|
The Illusionist's Apprentice : A Novel
by Kristy Cambron
Jenny “Wren” Lockhart is a bold eccentric—even for a one-time apprentice to Harry Houdini. Notorious for her inherited wealth, her gentleman’s dress and her unsavory upbringing in a vaudeville theater, Wren's life challenges convention.
In the months following Houdini’s death, Wren is drawn into a web of mystery surrounding Horace Stapleton, a spiritualist and a man defamed by Houdini’s ardent debunking of frauds. But in a public illusion that goes terribly wrong, one man dies and another is charged with his murder. Though Stapleton is one of Houdini's greatest critics, Wren must become what she never wanted to be: his defender.
In a world of deception, Wren’s carefully constructed existence threatens to collapse around her. Layered with mystery, illusion, and the artistry of the Jazz Age’s bygone vaudeville era, The Illusionist’s Apprentice is a journey through love and loss and the underpinnings of faith on each of life’s stages.
|
|
|
In Farleigh Field : A Novel of World War II
by Rhys Bowen
Inspired by the events and people of World War II, writer Rhys Bowen crafts a sweeping and riveting saga of class, family, love, and betrayal.
When a soldier with a failed parachute falls to his death on Farleigh Place, the ancestral home of Lord Westerham and his five daughters, the dead man's uniform and possessions raise suspicions. MI5 operative and family friend Ben Cresswell is covertly tasked with finding out if the man is a German spy. His assignment also offers Ben the chance to be near Lord Westerham’s middle daughter, Pamela, whom he furtively loves. But Pamela has her own secret: she has taken a job at Bletchley Park, the British code-breaking facility.
As Ben follows a trail of spies and traitors, he discovers that some within the realm have an appalling, history-altering agenda. Can he, with Pamela’s help, stop them before England falls?
|
|
|
Minds of Winter
by Ed O'Loughlin
Shrouded in mystery and intrigue, Sir John Franklin's 1845 journey in search of the Northwest Passage ended in tragedy: all 129 men and everything from the expedition was lost, including two rare and valuable Greenwich chronometers. When one of the chronometers appears a century and a half later in London, in pristine condition and crudely disguised as a Victorian carriage clock, questions arise about what really happened - and the fates of the men involved.
In this meticulously researched historical novel, O'Loughlin delves deep into the history of Franklin's expedition through the eyes of the explorers themselves, addressing questions that have intrigued historians and readers for centuries. What motivated these men to strike out on a dangerous campaign in search of the unknown? What was at stake for them, and for those they left behind? And when things went wrong--things that couldn't be shared--what would they do to protect themselves and their discoveries?
|
|
|
The Satanic Mechanic : A Tannie Maria Mystery
by Sally Andrew
Meet Tannie Maria - South African recipe-writer-turned-crime-fighter. When Slimkat the bushman finds his life under threat, Tannie is determined to find out who wants to kill him. But before she has time to take her Venus Chocolate Cake out of the oven, Tannie becomes embroiled in a nature reserve land dispute among Bushmen descendants, diamond miners and cattle companies.
And Tannie has mysteries of her own to solve. Her new boyfriend, Detective Lieutenant Henk Kannemeyer, is keen to keep Tannie out of danger. And while new love is sweet, Tannie is pretty sure Henk's hiding something. Blending a perfect whodunnit with lovable characters, The Satanic Mechanic is the perfect recipe.
|
|
|
The Underworld : A Novel
by Kevin Canty
In The Underworld, Kevin Canty tells the story of a disastrous fire in an isolated silver mining town in Idaho in the 1970s. Everyone in town had a friend, a lover, a brother, or a husband killed in the mine. It’s a tough, hard-working, hard-drinking town, a town of prostitutes and priests and bar fights, but nobody’s tough enough to get through this undamaged.
Inspired by a true incident, The Underworld imagines the lives of a handful of survivors and their loved ones—a young widow with twin children, a college student trying to make a life for himself in another town, a lifelong hardrock miner—as they struggle to come to terms with the loss. For readers of Russell Banks and Richard Ford, a powerful and unforgettable tale about small-town lives and the healing power of love in the midst of suffering.
|
|
|
The Zero and the One : A Novel
by Ryan Ruby
A shy, bookish scholarship student from a working-class family, Owen Whiting has high hopes for Oxford, only to find himself out of place among the university's dim aristocrats and posh radicals. But his life takes a dramatic turn when he is assigned to the same philosophy tutorial as Zachary Foedern, a visiting student from New York City. Rich, brilliant, and charismatic, Zach takes Owen under his wing, introducing him to a world of experiences Owen has only read about.
Daring each other to break the bounds of convention and morality, they commit ever more outrageous acts, until Zach proposes the greatest outrage of all: a suicide pact. But when Zach's plans go horribly awry, Owen is left to pick up the pieces. Now he must navigate the treacherous boundary between illusion and reality if he wants to understand his friend and preserve a hold on his once bright future. A gothic twist on the classic tale of innocents abroad, The Zero and the One is a meditation on the seductions of friendship and the power of dangerous ideas.
|
|
|
Fresh : Simple, Delicious Recipes to Make You Feel Energized!
by Donal Skehan
Irish TV and YouTube sensation Donal Skehan believes in maximizing health and energy through the enjoyment of flavorful, nutrient-packed food. Fresh embodies this philosophy by focusing on seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as grains, with a secondary emphasis on high-quality meat and seafood. Included are recipes for breakfasts (try the Gluten-free Pancakes with Blueberry, Banana and Honey), food to eat on the run (Tahini Crunch Noodle Salad!), easy suppers (Yakitori Salmon Skewers with Red Rice Salad), quick dinners (Rosemary Beef with Horseradish Sauce and Fennel Salad), and “Better for You” sweet treats, such as Peanut Butter Brownies and Glazed Apple Galettes. Every dish is big on flavor and chock-full of goodness!.
|
|
|
How to Draw & Paint Special Subjects : Beginning Chinese Brush, Discover the Art of Traditional Chinese Brush Painting
by Monika Cilmi
With comprehensive instruction, tips and tricks, Special Subjects: Beginning Chinese Brush is the perfect resource for beginning artists. From choosing brushes to painting techniques, composition, and development, Special Subjects: Beginning Chinese Brush is bursting with valuable skills and lessons to help beginning artists learn how to use this traditional medium. Artist Monika Cilmi guides readers through a variety of step-by-step Chinese brush paintings, covering basic concepts and techniques, such as different brushstrokes and how to blend traditional methods with your own personal style. Building on these introductory techniques, artists can practice their craft with projects that cover a range of subjects, including birds, flowers, and traditional landscapes.
|
|
|
Joy the Baker Over Easy : Sweet and Savory Recipes for Leisurely Days
by Joy Wilson
The blogger behind the wildly popular JoytheBaker.com serves up 125 recipes for weekend morning breakfasts that feature such crazy delicious mash-ups as Strawberry Shortcake Doughnuts; Onion, Gruyere and Grits Frittata Muffins; and Lasagna Grilled Cheese. These recipes will satisfy any brunch craving - from juices and coffees, to breads, eggs, pancakes, sandwiches, salads, and definitely bacon!
|
|
|
Learn Better : Mastering the Skills for Success in Life, Business, and School, Or, How to Become an Expert in Just About Anything
by Ulrich Boser
For centuries, learning emphasized memorization: You studied facts, dates, and details, and burned them into your consciousness. But this outdated approach to learning is contrary to how our brains really work. In Learn Better, writer and education researcher Ulrich Boser maps out the new science of learning, demonstrating how we can gain expertise in dramatically better ways.
In this entertaining and engrossing book, Boser shows how techniques like self-questioning and thinking about thinking can create much deeper levels of understanding. Learn Better will revolutionize the way that you acquire mastery, with far-reaching implications for both you and society. But perhaps most importantly, you will be able to fully capitalize on your mind's remarkable ability to develop new skills.
|
|
|
Printer's Error : Irreverent Stories from Book History
by J. P. Romney
Since the Gutenberg Bible first went on sale in 1455, printing has been viewed as one of the highest achievements of human innovation. But the march of progress hasn’t been smooth; downright bizarre is more like it.
Printer’s Error chronicles some of the strangest and most humorous episodes in the history of Western printing, and makes clear that we’ve succeeded despite ourselves. Rare-book expert Rebecca Romney and author J. P. Romney take us from monasteries and museums to auction houses and libraries to introduce curious episodes in the history of print that have had a profound impact on our world.
|
|
|