food waste and household carbon into garden gold, learn about how and why soil matters, and make climate activism an everyday mission, with compost coach Kate Flood.

The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies / Goodman, Alison
Penguin · 2023-05-30
A Washington Post Best Mystery Novel of 2023 A high society amateur detective at the heart of Regency London uses her wits and invisibility as an ‘old maid’ to protect other women in a new and fiercely feminist historical mystery series from New York Times bestselling author Alison Goodman. Lady Augusta Colebrook, “Gus,” is determinedly unmarried, bored by society life, and tired of being dismissed at the age of forty-two. She and her twin sister, Julia, who is grieving her dead betrothed, need a distraction. One soon presents itself: to rescue their friend’s goddaughter, Caroline, from her violent husband. The sisters set out to Caroline’s country estate with a plan, but their carriage is accosted by a highwayman. In the scuffle, Gus accidentally shoots and injures the ruffian, only to discover he is Lord Evan Belford, an acquaintance from their past who was charged with murder and exiled to Australia twenty years ago. What follows is a high adventure full of danger, clever improvisation, heart-racing near misses, and a little help from a revived and rather charming Lord Evan. Back in London, Gus can’t stop thinking about her unlikely (not to mention handsome) comrade-in-arms. She is convinced Lord Evan was falsely accused of murder, and she is going to prove it. She persuades Julia to join her in a quest to help Lord Evan, and others in need—society be damned! And so begins the beguiling secret life and adventures of the Colebrook twins.

A disappearance in Fiji / Rao, Nilima,
2023-06-06
A charming debut historical mystery set in 1914 Fiji.

The Milkwood permaculture living handbook : habits for hope in a changing world / Bradley, Kirsten,
Murdoch Books · 2023-08-29
Create the sustainable life you want to live with this practical guide packed full of all the habits, skills and inspiration you'll need.

Prize catch / Carter, Alan,
2024-10
When Roz Chen' s wife, Niamh, is killed in a hit-and-run on a lonely Tasmanian road, the grieving widow begins to wonder if Niamh' s death was an accident after all. Meanwhile, SAS veteran Sam Willard is hoping for a fresh start with a job at a salmon farm. But as allegations of old war crimes surface and Sam is ' promoted' as a special operative against anti-salmon farm activists, he and Roz form an unlikely alliance.Forced to retreat into the unforgiving Tasmanian wilderness, Roz and Sam find themselves scrambling for the truth with murderous thugs on their trail.

The fifth season / Jemisin, N. K.
Orbit · 2015-08-04
"Intricate and extraordinary." - New York Times on The Fifth Season (A New York Times Notable Book of 2015) WINNER OF THE HUGO AWARD FOR BEST NOVEL 2016 This is the way the world ends...for the last time. A season of endings has begun. It starts with the great red rift across the heart of the world's sole continent, spewing ash that blots out the sun. It starts with death, with a murdered son and a missing daughter. It starts with betrayal, and long dormant wounds rising up to fester. This is the Stillness, a land long familiar with catastrophe, where the power of the earth is wielded as a weapon. And where there is no mercy. For more from N. K. Jemisin, check out: The Inheritance Trilogy The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms The Broken Kingdoms The Kingdom of Gods The Inheritance Trilogy (omnibus edition) Shades in Shadow: An Inheritance Triptych (e-only short fiction) The Awakened Kingdom (e-only novella) Dreamblood Duology The Killing Moon The Shadowed Sun The Broken EarthThe Fifth SeasonThe Obelisk Gate

Swordcrossed / Marske, Freya,
2024

Love unleashed / Saward, Melanie,
Random House Australia · 2024-08-06
When Bigambul woman Brynn Wallace leaves Brisbane to pursue her dreams in the Big Apple, she imagines herself landing a fabulous career at a New York City publishing house and acquiring shelves of Louboutin shoes, not working in a doggy daycare with a boss from hell and a wardrobe from her nightmares. Yet good things are always possible in New York, especially when you believe in them hard enough. And Brynn has a collection of NYC Missions to set her on her way- challenges from her mother, whose death she is still getting over, to help Brynn rejoice in the city that never sleeps. Brynn soon finds herself making meaningful friendships, engaging in flirty flings, and meeting the gorgeous Sienna, also known as dancer Scarlett Belle. And when she stumbles on a handsome, single dog-dad who just happens to be a literary editor, she decides that if she can convince him she's more than just a dog-sitter, her dreams will finally come true. But Sienna has other plans, and as Brynn's NY ride begins to stall, the city shows her just how full of surprises it is.

Slivers, shards and skerricks / Micallef, Shaun,
2024
This indefinitive collection brings together under one cover the very best comic writing – parody, poetry, prose, plays, philosophy, and political treatise – by Australia's greatest living television host. From "I Was Scott Morrison's Schnoodle" and "Around the World in One Pair of Underpants" to the deliciously decadent recipe for "Satyricon Surprise", Shaun Micallef's sublime anthology has it all. Thrill to the meta-ironic existential crisis in the Rocky universe; gasp as you learn what happened to Scrooge in the days following A Christmas Carol; discover what it takes to pass for human in an increasingly convoluted post-Robodebt world. PLUS, there are limericks like this: There once was a poet who thought / Using words like fought, ought and wrought / Brought a purity sought / But it all came to nought / When he ended his last line with drought.

Tripping over myself : a memoir of a life in comedy / Micallef, Shaun,
2022-10-05
From Shaun Micallef, beloved host of ABC TV's news satire Mad as Hell, comes Tripping Over Myself - an insightful and funny memoir about comedy and life that takes us through uncharted waters to unexpected places. Comedy has been Shaun's escape, his guiding light, his refuge, his passport, his lifebuoy, his drug, his mask, his means, his end, his lingua franca, his Self. But it's not everything. From his early years as a gangly, bespectacled nerd in suburban Adelaide to the giddy heights of national TV stardom, Shaun regales us with his experiences and his continuous reinvention through humour with... well, humour. He writes with candour about his successes and failures, loves and losses, along with tales of wine, women, song, and eccentric dancing. Behind the persona of one of Australia's best-loved comedians lurks, as you will discover, an idiot. Despite Shaun's best efforts, Tripping Over Myself is sprinkled with thoughtful insights and observations and shows us how to persist in the face of adversity or even good fortune. You will laugh, you will dog-ear pages, you will wonder, you will Google 'Jerry Lewis', you may book a trip to India, and you will come away from this book reflecting on your own life in new and remarkable ways.

Miss Caroline Bingley, private detective / Gardiner, Kelly,
2025-04-02
A missing maid. A murder most foul. A highly imprudent adventure. Only her fine eyes can uncover the truth. Two years after the events of Pride and Prejudice, Miss Caroline Bingley is staying at her brother's country estate within an easy ride of Mr and Mrs Darcy's home, Pemberley, and wondering if there's more to life than playing cribbage and paying calls on country neighbours. So when Georgiana Darcy's maid, Jayani, vanishes - and worse, Georgiana disappears in search of her - Caroline races to London to find them both, and quickly discovers a shocking, cold-blooded murder. Soon Caroline and Georgiana are careering through the gritty, grimy underbelly of London assisted by Caroline's trusty manservant, Gordon, and demanding answers of shady characters, police magistrates and mysterious East India Company-men to discover the killer. Along the way they uncover the cost of Empire on India and its people ... and Miss Bingley's incomparable powers of investigation. As Caroline puts her superior new talents to work, she finds out exactly what an accomplished, independent woman with a sharp mind and a large fortune can achieve - even when pitted against secrets, scandal, and a murderer with no mercy.

The stranger at the table / Hamer, Cassie,
2025-04-02
A family gathering, but not everyone who sits down to dinner will survive it. Poisonous lies, family secrets, addiction and revenge - always a dish best served cold - are all on the menu. For readers of Sally Hepworth, Jo Dixon and Ally Lowe, this twisty domestic suspense holds you captive from its gripping beginning to its shocking denouement. Maz Antonio has spent the last two years in prison so is determined to make the first major family gathering in their new home deep in Australian suburbia as perfect as possible. She owes it to everyone after the terrible mistakes she's made ... mistakes for which she will always be trying to atone. This special lunch is her chance to make things right for her husband and children, to show everyone that she can maintain her sobriety, that things can go back to normal. (Whatever normal looks like when you have traumatic, confusing flashbacks of that fateful day where two innocent lives were lost.) Her sister, Elli, is in. So is her husband's brother. Her distant father-in-law is gracing them with his presence and her mum Margaret is on the way from Newcastle, bringing a colleague - a virtual stranger she impulsively invited. But is this man really a stranger? Or could it be that he is intimately connected to the past that Maz has so desperately been trying to put behind her - a past that's about to explode across the dinner table in the deadliest of ways...

The wolf tree / McCluskey, Laura,
2025-02-27

Bird deity / Morrissey, John,
Text Publishing · 2026-02-03
Stunning speculative fiction from the award-winning author of Firelight

Songbird of the sorrows / Otto, Braidee,
Random House Australia · 2026-02-10
Ask no questions. Obey your orders. Respect your masters. But most of all, love no one. Spy. Thief. Princess. Songbird. Princess Aella was ousted from the Palace of Sorrows and gifted to the secret order of spies known as the Aviary at a young age. After she completes her training and passes the Naming ceremony, Aella is assigned to the prestigious Alpha Flight, led by none other than her former flame. Everything about Raven calls to her. He is brave, loyal and lethal. But love is forbidden within the Aviary. When Alpha Flight is tasked with infiltrating the eastern kingdom's royal trials to seek a weapon hidden deep within its court, Aella struggles with the expectations placed on her. As old sparks reignite and the harsh realities of the realm reveal themselves, the mission begins to unravel, and Aella must decide if she is brave enough to disobey her superiors to do what she believes is right. Songbird of the Sorrows is the first book in Myths of the Empyrieos, an epic romantic fantasy series that follows a feisty heroine through trials, a perilous heist, court intrigue, kingdom politics, and a journey of self-discovery, true love, and redemption.

Vow of eternal night / Crozier, Lily,
PRHNZ Preview · 2026-03-17
*The gorgeous first edition features stunning printed edges.* Clara Wagner has always known that monsters are real, and that the worst of them is Prince Raleigh of Rostenburg. For years the prince has treated his people as livestock to sate his thirst for blood. But when he decides it's time to marry, Clara inadvertently finds herself at the centre of his attention. Abducted and forced into a betrothal against her will, Clara would do anything to escape her fate. And so she is given an ultimatum- lift Raleigh's vampiric curse before the end of the year or become his bride for eternity. Vow of Eternal Night is a gothic, slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romantasy inspired by 'Beauty and the Beast' about the lengths people will go to for love, and the many faces monsters can wear. 'It's rare that a gothic romance surprises me, but Vow of Eternal Night did. Fun, gripping, and desperately goth. One of the best I've read all year.' - T. Kingfisher 'Deliciously wicked, deeply romantic . . . this is a debut novel you simply cannot miss.' - C. S. Pacat

A disappearing act / Dixon, Jo
2025-10-28
From the bestselling author of The House of Now and Then comes a taut and twisty psychological mystery, perfect for readers of Sally Hepworth and Nicola Moriarty. Bestselling author Marnie Elliott has invited her three oldest friends to a secluded holiday house in Tasmania. On the surface it's an excuse to catch up and drink champagne -- but really, Marnie's there to escape the fallout from an upcoming exposé. Sure, she's told some lies over the course of her career... but this time the allegations go further... Did Marnie even write the books that made her millions? As the days unfold, it becomes clear that time has pulled the women apart, and that perhaps they don't know each other as well as they thought they did. And when long-buried secrets and resentments rise to the surface, tensions spiral out of control. And then one of them disappears. No one can survive the harsh elements of a Tasmanian winter for long, and soon panic sets in. Did she get lost? Run away? Or is something far more sinister at play? And does it have anything to do with what happened twenty-five years ago, when the four of them lived together in a rambling warehouse, fuelled by ambition, and where nothing -- absolutely nothing -- mattered more than being part of the group? From the bestselling author of The House of Now and Then comes a taut and twisty psychological mystery that asks how well do we really know our closest friends? PRAISE FOR JO DIXON: 'A flawless slow-burn thriller about female friendship ... unputdownable.' - The Australian 'Jo Dixon delivers on every front with this impossible to second-guess thriller...' - Australian Women's Weekly

A forbidden alchemy / McEwan, Stacey,
Atria Books · 2025-07-02
Australian BookTok star Stacey McEwan's stunning new slow-burn romantasy series traces a fated pair who stumble upon a world-changing secret and are catapulted into a violent class war, finding each other amidst love, loss, and devasting betrayals. Nina Harrow and Patrick Colson are only twelve years old when they are whisked from their disenfranchised mining towns to dazzling Belavere City to be tested for magical abilities. Nina's lifelong dream is to become an Artisan, a powerful elemental mage who fulfills the city's grand ambitions, while Patrick wants only to return to his family of Craftsmen. Together, they discover a devastating secret: Artisans aren't born, but chosen. With this information, they take their future into their own hands. Patrick departs for home, while Nina finds her place as one of the rarest, most coveted types of Artisan. When a Craftsman revolution ignites years later, Nina is captured by Patrick's rebel group - and despite the years, he hasn't forgotten her. In fact, he needs her help for a mission that could shift the tides against Belavere City, which she reluctantly accepts, battling the sparks between them. But when Nina's first love reappears, asking her to betray Patrick for the Artisans, she faces an impossible choice that will determine the fate of their world.

An academic affair / McAlister, Jodi,
Atria Books · 2025-06-04
The Love Hypothesis meets The Hating Game in a new standalone rom-com from New York Times acclaimed author and romance academic Jodi McAlister. Sadie Shaw and Jonah Fisher have known each other for fifteen years - and they've disliked each other for every one of them. It started with a minor altercation in an undergrad literature class, but as their academic careers developed, so did the intensity of their arguments. By the time they graduate with their doctorates, they're embroiled in a full-on rivalry. So when a position comes up that Sadie and Jonah are both perfect for, their ongoing enmity explodes into a red-hot competition. But as Sadie fights to secure her future, she realises there might be a way for both of them to get their dream job. There's just one catch -they'll have to get married first. When things get personal, though, Sadie will have to keep her eye on the prize. A fake marriage isn't worth jeopardising her real career over, is it?

Planting for native birds, bees and butterflies : how to create a garden that attracts Australian wildlife / Crupi, Jaclyn,
2025-07-29
An essential, eye-opening (and beautiful) guide to the simple, sustainable ways we can invite more native birds, bees and butterflies into our gardens and outdoor spaces.

De'Ath takes a holiday / Micallef, Shaun,
2026-03-31
'If I wasn't dead, I would sue.'--Bram Stoker This is the origin story of the first real vampyre (not Dracula). The trouble with immortality is that eventually you get sick to death of it, and so to soothe his sickened soul, the Comte De'Ath decides to take a trip. From psychoanalysis in Vienna to blood transfusions in London, the Comte learns that a holiday is as good as a change. On the way, he meets the Queen, brings her husband back to life, helps win the Second Matabele War, matches wits with the Elephant Man, inspires Henry Ford to pursue the American Dream, almost solves the crisis in the Middle East and even falls in love. Will he become mortal again in time for his funeral in Carfax Abbey? Ah - but what a fine book this would be if we gave away the end of the story in the blurb. From the man Ben Elton once described as 'perhaps Australia's finest satirist' comes a Victorian novel for modern times. A tale of Gothic horror so bloodcurdling that it makes Bram Stoker, Mary Shelley, Robert Louis Stevenson and Oscar Wilde look like they could barely write the word 'cat'.

The Paradise Heights Miniature Railway bust-up / Solly, Kate,
2026-03-31
A cosy crime/mystery novel from the beloved author of Tuesday Evenings with the Copeton Craft Resistance and The Paradise Heights Craft Store Stitch-Up. Something is amiss at the Paradise Heights Miniature Railway. And this suits Fleck Parker just fine - she's on the hunt for a new puzzle to solve. Expensive equipment and supplies have disappeared and nobody knows why. Who could possibly wish harm on a community group delivering Sunday afternoon fun on a fleet of jolly little engines? Fleck is frenetic as ever as she feeds a hungry baby, placates a cranky toddler, executes an (almost) on-time school run and investigates crime - all without losing her Wordle streak. Meanwhile, her best friend, Trixie, is scrambling to manage the Many Hands Society Craft Shop, where volatile volunteers are becoming a real problem. Fleck has never met a puzzle she didn't want to solve, and this one is just the ticket. Nobody suspects the cheerful mum asking questions at the railway as she tries to untangle the conundrum. But idyllic bushland and miniature villages hide a sinister mystery, darker and more complex than anyone imagined. Will Fleck's attempts to derail the thief land her on the wrong side of the tracks?

Why we garden : on the joy and wonder of growing things, even when we don't have to / Moloney, Hannah,
2026-03-31
In a world of well-stocked supermarkets and florists, why do we garden, even though we don't have to? This was the question that fascinated Hannah Moloney. So she went out and asked. She spoke to politicians, artists, community leaders, activists and thousands of ordinary gardeners. This book explores their answers - sometimes surprising, often philosophical, always insightful. Much more than a gardening book, Why We Garden is a joyful, life-affirming exploration of nature, humanity and community. Featuring interviews with Tim Winton, Bruce Pascoe, Laura Tingle, Clare Bowditch, Bob Brown, Costa Georgiadis and many more.

 

 

 

Staff Recomendations

Our staff have also shared some favourites to curl up with over the colder months!

The Last Migration : a novel / McConaghy, Charlotte,
Random House Australia · 2020-08-04
"A dark past. An impossible journey. The will to survive. How far you would you go for love? Franny Stone is determined to go to the end of the earth, following the last of the Arctic terns on what may be their final migration to Antarctica. As animal populations plummet and commercial fishing faces prohibition, Franny talks her way onto one of the few remaining boats heading south. But as she and the eccentric crew travel further from shore and safety, the dark secrets of Franny's life begin to unspool. A daughter's yearning search for her mother. An impulsive, passionate marriage. A shocking crime. Haunted by love and violence, Franny must confront what she is really running towards - and from."--Publisher.

Able / Alcott, Dylan,
2018-10-22
The astonishing life of Australia's most inspirational athlete Not long after he was born in 1990, Dylan Alcott was found to have a tumour on his spine. The surgery to remove it was successful, but left Dylan a paraplegic. Part of an average Aussie family in Melbourne, Dylan experienced his fair share of bullying and loneliness growing up. By early high school he was feeling pretty low - depressed, overweight and fearful for his future. Then, somehow, he discovered sport - swimming, basketball and tennis. Fast forwards 10 years or so and the Order of Australia recipient has climbed to the top of not just one sport but two, winning gold and silver at two Olympics and in two sports. Now the four-time winner of the Australian Open, is not only a sports star, but a motivational speaker, triple j radio host, music fan, keynote presenter, business owner, and youth mentor with his own youth foundation. In Game Changer, Dylan Alcott at last tells his story.

The happiest man on Earth / Jaku, Eddie,
Macmillan · 2021-07
Eddie Jaku always considered himself a German first, a Jew second. He was proud of his country. But all of that changed on 9 November 1938, when he was beaten, arrested and taken to a concentration camp. Over the next seven years, Eddie faced unimaginable horrors every day, first in Buchenwald, then in Auschwitz, then on the Nazi death march. He lost family, friends, his country. Because he survived, Eddie made the vow to smile every day. He pays tribute to those who were lost by telling his story, sharing his wisdom and living his best possible life. He now believes he is the 'happiest man on earth'.

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell / Clarke, Susanna,
Bloomsbury Publishing · 2004
Two magicians shall appear in England. The first shall fear me; the second shall long to behold me… Centuries ago, when magic still existed in England, the greatest magician of them all was the Raven King. A human child brought up by fairies, the Raven King blended fairy wisdom and human reason to create English magic. Now, at the beginning of the nineteenth century, he is barely more than a legend, and England, with its mad King and its dashing poets, no longer believes in practical magic. Then the reclusive Mr Norrell of Hurtfew Abbey appears and causes the statues of York Cathedral to speak and move. News spreads of the return of magic to England and, persuaded that he must help the government in the war against Napoleon, Mr Norrell goes to London. There he meets a brilliant young magician and takes him as a pupil. Jonathan Strange is charming, rich and arrogant. Together, they dazzle the country with their feats. But the partnership soon turns to rivalry. Mr Norrell has never conquered his lifelong habits of secrecy, while Strange will always be attracted to the wildest, most perilous magic. He becomes fascinated by the shadowy figure of the Raven King, and his heedless pursuit of long-forgotten magic threatens, not only his partnership with Norrell, but everything that he holds dear. Elegant, witty and utterly compelling, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrellcreates a past world of great mystery and beauty that will hold the reader in thrall until the last page.

Atmosphere / Reid, Taylor Jenkins,
Hutchinson Heinemann · 2025-06-03
***THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER*** 'Tipped to be this summer's biggest read' SUNDAY TIMES 'A richly drawn page-turner' OBSERVER 'Quite possibly our favourite TJR novel yet' COSMOPOLITAN 'I absolutely adored this' BRYONY GORDON 'A breathtaking, quietly staggering tale of female empowerment, desire, and our place in the universe' HEAT 'Unputdownable' GRAZIA READERS ARE SAYING... 'So emotional by the end that I could hardly speak' - Reader Review, 5***** 'Melted my heart by the end' - Reader Review, 5***** 'Taylor Jenkins Reid is the master of a really great love story' - Reader Review, 5***** 'Taylor Jenkins Reid's best book yet' - Reader Review, 5***** An epic novel set against the backdrop of the 1980s space shuttle program about the extraordinary lengths we go to live and love beyond our limits. In the summer of 1980, astrophysics professor Joan Goodwin begins training to be an astronaut at Houston's Johnson Space Center, alongside an exceptional group of fellow candidates- Top Gun pilot Hank Redmond; mission specialists John Griffin and Lydia Danes; warmhearted Donna Fitzgerald; and Vanessa Ford, the magnetic and mysterious aeronautical engineer. As the new astronauts prepare for their first flights, Joan finds a passion and a love she never imagined and begins to question everything she believes about her place in the observable universe. Then, in December of 1984, on mission STS-LR9, everything changes in an instant. Atmosphere is Taylor Jenkins Reid at her best- transporting readers to iconic times and places, creating complex protagonists, and telling a passionate and soaring story about the transformative power of love - this time among the stars. 'Is there a popular fiction writer alive who conveys falling in love better than Taylor Jenkins Reid?' DAILY MAIL 'Packs a hefty emotional punch' MAIL ON SUNDAY 'Thrilling ... heartbreaking ... uplifting. Taylor Jenkins Reid's novel Atmosphere is the fast-paced, emotionally-charged story of one ambitious young woman, finding both her voice and her passion ... I loved it' KRISTIN HANNAH, author of The Women 'NASA? Space missions? The 80s? This is a collection of all the things I love. Great story, excellent research and accuracy, and a thrilling conclusion.' ANDY WEIR, author of Project Hail Mary and The Martian

The lying club / Ward, Annie,
2022-03-03
Three women. Two bodies. One big lie...At an elite private school nestled in the Colorado mountains, a tangled web of lies draws together three vastly different women. Natalie, a young office assistant, dreams of having a life like the school moms she deals with every day. Women like Brooke-a gorgeous heiress, ferociously loving mother and serial cheater-and Asha, an overachieving and overprotective mom who suspects her husband of having an affair.Their fates are bound by their relationships with the handsome, charming assistant athletic director Nicholas, who Natalie loves, Brooke wants and Asha needs. But when two bodies are carried out of the school early one morning, it seems the jealousy between mothers and daughters, rival lovers and the haves and have-nots has shattered the surface of this isolated, affluent town-a town where people will stop at nothing to get what they want.Set in a world of vast ranches, chalet-style apartments and mountain mansions, The Lying Club is a juicy thriller of revenge, murder and a shocking conspiracy-one in which the victims aren't who you might think.

Alias Grace / Atwood, Margaret
Virago Press · 2017-09
Sixteen years after being locked up, at the age of sixteen, for the bloody murders of her employer and his housekeeper, Grace Marks is examined by Dr Simon Jordan, an expert in amnesia. As the days and weeks pass Simon tries to prise open the memories Grace claims to have lost and reveals a life of love and betrayal, poverty and abuse, drawing the listener in to the rooms of Grace's mind.

Cloud cuckoo land / Doerr, Anthony,
Fourth Estate · 2021
Pre-order the spectacular and heartbreaking new novel from the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of All the Light We Cannot See. Cloud Cuckoo Land follows three storylines: Anna and Omeir, on opposite sides of the formidable city wall during the 1453 siege of Constantinople; teenage idealist Seymour and gentle octogenarian Zeno, in an attack on a public library in present day Idaho; and Konstance, on an interstellar ship bound for a distant exoplanet, decades from now. A single copy of an ancient text - the story of Aethon, who longs to be turned into a bird so that he can fly to the paradise of Cloud Cuckoo Land - provides solace, mystery and the most profound human connection to these five unforgettable characters. Like Marie-Laure and Werner in All the Light We Cannot See, Anna, Omeir, Zeno, Seymour and Konstance are dreamers and misfits, struggling to survive and finding resourcefulness and hope in the midst of peril.

Bodies of light / Down, Jennifer,
Text Publishing · 2023-10-31
So by the grace of a photograph that had inexplicably gone viral, Tony had found me. Or: he’d found Maggie. I had no way of knowing whether he was nuts or not; whether he might go to the cops. Maybe that sounds paranoid, but I don’t think it’s so ridiculous. People have gone to prison for much lesser things than accusations of child-killing. A quiet, small-town existence. An unexpected Facebook message, jolting her back to the past. A history she’s reluctant to revisit: dark memories and unspoken trauma, warning knocks on bedroom walls, unfathomable loss. She became a new person a long time ago. What happens when buried stories are dragged into the light? This epic novel from the two-time Sydney Morning Herald Young Novelist of the Year is a masterwork of tragedy and heartbreak—the story of a life in full. Sublimely wrought in devastating detail, Bodies of Light confirms Jennifer Down as one of the writers defining her generation.

The colour of hope / Steel, Danielle,

The note through the wire / Gold, Doug,
2019-04-15
An extraordinary true story of a love that emerged, against all odds, between two young people from opposite sides of the globe fighting for freedom during World War II. 'An unforgettable love story set in perilous circumstances. It is a reminder that even in the most horrific times love will find a way and ultimately conquer. I can't recommend it enough.' Heather Morris, author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz In the heart of Nazi-occupied Europe, two people meet fleetingly in a chance encounter. One is an underground resistance fighter; the other a prisoner of war. A crumpled note passes between these two strangers and sets them on a course that will change their lives forever. The Note Through The Wire is the true story of Josefine Lobnik, a Yugoslav partisan heroine, and Bruce Murray, a New Zealand soldier, who, due to a succession of near-impossible coincidences, discover love in the midst of a brutal war. Woven through their tales of great bravery, daring escapes, betrayal, torture and retaliation is their remarkable love story that survived against all odds. This is an extraordinary account of two ordinary people living through the unimaginable hardship of Hitler's barbaric regime.

What does it feel like? : a novel / Kinsella, Sophie,
Random House · 2024-10-08
A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK • From #1 bestselling author Sophie Kinsella, an unforgettable story—by turns heartbreaking and life-affirming—of a renowned novelist facing a devastating diagnosis and learning to live and love anew. “Sophie Kinsella’s final autobiographical novella inspired me to step out of my comfort zone. I’ll be forever grateful to this incredible woman.”—Freida McFadden “The bravest book you’ll read all year.”—Jodi Picoult “Only Sophie Kinsella can make you laugh like this while she’s got you crying.”—Taylor Jenkins Reid “What Does It Feel Like? is fiction, but it is my most autobiographical work to date. Eve’s story is my story.”—Sophie Kinsella Eve is a successful novelist who wakes up one day in a hospital bed with no memory of how she got there. Her husband, never far from her side, explains that she has had an operation to remove the large, malignant tumor growing in her brain. As Eve learns to walk, talk, and write again—and as she wrestles with her diagnosis, and how and when to explain it to her beloved children—she begins to recall what’s most important to her: long walks with her husband’s hand clasped firmly around her own, family game nights, and always buying that dress when she sees it. Recounted in brief anecdotes, each one is an attempt to answer the type of impossible questions recognizable to anyone navigating the labyrinth of grief. This short, extraordinary novel is a celebration of life, shot through with warmth and humor—it will both break your heart and put it back together again. “Why did I write such a personal book? I have always processed my life through writing. Hiding behind my fictional characters, I have always turned my own life into a narrative. It is my version of therapy, maybe. Writing is my happy place, and writing this book, although tough going at times, was immensely satisfying and therapeutic for me.”—Sophie Kinsella A PARADE BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

The spellshop / Durst, Sarah Beth,
Tor · 2024-07-09
Perfect for fans of Travis Baldree and TJ Klune, The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst is a cosy fantasy tale full of stolen spellbooks, unexpected friendships, sweet jams and even sweeter romance.'Sarah Beth Durst is the hidden gem of the fantasy world' -- Book RiotEvery home needs a little magic . . .Kiela has always had trouble dealing with people, and as librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, she hasn't had to.She and her assistant, Caz, a sentient spider plant, have spent most of the last eleven years sequestered among the empire's precious spellbooks, protecting the magic for the city's elite. But a revolution is brewing and when the library goes up in flames, Kiela and Caz steal whatever books they can and flee to the faraway island where she grew up. But to her dismay, in addition to a nosy - and very handsome - neighbour, she finds the town in disarray.The empire has slowly been draining power from the island, and now Kiela is determined to make things right. But opening up her own spellshop comes with its own risks - the consequence of sharing magic with commoners is death. And as Kiela starts to make a place for herself among the townspeople, she realizes she must break down the walls she has kept so high . . .From award-winning author Sarah Beth Durst, The Spellshop is a cottagecore cosy fantasy following a woman's unexpected journey through the low-stakes market of illegal spell-selling and the high-risk business of starting over.

Patriot / Navalʹnyĭ, Alekseĭ,
Bodley Head · 2024-10-22
'Mind-blowing ... one extraordinary read' EMILY MAITLIS 'The greatest political figure of his generation' OBSERVER 'Part memoir, part diary, a political manifesto, a darkly funny adieu' BEN MACINTYRE 'Patriot will be seen as a historic text' ECONOMIST Patriot is the exhilarating life story of one of the most fearless and inspiring figures of our time, who became a beacon to millions and the sole political threat to Vladimir Putin. This is Alexei Navalny's life in his own words: his Soviet childhood, political awakening, his marriage and beloved family, his total commitment to taking on a corrupt regime and his enduring love of Russia and its people. His 2020 poisoning by the Russian security services was a global news event. In 2024 he died in a brutal Siberian prison. He began writing Patriot whilst recovering from his poisoning; it ends with his prison diaries, seen here for the first time. We witness the growth of his nationwide support. We see his many arrests and harassment and, in stunning detail, the attempt on his life. We understand why he felt he had to return to Russia. In prison, he shows a spirit and a sense of humour that cannot be crushed. Patriot is as dramatic as its author's life - passionate that good and freedom will prevail. It is Alexei Navalny's final letter to the world, a rousing call to continue his work, an unforgettably positive account of a life that will inspire every reader. 'A brave and brilliant book' GUARDIAN 'A worthy testament to Navalny's courage, defiance and humour' FINANCIAL TIMES 'This book is a gospel' VANITY FAIR 'Inspiring, emboldening - a voice that will not be forgotten' NEW YORKER ** A SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER * A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * A WATERSTONES, NEW STATESMAN, FINANCIAL TIMES, ECONOMIST AND EVENING STANDARD BEST BOOK OF 2024 * ONE OF PRESIDENT OBAMA'S BEST BOOKS OF 2024 ** (Sunday Times and New York Times bestsellers, October 2024)

Cherrywood / Serong, Jock,
2024

Because I'm not myself, you see : a memoir of motherhood, madness & coming back from the brink / Beeston, Ariane,
2024-05-21
Ariane Beeston is a child protection worker and newly registered psychologist when she gives birth to her first child - and very quickly begins to experience scary breaks with reality. Out of fear and shame, she keeps her delusions and hallucinations secret, but as the months pass Ariane gets worse. Much worse. Finally admitted to a mother and baby psychiatric unit, the psychologist is forced to learn how to be the patient. With medication, the support of her husband, psychotherapy and, ultimately, time, Ariane rebuilds herself. And she also begins a new chapter working in perinatal mental health, developing resources to support other new mothers. Because I'm Not Myself, You See is a candid, often humorous memoir of motherhood and madness, interwoven with research and expert commentary. It's the story of the impossible pressures placed on new mothers and how quickly things can go wrong during 'the happiest time of your life'. It's also about life on the other side of serious illness, trying to make sense of what doesn't make sense, and finding humour, beauty and joy when things don't go according to plan.

Ninth house / Bardugo, Leigh,
Gollancz · 2019-10
The instant SUNDAY TIMES and NEW YORK TIMES bestseller, and Goodreads Choice Award winner, that Stephen King calls 'Impossible to put down' The mesmerising adult debut from Leigh Bardugo. A tale of power, privilege, dark magic and murder set among the Ivy League elite.Alex Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale's freshman class. A dropout and the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved crime - the last thing she wants is to cause trouble. Not when Yale was supposed to be her fresh start. But a free ride to one of the world's most prestigious universities was bound to come with a catch.Alex has been tasked with monitoring the mysterious activities of Yale's secret societies - societies that have yielded some of the most famous and influential people in the world. Now there's a dead girl on campus and Alex seems to be the only person who won't accept the neat answer the police and campus administration have come up with for her murder.Because Alex knows the secret societies are far more sinister and extraordinary than anyone ever imagined.They tamper with forbidden magic. They raise the dead. And, sometimes, they prey on the living . . .'Ninth House is the best fantasy novel I've read in years, because it's about real people. Bardugo's imaginative reach is brilliant, and this story, full of shocks and twists, is impossible to put down' Stephen King'Ninth House is one of the best fantasy novels I've read in years. This book is brilliant, funny, raw and utterly magnificent - it's a portal to a world you'll never want to leave' Lev Grossman, bestselling author of The Magicians trilogy'Ninth House rocked my world. I could not get enough of Alex Stern, a heroine for the ages. With a bruised heart and bleeding knuckles, she risks death and damnation - again and again - for the people she cares about. I was cheering her on the whole way: from the first brilliant sentence of this book to the last' Joe Hill, bestselling author of N0S4A2

Mornings in Jenin / Abulhawa, Susan,
Bloomsbury UK · 2010-01-01
Palestine, 1941. In the small village of Ein Hod a father leads a procession of his family and workers through the olive groves. As they move through the trees the green fruits drop onto the orchard floor; the ancient cycle of the seasons providing another bountiful harvest. 1948. The Abulheja family are forcibly removed from their ancestral home in Ein Hod and sent to live in a refugee camp in Jenin. Through Amal, the bright granddaughter of the patriarch, we witness the stories of her brothers: one, a stolen boy who becomes an Israeli soldier; the other who in sacrificing everything for the Palestinian cause will become his enemy. Amal's own dramatic story threads its way through six decades of Palestinian-Israeli tension, eventually taking her into exile in Pensylvania in America. Amal's is a story of love and loss, of childhood, marriage and parenthood, and finally the need to share her history with her daughter, to preserve the greatest love she has. Richly told and full of humanity, Mornings in Jeninforces us to take a fresh look at one of the defining political conflicts of our lifetime. It is an extraordinary debut.

Shiver selected stories / Ito‍, Junji,
VIZ Media LLC · 2017-12-19
A best-of story selection by the master of horror manga. This volume includes nine of Junji Ito’s best short stories, as selected by the author himself and presented with accompanying notes and commentary. An arm peppered with tiny holes dangles from a sick girl’s window… After an idol hangs herself, balloons bearing the faces of their destined victims appear in the sky… An amateur film crew hires an extremely individualistic fashion model and faces a real bloody ending… An offering of nine fresh nightmares for the delectation of horror fans.

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow / Zevin, Gabrielle,
Vintage · 2023-06-06
THE MILLION-COPY BESTSELLING PHENOMENON 'Exhilarating, timely and emotive' GUARDIAN 'I devoured it. So enjoyable' ZADIE SMITH 'Love, friendship and betrayal...gorgeous' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH ------------------------------------ This is the story of Sam and Sadie. It's not a romance, but it is about love. When Sam catches sight of Sadie at a crowded train station one morning he is catapulted straight back to childhood, and the hours they spent immersed in playing games. Their spark is instantly reignited and sets off a creative collaboration that will make them superstars. It is the 90s, and anything is possible. What comes next is a decades-long tale of friendship and rivalry, fame and art, betrayal and tragedy, perfect worlds and imperfect ones. And, above all, our need to connect: to be loved and to love. --------------------------------------- 'I'm LOVING it' ZOE SUGG 'One of the best books I've ever read' JOHN GREEN 'Extraordinary... made me sob' JOJO MOYES 'Magnificent... Such wisdom and tenderness' RUSSELL T. DAVIES 'I couldn't put it down' GERI HALLIWELL 'Beautiful and heartbreaking' THE TIMES 'An exquisite love-letter to life' TAYARI JONES 'Anyone who reads Tomorrow can't stop talking about it' STYLIST 'I loved it' CELESTE NG 'Exhilarating' PSYCHOLOGIES 'This BLEW me away' PANDORA SYKES 'The go-to for your next hit of nineties nostalgia' EVENING STANDARD 'Terrific...Zevin is a great writer' BILL GATES 'Tremendous... A literary blockbuster destined to be filed in the Great American Novel category' INDEPENDENT Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow was a #1 Sunday Times bestseller from 30.07.2023 - 24.9.23 Note: There is a chance the book cover you receive may differ from the cover displayed here.

Careless people : a story of where I used to work / Wynn-Williams, Sarah,
MacMillan · 2025-03-13
'Amazing: of all the books in all the world Mr Free Speech Zuckerberg wants to ban, it's the one about him' Marina Hyde, Guardian 'Jaw-dropping . . . A tell-all tome' Financial Times Sarah Wynn-Williams, a young diplomat from New Zealand, pitched for her dream job. She saw Facebook's potential and knew it could change the world for the better. But, when she got there and rose to its top ranks, things turned out a little different. From wild schemes cooked up on private jets to risking prison abroad, Careless People exposes both the personal and political fallout when boundless power and a rotten culture take hold. In a gripping and often absurd narrative, Wynn-Williams rubs shoulders with Mark Zuckerberg, Sheryl Sandberg and world leaders, revealing what really goes on among the global elite - and the consequences this has for all of us. Candid and entertaining, this is an intimate memoir set amid powerful forces. As all our lives are upended by technology and those who control it, Careless People will change how you see the world. 'Devastating . . . funny . . . highly enjoyable . . . A Bridget Jones's Diary-style tale of a young woman thrown into a series of improbable situations' The Times 'Darkly funny and genuinely shocking: an ugly, detailed portrait of one of the most powerful companies in the world' The New York Times

Rejection : fiction / Tulathimutte, Tony,
William Morrow · 2024-09-17
From the Whiting and O. Henry-winning author of Private Citizens ("the first great millennial novel," New York Magazine), an electrifying novel-in-stories that follows a cast of intricately linked characters as rejection throws their lives and relationships into chaos. Sharply observant and outrageously funny, Rejection is a provocative plunge into the touchiest problems of modern life. The seven connected stories seamlessly transition between the personal crises of a complex ensemble and the comic tragedies of sex, relationships, identity, and the internet. In "The Feminist," a young man's passionate allyship turns to furious nihilism as he realizes, over thirty lonely years, that it isn't getting him laid. A young woman's unrequited crush in "Pics" spirals into borderline obsession and the systematic destruction of her sense of self. And in "Ahegao; or, The Ballad of Sexual Repression," a shy late bloomer's flailing efforts at a first relationship leads to a life-upending mistake. As the characters pop up in each other's dating apps and social media feeds, or meet in dimly lit bars and bedrooms, they reveal the ways our delusions can warp our desire for connection. These brilliant satires explore the underrated sorrows of rejection with the authority of a modern classic and the manic intensity of a manifesto. Audacious and unforgettable, Rejection is a stunning mosaic that redefines what it means to be rejected by lovers, friends, society, and oneself.

We live here now / Pinborough, Sarah,
Orion · 2025-06-05
Award-winning author of New York Times bestselling breakout novel (and hit Netflix show) Behind Her Eyes returns with a haunting Gothic novel about a house ― and a marriage ― gone terribly wrong. PRE-ORDER NOW! 'Full of clever twists and surprises' HARLAN COBEN 'Stunning, shocking, terrifying' CHRIS WHITAKER 'Sarah Pinborough is at the absolute top of her game' LISA JEWELL 'I'm saying nothing more except you NEED to experience We Live Here Now' JANICE HALLET 'A genuinely creepy haunted house novel' LIZ NUGENT If their new new home doesn't break them, their secrets will... When Emily wakes from a coma following an accident that nearly kills her, she finds herself agreeing to move from London to the wild moors of Devon with her husband Freddie. A fresh start is exactly what their marriage needs. As their car pulls up to Larkin Lodge, their dream country home, Emily's heart sinks. Outside, everything is covered in an icy gray mist. Inside, the air is filled with dust and abandonment. And then she finds the empty suite on the second floor. A room so bleak, so cold, so void of anything good. Something bad happened in here. Someone dies in here. Why can't Freddie feel the darkness that stirs within its walls? There's something wrong with the house, this strange house, where the floorboards creak at night, the doors rattle, the windows slam shut, the taps turn on and off - and on and off. But if the house is hiding something, so are Emily and Freddie... *** Your favourite authors can't get enough of We Live Here Now: 'A chilling, darkly atmospheric thrill ride' CRESSIDA MCLAUGHLIN 'This is Sarah Pinborough at her mind-bending best' RUTH WARE 'Eerie, clever, and darkly funny' NICCI CLOKE 'Pacy, creepy, and devilishly plotted' SUSI HOLLIDAY 'Brilliantly chilling' JOHN MARRS 'You can imagine Edgar Allen Poe himself applauding' ALEX NORTH 'Original, spooky, and full of twists' NIKKI MACKAY

Say you'll remember me / Jimenez, Abby,
Piatkus Books · 2025-04
Fiction

There is no antimemetics division / Qntm,
Del Rey · 2025-11-25
An antimeme is an entity with self-censoring properties. Some are benign; but others, less so... These entities can feed on your most cherished memories, the things that make you you - and you'll never even know anything changed. And they aren't just feeding on us. They're invading. But how do you contain something you can't record or remember? How do you fight against an enemy with effortless, perfect camouflage, when you can never even know that you're at war? Welcome to the Antimemetics Division. No, this is not your first day.

Hamnet / O'Farrell, Maggie,
Tinder Press · 2025-08-07
THE NO. 1 BESTSELLER - WINNER OF THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION **NOW A MAJOR FILM BY CHLOE ZHAO STARRING JESSIE BUCKLEY AND PAUL MESCAL** 'Richly sensuous... something special' The Sunday Times 'A thing of shimmering wonder' David Mitchell A LOVE THAT DRAWS THEM TOGETHER. A LOSS THAT THREATENS TO TEAR THEM APART. On a summer's day in 1596, a young girl in Stratford-upon-Avon takes to her bed with a sudden fever. Her twin brother, Hamnet, searches everywhere for help. Why is nobody at home? Their mother, Agnes, is over a mile away, in the garden where she grows medicinal herbs. Their father is working in London. Neither parent knows that Hamnet will not survive the week. Hamnet is a novel inspired by the son of a famous playwright: a boy whose life has been all but forgotten, but whose name was given to one of the most celebrated plays ever written.

The lucky winners / Slater, K. L. (Kim L.),
Michael Joseph · 2025-08-14
Fiction

Her many faces / Cloke, Nicci,
Harvill Secker · 2025-05-08
'Stunning: so clever, so gripping, so timely' LUCY FOLEY Friend. Lover. Victim. Murderer. Who is Katie Cole? When four wealthy and influential members of London's most exclusive private club are poisoned, a young waitress is charged with their murder after being caught running from the scene of the crime. As the trial grips the nation, five men begin to question how well they really knew her. There's her father, who remembers the sweet girl growing up in Devon; her childhood friend, who is swept up in her fascination with conspiracy theories; her lover, who wants to distance himself from a young woman with an obsession; her barrister, who knows she's hiding something; and the journalist investigating the case, who is convinced he knows exactly who she is: a cold-blooded killer. Five men. Five stories. But are they ready to hear hers? A novel about privilege, passion and how women's voices can be sidelined and silenced by society, Her Many Faces will leave you asking: who can you ever truly believe? 'A sensational page-turner. Astute, compelling and beautifully written' SARAH HILARY

Runner 13 / McCulloch, Amy,
Michael Joseph · 2025-06-26
**Pre-order the gripping new thriller from the bestselling author of Breathless, based on her own extraordinary ultra-running experience** It's the ultimate test of endurance: two-hundred-and-fifty miles in the brutal heat of the Sahara, with only the supplies you can carry on your back. Adri is ready. Returning to ultra-running in the wake of a scandal, she needs to prove to herself - and her young son - that she's a winner. When a fellow runner is badly injured, Adri knows something isn't right. Yet in a race this extreme, even a dead body can be explained away. But there's a killer stalking the hot sand. And the problem with running faster than everyone else, is that you're miles ahead of anyone who can save you... ----- PRAISE FOR AMY MCCULLOCH 'Amy McCulloch is the queen of the adventure thriller!' - CLAIRE DOUGLAS 'Enthralling... She has an eye for edgy and unusual settings....' - SUNDAY TIMES 'Chills, thrills and intense suspense...' - CHRIS WHITAKER

She Didn't See It Coming / Shari Lapena
Bantam Press · 2025-07-15
The new gripping and addictive thriller from the No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author of EVERYONE HERE IS LYING. Bryden and Sam have it all- thriving careers, a smart apartment in a luxury condo, supportive friends and a cherished daughter. The perfect life for the perfect couple. Then Sam receives a call at his office. Bryden - working from home that day - has failed to collect their daughter from daycare. Arriving home with their little girl, he finds his wife's car in the underground garage. Upstairs in their apartment her laptop is open on the table, her cell phone nearby, her keys in their usual place in the hall. Except Bryden is nowhere to be seen. It's as if she just walked out. How can she have disappeared from her own home? And did she even leave the building at all? With every minute that passes - and as questions swirl around their community - Bryden and Sam's past seems a little less perfect, their luxury condo less safe, their friends, neighbours and relatives no longer quite so reliable . . . 'A modern master of the psychological thriller.' STEVE CAVANAGH 'The queen of page-turners' ANDREA MARA 'Shari Lapena keeps you guessing until the very last page.' PAULA HAWKINS 'Shari Lapena is the undisputed queen of dysfunctional families.' CLARE MACKINTOSH *** AVAILABLE TO ORDER NOW***

You went to emergency for what? : bizarre, bloody and baffling true stories from hospital ED / Booth, Tim,
Macmillan · 2025-07-29
Bizarre, bloody and baffling true stories from the hospital ED, told by bestselling author and paramedic Tim Booth.When paramedic Tim Booth finds himself rushing a patient's dead cat to a (human) hospital's Emergency Department for resuscitation, he finds himself wondering where it all went wrong. From bedroom mishaps and hypochondriacs to suspicious rashes and freak cattle incidents, the doctors, nurses and paramedics of our hospital EDs have seen everything. Every day, Tim and his colleagues battle burnout, an overburdened healthcare system and compassion fatigue, powered only by caffeine, dark humour and a heartfelt drive to save lives. But the moments of Hollywood heroism are few, as they struggle to navigate the chaotic, absurd and sometimes downright ridiculous side of emergency medicine. Written like a night shift in Emergency - dark, unpredictable, and likely to make you question humanity's collective IQ - You Went to Emergency for What? reveals the weirdest, funniest and most heart-wrenching true stories of what really goes on in our hospitals.

The Thursday Murder Club / Osman, Richard,
2020
Krimi. In a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet up once a week to investigate unsolved killings. But when a local property developer shows up dead, 'The Thursday Murder Club' find themselves in the middle of their first live case. The four friends, Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron, might be octogenarians, but they still have a few tricks up their sleeves. Can our unorthodox but brilliant gang catch the killer, before it's too late?

Our new gods / Vowles, Thomas,
2025-06-03
Ash has recently arrived in Melbourne and fallen in love with his charismatic friend James. After witnessing a disturbing altercation at a party, Ash suspects that James's mysterious boyfriend is hiding a sinister side. Is he dangerous? Or is Ash's jealousy fuelling paranoid delusions? A compulsive novel that offers no easy answers, Our New Gods marks the electrifying debut of a major talent. It has an assuredness that reflects Thomas Vowles's success as a screenwriter- the dialogue is sharp, the plot twists are dizzying, and the story will haunt readers long after the final page.

Stolen pride : loss, shame, and the rise of the Right / Hochschild, Arlie Russell,
2024-09-10
In her first book since the widely acclaimed Strangers in Their Own Land, the National Book Award finalist and bestselling author Arlie Russell Hochschild now ventures to Appalachia, uncovering the "pride paradox" that has given the right's appeals such resonance For all the efforts to understand the state of American politics and the blue/red divide, we've ignored what economic and cultural loss can do to pride. In Stolen Pride, Arlie Russell Hochschild argues that Donald Trump has turned lost pride into stolen pride and shame into blame, and that the result of his rhetorical alchemy has been to weaponize that shame and introduce a potent blend of anger and often violent rhetoric--undermining democracy and highlighting revenge. Hochschild's research drew her to Pikeville, Kentucky, in the heart of Appalachia, within the whitest and second-poorest congressional district in the nation, where its residents faced the perfect storm. The city was reeling: coal jobs had left, crushing poverty arrived, and a deadly drug crisis struck the region more powerfully than anywhere else in the nation. Although Pikeville had been in the political center thirty years ago, by 2016, 80 percent of the district's population voted for Donald Trump. Hochschild's brilliant exploration of how the town responded in 2017, when a white nationalist march came to town--a rehearsal for the deadly "unite the right" march that would take place in Charlottesville, Virginia, just four months later--takes us deep inside a community that defies stereotypes. In Stolen Pride, Hochschild--whose previous book, Strangers in Their Own Land, was heralded by the New York Times as one of a small handful of books to read to understand Trump and the 2016 election--focuses on a group at the center of the shifting political landscape: blue-collar men. Long conversations over six years with mayors and felons, clerks and shopkeepers, road workers and teachers, ex-coal miners, and recovering addicts form the core of the book, movingly introducing readers to real people living deep within the political storm. Hochschild's great gift is to decode the emotional narratives that demagogues can speak to and lay bare the pain that lies beneath the rage. And in some of the voices she listens to, Hochschild hears an alternative to the inchoate anger, as she and her subjects imagine a way we might build bridges and move forward.

The hollow girl / Yeowart, Lyn,
Random House Australia