- Table View
- List View
Classic in the Barn (The Jack Colby, Car Detective Mysteries #1)
by Amy MyersA &’38 Lagonda is driving someone to murder in &“this lively, fast-paced mystery&” series debut featuring British classic car expert and detective Jack Colby (Publishers Weekly). When Jack Colby, owner of Frogs Hill Classic Car Restorations, stumbles upon a 1938 coupé Lagonda V12 rusting away in a country barn in Kent, he longs to bring it back to its former glory. Jack also takes a shine to its owner, the fetching widow Polly Davis. Sadly, his romantic pursuits cut short. A few days later Polly is murdered just a few feet from the elegant machine. Now Jack&’s curiosity about the car—and the crime—are kicking into high gear. He knows that years ago Polly&’s late husband was found dead in the driver&’s seat. And it&’s clear she had no interest in selling or restoring the Lagonda—just hiding it. But are the rumors about Polly&’s dicey past the key to it all, or just a detour? Convinced that the Lagonda is somehow involved, especially when it disappears, Jack is determined to uncover Polly&’s secrets and bring her killer to justice, even at the risk of his own life.
First Things First: Understand Why So Often Our First Things Aren't First
by Stephen R. Covey A. Roger Merrill Rebecca R. MerrillThe New York Times–bestselling time management book from the author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Stephen R. Covey&’s First Things First is the gold standard for time management books. His principle-centered approach for prioritizing gives you time management tips that enable you to make changes and sacrifices needed in order to obtain happiness and retain a feeling of security. First Things First: The Interactive Edition takes Dr. Covey&’s philosophy and remasters the entire text to include easy-to-understand infographics, analysis, and more. This time-saving version of First Things First is the efficient way to apply Dr. Covey&’s tested and validated time management tips, while retaining his core message. This guide will help you: • Get more done in less time • Develop and retain rich relationships • Attain inner peace • Create balance in your life • And, put first things first &“Covey is the hottest self-improvement consultant to hit US business since Dale Carnegie.&” —USA Today &“Covey has reached the apex with First Things First. This is an important work. I can&’t think of anyone who wouldn&’t be helped by reading it.&” —Larry King, CNN &“These goals embody a perfect balance of the mental, the physical, the spiritual, and the social.&” —BooklistReaders should note that this ebook edition differs slightly from the print edition and does not contain all the same materials.
The Adventures of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser Volume Two: Swords Against Wizardry, The Swords of Lankhmar, and Swords and Ice Magic (The Adventures of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser)
by Fritz LeiberThe Hugo and Nebula Award–winning series of sword and sorcery—featuring two unorthodox heroes—from a Grand Master of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Long before George R. R. Martin&’s Game of Thrones became a worldwide phenomenon, Fritz Leiber ruled the literary universe of sword and sorcery. This novel and two short story collections chronicle the adventures of Leiber&’s endearing and groundbreaking antiheroes: the barbarian Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, a former wizard&’s apprentice—in the series hailed as &“one of the great works of fantasy in this century&” (Publishers Weekly). This is a must-read collection of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser short stories, featuring the Hugo Award–nominated novellas &“Scylla&’s Daughter&” and &“Stardock.&” Swords Against Wizardry: Bold Fafhrd and the sly Gray Mouser find adventure wherever they tread quick and lightly, whether it be in consulting a witch for advice, climbing Nehwon&’s highest peak in search of riches, discovering that they may not actually be the greatest thieves in Lankhmar, or working both sides of a royal battle for the throne of Quarmall. The Swords of Lankhmar: With a plague of rats teeming in Lankhmar, Fafhrd and the Mouser are hired by the city to guard a shipment of grain overseas. But when the duo returns, they discover the sentient vermin have taken over Lankhmar for themselves! And now it&’s up to the barbarian and the thief to build a better rat trap. Swords and Ice Magic: Fafhrd and Gray Mouser make their way by sword and stealth as they face death in many forms, earn the ire of gods whose names they rarely even speak in vain anymore, lazily drift on the Great Equatorial Current, and venture far into the icy wastes of the Rime Isle to confront a pair of deities and a pillaging fleet in this World Fantasy Award nominee.
The Boat of a Million Years
by Poul AndersonA New York Times Notable Book and Hugo and Nebula Award Finalist: This epic chronicle of ten immortals over the course of history &“succeeds admirably&” (The New York Times). The immortals are ten individuals born in antiquity from various cultures. Immune to disease, able to heal themselves from injuries, they will never die of old age—although they can fall victim to catastrophic wounds. They have walked among mortals for millennia, traveling across the world, trying to understand their special gifts while searching for one another in the hope of finding some meaning in a life that may go on forever. Following their individual stories over the course of human history and beyond into a richly imagined future, &“one of science fiction&’s most revered writers&” (USA Today) weaves a broad tapestry that is &“ambitious in scope, meticulous in detail, polished in style&” (Library Journal).
Citizen Farmers: The Biodynamic Way to Grow Healthy Food, Build Thriving Communities, and Give Back to the Earth
by Susan Puckett Daron JoffeA guide to organic vegetable gardens and small-scale farming with an emphasis on sustainability. Biodynamic farming, with its focus on ecological sustainability, has emerged as the gold standard in the organic gardening movement. Daron Joffe—known as Farmer D—has made it his mission to empower, educate, and inspire people to become conscientious consumers, citizens, and stewards of the land. In this engaging call to action, Farmer D teaches us to not only create sustainable gardens but also to develop a more holistic, community-minded approach to how our food is grown and how we live our lives in balance with nature. Illustrated with photographs of gardens designed by Farmer D as well as line drawings, the book is packed with advice on: Establishing a biodynamic gardenCompostingSoil composition and replenishmentControlling pests and diseaseCooperative gardening practicesCreating delicious meals with your home-grown produce In collaboration with a James Beard Award–nominated food journalist, Farmer D offers an indispensable resource for anyone who wants to make the world a greener place.
The Household Tips of the Great Writers
by Mark CrickWhat would literary lions tell us about cooking, cleaning, and gardening? A three-book collection of parody and practical advice by a &“brilliant&” humorist (The Financial Times). The Household Tips of Great Writers covers all your household needs, indoors and outdoors, from pruning a rose bush with Pablo Neruda to mending a dripping tap with Jean-Paul Sartre. Throwing a tea party? Irvine Welsh has the recipe for the perfect chocolate cake, though that's not all he's cooking. Brilliant, hilarious, and always pitch-perfect, this omnibus edition of Mark Crick's wonderful books of literary pastiche will inform and entertain the most erudite of householders. Includes: Sartre&’s Sink &“This brilliantly inventive DIY manual both parodies and celebrates great authors ... Crick is a brilliant literary ventriloquist.&”—The Financial Times Kafka&’s Soup &“These literary and visual pastiches of writers and their relationships with food provide a laugh a line as they skewer their literary originals with effortless accuracy...a masterpiece.&”—The Guardian Machiavelli&’s Lawn &“Erudite and enjoyable prose, no less rewarding for its horticultural accuracy.&”—Times Literary Supplement
Great Grilled Cheese: 50 Innovative Recipes for Stovetop, Grill, and Sandwich Maker
by Laura Werlin&“Clever versions of the American classic&” from the James Beard Award winner for The All American Cheese and Wine Book (Publishers Weekly). Brie and apricot jam on a baguette; spinach and goat cheese on a croissant; blue cheese and fresh figs on crusty Italian bread: this is not your mother&’s grilled cheese sandwich. In Great Grilled Cheese, cheese expert and award-winning cookbook author Laura Werlin presents fifty scrumptious grilled cheese and panini recipes that range from the traditional to the contemporary. In addition to the more inventive combinations, including grilled cheese for dessert, there&’s always room at the table for the classics: grilled American on white, or apple, ham, and cheddar on sourdough. Werlin discusses techniques—nonstick versus cast-iron pan, whether to cover during cooking, how to use the ultra-popular panini machine. Maren Caruso&’s tantalizing photographs perfectly convey the appeal of creamy melted cheese pressed between two slices of crisp, buttery bread. For cheese aficionados, parents whose kids insist on grilled cheese at every meal, and the kid in all of us who craves comfort food, Great Grilled Cheese will satisfy everyone&’s cheese dreams.
Goat: Meat, Milk, Cheese
by Bruce Weinstein Mark ScarbroughA &“delightful&” cookbook that &“breaks new culinary ground&” with recipes using goat meat, goat cheese, goat milk, and more (David Leite, author of The New Portuguese Table). From high-end restaurants to street food carts coast-to-coast, goat meat and dairy products are being embraced across the country as the next big thing. With its excellent flavor, wide-ranging versatility, and numerous health benefits, goat meat, milk, and cheese are a new frontier for home cooks. Goat is the world&’s primary meat—upwards of seventy percent of the red meat eaten around the world—and this is the first goat-oriented cookbook designed for American readers. Goat is a no-holds-barred goatapedia, laugh-out-loud cooking class, cheesemaking workshop, and dairy-milking expedition all in one. With recipes such as Pan-Roasted Chops with Blackberries and Sage, Meatballs with Artichokes and Fennel, and Chocolate-Dipped Goat Cheese Balls, this book is sure to become the standard cook&’s resource for this new frontier. &“Awesome recipes and gorgeous photography.&” —Claire Robinson, Food Network host and author of 5 Ingredient Fix
The Lost and the Blind
by Declan BurkeA mystery in modern-day rural Ireland may have roots in World War II, in this thriller by a &“fine dramatic writer and storyteller&” (Booklist). The elderly German, Karl Uxkull, was either senile or desperate for attention. Why else would he concoct a tale of Nazi atrocity on the remote island of Delphi, off the coast of Donegal? And why now, sixty years after the event, just when Irish-American billionaire Shay Govern has tendered for a gold prospecting license in Lough Swilly? Journalist Tom Noone doesn&’t want to know. With his young daughter Emily to provide for, and a new ghostwriting commission for Shay Govern&’s biography, the timing is all wrong. Besides, can it be mere coincidence that Karl Uxkull&’s tale bears an uncanny resemblance to a thriller written by spy novelist Sebastian Devereaux, the reclusive English author who has spent the past fifty years holed up on Delphi? But when a body is discovered drowned, Tom and Emily find themselves running for their lives in pursuit of the truth that is their only hope of survival. &“Burke has a real knack for dialogue and phrasing.&” —Publishers Weekly &“Readers . . . will be rewarded with an unholy Chinese box of a thriller. Make that an Irish-German box.&” —Kirkus Reviews
The TekWar Series Books 7–9: Tek Money, Tek Kill, and Tek Net (The TekWar Series)
by William ShatnerThe final three books in the bestselling hard-boiled, science fiction detective series by the legendary actor who played Captain Kirk on Star Trek. It&’s the twenty-second century, and mankind has expanded the horizons of science and technology. For those who want to go even further, Tek takes them there. The bio-digital microchip is more powerfully mind-altering than any other drug ever known. For those who become addicted, it&’s out of this world—and straight into hell. And only private eye Jake Cardigan can stop it . . . Tek Money: Jake must race against time to save his son&’s life—and get the deadliest weapons in the world out of the hands of the most dangerous criminals in the universe . . . Tek Kill: Jake and his partner, Sid Gomez, are working to clear their boss of murder charges when they uncover a far-reaching criminal conspiracy . . . Tek Net: Sid&’s ex-wife is caught in the crossfire of a bloody cartel war between Teklords, and it&’s up to Jake and Sid to save her.
The Works of Clifford D. Simak Volume Four: The Big Front Yard and Other Stories, Time Is the Simplest Thing, and The Goblin Reservation (The Works of Clifford D. Simak)
by Clifford D. SimakA collection of masterpieces from a Hugo and Nebula Award–winning Grand Master of Science Fiction who &“has never written a bad book&” (Theodore Sturgeon).The Big Front Yard and Other Stories: Handyman Hiram likes things he can understand and fix. But he has a true mystery on his hands when a new ceiling appears in his basement—a ceiling with the ability to repair televisions so they&’re better than before. Winner of the Hugo Award for Best Novelette, &“The Big Front Yard&” is a powerful story about what happens when an ordinary man finds reality coming apart around him. Along with the other stories in this collection, it is some of the most lyrical science fiction ever published. &“To read science fiction is to read Simak. A reader who does not like Simak stories does not like science fiction at all.&” —Robert A. Heinlein Time Is the Simplest Thing: Space travel has been deemed too dangerous and expensive, and now the Fishhook company holds a monopoly on interstellar exploration, using telepaths who can expand their minds throughout the universe. But when Fishhook employee Shepherd Blaine is implanted with a copy of an alien consciousness, he becomes something more than human—and soon there is no safe place for him to hide. This Hugo Award finalist is a richly imagined tale of prejudice, corporate greed, oppression, and, ultimately, transcendence. &“Simak is the most underrated great science fiction writer alive, and has never written a bad book.&” —Theodore Sturgeon The Goblin Reservation: In this unabashedly tongue-in-cheek novel, Professor Peter Maxwell of the College of Supernatural Phenomena is murdered—but he&’s even more dismayed when he turns up at a matter transmission station several weeks later and discovers he&’s not only dead, but also unemployed. This &“alternate&” Maxwell soon learns he&’s being used as a vessel by a strange alien race to carry knowledge of remarkable technology back to Earth—and it seems someone does not want the information shared . . . &“The finest novel in a merry mood that Simak has yet given us.&” —Fritz Leiber This brilliant volume represents the genre at its very best, reaffirming that &“without Simak, science fiction would have been without its most humane element, its most humane spokesman for the wisdom of the ordinary person and the value of life lived close to the land&” (James Gunn).
Alive, Alive Oh!: And Other Things That Matter
by Diana Athill&“Enchanting . . . Diana Athill, 98, still has a few things to teach us about growing old with dignity and humor and grace . . . Astute and sparkling.&”—Associated Press Several years ago, Diana Athill accepted that she could no longer live entirely independently, and moved to a retirement home in Highgate. Released from the daily anxieties of caring for her own property and free to settle into her remaining years, she reflects on what it feels like to be very old, and on the moments in her long life that have risen to the surface and which sustain her in these last years. What really matters in the end? Which memories stand out? As she approaches her 100th year, Athill recalls in sparkling, precise detail the exact layout of the garden of her childhood, a vast and beautiful park attached to a large house; relates with humor, clarity and honesty her experiences of the First and Second World Wars and her trips to Europe as a young woman; and in the remarkable title chapter, describes her pregnancy at the age of forty-three, losing the baby and almost losing her life—and her gratitude and joy on discovering that she had survived. Alive, Alive Oh! is &“so beautifully written and exquisitely detailed . . . [Athill] mines her memories of a life well-lived and generously lays them out on the page for the rest of the world to enjoy&” (Star Tribune). &“Witty, candid . . . If you haven&’t read Athill, and open her latest book expecting serene reflections from a nonagenarian sipping tea in her garden, you&’re in for a surprise.&”—San Francisco Chronicle
In Defence of History
by Richard J. Evans&“A lucid, muscular, and often sly reflection&” on the worth and purpose of historical scholarship by the award-winning author of The Third Reich Trilogy (Kirkus).In this volume, the renowned historian Richard J. Evans offers a fervent and deeply insightful defense of his craft and its importance to civilization. At a time when fact and historical truth are under unprecedented assault, Evans shows us why history is necessary. Taking us into the historians&’ workshop, he offers a firsthand look at how good history gets written. In staunch opposition to the wilder claims of postmodern historians, Evans thoroughly dismantles the notion that a realistic grasp of history is impossible to attain. He then goes on to explain the deadly political dangers of losing a historical perspective on the way we live our lives. In the tradition of E.H. Carr&’s What Is History? and G.R. Elton&’s The Practice of History, Evans&’ In Defense of History delivers &“a model of lucid and intelligent historiographical analysis&” (The Guardian, UK).
The Cocktail Club: A Year of Recipes and Tips for Spirited Tasting Parties
by Maureen Christian-PetroskyThe author of The Wine Club serves up &“a fun read broken up by month, complete with recipes for drinks and food pairings&” (Town & Country). With a little bit of history and a lot of flavor, The Cocktail Club is a guide for connecting with your friends over the best-tasting therapy around—cocktails! Using a format reminiscent of your favorite book club, Maureen Christian-Petrosky highlights one specific spirit or drink type each month. Classic favorites like the martini and the old-fashioned, as well as new sips like the Mason Jar Basil Pisco Sour and Blueberry Lavender Vodka Spritzer, will inspire novices and enthusiasts alike to build up their bar vocabulary and taste outside their comfort zone. The book also offers a delicious selection of hors d&’oeuvres pairings like Grilled Figs with Prosciutto and Rosemary Lemon Bars. So whether you&’ve been curious about absinthe rinses or want to bone up on your bitters, The Cocktail Club gives you the perfect excuse to pull out your shaker and dip into the art of at-home mixology.
The Miss Silver Mysteries Volume Eight: Out of the Past, The Silent Pool, Vanishing Point, and The Benevent Treasure (The Miss Silver Mysteries)
by Patricia WentworthThe British governess-turned-sleuth cracks the case in four puzzling mysteries from the &“timelessly charming&” series (Charlotte MacLeod). Retired governess and teacher Maud Silver has a new profession: private detective. And though she may seem a kindly and demure pensioner, she can solve crimes right alongside the best Scotland Yard has to offer in this charming series from &“a first-rate storyteller&” (The Daily Telegraph). Out of the Past: Alan Field is a charming, handsome young man with a predilection for causing trouble and breaking hearts. But when he learns that an author is writing a biography of his late father, it&’s up to Alan to go through his father&’s letters—where he finds a bundle of scandalous correspondence and forms a plan. It begins as blackmail and ends with a dead body. And that&’s where Miss Silver comes in. The Silent Pool: Actress Adriana Ford is afraid—and with good reason. Someone is trying to kill her. So she goes to Miss Silver for help finding out who wants her dead. It could be anyone: a stalker, an obsessed fan, even her own family. Then, a body is found at Adriana&’s estate, and Miss Silver travels to the countryside where she learns that Adriana may not have been telling her the whole truth—and that the truth may get her killed. Vanishing Point: Jenny Maxwell is a bright, young disabled child who writes stories of fantasy. But they are only barely fictional. Trapped in her room for hours at a time, Jenny hears all. She knows about the young woman who disappeared from town, and about the strange young man who works at the nearby military research center. What sounds like harmless gossip could actually be a grave threat to national security—one which only Miss Silver is capable of unearthing. Benevent Treasure: As a WWII orphan, Candida Sayle has never considered that she might have a family somewhere. Then she receives a letter from an unheard-of aunt, inviting Candida to rejoin the Benevent family. The young woman ventures to the country, and the environment comforts Candida—as do the attentions of her aunt&’s handsome young secretary. But her vacation goes off the rails when death strikes the house, and the brilliant detective Maud Silver joins the party to investigate the possible murder. These charming traditional British mysteries featuring the unstoppable Miss Silver—whose stout figure, fondness for Tennyson, and passion for knitting disguise a keen intellect and a knack for cracking even the toughest cases—are sure to delight readers of Agatha Christie, Ellis Peters, and Dorothy L. Sayers.
Daniel: A Novel (Health Choices Ser.)
by Henning MankellFrom the bestselling author of the Kurt Wallander novels: The &“haunting and fascinating&” tale of a young boy&’s harrowing odyssey from Africa to Sweden (Booklist). In the 1870s, Hans Bengler arrives in Cape Town from Småland, Sweden, driven by a singular desire: to discover an insect no one has seen before and name it after himself. But then he impulsively adopts a young San orphan boy whose parents have been killed by European colonists. Christening the boy Daniel, Hans brings him back to Sweden—a quite different specimen than he first contemplated. Daniel is told to call Bengler &“Father,&” and to knock on doors and bow. He continually struggles to understand this strange new land of mud and snow that surrounds and seemingly entraps him. At the same time, he is haunted by visions of his murdered parents calling him home to Africa. Knowing that the only way home is by sea, he decides he must learn to walk on water if he is ever to reclaim his true place in the world. Evocative and sometimes brutal, the novel follows Daniel through a series of tragedies and betrayals that culminate in a shocking act. Henning Mankell, a world-renowned &“master of atmosphere,&” offers this &“quiet tragedy&” with a ruthless elegance all his own (The Boston Globe).
The Wounded Thorn (A\west Country Mystery Ser. #1)
by Fay SampsonA retired teacher and her friend are caught up in a mystery when they visit Glastonbury, one of Britain&’s most fascinating historical sites . . . Hilary is a recently retired teacher, and with time on her hands—and her husband away doing volunteer work in war-torn Gaza—she needs a distraction. So she invites her good friend Veronica, a recent widow, to accompany her on a trip to Glastonbury, to see the ancient sights. The pair is saddened to discover that the sacred Glastonbury Thorn tree has been severely damaged, and they wonder whether other local historic sites are under threat too. But they are unprepared for the shocking discovery Hilary makes at the Chalice Well: an abandoned bag, containing a bomb . . . Who is to blame? A foreign tourist? An eccentric pagan author? Or an angry local who resents that a Christian place has been &“overrun&” by other beliefs? Hilary and Veronica just want to enjoy their holiday, but they&’re about to be pulled into a mystery . . .
The Dragonback Series Books 1–3: Dragon and Thief, Dragon and Soldier, and Dragon and Slave (The Dragonback Series)
by Timothy ZahnThe first three adventures in the Dragonback science fiction fantasy series from the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of the Thrawn series. Dragon and Thief: Young thief and con artist Jack Morgan is hiding out on an uninhabited planet after he&’s falsely accused of a crime. But his solitude is interrupted when Draycos, a warrior whose reptilian race is being targeted for extinction, makes an emergency landing. The two will be able to survive, but only if they literally bond together . . . Dragon and Soldier: When all is well, Draycos looks like nothing more than a tattoo on Jack Morgan&’s back. But when Jack&’s threatened, the K&’da warrior appears in his true, dragonlike form. Together they go undercover to investigate a mercenary outfit connected to the extermination of Draycos&’s people, and it turns out Jack isn&’t the only new recruit with a secret . . . Dragon and Slave: Following a lead, Jack becomes a slave on a Brummga alien estate where he must find out all he can while under the cruel watch of a vicious slave master who has no problem killing the help. Fortunately, Draycos always has his back.
Brother Jimmy's BBQ: More Than 100 Recipes for Pork, Beef, Chicken, & the Essential Southern Sides
by Josh Lebowitz Eva Pesantez Sean Evans&“New York&’s favorite go-to barbecue chain is revealing its best-kept secrets&” (New York Daily News). According to owner Josh Lebowitz and executive chef Eva Pesantez, the foundation of Brother Jimmy&’s success is the food. Incredible ribs. Country-fried steak. Pulled pork sandwiches. Blackened chicken. And of course, the delicious sides: from mac &‘n&’ cheese to black-eyed peas. But beyond the food, there&’s something more—Brother Jimmy&’s is the place where people go to have a good time. Now, the restaurant&’s recipes are presented for the first time, with more than one hundred recipes for starters, sides, beef, pork, chicken, seafood, rubs & sauces, and drinks & cocktails. From Hush Puppies with Maple Butter to Shrimp and Corn Fritters to Classic Pulled Pork with Slaw, these are the only recipes you&’ll need to re-create your favorite restaurant recipes in your own kitchen.
Daughter of Ashes: A Hannah Ives Murder Mystery (The Hannah Ives Mysteries #14)
by Marcia TalleyAmateur sleuth Hannah Ives has a new home, but after a gruesome discovery in the chimney, she has a new case on her hands. Is a tragic discovery from the past triggering a number of shocking present-day events? When Hannah loses out on the cottage of her dreams because of an unscrupulous real estate agent, she and her husband, Paul, buy a fixer-upper instead. But contractors restoring the chimney soon make a tragic discovery: the mummified body of an infant. Hannah, already researching the history of her home in the county archives, is searching for clues to the dead infant&’s identity when more shocking events occur. Suddenly, her access to the courthouse is denied and the records she has been examining are slated for destruction. Someone with money, influence, or both is trying to make sure incriminating information stays buried. Can Hannah solve the crimes before the evidence and over one hundred years of county history go up in smoke? &“Readers who haven&’t met Hannah should do so promptly.&” ―Booklist
A Ghost's Story: A Novel
by Lorna Gibb&“A fascinating story of what it might be like to be a ghost, and the longing in us that makes us want them to exist.&”—Glasgow Herald, &“Books of the Year&” Throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, séances and spiritualist meetings grew in popularity. One &“ghost&” appeared more than any other: the Katie King spirit. Blending historical fact and fiction, A Ghost&’s Story presents the mysterious spirit writings and biographical outpourings of Katie King, this famous and enigmatic spirit celebrity. A profound and curious consciousness guided into this realm by the faith of true believers, or the cheap trickery of parlor cheats and exploitative swindlers? Katie King is both, and more. This is the tale of a ghost&’s quest to understand human faith, loss, and passion. It is also the tale of a contemporary scholar desperate to understand the allure of the spirit world, journeying with Katie from the candle-lit drawing rooms of Victorian London to the Imperial Palaces of Tsars; from the shadiest of gimmicks and tricks, to the most poignant sincerity of the deathbed wish.A Ghost&’s Story features a narrator like no other, moving in and out of time and space, obstreperous, witty, and profoundly honest. Above all, this inventive novel is an examination of belief, and a spectacular insight into what lies on the other side. &“At turns spooky and comical, Gibb deftly weaves fact with fiction so that each page shimmers ectoplasmically with uncertainty.&”—Irish Mail &“Compelling...add in a supporting cast of rogues, charlatans and true believers and the theatrical trappings of seances and you are pitched in a world that is rich and strange.&”—Sunday Express
Murder at the Loch: A Traditional Murder Mystery Set In 1950s Scotland (The Langham & Dupré Mysteries #3)
by Eric BrownIn this third &“suspenseful outing&” from Eric Brown, crime writer sleuth Donald Langham is invited to a remote Scottish castle to solve an intriguing mystery (Publishers Weekly). It&’s the bitterly cold December of 1955, and Donald Langham has been asked by his friend, private detective Ralph Ryland, to assist him on a case. Ryland has been contacted by their old commanding officer, Major Gordon, who has reasons to believe that his life is under threat at his remote castle in the Scottish Highlands. On arriving at the castle, Langham and Ryland learn that Major Gordon is attempting to raise the wreck of a German fighter plane which crashed into the loch in 1945. But it&’s not only the bad weather that has put a halt to the progress of the salvage. Soon after Langham&’s arrival, one of Gordon&’s guests is brutally murdered—and the hunt is on to stop a ruthless killer before he—or she—strikes again. &“This promises to be a fine series, if future installments are as good as the first three have been.&” —Booklist &“This charming book brings to the page well-defined characters and a classic locked-room structure. Recommend for anyone who loves English country house murders.&” —Library Journal
Scripting the Moves: Culture and Control in a "No-Excuses" Charter School
by Joanne W. GolannAn inside look at a "no-excuses" charter school that reveals this educational model’s strengths and weaknesses, and how its approach shapes studentsSilent, single-file lines. Detention for putting a head on a desk. Rules for how to dress, how to applaud, how to complete homework. Walk into some of the most acclaimed urban schools today and you will find similar recipes of behavior, designed to support student achievement. But what do these “scripts” accomplish? Immersing readers inside a “no-excuses” charter school, Scripting the Moves offers a telling window into an expanding model of urban education reform. Through interviews with students, teachers, administrators, and parents, and analysis of documents and data, Joanne Golann reveals that such schools actually dictate too rigid a level of social control for both teachers and their predominantly low-income Black and Latino students. Despite good intentions, scripts constrain the development of important interactional skills and reproduce some of the very inequities they mean to disrupt.Golann presents a fascinating, sometimes painful, account of how no-excuses schools use scripts to regulate students and teachers. She shows why scripts were adopted, what purposes they serve, and where they fall short. What emerges is a complicated story of the benefits of scripts, but also their limitations, in cultivating the tools students need to navigate college and other complex social institutions—tools such as flexibility, initiative, and ease with adults. Contrasting scripts with tools, Golann raises essential questions about what constitutes cultural capital—and how this capital might be effectively taught.Illuminating and accessible, Scripting the Moves delves into the troubling realities behind current education reform and reenvisions what it takes to prepare students for long-term success.
The Influencer Industry: The Quest for Authenticity on Social Media
by Emily HundA critical history of the social media influencer&’s rise to global prominenceBefore there were Instagram likes, Twitter hashtags, or TikTok trends, there were bloggers who seemed to have the passion and authenticity that traditional media lacked. The Influencer Industry tells the story of how early digital creators scrambling for work amid the Great Recession gave rise to the multibillion-dollar industry that has fundamentally reshaped culture, the flow of information, and how we relate to ourselves and each other.Drawing on dozens of in-depth interviews with leading social media influencers, brand executives, marketers, talent managers, trend forecasters, and others, Emily Hund shows how early industry participants focused on creating and monetizing digital personal brands as a means of exerting control over their professional destinies in a time of acute economic uncertainty. Over time, their activities coalesced into an industry whose impact has reached far beyond the dreams of its progenitors—and beyond their control. Hund illustrates how the methods they developed for creating, monetizing, and marketing social media content have permeated our lives and untangles the unforeseen cultural and economic costs.The Influencer Industry reveals how, in an increasingly fractured and profit-driven communications environment, the people we think of as &“real&” are merely those who have learned to exploit the industry&’s ever-shifting constructions of authenticity.
After You'd Gone: From the author of Hamnet - one of the most unforgettable love stories you'll ever read
by Maggie O'FarrellThe groundbreaking debut novel from the bestselling author of HAMNET and THE MARRIAGE PORTRAIT, now with an introduction by Ali Smith*Over 480,000 copies sold*'This devastatingly skilful love story will break your heart!' Alice Winn'Gripping. Superbly moving' Ali SmithA distraught young woman boards a train at King's Cross to return to her family in Scotland. Six hours later, she catches sight of something so terrible in a mirror at Waverley Station that she gets on the next train back to London.AFTER YOU'D GONE follows Alice's mental journey through her own past, after a traffic accident has left her in a coma. A love story that is also a story of absence, and of how our choices can reverberate through the generations, it slowly draws us closer to a dark secret at a family's heart.'Remarkable. Luminous' Observer'Deeply moving' The Times'An amazing study of love and grief as it poses the wrenching question: What do you do with all the love you have for someone when they're gone?' Glamour