Our Recommended Reads
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Adult Fiction
We solve murders
Osman, Richard
Steve Wheeler is enjoying retired life. He does the odd bit of investigation work, but he prefers his familiar habits and routines: the pub quiz, his favourite bench, his cat waiting for him when he comes home. His days of adventure are over: adrenaline is daughter-in-law Amy's business now.
Amy Wheeler thinks adrenaline is good for the soul. As a private security officer, she doesn't stay still long enough for habits or routines. She's currently on a remote island keeping world-famous author Rosie D'Antonio alive. Which was meant to be an easy job. Then a dead body, a bag of money and a killer with their sights on Amy have her sending an SOS to the only person she trusts. A breakneck race around the world begins, but can Amy and Steve stay one step ahead of a deadly enemy?
Sorcery and small magics
Doocy, Maiga
Desperate to undo the curse binding them together, an impulsive sorcerer and his curmudgeonly rival venture deep into a magical forest in search of a counterspell - only to discover that magic might not be the only thing pulling them together. An irresistible cosy fantasy for fans of A Marvellous Light and Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries. Leovander Loveage is a master of small magics, content to spend his days thinking up charms that can summon butterflies or turn hair pink.
That is, until a mishap with forbidden magic compels Leo to obey his longtime rival, Sebastian Grimm. Grimm is Leo's complete opposite - respected, talented and an absolutely insufferable curmudgeon. They need a counterspell, and fast.
Chasing rumours of a powerful sorcerer, Leo and Grimm enter the Unquiet Wood, a forest teeming with murderous monsters and dangerous outlaws. To break the curse, they'll have to uncover the true depths of Leo's magic, set aside their animosity and - much to their horror - work together. Even as an odd spark of attraction flares between them.
Intermezzo
Rooney, Sally
Aside from the fact that they are brothers, Peter and Ivan Koubek seem to have little in common. Peter is a Dublin lawyer in his 30s - successful, competent and apparently unassailable. But in the wake of their father's death, he's medicating himself to sleep and struggling to manage his relationships with two very different women - his enduring first love Sylvia, and Naomi, a college student for whom life is one long joke.
Ivan is a 22-year-old competitive chess player. He has always seen himself as socially awkward, a loner, the antithesis of his glib elder brother. Now, in the early weeks of his bereavement, Ivan meets Margaret, an older woman emerging from her own turbulent past, and their lives become rapidly and intensely intertwined.
Midnight and blue
Rankin, Ian
John Rebus spent his life as a detective putting Edinburgh's most deadly criminals behind bars. Now, he's joined them. As new allies and old enemies circle, and the days and nights bleed into each other, even the legendary detective struggles to keep his head. That is, until a murder at midnight in a locked cell presents a new mystery.
They say old habits die hard. However, this is a case where the prisoners and the guards are all suspects, and everyone has something to hide. With no badge, no authority and no safety net, Rebus walks a tightrope - with his life on the line. But how do you find a killer in a place full of them?
Until we shatter
Dylan, Kate
No matter where she goes, Cemmy's life is under threat. The Church would see her killed for having any magic. The Council of Shades wants her dead for not having enough. So when her mother falls ill, Cemmy has no choice but to turn thief. And when she's offered a job that could solve all their problems, it's impossible to resist.
The catch? Cemmy will have to work with Chase - beautiful, dangerous, and full of secrets - to steal a powerful relic the Church has hidden within a deadly realm of shadows. If she succeeds, Cemmy will finally be safe. But if she's caught, she risks igniting a spark that could destroy the city - and everyone inside.
Guilty
Cole, Martina
Steph Barker can't forget her past. A single mother, Steph runs a women's shelter for local prostitutes while coming to terms with a tragic loss. And it's people like Joseph Potter, battling with his own grief, who keep her going. When Hennie, one of her friends from the shelter, goes missing, Steph's convinced Hennie's violent pimp Artie Rogers has something to do with it.
Steph and Artie go way back, but his reign of terror throughout the Medway towns is out of control and even she can't do anything to stop him. Then another prostitute disappears and it's time to find out who's guilty. Everyone has their secrets - but one them is getting away with murder.
The Hotel Avocado
Mortimer, Bob
Gary Thorn is struggling with a big decision. Should he stay in London, wallowing in the safety of his legal job in Peckham and eating pies with his next door neighbour, Grace and her dog Lassoo, or should he move to Brighton, where his girlfriend Emily is about to open The Hotel Avocado? Either way, he'd be letting someone down.
But sinister forces are gathering in a cloud of launderette scented-vape smoke, and the arrival of the mysterious Mr Sequence puts Gary in an even worse predicament: soon he might be dead. All Gary wants is a happy life. But he also wants to be alive to enjoy it.
Precipice
Harris, Robert
Summer 1914. A world on the brink of catastrophe. In London, 26-year-old Venetia Stanley - aristocratic, clever, bored, reckless - is having a love affair with the Prime Minister, H. H. Asquith, a man more than twice her age. He writes to her obsessively, sharing the most sensitive matters of state.
As Asquith reluctantly leads the country into war with Germany, a young intelligence officer is assigned to investigate a leak of top secret documents - and suddenly what was a sexual intrigue becomes a matter of national security that will alter the course of political history.
The map of bones
Mosse, Kate
Olifantshoek, Southern Africa, 1688. When the violent Cape wind blows from the south-east, they say the voices of the unquiet dead can be heard whispering through the deserted valley. Suzanne Joubert, a Huguenot refugee from war-torn France, arrives in search of her cousin who landed at the Cape of Good Hope more than 60 years before, then disappeared without a trace. Franschhoek, Southern Africa, 1862.
Nearly 180 years after Suzanne's perilous journey, another intrepid woman of the Joubert family - Isabelle Lepard - has journeyed to the small frontier town once known as Oliftantshoek in search of her long-lost relations. Intent on putting the women of her family back into the history books, she quickly discovers that the tragedies and crimes of the past are far from over. Isabelle faces a race against time if she is not only going to discover the truth, but also escape with her life.
Friends of Dorothy
Toksvig, Sandi
After much searching, Amber and Stevie find the perfect house - a bit shabby but with potential - in Grimaldi Square. Just the two of them; a place where they can start their lives together.
Recently married, they want to begin a family (with the help of their gay best friend, Jack). Despite the rundown pub across the way, the overgrown garden and a decidedly nosy neighbour, it's the house of their dreams. But they are not alone in this dream. Upstairs, squatting on an old red sofa, is the former owner - eighty-year-old foul-mouthed, straight-talking, wise-cracking Dorothy - and she's not going anywhere.
Adult Non-Fiction
Mary’s Foolproof Dinners
Mary Berry
Whether it's a busy weeknight or a cosy weekend gathering, this collection of 120 brand-new, delicious recipes accompanies Mary Berry's BBC series and makes creating dinner completely foolproof! 'Mary's Foolproof Dinners' features all the fuss-free recipes from the show, each beautifully photographed with helpful cooking tips and techniques. From hearty one-pot wonders to sophisticated yet straightforward dinner party showstoppers and - of course - tempting traybakes and desserts. Each recipe is meticulously crafted by Mary to make every evening a foolproof success.
All That Matters
Chris Hoy
Sir Chris Hoy knows better than most how life can change in the blink of an eye. In elite sport, the margin between victory and defeat is miniscule, and the pressure is immense. Chris has built a glittering sporting career on understanding these moments: how to feel for them, how to cope with them, how to make them count. Then, he faced another life-changing moment. He found out that the ache in his shoulder was in fact a tumour, and that he had Stage 4 cancer. In this memoir, he shares the next phase of his extraordinary life with exceptional bravery. He looks over the challenges he has faced thus far, and the ways he has taken them on. With his wife Sarra and their young children by his side, he shares how he has used these experiences to find ways to focus on the moments that matter, showing us how to do the same.
I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest With You
Miranda Hart
Hello to you, I am with news. Basically, I have had an unexpectedly difficult decade - there have been surprising joys but also deep revelations and challenging lows. I shall be honest about those, because what I discovered in the difficult times were my, what I call, treasures. Treasures - practical tools, values, ways, answers researched from some great scientists, neuroscientists, therapists, sociologists (all the 'ists') out there - that have genuinely led to a sense of freedom, joy, peace and physical recovery I never would have thought possible.
A Pawtobiography: My Adventures on Gone Fishing
Ted the Dog
It's hard to believe Ted was once a skinny, unwanted pup who was dumped outside an animal shelter, before he found fame and fortune alongside Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse on the BBC hit series 'Gone Fishing'. In this exclusive expose, Ted reveals what it's like working alongside two national treasures and what really happens when the cameras stop rolling. With searing honesty, he gives his unique viewpoint on living in a dog's world and how you - yes you - can make it a better place for everyone. This is his story, in his own words. Nearly all of it is true.
Diddly Squat Home to Roost
Jeremy Clarkson
Welcome back to Clarkson's Farm. The spring barley crop failed. Just like the oil seed rape. And the durum wheat. Then the oats turned the colour of a hearing aid and the mushrooms went mouldy. Farming sheep, pigs and cows was hardly more lucrative. Jeremy would be better off trying to breed ostriches. But in the face of uncooperative weather, the relentless realities of the agricultural economy, bureaucracy, a truculent local planning department and the world's persistent refusal to recognise his ingenuity and genius, our hero's not beaten yet. Not while the farm shop's still doing a roaring trade in candles he isn't. On the face of it, the challenges of making a success of Diddly Squat are enough to have you weeping into your (Hawkstone) beer, but misery loves company and in girlfriend Lisa, Farm Manager Kaleb, Cheerful Charlie and Gerald his Head of Security Jeremy knows he's got the best.
Finding the Edge: The Autobiography
James Anderson
21 years, 188 Test Matches, 704 Test Wickets. This is Jimmy's story. From growing up in Burnley as an outsider, isolated at school, bunking off, dreaming of being somewhere - anywhere - else, to dominating the 22 yards of the wicket as part of the deadliest England attack ever assembled. He reflects on the intense rivalries with Michael Clarke and Sachin Tendulkar and the burgeoning friendships with Alastair Cook and Stuart Broad. Delving behind the cricket, Jimmy reveals his experiences of personal loss alongside the pain of professional injury, and the strength he found from his marriage and the arrival of his two children. 'Finding the Edge' is a front-row seat at the greatest games of the last two decades as England journey from perennial losers to world number one. But, above all, it is a coming-of-age story that reveals the real Jimmy Anderson - a bowler unequalled, a career like no other.
This Time Next Year: A Life of Positive Thinking
David Jason
Told with characteristic warmth and humour, David Jason reveals the hard-won wisdom of a life doggedly led getting through one day, looking to the next, and always chasing what's new on the horizon. Throughout his remarkable career, David's north star for navigating life's challenges has been his positive outlook and his resilience. From a trainee electrician to national treasure, David's bumpy journey to success has overcome obstacle after obstacle. Candidly revealing the ups, the downs, and the roundabout turns, David's book will uplift, entertain and inspire readers, offering an essential, unvarnished primer to leading a good life.
Our Family Favourites
Si King
Inspired by their journey together, Si King has completed this book as a tribute to his best friend and cooking partner Dave Myers, and a celebration of the food they loved to cook for themselves and their families. The Hairy Bikers are known and adored for their hearty food, big flavours and simple recipes. With this book, the Kings of Comfort deliver all that and more - bringing joy to the kitchen as they look back and share this ultimate collection of their most treasured dishes along with heartfelt stories and reflections on their adventures together.
Patriot
Aleksei Navalny
Alexei Navalny began writing 'Patriot' shortly after his near-fatal poisoning in 2020. It is the full story of his life: his youth, his call to activism, his marriage and family, his commitment to challenging a world super-power determined to silence him, and his total conviction that change cannot be resisted - and will come. In vivid, page-turning detail, including never-before-seen correspondence from prison, Navalny recounts, among other things, his political career, the many attempts on his life, and the lives of the people closest to him, and the relentless campaign he and his team waged against an increasingly dictatorial regime.
Children and Young Adults
Bluey’s Night Before Christmas
Lauren Holowaty
Suitable for ages 0 – 5
It's Christmas Eve and Bluey and Bingo are tucked up snug in their beds. When suddenly a noise outside wakes them up. Who could it be? Experience the magic of Christmas Eve with Bluey and the Heeler family in this retelling of the classic Christmas tale! Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
Jonty Gentoo
Julia Donaldson | Axel Scheffler
Suitable for ages 0 – 5
Jonty the gentoo penguin longs to find his true home at the South Pole. One night, he sneaks out of the zoo and sets off on an amazing adventure, all the way to Antarctica! Children will love cheering Jonty on his way, in this fabulous story by the creators of 'The Gruffalo'.
Paddington in Peru: The Story of the Movie
Anna Wilson
Suitable for ages 5 – 7
Marmalade sandwiches at the ready! Paddington is off on an awfully big adventure with the Browns to visit his Aunt Lucy in Peru. But when he gets there, he discovers that she has gone on a mysterious quest into the jungle and has disappeared. Determined to find her, Paddington and the Browns set off on a thrilling journey along the Amazon, through the jungle and up to the highest peaks of Peru!
Hot Mess
Jeff Kinney
Suitable for ages 7 – 9
In Hot Mess, book 19 of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series from #1 international bestselling author Jeff Kinney, Greg Heffley is in for a particularly awkward summer with his whole family.
The pressure is building for Greg Heffley, who discovers that when you mix heaps of family, a tiny beach house, and sweltering heat, it’s a recipe for disaster. Speaking of recipes - the secret ingredients behind Gramma’s famous meatballs have been closely guarded for years. Can Greg unpack all of his family’s mysteries before their vacation is over? Or will he just stir the pot?
Super Sleuth: A Murder Mystery
David Walliams
Suitable for ages 9 – 11
Dilly loved a good murder. Not a REAL murder. A made-up murder. One you would find in a murder mystery novel. Sherlock Holmes was her favourite detective, so much so that she had named her dog Watson after his faithful companion. Dilly had trained her Watson to sniff out clues and follow scent trails. Something he would happily do for a dog biscuit. Or two. So far, Dilly and Watson hadn't had much luck cracking cases - beyond lost cats, or missing biscuits that turned out to have been eaten all along. But now the detective duo found themselves on a luxury ocean liner bound for London. A thousand passengers. A thousand nautical miles of ocean around them. It was the perfect place for a murder. Or two. Or three. Or four. Or MORE!
The Completely Chaotic Christmas of Lottie Brooks
Katie Kirby
Suitable for ages 9 – 11
Christmas is complete chaos this year! The whole Brooks family are visiting for the festive break, there's a Secret Santa to organise and Lottie has to prepare for her big performance in the Christmas play as the back-end of a reindeer. Will she survive the festivities intact?
Sister Showdown!
Rachel Renee Russell
Suitable for ages 9 – 11
A brand new adventure in the Dork Diaries series.
Lately, Nikki's little sister has been a TOTAL BRAT! But while Brianna is busy raiding her closet and taping a HIDEOUS drawing of Nikki on her bedroom door, Nikki has more important things to think out. It's the end of summer and she has only 72 hours to completely reinvent herself before starting at Westchester Prep. Nikki is determined to be the COOLEST, CUTEST, SMARTEST, MOST INTRIGUING girl at school. But when disaster strikes and Brianna gets hold of Nikki's most cherished items. her phone AND her diary, her world is turned upside down. Will an unexpected emergency ruin Nikki's fabulous start to the new school year or, worse, ruin her relationship with wacky BFFs, Chloe and Zoey, and cute crush Brandon? Originally published: as Tales from a not-so-bratty little sister.
Let’s Split Up
Bill Wood
Suitable for ages 11 – 14
When hot 'it-couple' Brad and Shelley are brutally murdered in a Victorian mansion, a group of teen friends investigate. Set in a small town where rumour spreads as fast as the fire on the day of the killings, the theory is the old ghoul who haunts the house after his own murder hundreds of years ago has finally taken revenge. As Cam, Jonesy, Amber and new-girl Buffy investigate, the rumour feels closer to the truth than they ever dared think possible, and as they enter the mansion themselves, the idea of splitting up to find evidence will prove to be either the best - or worst decision of all.
Nothing Like the Movies
Lynn Painter
Suitable for ages 11 - 14
For a few beautiful months, Wes and girl-next-door Liz were together. But right as the two were about to set off to UCLA together, tragedy struck and their relationship ended. Flash forward and Wes and Liz find themselves in college, together. In a healthier place now, Wes knows he broke Liz's heart, but is determined to make her fall back in love with him. And he has a foolproof plan to win her back with the rom-com worthy big gestures she loves. Only, Liz will have none of it. Wes has to scheme like a rom-com hero to figure out how to see her. Even worse, Liz has a new friend, a guy friend. Still, Wes won't give up and is determined to win back Liz's affection. But after his best efforts get him nowhere, he's left wondering if their relationship is really over for good.