Hurley, G. Estocada[Текст] . book 3 : the war novel / G. Hurley. – London : Head of Zeus Ltd, 2022. – 496 p.
1937. Flying for the infamous Condor Legion over the battlefields of Spain’s civil war, Merz has been able to unleash the fearsome potential of the Luftwaffe’s newest weapon against his opponents. In Dieter’s hands, the Messerschmitt Bf-109 is as graceful as a matador’s killing strike: la estocada.
Scotsman and ex-marine Tam Moncrieff is recruited by a nameless intelligence agency in London to go to Germany and sound out Hitler’s resolve. Does he really intend to invade Czechoslovakia? Do his generals support him? Can the march to war be stopped?
As duty collides with conscience, fate will bring both men together. In a world wedded to violence and ambition, desperate steps must be taken. To avoid war a killing strike is needed.
The question is, who is the matador, who is the bull?
Estocada is part of the SPOILS OF WAR Collection, a thrilling, beguiling blend of fact and fiction born of some of the most tragic, suspenseful, and action-packed events of World War II. From the mind of highly acclaimed thriller author GRAHAM HURLEY, this blockbuster non-chronological collection allows the reader to explore Hurley’s masterful storytelling in any order, with compelling recurring characters whose fragmented lives mirror the war that shattered the globe.
Keane, J. Diamond[Текст] : thriller / J. Keane. – London : Hodder, 2022. – 533 p.
In the early years of the last century, a desperate young girl changes her name and flees the confines of her brutal, dominating gangland family in London. Now calling herself ‘Diamond Dupree’, she goes to Paris to become an artist’s model but the world there is different to what she had supposed it would be and she soon falls on hard times. When she manages to escape at the end of the First World War, she leaves behind her a mystery – and a dead man.
Back home in London, she reluctantly re-joins the Soho family ‘firm’ she’d once been glad to leave behind. Having grown tougher during her time in Paris, she soon becomes a force to be reckoned with, a feared and respected gangland queen. But then she meets Richard Beaumont, the youngest son of a wealthy aristocratic family, and sparks fly. But can she escape the long arm of the law and the hangman’s noose, when the crimes of her past finally catch up with her?
For fans of Martina Cole and Kimberley Chambers, as well as viewers of Peaky Blinders, this is historical crime fiction at its most compelling.
Taylor, J. Why Women are blamed for everything[Текст] : Exposing the Culture of Victim-Blaming / J. Taylor. – Great Britain : Constable, 2021. – 411 p.
She asked for it. She was flirting. She was drinking. She was wearing a revealing dress. She was too confident. She walked home alone. She stayed in that relationship. She was naive. She didn’t report soon enough. She didn’t fight back. She wanted it. She lied about it. She comes from a bad area. She was vulnerable. She should have known. She should have seen it coming. She should have protected herself.
The victim blaming of women is prevalent and normalised in society both in the UK, and around the world.
What is it that causes us to blame women who have been abused, raped, trafficked, assaulted or harassed by men? Why are we uncomfortable with placing all of the blame on the perpetrators for their crimes against women and girls?
Based on three years of doctoral research and ten years of practice with women and girls, Dr Jessica Taylor explores the many reasons we blame women for male violence committed against them. Written in her unique style and backed up by decades of evidence, this book exposes the powerful forces in society and individual psychology which compel us to blame women subjected to male violence.
Moreno-Garcia, S. Mexican Gothic[Текст] : the novel / S. Moreno-Garcia. – Great Britain : Jo Fletcher books, 2020. – 301 p.
He is trying to poison me. You must come for me, Noemi. You have to save me.
When glamorous socialite Noemi Taboada receives a frantic letter from her newlywed cousin begging to be rescued from a mysterious doom, it’s clear something is desperately amiss. Catalina has always had a flair for the dramatic, but her claims that her husband is poisoning her and her visions of restless ghosts seem remarkable, even for her.
Noemi’s more suited to cocktail parties than amateur sleuthing, but she heads immediately to High Place, a remote mansion in the Mexican countryside, determined to discover what is so affecting her cousin. She’s tough and smart, with an indomitable will, and she is not afraid: not of her cousin’s new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the ancient patriarch who is fascinated by Noemi; and not of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemi’s dreams with visions of blood and doom.
Her only ally in this inhospitable abode is the family’s youngest son. Shy and gentle, he wants to help — but he might also be hiding dark knowledge of his family’s past. For there are many secrets behind the walls of High Place. The family’s once colossal wealth and faded mining empire kept them from prying eyes, but as Noemi digs deeper she unearths stories of violence and madness.
And Noemi, mesmerised by the terrifying yet seductive world of High Place, may soon find it impossible to leave this enigmatic house behind…
Moreno-Garcia, S. Velvet was the Night[Текст] : the novel / S. Moreno-Garcia. – Great Britain : Jo Fletcher books, 2021. – 284 p.
1970s Mexico City: while student protests and political unrest consume the city, Maite seeks escape from her humdrum life in the stories of passion and danger filling the latest issue of Secret Romance.
She is deeply envious of her neighbour, a beautiful art student apparently living the life of excitement and intrigue Maite craves – so when Leonora disappears under suspicious circumstances, Maite finds herself searching for the missing woman, journeying deep into Leonora’s secret life of student radicals and dissidents.

‘Cements Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s incredible versatility as an amazing writer who moves between genres effortlessly. A lush, magnificent trip into a world of danger and discovery. Not to be missed!’ S.A. COSBY, author of BLACKTOP WASTELAND
But someone else is also looking for Leonora, at the behest of his boss, a shadowy figure who commands goon squads dedicated to squashing political activists. Elvis is an eccentric criminal who longs to escape his own life: he loathes violence and loves old movies and rock ‘n’ roll. Watching Maite from a distance, he comes to see her as a kindred spirit who shares his love of music and the unspoken loneliness of his heart.
As Maite and Elvis come closer to discovering the truth behind Leonora’s disappearance, they can no longer escape the dangers threatening to consume their lives, with hitmen, government agents and Russian spies all aiming to find or protect Leonora’s secrets – at gunpoint.
Velvet Was the Night: an edgy, passionate, simmering noir thriller from a writer at the very top of her game.
Grisham, J. Sparring partners[Текст] : [three thrilling stories of the law] / J. Grisham. – Great Britain : Hodder Stoughton, 2022. – 306 p.
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • John Grisham is the acknowledged master of the legal thriller. In his first collection of novellas, law is a common thread, but America’s favorite storyteller has several surprises in store.
“Homecoming” takes us back to Ford County, the fictional setting of many of John Grisham’s unforgettable stories. Jake Brigance is back, but he’s not in the courtroom. He’s called upon to help an old friend, Mack Stafford, a former lawyer in Clanton, who three years earlier became a local legend when he stole money from his clients, divorced his wife, filed for bankruptcy, and left his family in the middle of the night, never to be heard from again—until now. Now Mack is back, and he’s leaning on his old pals, Jake and Harry Rex, to help him return. His homecoming does not go as planned.
In “Strawberry Moon,” we meet Cody Wallace, a young death row inmate only three hours away from execution. His lawyers can’t save him, the courts slam the door, and the governor says no to a last-minute request for clemency. As the clock winds down, Cody has one final request.
The “Sparring Partners” are the Malloy brothers, Kirk and Rusty, two successful young lawyers who inherited a once prosperous firm when its founder, their father, was sent to prison. Kirk and Rusty loathe each other, and speak to each other only when necessary. As the firm disintegrates, the resulting fiasco falls into the lap of Diantha Bradshaw, the only person the partners trust. Can she save the Malloys, or does she take a stand for the first time in her career and try to save herself?
By turns suspenseful, hilarious, powerful, and moving, these are three of the greatest stories John Grisham has ever told.
Mukwege, Dr D. The Power of Women[Текст] : a doctor’s journey of hope and healing / Dr D. Mukwege. – New York : Flatiron Books, 2021. – 302 p. From Nobel laureate, world-renowned doctor, and noted human rights activist Dr. Denis Mukwege comes an inspiring clarion call-to-action to confront the scourge of sexual violence and better learn from women’s resilience, strength, and power.
At the heart of Dr. Mukwege’s message will be the voices of the many women he has worked with over the years. Dr. Mukwege will use individual cases to reassure all survivors that, even if their psychological wounds may never fully heal, they can recover and thrive with the right care and support.
Dr. Mukwege’s dramatic personal story is interwoven throughout as he explores the bigger issues that have become a focus of his advocacy. He will seek to explain why sexual violence is so often overlooked during war, and how governments need to recognize and compensate victims. He will also stress the importance of breaking down the taboos surrounding assault, and the necessity of building a system that supports women who come forward.
His words advocate for saying ‘no’ to indifference and he asks readers to reckon with the West’s involvement in perpetuating sexual violence in places like the Democratic Republic of Congo, and to confront the abuse taking place in their own communities.
Sexual violence does not occur in a vacuum. The conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has raged for over 20 years and has claimed an estimated 5 million lives, is inseparable from Western patriarchy and economic colonization. And this cycle of violence and spoils is not limited to Congo. Dr. Mukwege’s work has led him to South Korea, Latin America, the Middle East, and elsewhere in Africa, where he has found striking similarities in women’s testimonies.
The truth is, through the intricate ties of the global economy, we are all implicated in violence against women – whether it occurs amidst the fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo or on college campuses in the West. And Dr. Mukwege’s writing will address men as well, encouraging and guiding them to become allies in the fight against sexual abuse, in war and in peace.
Building more inclusive, gender-balanced societies will require developing what he calls “positive masculinity” – a systemic change in male behavior and attitudes towards women. Dr. Mukwege hopes to inspire other men to speak out and join the struggle, rather than leaving women to fight the battle alone. He will also make the case, drawing from his experience and a wealth of research on the topic, that when women are involved as economic and political decision makers, all of society benefits.
The Power of Women will illuminate the enduring strength of women in the face of violence and trauma, and give hope for the potential of individuals to turn the tide.
Brooks, B. The Impossible Boy[Текст] : the children’s novel / B. Brooks. – London : Quercus, 2019. – 279 p.
Believe in the impossible… A magical story celebrating the power of children’s imagination, from the bestselling author of STORIES FOR BOYS WHO DARE TO BE DIFFERENT Believe in the impossible… A magical story celebrating the power of imagination, from the bestselling author of STORIES FOR BOYS WHO DARE TO BE DIFFERENT.
Oleg and Emma entered their den to find a cardboard spaceship standing exactly where they usually sat. Slowly, the front door opened and out stepped a boy. ‘My name’s Sebastian Cole,’ he said. ‘But you already know that.’
When Oleg and Emma invent a new classmate called Sebastian, they are amazed when he appears – very much real – in their secret den.
Sebastian isn’t like the rest of their classmates. He’s never eaten pizza, he’s not sure what goose bumps are, and he has a satchel that seems to hold an endless supply of hot ice cream.
But as the trio begin their adventures, more impossible things keep happening, from a runaway goat appearing at school to a sighting of some snowwomen walking down the road. Things soon take a turn for the dangerous when the three friends are pursued by the mysterious Institute of Unreality, who want to capture and erase Sebastian, restoring order to the world.
With the help of a cowboy gardener, an imprisoned scientist, and the rest of their class, can Emma and Oleg protect their new friend and keep the magic of the impossible alive?
After inspiring countless young readers with tales of extraordinary people in the world around them, Ben Brooks’ first children’s novel is a magical adventure that celebrates friendship, the power of imagination, and ice cream.
Lo, M. A Scatter of Light[Текст] : the novel / M. Lo. – London : Coronet, 2022. – 324 p.
A Scatter of Light is a companion novel to the National Book Awards winner and New York Times bestseller Last Night at the Telegraph Club, and is about how the threads of family, inspiration, art, and identity are woven across generations.
Aria Tang West thought she’d be spending one last summer on Martha’s Vineyard with her friends before starting MIT in the fall, where she intends to study astronomy, like her late grandfather. But after topless photos of her are posted online, she’s abruptly uninvited from her friends’ summer homes.
Aria’s parents, a writer and opera singer with plans of their own, send Aria to stay with her artist grandmother, Joan West, in Northern California. Although Aria has never been attracted to girls before, she finds herself drawn to Joan’s gardener, Steph Nichols, an aspiring musician a few years older than Aria. The only problem? Steph isn’t single; she lives with her girlfriend, Lisa. But the chemistry between Aria and Steph seems undeniable, and this will be a summer that will turn her world upside down.
Andrew, K. The Whispering Dark[Текст] : the novel / K. Andrew. – London : Orion Publishing, 2022. – 386 p.
Delaney Meyers-Petrov is tired of being seen as fragile just because she’s Deaf. So when she’s accepted into a prestigious program at Godbole University that trains students to slip between parallel worlds, she’s excited for the chance to prove herself. But her semester gets off to a rocky start as she faces professors who won’t accommodate her disability, and a pretentious upperclassman, Colton Price, who seems determined to despise her.
Colton Price died when he was nine years old. Quite impossibly, he woke at the feet of a green-eyed little girl. When she told him to live, he obeyed. Now, twelve years later, Delaney has stumbled back into his orbit, but Colton’s been ordered to keep far away from the new girl… and the voices she hears calling to her from the shadows.
Delaney wants to keep her distance from Colton – she seems to be the only person on campus who finds him more arrogant than charming – yet after a Godbole student turns up dead, she and Colton are forced to form a tenuous alliance, plummeting down a rabbit-hole of deeply buried university secrets. But Delaney and Colton discover the cost of opening the doors between worlds when they find themselves up against something old and nameless, an enemy they need to destroy before it tears them – and their forbidden partnership – apart.
Leather, S. Fast Track[Текст] : action thriller / S. Leather. – London : Hodder & Stoughton, 2021. – 355 p. – (The Spider Shepherd Thrillers).
Who can you trust if you can’t trust the people tasked with protecting the nation?
Murderous jihadists have been crossing the English Channel, passing themselves off as asylum seekers. MI5 have been keeping them under surveillance, but what starts as a simple terrorist takedown goes badly wrong and dozens of innocent civilians are killed in the heart of London.
And the screw is tightened when a bomb takes out senior members of the Secret Intelligence Service.
Someone within the security services has been working to their own agenda, and only Dan ‘Spider’ Shepherd can identify the bad apple. His search for the rogue agent takes him to Turkey and then to Dubai, where his masters order him to carry out a breathtaking act of revenge.
Oswald, J. Nowhere to Run[Текст] : the novel, epic fantasy / J. Oswald. – London : Wildfire, 2021. – 296 p.
On compassionate leave following the death of her mother, Detective Constable Constance Fairchild thought renting a cottage near Aberystwyth, Wales would get her far enough from London to finally relax. But trouble always seems to find Con, and it’s not long before she is cooling off in a police station cell after defending herself from two would-be rapists.
In custody she meets a young Ukrainian woman, Lila, who confides in Con that she’s been forced by her manipulative boyfriend into prostitution and running drugs. Fearing for her life, she has run away from him, only to end up in the cells.
Con offers to help, but when her cottage is ransacked, and Lila subsequently disappears, she realises she’s stumbled into very dangerous company. International drug smugglers and ruthless people traffickers – those who will stop at nothing to protect their secrets. Out here at the end of the line, will Con find that there’s nowhere left to run?
Maniscalco, K. Kingdom of the Feared[Текст] . book 3 : the detective-mystery / K. Maniscalso. – London : Hodder Stoughton, 2022. – 404 p.
#1 New York Times bestselling author Kerri Maniscalco delivers sizzling romance, sexy secrets, and unexpected twists in this unforgettable conclusion to the Kingdom of the Wicked series.
Emilia is reeling from a shocking discovery about her sister, Vittoria. But before she faces the demons of her past, Emilia yearns to claim her king, the seductive Prince of Wrath, in the flesh. She doesn’t just desire his body; she wants his heart and soul-but that’s something the enigmatic demon can’t promise her.
When a high-ranking member of House Greed is assassinated, damning evidence somehow points to Vittoria as the murderer. Now, Emilia will do anything to get to the bottom of these accusations against the sister she thought she knew.
Together, Emilia and Wrath play a sin-fuelled game of deception to solve the murder and stop the unrest that’s brewing between witches, demons, shape-shifters, and the most treacherous foes of all: the Feared. Emilia was warned that when it came to the Wicked, nothing was as it seemed. But have the true villains been much closer all along?
Gordon L. The Hyacinth Girl[Текст] : T. S. Eliot’s Hidden Muse Kindle Edition / Gordon L. – London : Virago, 2022. – 496 p.
The revealing of the hidden muse – Emily Hale – the Hyacinth Girl of the famous The Waste Land poem – who influenced the life and art of TS Eliot.
Among the greatest of poets, T.S. Eliot protected his privacy while publicly associated with three women: two wives, Vivienne and Valerie, and a church-going companion, Mary Trevelyan. This presentation concealed a life-long love for an American: Emily Hale, a drama teacher who was the source of ‘memory and desire’ in The Waste Land; she is the Hyacinth Girl.
Drawing on the recently unsealed 1,131 letters Eliot wrote to Hale and suppressed in his lifetime, leading biographer Lyndall Gordon reveals both the hidden poet and the muse who was the first and consistently important woman of his life and art. Emily Hale was at the centre of a love drama he conceived and the inspiration for the lines he wrote to last beyond their time.
Griffiths, E. Bleeding heart yard[Текст] : the detective / E. Griffiths. – London : Quercus, 2022. – 340 p.
FROM THE #1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE DR RUTH GALLOWAY MYSTERIES
A propulsive new thriller set in London featuring Detective Harbinder Kaur. A murderer hides in plain sight – in the police.
DS Cassie Fitzherbert has a secret. When she was at school, she and her friends were responsible for the death of a fellow pupil. Decades later, Cassie is happily married and loves her job as a police officer.
Her husband persuades her to go to a school reunion and another ex-pupil, Garfield Rice, is found dead, supposedly from a drug overdose. As Garfield was an eminent MP and the investigation is high profile, it’s headed by Cassie’s new boss, DI Harbinder Kaur. Trouble is, Cassie can’t shake the feeling that one of her old friends is behind it. Is Cassie right, or was Garfield murdered by one of his political cronies? It’s in Cassie’s interest to skew the investigation so that it looks like the latter and she seems to be succeeding. Until someone else is killed…
George, E. Something to hide[Текст] : a lynley novel / E. George. – London : Hodder Stoughton, 2021. – 624 p.
Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers and Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley are back in the next Lynley novel from Sunday Times bestselling author Elizabeth George.
A Nigerian born detective sergeant working for the Metropolitan Police is found unconscious in her own flat and ends up in hospital where she dies of her injury. The post-mortem reveals that the subdural hematoma is the result of a blow to her head. DI Thomas Lynley, DS Barbara Havers and DS Winston Nkata are called in to investigate a case that touches upon not only the work and the life of the murdered detective but also upon a controversial cultural tradition that damages and often destroys the future of everyone it involves.
Middleton, Ant Red Mist[Текст] : the ultra-authentic and gripping action thriller / Ant Middleton. – London : Sphere, 2022. – 436 p.
Hiding out in a small village in France, ex-Special Forces veteran turned vigilante Mallory is trying to keep out of trouble, aware that there is a darkness within him that seeks out trouble – that enjoys it.
But one night in a bar he meets an old man afraid for his granddaughter, worried about the young man with whom she’s become involved.
Unable to resist the pull of action, and of helping a family in need, Mallory is quickly drawn into a turf war that it will take all his special skills to survive.
Tyldesley, J. prof. TUTANKHAMUN[Текст] : Pharaon. Icon. Enigma / J. Tyldesley. – London : Headline, 2022. – 294 p.
The discovery of King Tutankhamen’s tomb in 1922 was perhaps the world’s most important archaeological find. The only near-intact royal tomb to be preserved in the Valley of the Kings, it has supplied an astonishing wealth of artifacts, spurred a global fascination with ancient Egypt, and inspired folklore that continues to evolve today. Despite the tomb’s prominence, however, precious little has been revealed about Tutankhamen himself. In Tutankhamen , acclaimed Egyptologist Joyce Tyldesley unshrouds the enigmatic king. She explores his life and legacy as never before, and offers a compelling new window onto the world in which he lived. Tutankhamen ascended to the throne at approximately eight years of age and ruled for only ten years. Although his reign was brief and many of his accomplishments are now lost to us, it is clear that he was an important and influential king ruling in challenging times. His greatest achievement was to reverse a slew of radical and unpopular theological reforms instituted by his father and return Egypt to the traditional pantheon of gods. A meticulous examination of the evidence preserved both within his tomb and outside it allows Tyldesley to investigate Tutankhamen’s family history and to explore the origins of the pervasive legends surrounding Tutankhamen’s tomb. These legends include Tutankhamen’s”curse&rdquo- an enduring myth that reaffirms the appeal of ancient magic in our modern world A remarkably vivid portrait of this fascinating and often misunderstood ruler, Tutankhamen sheds new light on the young king and the astonishing archeological discovery that earned him an eternal place in popular imagination.
Campbell, J. Boyface and the Quantum Chromatic Disruption Machine[Текст] : 7 – 9 years / J. Campbell; il. V. Weighton. – London : Hodder, 2014. – 127 p.
Boyface Antelope has been waiting his whole life to turn ten and be allowed to enter his parents’ stripemongering shop so he can take stripes off animals and put them on something different. Like tartan onto badgers, or removing the stripes of zebras to make ponies. On the morning of his tenth birthday he finds his parents ill, and they ask him not just to go in the shop but to look after it on his own! Will he be able to keep the stripemongery running smoothly?
Dennis, H. H G Wells’ The time machine[Текст] : a story / H. Dennis; Illustrated by Louise Tolton. – Abingdon : RISING STARS, 2019. – 56 p. – (Classics).
The Time Machine is a science fiction novella by H. G. Wells, published in 1895 and written as a frame narrative. The work is generally credited with the popularization of the concept of time travel by using a vehicle that allows an operator to travel purposely and selectively forwards or backwards in time. The term “time machine”, coined by Wells, is now almost universally used to refer to such a vehicle.
Kelly, E. We Know You Know[Текст] : the thriller / E. Kelly. – London : Hodder and Stoughton, 2020. – 342 p.
I heard the swish of falling paper. I grazed my knuckles retrieving a beige folder, its grubby white ribbon loose. Looping doctor’s handwriting. Addresses. Dates. Names. Photographs! I had found the patients whose notes would bring the past back to life.’
A lifetime ago, a patient escaped Nazareth mental asylum. They covered their tracks carefully. Or so they thought.
Thirty years ago, Marianne Smy committed a crime then fled from her home to leave the past behind. Or so she thought.
Now, Marianne has been forced to return. Nazareth asylum has been converted to luxury flats, but its terrible hold on her is still strong. A successful academic, a loving mother and a loyal wife, she fears her secret being revealed and her world shattering.
She is right to be scared.
Turney, S. Masters of Rome[Текст] : the novel / S. Turney; G. Doherty. – London : Head Zeus, 2021. – 403 p. – (Rise of Emperors book 2).
The story of Constantine and Maxentius, two ambitious young men, two brilliant generals, two friends destined to fight to the death as they strive to become Emperor of Rome. The second instalment of the trilogy.
Their rivalry will change the world forever. As competition for the imperial throne intensifies, Constantine and Maxentius realise their childhood friendship cannot last. Each man struggles to control their respective quadrant of empire, battered by currents of politics, religion and personal tragedy, threatened by barbarian forces and enemies within. With their positions becoming at once stronger and more troubled, the strained threads of their friendship begin to unravel. Unfortunate words and misunderstandings finally sever their ties, leaving them as bitter opponents in the greatest game of all, with the throne of Rome the prize. It is a matter that can only be settled by outright war… ‘A page turner from beginning to end… A damn fine read’ Ben Kane, author of Lionheart (on Sons of Rome) ‘The Rise of Emperors series is first-rate Roman fiction. Doherty and Turney each breathe life into their respective characters with insight and humanity’ Matthew Harffy, author of Wolf of Wessex ‘A nuanced portrait of an intriguing emperor’ The Times (on Turney’s Commodus) ‘A meticulously researched and vivid reimagining of an almost forgotten civilisation’ Douglas Jackson, author of Hero of Rome (on Doherty’s Empires of Bronze) ‘An intriguing and highly polished piece of historical fiction’ James Tivendale from Grimdark (on Sons of Rome)
Farnaby, S. Wizard in my shed[Текст] = The misadventures of MERDYN the WILD : the magical story / S. Farnaby. – London : Hodder and Stoughton, 2020. – 374 p.
Merdyn the Wild is from the Dark Ages. He’s the world’s greatest Warlock (don’t call him a wizard), banished to the 21st century for bad behaviour, and he’s about to create a whole load of trouble for Rose, aged 12.
Rose is a totally ordinary girl, on a mission to mend her broken family.
Bubbles is Rose’s guinea pig. He just poos a lot.
When Rose bumps into Merdyn and discovers what he is, she quickly realises that he could be just what she needs. Rose agrees to help Merdyn navigate the confusing ways of the modern world (things like: the lidded bowl in the bathroom is NOT a sink, it’s a TOILET, so definitely DON’T wash your face in it) if Merdyn gives her a spell to fix her family in return.
Now they just need to hide him in the shed without Rose’s mum noticing, track down Merdyn’s magic staff and find a way to send Merdyn back through time to the Dark Ages. What could possibly go wrong…?
From the writer of the Paddington 2 movie and writer and star of Horrible Histories, this hilariously silly, heartfelt adventure with a historical twist is perfect for fans of David Walliams and David Baddiel.
Perkins-Valdez, D. Take my hand[Текст] : the novel / D. Perkins-Valdez. – London : Phoenix, 2022. – 359 p.
Montgomery, Alabama 1973. Fresh out of nursing school, Civil Townsend has big plans to make a difference, especially in her African American community. At the Montgomery Family Planning Clinic, she intends to help women make their own choices for their lives and bodies.
But when her first week on the job takes her down a dusty country road to a worn down one-room cabin, she’s shocked to learn that her new patients are children—just 11 and 13 years old. Neither of the Williams sisters has even kissed a boy, but they are poor and Black and for those handling the family’s welfare benefits that’s reason enough to have the girls on birth control. As Civil grapples with her role, she takes India, Erica and their family into her heart. Until one day, she arrives at the door to learn the unthinkable has happened and nothing will ever be the same for any of them.
Decades later, with her daughter grown and a long career in her wake, Dr. Civil Townsend is ready to retire, to find her peace and to leave the past behind. But there are people and stories that refuse to be forgotten.That must not be forgotten.
Because history repeats what we don’t remember.
Fitzpatrick, N. Vetman and his bionic animal clan[Текст] : children’s book / N. Fitzpatrick. – London : Hodder, 2021. – 328 p.
Vetman lives in a cottage outside a sleepy English village, where nobody realises that he’s saving animals in incredible, bionic ways – except the animals themselves, of course!
But trouble is brewing… because Vetman’s old foe, The Man With No Name, has set up camp nearby and plans to poison dogs and cats across the land, ruining Christmas for everyone.
Imogen and Findlay stumble across an injured hedgehog and take him to Vetman’s door, they have no idea that they are about to embark on an important mission to save more than just their spiky new friend.
Together with Vetman and his brave bionic animal clan, they must take down The Man With No Name!
This is the perfect Christmas escapade for animal and adventure lovers everywhere, in a bright, fun hardback package ideal for gifting. It is Noel Fitzpatrick’s first book for younger readers, following his Sunday Times Bestselling memoirs Listening to the Animals: Becoming the Supervet and How Animals Saved My Life: Being the Supervet. Black-and-white illustrations bring the story to life.
Beaton, M.C. Agatha Raisin and the Witches’ Tree[Текст] / M.C. Beaton. – London : Coryright, 2017. – 232 p.
The Witches’ Tree continues the tradition in M. C. Beaton’s beloved Agatha Raisin mystery series―now a hit show on Acorn TV and public television.
Cotswolds inhabitants are used to inclement weather, but the night sky is especially foggy as Rory and Molly Devere, the new vicar and his wife, drive slowly home from a dinner party in their village of Sumpton Harcourt. They strain to see the road ahead―and then suddenly brake, screeching to a halt. Right in front of them, aglow in the headlights, a body hangs from a gnarled tree at the edge of town. Margaret Darby, an elderly spinster, has been murdered―and the villagers are bewildered as to who would commit such a crime.
Agatha Raisin rises to the occasion (a little glad for the excitement, to tell the truth, after a long run of lost cats and divorces on the books). But Sumpton Harcourt is a small and private village, she finds―a place that poses more questions than answers. And when two more murders follow the first, Agatha begins to fear for her reputation―and even her life. That the village has its own coven of witches certainly doesn’t make her feel any better…
Beaton, M.C. Agatha Raisin and the Witches’ Tree[Текст] / M.C. Beaton. – London : Coryright, 2017. – 232 p.
Cotswolds inhabitants are used to inclement weather, but the night sky is especially foggy as Rory and Molly Devere, the new vicar and his wife, drive slowly home from a dinner party in their village of Sumpton Harcourt. They strain to see the road ahead―and then suddenly brake, screeching to a halt. Right in front of them, aglow in the headlights, a body hangs from a gnarled tree at the edge of town. Margaret Darby, an elderly spinster, has been murdered―and the villagers are bewildered as to who would commit such a crime.
Agatha Raisin rises to the occasion (a little glad for the excitement, to tell the truth, after a long run of lost cats and divorces on the books). But Sumpton Harcourt is a small and private village, she finds―a place that poses more questions than answers. And when two more murders follow the first, Agatha begins to fear for her reputation―and even her life. That the village has its own coven of witches certainly doesn’t make her feel any better…
McKinty, A. The Island[Текст] : the novel / A. McKinty. – London : Orion Publishing, 2022. – 375 p.
IT WAS JUST SUPPOSED TO BE A FAMILY VACATION.
A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT CHANGED EVERYTHING.
YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE CAPABLE OF UNTIL THEY COME FOR YOUR FAMILY.
After moving from a small country town to Seattle, Heather Baxter marries Tom, a widowed doctor with a young son and teenage daughter. A working vacation overseas seems like the perfect way to bring the new family together, but once they’re deep in the Australian outback, the jet-lagged and exhausted kids are so over their new mom.
When they discover remote Dutch Island, off-limits to outside visitors, the family talks their way onto the ferry, taking a chance on an adventure far from the reach of iPhones and Instagram.
But as soon as they set foot on the island, which is run by a tightly knit clan of locals, everything feels wrong. Then a shocking accident propels the Baxters from an unsettling situation into an absolute nightmare.
When Heather and the kids are separated from Tom, they are forced to escape alone, seconds ahead of their pursuers.
Now it’s up to Heather to save herself and the kids, even though they don’t trust her, the harsh bushland is filled with danger, and the locals want her dead.
Heather has been underestimated her entire life, but she knows that only she can bring her family home again and become the mother the children desperately need, even if it means doing the unthinkable to keep them all alive.
Dorn, E. Gunslinger[Текст] : poetry, prose / E. Dorn. – Durham : Duke University Press Books, 2022.
This fiftieth anniversary edition commemorates Edward Dorn’s masterpiece, Gunslinger, a comic, anti-epic critique of American capitalism that still resonates today. Set in the American West, the Gunslinger, his talking horse Claude Lévi-Strauss, a saloon madam named Lil, and the narrator called “I” set out in search of the billionaire Howard Hughes. As they travel along the Rio Grande to Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, and finally on to Colorado, they are joined by a whole host of colorful characters: Dr. Jean Flamboyant, Kool Everything, and Taco Desoxin and his partner Tonto Pronto. During their adventures and hijinks, as captured in Dorn’s multilayered, absurd, and postmodern voice, they joke and smoke their way through debates about the meaning of existence. Put simply, Gunslinger is an American classic.
In a new foreword Marjorie Perloff discusses Gunslinger’s continued relevance to contemporary politics. This new edition also includes a critical essay by Michael Davidson and Charles Olson’s idiosyncratic “Bibliography on America for Ed Dorn,” which he wrote to provide guidance for Dorn’s study of, and writing about, the American West.
Jackson, T. What’s that rock or mineral?[Текст] / T. Jackson. – London : Dorling Kindersley, 2014. – 128 p.
A pocket field guide with beautiful photographs of over 140 of the commonest and most interesting rocks and minerals
The ideal pocket guide for beginners
If you have trouble distinguishing slate from shale or tourmaline from garnet, then this is the book for you. Perfect for beginners, and a handy field guide for the amateur geologist, What’s That Rock or Mineral? beautifully pictures more than 140 rocks and minerals, from agate to tourmaline, and highlights the characteristics that will help you to identify them.
For nature lovers everywhere, What’s That…? books are compact, portable identification guides that offer a uniquely accessible visual approach. Designed for beginners, but also handy for a more experienced naturalist, What’s That …? titles are indispensable pocket guides that give you around 150 of the most common and interesting types and show you how to tell them apart.
Andersen, H.C. A Story from the Dunes and other tales[Текст] / H.C. Andersen; translated with an afterword by P. Binding. – London : Angel Books, 2018. – 122 p.
This novella, an eye-opener for all readers of Andersen, is one of his later narratives addressed to an adult readership, uniting the immediacy of the fairy-tale and the novel’s concern with social perspectives. Published in 1859 (as was On the Origin of Species) it movingly joins the debate between science- and faith-based interpretations of human existence. The story follows the restless life of its central character, of noble Spanish parentage, born on the remote sand dunes of the Jutland peninsula after a shipwreck in which his mother dies, and brought up by fishing folk in ignorance of his origins. Three shorter stories, including Andersen’s elegiac last tale, present the everyday world with gentle fantasy.
Waldon, L. From the Jump[Текст] : the love hypothesis / L. Waldon. – London : Piatkus, 2022. – 338 p.
From the wild, wonderful landscapes of South Africa to the sun-soaked streets of Southern California, Liv must decide what’s more important – love or friendship – unless, of course, she can figure out how to have both . . .

Liv has spent her whole life doing what’s expected of her, not what she wants. Determined not to turn out like her mother, Liv plans every day, every decision, to perfection.
But one day, Liv snaps: instead of her usual ‘yes’, she finds herself saying ‘no’. And it feels good – so good she wonders if being happy is more important than being perfect.
Quitting her job and jumping into her newfound freedom with both feet, she spontaneously decides to join her group of friends on their holiday in South Africa. But in that group is Lucas – gorgeous and emotionally unavailable Lucas. Their friendship is the one thing in her life that’s still solid and Liv knows she can’t mess it up – even if it means missing out on the one thing she truly wants…
Judkins, R. Make Brilliant Work[Текст] : From Picasso to Steve Jobs, How to Unlock Your Creativity and Succeed / R. Judkins. – London : Macmilan, 2021. – 317 p.
How do we rate work?
It’s good, it’s bad or it’s brilliant.
What response does your work usually get? Be honest.
This book will help you make your work brilliant.
You don’t have to be brilliant to produce brilliant work. Many of the characters you will meet in this book failed at school, lacked natural talent, were not especially gifted or were repeatedly sacked. But their methods produced brilliant work – and they will work for you, too. Make Brilliant Work is the essential book from Rod Judkins, author of the international bestseller The Art of Creative Thinking.
Whether you are a business or an individual, you might find it hard to produce something significant and important. The real-life heroes in this book will show you how to make the transformation from ordinary to extraordinary. From Roald Dahl to Steven Spielberg, and star architect Zaha Hadid: the figures in Make Brilliant Work will show you how to think for yourself, take risks and persevere to create brilliant work.
Spotswood, S. Murder under her skin[Текст] : the novel / S. Spotswood. – London : Doubleday, 2022. – 352 p. – (A Pentecost and Parker Mystery).
Someone’s put a blade in the back of the Amazing Tattooed Woman, and Willowjean “Will” Parker’s former knife-throwing mentor has been stitched up for the crime. To uncover the truth, Will and her boss, world-famous detective Lillian Pentecost, travel to the circus, where they find a snake pit of old grudges, small-town crime, and secrets worth killing for.
Will called Hart & Halloway’s Traveling Circus and Sideshow home for five years, and Ruby Donner, the circus’s tattooed ingenue, was her friend. To make matters worse, the prime suspect is Valentin Kalishenko, the man who taught Will everything she knows about putting a knife where it needs to go.
To uncover the real killer and keep Kalishenko from a date with the electric chair, Will and Ms. Pentecost join the circus in sleepy Stoppard, Virginia, where the locals like their cocktails mild, the past buried, and big-city detectives not at all. The two swiftly find themselves lost in a funhouse of lies as Will begins to realize that her former circus compatriots aren’t playing it straight, and that her murdered friend might have been hiding a lot of secrets beneath all that ink.
Tuten, T. L. Principles of Marketing for a Digital Age[Текст] / T. L. Tuten. – London : Sage Publication Ltd, 2020. – 466 p.
Principles of Marketing for a Digital Age introduces students to the essential concepts and tools for marketing in a digital age. The new Second Edition retains a strong focus on digital and social media marketing and has been updated to include cutting-edge coverage on the implications of Covid-19 on consumer behavior. Greater emphasis has been placed on sustainability, diversity, and inclusion, providing readers with the skills needed to become an ethical and socially-minded marketer.
Green, A. Knead Peace[Текст] = Bake for Ukraine : Recipes from the world’s best bakers in support of Ukraine / A. Green. – London : Octopus Publishing, 2022. – 191 p.
Inspired by the resilient spirit of Anna Makievska and The Bakehouse, Kyiv, who have continued to bake day and night throughout the conflict, Knead Peace is a unique collection of beautiful bakes in support of Ukraine. Donated by esteemed bakeries from across the globe, they include sweet and savoury breads, indulgent cakes and cookies, and delicious pies and tarts.
McKay, S. 50 Codes that Changed the World[Текст] / S. McKay. – London : Headlinedon, 2023. – 391 p.
There have been secret codes since before the Old Testament, and there were secret codes in the Old Testament too. Almost as soon as writing was invented, so too were the devious means to hide messages and keep them under the wraps of secrecy.
In 50 Codes that Changed the World, Sinclair McKay explores these uncrackable codes, secret cyphers and hidden messages from across time to tell a new history of a secret world. From the temples of Ancient Greece to the court of Elizabeth I; from antique manuscripts whose codes might hold prophecies of doom to the modern realm of quantum mechanics, you will see how a few concealed words could help to win wars, spark revolutions and even change the faces of great nations.
Here is the complete guide to the hidden world of codebreaking, with opportunities for you to see if you could have cracked some of the trickiest puzzles and lip-chewing codes ever created.
Ivens, S. The Zen Mama[Текст] : your guilt-free guide to raising brave, kind children / S. Ivens. – London : Piatkus, 2020. – 223 p. Let go of parenting expectations and fears to raise courageous, confident children.
The Zen Mama philosophy is that mother and child complement each other in adventures and experiences, always putting safety first but without getting caught up in the anxieties, drama, impossible expectations and mental baggage that too often comes along with modern parenting. Learning to become a Zen Mama will help you grow and nurture a Zen Child – someone who isn’t afraid to be different, who can stand up for himself or his friends, and can travel the world and experiment with new things without being overwhelmed with self-doubt or being scared.
Full of facts, actionable advice and practical tips, this book will be about combining the heart and the head with what works for you and your family, not comparing yourselves to others or meeting a societal standard. It will support and nurture the mother’s journey like a wise and sympathetic friend and offers ideas and experience rather than judgement.
The Zen Mama will help you to find your purpose as a mother. It will instil the self-belief you need to help create a resilient, creative, caring and smart child – and help to survive the journey.