Small Sacrifices is Ann Rule's shocking and powerful account of the destructive forces that drove Diane Downs, a beautiful young mother, to shoot her three young children in cold blood.

The mesmerizing story unfolds with the shooting of three children, and follows a detailed uncovering of facts that seems to lead to the mother as the prime suspect. Diane Downs, a beautiful, brilliant sociopath, commits the ultimate evil to gain the love of a married man.

Ann Rule provides an insight into the horrifying personality of Downs, who never confesses to her crimes. Her conduct during the trial is as disturbing as the act itself. She taps her foot and smiles while listening to "Hungry Like the Wolf," the song that played in her car during the crime. She laughs when she should cry, and cries only when it benefits her. One daughter is dead, another has lost the use of her arm and speech, and the little boy is paralyzed. None of this horror seems to penetrate Diane, who appears to have no feelings for her children's suffering.

This book is a must-read for all true crime buffs, as Ann Rule meticulously presents every piece of evidence, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat.

It’s a nasty kind of love. The kind you can’t escape from even if you want to.

Petra should’ve known better. But her heart has always beaten for the one man that she can’t have: her beloved godfather, Alexander Van Dieren. And despite the firm disapproval from her mother, the rising politician and activist, Tess Hagen, Petra is determined to take her life into her own hands and fight for him, no matter the price.

But she can only do so if Alexander will go just as far for her. So after waking up from her coma, she asked him one question. He gave her one answer. And from there, nothing will ever be the same...

This book is for mature audiences.

La Confusion des sentiments is a profound novella by Stefan Zweig that explores the intricate emotions and passions of a young student. At the twilight of his life, a seasoned professor reflects on an adventure that left an indelible mark on his existence. At nineteen, he was captivated by the charismatic personality of one of his professors, leading to a complex mix of idolization, submission, and a near-morbid love.

Freud himself acknowledged the precision and truth with which Zweig depicted the turmoil of a passion and the discomfort it causes to its subject. Published in 1926, this brief yet deep story achieved rapid success due to its bold and novel subject matter. It undoubtedly remains one of the masterpieces of the great Austrian writer.

The story unfolds as a young man, initially lost in the wilds of Berlin, is sent to a provincial university by his father. There, a brilliant lecture ignites in him a fervent passion for learning and a peculiar fascination with the aging professor who delivered the talk. The young man becomes a frequent visitor to the professor's home, which he shares with his much younger wife, and encourages him to complete his long-gestating scholarly work. However, the professor's behavior oscillates between welcoming and scornful, leaving the young man puzzled and wounded.

It is the professor's wife who comprehends the situation fully and helps the young man understand the complex dynamics at play. This novella is not just a tale of academic life but an exploration of the heart's tumultuous journey, a celebration of intellectual passion, and a reflection on the often-painful intersections of personal and professional admiration.

Suddenly confronted with his own mortality after a routine checkup, eminent psychotherapist Julius Hertzfeld is forced to reexamine his life and work. He seeks out Philip Slate, a sex addict whom he failed to help some twenty years earlier. Yet Philip claims to be cured, miraculously transformed by the pessimistic teachings of German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, and is, himself, a philosophical counselor in training.

Philip's dour, misanthropic stance compels Julius to invite him to join his intensive therapy group in exchange for tutoring on Schopenhauer. But with mere months left, life may be far too short to help Philip or to compete with him for the hearts and minds of the group members. And then again, it might be just long enough.

From the New York Times bestselling author of In Five Years comes an intensely romantic modern recounting of the greatest love story ever told—narrated by the girl Romeo was supposed to love.

What’s in a name, Shakespeare? I’ll tell you: Everything.

Rosaline knows that she and Rob are destined to be together. Rose has been waiting for years for Rob to kiss her—and when he finally does, it’s perfect. But then Juliet moves back to town. Juliet, who used to be Rose’s best friend. Juliet, who now inexplicably hates her. Juliet, who is gorgeous, vindictive, and a little bit crazy...and who has set her sights on Rob. He doesn’t even stand a chance.

Rose is devastated over losing Rob to Juliet. This is not how the story was supposed to go. And when rumors start swirling about Juliet’s instability, her neediness, and her threats of suicide, Rose starts to fear not only for Rob’s heart, but also for his life. Because Shakespeare may have gotten the story wrong, but we all still know how it ends….

Franny Stone has always been the kind of woman who is able to love but unable to stay. Leaving behind everything but her research gear, she arrives in Greenland with a singular purpose: to follow the last Arctic terns in the world on what might be their final migration to Antarctica.

Franny talks her way onto a fishing boat, and she and the crew set sail, traveling ever further from shore and safety. But as Franny’s history begins to unspool—a passionate love affair, an absent family, a devastating crime—it becomes clear that she is chasing more than just the birds.

When Franny's dark secrets catch up with her, how much is she willing to risk for one more chance at redemption?

Epic and intimate, heartbreaking and galvanizing, Charlotte McConaghy's Migrations is an ode to a disappearing world and a breathtaking page-turner about the possibility of hope against all odds.

Lauren’s happy childhood on a farm in Minnesota is shattered after an assault during her teen years, and she retreats into her own world as America falls apart. Hers was the last generation to grow up before the economic collapse that followed the Corona pandemic.

Amidst roiling climate chaos, the government has been taken over by extremists, incompetents, and con-men who tear the country apart while clinging to power. Lauren is swept up in the madness when she falls for the wrong man. She’s looking for love and safety, but Bryan becomes distant and abusive as he obsesses over White Sharia and deepens his ties to the racist patriot militia group.

Lauren worries about the safety of her sister and nephew, who is mixed-race. Will Lauren escape from Bryan and keep her nephew safe from danger? In a world where values are tested and morality is unsettlingly murky, Lauren must break free from the constraints in her mind to protect her family.

When Edward Cullen and Bella Swan met in Twilight, an iconic love story was born. But until now, fans have heard only Bella's side of the story. At last, readers can experience Edward's version in the long-awaited companion novel, Midnight Sun.

This unforgettable tale, as told through Edward's eyes, takes on a new and decidedly dark twist. Meeting Bella is both the most unnerving and intriguing event he has experienced in all his years as a vampire. As we learn more fascinating details about Edward's past and the complexity of his inner thoughts, we understand why this is the defining struggle of his life.

How can he justify following his heart if it means leading Bella into danger?

Remy Tsai used to know how her story would turn out. But now, she doesn’t even know what tomorrow will look like.

She was happy once. Remy had her boyfriend Jack, and Elise, her best friend—her soulmate—who understood her better than anyone else in the world.

But now Jack is dead, shot through the chest—And it was Elise who pulled the trigger.

Was it self-defense? Or something deeper, darker than anything Remy could have imagined?

As the police investigate, Remy does the same, sifting through her own memories, looking for a scrap of truth that could save the friendship that means everything to her.

Told in alternating timelines, this twisted psychological thriller explores the dark side of obsessive friendship.

Bella and Edward find themselves facing new obstacles, including a devastating separation. The mysterious appearance of dangerous wolves roaming the forest in Forks adds to their challenges. There's also a terrifying threat of revenge from a female vampire and a deliciously sinister encounter with Italy's reigning royal family of vampires: the Volturi.

Handsome hit man vs sexy SEAL for the heart of one woman. All-star athlete, beach bunny, and bartender shy of earning her Masters degree, Kinsley's worst problem seems to be choosing between an intriguing secret admirer, or a crush with the voice of an angel and a devilish reputation.

When Kinsley finds herself the target of a notorious biker gang, the world at her feet is trampled by trouble at her doorstep. As a result, both men are not only competing for her attention, but battling a common enemy to keep Kinsley safe.

From Sandie Jones, the author of the New York Times bestseller The Other Woman, comes an addictively readable new domestic suspense about a wife, her husband, and the woman who is supposedly her best friend.

THE WIFE: For Alice, life has never been better. With her second husband, she has a successful business, two children, and a beautiful house.

HER HUSBAND: Alice knows that life could have been different if her first husband had lived, but Nathan's arrival into her life gave her back the happiness she craved.

HER BEST FRIEND: Through the ups and downs of life, from celebratory nights out to comforting each other through loss, Alice knows that with her best friend Beth by her side, they can survive anything together. So when Nathan starts acting strangely, Alice turns to Beth for help. But soon, Alice begins to wonder whether her trust has been misplaced...

The first mistake could be her last.

Nana is a captivating novel by the French naturalist author Émile Zola. It is the ninth installment in the 20-volume Les Rougon-Macquart series, which presents "The Natural and Social History of a Family under the Second Empire."

The story follows Nana Coupeau, who rises from the grimy streets of Paris to become a high-class escort. Born to drunken parents in the slums, Nana's journey to the top of society is both mesmerizing and destructive. She uses her charm and sensual skills to captivate and eventually ruin the lives of the men who fall for her allure.

Nana becomes a symbol of a corrupt society, and her hedonistic appetite for luxury and pleasure knows no bounds. The novel vividly portrays the opulence and decadence of her world, making Nana a mythical figure in French realism.

Émile Zola masterfully captures the essence of the Second Empire's society, presenting a compelling narrative that explores themes of power, desire, and downfall.

Adam Bede is a hardy young carpenter who cares for his aging mother. His one weakness is the woman he loves blindly: the trifling town beauty, Hetty Sorrel, whose only delights are her baubles—and the delusion that the careless Captain Donnithorne may ask for her hand.

Betrayed by their innocence, both Adam and Hetty allow their foolish hearts to trap them in a triangle of seduction, murder, and retribution.

The novel follows four characters' rural lives in the fictional community of Hayslope—a pastoral and close-knit community in 1799. It revolves around a love "rectangle" between the beautiful but self-absorbed Hetty Sorrel; Captain Arthur Donnithorne, the young squire who seduces her; Adam Bede, her unacknowledged suitor; and Dinah Morris, Hetty's cousin, a fervent, virtuous, and beautiful Methodist lay preacher.

Set in the English Midlands of farmers and village craftsmen at the turn of the eighteenth century, this book relates a story of seduction issuing in "the inward suffering which is the worst form of Nemesis".

It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the tenth annual Hunger Games. In the Capitol, eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow is preparing for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the Games. The once-mighty house of Snow has fallen on hard times, its fate hanging on the slender chance that Coriolanus will be able to outcharm, outwit, and outmaneuver his fellow students to mentor the winning tribute.

The odds are against him. He's been given the humiliating assignment of mentoring the female tribute from District 12, the lowest of the low. Their fates are now completely intertwined — every choice Coriolanus makes could lead to favor or failure, triumph or ruin. Inside the arena, it will be a fight to the death. Outside the arena, Coriolanus starts to feel for his doomed tribute... and must weigh his need to follow the rules against his desire to survive no matter what it takes.

Buzzcut, doll face, secret prude and healthy snacks brand ambassador, Theana Green, loses her money, boyfriend, and reputation in a matter of days. She thought her ‘rags to riches’ story would stay on “riches” for a long time. But the discovery of illegal additives in the snacks she promoted kicked her back to the bottom of the pit. The once-beloved doll was now a disliked troll. Even an escape to a distant village in Nigeria couldn’t hide her from mistrust and scheming of the villagers. Her plan to reinvent herself wasn’t working…

and a sexy crooner with a face that could melt even the strongest of icebergs refuses to leave her alone! Heartthrob and talented musician, Ramsey Edet makes women lose their cool. Despite his success and fame, his bad reputation kept catching up with him. One sight of Theana looking like a chocolate beauty that walked out of an Afremov painting was all it took to get him interested in what life had to offer after all.

The Sweetest Game is the third and final installment in Jack & Cassie's story. This emotional journey takes you into the heart of a baseball career coming to an end.

"It’s one hell of a sledgehammer to the chest when your baseball career comes to an end." The realization hits hard that baseball never loved you back. All those sleepless nights, the hours spent at the gym trying to stay fit, the conditioning, the training, the mental preparation, the holidays missed, the birthdays passed, the memories not made with family... all for what?

Baseball is a business, a sport, a game. And as much as Jack's entire life has been wrapped up in it, it's time to let it go. Join Jack as he navigates the bittersweet journey of letting go of his past and embracing a future filled with love and new beginnings.

Jack appeared at my door last night after six months of no communication, wearing a Mets jersey and holding a dozen red roses. He told me he was sorry, that he loved me, and that he would earn my trust again. It took everything in me not to fall apart at the mere sight of him. I wanted to take him back into my life, but I needed to know that this time it would be forever…

In J. Sterling’s highly anticipated follow-up to her USA Today bestselling novel The Perfect Game, Jack and Cassie quickly realize that their new lifestyle can often be cruel and unforgiving. Their happiness is put to the test as the past is never truly far behind. How do you stay together when the world's trying to tear you apart?

If it's in his heart... it's in his kiss!

Meet our hero: Gareth St. Clair is in a bind. His father, who detests him, is determined to beggar the St. Clair estates and ruin his inheritance. Gareth's sole bequest is an old family diary, which may or may not contain the secrets of his past... and the key to his future. The problem is—it's written in Italian, of which Gareth speaks not a word.

Meet our heroine: Hyacinth Bridgerton is like no other. She's fiendishly smart, devilishly outspoken, and according to Gareth, probably best in small doses. But there's something about her—something charming and vexing—that grabs him and won't quite let go.

Meet poor Mr. Mozart: Or don't. But rest assured, he's spinning in his grave when Gareth and Hyacinth cross paths at the annual—and annually discordant—Smythe-Smith musicale. To Hyacinth, Gareth's every word seems a dare, and she offers to translate his diary, even though her Italian is slightly less than perfect. But as they delve into the mysterious text, they discover that the answers they seek lie not in the diary, but in each other... and that there is nothing as simple—or as complicated—as a single, perfect kiss.

What had happened to the ever so confident Dhani? Why wasn't she sure of herself anymore? She wondered if she would be the same Dhani ever again. Dhani, a girl who thought her life was finally perfect, was now seeing it fall apart. But she was too proud to accept in front of the world about how defeated she felt. Dhruv had braved every hurdle that life had thrown at him; and when he finally felt complete with Dhani by his side, destiny showed him its ugliest face ever.

Embark on a journey of love in its purest form. Love between a father and daughter, a brother and sister, a man and woman; and the love above any other… love for one's motherland, and the urge to protect it at any cost. Diya Aur Baati Hum tells us the story of a love so potent, it changes lives and destinies. A beautiful story of love, friendship, faith, acceptance, hope and courage.

The Heart takes place over twenty-four intense hours following a tragic accident involving three teenage boys. After a morning of surfing, a car crash leaves one boy brain-dead, while his heart continues to beat.

This audacious novel explores the emotional journey of all involved in the heart transplant that follows. Life is taken from a young man and offered to a woman on the brink of death. With gorgeous, ruminative prose, the story delves into the deepest feelings of grieving parents and dedicated medical professionals as they navigate profound decisions of life and death.

With the precision of a surgeon and the language of a poet, de Kerangal crafts an epic tale of grief, hope, and survival. This novel is as stylistically bold as it is emotionally explosive, mesmerizing readers worldwide.

Petra, a seventeen-year-old Dutch-American and the only heir of finance tycoon Roy Van Gatt, has always had her life rigorously planned and supervised by her strict father. From her internship at his hedge fund firm on Wall Street to her degree in economics at Columbia University, Petra is all set for a bright future in finance.

But everything falls apart when she develops a dangerous relationship with her father’s business partner and utmost confidant, Alexander Van Dieren. A Dutch nobleman, known as an unrepentant heartbreaker, twenty-three years her senior, and who is, above all else, her beloved godfather.

A twisted obsession for some, unconditional love for others, but one thing is sure: it’s a relationship that might cost them everything...

Police lights illuminate a dark street on a dark night in a small Michigan town. A vehicle has been pulled over; the cop claims the occupants resemble robbery suspects. No traffic law has been violated. The man is the wrong age, the woman, the wrong sex and small children are seated in the back. Still, the officer persists. The driver declares he is legally carrying, confusion reigns, shots ring out, and an innocent black man now lies bleeding to death. The tragic events have been captured on video.

The shooting becomes national news. The officer is placed on paid leave. After watching celebrity lawyer, Zachary Blake, discuss the case on television, the victim’s wife turns to Blake for justice. Facing an embarrassed yet emboldened police force, attorney and client face off against the dark side of police power. Can they successfully fight city hall?

Suspenseful, powerful, and enlightening, Betrayal in Black explores an increasingly controversial clash between race and police power.

An escaped prisoner encounters horrendous struggles - a traumatized woman overturns his life completely. Will he ever prove his innocence, or is he in fact guilty? Astonishing revelations are unveiled about who he is! Ironically, the injustices the pair suffer conclude in the same dramatic final twist!

"Cut off the head of the snake and another will grow in its place." Part crime drama, part legal thriller, Betrayal in Blue follows the return of Zachary Blake and Jack Dylan as they fight law enforcement itself in picturesque Manistee, Michigan.

Following its triumph over white supremacists in the field and in the courtroom, law enforcement in the city of Dearborn, Michigan has enjoyed relative tranquility. Unfortunately, not for long, as a second (and more dangerous) syndicate and its leader plot revenge for their fallen brothers. Their scheme? To steal and release deadly Sarin gas in the city. Police Captain Jack Dylan and his team are dedicated to thwarting the plot and bringing the culprits to justice. However, with a terrorist threat in play, the FBI usurps the investigation. However, Jack Dylan never backs away from a case or a fight. When the white supremacy leader evades the FBI's dragnet, Jack goes rogue and hunts him down in Manistee.

The inevitable standoff finds Dylan alone with his nemesis in an unfamiliar city with no FBI or local law enforcement to support him. His plans go awry, and Jack finds himself arrested by local authorities and placed on trial for his actions. Attorney Zachary Blake comes to his defense in the biggest trial this quiet community has ever seen. The local cops and the FBI think they have a winner, but Zack and his lead investigator, Micah Love, believe there’s more to the story than meets the eye.

This exciting legal thriller concludes with a dramatic showdown that has become the trademark of award-winning author Mark M. Bello who is, once again, at the top of his game.

From the breakthrough international bestselling author of The Girl in the Ice, comes a breathtaking, page-turning novel about a disgraced female detective’s fight for redemption. And survival…

Kate Marshall was a promising young police detective when she caught the notorious Nine Elms serial killer. But her greatest victory suddenly turned into a nightmare. Traumatized, betrayed, and publicly vilified for the shocking circumstances surrounding the cannibal murder case, Kate could only watch as her career ended in scandal.

Fifteen years after those catastrophic events, Kate is still haunted by the unquiet ghosts of her troubled past. Now a lecturer at a small coastal English university, she finally has a chance to face them. A copycat killer has taken up the Nine Elms mantle, continuing the ghastly work of his idol.

Enlisting her brilliant research assistant, Tristan Harper, Kate draws on her prodigious and long-neglected skills as an investigator to catch a new monster. Success promises redemption, but there’s much more on the line: Kate was the original killer’s intended fifth victim…and his successor means to finish the job.

Emma decided to skip the gym and went home early. It was the last easy decision she made because she found her roommate being raped by her boyfriend. She had two choices. Call the cops and be killed by his family’s mafia connections or kill him first and hope to survive. There was no choice to her. She killed the bastard first and went to the one person who could protect her: Carter Reed.

He’s a weapon for the rivaling mafia family, but he’s also Emma’s secret. Not only was he best friends with her brother, but she’s the reason he became that weapon in the first place.

Samantha and Mason are together. Everyone knows it. Not everyone is dealing with it. While Mason’s ready to give them the middle finger, there’s one not going away: Her mother. Threats are issued. Ultimatums are given. Even blackmail is used, but only Samantha can put a stop to Analise. However, when a trauma from her past is triggered, she may not have the courage or strength to do what’s needed. If she doesn’t, Mason’s future could be destroyed.

What happens when destiny wants to bring two people together? And what happens when one of them accepts this as a gift of God, while the other refuses to bow down to destiny?

Ved, a young man who climbed the success ladder with sheer hard work and determination, is as attached to his roots as ever. A humble, helpful, and gentle soul who is loved by all…except by the one woman he loves with all his heart.

Maya, a young and vivacious girl, who has been challenged by fate time and again. From being left motherless at the tender age of three, to being shunned by her family at 22, Maya didn’t have it easy.

While Ved opens his heart for Maya, she makes it clear to him that the only feeling she will ever have for him is hatred.

Come and embark on this journey of emotions, misunderstandings, love...and be a part of their emotional rollercoaster ride.

It’s 2002, a year after 9/11. It’s an extremely turbulent time politically, but especially so for someone like Shirin, a sixteen-year-old Muslim girl who’s tired of being stereotyped.

Shirin is never surprised by how horrible people can be. She’s tired of the rude stares, the degrading comments—even the physical violence—she endures as a result of her race, her religion, and the hijab she wears every day. So she’s built up protective walls and refuses to let anyone close enough to hurt her.

Instead, she drowns her frustrations in music and spends her afternoons break-dancing with her brother.

But then she meets Ocean James. He’s the first person in forever who really seems to want to get to know Shirin. It terrifies her—they seem to come from two irreconcilable worlds—and Shirin has had her guard up for so long that she’s not sure she’ll ever be able to let it down.

No one speaks of the grace year. It’s forbidden.

In Garner County, girls are told they have the power to lure grown men from their beds, to drive women mad with jealousy. They believe their very skin emits a powerful aphrodisiac, the potent essence of youth, of a girl on the edge of womanhood.

That’s why they’re banished for their sixteenth year, to release their magic into the wild so they can return purified and ready for marriage. But not all of them will make it home alive.

Sixteen-year-old Tierney James dreams of a better life—a society that doesn’t pit friend against friend or woman against woman, but as her own grace year draws near, she quickly realizes that it’s not just the brutal elements they must fear.

It’s not even the poachers in the woods, men who are waiting for a chance to grab one of the girls in order to make a fortune on the black market. Their greatest threat may very well be each other.

With sharp prose and gritty realism, The Grace Year examines the complex and sometimes twisted relationships between girls, the women they eventually become, and the difficult decisions they make in-between.

Gemma Robinson comes into Elliot’s life like a whirlwind, and they marry and settle into his home. When she asks him if her parents can come to stay for a couple of weeks, he is keen to oblige – he just doesn’t quite know what he’s signing up for.

The Robinsons arrive with Gemma’s sister, Chloe, a mysterious young woman who refuses to speak or leave her room. Elliot starts to suspect that the Robinsons are hiding a dark secret. And then there are the scars on his wife’s body that she won’t talk about...

As Elliot’s in-laws become more comfortable in his home, encroaching on all aspects of his life, it becomes clear that they have no intention of moving out. To protect Gemma, and their marriage, Elliot delves into the Robinsons’ past. But is he prepared for the truth?

From the two million copy bestselling author comes a tale about the chilling consequences of welcoming strangers into your home.

In this #1 New York Times bestselling novel of first love and second chances, former high school sweethearts confront the painful truths of their past to build a promising future—together.

"Everyone wanted to believe that endless love was possible. She'd believed in it once, too, back when she was eighteen." In the spring of 1984, high school students Amanda Collier and Dawson Cole fell deeply, irrevocably in love. Though they were from opposite sides of the tracks, their love for one another seemed to defy the realities of life in their small town in North Carolina. But as the summer of their senior year came to a close, unforeseen events would tear the young couple apart, setting them on radically divergent paths.

Now, twenty-five years later, Amanda and Dawson are summoned back home for the funeral of Tuck Hostetler, the mentor who once gave shelter to their high school romance. Neither has lived the life they imagined... and neither can forget the passionate first love that forever changed their lives. As Amanda and Dawson carry out the instructions Tuck left behind for them, they realize that everything they thought they knew—about Tuck, about themselves, and about the dreams they held dear—was not as it seemed. Forced to confront painful memories, the former lovers will discover undeniable truths about the choices they have made. And in the course of a single, searing weekend, they will ask of the living, and the dead: Can love truly rewrite the past?

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author, Melissa de la Cruz, comes a thrilling return to adult fiction with The Birthday Girl, a novel centered around a mysterious woman's birthday celebration—and the secrets it unveils.

Ellie de Florent-Stinson is celebrating her fortieth birthday with a grand celebration in her fabulous house in Palm Springs. At forty, it appears Ellie has everything she ever wanted: a handsome husband, an accomplished college-age stepdaughter, a beautiful ten-year-old girl, and two adorable and rambunctious six-year-old twin boys. Her lush, well-appointed homes in Los Angeles, Park City, and Palm Springs, along with a thriving career as a well-known fashion designer of casual women's wear, make her life seem picture-perfect.

But everything is not as perfect as it seems. Ellie is keeping many secrets. This isn’t the first of her birthday parties that hasn't gone as planned. Something happened on the night of her sweet sixteenth—a night she’s tried hard to forget. But hiding the skeletons of her past comes at a cost, and all of Ellie’s secrets come to light during her fabulous birthday party in the desert.

With old and new friends, frenemies, stepdaughters, business partners, ex-wives, and ex-husbands congregating, the glittering facade of her life crumbles in one eventful night. Beautifully paced and full of surprises, The Birthday Girl is an enthralling tale of a life lived in shadow, and its unavoidable consequences.

When she stumbles across the ad, she’s looking for something else completely. But it seems like too good an opportunity to miss—a live-in nannying post, with a staggeringly generous salary. And when Rowan Caine arrives at Heatherbrae House, she is smitten—by the luxurious “smart” home fitted out with all modern conveniences, by the beautiful Scottish Highlands, and by this picture-perfect family.

What she doesn’t know is that she’s stepping into a nightmare—one that will end with a child dead and herself in prison awaiting trial for murder. Writing to her lawyer from prison, she struggles to explain the unravelling events that led to her incarceration.

It wasn’t just the constant surveillance from the cameras installed around the house, or the malfunctioning technology that woke the household with booming music, or turned the lights off at the worst possible time. It wasn’t just the girls, who turned out to be a far cry from the immaculately behaved model children she met at her interview. It wasn’t even the way she was left alone for weeks at a time, with no adults around apart from the enigmatic handyman, Jack Grant. It was everything.

She knows she’s made mistakes. She admits that she lied to obtain the post, and that her behavior toward the children wasn’t always ideal. She’s not innocent, by any means. But, she maintains, she’s not guilty—at least not of murder. Which means someone else is.

Full of spellbinding menace and told in Ruth Ware’s signature suspenseful style, The Turn of the Key is an unputdownable thriller from the Agatha Christie of our time.

A vicious assault. A devastating accusation. Who should she trust, her husband or her best friend?

It was supposed to be the perfect reunion: six university friends together again after twenty years. Host Ali finally has the life she always wanted, a career she can be proud of and a wonderful family with her college boyfriend, now husband. But that night her best friend makes an accusation so shocking that nothing will ever be the same again.

When Karen staggers in from the garden, bleeding and traumatised, she claims that she has been assaulted—by Ali’s husband, Mike. Ali must make a split-second decision: who should she believe? Her horrified husband, or her best friend? With Mike offering a very different version of events, Ali knows one of them is lying—but which? And why?

When the ensuing chaos forces her to re-examine the golden era the group shared at university, Ali realises there are darker memories too. Memories that have lain dormant for decades. Memories someone would kill to protect.

Mara and Owen are about as close as twins can get. So when Mara's friend, Hannah, accuses Owen of rape, Mara doesn't know what to think. Can the brother she loves really be guilty of such a violent crime? Torn between the family she loves and her own sense of right and wrong, Mara is feeling lost, and it doesn't help that things have been strained with her ex-girlfriend and best friend since childhood, Charlie.

As Mara, Hannah, and Charlie navigate this new terrain, Mara must face a trauma from her own past and decide where Charlie fits in her future. With sensitivity and openness, this timely novel confronts the difficult questions surrounding consent, victim blaming, and sexual assault.

Stay calm, keep smiling, and watch your step. In this marriage of secrets and lies, nothing is what it seems.

For days, all of Denver, Colorado, has worried over the fate of a missing child, little Tanner Holcomb. Then, a miracle: handsome, athletic Johnny Bradley finds him, frightened but unharmed, on a hiking trail miles from his wealthy family’s mountain home.

In a heartbeat, his rescuer goes from financially strapped fitness trainer to celebrated hero. The heat of the spotlight may prove too much for Johnny’s picture-perfect family, however. His wife, Veronica, despises the pressure of the sudden fame, afraid that secrets and bitter resentments of her marriage may come to light. And she’s willing to do anything to keep them hidden.

But when a shocking revelation exposes an even darker side to Tanner’s disappearance, Veronica realizes that nothing in her life can be trusted. And everything should be feared.

Megan grew up in care and suffered all kinds of abuse, then struggled in adulthood to build a normal life. Hampered by her differences and lack of identity, Megan was lured into the embrace of a fundamentalist Christian group.

Attracted to the church because of her desire to know God and the warmth and inclusivity of the members, their promise of answers and healing, backed up by their deeper than usual knowledge of the bible, Megan experienced genuine miracles and love. But alongside the religious fanaticism came the cunning, gradual introduction of social control, flagrant sexism and violence.

An engrossing read, inspired by real-life events, investigating topics such as abuse, terminal illness, sexuality and gender roles in relation to faith. A story of the making and breaking of convictions and loyalties and the quest for actual truth. Quoting biblical scriptures to illuminate the characters’ mindsets, this book will resonate powerfully with those who have experience of such 'churches' or who wish to understand the mentality of people who lead and join such organisations.

Rev Fletcher is battling the demons of his past. With loving adoptive parents by his side, he’s managed to keep them at bay... until he gets a letter from his abusive father, and the trauma of his childhood comes hurtling back.

Emma Blue spends her time perfecting the computer game she built from scratch, rather than facing her parents’ crumbling marriage. She can solve any problem with the right code, but when an online troll’s harassment escalates, she’s truly afraid.

When Rev and Emma meet, they both long to lift the burden of their secrets and bond instantly over their shared turmoil. But when their situations turn dangerous, their trust in each other will be tested in ways they never expected.

This is a standalone title in the same universe as Letters to the Lost.

The Gingerbread Girl follows the gripping story of Em, a woman in the throes of emotional turmoil after the sudden loss of her baby. Seeking solace through running, she flees from her husband and finds herself on the secluded shores of the Florida Gulf, specifically the desolate stretch of Vermillion Key.

Em embraces the isolation, running barefoot on the beach and in sneakers on the road, finding peace in her solitude. However, her tranquility is shattered when she unwittingly peers into the driveway of a man named Pickering. While Pickering also values the seclusion of Vermillion Key, his intentions are far more sinister, as the young women he brings there soon discover. Will Em be next?

Jeanne, fille de Simon-Jacques et d'Adélaïde des Vauds, est une aristocrate qui, à ses dix-sept ans, quitte le couvent. Elle s'en va donc de chez elle ; ses parents lui lèguent un château pour y vivre. Elle rencontre Julien de Lamare quelques jours après sa sortie du couvent. Ce dernier trompe Jeanne avec sa domestique, qui tombe enceinte, puis avec une voisine qui se disait amie de Jeanne.

Elle accouche prématurément de son premier enfant, Paul, qui connaît des problèmes de santé. Paul part suivre des études au collège du Havre. Jeanne se retrouve ainsi seule après la mort du baron, de la baronne et de sa tante. Alors qu'elle est rongée par la tristesse et qu'elle tombe dans une dépression que la solitude n'adoucit pas, Jeanne retrouve par hasard Rosalie, son ancienne domestique.

À cause des dépenses abusives de son fils qui ne cesse de s'endetter, Jeanne se trouve en difficultés financières. Elle vend alors le château, qui pourtant lui tient énormément à cœur, et emménage ailleurs avec Rosalie.

Beware the Man of the Year. You may praise him, resent him, even want to be him: but beneath the elegant trappings that define him, danger looms. Caroline Louise Walker’s stunning debut novel delves into the increasingly paranoid mind of a man whose life as the most upstanding of citizens hides a relentlessly dark heart.

Dr. Robert Hart, Sag Harbor’s just-named Man of the Year, is the envy of his friends and neighbors. His medical practice is thriving. He has a beautiful old house, a beautiful new wife, and a beautiful boat docked in the village marina. Even his wayward son, Jonah, is back on track, doing well at school, finally worthy of his father’s attentions. So when Jonah’s troubled college roommate, Nick, needs a place to stay for the summer, Hart and his wife generously offer him their guest house. A win-win: Jonah will have someone to hang with, and his father can bask in the warm glow of his own generosity.

But when he begins to notice his new houseguest getting a little too close to his wife, the good doctor’s veneer begins to crack. All the little lies Robert tells—harmless falsehoods meant to protect everything he holds dear—begin to mount. Before long, he’s embroiled in a desperate downward spiral, destroying the lives that stand in his way. It’s only the women in his life—his devoted office manager, his friends, his wife—who can clearly see the truth.

Biting and timely, Man of the Year races along at an electric pace, with a wicked twist that you won’t see coming.

In 1866, tragedy strikes at the exclusive Windfield School when a young student drowns in a mysterious accident involving a small circle of boys. This incident initiates a spiraling circle of treachery that spans three decades and entwines many lives.

From the exclusive men's clubs and brothels that cater to every dark desire of London's upper classes to the dazzling ballrooms and mahogany-paneled suites of the manipulators of the world's wealth, Ken Follett conjures up a stunning array of contrasts. This breathtaking novel portrays a family splintered by lust, bound by a shared legacy, and swept toward a perilous climax where greed, fed by the shocking truth of a boy's death, must be stopped, or not just one man's dreams, but those of a nation, will die.

Ein Liebesbrief erreicht den Romancier und Lebemann R. an seinem einundvierzigsten Geburtstag – die leidenschaftliche Lebensbeichte einer Frau, deren Lebensmittelpunkt er war. Doch sie ist für ihn nur eine belanglose Geliebte unter vielen geblieben, letztlich eine Unbekannte.

"Ich klage Dich nicht an, mein Geliebter, nein, ich klage Dich nicht an", verspricht sie, und doch stellen ihre glühenden Worten das Leben dieses Mannes, der "nur das Leichte, das Spielende, das Gewichtlose" lieben kann und vor Bindungen zurückscheut aus "Angst, in ein Schicksal einzugreifen", vollständig in Frage.

Stefan Zweig versteht es meisterhaft, starke Emotionen in eindringliche Worte zu übersetzen, die lange nachhallen.

From USA Today bestselling author Debbie Herbert comes a thrilling story of murder and madness set in the darkest corner of Alabama.

Everyone thinks fourteen-year-old Violet is a murderer. After a summer-night swim with her best friend, Ainsley, Violet is found confused, wandering in the forest—and Ainsley’s never seen again. But without a body, murder charges won’t stick, so Violet is sent away.

After more than a decade in a psychiatric ward, Violet returns to her broken-down hometown of Normal, Alabama, to claim her dead mother’s inheritance and help her overworked sister care for their unstable, alcoholic father. Violet, still haunted by that night eleven years ago, endures horrific flashbacks and twisted hallucinations while townsfolk spit accusations—and for all she knows, they’re right.

As the summer heats up, details of Ainsley’s fate appear like a beast’s wild eyes, watching in the darkness, and grim revelations about Violet’s family threaten to devour her. Already on the edge of madness, Violet must fight to keep her sanity long enough for the terrible truth to burst from the cold, dark waters.

Defy Me is the gripping fifth installment in the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi. Will Juliette’s broken heart make her vulnerable to the strengthening darkness within her?

Juliette’s short tenure as the supreme commander of North America has been an utter disaster. When the children of the other world leaders show up on her doorstep, she wants nothing more than to turn to Warner for support and guidance. But he shatters her heart when he reveals that he’s been keeping secrets about her family and her identity from her—secrets that change everything.

Juliette is devastated, and the darkness that’s always dwelled within her threatens to consume her. An explosive encounter with unexpected visitors might be enough to push her over the edge.

Daisy Jones & The Six is a captivating novel that transports readers to the vibrant era of 1970s rock music, chronicling the meteoric rise and mysterious breakup of an iconic rock group and their enigmatic lead singer, Daisy Jones.

Daisy is a girl coming of age in L.A. in the late sixties, sneaking into clubs on the Sunset Strip, sleeping with rock stars, and dreaming of singing at the Whisky a Go Go. The sex and drugs are thrilling, but it's the rock 'n' roll she loves most. By the time she's twenty, her voice is getting noticed, and she has the kind of heedless beauty that makes people do crazy things.

Also getting noticed is The Six, a band led by the brooding Billy Dunne. On the eve of their first tour, his girlfriend Camila finds out she's pregnant, and with the pressure of impending fatherhood and fame, Billy goes a little wild on the road.

Daisy and Billy cross paths when a producer realizes that the key to supercharged success is to put the two together. What happens next will become the stuff of legend.

The making of that legend is chronicled in this riveting and unforgettable novel, written as an oral history of one of the biggest bands of the seventies. Taylor Jenkins Reid is a talented writer who takes her work to a new level with Daisy Jones & The Six, brilliantly capturing a place and time in an utterly distinctive voice.