Books & Media

<p><strong>‘Sensational new book’ – <em>MAIL ON SUNDAY</em></strong></p><p><strong>‘Bombshell book’ – <em>THE SUN</em></strong></p><p><strong>‘Tell-all book’ – <em>MAIL ON SUNDAY</em></strong></p><p><strong>AN UNFLINCHING EXPOSÉ OF MOHAMED AL-FAYED'S 25-YEAR REIGN OF TERROR AT HARRODS</strong></p>

<p><strong>DECADES OF ABUSE.</strong></p><p><strong>DOZENS OF VICTIMS.</strong></p><p><strong>NO CONSEQUENCES.</strong></p><p>To the public, he was the eccentric owner of one of the world’s great department stores. But behind closed doors, Al-Fayed ruled with cruelty, humiliation and unchecked abuse.</p><ul><li>Why were his crimes ignored?</li>

<li>Why did those in power look the other way?</li>

</ul><p>This explosive investigation lays bare the power, corruption and complicity at the heart of an iconic British institution.</p><p>Drawing on firsthand interviews with former staff, allies, executives and police officers, <em>The Monster of Harrods</em> exposes chilling accounts of misconduct, many revealed here for the first time. Through court records, testimonies and unpublished material, the book uncovers:</p><ul><li>The irreparable damage to victims’ lives</li>

<li>The NDAs, threats and systemic failures that kept them silent</li>

<li>The staggering indifference of those who knew but did nothing</li>

</ul><p>This isn’t just about one man’s abuse of power – it’s about the culture that enabled him. <em>The Monster of Harrods</em> presents damning new evidence, and asks urgent questions of the people and institutions who stood by.</p><p>Ultimately, this is a book about courage – the courage of the survivors who have stepped forward to reclaim their narratives from a man who tried to reduce them to objects. Their testimony stands as both an indictment of the past and a warning for the future.</p><p><strong>Their bravery demands nothing less than our complete attention.</strong></p><p>'The extraordinary courage of these survivors, who, despite everything, were willing to relive their trauma in hope of finally being heard, should not be underestimated. Many have waited decades for acknowledgement, carrying their wounds in silence while their abuser was celebrated.'</p>

A no-nonsense guide to making better money choices and gaining financial freedom, written by ABC finance reporter Emily Stewart, aka Sensible Emily.

ABC finance reporter Emily Stewart's articles on topics such as budgeting, super and property have racked up millions of combined views thanks to their clear, relatable tone and straightforward, trustworthy information.

While most finance gurus assume a one-size-fits-all approach to financial prosperity, Sensible Emily's focus is on educating her readers on personal finance and setting out different options, so that they can make their own decisions about what's right for them and their families.

In Sensible Money she gives you practical tips and tricks to help you set up your financial foundations so you can go from surviving to thriving. She'll help you destroy your debt, give you strategies to save, and then, when you're back on your feet, help you budget for your first home, invest in shares and sort out your super.

The financial world is more complex than ever, but with Sensible Emily as your guide, you will feel empowered to navigate your financial future.

Praise for Sensible Money

'Money miracles rarely happen. Knowledge is the key. Sensible Money can help build you a path to financial freedom' - Paul Clitheroe AM

'Talk about the perfect book for the times! Sensible Money offers so many practical ideas on managing your money as the cost of living bites. Emily Stewart brings a journalist's eye for detail and plenty of lived experience to help you build a better financial life' - Michael Rowland

From the moment she was born in 1886, Annette Kellerman was a force of nature. After a diagnosis of rickets as a young girl she took up swimming, and her extraordinary tenacity and bravery made her an Australian champion, beating boys, breaking records, and astonishing huge crowds by diving from great heights.

At eighteen, Annette had her sights set on swimming the English Channel and challenging endurance records in the Thames, and late in the Seine, Boston Harbour and the Danube - and famously scandalized the public with her one-piece swimming costume, which changed fashion forever and drew legions of women into the water, allowing them to swim freely.

Thrilling audiences on both sides of the Atlantic with her breathtaking vaudeville act, beauty and athleticism, she became famous as 'The Perfect Woman', and Hollywood swiftly embraced her. By 1914 she was a silent film superstar and sex symbol thanks for her risque costumes - and sometimes no costume at all.

Annette's appetite for excitement and thrills was legendary - once flinging herself into a pool of live crocodiles for one film and jumping from the wings of a biplane for another. But she also had a shrewd business mind, lecturing and publishing books about fitness and designing her clothing range, all to help women become healthier, stronger and more beautiful.

Kellerman was one of the highest-paid entertainers of her time and a world-wide celebrity, but despite her fame she saw her promotion of health, fitness and independence for women as her greatest achievement, and her influence and spirit changed the lives of millions.

Revolution is in the Air - Kingsbridge is on the Edge - Tyranny is on the Horizon. Taking the reader straight into the heart of history with the fifth novel in ground breaking Kingsbridge series, The Armour of Light is master storyteller Ken Follet's most ambitious novel to date.

The remarkable story of a battle between science and the law, and a mother's fight for justice

In 2003, Kathleen Folbigg was found guilty of smothering her four young children to death, one by one. Medical experts told her trial that they had never come across a family like hers, where three or more infants had died from natural causes. Extracts from diaries she had written were judged to be virtual admissions of guilt, and Folbigg was sentenced to 40 years in jail. But did she do it?
This is a gripping and meticulously researched account of one of Australia's most infamous criminal cases, written by investigative journalist Quentin McDermott, whose groundbreaking work with ABC's Australian Story helped trigger a push by scientists to uncover the genetic cause of two of the children's deaths. It is also the story of how dedicated teams of lawyers, friends and supporters fought to achieve Kathleen Folbigg's eventual pardon, release and acquittal after 20 years behind bars.
Meadow's Law is a must-read for anyone interested in true crime, justice, science and the power of investigative journalism.

Combining personal and professional experience, A Silent Tsunami is a moving exploration of the development of Dementia and its impacts on a mother-daughter relationship.

A Silent Tsunami is a unique combination of memoir and medicine â€" Rowan forensically examines the development of her mother’s illness and explores dementia in a frank but illuminating, lyrical and moving way.
'By turns, warm, reflective, angry, but always moving... the perfect balance between scientific context and the mother-daughter narrative' Professor Craig Ritchie, University of St Andrews
'Anthea captures so eloquently the tug of war between a daughter and her mother "who is being erased"' Manni Coe, author of the bestselling brother. do. you. love. me.
Anthea Rowan writes about her mother’s struggles of living with Dementia, while interpreting the science that surrounds this devestating illness. Grounded in personal observation, she casts an unflinching eye on the realities of living with a mother who has forgotten her daughter and a determination that her children will not face the same. There is hope here, too.
As a portratyal of the relationships we share with our mothers, an examinaion of their influences on us, as well as asking questions about how illness impacts lives, A Silent Tsunami is a powerful story of family, life, love and loss.

10,000 questions in 500 brand new, up-to-date quizzes
Covering topics from pop stars to death stars, choose your rounds from general knowledge, specialist subjects and pot luck with questions from teasers to terrors that will scramble even an egghead's brains.

Designed to be played on your own or with family and friends, the man down the road and two halves of the crowd at your local. Each quiz provides good clean fun for all. The answers are quick and easy to find so that anyone can pick this up and become a top quiz master.

The city, a concept nearly as old as history itself, is a paradox of human innovation and intervention, order and conflict. From ancient civilizations to modern-day metropolises, maps have played a crucial role in urban progress. This book explores the development of cities through more than 70 captivating maps.
Each map in this beautifully designed volume gives a unique visual representation of and historical context to the city it surveys. Spanning more than 9,000 years, this book expertly curates more than 70 historical maps which tell the fascinating story of human civilization: from cities founded on sacred places, ideas and power, to early examples of town planning and later innovations such as skyscrapers and urban transport.

Featuring maps of renowned capital cities as well as lesser-known urban areas, including:

• Mohenjo-Daro, c. 2500 BC
• Babylon, c. 600 BC
• Rome, c. 210 AD
• Baghdad, 762 AD
• Constantinople, 1422
• Tenochtitlan, 1524
• Dublin, 1610
• Kyoto, 1626
• New Amsterdam, 1660
• Edinburgh, 1780
• Adelaide, 1838
• Lagos, 1885
• Los Angeles, 1908
• Brasilia, 1957
• Chongqing, 2016
• Dubai, 2020
An ideal book for map and history lovers. For more in this series try History of World Trade in Maps (9780008409296) and History of War in Maps (9780008506490).

A dreamy collection of poems to read before you turn off the light, or to guide you gently back to sleep when you wake in the small hours.

This soothing anthology contains 100 night-time poems specially selected to calm your mind, introduce positive thoughts, lull you to sleep and bring on sweet dreams. It contains not only poetry about the night itself, but an array of restful, tranquil, meditative verse, along with classic lullabies from many cultures. There are also poems that reflect on the good things in life, encouraging gratitude for the day just gone and optimism for the day ahead.
Within these pages you can observe the night sky with Emily Bronte, visit the Lake Isle of Innisfree with W. B. Yeats, and experience Shakespeare's most calming verses. Poems include the serene 'In the Evening' by Nikki Giovanni, the upbeat 'Everything Is Going to Be Alright' by Derek Mahon, the nursery classic 'My Bed is a Boat' by Robert Louis Stevenson, and many more that are just perfect for the quiet hours of the night.
Keep this magical book by your bedside and let it lead you into a whole new world of peaceful slumber.

A chronological survey of the world's most influential books.
Many books have become classics, must-reads or overnight publishing sensations, but how many can genuinely claim to have changed the way we see and think?
In 100 Books that Changed the World, authors Scott Christianson and Colin Salter bring together an exceptional collection of truly groundbreaking books - from scriptures that founded religions, to scientific treatises that challenged beliefs, to novels that kick-started literary genres. This elegantly designed book, first published in 2018 but updated with an exciting new cover, offers a chronological survey of the most important books from around the globe, from the earliest illuminated manuscripts to the age of the ebook publication.

Fast isn't her thing anymore.

No ones more surprised than Mia Rubie when she unexpectedly inherits her fathers elite auto racing team. Mia hasnt been near a race car"or a certain Italian driver"since she walked away from a promising racing career fifteen years ago. But with the racing season about to begin and a letter from her father tugging at her heartstrings, she reluctantly puts her life on hold to travel the world with Rubie Racing and Luca Toscano, the only man she ever loved.

But she can't slow him down.

Mias father Rob had lured Luca back to Rubie Racing with the promise of making his dreams of being world champion finally come true. One of the oldest drivers on the track, Luca was already running out of time on his lifelong quest to be the best of the best. But now Robs gone and Mia"who once nearly took his career along with his heart"is back.

Mia cant seem to avoid Luca, and he cant stop thinking about her. But can they move past what drove them apart?

About the Book
Set in London in 1968, A CURTAIN TWITCHER’S BOOK OF MURDER follows the lives of the inhabitants of a suburban London street. But this is no ordinary road.
London, 1968. A suburban London street. But this is no ordinary road.
“Ask anyone on Atbara Avenue how well they know their neighbours, and they’ll answer ‘well’. After all, they see each other across the vast distance afforded by close proximity, and that is probably for the best...â€.
In number 17 live a bitter daughter and her mother, trapped with each other.
Or are they?
The twin brothers at number 3 think they're nothing like each other, but they may be proved wrong. Lesley disappeared from number 49 years ago. Then her body is found, and with it more secrets.
Atbara Avenue is a street where, all too often, murder feels like the solution.
With a delicious cast of characters, dazzling plotting, and a unique voice, Gay Marris’ first book is the fresh and compelling new voice in the world of crime fiction you've been waiting for.

Sleep has hardly changed since Paleolithic humans snoozed soundly in their caves. While sabre-toothed tigers were their biggest night-time worry, today it’s stress and social media that keep us awake, but the solutions are the same, and sleep therapist Dr Merijn van de Laar offers understanding and advice to have you sleeping better within weeks.
How to get a better night’s sleep in 3 weeks:
Don’t believe everything you read or hear about sleep
Let go of the 8-hour rule
Use the simple sleep diary in the back of this book to record your sleep pattern over 3 weeks
Discover your personal sleep needs
Examine your attitude towards lying awake at night
Shorter total bed times might be better
Focus on the reason for lying awake rather than on the reason for not sleeping
Reduce stress
Keep regular bedtimes
Follow the rules of nature
Respect your personal circadian rhythm
Don’t tempt the night-time ghosts
Human sleep as we know it today evolved hundreds of thousands years ago, to suit a hunter–gatherer lifestyle. It’s not always compatible with our modern lives, but remains an essential function, vital for our health, well-being and daytime functioning. In this groundbreaking new book, Dr Merijn van de Laar investigates the origins of sleep based on archaeological findings and anthropological studies in contemporary hunter-gatherers, looking at the major discrepancies between our primordial bodily needs and our current sleep-inhibiting behaviour.
Cave dwellers lived in balance with the forces of nature. They had adapted perfectly to environmental influences such as light, temperature and seasonal variations. The way they ate and moved during the day must have had a positive effect on sleep quality. We need to look to their example, and adjust our eating, exercise, light, temperature and, last but not least: our expectations towards sleep. By taking on board the ancient wisdom of our ancestors, we will improve the quality of our sleep, the way our bodies were designed to do it.

The year is 1859 and the goldfields are filled with diggers -- and danger!

Orphaned twelve-year-old Tigg is the Bandicoot Bushranger, the youngest bushranger on the Ballarat goldfields in 1859.
When a robbery goes wrong, Tigg must flee in disguise as one of the tens of thousands of Chinese men and boys braving heat, thirst, starvation and murderous attacks on the long road from Robe in South Australia to the goldfields in Victoria.
But even further danger threatens. Who has offered a large sum of money for Tigg's capture? And is the mysterious Henry Lau a friend or enemy?
To be safe, Tigg must solve the greatest mystery of all.
Who is Tigg?

‘Simply the most consistently inventive, brilliant, curious and creative writer going’ GILLIAN FLYNN

'Delightfully disturbing' iNEWS

'A blood-soaked, gothic nightmare' FINANCIAL TIMES
From one of our most accomplished storytellers, an extraordinary and arresting novel about a women’s asylum in the nineteenth century, and a terrifying doctor who wants to change the world.

In this harrowing story based on authentic historical documents, we follow the career of Dr. Silas Weir, “Father of Gyno-Psychiatry,” as he ascends from professional anonymity to national renown. Humiliated by a procedure gone terribly wrong, Weir is forced to take a position at the New Jersey Asylum for Female Lunatics, where he reigns. There, he is allowed to continue his practice, unchecked for decades, making a name for himself by focusing on women who have been neglected by the state—women he subjects to the most grotesque modes of experimentation. As he begins to establish himself as a pioneer of nineteenth-century surgery, Weir’s ambition is fueled by his obsessive fascination with a young Irish indentured servant named Brigit, who becomes not only Weir’s primary experimental subject, but also the agent of his destruction.

Narrated by Silas Weir’s eldest son, who has repudiated his father’s brutal legacy, Butcher is a unique blend of fiction and fact, a nightmare voyage through the darkest regions of the American psyche conjoined, in its startling conclusion, with unexpected romance. Once again, Joyce Carol Oates has written a spellbinding novel confirming her position as one of our celebrated American visionaries of the imagination.

'A master storyteller' THE TIMES

'Vividly and compellingly-drawn' iNEWS