FICTION

The Show Woman WHATEVER LIFE BRINGS, THE SHOW MUST GO ON ...1910. With the disappearance of her mother and the sudden death of her father, Lena instantly loses any security she has within the circus she has known all her life. She is advised to sell the carousel her father cared for like a child and look for a husband, or a job in a factory. Until flame-haired Violet, known to all in the fairgrounds as 'the greatest trapeze artist that ever lived', suggests they go it alone with their own, all-female act. With her outspoken ways and her refusal to marry, Violet is as much an outcast as Lena. What do they have to lose? Recruiting new performers including bareback horse-rider Rosie, on the run from her abusive father, and Carmen whose rainbow ribbons hide the darkness in her past, the four women form an unbreakable bond.Thrust into a harsh and dangerous world that treats them with suspicion, disdain and even violence, they must forge their own path in search of freedom, security, and love.Deeply rooted in the Edwardian era, THE SHOW WOMAN is brilliantly realised and expertly interlaces strong female characters, deeply-woven family secrets and heartfelt love stories.'Absolutely loved soaking up the atmosphere of the circus and fairground in The Show Woman. There's hardship and excitement and mystery and joy in this novel, and I couldn't stop turning the pages' Sarah L. Brooks, author of The Cautious Traveller's Guide to the Wastelands.

The Retirement Plan Dark humour, dirty deeds, marriages and murder . . . The perfect new read for fans of The Thursday Murder Club, How to Kill Your Family and White Lotus'An absolute scream from the first page to the last' Janice Hallett, author of The Appeal'Incredibly funny with plot twists you won't see coming' StylistTheir husbands are driving them mad, and murder is on their minds . . . but the men have a plan of their own.Pam, Nancy and Shalisa once imagined retirement would mean setting aside their worries, picking up their margaritas, and lying back in a hot tub. Right up until their husbands lost all their savings in a reckless investment.Now, collecting their husbands' life insurance is starting to sound more appealing than growing old with them. But enlisting the help of the local barber/hitman isn't merely the most daring thing the friends have ever done - it's also where the trouble really begins.Because they don't realise their husbands have some tricks up their sleeves. And there's no turning back now . . .From the first laugh to the final twist, The Retirement Plan is full of characters who will steal your heart while plotting their dark deeds.'Clever, funny, tender. A triumph' Jennie Godfrey, author of The List of Suspicious Things'Blending Desperate Housewives and White Lotus vibes, this is a darkly funny crime novel' My Weekly'Funny, twisty, deviously dark!' Sarah Pearse, author of The Sanatorium'A total riot' Clare Pooley, author of The Authenticity Project'Hincenbergs knocks it out of the park' Publishers Weekly, starred review'Thoroughly addictive' Ian Moore, author of Death and Croissants'Relentlessly entertaining' Chris Brookmyre, author of The Cracked Mirror'Absolutely hilarious' Jessica Bull, author of Miss Austen Investigates'Packed full of humour and charm' Amy McCulloch, author of Breathless'Deliciously funny and unpredictable' Keith Stuart, author of A Boy Made of Blocks

The Raven ScholarThe Sunday Times bestseller title!She might win the throne.She might destroy an empire.Either way, it begins with murder.After twenty-four years on the throne, it is time for Bersun the Brusque, emperor of Orrun, to bring his reign to an end. In the dizzying heat of mid-summer, seven contenders will compete to replace him.Trained at rival monasteries, each contender is inspired by a sacred animal - Fox, Raven, Tiger, Ox, Bear, Monkey, and Hound. An eighth - the Dragon proxy - will be revealed only once the trials have begun. Eight exceptional warriors, thinkers, strategists - the best of the best.Then one of them is murdered.It falls to the brilliant but idiosyncratic Neema Kraa to investigate. But as she hunts for a killer, darker forces are gathering.If Neema succeeds, she could win the throne - whether she wants it or not. But if she fails, she will sentence herself to death - and set in motion a sequence of events that could doom the empire . . .

For many years, Hilde Hinton was a secondhand book dealer who read in her spare time. Then she found the courage to write her first novel and was brave enough to share it with a publisher. That critically acclaimed novel, The Loudness of Unsaid Things, made a number of bestseller lists. Her second novel, A Solitary Walk on the Moon, proved Hilde's talent was developing and now she is about to publish her third novel. Hilde is still a reader, and now a bestselling writer. She lives in Melbourne and is an avid collector of glass fruit, Lego and interesting stories.

Hidden NatureThe beloved multi-million copy bestselling author is back with a brand-new novel about an injured cop in a race against time to find a twisted serial killerFrustrated and bored, injured cop Sloan Cooper is looking for anything to distract her from staring down the barrel of months of slow, painful recovery. When a woman mysteriously vanishes without trace from a supermarket car park, Sloan knows there is more to this case than meets the eye. As she begins to investigate she quickly uncovers similar cases across three states. Men and women, old and young-all with seemingly nothing in common. And the abductions keep happening.With no clues to speak of and a list of the missing growing almost daily, it will take every ounce of Sloan's endurance to get to the dark heart of this bizarre case. And she's willing to risk her life again if that's what it takes...

Midnight And BlueThe brand new John Rebus thriller from the iconic Number One bestseller Ian Rankin: one of the must-read books of the year. 'Rebus in jail and better than ever ... Surprising, gripping and witty. Rankin has taken the police procedural and transformed into an epic character study of a man and his city ... Nobody does it better.'THE TIMES* * * * * JOHN REBUS SPENT HIS LIFE AS A DETECTIVE PUTTING EDINBURGH'S MOST DEADLY CRIMINALS BEHIND BARS.NOW, HE'S JOINED THEM.As new allies and old enemies circle, and the days and nights bleed into each other, even the legendary detective struggles to keep his head.That is, until a murder at midnight in a locked cell presents a new mystery. They say old habits die hard...However, this is a case where the prisoners and the guards are all suspects, and everyone has something to hide. With no badge, no authority and no safety net, Rebus walks a tightrope - with his life on the line.But how do you find a killer in a place full of them?* * * * *PRAISE FOR MIDNIGHT AND BLUE:'Unforgettable ... Proves that Rebus is one of the most remarkable characters in crime fiction.'DAILY MAIL'With every novel, Rankin leaves us wanting more. Midnight and Blue is no exception. As Rebus ages, he becomes ever more human, ever more relatable, and the books become even better... This is unmissable.'MICK HERRON, the Sunday Times Number One Bestseller'Midnight & Blue is a triumph. Rebus as you've never seen him before and Rankin at his best.'ELLY GRIFFITHS, the Sunday Times Number One Bestseller'I was absolutely knocked sideways by it - it is utterly marvellous and so touching.' JILLY COOPER, the Sunday Times Bestseller'A taut, claustrophobic thriller, that puts a Golden Age twist on a modern-day tale. The perfect book to keep Rebus fans clanging their tin cups against the prison bars, until the riot kicks off...'STUART MACBRIDE, the Sunday Times Number One Bestseller'Kept me up reading until long after midnight. Blew me away. Absolutely brilliant, as always.'JILL MANSELL, the Sunday Times Bestseller'Loved this tense, pacy thriller, jam-packed with action but also a surprising vulnerability.'B. A. PARIS, the Sunday Times Bestseller****PRAISE FOR THE ICONIC NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER IAN RANKIN:'Ian Rankin is a genius'LEE CHILD'Rebus is one of British crime writing

Printed page edge designs are becoming incredibly popular among readers and bibliophiles.

An ambitious debut retelling of the Irish mythic figure of The Morrigan, Ireland's captivating goddess of war, power and furyFrom an ancient, storm-tossed sea, a tribe of gods reach the rocky shores of Ireland.Among them, a strange, hungry, red-haired girl. A girl who can change shape, from bird to beast to goddess. A girl who dreams of battle, of blood, of death and power.She does not know yet that her journey will take a thousand years. That her name will be remembered for a thousand more.She is The Morrigan- a girl with rage coiled in her chest. Beautiful, powerful, ravenous rage. A rage that will live forever.An electric retelling of Ireland's mythic goddess of war, from a bold and powerful new voice.

The Midnight Carousel Water for Elephants meets Moulin Rouge in this spellbinding tale of a beautiful carousel that causes people to inexplicably vanish into thin air . . . Paris, 1900Carousel-maker Gilbert works tirelessly to finish his masterpiece in time for the city's Exposition Universelle. But Gilbert is struggling in the wake of his wife and son's tragic deaths, and as he finalises his creation, a dangerous idea forms in his mind . . .Chicago, 1920Having come to America for a new life, when Maisie unearths a neglected carousel, she seizes the chance for a new destiny. But twenty years ago, the carousel was linked to a number of people inexplicably disappearing - and now history has begun to repeat itself . . .

Private Dublin in the latest thrilling novel in the globally bestselling Private series, Jack Morgan chases a violent criminal to Dublin and is dragged into the city's dark underbelly.In L.A., a star-studded movie premiere descends into chaos when a shooter opens fire on the crowd.The culprit escapes and boards a plane to Dublin, Ireland.Jack Morgan, the head of the world's largest private detective agency, is at the premiere and his partner Justine is badly wounded in the shooting.Following the gunman to Dublin, Jack soon realises that this is much bigger than a single shooter. What Jack thought was a random act of violence was actually a targeted attempt on his life.To ensure the safety of those he loves most, Jack must find the person who is so intent on his downfall -- and eliminate them once and for all.PRAISE FOR THE PRIVATE THRILLERS'Great action sequences ... breathtaking twists and turns' ANTHONY HOROWITZ'An unmissable, breakneck ride' JAMES SWALLOW'Exhilarating, high-stakes action' LESLEY KARA'An exhilarating and totally satisfying read' NB MAGAZINE'A breakneck fast, brutally good page-turner' DAILY MAIL'Hits the ground running and the pace never misses a beat' DAILY EXPRESS'Yet another fine outing from the master of thrillers' CITY A.M.Private Dublin was picked as one of 25 novels for 2025 by Sunday Independent, Ireland

I Hope You're Happy Exceptional short stories featuring young millennial women, blending dark fantasy and quasi-horror with humour and intellectual dash Announcing the arrival of a major talent, I HOPE YOU'RE HAPPY is more a warning than a wish. Photos of women eating go viral, a cookie communicates a threat, and women working dead-end jobs become entangled in the performances around them. Everyday experiences of friendship, family, dating and desire catapult the reader into a creepy vortex of horror. Characters reveal themselves in slippery glimpses, through positive affirmations, social media accounts and secret appetites. With this collection of haunting and haunted stories, Marni Appleton immerses us in a world of fleeting encounters, empty couplings, break ups, bust ups, threesomes and ghosts, giving us a kaleidoscopic overview of twenty-first century life. 'These beautifully written, female-focused stories stayed with me long past closing the cover. Sensual, alive and haunting. Dark wisps of womanhood.' Lucy Prebble, Executive Producer and writer on the Bafta, Golden Globe and Emmy award-winning HBO drama Succession 'This collection of wry and incisive stories explores navigating the sticky, glorious and more-often-than-not absolutely horrific terrain of late girlhood and early womanhood.' Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi, author of The Centre 'Truthful, dark, and walking the line between delicious and disturbing, I HOPE YOU'RE HAPPY is a rich and haunting read. Savour or gorge, this is a very special collection of deceptively cutting stories.' Lottie Hazell, author of Piglet 'Smart, surprising, and witty, these stories are a joy to read.' Naomi Booth, author of Animals at Night 'These tense stories of the zeitgeist show how the conditions of late capitalism promise women freedom while keeping them trapped in their economic and social circumstances. Clever, convincing and wry, they bowled me over. Like Mary Gaitskill and Miranda July before her, Marni Appleton writes about how it is to live now.' Julia Bell, author of Hymnaland Radical Attention 'Marni Appleton writes with insight, honesty and inventiveness into the raw, brutal spaces of girlhood and early womanhood. A powerful, political collection that maps intimately the minds and bodies of its characters, these stories stayed with me long after I'd finished.' Fran Littlewood, author of Amazing Grace Adams 'Such a wonderful collection, the writing so sharp, witty, dark, carefully observed and full of the realities of present day life.' Gerard Woodward, author of Legoland and I'll Go to Bed at Noon 'Raw, fluid, intimate and believable.' Mariel Franklin, author of Bonding 'Deliciously dark, incisive and original, Marni Appleton has clearly mastered the short story, but more than that, she has mastered the art of winding her readers in ribbons of mess and mundanity that make up both fantastical and real life in a truly compelling collection.' Ore Agbaje-Williams, author of The Three of Us 'Glittering behind every fixed-on smile in this collection is a crystallised seam of horror. An illegally acquired cocktail of weirdness, body laughs, love and spite. I could not have liked it more.' Ben Pester, author of Am I in the Right Place? 'Tender, skewed and affecting stories told with a keen eye for the absurd and unsettling nature of being alive. A bewitching and twisted kaleidoscope of stories.' Isy Suttie, award-winning comedian and writer 'Appleton knows all the ways that women are seen, surveilled, and regarded. These excellent stories stare right back, and they brim over with insight and sharp intelligence.' Manuel Muoz, author of The Consequences 'Marni Appleton's debut collection of short stories is like a shot fired across the bow of contemporary feminism. Prophetic and profound at once, her stories are oblique glimpses of girls' and womens' lives in the age of Instagram, anxiety and heightened scrutiny of women and especially of their bodies. Fresh, surprising and invigorating, Appleton's stories resonate long after finishing them with a restless energy and a humane heart.' Jean McNeil, author of Day for Night: A Novel

Wild HorsesThe heartwarming new rural romance by the bestselling author of Brumby's Run. Christy Peacock is devastated when an unfounded scandal throws her life as a drama teacher at a prestigious Sydney school off track. With her dream career in shreds, she spontaneously answers an ad to work at Currawong Creek, a horse therapy camp for troubled children nestled among the picturesque Bunya Mountains. Celebrity chef Tyler Ward hopes that Currawong Creek might hold the answer to reconnecting with his surly son, Leo. In a last-ditch attempt to bring the teenager out of his shell, Christy introduces Leo to Lofty, a wild ex-racehorse who trusts nobody. Their lives now intertwined, Christy and Tyler can't help falling for each other. But old secrets and unsolved mysteries refuse to remain buried, and their fledgling romance might be over before it truly begins... Wild Horses is a moving tale of second chances and finding love in unexpected places, set against the beautiful backdrop of the Darling Downs countryside.