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Hemlock at Vespers: A collection of gripping Celtic mysteries you won’t be able to put down (Sister Fidelma #9)
by Peter TremayneHEMLOCK AT VESPERS is Peter Tremayne's anthology of Celtic mysteries featuring the ever-popular 7th-century super-sleuth Sister Fidelma. PRAISE FOR HEMLOCK AT VESPERS: 'This collection is an essential canonical text for Sister Fidelma Acolytes' Publisher's Weekly 'A treasure trove of small gems for historical mystery fans' Booklist'A complex mesh of betrayals that also catch up the sleuth, exploting both Fidelma's strengths and vulnerabilities' Kirkus Reviews Sister Fidelma originally made her debut as one of the decade's most interesting sleuths in short story form. The sharp-witted and astonishingly wise religieuse captured the hearts of many readers as she successfully tackled the most baffling of crimes in her other role as advocate of the law courts of Ireland, using the ancient Brehon Law system. The overwhelming response to these stories launched Fidelma as the heroine of a bestselling series of Celtic crime novels. But it also created a demand for further short stories. HEMLOCK AT VESPERS is the first collection of these stories ever to be published. With its breathtaking range of settings and crimes, it is guaranteed to entertain and intrigue - and is an anthology that no lover of Celtic culture or historical crime should be without.What readers are saying about HEMLOCK AT VESPERS: 'Intriguing, entertaining and informative''Brilliant. These books get better and better''There are echoes in the story that still reverberate today'
Smoke in the Wind: A compelling Celtic mystery of treachery and murder (Sister Fidelma #Bk. 11)
by Peter TremayneSuper sleuth Sister Fidelma returns in SMOKE IN THE WIND, the eleventh perplexing historical mystery by Peter Tremayne, acclaimed author of SMOKE IN THE WIND, OUR LADY OF DARKNESS and many more.PRAISE FOR THE SISTER FIDELMA SERIES: 'The background detail is brilliantly defined... Wonderfully evocative' The Times, 'Sister Fidelma is fast becoming a world ambassador for ancient Irish culture' Irish Post Sister Fidelma and her companion Brother Eadulf are on their way to visit the new Archbishop of Canterbury, when their ship is blown off course and they land on the coast of the Welsh kingdom of Dyfed. They are given hospitality by King Gwlyddien and Abbot Tryffin of the Abbey of Dewi Sant, and are asked if they would help to solve the mystery of how the entire monastic community of the Abbey, including the King's eldest son, could vanish into thin air. It's not long before the trail leads to deaths and treachery in high places and Fidelma and Eadulf are faced with a sinister and baffling puzzle. What readers are saying about SMOKE IN THE WIND:'Absolutely brilliant. Each one gets better than the one before''The twists and turns keep me wanting to know what happened. An excellent story, well written''An amazing tale that I could hardly put down!'
Maximum Ride: A Maximum Ride Novel (Maximum Ride #1)
by James PattersonWELCOME TO MY NIGHTMARE Do not put this book down. I'm dead serious - your life could depend on it. I'm risking everything by telling you - but you need to know. STRAP YOURSELF IN for the thrill ride you'll want to take again and again! From Death Valley, California, to the bowels of the New York City subway system, you're about to take off on a heart-stopping adventure that will blow you away...YOUR FAITHFUL COMPANIONS: Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, the Gasman and Angel. Six kids who are pretty normal in most ways - except that they're 98% human, 2% bird. They grew up in a lab, living like rats in cages, but now they're free. Aside, of course, from the fact that they're prime prey for Erasers - wicked wolf-like creatures with a taste for flying humans. THE MISSIONS: Rescue Angel from malicious mutants. Infiltrate a secret facility to track down the flock's missing parents. Scavenge for sustenance. Get revenge on an evil traitor. And save the world. If there's time.
Tommy's World: A warm and charming tale of life in northern England (Hopkins Family Saga)
by Billy HopkinsA Manchester lad's life in the early twentieth century - the slums, Smithfield market and the search for love... Billy Hopkins bases his engaging novel, Tommy's World, on the fascinating and inspiring life of his father Tommy, born in a Manchester slum in 1886. Perfect for fans of Lindsey Hutchinson and Maureen Lee.'The characters will stay with you after you've finished the book, but what you won't be left with is the sickly sweet taste of nostalgia. If you like to learn something from a good story then this could well be the book for you' - The BookbagTommy Hopkins' early years aren't very promising. Born at the end of the nineteenth century in a slum district of Manchester, he's blessed with a loving, hard-working mam and dad, but they don't have two ha'pennies to rub together. The family is struck by tragedy not once but twice - but Tommy is a survivor. He quickly makes friends at school, and together they plot money-making schemes, settle scores and play lots of football. Then, at last, it's time to leave the playground behind. Denied the chance of a promising career as an engineer, Tommy finds employment at Manchester's Smithfield market and works his way up, finally becoming a porter. He's turning into a man, and amongst the young women who catch his eye is Kate Lally, who may just be the love of his life... What readers are saying about Tommy's World: 'Well written and the characters are just so great... you enter a different world when you read a Billy Hopkins book''Brilliant author, his books are really ones that you can't put down!''Tommy's World was superb. Fascinating detail about life as it was. Unputdownable'
Back Hander: An electrifying racing thriller
by John FrancomeTwo riders, two unexplained deaths... Ex-National Hunt Champion Jockey John Francome presents Back Hander, an electrifying racing thriller. The perfect read for fans of Felix Francis and Lyndon Stacey. 'Back Hander is a tightly plotted and well-schooled story... that delivers everything it promises' - Tangled WebNot much is going right for jockey Alan Morrell. He can't get the rides he needs and when he sets up a bloodstock partnership a tragic accident robs him of the business and his best friend Lee. Now Alan owes £100,000 and his only asset is a racehorse who has yet to be put to the test. But all that fades into insignificance next to the suspicion that Lee's fatal fall was more than an accident... Things aren't looking so hot for fellow-jockey Max Ashwood either. There's the backlash from his affair with a trainer's wife and the little matter of his gambling. There's also the convenient death of another man to whom Max owed money. But surely no one is ever going to find out the truth about his part in that... Two riders, two unexplained deaths - but overshadowing both is a conflict that dwarfs the cosy world of racetrack winners and losers. As the noose closes round the neck of one man's criminal empire, just how many others will swing?What readers are saying about Back Hander:'A gripping story from start to finish''Highly recommended if you like horse-racing thrillers''Brilliant plotline which hinges on two doomed love affairs'
Transcultural Ecocriticism: Global, Romantic and Decolonial Perspectives
by StuartPeter Cooke DenneyBringing together decolonial, Romantic and global literature perspectives, Transcultural Ecocriticism explores innovative new directions for the field of environmental literary studies. By examining these literatures across a range of geographical locations and historical periods – from Romantic period travel writing to Chinese science fiction and Aboriginal Australian poetry – the book makes a compelling case for the need for ecocriticism to competently translate between Indigenous and non-Indigenous, planetary and local, and contemporary and pre-modern perspectives. Leading scholars from Australasia and North America explore links between Indigenous knowledges, Romanticism, globalisation, avant-garde poetics and critical theory in order to chart tensions as well as affinities between these discourses in a variety of genres of environmental representation, including science fiction, poetry, colonial natural history and oral narrative.
Narrative in the Icelandic Family Saga: Meanings of Time in Old Norse Literature
by Heather O'DonoghueRepresentative of a unique literary genre and composed in the 13th and 14th centuries, the Icelandic Family Sagas rank among some of the world's greatest literature. Here, Heather O'Donoghue skilfully examines the notions of time and the singular textual voice of the Sagas, offering a fresh perspective on the foundational texts of Old Norse and medieval Icelandic heritage. With a conspicuous absence of giants, dragons, and fairy tale magic, these sagas reflect a real-world society in transition, grappling with major new challenges of identity and development. As this book reveals, the stance of the narrator and the role of time – from the representation of external time passing to the audience's experience of moving through a narrative – are crucial to these stories. As such, Narrative in the Icelandic Family Saga draws on modern narratological theory to explore the ways in which saga authors maintain the urgency and complexity of their material, handle the narrative and chronological line, and offer perceptive insights into saga society. In doing so, O'Donoghue presents a new poetics of family sagas and redefines the literary rhetoric of saga narratives.
The Black Art of Killing
by Matthew HallTHE ACTION-PACKED THRILLER THAT FUSES BRAWN AND BRAINS Oxford University has never employed a man like Leo Black before.Now an adored lecturer destined for tenure among the gleaming spires, Leo Black served the SAS for twenty years with distinction.When the friend he fought alongside is killed in Paris trying to prevent the abduction of a young British scientist, the world Leo has tried to put behind him begins to reel him back in. But as Leo gets closer to the startling truth about his friend's death, he faces a difficult decision.Forget the training, the loyalty, the service and be the man the university wants him to be . . .Or remember that not so long ago, he was a truly exceptional soldier. Praise for Matthew Hall 'Breathlessly enjoyable' The Times 'An edge-of-the-seat thriller . . . should come with a health warning' Irish Independent 'Fasten your seatbelts for a quality thriller . . .' Independent on Sunday
The Loveday Vendetta: A spell-binding historical drama set against the rugged, Cornish coast (Loveday Series)
by Kate TremayneIf you enjoyed the BBC's adaptation of Poldark, then Kate Tremayne's Loveday series is not to be missed! Passionate and daring, the Lovedays are a family you will never forget... The Loveday Vendetta is the eleventh book in Kate Tremayne's Loveday series and is perfect for fans of Winston Graham's Poldark and Elizabeth Chadwick.Beautiful, headstrong, troubled: Rowena Loveday has always lived in the shadow of her mother's tarnished reputation. And when her father takes his own life, she fears she will never escape the curse of her parentage. She finds an ally in orphaned Bryn, ward of her uncle, Adam Loveday. But even Bryn cannot protect her from the ultimate betrayal... Indebted to the Lovedays for saving his life, Bryn is piecing together his childhood memories. Before he can reclaim his stolen inheritance, he must uncover the truth behind the murders of his mother and brother. Only then can he confront the demons from his past - and lay the dead to rest. Bryn's discoveries unleash an enemy more powerful than the Loveday family have ever encountered. They must unite in order to protect their own. But will it be too late...? What readers are saying about The Loveday Vendetta: 'Loved the book, absolutely brilliant, couldn't put it down... Kate Tremayne is a brilliant writer, her books keep you intrigued from start to finish''A saga that improved with age''Five stars'
Dark Assassin: A dark and gritty mystery from the depths of Victorian London (William Monk Mystery #15)
by Anne PerryThe two figures had been on the bridge. He had grasped hold of her. To save her, or to push her? Newly appointed Inspector Monk faces a sinister murder plot in Dark Assassin, the fifteenth novel featuring the enigmatic detective from the Queen of Victorian crime, Anne Perry. Perfect for fans of C. J. Sansom and Sarah Perry.'Brilliant... That rare blend of novel that's a page-turning thriller yet literary... Dark Assassin continues Author Perry's peerless tradition of blending compelling plotting with finely realized human emotion and superb period detail' - Jeffery Deaver Inspector William Monk is still feeling his way in a new post in the Thames River Police and knows he must solve the mystery to gain the respect of his men. Soon both he and Hester find themselves powerfully involved in the story of the dead woman, Mary Havilland, and her quest to vindicate her father, found dead two months previously. An engineer working for the Argyll Construction Company, James Havilland was convinced a major disaster would happen in the tunnels where London's desperately needed new sewer system was being built. Maddened by his obsession, he'd apparently shot himself. Mary had never accepted that and now she was dead too. Was it chance or something more sinister? What readers are saying about Dark Assassin: 'Anne Perry surpasses each novel she writes with further brilliance. This is a complex, superbly crafted plot''Perry is so convincing in her research and her prose is exquisite''Excellent story, really could not put it down. Well written, atmospheric, I felt I was there with the characters'
Crusader Gold (Jack Howard Ser. #2)
by David GibbinsJack Howard is the only man who can find out. But the clock is ticking against him. The quest to find out takes him from the fall of the Roman Empire to the last days of Nazi power - and uncovers a trail more thrilling than anyone could have imagined...
The Loveday Pride: Action, adventure and romance in eighteenth-century Cornwall (Loveday Series)
by Kate TremayneIf you enjoyed the BBC's adaptation of Poldark, then Kate Tremayne's Loveday series is not to be missed! Action, intrigue and romance continue unabated for the Lovedays in the richly satisfying sixth book in Kate Tremayne's Loveday series. Perfect for fans of Winston Graham's Poldark and Philippa Gregory.Pride, the curse of the Loveday family, may also be its salvation. While Adam Loveday struggles to maintain the family shipyard and to develop his new lands at Boscabel, his twin, St John, bears a bitter grudge against him for having won the yard he considers his birthright. Then Desiree Richmond arrives unexpectedly from Virginia, and Adam is appalled to learn that she believes herself engaged to St John - though his brother's wife is still living.In London, young Tamasine tries to keep faith with Rupert Carlton, who seems oddly elusive. And on a convict ship bound for Botany Bay, the family's blackest sheep is battling to survive. Yet both Tamasine and Japhet, the former highwayman, are fiercely proud of the Loveday name and resolved to honour their heritage. What readers are saying about The Loveday Pride: 'I just could not put this book down''Kate Tremayne brings the reader directly into the story - her historical knowledge and storytelling gift enthral, and leave me with the feeling that I am in the places of the book''Five stars'
I Can See You (Minneapolis Series)
by Karen RoseIn Karen Rose's brilliant thriller I CAN SEE YOU, the first in her Minneapolis series, a killer is targeting the participants of an online role-playing game called Shadowland. Perfect for fans of Tess Gerritsen and Karin Slaughter.The killer stalks his prey online. He learns about their dreams, their fears and their vulnerabilities. Then he finds them in the real world and for his victims the game is over. Eve Wilson has spent years hiding from the damage inflicted on her by a madman. Retreating into the virtual world, she made a new life for herself on screen. Now Eve is helping others use the virtual world to kick-start their own recovery. Detective Noah Webster knows that his victims' suicides have been staged. When Eve contacts Webster to say that one of the dead women was participating in her online study, it becomes clear that this killer is a new breed of predator. With Eve herself now a target, can they find a killer who can disappear with the strike of a key...
Second Chance of Sunshine: A young mother's battle between duty and freedom
by Pamela EvansA caring mother struggles against the prejudices of the 1950s, with tragic consequences... Second Chance of Sunshine is a captivating tale of a woman gaining her independence, in a poignant London saga from much-loved author Pam Evans. Perfect for fans of Sheila Newberry and Cathy Sharp.'Evans has a real feel for the people and places of the South East. In this colourful picture of life in post-war London there is a strong sense of community and a finely drawn illustration of the tension caused by the changing role of women in society... Warm, entertaining and peopled with lovable characters' - Lancashire Evening PostIt's 1956, and while many women are doing jobs they'd never dreamed of before the war, Molly Hawkins is chained firmly to the kitchen sink. Her husband Brian believes his wife's place is in the home, but is too idle to seek regular employment for himself. Molly worries that her six-year-old daughter Rosa is going without, but is willing to sacrifice luxuries - and her own happiness - for her little girl to have a dad.Then a family friend dies suddenly, leaving Molly a share in a successful pottery business. To Brian's horror, it's on condition that Molly takes a job at the pottery. Seizing the chance to bring in much needed income, Molly accepts the position, and soon gains strength from her new-found independence. It's a strength she will need to take her through the tragedy that lies ahead... What readers are saying about Second Chance of Sunshine: 'I have read many Pamela Evans novels and have always thoroughly enjoyed them - these are the sort of novels that should be turned into Sunday afternoon watching, they are easy, they hold the reader and you can guarantee that all will come right in the end despite the ups and downs along the way''Thoroughly enjoyed this book. It makes for pleasurable, laidback, and captivating reading'
Storm Rider: A ghostly racing thriller and mystery
by John FrancomeA missing person. A macabre find. A murderer in their midst. Storm Rider is another suspenseful thriller set in the racing world from bestselling author John Francome. The perfect read for fans of Felix Francis' Pulse and Triple Crown.'Look out, Dick Francis, here's Francome riding another winner' - Peterborough Evening TelegraphIn life, horse-fancier and antiques dealer Glyn Cole caused a heap of trouble - for his girlfriends, their jealous partners and his creditors. His two-year absence from the close-knit Berkshire horse community has been something of a relief. Broken bridges have been mended; lives have been rebuilt. And his disappearance has been a miracle for one individual in particular: the person who killed him. But now Glyn is back - in bizarre circumstances. A record-breaking storm has ripped his corpse from its ingenious hiding place. How did he get there and how did he die? Many have benefited from his absence - but who is no longer sleeping so soundly at night? It seems that, even in death, bad boy Glyn is as much trouble as he ever was...What readers are saying about Storm Rider:'Excellent story, written with a great understanding and passion by an expert with an eye for detail using his own racing experiences and knowledge''I was delighted by the interesting corpse conundrum!''A well-constructed and compelling narrative, with real dramatic pace and a succession of clever twists'
Beckett and Dialectics: Be it Something or Nothing
For a long time, analysis of the work of Samuel Beckett has been dominated by existentialist and post-structuralist interpretations. This new volume instead raises the question of how to understand Beckett via the dialectics underpinning his work. The different chapters explore how Beckett exposes and challenges essential dialectical concepts such as objectivity, subjectivity, exteriority, interiority, immanence, transcendence, and most crucially: negativity. With contributions from prominent scholars such as Alain Badiou, Mladen Dolar, and Rebecca Comay, Beckett and Dialectics not only sheds new light on how Beckett investigates the shapes, types, and forms of negation – as in the all-pervasive figures of 'nothing', 'no', 'null', and 'not' – but also examines how several phenomena that occur throughout Beckett's work are structured in their use of negativity. These include the relationships between voice and silence, space and void, movement and stasis, the finite and the infinite and repetition and transformation. This original analysis lends an important new perspective to Beckett studies, and even more fundamentally, to dialectics itself.
Transcultural Ecocriticism: Global, Romantic and Decolonial Perspectives
Bringing together decolonial, Romantic and global literature perspectives, Transcultural Ecocriticism explores innovative new directions for the field of environmental literary studies. By examining these literatures across a range of geographical locations and historical periods – from Romantic period travel writing to Chinese science fiction and Aboriginal Australian poetry – the book makes a compelling case for the need for ecocriticism to competently translate between Indigenous and non-Indigenous, planetary and local, and contemporary and pre-modern perspectives. Leading scholars from Australasia and North America explore links between Indigenous knowledges, Romanticism, globalisation, avant-garde poetics and critical theory in order to chart tensions as well as affinities between these discourses in a variety of genres of environmental representation, including science fiction, poetry, colonial natural history and oral narrative.
Petrified (Inspector Ikmen Mystery 6): An unputdownable murder mystery with an ingenious plot
by Barbara NadelMadness, obsession and a curiously preserved corpse in Istanbul...Petrified is the sixth dark and gripping mystery from the Inspector Ikmen series by the hugely talented crime writer, Barbara Nadel. Perfect for fans of Donna Leon and Jason Goodwin. 'Atmospheric, skilfully written and well plotted' - Time OutSummer in Istanbul is hot. The kind of heat that can drive even the sanest people a little crazy...An elderly woman is found dead in a flat with the perfectly preserved body of a young man. In an ancient part of the Jewish quarter, two children are missing. Their father, an artist whose genius borders on insanity, only seems more driven in his work. And a raid on a Russian gangster yields nothing except the dead body of a girl he claims is his daughter. Could the connection to all cases lie in a macabre forgotten art? But Inspector Cetin Ikmen's worries aren't just work-related. His protégé, Suleyman, is going dangerously off the rails, threatening to compromise not just himself, but months of painstaking investigation. Ikmen faces a complex case which threatens to rock the very fabric of Turkish society.What readers are saying about Petrified:'A well-crafted interplay of stories - absolutely fascinating''An intriguing mystery that impresses for its descriptions of life within multicultural Istanbul and its characters''The theme and characters stayed with me for days after I had read this book'
The Cat Who Said Cheese: A charming feline crime novel for cat lovers everywhere (The Cat Who... Mysteries #17)
by Lilian Jackson BraunCould feline interest in gruyere, brie and feta help to solve this strange case...? Lilian Jackson Braun's delightfully quirky mystery series continues in The Cat Who Said Cheese, the eighteenth novel to feature amateur sleuth Qwill and his feline companions Koko and Yum Yum. Perfect for fans of Simon Brett and Shirley Rousseau Murphy.'The entanglement is better than a Christie and the cat descriptions are terrific' - Liverpool Daily PostThe Great Food Explo is scheduled to open in Pickax with a bang, introducing new restaurants, country inns and food speciality shops. Unfortunately the 'bang' takes the form of a bomb which wrecks a hotel, killing the housekeeper and causing extensive damage. Enter Qwill and his Siamese cats, Koko and Yum Yum, whose instincts tell them that to someone, the murderous bomb was meant as something stronger than a warning... What readers are saying about The Cat Who... series: 'These [books] make lovely, light-hearted reading with a good mix of humour and adventure''The entire 'Cat Who...' series are a delight for cat and mystery lovers''Quirky - lovely for anyone who owns or has owned an intelligent cat'
Execution Dock: A gripping Victorian mystery of corruption, betrayal and intrigue (William Monk Mystery #16)
by Anne PerryHas Monk met his most dangerous and elusive opponent yet? The death of a young boy leads Monk into one of his most dangerous cases yet in the sixteenth book in Anne Perry's brilliant William Monk series Execution Dock. Perfect for fans of C. J. Sansom and Arthur Conan Doyle.'Rich in plot development, believable characters and period detail, this entry will only add to the already sizable ranks of Perry's admirers' - Publishers Weekly It's 1864, and after a game of cat and mouse, Monk has captured Jericho Phillips, the man he suspects of brutally killing a young mudlark and running an evil child prostitution ring. In bringing Phillips to justice, Monk hopes to close down the ring and avenge the memory of Durban, his old commander, who was determined to capture Philips. However, at trial justice does not prevail. Oliver Rathbone, Monk's friend, is hired anonymously to represent the accused and when he proves that vital evidence is missing, Phillips is freed. As Monk begins the investigation again, venturing deeper into London's murky underworld, he realises that Durban may have had his own reasons for pursuing Phillips, and shockingly, that secret support for Phillips may reach further into civilised society than anyone could ever have imagined... What readers are saying about Execution Dock: 'Ms Perry's books inform, entertain, and make me think...what more can a reader ask for?''[A] compelling, assiduously plotted story''Well written with a gripping story line... You really feel the dirt and squalor of Victorian London'
Landscapes of War in Greek and Roman Literature
In this volume, literary scholars and ancient historians from across the globe investigate the creation, manipulation and representation of ancient war landscapes in literature. Landscape can spark armed conflict, dictate its progress and influence the affective experience of its participants. At the same time, warfare transforms landscapes, both physically and in the way in which they are later perceived and experienced. Landscapes of War in Greek and Roman Literature breaks new ground in exploring Greco-Roman literary responses to this complex interrelationship. Drawing on current ideas in cognitive theory, memory studies, ecocriticism and other fields, its individual chapters engage with such questions as: how did the Greeks and Romans represent the effects of war on the natural world? What distinctions did they see between spaces of war and other landscapes? How did they encode different experiences of war in literary representations of landscape? How was memory tied to landscape in wartime or its aftermath? And in what ways did ancient war landscapes shape modern experiences and representations of war? In four sections, contributors explore combatants' perception and experience of war landscapes, the relationship between war and the natural world, symbolic and actual forms of territorial control in a military context, and war landscapes as spaces of memory. Several contributions focus especially on modern intersections of war, landscape and the classical past.
The Love Boat
by Kate LaceLove is in the air... and on the water in this fabulous new romance from Kate Lace Working as a chef on a luxurious holiday yacht, Poppy's come a long way from her parents' pub in Cornwall and enjoys a tranquil existence sailing around the Greek islands. Until the Garvie family show up that is. When their boisterous behaviour forces Poppy to pay a visit to a super-yacht docked nearby, she meets handsome deckhand Charlie and everything gets a lot more exciting. She wouldn't mind getting cosy in her cabin with him! But why does Jake, the brooding skipper, keep rocking the boat? When it comes to falling in love, Poppy may be in danger of going overboard...
The Chalice of Blood: A chilling medieval mystery set in 7th century Ireland (Sister Fidelma #21)
by Peter TremayneSister Fidelma returns in the twenty-first 7th-century Irish mystery, THE CHALICE OF BLOOD by Peter Tremayne, acclaimed author of THE DOVE OF DEATH and THE COUNCIL OF THE CURSED. If you love Ellis Peters you will be gripped by this novel.PRAISE FOR THE SISTER FIDELMA SERIES: 'The background detail is brilliantly defined . . . wonderfully evocative' The Times, 'A brilliant and beguiling heroine. Immensely appealing' Publishers Weekly Ireland AD 670. When an eminent scholar is found murdered in his cell in the abbey of Lios Mór, fear spreads among his brethren; his door was secured from the inside, with no other means of exit. How did the murderer escape? And what was the content of the manuscripts apparently stolen from the scholar's room? Abbot Iarnla insists on sending for Sister Fidelma and her companion Brother Eadulf to investigate the killing. But even before they reach the abbey walls, there is an attempt on their lives. As the mystery deepens, Fidelma and Eadulf must also wrestle with problems of their own, which threaten to separate them for ever... What readers are saying about THE CHALICE OF BLOOD:'Excellent historical content as well as the usual intriguing mystery''Tremayne continues to satisfy Sister Fidelma mavens''Kept me guessing right up until the end. A great read'
Deadly Finish: A fresh and exhilarating racing thriller of suspicion and secrets
by John FrancomeA day at the races ends in murder...Deadly Finish is another brilliant racing thriller from 'the natural successor to Dick Francis' (Irish Times), John Francome. The perfect read for fans of Felix Francis' Pulse and Triple Crown.'The book moves at a relaxed pace but the tension continues to mount until the surprising conclusion. Good characters, good plot and well worth reading' - West Australian It's summer, Royal Ascot, and life is good for young trainer Simon Waterford. He has inherited his father's top-class yard, his brilliant two-year-old has just won the Coventry Stakes and he is soon to marry his beautiful half-Brazilian girlfriend. But Mariana has a secret which would wreck her hopes of marriage - and which Simon's uncle Geoff has found out. And he has threatened to tell Simon. On their way back from the races, two rough-looking young men pass lewd comments about Mariana. There's not much of a brawl - it's over too quickly and is hardly even-handed - but it leaves Mariana in a sea of blood tending to Simon's wounded face, while Geoff lies dead on the floor. It's a tragedy, of course, but Mariana can't help but feel relieved. Her secret is safe, for now...What readers are saying about Deadly Finish:'John Francome's weaving of the various plot-lines was superb''Another first class book from Francome''Believable characters and great storyline had me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end'
Ecocollapse Fiction and Cultures of Human Extinction (Environmental Cultures)
by Sarah E. McFarlandThis work analyzes 21st-century realistic speculations of human extinction: fictions that imagine future worlds without interventions of as-yet uninvented technology, interplanetary travel, or other science fiction elements that provide hope for rescue or long-term survival. Climate change fiction as a genre of apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic writing usually resists facing the potentiality of human species extinction, following instead traditional generic conventions that imagine primitivist communities of human survivors with the means of escaping the consequences of global climate change. Yet amidst the ongoing sixth great extinction, works that problematize survival, provide no opportunities for social rebirth, and speculate humanity's final end may address the problem of how to reject the impulse of human exceptionalism that pervades climate change discourse and post-apocalyptic fiction. Rather than following the preferences of the genre, the ecocollapse fictions examined here manifest apocalypse where the means for a happy ending no longer exists. In these texts, diminished ecosystems, specters of cannibalism, and disintegrations of difference and othering render human self-identity as radically malleable within their confrontations with the stark materiality of all life. This book is the first in-depth exploration of contemporary fictions that imagine the imbrication of human and nonhuman within global species extinctions. It closely interrogates novels from authors like Peter Heller, Cormac McCarthy and Yann Martel that reject the impulse of human exceptionalism to demonstrate what it might be like to go extinct.