** Shortlisted for the @CrimeFest H.R.F. Keating Award ** 'A smart and highly entertaining portrait of a literary powerhouse' - THE TIMES BOOKS OF THE YEAR 'A riveting portrait' - GUARDIAN BOOKS OF THE YEAR *** 'Christie lovers should read this biography for the same reason they read her novels.' - The Times 'A model of how to combine biographical information, analysis and literary criticism into a propulsive narrative' - Daily Telegraph 'Worsley's book excels in bringing a broader historical perspective to Christie's life and work, and her enthusiasm is infectious.' - Observer Ms Worsley herself writes engagingly... She combines an almost militant support for her subject with a considered analysis of her books and plays.' - Economist 'Nobody in the world was more inadequate to act the heroine than I was.' Why did Agatha Christie spend her career pretending that she was 'just' an ordinary housewife, when clearly she wasn't? As Lucy Worsley says, 'She was thrillingly, scintillatingly modern'. She went surfing in Hawaii, she loved fast cars, and she was intrigued by the new science of psychology, which helped her through devastating mental illness. So why - despite all the evidence to the contrary - did Agatha present herself as a retiring Edwardian lady of leisure? She was born in 1890 into a world which had its own rules about what women could and couldn't do. Lucy Worsley's biography is not just of an internationally renowned bestselling writer. It's also the story of a person who, despite the obstacles of class and gender, became an astonishingly successful working woman. With access to personal letters and papers that have rarely been seen, Lucy Worsley's biography is both authoritative and entertaining and makes us realise what an extraordinary pioneer Agatha Christie was - truly a woman who wrote the twentieth century.

A Sunday Times History Book of the Year 2023 A Spectator Book of the Year 2023 The Irish Times No.1 Bestseller ‘As taut as a fictional thriller’ Mail on Sunday

Smart, short techniques throughout the day can form a healthier perspective

The Santa Killer is coming to town... One night less than two weeks before Christmas, a single mother is violently assaulted. It’s a brutal crime at the time of year when there should be goodwill to all. When DI Barton begins his investigation, he’s surprised to find the victim is a woman with nothing to hide and no reason for anyone to hurt her. A few days later, the mother of the woman attacked rings the police station. Her granddaughter has drawn a shocking picture. It seems she was looking out of the window when her mother was attacked. And when her grandmother asks the young girl who the person with the weapon is, she whispers two words. Bad Santa. The rumours start spreading, and none of the city’s women feel safe - which one of them will be next? He’s got a list. It’s quite precise. It won’t matter even if you’re nice. Ross Greenwood is back with his bestselling series, perfect for fans of Mark Billingham and Ian Rankin. Praise for Ross Greenwood: 'Ross Greenwood is at the top of his game.' Owen Mullen 'Move over Rebus and Morse; a new entry has joined the list of great crime investigators in the form of Detective Inspector John Barton. A rich cast of characters and an explosive plot kept me turning the pages until the final dramatic twist.' author Richard Burke ‘Master of the psychological thriller genre Ross Greenwood once again proves his talent for creating engrossing and gritty novels that draw you right in and won’t let go until you’ve reached the shocking ending.’ Caroline Vincent at Bitsaboutbooks blog 'Ross Greenwood doesn’t write clichés. What he has written here is a fast-paced, action-filled puzzle with believable characters that's spiced with a lot of humour.' author Kath Middleton

Top 30 book

An easy to follow illustrated guide to playing this popular game of skill

Official Highway Code

Nottingham, 1875 When their mother dies, Esme and her brother, Gabriel, decide to head to the East coast in the hopes of finding their father in traveling community in Lincolnshire. From a young age, Esme has known that she inherited the gift from her grandmother and can see spirits of those who have passed. Taken in by her stern grandfather at his Rectory, Esme soon becomes aware of a number of spirits in the house, but there is something different about these ones - they're unhappy. Banned from visiting the second floor of the Rectory, Esme can't help but wonder whether there's a dark secret here. Will Esme be able to escape the whispers of the past to find happiness?

'Lucy Dillon's books never fail to make me happy' Jenny Colgan 'Deeply moving' Sophie Kinsella 'I felt bereft for having finished it' Milly Johnson ____________________ Sometimes the cracks in your heart can be mended in unexpected ways . . . If Lorna's learned one thing, it's that courage is something you paint on like red lipstick, even when you're panicking inside. And right now, with the keys to the town's gallery in her hand, Lorna feels about as courageous as the anxious little dachshund trembling beside her. Sick of life in the big city, Lorna's come home to fulfil her dream of running a successful art gallery. Desperate for change, Lorna just wants a fresh start but can she find it in Longhampton? This is where her tight-knit family shattered into pieces. It's where her doubts about herself took root and where she first fell in love and had her heart broken. It's everything she was running away from. But life and love can surprise you and all Lorna has to do to let the light in is open her heart . . . An uplifting and inspiring novel about second chances and soon to be realised dreams. Perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes, Veronica Henry and Lucy Diamond. ____________________ READERS LOVE WHERE THE LIGHT GETS IN: 'Heart-gripping narrative' 'Could not put it down' 'Hugely moving story' 'This book will stay in my heart and head for a very long time' ____________________ Lucy Dillon's latest heart-warming novel After the Rain is out now in paperback and ebook.

Amory Ames is contentedly preparing for the arrival of her baby at Thornecrest while Milo, her husband, is away on business. But then a woman appears on her doorstep, also claiming to be Mrs. Ames, Milo's wife. Amory's marriage has had its ups and downs, but her faith in Milo has been restored. Though the supposed second Mrs. Ames seems earnest, Amory is convinced she must be mistaken. However, when a second unexpected visitor arrives, and secret identities and whirlwind romances culminate with the discovery of a body, the characters appearing in town begin to seem more sinister, and Amory is determined to uncover a killer in the crowd.