A brutal murder. A country's darkest secret. A detective pushed to the edge! Inspector Kari Vaara returns, more haunted than ever, in the follow-up to Snow Angels. The Sufia Elmi case left Kari Vaara with a scarred face, chronic insomnia, a constant migraine, and a full body count's worth of ghosts. Now it's a year later, in Helsinki, and Kari is working the graveyard shift in the homicide unit, terrified that his heavily pregnant wife will miscarry again after she lost the twins just after Christmas. Kari is pushed into investigating a ninety-year-old national hero for war crimes committed during World War II. The Interior Minister demands a conclusion of innocence, preserving Finland's heroic perception about itself and its role in the war, but Germany wants extradition. In a seeming coincidence, Kari is drawn into the murder-by-torture case of Iisa Filippov, the philandering wife of a Russian businessman. Her lover is clearly being framed for the crime-and Ivan Filippov's arrogance and nonchalance point the finger at him. But he's being protected from above, leading Kari to the corrupt corridors of power. Soon the past and present collide in ways no one could have anticipated.

From Jeanne Kalogridis, critically acclaimed author of The Borgia Bride, Painting Mona Lisa and The Devil's Queen, comes another irresistible historical novel about a countess whose passion and willfulness knew no bounds: Caterina Sforza. Daughter of the Duke of Milan and wife of the conniving Count Girolamo Riario, Caterina Sforza was the bravest warrior Renaissance Italy ever knew. She ruled her own lands, fought her own battles, and openly took lovers whenever she pleased. Her remarkable tale is told by her lady-in-waiting, Dea, a woman knowledgeable in reading the 'triumph cards' — the predecessor of modern-day Tarot. As Dea tries to unravel the truth about her husband's murder, Caterina single-handedly holds off invaders who would steal her title and lands. However, Dea's reading of the cards reveals that Caterina cannot withstand a third and final invader — none other than Cesare Borgia, son of the corrupt Pope Alexander VI, who has an old score to settle with Caterina. Trapped inside the Fortress at Ravaldino as Borgia's cannons pound the walls, Dea reviews Caterina's scandalous past and struggles to understand their joint destiny, while Caterina valiantly tries to fight off Borgia's unconquerable army.

Donna Hay is swiftly becoming the source American cooks go to when they ask themselves, What should we have for dinner tonight? She has garnered a passionate global following for her fresh and modern approach to food — bringing out clean, sparkling flavors with simple techniques and streamlined instructions. In The Instant Cook, she offers more than a compendium of flexible recipes; it is an elegantly simple philosophy of cooking, and of eating. Donna Hay pulls together flavor combinations and cooking skills from the Mediterranean and the Pacific Rim — two of the most luscious and quick-cooking cuisines on the planet — to create delicious meals with a handful of ingredients in a few minutes. She gives home cooks the confidence to cook with instinct and with style. Exquisite full color photographs on every page illustrate Donna's signature look — chic yet never fussy. It reminds you that cooking is a pleasure. Pour a glass of wine and catch up with family as you cook; shop without waste or confusion; host a weeknight dinner party with little planning and less effort. The Instant Cook is destined to be the cookbook that is never put back on the shelf.

Nowhere to run! The spine-chilling new thriller from the New York Times bestselling author. No place to hide! The crime scenes are horrifying: the victims arranged with deliberate care, posed to appear alive despite their agonized last moments and the shocking nature of their deaths. For grief counsellor Audrey Sherrod it's clear the murders are work of a deranged serial killer. At first, the only link is the victims' physical appearance. But then another connection emerges, tying them to a past series of horrifying crimes — crimes that hit all too close to home. As the truth is unravelled, its more twisted and terrifying than anyone could ever imagine. Prepare to lose sleep with this shocking and utterly engrossing thriller, for fans of Karen Rose and Karin Slaughter.

Annie Proulx, one of America's finest writers, invites us to share her experience in the building of her new home on a rich plot of untouched, unspoilt prairie and her pleasure in uncovering of the layers of American history locked beneath the topsoil. 'Bird Cloud' is the name Annie Proulx gave to 640 acres of Wyoming wetlands and prairie and 400 foot cliffs plunging down to the North Platte River. On the day she first visited, a cloud in the shape of a bird hung in the evening sky. Proulx also saw pelicans, bald eagles, golden eagles, great blue herons, ravens, scores of bluebirds, harriers, kestrels, elk, deer and a dozen antelope. She knew she had to purchase the land, then owned by the Nature Conservancy, and she knew what she would build on it — a house in harmony with her work, her appetites and her character — a library surrounded by bedrooms and a kitchen. Proulx's first non-fiction in more than twenty years, Bird Cloud is the story of building that house — solar panels, a Japanese soak tub, a concrete floor, elk horn handles on kitchen cabinets — and an enthralling natural history and archeology of the region, inhabited for millennia by Ute, Arapaho and Shoshone Indians. It is also a family history, going back to nineteenth century Mississippi river boat captains and Canadian settlers, and an illuminating autobiography. Proulx, a writer with extraordinary powers of observation and compassion, turns her lens on herself. We understand how she came to be living in a house surrounded by wilderness, with shelves for thousands of books and long worktables on which to heap manuscripts, research materials and maps, and how she came to be one of the great American writers of her time.

Just how badly do you want to find paradise? When Tom Finn is almost jailed for confronting two burglars in his own home, this taxi driver takes his young family to live on the tropical island of Phuket, Thailand. Phuket is all the Finn family dreamed of — a tropical paradise where the children swim with elephants, the gibbons sing love songs in the jungle, the Andaman Sea is like turquoise glass and this young family is free to grow. But both man-made disaster and the unleashed forces of nature shatter this tropical idyll for Tom Finn's family. CATCHING THE SUN is a gripping, moving story of a family who go in search of Paradise — and end up discovering themselves.

Biscuit wants to meet the new baby. But the baby is sleeping, and Biscuit must be patient-and quiet! It's not easy having to wait, but at last the curious puppy gets to meet the baby, and make a brand new friend!

Colleen McCullough's sweeping saga of dreams, struggles, dark passions, and forbidden love in the Australian Outback has enthralled readers the world over. This is the chronicle of three generations of Clearys, ranchers carving lives from a beautiful, hard land while contending with the bitterness, frailty, and secrets that penetrate their family. Most of all, it is the story of only daughter Meggie and her lifelong relationship with the haunted priest Father Ralph de Bricassart — an intense joining of two hearts and souls that dangerously oversteps sacred boundaries of ethics and dogma. A poignant love story, a powerful epic of struggle and sacrifice, a celebration of individuality and spirit, Colleen McCullough's acclaimed masterwork remains a monumental literary achievement — a landmark novel to be cherished and read again and again.

«Lisa Edwards This Prada-wearing magazine editor thinks her life is over when her «fabulous» new job turns out to be a deportation to Dublin to launch Colleen magazine. The only saving grace is that her friends aren't there to witness her downward spiral. Might her new boss, the disheveled and moody Jack Devine, save her from a fate worse than hell? Ashling Kennedy Ashling, Colleen's assistant editor, is an award-winning worrier, increasingly aware that something fundamental is missing from her life — apart from a boyfriend and a waistline. Clodagh «Princess» Kelly Ashling's best friend, Clodagh, lives the domestic dream in a suburban castle. So why, lately, has she had the recurring urge to kiss a frog — or sleep with a frog, if truth be told? As these three women search for love, success, and happiness, they will discover that if you let things simmer under the surface for too long, sooner or later they'll boil over. Discover the Keyes to a Great Read!»

Known for its lively, clear prose as well as its scholarly research, A People's History of the United States is the only volume to tell America's story from the point of view of — and in the words of — America's women, factory workers, African-Americans, Native Americans, working poor, and immigrant laborers. This P.S. edition features an extra 16 pages of insights into the book, including author interviews, recommended reading, and more.

Read along with your favorite I Can Read Book characters. I Can Read Books are the premier line of beginning readers encouraging children to learn-and love-to read. Featuring award-winning authors and illustrators, I Can Read Books offer a full spectrum of entertaining stories for every stage of a child's reading development. Now the beloved characters and adventures from this popular line of books come to life with I Can Read Book and CDs. Each package includes a best-selling beginning-reader storybook and a lively audio recording featuring: Word-for-word narration Music and sound effects One version with turn-the-page signals One version of uninterrupted reading.

Since its inception at the end of the 1960s, loft living has generated an entire movement dedicated to the recovery of old, industrial spaces. Today, the loft is becoming more accessible to the general public, as its original definition expands to include a variety of open-plan living spaces. With this current expansion, there is a growing diversity in the way architects treat the characteristic white walls, exposed metal, glass screens, and expansive hard floors. As Lofts DesignSource illustrates, individual expression is the key. Experimentation with distribution, color, texture, materials, and finishes can result in personalized spaces and urban sanctuaries that reflect the most individual of architectural designs. With projects ranging from New York to Paris and everywhere in between, this title provides readers with a comprehensive examination of the exciting changes taking place in today's loft environment. And with more than 600 full-color illustrations, Lofts DesignSource is sure to become an integral part of every library.

A vivid, evocative, page-turning read that leaps off the page, with a dazzling evocation of the diamond and gem trade The King's Diamond opens in 1527, as the chaos of war is spreading out across Europe. Charles V is extending his empire in a series of ruthless and aggressive moves. The Medici Pope has formed an alliance to drive Charles out of Italy for good. Only England holds aloof from the great struggle that is to come. The 36-year-old Henry VIII presides over an opulent and glamorous court, thinking only of the woman with whom he has fallen in love. In the midst of this politically sensitive and dangerous world, steps Richard Dansey, a young and ambitious jewel merchant, determined to break his mother's stranglehold on the family firm after his father's early death. Richard's reckless pursuit of jewels worthy of Henry's wooing of Anne Boleyn, lead him across Europe to Venice and Rome. Obsessed with one diamond, but dangerously distracted by love, Richard finds himself thrust into the heart of the murderous politics of the Tudor court. The King's Diamond is a story of obsession and love, in a world of political conniving and treachery, that grips from the first page.

Indispensable grammar support for ages 9+, this lively handbook provides short, clear definitions of all key grammatical concepts plus lots of examples, tips on spelling, and dictionary and thesaurus work. Essential information covered in this guide includes: Parts of speech (Nouns, Pronouns, Verbs, Adjectives, Adverbs, Prepositions, Conjunctions, Interjections, Spotting Parts of Speech), Word building (Affixes — Prefixes and Suffixes; Derivatives and Compounds), Spelling guide (Three simple rules for better spelling; Eleven general rules), Using a dictionary (Alphabetical order, Pronunciation, Parts of speech, Phrases and idioms, Word origins), Synonyms and antonyms (Using a thesaurus to find synonyms, Making antonyms), The Sentence (Word order, Phrases, Clauses, Types of sentence, Sentence construction), Punctuation (Ending a sentence, Punctuation within sentences, Punctuation within words, Punctuation of speech, Punctuation of plays), The Paragraph (The topic sentence, Types of paragraph, Writing a paragraph, Using connectives, Sentence variation), Special uses of language (Register, Standard English, Informal language, Special effects).

For children aged 7 and over, this clear, easy-to-use dictionary contains full sentence definitions, child-friendly example sentences and parts of speech (noun, adjective etc) as well as colour headwords, an A-Z index on every page and homework help with the Collins Word Wizard. Part of the Children's Dictionary range from Collins, Collins Junior Dictionary has been especially written to support the language and literacy needs of children aged 7-8. It introduces key dictionary features such as showing parts of speech (noun, verb, adjective or adverb) and other forms of a word (for example plurals or past tense of a verb). The clear, spacious layout, colour headwords, guidewords and the A-Z on each page ensure that the dictionary is easy to use. Full sentence definitions and example sentences show the headword used in a context familiar to children. The Collins Word Wizard section gives extra help with grammar, writing and using the Internet as well as handy hints for learning tricky spellings and cool new words, themed word lists and games to play with the dictionary.

Built on the strengths of Collins best-selling Maths Dictionary by Kay Gardner, Collins Maths Dictionary is packed with the vocabulary definitions recommended for Years 3 to 6. Contains over 375 entries following the yearly vocabulary recommended for Years 3 to 6 and beyond. Headwords, guidewords and a thumb index follow important dictionary conventions and support independent use. Includes introductory sections for teachers, pupils and parents. For ages 7+.

Especially designed for children aged 8-10, Collins Primary Dictionary combines the features you need with a user-friendly design, making it easy to find words quickly. This clear unillustrated dictionary includes synonyms, word histories and pronunciation guidance, plus weblinks, games, grammar and writing help with Collins Word Wizard. Collins Primary Dictionary has been especially designed to support the language and literacy needs of children aged 8-10. Written in a clear, straightforward style, it places words within a context familiar to the student. Headwords are highlighted in colour so they are easy to find. Parts of speech (for example, whether a word is a noun or verb) and other forms of a word (for example plural forms as well as adjectival forms) are clearly shown. Pronunciation help is given for difficult or easily confusable words, as are synonyms (similar words) and antonyms (opposite words) to widen children's vocabulary. Word histories give extra information about interesting words. Grammar, writing and spelling help as well as games and tests are included in the Collins Word Wizard section, and links to the Internet are built in.

Read along with your favorite I Can Read Book characters I Can Read Books are the premier line of beginning readers encouraging children to learn-and love-to read. Featuring award-winning authors and illustrators, I Can Read Books offer a full spectrum of entertaining stories for every stage of a child's reading development. Now the beloved characters and adventures from this popular line of books come to life with I Can Read Book and CDs. Each package includes a best-selling beginning-reader storybook and a lively audio recording featuring: Word-for-word narration Music and sound effects. One version with turn-the-page signals. One version of uninterrupted reading.

Now the beloved characters and adventures from this popular line of books come to life with I Can Read Book and CDs. Each package includes a best-selling beginning-reader storybook and a lively audio recording featuring: Word-for-word narration Music and sound effects. One version with turn-the-page signals. One version of uninterrupted reading.

Read along with your favorite I Can Read Book characters I Can Read Books are the premier line of beginning readers encouraging children to learn-and love-to read. Featuring award-winning authors and illustrators, I Can Read Books offer a full spectrum of entertaining stories for every stage of a child's reading development. Now the beloved characters and adventures from this popular line of books come to life with I Can Read Book and CDs. Each package includes a best-selling beginning-reader storybook and a lively audio recording featuring: Word-for-word narration. Music and sound effects. One version with turn-the-page signals. One version of uninterrupted reading.