New books

When Detective Kim Stone is woken before dawn because local journalist Tracy Frost wants to show her a message, she's not impressed. But her blood turns cold when she reads the note. She has 36 hours to follow a trail set by an anonymous challenger. If she fails, people will die. Kim's gut tells her this is no hoax. She summons her team, desperate to prevent what lies ahead. With minutes to spare, they solve the first cryptic clue. It leads to a box hidden deep in the woods, containing a second clue and a tape. As she listens to the recording of a heart-wrenching scream, Kim knows her enemy will go to any lengths to achieve his goals - and that she must draw on all her experience of evil men to understand what is driving him. Refusing to blindly follow orders, Kim and the team turn the killer's clues against him, using evidence buried deep in the tapes to find where he's hiding his victim.

It starts with a class in an old movie theatre. Folklore 517: Local Legends and Urban Myths, taught by a woman called the Professor. Most students believe the Professor's stories are just fiction. There isn't a man in Hollywood who you can call to find out the time you'll die. There's not a haunted hotel bar in Los Angeles that the devil likes to frequent. There's no such thing as magic. But most students don't have the same tragic past as Holland St. James. Now a graduate student, Holland is hoping to use her thesis to rewrite her past by proving that some of the most infamous deaths in old Hollywood were actually murders committed by the devil. She has no idea that this quest will lead her into a deadly world of century-old secrets and unimaginable lies and onto the path of two very dangerous men, both of whom are willing to do whatever it takes to find a magic that will either forever alter Holland's life or completely destroy it.

Becky is stranded at the airport, so when she bumps into her brother's best friend, Will, and he suggests they drive home together, Becky reluctantly agrees. For the first time, Becky is dreading Christmas, and only Will knows why. Can she trust him to keep her secret? Her twin sister Rosie married Declan after a whirlwind romance, and now the cracks are starting to appear. Rosie and Declan have agreed to hide their problems from her family, but Rosie's insecurities are growing. Will this Christmas bring them closer or drive them apart? Hayley can't wait for her first Balfour family Christmas with Jamie. The Balfour Christmas traditions sound wonderful, but she's worried about her place in this close-knit family. Will there be room for her too? And how will they react to the secret she and Jamie have been keeping? Despite everyone's best intentions, all the chaos and confusion could derail their normally happy holidays.

At Ravendale Castle, nestled in the snowy heart of the Lake District, Lara is busy preparing for the Winter Spectacular - a glittering light trail that will fill the grounds with the magic of Christmas. It's the perfect distraction from her recent heartbreak until Flynn, the ruggedly handsome technical manager, arrives and sparks start to fly. Flynn is determined to prove he's worth taking a chance on. But just as Lara begins to believe in love again, someone from Flynn's past arrives at the castle, bringing a secret that could tear them apart. As Christmas draws closer, can Lara and Flynn take a leap of faith toward the happily ever after they've always wanted?

Get ready for puberty and all its thrills and spills with this handy guide! The core scientific information is balanced with plenty of guidance on how to take the best care of yourself during puberty, both physically and emotionally, and includes fun features and activities, including mini-quizzes, 'It's not just you!' facts and true or false panels. Funny, cartoon-style illustration keeps the mood and message of the books light and positive, and is complimented by a clever design with bold typography.

Get ready for puberty and all its thrills and spills with this handy guide! The core scientific information is balanced with plenty of guidance on how to take the best care of yourself during puberty, both physically and emotionally, and includes fun features and activities, including mini-quizzes, 'It's not just you!' facts and true or false panels. Funny, cartoon-style illustration keeps the mood and message of the books light and positive, and is complimented by a clever design with bold typography.

Allen Carr's 'Easyway' method is a global phenomenon - a clinically proven and 100% drug-free treatment for nicotine addiction. This book is the most up-to-date, cutting-edge, best-practice version of this method. It now includes advice on important contemporary issues such as vaping, cannabis, JUUL, the association between smoking and self-harm & anxiety, the dopamine issue, and more advice about habitual triggers. Through following this method, you will not only be set free from your smoking or vaping addiction but you will also find it easy and even enjoyable to quit.

Clouds, rainbows, snowflakes - they all come from somewhere. But how did they get there? Why is a rainbow so colourful? Why is a tornado so swirly? And why is a raindrop shaped like a hamburger? This title answers all of these questions about the weather and many more, in hilarious comic-book style.

Charlie Mackesy's four unlikely friends are wandering through the wilds again. They're not sure what they are looking for. They do know that life can be difficult, but that they love each other, and cake is often the answer. When the dark clouds come, can the boy remember what he needs to get through the storm?

This trauma becomes the defining moment in the lives of Josephina, her daughter Sithera, and her granddaughter Annie. The effects cascade through generations as Annie sets out across the world to discover what happened to split up her family. Set in Sri Lanka, Singapore, New Zealand, Australia and London, this is a novel about family, displacement, secrets, and how the past lives with us forever. Written in sensuous, vivid prose, 'Amma' tells the story of the rich history and unknown future of the Sri Lankan diaspora - and of one family desperately trying to find peace.

With the awakening of fire-breathing dragons, Among the Burning Flowers sees the first sparks of danger that threaten to consume the world in The Priory of the Orange Tree. Take your first steps into the epic. Yscalin, land of sunshine and lavender, will soon be ablaze. It has been centuries since the Draconic Army took wing, almost extinguishing humankind. Marosa Vetalda is a prisoner in her own home, controlled by her cold father, King Sigoso. Over the mountains, her betrothed, Aubrecht Lievelyn, rules Mentendon in all but name. Together, they intend to usher in a better world. A better world seems impossibly distant to Estina Melaugo, who hunts the Draconic beasts that have slept across the world for centuries. And now the great wyrm Fýredel is stirring, and Yscalin will be the first to fall . . . A story of human resilience in the face of dire circumstances, Among the Burning Flowers leads readers through the gripping and tragic events that pave the way for the opening of the million-copy bestseller The Priory of The Orange Tree. Richly illustrated with magical artwork by Rovina Cai (@rovinacai).

Have you ever heard of a worker ant who can't decide what job she wants to do? The other ants think Anita is lazy, but she just can't decide what job she wants to do. When her sister takes her to the colony job fair, she discovers the huge range of jobs inside the anthill and around it, but that just gives her a taste for adventure - now she's going to find out about the REALLY amazing ant-jobs and report back. Accidentally, she's found her perfect role.

This début collection of stories opens up the lives of characters whose worlds seethe with obsession and dark tension. Set in Ireland and the deep South of America, they reveal lives where dreams, memory and chance can lead to crippling effects.

Celaena Sardothien is Adarlan’s most feared assassin. As part of the Assassins' Guild, her allegiance is to her master, Arobynn Hamel, yet Celaena listens to no one and trusts only her fellow killer-for-hire, Sam.In these action-packed prequel novellas – together in one edition for the first time – Celaena embarks on five daring missions. They take her from remote islands to hostile deserts, where she fights to liberate slaves and seeks to avenge the tyrannous. But she is acting against Arobynn’s orders and could suffer an unimaginable punishment for such treachery . . . Explore the dark underworld of this kick-ass heroine and find out how the legend begins in the five page-turning prequel novellas to the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series.

Who will Suki be today? Peek inside the box and play! Toddlers will love discovering who Suki Cat will become at the start of each story, before joining in with her dressing-up adventure - where she always saves the day! In 'Astronaut', Suki Cat puts on her spacesuit and zooms to the moon! But as she lands, she spots an alien in trouble. He's stuck in his spaceship and needs help! Can Suki come to the rescue?

The festive season is fast approaching. Jane Austen fears that without her siblings at home, there won't be much Christmas cheer in the Austen household this year. But when she uncovers a skeleton in the cellar of Deane Parsonage, Jane soon forgets her woes. Who needs merriment, when there's a mystery to solve? Her investigation leads her to the legend of a young bride who's long been thought to haunt the woods nearby. After fleeing her wedding breakfast, the bride was never seen again. Has Jane found her at last? Or is there more to this mystery than meets the eye? Tis the season for Jane to embark upon festive delights, making merry, and solving murders.

Your baby and you can learn how to understand each other using Baby Sign language in this book. Developed with Baby Sign Language consultant, Dr Etel Leit, this board book is an excellent tool to facilitate communication between parents and babies from as young as six months old.

When Detective Kim Stone races to the crime scene, there is no body waiting for her: the paramedics are desperately trying to save the victim's life. But there was something very strange about the way the man was found, his arms raised above his head, his legs spread apart. When he dies on the way to the hospital, Kim is certain she's on the hunt for a killer - but all evidence at the scene has been destroyed. Then another man is found on the verge of death, his bones broken to force him into an unnatural shape. The team realise the killer is sending a message - the victims' bodies are spelling out their sins. As boys, they were both part of a group of six who bragged about their terrible crimes. But they were children then, and when she sees the grief on the faces of their loved ones now, Kim swears to find answers. Is someone finally getting revenge - or do they think these men are still dangerous?

A local MP is murdered by a far-right extremist gang in Snowdonia. DI Ruth Hunter must protect a key witness - but things quickly spiral out of control.