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Companion Planting is a practical, richly illustrated guide to the time-honoured art of planting crops together for mutual benefit. Margaret Roberts details more than 100 herbs, vegetables, and medicinal plants, along with their ideal companions, planting times, and uses. Interwoven with natural recipes for fertilisers, sprays, and remedies, the book offers practical ways to enhance soil health, deter pests, and improve harvests. With its focus on sustainability, this edition revives traditional wisdom for modern gardeners seeking to nurture both plants and planet.

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Murray Bear has lots of worries. What if the waterfall he's visiting is too loud? What if he's not very good at climbing? And what if all his friends laugh at him? With the help of his sister, Milly, Murray makes a special box in which to keep all his worries. But can the worry box really help?With wonderfully soft illustrations from Sean Julian (I'll Love You For Ever, A Friend Like You, Bear Can't Sleep!), this is the perfect book for children dealing with anxiety or feeling nervous about starting at a new school or nursery.

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Fuel success and grow your team at every level of leadership. True leadership isn't a matter of having a certain job or title. In fact, being chosen for a position is only the first of the five levels every effective leader achieves. To become more than "the boss" people follow only because they are required to, you have to master the ability to invest in people and inspire them. To grow further in your role, you must achieve results and build a team that produces. You need to help people to develop their skills to become leaders in their own right. And if you have the skill and dedication, you can reach the pinnacle of leadership-where experience will allow you to extend your influence beyond your immediate reach and time for the benefit of others.The 5 Levels of Leadership are: 1. Position - People follow because they have to.2. Permission - People follow because they want to.3. Production - People follow because of what you have done for the organization.4. People Development - People follow because of what you have done for them personally.5. Pinnacle - People follow because of who you are and what you represent.Through humor, in-depth insight, and examples, internationally recognized leadership expert John C. Maxwell describes each of these stages of leadership. He shows you how to master each level and rise up to the next to become a more influential, respected, and successful leader.

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'This second volume of memoirs is as fascinating as the first....full of wit, joy, vivid vignettes and useful insights...she has another bestseller on her hands' India Knight, Sunday Times'It's great to have another memoir from Lady Glenconner . . . as open-minded and entertaining as she clearly is' Lynn Barber, Sunday Telegraph'A jolly anecdote for every day of the year and excellent advice' Hilary Rose, The Times'As glorious and highly readable as its predecessor - as well as being packed full of new stories' ipaper'Full of eye-popping detail' Sophia Money-Coutts, Daily TelegraphBracing honesty, rare insight and hilarious revelations from internationally bestselling author of LADY IN WAITING as she shares everything she's learned from her extraordinary and unexpected life.Anne Glenconner's glittering life hasn't always been golden. As she revealed in her astonishing bestselling memoir Lady in Waiting, it has been one of stark contrasts - from growing up in the splendour of Holkham Hall to living in a tent in the jungle of Mustique, from travelling the world with Princess Margaret to coping with her wildly unpredictable husband Lord Glenconner. Tragically, she has also survived the loss of two of her sons and nursed a third son back from a coma.Now in her ninetieth year, and at her happiest, Anne brings her bracing honesty, characteristic wit and courage to reflect on and reveal more about her long and unexpected life, her extremely volatile marriage, and what it's taught her.As a wife, she became a master in the art of keeping the peace, knowing when to pick her battles, when she needed help - and when to take a lover. As a hostess, she acquired great practical skills in throwing marvellous parties and looking after magnificent homes, and, as a lady in waiting, became well versed in diplomacy and etiquette. It was as a mother she learnt the toughest lessons of all, and through them the value of friendship, family, and laughter to get her through the worst moments in life, as well as celebrate the best of them.Anne Glenconner's Whatever Next? is the richly entertaining proof that staying open to every new adventure and being ready for whatever happens sets an inspiring example for us all.

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LONGLISTED FOR THE 2020 BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZECHOSEN AS A BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE GUARDIAN, OBSERVER, THE TIMES, SUNDAY TIMES, DAILY TELEGRAPH, MAIL ON SUNDAY, FINANCIAL TIMES, NEW STATESMAN, SPECTATORTHE SUNDAY TIMES ART BOOK OF THE YEAR 2020'Explosively enjoyable, bursting with life and art ... A central figure as wild and beguiling as any character in literature' CRAIG BROWN William Feaver, Lucian Freud’s collaborator, curator and close friend, knew the unknowable artist better than most. Over many years, Freud narrated to him the story of his life, ‘our novel’.Fame follows Freud at the height of his powers, painting the most iconic works of his career in a constant pursuit of perfection, just outrunning his gambling debts and tailor’s bills. Whether tattooing swallows at the base of Kate Moss’s back or exacting a strange revenge on Jerry Hall and Mick Jagger, Freud’s adventures were always perfectly characteristic. An enfant terrible till the end, even as he was commissioned to paint the Queen, what emerges is an artist wilfully oblivious to the glitter of the world around – and focussed instead on painting first and last.‘A dazzling tour de force’ THE TIMES'A wonderfully vivid chronicle' OBSERVER‘Does justice to Freud’s pitiless genius’ DAILY MAIL

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In the world of Tokyo Ghoul, sometimes the only way to fight monsters is to become one… The Commission of Counter Ghoul is the only organization fighting the Ghoul menace, and they will use every tool at their disposal to protect humanity from its ultimate predator. Their newest weapon in this hidden war is an experimental procedure that implants human investigators with a Ghoul’s Kagune, giving them Ghoul powers and abilities. But both the procedure and the newly formed Qs Squad are untested. Will they become heroes…or monsters?! While Haise is determined to help his old friends escape from Cochlea prison, he doesn’t want to hurt any of his CCG colleagues. But his mentor Kisho Arima takes the decision out of Haise’s hands. In the midst of their heated battle, Arima makes an unbelievable move and confirms some of Haise’s greatest fears about the organization that has become his whole life. He lost everything once before. How will he handle it happening again?!

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From New York Times bestselling author Tom Angleberger and Newbery-Honor-winner Cece Bell comes the third hilarious installment of the Inspector Flytrap mystery series. With the help of Nina the Goat, his trusty assistant, Inspector Flytrap solves all manner of important mysteries. But what happens when Flytrap loses his partner in crime-solving?On this new case, all the clues point to Nina as the culprit, leading the city to arrest her and leaving Flytrap goatless. To save the city, Flytrap must unveil the true master criminal. But, can he do it alone?With Bell’s whimsical illustrations and Angleberger’s trademark sense of humor, this early chapter book will appeal to new and reluctant readers.

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'Brilliantly evoked' SUNDAY TIMESDiscover the first medieval adventure in the action-packed Chivalry series! Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell, Simon Scarrow and Conn Iggulden.September, 1356. Poitiers. The greatest knights of the age were ready to give battle.On the English side, Edward, the Black Prince, who'd earned his spurs at Crecy.On the French side, the King and his son, the Dauphin. With 12,000 knights. And then there is William Gold. A cook's boy - the lowest of the low - who had once been branded as a thief. William dreams of being a knight, but in this savage new world of intrigue, betrayal and greed, first he must learn to survive. As rapacious English mercenaries plunder a country already ravaged by plague, and the peasantry take violent revenge against the French knights who have failed to protect them, is chivalry any more than a boyish fantasy?'A sword-slash above the rest' IRISH EXAMINER'One of the finest writers of historical fiction in the world' BEN KANE

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My husband was not a monster. No matter what they say...The day my husband, Michael, stepped in front of a lorry after being questioned by the police, my world fell apart. He was devoted to me and our six-year-old daughter. But they'd connected him to the disappearance of a young mother from our tiny village.Now I stand at Michael's funeral, clutching my little girl's hand, with tears in my eyes as I insist to all our friends that he died an innocent man. Yet the questions have started, and nothing I say will stop them digging for the truth.But none of them can read the secrets in my heart, or know about the phone I found hidden in his toolbox...I'm determined that my daughter will not remember her father as a monster. I will erase any hint of wrongdoing in this house whatever the cost.Because to keep my daughter safe, the last thing I need is for people to start looking at me . . .What everyone is saying about The Widow:'The Queen of twists is back. OMG! I can't believe how many twists this book revealed. It's one hell of a roller coaster ride and in parts left me gasping and holding my breath. I LOVED IT,' Goodreads reviewer, FIVE STARS'Just wow! Definitely one of my favourite books of the year! I was hooked from page one and the thrills never ceased. Awesome characters and storyline. K.L. Slater weaves her magic again . . . Huge on the creep factor and shocking twists! Wish I could give this more than a huge five stars' Netgalley reviewer, FIVE STARS'OMG Kim what a bloody fantastic gripping read . . . absolutely everything you could want from a thriller' Goodreads reviewer, FIVE STARS

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The Horn of Africa has the highest endemism of any region in Africa, and around 70 species are found nowhere else in the world. Many of these are confined to the isolated highlands of Ethiopia and Eritrea, but a large number of larks specialise in the arid parts of Somalia and adjoining eastern Ethiopia, whilst the island of Socotra has its own suite of endemic species. The region is also an important migration route and wintering site for many Palearctic birds.This is the first field guide to the birds of this fascinating region, and a companion to Birds of East Africa by two of the same authors. Over 200 magnificent plates by John Gale and Brian Small illustrate every species that has ever occurred in the five countries covered by the guide, and the succinct text covers the key identification criteria. Special attention is paid to the voices of the species, and over 1000 up-to-date colour distribution maps are included. This long-awaited guide is a much-needed addition to the literature on African birds and an essential companion for birders visiting the region.

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*** CONGRATULATIONS TO THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS AUTHOR OF THE YEAR 2022***Lucy Sullivan's been told she is getting married . . . but to who? Discover the uplifting, laugh-out-loud story of a reluctant wrestle with fate, from the No. 1 bestselling author of Grown Ups'Keyes is in a class of her own' DAILY EXPRESS'I was still at that stage in my life when I thought that weekdays were for recovering from the weekend'Twenty-six year old Lucy Sullivan is living it up (and occasionally down) in London.Hers is a life of quiet, undisciplined desperation. But when she and three friends visit a psychic for a bit of fun and the woman's predictions start coming true, Lucy is horrified.For the fortune teller insisted she'd soon be married - within the year, in fact.Not only does Lucy not have a boyfriend, but the chances of getting one are looking slim. Between the bottles of wine, antidepressants and her addiction to self-help books, she's not quite ready to walk, or even stumble, down the aisle sober.Is Lucy's fate really written in the stars?Or will she finally take control of her own destiny? . . .'One of those rare books that will swallow up your day without realising it. Romantic and uplifting, it won't fail to put a smile on your face' Daily Express'Gloriously funny' Sunday Times'A warm and hilarious page turner' Good Housekeeping'A modern fairy tale, it's full of Keyes's self-deprecating wit' Sunday Mirror

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The twisting and terrifying Sunday Times bestseller thriller from the rip-roaring Detective Inspector Helen Grace series 'Detective Inspector Helen Grace is one of the greatest heroes to come along in years' JEFFERY DEAVER 'Fast-paced and nail-bitingly tense . . . Taut and gripping' SUN A young woman wakes up in a cold, dark cellar, with no idea how she got there or who her kidnapper is. So begins her terrible nightmare . . . Nearby, the body of another young woman is discovered buried on a remote beach.But the dead girl was never reported missing - her estranged family having received regular texts from her over the years.Someone has been keeping her alive from beyond the grave. For DI Helen Grace, it's chilling evidence that she's searching for a monster not only twisted and clever - but a predator who's killed before. Now, as she struggles to understand the killer's motivation, she begins a desperate race against time . . . PRAISE FOR M.J. ARLIDGE: 'Page-turningly chilling' The Times 'DI Helen Grace is a genuinely fresh heroine . . . M.J. Arlidge weaves together a tapestry that chills to the bone' Daily Mail 'M.J. Arlidge is the new Jo Nesbo' Judy Finnigan 'Taut, fast-paced, truly excellent' Sun 'Chilling stuff' Fabulist 'A chilling read' My Weekly 'A grisly, gripping thriller' Sunday Mirror 'Dark, twisted, thought provoking, and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Take a ride on this roller coaster from hell - white knuckles guaranteed' Tami Hoag 'DI Helen Grace is fiendishly awesome. It's scary as all hell' Will Lavender 'A fast-paced, twisting police procedural and thriller' Huffington Post

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SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE!"I wish I'd had these books as a kid. Hilarious!" -- Dav Pilkey, creator of Captain Underpants and Dog ManThey may look like Bad Guys, but these wannabe heroes are doing good deeds...whether you like it or not! This New York Times bestselling illustrated series is perfect for fans of Dog Man and Captain Underpants.Get ready to laugh up your lunch with the baddest bunch of do-gooders in town! Watch the fur fly in the first five hilarious installments in this bestselling series, now in one bad-to-the-bone boxed set: The Bad Guys, The Bad Guys in Mission Unpluckable, The Bad Guys in the Furball Strikes Back, The Bad Guys in Attack of the Zittens, and The Bad Guys in Interstellar Gas.

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The final volume in the The Library Trilogy, following THE BOOK THAT WOULDN'T BURN and THE BOOK THAT BROKE THE WORLD. The secret war that defines the library has chosen its champions and set them on the board The fate of an infinite library hangs on one book, a book that holds the power to break the unbreakable. In the face of such forces, fragile things like hearts, family, and the world seem certain to fail. The people most vital to Livira are scattered across time and space, lost, divided into factions, in mortal peril. Somehow, she must bring them together and resolve the unresolvable argument that fuels the library’s war. The bond between Livira and Evar has stretched and stretched again. Can it hold at the end, when things fall apart? Can it bring them together against impossible odds? This is the last chapter, the final page. The end threatens and no one, not characters, readers, or even the author, will emerge unscathed. 'If you like dark, you will love Mark Lawrence' Robin Hobb, bestselling author of Assassin's Apprentice 'Gripping mystery and beautiful worldbuilding' Publishers Weekly

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Clear, photo-illustrated instruction for learning the practical and artisanal craft of blacksmithingKeen on making your own custom cutlery? Want to make your own fireplace tools or even your own garden art? The Beginner's Guide to Blacksmithing, adapted from The Backyard Blacksmith, introduces you to everything you need to know, from the tools and basic techniques to a variety of different approaches to this old-school trade. Whether your interest is practical, like fixing broken rails or tools, or artistic, like sculpture and decorative art made from metals, you will find all the instruction you need to be successful in this essential reference. This easy-to-follow beginner's guide features: Clear instructions that make learning easy-Like having a master blacksmith at your side, detailed, step-by-step, full-color exercises teach all the universal skills and techniques used to forge iron. Accessible content for absolute beginners-Learn to find and salvage the right kinds of steel, set up your shop, collect the essential tools, and work safely, then explore the properties and characteristics of hot metal and how to shape it successfully. Beautiful and functional projects-The book includes beautiful and functional projects organized by level of difficulty, allowing you to progress at your own pace, and master the skills you learned in earlier chapters. Blacksmithing is a rewarding craft that you can enjoy in your backyard or home workshop, and this book makes learning the basic skills easy and fun. Set yourself up for success with this indispensable guide.

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Jack Travis is a macho Houston businessman - rich, tough and always in control. So when a beautiful young woman approaches his office carrying a baby that she claims is his, he's shaken more than he would ever let on. Stunned, Jack listens to Ella Varner as she explains that her sister recently gave birth and then abandoned her baby boy - and that enquiries have brought Ella to Jack's door. He virtually has a seizure when she asks him to do a paternity test. But ultimately, will a paternity test set things right? If Jack is the father, will he be the one to care for the baby? Would Ella be prepared to let him go? And if not? Ella can't bear to think of an answer...

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Your Words Echo in Hearts and Minds Long After They Are Spoken   Have you listened to yourself lately? Did you know that your words are shaping other people’s lives? That they are the mirrors in which others see themselves? Every day you can speak life into their souls or suck the life right out of them. The choice is yours.   In The Power of a Woman’s Words, bestselling author Sharon Jaynes will show you how to exchange careless words that hurt for intentional words that help others succeedrecognize words that tear down confidence and replace them with words that build others upovercome the negativity that pushes people away and become a well of positivity that draws others intame your tongue by practicing practical principles that help you think before you speakstop being disappointed in your lack of control by taking hold of the power of the Holy Spirit  Words are one of the most powerful forces in the universe, and God has entrusted them to you! How will you use this gift? Your words can change the course of someone’s day…even someone’s life.    

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Written in the form of letters from an experienced witch to her two apprentices, solitary witchcraft is offered, not as a substitute for coven worship, but as a fulfulling lifestyle in its own right. Rae Beth explains the importance of the Goddess and her consort, the Horned God, as sources of spiritual strength and worship. The author extols the feminine principles of healing and regeneration as well as attacking greed and self-interest which jeopardize the planet's very future. Rae Beth provides spells for all the key festivals of the witch's calendar; describes and outlines the Pagan approach to finding a partner. Her lyrical letters, accompanied by delicate pen-and-ink sketches, bring the reader towards a deeper understanding of the solitary witch's lifestyle and beliefs.

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This autobiography of famed chimpanzee expert Jane Goodall tells of her early fascination with animals and their habits and customs. As Goodall becomes more skilled, she teaches herself, then the scientific community, then the world, about the full life of chimpanzees, their habits, characteristics, and personalities. Goodall also tells how her life was shaped by her study of the chimps. Her memoir reveals unabated passion for her subject, her love of animals and focuses on Goodall's scientific discoveries and their impact on our understanding of the animal kingdom.

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Shortly after the 2005 London bombings, Tahir Shah was thrown into a Pakistani prison on suspicion of spying for Al-Qaeda. What sustained him during his terrifying, weeks-long ordeal were the stories his father told him as a child in Morocco.Inspired by this, on his return to his adopted homeland he embarked on an adventure worthy of the mythical Arabian Nights, going in search of the stories and storytellers that have nourished this most alluring of countries for centuries. Wandering through the medinas of Fez and Marrakech, criss-crossing the Saharan sands and tasting the hospitality of ordinary Moroccans, he collected a treasury of traditional stories recounted by a vivid and eccentric cast of characters: from master masons who work only at night to Sufi wise men who write for soap operas and Tuareg guides addicted to reality TV. Himself a link in the chain of scholars and teachers who have passed such tales down from father to son, mother to daughter, Shah reveals a world and a way of thinking that most visitors to Morocco barely know exist.

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Since 2004, Dr. Lois P. Frankel's Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office has been an essential resource for women seeking advice and empowerment to stop sabotaging their careers and get ahead in the workplace. This completely updated and revised vital new 3rd edition is everything a modern working girl needs to get what she wants. We've leaned in, we've girl bossed, we've untamed, and it's still challenging to be a woman at work. Though the workplace looks different than it did twenty years ago, women still face considerable challenges that men do not.In this new 3rd edition of The New York Times bestseller Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office, Dr. Lois P. Frankel teaches you how to reject the "nice girl" mentality, which manifests as a distinctive set of behaviors learned in girlhood that ultimately sabotage you as an adult, and still exists in today's modern workplace. Dr. Frankel provides tools and guidance for eliminating these unconscious mistakes that could be holding you back in your career. Mistakes such as: Mistake #4: Believing Negative Self-Talk. Counter negative messages with positive ones. Mistake #26: Fear of Coming Across too Strong. Don't dumb down, shut down, or tone down--be assertive! Mistake #55: Poor Boundaries. If you're going to work from home, set boundaries. Mistake #85: Doing Instead of Leading. Picking up others' slack becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. You have the power to take control of your career without being controlling, to speak your mind while still being respected, and to chase your ambitions without fear or shame.

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Stroll breathtaking coastlines, explore Roman ruins, and soak up some sun in the South of France! Inside Rick Steves Provence & the French Riviera you'll find:- Fully updated, comprehensive coverage for exploring Provence and the Riviera- Rick's strategic advice on how to get the most out of your time and money, with rankings of his must-see favorites- Top sights and hidden gems, from the Pont du Gard aqueduct and Impressionist masterpieces to warm stone villages and cozy wineries- How to connect with local culture: Relax at a waterfront café, dive into a bowl of bouillabaisse, and watch fishermen sail back to the harbor- Beat the crowds, skip the lines, and avoid tourist traps with Rick's candid, humorous insight- The best places to eat, sleep, and relax over a glass of Provençal wine- Self-guided walking tours of lively neighborhoods and incredible museums- Detailed maps for exploring on the go- Over 500 bible-thin pages include everything worth seeing without weighing you down- Complete coverage of Arles, Avignon, the Côtes du Rhône, the Luberon, Marseille, Nice, Monaco, Antibes, the Inland Riviera, and moreMake the most of every day and every dollar with Rick Steves Provence & the French Riviera. Exploring more? Try Rick Steves France for comprehensive coverage, detailed itineraries, and essential information for planning a countrywide trip.

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Get ready to enter a world on the brink of battle, filled with gods, magicians, dragons, giants - and experience an epic love story . . .'Fans of epic fantasy won't want to miss this series'⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review'Fantastic . . . gripping, entertaining and one to keep'⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review'I love this series so much!! It had everything: enemies-to-lovers, found family, swoonworthy romances, kick-ass female lead and awesome secondary characters'⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review'A heart-pounding and joyous romantic adventure that swept me away' NALINI SINGH..................................Who is Catalia Fisa?With the help of pivotal figures from her past, Cat begins to understand the root of her exceptional magic, her fated union with Griffin Sinta, and Griffin's role in shaping her destiny.Only Cat holds the key to unlocking her own power, and that means finally accepting herself, her past, and her future in order to protect her loved ones, confront her murderous mother, and taking a final, terrifying step - reuniting all three realms and taking her place as the Queen of Thalyria.What doesn't kill her will only make her stronger . . . we hope...................................'Absolutely fabulous. I didn't want to put [Breath of Fire] down. Amanda Bouchet is now on my auto-buy list! I highly recommend her books to my readers and to anyone looking for a great blend of fantasy and romance.'C.L. Wilson'This book is utterly breathtaking!' Darynda Jones'A Promise of Fire made me laugh out loud more than once' Thea HarrisonRead the rest of The Kingmaker Chronicles!A Promise of Fire (Book 1) Breath of Fire (Book 2) Heart on Fire (Book 3) A Curse of Queens (Book 4)

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When a man is discovered dead by poisoning in his empty home his beautiful wife, Ayane, immediately falls under suspicion. All clues point to Ayane being the logical suspect, but how could she have committed the crime when she was hundreds of miles away?As Tokyo police detective Kusanagi tries to unpick a seemingly unrelated sequence of events he finds himself falling for Ayane. When his judgement becomes dangerously clouded his assistant must call on an old friend for help; it will take a genius to unravel the most spectacular web of deceit they have ever faced...SALVATION OF A SAINT is a magnificently complex and page-turning thriller starring international crime fiction's most enigmatic sleuth.This is essential reading for all fans of exceptional crime fiction.

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A new translation of the oldest non-canonical Christian gospels In the early years of Christianity, several groups produced 'hidden' or 'apocryphal' gospels, alternative versions of the story of Christ. Sometimes these texts complemented the four canonical gospels of the New Testament, sometimes they subverted them and often they were completely different. Here, in the widest selection of non-canonical gospels gathered in one volume - which also includes two modern forgeries - we see the young Jesus making live birds from clay, hear his secret words of wisdom, discover gnostic cosmologies and witness the Harrowing of Hell. Preserved by their readers and attacked by their detractors, these gospels shine a fascinating light on the early Christian Church.Translated with an Introduction by Simon Gathercole

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It’s Not About the Bike was first published in 2000. Detailing Lance Armstrong’s battle with life-threatening testicular cancer and his return to professional cycling, it became a huge bestseller, appealing to fans of cycling as well as cancer survivors inspired by his full and dramatic recovery. Dogged by suspicion and allegations of doping throughout his career, in January 2013 in an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Lance Armstrong admitted to having taken performance enhancing drugs during all seven of the Tours de France in which he competed. The UCI, the world governing body for cycling, stripped him of his titles.

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‘A wonderful book. Thoughtful…fascinating’ Malcolm GladwellDo you believe some people are born athletes?Is sporting talent innate or something that can be achieved through endurance and practise?In this ground-breaking and entertaining exploration of athletic success, award-winning writer David Epstein gets to the heart of the great nature vs. nurture debate, and explodes myths about how and why humans excel.Along the way, Epstein:- Exposes the flaws in the so-called 10,000-hour rule that states that rigorous practice from a young age is the only route to success. - Shows why some skills that we imagine are innate are not – like the bullet-fast reactions of a baseball player.- Uncovers why other characteristics that we assume are entirely voluntary, like the motivation to practice, might in fact have important genetic components.Throughout, The Sports Gene forces us to rethink the very nature of success.

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Spud's nearly 15 and although he is no longer the youngest or the smallest in his dorm, his second year at boarding school is beset with women trouble, misguided late-night adventures and excruciating family visits. With his dreams of a stage career in tatters after a disastrous house play production of Noah's Ark, Spud, armed with only his wits and his diary, invites us to delve further into the mind of a boy who discovers that the long path to manhood is never easy... especially when all around him the madness continues...

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A Blandings novelCan the Empress of Blandings win the Fat Pigs class at the Shropshire Show for the third year running? Galahad Threepwood, Beach the butler and others have put their shirt on this, and for Lord Emsworth it will be paradise on earth. But a substantial obstacle lurks in the way: Queen of Matchingham, the new sow of Sir Gregory Parsloe Bart. Galahad knows this pretender to the crown must be pignapped. But can the Empress in turn avoid a similar fate?In this classic Blandings novel, pigs rise above their bulk to vanish and reappear in the most unlikely places, while young lovers are crossed and recrossed in every room in Blandings Castle.

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THE ACCLAIMED FULLY REVISED EDITION OF THE SCOTT MONCRIEFF AND KILMARTIN TRANSLATIONIn Sodom and Gomorrah Proust's narrator not only depicts the class tensions of a changing France at the beginning of the twentieth century but also exposes the decadence of aristocratic Parisian society and muses upon the subjects of homosexuality and sexual jealousy.

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Susan Orlean first met John Laroche when visiting Florida to write for the New Yorker about his arrest for stealing rare ghost orchids from a nature reserve. Fascinated both by Laroche and the world she uncovered of orchid collectors and growers, she stayed on, to write this magical exploration of obsession and the strange world both of the orchid obsessives and of Florida, that haunting and weird 'debatable land' of swamps and condos, retirement communities and real-estate scams. The world of the orchid hunters, breeders and showmen, their rivalries, vendettas and crimes, smuggling, thefts and worse provide the backdrop to a fascinating exploration of one of the byways of human nature, the obsessive world of the collector, and the haunting beauty of the flowers themselves.

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From the Wall Street Journal’s Tripp Mickle, the dramatic, untold story inside Apple after the passing of Steve Jobs by following his top lieutenants—Jony Ive, the Chief Design Officer, and Tim Cook, the COO-turned-CEO—and how the fading of the former and the rise of the latter led to Apple losing its soul. Steve Jobs called Jony Ive his “spiritual partner at Apple.” The London-born genius was the second-most powerful person at Apple and the creative force who most embodies Jobs’s spirit, the man who designed the products adopted by hundreds of millions the world over: the iPod, iPad, MacBook Air, the iMac G3, and the iPhone. In the wake of his close collaborator’s death, the chief designer wrestled with grief and initially threw himself into his work designing the new Apple headquarters and the Watch before losing his motivation in a company increasingly devoted more to margins than to inspiration. In many ways, Cook was Ive’s opposite. The product of a small Alabama town, he had risen through the ranks from the supply side of the company. His gift was not the creation of new products. Instead, he had invented countless ways to maximize a margin, squeezing some suppliers, persuading others to build factories the size of cities to churn out more units. He considered inventory evil. He knew how to make subordinates sweat with withering questions. Jobs selected Cook as his successor, and Cook oversaw a period of tremendous revenue growth that has lifted Apple’s valuation to $3 trillion. He built a commanding business in China and rapidly distinguished himself as a master politician who could forge global alliances and send the world’s stock market into freefall with a single sentence. Author Tripp Mickle spoke with more than 200 current and former Apple executives, as well as figures key to this period of Apple’s history, including Trump administration officials and fashion luminaries such as Anna Wintour while writing After Steve. His research shows the company’s success came at a cost. Apple lost its innovative spirit and has not designed a new category of device in years. Ive’s departure in 2019 marked a culmination in Apple’s shift from a company of innovation to one of operational excellence, and the price is a company that has lost its soul.

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