Noel Wells, curate in the sleepy village of Saltmarsh, likes to spend his time dancing in the study with the vicar's niece until one day the vicar's unpleasant wife discovers her unmarried housemaid is pregnant and trouble begins. It is left to Noel to call for the help of sometime-detective and full-time Freudian Mrs Bradley, who sets out on an unnervingly unorthodox investigation into the mysterious pregnancy, an investigation that also takes in a smuggler, the village lunatic, a missing corpse, a public pillory, an exhumation and, of course, a murderer. Mrs. Bradley is easily one of the most memorable personalities in crime fiction and in this classic whodunit she proves that some English villages can be murderously peaceful. Views: 43
When bubble creatures start disappearing from the World of Make-Believe, Daisy and Posey are on the case in this eighth Daisy Dreamer chapter book!When Posey spots the quarter vending machines with plastic bubbles filled with tiny toys at Daisy's local store, he tries to talk to them. But when they don't answer, Daisy explains that the bubbles are just toys in the real world. So Posey invites Daisy to the World of Make-Believe, where, of course, there's an entire world inside of those machines! Bubble creatures happily live in their plastic capsules, but it turns out there's a tiny problem. A giant has been "borrowing" those bubble friends! Can Daisy and Posey save those bubbles before they go pop? With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, the Daisy Dreamer chapter books are perfect for emerging readers. Views: 43
In Spirit Gate and Shadow Gate, Kate Elliott took readers to the fascinating world of the Hundred, a land teeming with an array of cultures, gods, and conflicts blighted by the shadow of chaos and destruction. Now, with the same intensity and dramatic sweep that has brought this epic to life, Elliott returns to the exquisitely crafted cities and landscapes of the Hundred, in a thunderous conclusion to the saga.In the darkness of war and destruction, forces gather to reclaim the peace: Those immortal Guardians who still serve justice seek a means to end the devastating reign of one of their own; a hired outlander army struggles to halt the advance of the horde that has despoiled vast lands and slaughtered countless people in its murderous wake, while still guarding against a burgeoning threat from an aggressively expansionist empire; and the eagle reeves who have long been the only law enforcers of the Hundred struggle to reorganize after a devastating... Views: 42
"One of the most hilarious fictions I have ever read...Nathaniel West might wish he had written it." - Bill HendersonA stunning debut novel written by a black American expatriate and diplomat whose real-life experiences inform the narrative. Resplendent with history, jazz, and mystery, this novel is perfect for fans of Nathanael West, Dashiell Hammett and the "Lost Generation" of American writers in Paris in the early years of the 20th century, such as Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald.A gifted black musician from New Orleans, Urby Brown, decides to leave Jim Crow behind and head to Paris. Joining the French Foreign Legion, Urby fights in WWI for France and later settles in Paris along with other black expatriates rather than return to worsening racial climate in America. He discovers a vocation as an undercover detective.Filled with intrigue and crazy adventure, Urby's quests will lead him face to face with a devious Nazi plot against... Views: 42
Canadian police chief Reid Bennett is back with his faithful dog Sam by his side. This time, the case takes them across the border to Chambers, Vermont, where an old buddy needs Reid's help. Doug Ford, a black policeman in the all-white town, has been charged with murdering the attractive bookkeeper of a local ski resort. Only Reid believes Doug's story that he and the woman were working together to investigate an entrenched money laundering conspiracy. But as new bodies pile up and the mafia rears its ugly head, things start to fall in line with Doug's story. Can Reid untangle the mystery before more blood gets shed? He will have to act fast—an unseen hand seems willing to stop at nothing to keep its secrets safe. Views: 42
As a defender for the Fraser High girls soccer team, Addie used to be ready for anything. There was no play she couldn't shut down. But now the biggest threat on the field is one of her teammates . . . who is also Addie's former best friend. When Eva Riley moved to town, she and Addie became super close. But when Eva wanted to be more than friends, Addie put soccer first instead. Suddenly Eva's sending Addie mean notes. Then she's screwing up Addie's plays. After a while, Addie's not sure she even wants her friend back. She has to worry about other things—like keeping her spot on the team after Eva's latest act of sabotage. Views: 42
The Lost for Words Bookshop by Stephanie Butland is a compelling, irresistible, and heart-rending novel, perfect for all book lovers."In The Lost for Words Bookshop, Stephanie Butland has created a bibliophile's delight. Witty and irreverent, funny and sad, this is a charming tribute to stories on the page and in our lives—and the powers they can hold over us."—Matthew Sullivan author of Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore"Burns fiercely with love and hurt. A rare and beautiful novel."—Linda Green, bestselling author of While My Eyes Were ClosedLoveday Cardew prefers books to people. If you look carefully, you might glimpse the first lines of the novels she loves most tattooed on her skin. But there are some things Loveday will never, ever show you.Into her hiding place - the bookstore where she works - come a poet, a lover, and three suspicious... Views: 42
A literary thriller with a heart. 'The Valparaiso Voyage' blows the lid off the Celtic Tiger and looks at the corruption that spawned today's Ireland. Dermot Bolger is one of the leading figures on the Irish literary scene: very influential, amazingly energetic and prolific, popular and well respected. This is his eighth novel (and his third for Flamingo). Bolger's previous novel, 'Temptation', was a departure for this author. It was a story of family life, told from a woman's perspective. 'The Valparaiso Voyage' is, as you might say, Bolger returning to familiar territory – back to chronicling the darker side of contemporary Dublin life. It is the story of Brendan Brogan, who grew up in the small town of Navan on the outskirts of Dublin. An unhappy childhood, spent searching for love and affection, leads to an unhappy adulthood spent gambling and trying to hold a difficult marriage together. When circumstances offer Brogan a chance to fake his own death, he seizes the chance and... Views: 42
Allen and Linda Anderson adopted a traumatized one-year-old cocker spaniel who had been abandoned. Soon, the troubled dog they named "Leaf" turned their home into a war zone. Although Leaf and Allen were forging a friendship with visits to dog parks and bonding time, Leaf's emotional issues overwhelmed the couple. Shortly after Leaf's arrival, Allen, who had spent eight years as a big city police officer and survived so many close calls that Linda called him "Miracle Man," received a diagnosis from his doctor that made him think his luck had finally run out. Allen had an unruptured brain aneurysm that could be fatal, and the surgery to repair it might leave him debilitated. Having seen his father live for years with the effects of a massive stroke, he dreaded that the worst fate might not be death. What Allen didn't know is that he and Leaf, like comrades facing the ultimate battle, would be there for each other with the miracle of this man and this dog coming together at... Views: 42
Troubled times have come to Narnia as it is gripped by civil war. Prince Caspian is forced to blow The Great Horn of Narnia, summoning the help of past heroes, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy. Now they must overthrow Caspian's uncle, King Miraz, to restore peace to Narnia. English years: 1941 Narnian years: 2303 Views: 42
