Winterbourne

Elisabeth Wolf

A REMOTE, wind and rain-battered island off the west coast of Scotland, a vast Victorian house with a magnificent library full of priceless first editions… and a young librarian eager to take a job far away from the haunting memories of a car crash that killed her beloved twin brother.

Twenty-four-year-old Anne Adams had hoped that taking up a post at Winterbourne House on Craigsea Rock would finally give her the peace of mind and privacy she yearned for but there is a secret room within the mansion’s walls and it houses forbidden books that should never, ever see the light of day.

Edinburgh-based author Elisabeth Wolf (pictured below) – who also writes crime novels as Alison Belsham – has won an army fans with her irresistible reinvention of the gothic genre, creating contemporary thrillers packed with classic tropes like crumbling mansions, vulnerable heroines, windswept landscapes and brooding anti-heroes, but alluringly spiced with a thread of supernatural mystery. And Winterbourne certainly dishes up the thrills, chills and dark romance as readers follow troubled librarian Anne Adams who travels to the isolated island to catalogue thousands of books only to discover that Winterbourne House is not just the source of strange happenings but has an owner as unpredictable, moody and dangerous as the sea that frames its views.

Anne’s life was literally turned upside down when a car she was driving swerved down an embankment, killing her much-loved twin brother Malcolm and leaving her with serious facial burns and a badly broken leg.

Distraught at the loss of Malcolm, Anne’s parents blame her for the terrible accident. Forced to stay with them until she has recovered enough, and feeling unloved, rejected, grief-stricken and guilty, Anne applies for a job cataloguing the library of Winterbourne, an architectural masterpiece on Craigsea Rock.

The island is owned by the largely absent Lucien Broussard and its only permanent inhabitants are the Coopers, an odd pairing of gruff brother and sister who live in a cottage by the jetty and work as housekeeper and groundsman. Anne will live alone in rambling Winterbourne House but she finds solace in both the awe-inspiring landscape and the library with its dazzling collection of books.

However, her early weeks in her new job are beset by obstacles… there’s no internet, the house plunges into darkness every night when the generator is switched off, a swarm of death’s head hawkmoths suddenly appear in the library, and she has two near-fatal accidents. And then there are the unexplained mysteries on the island such as the figure in the lighthouse, a freshly dug grave, and the unaccountable disappearance of the previous librarian who started the cataloguing but abruptly stopped.

When the dark and handsome Lucien visits, he and Anne dine together, they discuss literature and books, and she falls for his eloquence and charisma. But then she discovers a secret room off the library with an unspeakable collection of books… and the diary of the missing librarian whose experiences at Winterbourne mirror her own in an uncanny way. Shocked and afraid, Anne finds herself alone, frightened, vulnerable… and, worse still, she knows she has no way of calling for help or escaping the island.

Winterbourne proves to be a veritable vipers’ nest of secrets, shocking revelations and terrifying events as unsuspecting Anne fights to disentangle her mental fog of post-accident grief, fear, dreams and misconceptions from the nightmares that are unfolding around her.

Trapped on an island where contact with the outside world is almost impossible, the ever-changing weather rules the waves, and even the wildlife seems to have a menacing mind of its own, Anne’s  fears quickly start to ramp up and the actions of the dangerously charming but unsettling Lucien become increasingly disturbing.

Playing a devilishly clever game of gothic trickery, Wolf delves tantalisingly into the territory of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca and Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey with a cast of memorable characters – not least the creepy Coopers – and a house which seems filled to its creaking rafters with hidden evil.

From its terrifying storehouse of secrets to its spine-tingling, claustrophobic intensity, Winterbourne is a sweep-you-away, enthralling wild ride… and with an unexpected denouement that could well herald a second chapter, journey’s end might not yet be in sight!
(Black & White Publishing, hardback, £16.99)

City Girls Forever

Patricia Scanlan

CATCHING up with old friends is always a joy but when it’s the City Girls who won our hearts in three entertaining books from much-loved Irish author Patricia Scanlan then you know it’s going be extra special!

Yes, the City Girls – three Dublin friends who have shared their romantic, domestic and professional triumphs and traumas with a worldwide fan base over three bestselling books and three decades – are back and it seems fair to warn that laughter and tears are most definitely guaranteed.

City Girls Forever follows on from the much-loved trilogy, City Girl, City Woman and City Lives, and stars Devlin, Maggie and Caroline whose friendship began when they shared a house in Dublin. It was a friendship that soon became their lifelong emotional anchor as they faced the kind of dramas, love-life disasters and family changes that are all so familiar. A wise author who can peer into the soul, Scanlan (pictured below) doesn’t put a foot wrong when writing about the problems that so often beset women’s lives and in this new visit, we find the friends older and wiser but now wrestling with mid-life challenges like menopause, ageing parents, adult children, broken relationships, and unexpected new loves.

Packed with insight and Scanlan’s lovable Irish wit, this new chapter for Devlin, Maggie and Caroline also delves into the secrets that have remained hidden over the years whilst exploring what long‑term friendship looks like in real life… sometimes messy, sometimes exasperating, but often the one sure thing that holds everything else together.

Devlin Delaney’s iconic gym and spa, City Girl, is the ‘poshest’ in Dublin and she is preparing to mark the big 35-year anniversary with a fabulous party where she and best friends Caroline and Maggie can put their problems behind them and do some serious celebrating. But Devlin’s past has returned to haunt her with a shocking revelation relating to her misogynistic, cold-hearted and controlling ex-boyfriend Colin Cantrell-King who brought her only tragedy and suffering.

Caroline, labelled ‘a total workaholic’ by her friends, turned to psychotherapy work following a marriage that ended in despair and a hard-fought battle with alcoholism. A subsequent failed relationship, with a man she thought could be her forever love, left her with no faith in ever finding happiness. Still unable to face up to her own long-suppressed issues, Caroline has a new man in her life but will she ever let him become more than a friend?

For successful author Maggie, it’s her family that is driving her mad. Her daughter Shona is getting married and as she doesn’t get on with her dad, Maggie’s ex-husband Terry, he most definitely won’t be giving her away. That leaves Maggie ‘slap-bang in the middle’ and with an alarming discovery about her elderly mother’s financial affairs, Maggie has the urge to just run far away. One thing is for sure… sparks are going to fly, and some people are going to get a lot more than they bargained for!

From Dublin landmarks and Devlin’s stylish gym to family kitchens and the bracing country air of County Wicklow, Scanlan takes us on a whirlwind journey of discovery through some painful real-life ordeals, emotional storms, and tender moments of heartwarming poignancy.

Devlin might now be ‘ticking the fifties box’ and battling her menopausal ‘brain fog’ but remains the superwoman that readers of this vibrant, eternally enchanting series have come to love. For Maggie, family matters loom large with her daughter’s wedding threatening to re-open old battle lines but, as always, she tackles problems with humour, heart and gusto. Caroline, meanwhile, is still throwing herself into work, taking on board other people’s problems through her psychotherapy sessions but unable to fully process her personal history.

Scanlan is on top form as she weaves together the trials and tribulations of these three charismatic women whose lives we have shared down the years. And if you haven’t before met Devlin, Maggie and Caroline but have fallen for their authentic charm, fear not… City Girls Forever can easily be read as a standalone, although discovering the books that chart their earlier days could well be an irresistible temptation!
(Simon & Schuster, paperback, £9.99)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Secret spies, ancient magic and danger at sea

Discover the amazing true story of how the Girl Guides worked undercover as spies during the First World War, lose yourself in the ancient magic and epic adventures of a soaraway fantasy series, join a school trip that becomes a frantic fight for survival, and brave the dangers of Ancient Rome’s towering Colosseum with a thrilling line-up of February children’s books

Age 9 plus
A Girl’s Guide to Spying
Holly Webb

FUN, friendship, secrets… and some super-slick espionage! Welcome to the first thrilling mystery of a dazzling new wartime adventure series from Holly Webb, one of Britain’s best-loved children’s authors. The Rose Patrol Mystery series was inspired by Webb’s own lifelong experiences and membership of Girlguiding, and by the amazing true story of how the Girl Guides worked undercover for MI5 during the First World War. Her parents fear that the organisation might be unladylike but when Phyllis (Phyl) Dean is dragged along to the Girl Guides by her keen younger sister Annie, the last thing she expects is the adventure of a lifetime. It’s the summer of 1914 and the start of the war and soon the Guide captain offers Phyl a job as a messenger for MI5. 

Phyl is desperate to help the war effort and is thrilled to be working with spies but she can’t seem to do anything right in the eyes of grumpy Major Warren, one of the MI5 officers. Annie, meanwhile, has been making her own investigations into a family she suspects of being German. When Major Warren suddenly disappears, Phyl and Annie think that he may in fact be a double agent. Now the two sisters must solve the mystery of his whereabouts before it’s too late. Fortunately, their friends from the Rose Patrol are ready to help...

Webb, who still volunteers as a Brownie and Guide Leader, certainly puts her heart, soul and humour into this first mystery romp which has all the classic ingredients of a spy drama… Morse code, murder, dramatic chases, a charming spy (of course!) and even a bullish bull terrier called Hector. With real history as the backdrop, an intriguing mystery to solve, danger always just around the corner, plenty of twists and turns, and the thrill of joining a group of gutsy Guides with a case to crack, this is the perfect opener for what promises to be a must-read series!
(Rock the Boat, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Evenfall: The Tempest Stone
Alexander Armstrong and Tom Roberts

ANCIENT magic, soaraway fantasy, epic adventures and deadly danger! If that’s a mix that tickles your reading taste buds, then dive into Evenfall: The Tempest Stone and lap up the second book of a thrilling series that fuels your imagination and pulls at your heartstrings. As the father of four sons, Alexander Armstrong – a familiar face and voice from television and radio – knows that sharing the joys of reading and stories is an important part of growing up. And after a childhood in the north-east of England, with its mystical history of the ancient North, he has finally created a truly magical series which has lived in his head for many years. The Golden Linnet, first book of the dazzling Evenfall series, was the number one bestselling children’s debut and described by one critic as ‘Da Vinci Code for kids.’ Thought-provoking as well utterly enthralling, these wild and wonderful adventures have a moving thread of realism and star a 13-year-old boy who had always believed himself to be ordinary until he discovered his destiny was something far more extraordinary.

Sam is now the Tempest – head of the secret, ancient Order of the Evening that protects the world from evil. But with great power comes great responsibility and Sam holds the future of the world in his hands. Sam’s nemesis is Georgie, a madman with the terrifying power to slice through portals of time and he is on a mission to destroy the world with a virus so deadly that it could wipe out the whole human race in a heartbeat. Sam and his friends are the only ones can who stop him and this deadly game of cat-and-mouse will take them to the very ends of the Earth. But not everyone will survive… With Tom Roberts’ atmospheric and richly detailed black-and-white illustrations setting the scene, a hero who everyone is taking to their hearts, and a stories brimming with magic, intrigue, peril and glory, this is a stunning series which succeeds in fulfilling every childhood fantasy!
(Farshore, hardback, £14.99)

Age 11 plus
Escape
Sophie McKenzie and Melania Badosa

WHEN her school trip takes a perilous turn, Bernice must channel all of her knowledge to survive in this gripping drama from the queen of teen thrillers, Sophie McKenzie. Perfectly pitched at struggling Key Stage 3 readers aged eleven and over, published in Barrington Stoke’s dyslexia-friendly format, and with complex and authentic teen relationships at its heart, Escape will have youngsters hooked from first page to last. Bernice had been looking forward to a dream school trip to a sea-life sanctuary but the day becomes a nightmare when she finds herself in a race against the tide. Her friends’ reckless behaviour plunges them all into the freezing waters of Shark Bay and Bernice has to confront her fears and summon all her knowledge of marine life to find a way to safety. But in shark-infested waters, can she act quickly enough to save the day? Overflowing with edge-of-your-seat high-school drama and fascinating marine life facts, and illustrated throughout by Melania Badosa's atmospheric black-and-white illustrations, Escape is a sure-fire winner for your tweenies!
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Nova
Chris Bradford and Charlotte Grange

WHEN a space-travelling boy’s life-craft is pulled into a wormhole, he’s going to need a whole galaxy of luck to return to safety! Star-struck young readers will be over the moon when they get their hands on the final book of a heart-thumping, outer-space trilogy from top-selling children’s author, Chris Bradford, and illustrator Charlotte Grange which has included Lunar and Stellar. Max Nova is heading to Mercury with his father, a space trucker, when their ship is suddenly diverted. They have a new urgent mission. An abnormal gravity reading has been detected near the Sun. There are fears that this could signal the start of a supernova! But what Max and his father discover is much more dangerous – and far stranger – than any supernova. Flung to the outer reaches of the universe, Max must navigate some perilous dangers to find his way home before time runs out! Bradford, creator of the hugely popular Young Samurai and Bodyguard series, is a master of authentic and thrilling adventures and Nova delivers not just his familiar nail-biting action drama but a standalone story threaded through with fascinating facts about space travel. Brought to life by Grange’s atmospheric black-and-white illustrations, and published in Barrington Stoke’s trademark dyslexia-friendly format, this final space-bending survival thriller is a mission you won’t want to miss!
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
The Impossible Gladiator
M.G. Leonard and Manuel Sumberac

TAKE your seat on the chariot, hold on to the reins, and brave the dangers of Ancient Rome’s towering Colosseum in the third thrilling time-travelling adventure of bestselling author M.G. Leonard’s epic Time Keys series in which music is used to open doors into the past. Loved and admired for her prodigious imagination which has created stories about fantastical beetles, beautiful birds and thrilling train rides, Leonard was inspired to write this breathtaking series from her own lifelong passion for music and she certainly hits all the right notes with these all-action mysteries, brought to vibrant life by Croatian artist Manuel Sumberac’s richly detailed and atmospheric illustrations.

So buckle up and enjoy an utterly spellbinding journey back in time with Sim, his cousin Jeopardy and friend Nelson, a band of young musicians who discovered they have the ‘keys’ to open time doors and travel through epochs and age in a bid to search for treasure and solve mysteries. Here we find the trio enjoying an amazing holiday in Rome until they are swept up in the mysterious disappearance of world-famous illusionist Kinetic. He vanished during a live broadcast from the Colosseum but never reappeared. When Kinetic’s sister finds a strange description in a history book of a gladiator who sounds uncannily like her brother, the friends are determined to help. They travel through secret time doors to the spectacular – and deadly – Colosseum, but can the brave trio survive long enough to find Kinetic and bring him home? Gladiator meets the time-travelling wonders of Doctor Who in this terrific adventure which harnesses the thrills and spills of Ancient Rome with the fun of witnessing history in the raw. Ideal as a standalone novel, or enjoyed as part of the Time Keys series, The Impossible Gladiator is simply past perfect!
(Macmillan Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
The Galaxy World Cup
Alan Joyce

AS the 2026 FIFA World Cup draws enticingly closer, give your youngsters an early warm-up with this brilliant tale of intergalactic soccer shenanigans from debut author (and football fanatic!) Alan Joyce. Billed as Space Jam with football, The Galaxy World Cup is a fun-filled feast of slapstick comedy and features everything from wormholes to bouncy pitches as exciting South Tyneside writer Joyce rolls out his perfect underdog story. When aliens mistake schoolboy Nick Wilson and his fellow misfits for the world’s greatest football players, they are whisked across the Milky Way to compete in an intergalactic football tournament against real aliens. The only problem is they are NOT the greatest football players on Earth… in fact, they’re the WORST! But if they want to go home, they’ll have to lace up their boots and try to actually score a goal. Joyce plays a blinder with his wacky and wonderfully original intergalactic adventure which hits home with its eternally popular and relatable themes of friendship and team spirit, and is right on goal when it comes to drawing in reluctant readers. The perfect World Cup warm-up!
(Chicken House, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
Toby and the Pixies: How to be Cool!
James Turner and Andreas Schuster

BUCKLE up and get ready to laugh out loud as illustrator, cartoonist and comic writer James Turner teams up with German-born cartoonist Andreas Schuster for another unstoppable ride into side-splitting silliness! How to be Cool! is fourth of their hilarious Toby and the Pixies graphic comic book series which is brimming with chaotic energy and pixie mayhem, and was originally published in the hugely popular The Phoenix comic. So head off to an ordinary town and meet shy and anxious Toby Cauldwell who thought he was an ordinary schoolboy until a magical kingdom full of pixies in his garden named him their king! Now, the pixies are always on hand to assist their leader but end up causing complete and utter chaos in the process. Toby is currently trying his best to reinvent himself as ‘T-train,’ the coolest boy in school, and the pixies are keen to help… but every time they do, things go very wrong. From giving Toby a ‘fresh start’ at school by erasing everyone’s memories – including his Dad’s and his best friend Mo’s – to mixing up their magical size-changing powder on Toby’s spot causing it to grow GIGANTIC, the pixies seem to wreak havoc wherever they go! Brimming with all the zany slapstick fun that young readers expect from their comic book anti-heroes, this anarchic series delivers unlikely friendships, madcap antics and pixie-themed magic. And for readers who love to draw and want to create awesome characters just like Toby and the Pixies, the back of the book has a section of how-to-draw tutorials from illustrator Schuster plus links to The Phoenix comic club website where you can find draw-along videos, free printable material and top tips from lots of creators. Everything you could wish for when two superstar comedy creators let their imaginations run wild!
(David Fickling Books, paperback, £9.99)

Age 5 plus
Lift and Learn: Our Weather
Isabel Otter and Hannah Tolson

FROM sunshine to snow and ice, weather happens all around us… but have you ever wondered how it works? How does the wind blow, what are hailstones, and how do we feel heat? Discover the answers to these questions and more by delving into five amazing weather systems in this beautifully created and educational book written by Isabel Otter and cleverly illustrated by Ilkley-based artist Hannah Tolson. Join in the lift-the-flap fun and get ready to come across fascinating facts about everything from rain, thunder and lightning to sunshine, wind and snow. Combining learning with an engaging text and colourful illustrations, this sturdy, cased board book guide to the weather not only provides valuable geographical knowledge but also inspires youngsters to get outside and explore nature. Perfect for nature lovers and budding geologists!
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £12.99)

Age 5 plus
Watts & Whiskerton: The Great Glacier Hotel Heist
Meg McLaren

AN adorable cat-and-dog detective duo have a case to crack as well as the ice in the third adventure of a mystery and mischief-filled series from Waterstones Children’s Book Prize-shortlisted author and illustrator Meg McLaren. Highly illustrated throughout in child-friendly, two-tone colours, the adventures of Watts & Whiskerton are doggedly delightful and purr-fectly fun for emerging young readers. In this new wintertime caper outing, budding detective Watts and his friend Pearl Whiskerton, a curious cat with a nose for mysteries, are looking forward to a holiday at the Great Glacier Hotel and Ski Resort. But when they arrive, their quiet vacation soon turns into another high-stakes investigation. The priceless Ice Crystal has been stolen from the hotel safe, and Watts’ parents are the prime suspects! Will Watts and Pearl be able to clear Mr and Mrs Watts’ names, and will they be able to catch the real jewel thief? With McLaren’s comic-style illustrations and a locked room mystery bursting with sleuthing, heavy snow, and suspicious staff, Watts and Whiskerton’s ice-packed new adventure is guaranteed to melt every reader’s heart!
(Piccadilly Press, paperback, £6.99)

Age 3 plus
Bear’s Perfect Dance
Rachel Tilda Wolf

DANCING to the music in your heart is the quick step to happiness in this warm and joyful picture book from author and illustrator Rachel Tilda Wolf whose passion is creating and developing empowering stories for children. So meet Bear who loves to dance… he practises all day long and spends hours perfecting his moves. But one thing bothers Bear… he’s always dancing by himself, and some dances are better with two. Will he ever be able to find an equally perfect dance partner? Bear’s discovery of a new dance partner is brought to vibrant life by an array of colourful illustrations featuring a forest full of fun and friendly animals. With her trademark warmth and humour, Wolf explores the importance of connection and friendship, the rewards of self-discovery and embracing imperfection, and how being open to new ideas and compromise brings companionship and happiness. It really DOES take two to tango!
(Scallywag Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
Owl and Moon
Kate Rolfe

ALSO dancing to the music of time is a little Owl who can’t help but feel sad at the darkness left behind by the waning Moon. If your little ones have their own fears about the darkness of night time, bring a touch of comfort and magic to their bedtime wind-down with this beautifully soothing and comforting picture book from award-winning author and illustrator Kate Rolfe. When Moon shines down, Owl's toes feel tingly and her wings feel fluttery, and she can't help but dance in the moonlight. But what happens when Moon begins to wane and Owl is left in the darkness? Will she find the inner strength to venture out beyond her treetop home and dance anyway? With its gentle and joyful themes of friendship, kindness, finding your own path, and shining your light even in the deepest dark, and gorgeous illustrations in the alluring light and dark shades of night time, this is the perfect antidote to those bedtime blues!
(Two Hoots, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
Frank and Bert: The One Where Bert is Scared of Frogs
Chris Naylor-Ballesteros 

RRIIBBIITT! With a good friend beside you, even scary moments can have a happy ending! Author and illustrator Chris Naylor-Ballesteros steals our hearts again with another emotionally powerful and fun-filled picture book featuring Frank and Bert, his stellar fox and bear double act. And this time, the dynamic duo are heading into the great outdoors to contemplate on facing up to your fears, and to celebrate the joys and rewards of a true friendship. Frank the fox and Bert the bear are the best of friends, and they love to sail Bert’s toy boat on the little pond. But – oh no! – there’s a FROG in the pond today and Bert is scared of frogs. Poor Bert! Frank wants to help his best friend… but is he just a little bit frightened, too? With its warm and wise heart, and infectious sense of fun, this enchanting story – brought to vibrant life by Naylor-Ballesteros’ stunning illustrations, with their eye-catching use of colour, expression and visual humour – proves that conquering your fears and making new friends is all part of a life well-lived. And with giggles guaranteed right through to the last page, and a free Stories Aloud QR code audio recording to enjoy, this is plain sailing for all little fun-lovers!
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Mrs Owl’s Forest School: The Treasure Hunt
Ruth Symons, Seb Braun and Lizzie Noble

IF you go down to the woods today... you’ll find fun at a very special forest school! The joys of the great outdoors spring to glorious (and fascinating!) life in the latest adventure of an inspirational picture book series which aims to get youngsters into the wild and wonderful world of nature. Deep in the woods, beneath the trees, the animals are gathering. It’s time for Mrs Owl's Forest School. Join Mouse, Squirrel, Fox and Rabbit as they learn about wildlife, try something new, get creative and – of course – make friends! Out in the woods today, they are taught about trail-making and will enjoy the fun of following clues to find treasure, discovering along the way that nature might be the most precious gift of all. Written by author Ruth Symons in consultation with Lizzie Noble, a forest childcare provider with experience of running creative, play-based forest school sessions for families, and featuring richly detailed and colourful scenes created by French artist Seb Braun, these beautiful books will have little ones itching to explore their local woodland. And with exciting, fact-packed stories to share, and lots of activities to try for yourself, the Mrs Owl’s Forest School books are the perfect accompaniment for your own spring and summertime adventures.
(Templar Publishing, paperback, £7.99)

Age one plus
Baby, You're Our Sunshine
Sophie Beer

BABIES can be loud like thunder, roly-poly like the clouds, and even jiggly like a raindrop! But all babies bring light and joy into our lives… just like sunshine. This joyful board book from award-winning Australian author and illustrator Sophie Beer captures all the delights of life with a baby, the wonder of the natural world and the love between parent and child. Baby, You're Our Sunshine is the perfect celebration of beautiful babies with a simple, gentle text and Beer’s bright, bold and affectionate illustrations. Featuring chunky pages and vibrant art, the book is an ideal gift for new parents, and a lovely and loving reminder to carers to slow down and enjoy the precious moments with little ones.
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £7.99)

The Island Between Us

Dougie McHale

HAVE you had the pleasure of holidaying in Skiathos? Whether you already know – and love – this beautiful Greek island, or have never before experienced its many charms, then prepare to be totally spellbound by this heartwarming and heartbreaking time-slip tale of survival, sacrifice, romance and revenge.

Spanning two timelines – and two countries – The Island Between Us is the latest book in Scottish musician, songwriter and author Dougie McHale’s much-loved Hellenic Collection which travels between Edinburgh and the sun-soaked Greek islands, and explores fascinating corners of wartime history through a rich assortment of characters facing some of life’s most difficult choices.

But by far the most important character in McHale’s (pictured below) novels is Greece itself with its culture, religion and people, and the vibrant light and colours of its sea and landscape, providing the inspiration for cross-generational, emotion-packed stories full of intrigue, real history and human drama. And it is the turbulent years of the wartime German Occupation of Skiathos which take centre stage in this time-travelling epic as we are swept into the lives of courageous Greek resistance fighters, and the British troops who were sent to help liberate the island and undertake pivotal military operations.

After a shattering break-up with her suffocating live-in boyfriend Stuart in Edinburgh in 2007, Carissa finally puts herself first and lands a job leading walking and hiking tours on the sun-drenched island of Skiathos, where she is determined to finally take control of her life again.

Still haunted by a disturbing incident with Stuart just before she finally walked out on him, Carissa hopes that the quiet rhythms of nature and the island’s idyllic landscape will help her to heal from her trauma.

And soon the rolling hills with their lush green slopes and olive groves, the golden sands and aquamarine sea – plus the warm smile of her handsome work colleague Demitris – are soothing Carissa’s soul, bringing the changes she longed for and making her feel like she’s ‘walking on air.’

But one summer’s day on a guided tour, she discovers an elderly man collapsed in the garden of his home and her world is unexpectedly turned upside down. Thomas is an elderly British veteran who is haunted by his covert role as an intelligence officer in Second World War Greece and is still carrying the burden of loss.

Carissa and Thomas form an unexpected bond and as their friendship grows, Thomas recounts his wartime memories of the little known Greek resistance and his military mission in which danger, loyalty and love collided. In turn, Carissa begins to confront her own trauma, rediscover her strength and to fall for Demitris who offers the love she desperately needs. But when ex-boyfriend Stuart resurfaces on Skiathos, seeking revenge and determined to drag her back under his control, she must find enough courage to stand against the shadows now threatening her, and protect the life she has rebuilt.

Recalled by many film fans as one of the unforgettable settings for the smash hit movie Mamma Mia!, Skiathos is the perfect atmospheric backdrop for the two principal characters from two generations whose lives seem to transcend the boundaries of time as we are plunged backwards and forwards into the very real dangers and dilemmas they face… in the past for Thomas and in the present for Carissa.

Encouraged to delve into the memories that have followed him across six decades, Thomas hopes to find his own healing in revisiting the painful corners of his wartime experiences while Carissa’s contemporary struggles remind us of the very real fears and threats that come from being stalked.

Woven together with the care, creativity and impressive research that is the hallmark of this emotionally  charged and entertaining series, and seasoned with the alluring sensual (and culinary!) delights of shimmering, glimmering Skiathos, The Island Between Us is history, mystery and romance with a special sunshine glow!
(Vinci Books, paperback, £9.99)

The Mourning Necklace

Kate Foster

‘They said I would swing for the crime and I did.
I wear the rope-bruise like a necklace...’

ANY reader who has enjoyed a pint or two at Maggie Dickson’s pub in the middle of Edinburgh’s Grassmarket may not know the dark and mysterious story of the woman who was hanged only a stone’s throw away for murdering her newborn baby... but survived her own execution.

Inspired by this infamous real-life case, The Mourning Necklace is the new and unforgettable historical novel from the Women's Prize for Fiction-longlisted Kate Foster (pictured below), author of The Maiden and The King’s Witches which impressed critics and wowed readers with their powerful storytelling and feminist themes.

Foster’s mission is to give a voice to history’s forgotten women and their very real, lived experiences, and as she tells us in her author’s note, ‘sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.’ In fact, there can be few stranger stories than this true tale of the legendary ‘Half-Hangit Maggie,’ the unmarried Scottish fisherwoman who left her home in Fisherrow in 1724 and travelled to Kelso where she gave birth to a baby and allegedly abandoned it on the banks of the River Tweed.

Sentenced to hang for child murder, 22-year-old Maggie survived death on the gallows by some trick of fate... and it is her life before, during and after her hanging that Foster imagines in this coruscating novel which explores emotive issues like women’s reproductive rights, working conditions, and poverty which are as relevant today as they were three hundred years ago.

‘Human life is cheap. They die on street corners, in rags, an empty bottle rolling around beside them. They die of poxes and plagues and starvation and hangings. They die in childbirth. Or shortly thereafter. Whispers of the afterlife are sometimes the only hope we have.’

The working class world of Scotland’s 18th century fishing community is tough and unforgiving, and in a village tavern on the outskirts of Edinburgh, the family of Maggie Dickson gather to

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Werewolf thrills, dragon magic and a treasure hunt

Get ready for fun, fantasy and werewolf frights in a thrilling adventure from a superstar writer and illustrator, escape into a mysterious realm where hope has wings, meet two children battling to find a much-treasured window, and discover why everything you thought about birds is wrong in an exciting new selection 

Age 8 plus
The Last Wolf
Rob Biddulph

JUST picture it… a thrilling werewolf adventure full of lies, betrayals, dread and danger, all brought to life by over one hundred spectacular illustrations! Superstar DrawWithRob author and illustrator Rob Biddulph – fresh from his much-loved Peanut Jones series – returns with the first book of a thrilling duology that will have youngsters howling with delight! The Last Wolf kicks off the Moonhaven Chronicles with a gripping fast-paced, spine-tingling mystery romp packed with full moons, werewolves and atmospherics so deep, dark and daring that youngsters will be turning the pages with the speed of a lightning strike.

Jax, Jovi, Esau and Fourth call themselves the Moonlighters. They live for full-moon adventures on curfew night… the night when they dodge the Nighthawks and enjoy roaming the empty streets of Moonhaven, a place trapped in fear of werewolf attacks. But when a rare werewolf attack rocks the town, the friends become prime suspects. With the Nighthawks closing in on anyone who was out after dark, they are forced to run – setting off a chain of rumours, secrets and betrayals. As suspicion spreads and the children become caught in tangled web of buried lies and hidden agendas, friendships are tested… and the truth may be more dangerous than any of them imagined. Biddulph’s dazzling verbal and visual reimagining of the werewolf legends – told in short, all-action chapters – is the perfect recipe for even the most reluctant readers who like their adventures to come with plenty of eye-catching pictures. So what are you waiting for? Get on down to Moonhaven and share in the fun, the fantasy… and the frights!
(Macmillan Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)

Age 9 plus
Where the Dragon Waits
Tom Moorhouse

SIT back, make yourself comfortable, and enjoy escaping to a mysterious realm where hope has wings! Author, ecologist and freelance conservation scientist Tom Moorhouse sets his prodigious imagination to work (and inspires youngsters to do the same!) with an enchanting and endearing fantasy adventure full of magic, mystery… and dragons. After his dad’s boat crashes, Ed finds himself all alone on a strange beach. But then he meets a girl – headstrong Steff – who doesn't know where they are, either. As Ed and Steff explore a new realm full of mystery, they discover its deep and dark lore. They meet deadly butterflies, a pack of wolves with a secret and an armoured pangolin called Astolpho who reveals the only way home involves a dragon who lives at the top of an impossibly tall, rocky spire. Ed and Steff are drawn through legend and peril as they battle to unlock the truth about the dragon, themselves and their chances of ever returning home. The traditional fantasy elements, so beloved by young readers, mingle deliciously with Moorhouse’s unique brand of humour and exciting originality in this page-turning, heartfelt and ultimately uplifting story. A breathtaking book destined to win hearts and send young imaginations soaring!
(David Fickling Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
The Treasure Seekers
Cathy Faulkner

A COMMUNITY still raw from the traumas of the 1914-18 war and a deadly flu spreading from house to house… can two youngsters work together to save their village before time runs out? Longlisted in 2024 for the Carnegie Medal for Writing for her debut verse novel, Digging for Victory, Cathy Faulkner returns with another powerful and evocative story exploring themes of friendship and loss, of preserving the past and knowing when to let go. It’s November 1918 in the village of Aldwick. Stanley is convinced that the hundreds of years old stained-glass window in the church that Martha’s late grandfather removed for safekeeping during the war is the protection the village needs to solve all its problems, including his mother’s sickness. But Martha refuses to help him search for the window panels, wanting to keep her beloved grandfather’s secrets safe. When Stanley becomes ill as well, Martha realises she must act to help him and she begins her search for the panels, even as her father struggles with his own inner turmoil in the aftermath of the war. As the people who are most important to them suffer, Martha and Stanley step up their search. Can all the panels be found before it’s too late and can hope ever be restored? Employing the same verse format that wowed readers and critics with her first novel, and using her own interest in making stained glass windows as the backdrop to the story, Faulkner once again impresses with the elegance, insight and dramatic intensity of her writing.
(Firefly Press, paperback, £8.99)

Age 7 plus
Everything You Know About Birds is Wrong!
Dr Nick Crumpton and Gavin Scott

IF you thought that birds are defenceless, that they all eat seeds, and that the world doesn’t need them, then you’d better think again! Bird fans will quickly become bird experts with this informative, inventive and entertaining exploration of the bird world which proves that any suggestion that birds are boring and not very smart is totally WRONG! Forget what you thought was true because zoologist Dr Nick Crumpton is here to help readers dig out the real facts about birds. From incredible feats of flight to super-powerful senses, discover how everything you think you know about birds is actually untrue in this in-depth, ingenious book. Discover why seagulls are not really mean, why there’s actually no such thing as a ‘seagull,’ why we’re wrong to think that nests are round and made of twigs, and that it’s wrong to think that although birds are everywhere, they are not at risk. With a fascinating, friendly, easy-to-understand text by Crumpton, Gavin Scott’s richly detailed and colourful artwork on every page, and twenty-nine spreads that puncture myths about birds, spotlight biodiversity and encourage children to see the wonder of the animals around them, this hardback gift book comes complete with a stunningly tactile cover and is ideal for all young nature lovers.
(Nosy Crow, hardback, £14.99)

Age 7 plus
Insectarium
Emily Carter and Dave Goulson

CREEPY-CRAWL your way into the Junior Edition of Insectarium, part of the brilliant Welcome to the Museum series, and explore the fascinating world of insects! Simply step inside the pages of this fact-packed book to enjoy the experience of a museum from the comfort of your own home. This stunning tour – created in collaboration with the Royal Entomological Society – showcases an incredible collection of insects of every shape and colour from around the world, enabling readers to wander through curated exhibits on every page, all accompanied by an informative text. In this eye-catching visit, packed with amazing pictures and facts, we discover that insects are essential for life as we know it.

There are at least one million species of insects, together making up over 80 per cent of all living species on Earth. Around 10,000 new species of insects are discovered every year. Learn about the secret world thriving right underneath your feet, discover how insects evolved into what they are today, how they work together and how they defend themselves. Walk the galleries to meet shimmering butterflies, jewel-like beetles, glowing fireflies and enormous stick insects in this beautifully illustrated guide to the insects that inhabit almost every corner of the globe. Learn why these small creatures have such a huge impact on the world around us and why we should be protecting them. Intricately detailed artwork by award-winning British illustrator and fashion designer Emily Carter combines with an expert text by award-winning author and University of Sussex professor David Goulson. A must-have for all budding entomologists and nature lovers.
(Big Picture Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
Don't Do It, Doug!
Maudie Powell-Tuck and Duncan Beedie

WE all know that little voice in your head… the one that says ‘Do NOT do that thing.’ Doug the hamster knows it but he ignores it… every single time! From shaking fizzy pop (uh-oh) to pressing oh-so-tempting red buttons and pulling forbidden levers, Doug just can’t help himself. Don’t do it, Doug! Will he ever learn to control himself? Little ones will adore sharing lovable Doug’s madcap misfortunes in this brilliantly funny picture from author Maudie Powell-Tuck and illustrator Duncan Beedie, the top creative team behind Hank Goes Honk. With subtle messages about the rewards of friendship and the unfortunate consequences of over-impulsive behaviour, brought to glorious life by Beedie’s vibrantly colourful and playful artwork, Don't Do It, Doug! is guaranteed to be a favourite read with both mischievous tots and (only occasionally!) mischievous grown-ups.
(Little Tiger Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
Welcoming the Lunar New Year
Lara Lee and Natelle Quek

GET ready to celebrate Lunar New Year, a festival of new beginnings, in this delightful heartfelt picture book from Australian chef and food writer Lara Lee, and Malaysian-born illustrator Natelle Quek, who now lives in England. Ren and his family are preparing for the New Year celebrations… cooking a feast and tidying up. But when Ren accidentally rips apart his mum’s dragon costume for the New Year parade, he has to ask his neighbours for help. As they provide him with the materials he needs to fix the dragon, he learns all about Lunar New Year traditions around the world and soon they are all celebrating together with a festive feast. Illustrated in Quek’s rich palette of colours, Lee’s story incorporates a gentle message about the values of the celebration. And give this year’s celebrations for the Year of the Fire Horse on February 17 an extra bite with the book’s recipe for tasty Chinese peanut cookies, and a lesson in Lunar New Year dragon craft. The perfect way to welcome a year full of happiness!
(Walker Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
The Awesomely Adventurous Librarians
Donna David and Victoria Stebleva

BOOKS, books, books! A visit to the library is always a treat and we all know that librarians are superheroes, but does anyone know what they really do when the library lights go out and the readers have gone home? Discover the answer and much more in author Donna David and illustrator Victoria Stebleva’s delightfully imaginative picture book which explores the idea that there is a book for everyone through a fun-filled adventure. In Sleepy Creek Library, living and breathing stories have to be retrieved from the Land of Books. It’s there that Rida loves helping her Grandad. She makes a list of all the readers’ requests and passes it to Grandad to retrieve them. But when Arun asks for a book so adventurous that no one has ever been able to catch it, Grandad says he can’t help. Can Rida secretly journey to the Land of Books and find the story herself? This action-packed adventure is perfect for inspiring a new generation of book-lovers. David’s original and creative spin on the theme of libraries and storytelling becomes a vibrant and atmospheric storybook-style adventure filled with Stebleva’s colourful landscape of birds, trees, flowers and whimsical figures. A story with a happy ending for little bookworms!
(Oxford University Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Rock and Roll
Ruby Amy Thompson

HERE'S a brilliant new debut picture book that will rock and roll its way into your heart! Ruby Amy Thompson, who spent almost a decade working in entertainment and comedy television before going back to school to study illustration, delivers fun in the round with the tale of a super-strong lump of rock and a super-soft bread roll which find they have more common than they could ever have imagined. Rock and Roll are very different. Rock is strong and Roll is soft. Rock hates attention while Roll loves it. But hang on… maybe Rock can really roll, and Roll can really rock! With two unforgettable characters taking centre stage, Thompson’s bold and joyful artwork, big laughs, and a brilliantly playful layout in which Rock and Roll always appear on opposite pages whilst still being linked through shared experiences, there could be no better way to celebrate all the weird and wonderful things that bring us together!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
I Am Strong Just Being Me
Laura Dockrill and Kip Alizadeh

DOES being strong mean you will always win a fight? Award-winning author Laura Dockrill and illustrator and visual artist Kip Alizadeh bring young readers a stunning and lyrical exploration of strength and its many guises in this poetic and powerful picture book.‘Is strong brave and fearless? Does it always win a fight? Does strong have a shouty voice? Is it always right?’ These are some of the questions that the inquisitive Bean asks Nanna one day while in the garden. From the power of silence to the strength of an embrace, this uplifting picture book offers an alternative to the stereotypes around strength, and encourages all children that they can be strong in their own way. With Alizadeh’s colourful and evocative illustrations adding extra power to an uplifting text celebrating the natural world as well as inspiring reflection, I Am Strong Just Being Me is the perfect book to help young readers challenge stereotypes and believe in their own inner strength.
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 2 plus
Isla and the Sky
Greg Stobbs

MEET a little girl who loves the sky… and all its many multi-coloured moods! Author and illustrator Greg Stobbs – whose picture book Cloud Boy captured the hearts of both children and parents – returns with another joyful and empathetic tale celebrating feelings. With his busy, bold, painterly illustrations and a text full of empathy and creativity, Stobbs works his magic on a girl called Isla who finds inspiration for her artwork by looking upwards. Sky is vast, bright, and blue… but sometimes she is dark and thunderous, her raindrops reflecting the town below. Isla loves all Sky’s moods and tries to capture the variety in her paintings. When Sky rains or clouds over, however, all the other townspeople grumble and moan. Sky decides she should just try to be happy all the time so people aren’t cross with her. But this is harder than it looks and soon the world below – and Isla’s paintings – start to suffer. Can Isla convince big, bold Sky to let all her feelings and colours show? And what happens to Sky when she is on the brink of bursting? Stobbs’ inspirational and atmospheric story is given added emotional potency from his captivating illustrations, a visual feast of colour and sensory delights which inform and inspire little ones to understand and accept their own mood swings and feelings.
(Oxford University Press, paperback, £7.99)

The Swell

Kat Gordon

ICELANDIC mythology, a shipwreck on a storm-battered shore, and two generations of women fighting against a society with patriarchy ingrained its soul are the alluring ingredients of a stunning novel from exciting storyteller Kat Gordon.

The Swell, a moving, atmospheric and feisty feminist tale of life amidst the icy splendours, towering volcanoes and all-enveloping darkness of Iceland, was inspired by the author’s childhood immersion in the story of Beowulf, the Old English epic poem set in Scandinavia during the 6^th century, and from her own years of living in, and loving, this famously cold, dark and rugged island.

Weaving enticingly across two timelines separated by sixty-five years, and starring two courageous women living very different lives but facing the same challenges and desire for female empowerment, Gordon’s (pictured below) spellbinding tale of sisterhood, survival and resistance has a haunting, heartbreaking and page-turning mystery at its heart. It’s autumn of 1910 in a remote corner of Iceland where sisters Freyja and Gudrún live with their widower father, Papi, a taciturn fisherman of few words who is suspicious of all things new, sees bad omens everywhere, and regards his daughters as keepers of their house and tenant farm despite Gudrún’s longing to join his fishing trips.

But change is afoot one stormy night when the two sisters rescue a mysterious and charismatic young Dane called Tomas from a shipwreck near their home. Much the same age as Freyja and Gudrún, Tomas is strong, carefree and loves to sing.

Even though their father suspects he might be a Danish spy sent to undermine Iceland’s fight for independence, Tomas is allowed to stay on at their home to help with the haymaking and work for his lodgings.

Freyja, who says she was drawn out to the sea by a sense of impending disaster on the night of the shipwreck, feels a special tenderness towards the stranger who landed on their shore, but soon her older sister Gudrún begins to fear that another man – a man who is strictly out of bounds – is the one who has truly stolen Freyja’s heart. Sixty-five years later in Reykjavik, a young and ambitious 18-year-old girl called Sigga is spending time with her beloved grandmother, her Amma, who came to the city

Killing in the Shadows

Kate Ellis

TOP TV presenter, actress and friend to the rich and famous, Lexi Verity would seem to have it all but, now in her late forties, she is wise enough to know that success can attract attention of the unwanted and dangerous kind.

And when Lexi is found dead in the indoor swimming pool at her luxury home and hideaway in a quiet North Yorkshire village, the murder of well-known celebrity places extra pressure on local police chief DI Joe Plantagenet whose task is to find her killer.

The amazing million-copy bestselling author Kate Ellis (pictured below), whose output has included the cerebral black detective Wesley Peterson series and the Albert Lincoln trilogy, has made both herself and her police heroes not just a ‘force’ to be reckoned with, but something of a crime writing sensation.

Killing in the Shadows is Liverpool-born author Ellis’s (staggering!) thirty-eighth novel and the sixth book in the DI Joe Plantagenet crime series which is set against the backdrop of a city called Eborby, creatively modelled on the atmospheric city of York with its ancient walls, narrow snickleways, magnificent Minster and a rich and eventful history.

And as York is also reputed to be the most haunted city in England, Ellis has added a thread of tantalising supernatural to these gritty police dramas as well as her trademark memorable characters and mysteries with plenty of twists and turns.

Leading the Yorkshire team is a pair of perfectly matched chalk-and-cheese detectives… DI Joe Plantagenet, a thoughtful Liverpudlian who gave up the priesthood for love only for his wife to tragically die shortly after their wedding, and down-to-earth DCI Emily Thwaite who successfully combines being a mother of three with her full-on police career.

Since being targeted by a creepy stalker who, thankfully, is now safely behind bars, the beautiful old Georgian rectory in the quaint Yorkshire village of Eaglethorpe – bought for Lexi by her wealthy antiques dealer husband Lord (Milo) Pilton – has become her sanctuary. Away from prying eyes and camera flashes, the house is her refuge, the place where she feels safe and where her neighbours know that Lexi guards her privacy with an increased ferocity. But when her husband

Death in a Domino

Roland Pertwee

By guest reviewer Nicholas Litchfield,
editor of the Lowestoft Chronicle

A POWERFUL newspaper magnate’s dictatorial grip and clandestine scandals trigger murder at an elite dinner party in Death in a Domino, an intense post-war crime novel steeped in social intrigue, simmering resentments, and polished façades that conceal deeper desires and betrayals.

First published in 1932 by the London-based publisher William Heinemann as It Means Mischief, and in the US that same year as Death in a Domino, Roland Pertwee’s standalone mystery returns to print after more than ninety years lost to obscurity.

Brighton-born Roland Pertwee, father of the late Dr Who actor Jon Pertwee, was once a struggling painter but found his true calling as a playwright, screenwriter and novelist. His psychologically acute scripts and brisk dialogue helped define British stage and screen from the 1920s through the 1950s. Interference, the play he co-wrote with Harold Dearden, ran for six months in London’s West End before opening to favourable Broadway reviews in 1927, paving the way for a prolific career at Warner Brothers and a steady run of popular novels.

In Death in a Domino, Pertwee (pictured left) employs his flair for suspense and emotional insight, crafting characters and settings with a sharp, cinematic touch. Set in 1930s London, the novel introduces Lord Studholme, a ruthless newspaper magnate and morally ambiguous patriarch whose chilling influence shapes everyone around him. 

His daughters, Joan Holland, with her ‘boyish, willow-supple figure’ and gleaming gold hair, and Petal Studholme, a ‘calmer, grander beauty’ with a ‘purposefulness’ of nature, are drawn with subtle contrasts in strength and vulnerability.

Joan’s troubled past romance with Howard Mander, a disreputable and financially struggling man, continues to haunt her. Ever the manipulator, Lord Studholme, acquires Joan’s intimate letters to Mander as a tool for control, boasting, ‘When I want anything, I’ll go to any pains to get it.’

Meanwhile, Petal’s love for Guy Kennion, Lord Studholme’s rough-edged yet loyal secretary, further strains family bonds. Guy’s growing resentment of Lord Studholme’s authoritarian rule