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The Strange Case of the Moderate Extremists: A Detective Varg Story
by Alexander McCall SmithFrom the beloved and bestselling author of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series comes an introductory story to the new series about a Swedish police department tasked with solving the most unusual, complicated, and, often, insignificant crimes. This is the precursor to The Department of Sensitive Crimes novel, first in the Detective Varg series.The detectives who work in Malmo police's Department of Sensitive Crimes take their job very seriously. The lead detective, Ulf Varg, prioritizes his cases above even his dog's mental health. Then there are detectives Anna Bengsdotter, who keeps her relationship with Varg professional even as she realizes she's developing feelings for him . . . or at least for his classic Saab; and Carl Holgersson, first to arrive in the morning and last to leave, who likes nothing more than filling out paperwork, and finally, there's Erik Nykvist, who is deeply committed to fly fishing. In this e-short the Department of Sensitive Crimes takes on two cases. The first concerns leaks to the media of confidential plans from within the populist Moderate Extremist party of Sweden, of which Ulf's brother happens to the leader... And the second concerns the unplanned pregancy (sabotage?) of a champion Burmese show cat. Using his renowned wit and warmth, Alexander McCall Smith brings a unique perspective on Scandinavian crime. Equal parts hilarious and heartening, The Strange Case of the Moderate Extremists speaks to modern issues of our time: political extremism and evolving social mores, as well as introducing us to a clever, slightly tortured, irresistible new sleuth and his compellingly quirky colleagues.
The Strange Disappearance of a Bollywood Star (Baby Ganesh Agency Investigation #3)
by Vaseem KhanMumbai is a city that thrives on extravagant spectacles and larger-than-life characters.But as Chopra is about to discover, even in the city of dreams, there is no guarantee of a happy ending.Rising star and incorrigible playboy Vikram Verma has disappeared, leaving his latest film in jeopardy. Hired by Verma's formidable mother to find him, Inspector Chopra and his sidekick, baby elephant Ganesha, embark on a journey deep into the world's most flamboyant movie industry.As they uncover feuding stars, failed investments and death threats, it seems that many people have a motive for wanting Verma out of the picture.And yet, as Chopra has long suspected, in Bollywood the truth is often stranger than fiction...
The Strange Grave of Mikey Dunbar: and Other Stories to Make You Poop Your Pants
by Jeremy JohnA creepy collection of spooky short stories perfect for reading out loud any time you want the fun of a good fright.Boo! See, scared you already. This collection of short, spooky stories is perfect for reading out loud on Halloween night, at a sleepover, or around the campfire. Jeremy John takes you on a frightening trip to the past, where Wild West criminals meet the hangman and brave knights battle monsters in the forest, through to today, where young vampires find victims through dating apps and spirits possess smart speakers.Turn out the lights, grab a flashlight, hide under the blankets, and enjoy the fun frights of ghosts who feed on trick-or-treating kids, a pumpkin patch that hides a terrible secret, and who — or what — is buried in the grave of Mikey Dunbar.
The Stranger
by Elizabeth LaneLaura Shafton a fearful widow and a scarred beauty. So A terrifying encounter with a band of desperados left when a tall, dark stranger came knocking on her door,she greeted him with a rifle—cocked and loaded.Every instinct told her to turn Caleb McCurdy away—his hard body hid a warm heart that melted all her fearsexcept she needed a man's help. Soon Laura discovered away. But the dark places in Caleb's past would dividethem, unless Laura could learn a tough lessonabout forgiveness.
The Stranger City Caper: The Chance Purdue Series - Book Three (The Chance Purdue Mysteries #3)
by Ross H. SpencerFrom the author of The Dada Caper: Chicago private detective Chance Purdue learns that nothing good comes from working for the mob—except cold hard cash. A quick and easy buck sounds good to PI Chance Purdue. But the paycheck seems to be a bit harder to earn when the job entails more than just looking into a minor league baseball team in southern Illinois. His new client, the gangster Cool Lips Chericola, is definitely leaving out details. Enter Brandy Alexander, whose unexpected appearance in Stranger City, Illinois, complicates things. Then throw in the Bobby Crackers Blitzkrieg for Christ religious crusade, and you&’ve got a super-charged powder keg of a caper, with Chance holding both the match and the barrel. Praise for Ross H. Spencer&’s The Dada Caper &“Parodies of the private‐eye novel come and go. Here is The Dada Caper by Ross H. Spencer. It has every cliché down pat, including rat-tat-tat writing in which paragraphs are seldom more than one sentence. . . . The hero is a private eye who is always tailing the wrong people and hitting the wrong guys. The Dada Caper is wild, shrewd, mad and unexpectedly funny.&” —The New York Times
The Stranger Times: (The Stranger Times 1) (The Stranger Times #1)
by C. K. McDonnellSTOP PRESS! The Stranger Times wins the 2023 British Fantasy Award for Best Audio Work! 'Wonderfully dark, extremely funny' proclaimed ADAM KAY, author of the No.1 bestselling This is Going to Hurt'A filmic romp with great characters, a jet-propelled plot, and a winning premise' said the GUARDIANJASON MANFORD thinks it's 'Hilarious. You'll never look at Manchester the same way again.'The Chronicles of St Mary's series author JODI TAYLOR declared 'I loved this . . . great premise - great story - great characters . . . hugely enjoyable.'And THE TIMES called it 'ripping entertainment from start to finish.'There are dark forces at work in our world (and in Manchester in particular), so thank God The Stranger Times is on hand to report them . . . A weekly newspaper dedicated to the weird and the wonderful (but mostly the weird), it is the go-to publication for the unexplained and inexplicable.At least that's their pitch. The reality is rather less auspicious. Their editor is a drunken, foul-tempered and foul-mouthed husk of a man who thinks little of the publication he edits. His staff are a ragtag group of misfits. And as for the assistant editor . . . well, that job is a revolving door - and it has just revolved to reveal Hannah Willis, who's got problems of her own.When tragedy strikes in her first week on the job The Stranger Times is forced to do some serious investigating. What they discover leads to a shocking realisation: some of the stories they'd previously dismissed as nonsense are in fact terrifyingly real. Soon they come face-to-face with darker forces than they could ever have imagined.The Stranger Times is the first novel from C.K. McDonnell, the pen name of Caimh McDonnell. It combines his distinctive dark wit with his love of the weird and wonderful to deliver a joyous celebration of how truth really can be stranger than fiction.Readers love The Stranger Times:***** 'A delight from start to finish - laugh out loud funny yet with plenty of thrills.'***** 'Full of wit and humour, and knows how to keep the reader hooked.'***** 'You'll soon fall in love . . . fans of Pratchett, Gaiman, Aaronovich will be blown away.'The Stranger Times and This Charming Man shortlisted for a 'Dead Good Reader Award' - the 'The New Kid on the Block Award for Best New Series'!
The Stray
by Molly RuttanAdopting an extraterrestrial leads to hilariously mixed results!When a family goes for a stroll one morning and encounters an adorable little creature with no collar or tag (who just happens to be sitting in the wreckage of an unidentified crash-landed object), they happily adopt the lovable stray. They name him Grub and set about training him, but that works surprisingly . . . poorly. Taking him for a walk is an unexpected adventure, too. As hard as they try to make Grub feel at home, it's just not working. Could he already have a family of his own? Maybe he isn't really a stray, after all--just lost. But how on earth will they be able to find his family when he seems to come from somewhere . . . out of this world?
The Stray Shopping Carts of Eastern North America: A Guide to Field Identification
by Julian MontagueA taxonomy we didn’t know we needed for identifying and cataloging stray shopping carts by artist and photographer Julian Montague. Abandoned shopping carts are everywhere, and yet we know so little about them. Where do they come from? Why are they there? Their complexity and history baffle even the most careful urban explorer. Thankfully, artist Julian Montague has created a comprehensive and well-documented taxonomy with The Stray Shopping Carts of Eastern North America. Spanning thirty-three categories from damaged, fragment, and plow crush to plaza drift and bus stop discard, it is a tonic for times defined increasingly by rhetoric and media and less by the plain objects and facts of the real world. Montague’s incomparable documentation of this common feature of the urban landscape helps us see the natural and man-made worlds—and perhaps even ourselves—anew. First published in 2006 to great perplexity and acclaim alike, Montague’s book now appears in refreshed and expanded form. Told in an exceedingly dry voice, with full-color illustrations and photographs throughout, it is both rigorous and absurd, offering a strangely compelling vision of how we approach, classify, and understand the environments around us. A new afterword sheds light on the origins of the project.
The Streets of Panic Park (Goosebumps HorrorLand #12)
by R.L. StineIn this spinoff to the New York Times–bestselling Goosebumps series, kids held captive in an abandoned theme park band together to beat an evil villain.Brother and sister Luke and Lizzie think they’ll be safe in Panic Park. But they’re wrong. Because Panic Park is home to The Menace, a two-faced villain with a twisted plan to trap them forever. To beat The Menace and his rotten crew, Luke and Lizzie must team up with an old foe. But will they be double-crossed again?
The Striker's Chance
by Rebecca CrowleyLanding the PR contract for North Carolina's new soccer team could take Holly Taylor's career to the next level. Her task? Make Kepler "Killer" de Klerk, an athlete with a party-hard reputation, a star. But revamping the sexy footballer's image while battling her unwanted attraction to him is easier said than done.The car accident that derailed Kepler's European career also gave him some much-needed perspective. He's ready to give up on fame and focus on the game he loves. The last thing he needs is a headstrong brunette pushing him back into the spotlight, even if butting heads with her is the most fun he's had in ages.The more time Holly spends with Kepler, the more she sees how different he is from his tabloid persona. But when she's offered her dream job for a price, she finds herself torn between the career she's spent years building and the man she doesn't want to give up.55,000 words
The Stroke of Midnight
by Jenna RyanSecrets and late nights were as much a part of the man as his badge and black leatherDetective Riker was six feet tall with a lithe body and dark eyes that gave new meaning to the word seductive. He was an intriguing package, concealing something behind an emotional barricade. And while Devon Tremayne was sure she could trust him with her safety, she couldn't be certain about her heart.A serial murderer had targeted Devon as the next victim and promised to strike at midnight on the eve of Christmas. Posing as an undercover cop was the only way Riker could expose the killer and protect Devon. But could Riker control his mounting desire for Devon before Christmas came....?
The Strongest Girl In The World
by Sally GardnerFrom Costa Children's Book Award winner and multi-million bestselling author Sally Gardner, comes the story of the strongest eight year old in the world from the MAGICAL CHILDREN series. Josie Jenkins, aged eight and three quarters, can do a few tricks, but she astonishes herself and everyone else when she finds she can lift a table, a car and even a bus with no effort at all. Josie becomes famous, and Mr Two Suit sweeps in with a contract and swoops the whole family off to New York. How Josie copes with fame and fortune, and with the loss of it when she wakes up one day to find she can't do her trick any more, makes a story of enormous charm, with a tiny, modest and sensible heroine you have to cheer for.Entrancing drawings on every page make this a really special book.
The Strongest Girl In The World (Magical Children #3)
by Sally GardnerFrom Costa Children's Book Award winner and multi-million bestselling author Sally Gardner, comes the story of the strongest eight year old in the world from the MAGICAL CHILDREN series. Josie Jenkins, aged eight and three quarters, can do a few tricks, but she astonishes herself and everyone else when she finds she can lift a table, a car and even a bus with no effort at all. Josie becomes famous, and Mr Two Suit sweeps in with a contract and swoops the whole family off to New York. How Josie copes with fame and fortune, and with the loss of it when she wakes up one day to find she can't do her trick any more, makes a story of enormous charm, with a tiny, modest and sensible heroine you have to cheer for.Entrancing drawings on every page make this a really special book.
The Strongest Girl In The World (Magical Children #3)
by Sally GardnerJosie Jenkins, aged eight and three quarters, can do a few tricks, but she astonishes herself and everyone else when she finds she can lift a table, a car and even a bus with no effort at all. Josie becomes famous, and Mr Two Suit sweeps in with a contract and swoops the whole family off to New York. How Josie copes with fame and fortune, and with the loss of it when she wakes up one day to find she can't do her trick any more, makes a story of enormous charm, with a tiny, modest and sensible heroine you have to cheer for.Read by Emilia Fox(P)2004 Orion Publishing Group.Ltd
The Strudlhof Steps: The Depth of the Years
by Heimito von DodererThe first English translation of an essential Austrian novel about life in early-twentieth-century Vienna, as seen through a wide and varied cast of characters.The Strudlhof Steps is an unsurpassed portrait of Vienna in the early twentieth century, a vast novel crowded with characters ranging from an elegant, alcoholic Prussian aristocrat to an innocent ingenue to &“respectable&” shopkeepers and tireless sexual adventurers, bohemians, grifters, and honest working-class folk. The greatest character in the book, however, is Vienna, which Heimito von Doderer renders as distinctly as James Joyce does Dublin or Alfred Döblin does Berlin. Interweaving two time periods, 1908 to 1911 and 1923 to 1925, the novel takes the monumental eponymous outdoor double staircase as a governing metaphor for its characters&’ intersecting and diverging fates. The Strudlhof Steps is an experimental tour de force with the suspense and surprise of a soap opera. Here Doderer illuminates the darkness of passing years with the dazzling extravagance that is uniquely his.
The Struggles of Brown, Jones, and Ro
by Anthony TrollopeAnthony Trollope (1815-1882) was one of the most successful, prolific and respected English novelists of the Victorian era. He wrote penetrating novels on political, social, and gender issues and conflicts of his day. In 1867 Trollope left his position in the British Post Office to run for Parliament as a Liberal candidate in 1868. After he lost, he concentrated entirely on his literary career. While continuing to produce novels rapidly, he also edited the St Paul's Magazine, which published several of his novels in serial form. His first major success came with The Warden (1855) - the first of six novels set in the fictional county of Barsetshire. The comic masterpiece Barchester Towers (1857) has probably become the best-known of these. Trollope's popularity and critical success diminished in his later years, but he continued to write prolifically, and some of his later novels have acquired a good reputation. In particular, critics generally acknowledge the sweeping satire The Way We Live Now (1875) as his masterpiece. In all, Trollope wrote forty-seven novels, as well as dozens of short stories and a few books on travel.
The Stud Book
by Monica DrakeA sharp-edged satire of contemporary motherhood from a comic novelist on the rise In the hip haven of Portland, Oregon, a pack of unsteady but loyal friends asks what it means to bring babies into an already crowded world. Sarah studies animal behavior at the zoo. She's well versed in the mating habits of captive animals, and at the same time she's desperate to mate, to create sweet little offspring of her own. Georgie is busy with a newborn, while her husband, Humble, finds solace in bourbon and televised violence. Dulcet makes a living stripping down in high school gyms to sell the beauty of sex-ed. Nyla is out to save the world while having trouble saving her own teen daughter, who has discovered the world of drugs and the occult. As these friends and others navigate a space between freedom and intimacy, they realize the families they forge through shared experience are as important as those inherited through birth. A smart, edgy and poignantly funny exploration of the complexities of what parenthood means today, Monica Drake's second novel demonstrates that when it comes to babies, we can learn a lot by considering our place in the animal kingdom.From the Hardcover edition.
The Study of Animal Languages: A Novel
by Lindsay Stern"An exuberant, wise, and darkly funny novel about love, talent, ambition, envy, and the bungled ways we try to connect and care for each other.” --Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney, author of The Nest Meet Ivan and Prue: a married couple - both experts in language and communication - who nevertheless cannot seem to communicate with each otherIvan is a tightly wound philosophy professor whose reverence for logic and order governs not only his academic interests, but also his closest relationships. His wife, Prue, is quite the opposite: a pioneer in the emerging field of biolinguistics, she is bold and vibrant, full of life and feeling. Thus far, they have managed to weather their differences. But lately, an odd distance has settled in between them. Might it have something to do with the arrival of the college's dashing but insufferable new writer-in-residence, whose novel Prue always seems to be reading?Into this delicate moment barrels Ivan's unstable father-in-law, Frank, in town to hear Prue deliver a lecture on birdsong that is set to cement her tenure application. But the talk doesn't go as planned, unleashing a series of crises that force Ivan to finally confront the problems in his marriage, and to begin to fight - at last - for what he holds dear.A dazzlingly insightful and entertaining novel about the limitations of language, the fragility of love, and the ways we misunderstand each other and ourselves, The Study of Animal Languages marks the debut of a brilliant new voice in fiction.
The Study of Seduction: Enchanting Regency romance at its best! (Sinful Suitors #2)
by Sabrina JeffriesThe second book in the Sinful Suitors series by New York Times bestselling author Sabrina Jeffries. Sabrina's witty, sexy historicals will be loved by fans of Sarah MacLean, Eloisa James and Julia Quinn.When Edwin Barlow, the Earl of Blakeborough, agrees to help his best friend's impetuous ward, Lady Clarissa Lindsey, he knows he's in for trouble. He's been hunting for someone to wed but, although captivated by her witty, free-spirited beauty, the gruff cynic fears she'd be all wrong as a wife...Clarissa has no intention of marrying anyone. Yet when matters escalate with a powerful French diplomat who's stalking her, she accepts Edwin's gallant offer of marriage. Expecting an amiable union between friends, their increasingly tempestuous kisses prove more than she bargained for and, when Clarissa's stalker vows to expose their deepest secrets, the lovers' tenuous bond is tested. Can they withstand public ruin, or will Edwin risk all that's important to him to protect his bride?For more dazzlingly romantic and witty historical romance, don't miss Sabrina's other gorgeous series including, The Hellions of Halstead Hall, The School for Heiresses and The Royal Brotherhood.
The Stupendous Dodgeball Fiasco
by Janice Repka Glin DibleyIt's circus boy vs. a dodgeball-crazy town in this wacky middle-grade story! Phillip might be the only kid in the world who wants to run away from the circus. With a clown for a dad and a Fat Lady for a mom, all Phillip wants is to be a normal kid. He finally convinces his parents to let him live with his aunt and uncle in a seemingly normal town. But Hardingtown is far from normal--it's the unofficial Dodgeball Capital of the World and everyone is completely obsessed. Soon Phillip is ducking screamers and dodging the dodgeball bully. But after a particularly vicious game, Phillip takes the bully to court to pay for his busted glasses--and ends up battling the whole dodgeball-crazed town!
The Stupendous Switcheroo #2: Born to Be Bad (The Stupendous Switcheroo #2)
by Mary Winn Heider Chad SellSwitch and his heroic crew of rag-tag, superpowered kids are back! And this highly illustrated sequel has one mission: Operation Jailbreak (to Rescue the Parents who were Wrongfully Jailed by a Hero who Might Actually Turn Out to be the Real Villain?!)The Stupendous Switcheroo—Switch for short—used to idolize legendary superhero Vik Valor. He wanted to be just like him: a hero. But now that he has finally gotten used to waking up with new powers every day, Switch isn&’t so sure that Mr. Valor is one of the good guys. How could he be, if he put all of Switch's new friends&’ parents (who happen to be famous supervillains) in jail?Switch is left with only one course of action: Operation Jailbreak. Switch will have to get their families back, if he ever wants to find out the truth about Vik Valor—and himself. What else can you do if the good guys aren't really good? And if your parents are villains, were you born to be bad?
The Stupendous Switcheroo #3: Can't Go Home Again (The Stupendous Switcheroo #3)
by Mary Winn Heider Chad SellThe heroic cast of rag-tag, superpowered kids are back! In this third installment of the highly illustrated series, can the Stupendous Switcheroo change his fate from #1 undesirable prisoner to top student at the Valor Innovations Academy?When the Stupendous Switcheroo—Switch, for short—set out to rescue his mom from supervillain jail, he never imagined he could be captured instead.Now, Switch is plotting his escape—but a failed attempt quickly proves it&’s an impossible mission. But then, mastermind Vin Valor offers Switch a bargain: he can remain a prisoner… or he can join the Valor Innovations Academy instead.Switch is reluctant to choose between two evils—but maybe the resources at VIA will help him finally find a way back home. What he finds instead is a web of sinister secrets—and the family robot, Al, who has snuck into VIA to be Switch&’s sidekick in disguise!It turns out reclaiming his freedom isn't the hardest mission—but figuring out where to go next sure is....
The Stupendous Switcheroo: New Powers Every 24 Hours (The Stupendous Switcheroo #1)
by Mary Winn Heider Chad SellWhat would happen if you woke up every single day with a different, surprise SUPERPOWER?! Find out in this zany, hilarious illustrated novel from Mary Winn Heider and Chad Sell.The morning of his mom's business trip, Switcheroo wakes up to discover he has telekinesis. Which is super convenient when he has to give his babysitter-robot the slip to fight crime all day. But it's less convenient when he's recruited to fight crime again the next day, only to realize he can no longer move objects with his mind. Instead, he can talk to cats! Fun, but not nearly as useful. A new superpower every day should be exciting, right? What could possibly go wrong?
The Stupidest Sports Book of All Time: Hilarious Blunders, Bloopers, Oddities, Quotes, and More from the World of Sports
by Ross Petras Kathryn PetrasThe thrill of victory! The agony of a tight jockstrap! It’s a celebration of true sports lunacy from the renowned connoisseurs of stupidity, Kathryn and Ross Petras, authors of the beloved 365 Stupidest Things Ever Said calendar. Here from the wide world of professional and amateur sports are the worst plays, most embarrassing achievements, surliest fans, lamest excuses, and wackiest mascot tricks. Plus history-making blowouts: Georgia Tech trounces Cumberland College 222–0. Freakiest injuries: Pitcher Joel Zamaya plays so much Guitar Hero he goes on the DL with tendonitis. Improbable memorabilia: Andre Agassi’s ponytail, Ty Cobb’s dentures. Looniest promotional giveaways: Win a free vasectomy! Bizarre sports from across the globe: Olympic solo synchronized swimming. And dubious superstitions: Baseball Hall of Famer Wade Boggs eats chicken before every game of his 18-year career. And, of course, quotes. From athletes: “We lost because we didn’t win.” (soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo). Coaches: “We were scoring, they were scoring. Then we stopped scoring and they kept scoring” (Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue). And sportscasters: “Winfield goes back to the wall, he hits his head on the wall and it rolls off! It’s rolling all the way back to second base. This is a terrible thing for the Padres!” (announcer Jerry Coleman).
The Stupids Take Off
by Harry Allard James MarshallWhile father Stanley Q. Stupid brushes his teeth one morning, a telegram arrives. "Egads I" cries Stanley, "Uncle Carbuncle is coming!" Mrs. Stupid lets out a bloodcurdling scream from the kitchen. Uncle Carbuncle is pretty strong medicine! To avoid their uncle, the family quickly takes offin an airplane piloted by their superb cat Xylophone. Join the Stupids on a vacation that only the truly daffy could survive. Flying will never be quite the same again! Other books about the Stupid family are available from Bookshare.