A Dire Isle


Book Description

ONE OF CRIMEREADS' TEN NOVELS YOU SHOULD READ IN DECEMBER ONE OF OPEN, THE MAGAZINE'S BEST OF 2021 BOOKS: CRIME FICTION Harith Athreya is back, this time to face a centuries old-curse in the second novel in the internationally acclaimed series! An archeological team is excavating on the banks of the Betwa River near Jahnsi. A place where, legend has it, a couple forbidden to marry had run away to be together—forever cursing anyone who dares set foot on the island. When the head of the expedition defies the myth, the fallout is swift and deadly, the body found exactly as the ancient stories describe. Is the death a result of the ancient curse, or is it a down-to-earth case of murder? Detective Harith Athreya, an investigator with a vivid imagination, begins to uncover a mystery where the lines between past and present are blurred, reaping a harvest of evidence and motives—theft, plagiarism and a host of other crimes, showing that few of the archaeologists are what or who they appear to be. Will he be able to unravel the truth from legend before the curse strikes again? The second novel in the internationally acclaimed Harith Athreya series is perfect for fans of riveting classic mysteries by Agatha Christie and films such as Knives Out.




X-Isle


Book Description

Ever since the floods came and washed the world away, survivors have been desperate to win a place on X-Isle, the island where life is rumoured to be easier than on what's left of the mainland. Only young boys are in with a chance, the smaller and lighter the better. Baz and Ray are two of the lucky few to be chosen, but they soon discover that X-Isle is a far cry from paradise. Ruled by Preacher John, a dangerous religious fanatic, it's a violent, unpredictable place where terrible things can happen at any moment. The boys hatch an extraordinary plan in order to protect themselves - the construction of a mighty weapon of defence. But can they complete this weapon in time, and are they really prepared to use it in order to secure their freedom? Powerful and compelling, X-ISLE is a fast-moving thriller that will keep you guessing right to the very end.




A Will to Kill


Book Description

An ageing and wheelchair-bound Bhaskar Fernandez has finally reclaimed his family property after a bitter legal battle, and now wants to reunite his aggrieved relatives. So, he invites them to his remote Greybrooke Manor in the misty Nilgiris - a mansion that has played host to several sudden deaths; a colonial edifice that stands alone in a valley that is said to be haunted by the ghost of an Englishman.But Bhaskar has other, more practical problems to deal with. He knows that his guests expect to gain by his death, and to safeguard himself against violence, he writes two conflicting wills. Which one of them comes into force will depend on how he dies.Into this tinderbox, he brings Harith Athreya, a seasoned investigator. When a landslide occurs, temporarily isolating them and resulting in a murder, Athreya finds that murder is not the only thing the mist conceals.




Isle of Passion


Book Description

In 1908, under orders to defend a tiny, isolated Pacific atoll from an improbable French invasion, Mexican captain Ramón Arnaud, his young bride, Alicia, and eleven soldiers and their families set sail for the so-called Isle of Passion. In this dire, forbidding place, a viable community is created under Ramón's guidance and inspired by Alicia's dedication. But they are soon forgotten by a motherland distracted by political upheaval and the first rumblings of World War I. Left to the mercies of nature and one another—falling victim one by one to disease, hunger, lust, despair, and, ultimately, violence—the castaways who remain must find strength in the courage and steadfast resourcefulness of Alicia Arnaud, upon whom their collective survival now depends. Based on true events, Laura Restrepo's Isle of Passion is a brilliantly rendered and dramatic tale of savage human nature—and one woman's determination to triumph over a harrowing fate.




Xanth 13: Isle of View


Book Description

Lovelorn Loveworn Love Lost Perplexed Prince Dolph, Xanth's precocious shapeshifter, should be in love but isn't. Nonetheless, he must chose between two fiancées -- Nada the uninterested and Electra the uninteresting -- or all three of them will suffer the most dire consequences. Luckily a convenient catastrophe has popped up to distract Dolph form his dilemma -- the foal-napping of young Che Centaur by goblins. And the only one who knows where Che is is a nice but remarkably naive elflike gir named Jenny from the World of Two Moons. If anyone can save the missing centaur...she sure can't.




Island of Shame


Book Description

David Vine recounts how the British & US governments created the Diego Garcia base, making the native Chagossians homeless in the process. He details the strategic significance of this remote location & also describes recent efforts by the exiles to regain their territory.




Shamrock


Book Description

She is his ol’lady— his queen . . . and no amount of scars would ever change that. Finn "Shamrock" Adair Fifteen years ago, I became the President of the Emerald Isle MC . . . at the ripe age of twenty-two. It wasn't supposed to go down like that, though. Back then, I was young, enjoying life, and in love with the girl of my dreams. Faylinn O'Shea wasn't just any girl. She was my Vice President's daughter, my sister's best friend, and a club princess— but she was mine. And our rival club, the Devil's Den MC, did the only thing they could to hurt us— they took my Faylinn. I've run the club for the last fifteen years and spent every night searching for her. But, even though her brothers have accepted the probability of her death— I can't. So, I'll keep searching until I bring her home, dead or alive. I won't stop until we have a reunion or a funeral. My determination pays off, but the reunion isn't as epic as I'd hoped. Fifteen years as a prisoner was bound to change her, and Faylinn isn't the sweet, little love of my life anymore. Of course, she's still the love of my life. I just don't know if I'm still hers. I know one thing, though, I'm going to get revenge for her— for all the time she lost, and I'll become a savage worse than her captors to make sure they pay for what they did to my woman.




Evermeet: Island of the Elves


Book Description

Discover the colorful history of Evermeet—the serene, beautiful, and inviolate home of the elves—in this centuries-spanning Forgotten Realms tale Rich in magic and treasure, Evermeet is the ultimate paradise to those who hear of its legends. To the beleaguered elves of Toril, it is the ultimate refuge. But to many, it is the ultimate prize. At the heart of its story is Amlaruil, Queen of All Elves. When Evermeet comes under massive, devastating attack, her sacrifice holds the last hope of saving the elven homeland from the evils of the Beast Lord Malar. Written by one of the leading Forgotten Realms authors, Evermeet is a thrilling tour through elven history—a history checkered by war and intrigue, heroes and villains, mortals and gods.




Alice Starmore's Book of Fair Isle Knitting


Book Description

Scotland's Fair Isle is celebrated the world over for its distinctive, stranded-color knitting, and Alice Starmore is famous for her expertise in designing and instructing knitters in this appealing regional tradition. This volume is profusely illustrated with color photographs, plus drawings and charts that illustrate the art's history, patterns, and techniques.




Island in a Storm


Book Description

Presents the story of the 1856 hurricane which decimated Isle Derniere, an island one hundred miles off the coast of New Orleans which served as a summer resort for the wealthy, and the tragic loss of life and environmental devastation which resulted from the disaster.