What does it mean to be a good dog? Are tennis balls always real? Is a bark ever truly worse than a bite?All these questions and more are answered in Philosophers' Dogs, the groundbreaking treatise that has been dog years in the making. The book reveals a long-kept secret: that every human philosopher has stolen their best ideas from their canine companions, shamelessly disguising the dogs' original thoughts as their own.Featuring beautiful illustrations a...

"Cracking stories....I was so impressed" Linda Hill, Linda's Book BagAncient gods in conflict and a zombie on welfare, a disappearing boyfriend and AI with daddy issues, a balloon bound for icy danger and a mysterious theft at the museum, a sinister woodland cabin and a pleasure house that’ll cost much more than you can afford.Raiding parties in dystopia, art classes in the city, opposites attracting and love catching fire. Separations and ...

"A collection that is full of surprises. But it is no surprise that this talented group of authors have found so many unexpected and entertaining; ways to write on the theme of freedom. A great read." - Lulu Allison, author of Twice the Speed of Dark and Salt Lick (Women's Prize for Fiction 2022 Long List)A daring rescue. A time-trapped forest. Paranormal problems for a down-to-earth detective. War waged over wi-fi. An app to die for and a fateful...

In 2010 thousands of people submitted ghost stories to The Daily Telegraph's first ghost story competition. Standards were chillingly high and only the spookiest went through to the shortlist of six. Presented here are short stories from Gill Baconnier, Justin Crozier, Ceri Hughes, Pat Black, Craig Drew and the winner, Richard Crompton, whose story 'Friends' is an uncanny take on social networking. Currently available only in ebook form they are the perfect company for a long wint...

Comedian Jack Dee's hilarious account of how he became quite such a miserable git and a stand up comedian.'A brilliant book. So funny. It's my bible' Paul O'GradyIn this hilariously frank account of his life, Jack Dee finally reveals what turned a once optimistic young man into this grumpy middle-aged git. It's a journey that takes him from a first gig as a ventriloquist's dummy, to working in an artificial leg factory and...

Each of the tiny tales in this collection takes its title headline from the BBC News Website. But this isn't reportage by any stretch of the imagination. The choice of headline provided a catalyst for a daily act of invention. They are stories of fleeting moments, high drama and pop culture mash ups, prose, lists and confessionals. Read individually or collectively the effect is similar to channel surfing - fuzzy logic and blurred connections appear and through this the collection finds it...

‘An awe-inspiring main character…I recommend it hugely!’ SHARON BOLTON‘I could not put it down. Totally loved it. Excellent writing, brilliant story’ ANGELA MARSONSA relentless thriller that will grip you by the throat and refuse to let go! Perfect for fans of SILENT SCREAM by Angela Marsons, and THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO.You’ve never met anyone like Tuesday. She has suffered extreme cruelty at the hands of men, and so has taken it upon hersel...

The third book in the Angelique De Xavier series, from author Christopher Brookmyre.If society has the B-list celebrities it deserves, it now has a killer to match. Except that Simon Darcourt is a great deal more successful in his career choice than the average talent show contestant. He's also got the media taped - by the simple expedient of by-passing them completely and posting real-time coverage of his killings on the internet. He's got viewing figures to make ...

'BRILLIANT . . . GLORIOUSLY VIVID' GUARDIAN'DISARMINGLY HILARIOUS' SUNDAY TIMES'ROLLICKING . . . CAUSTIC, WITHERING AND GENUINELY FUNNY' INDEPENDENT'FUNNY AND TRAGIC' TLS'SUCH AN ENTERTAINING READ' DAILY MAIL'BOISTEROUS' NEW YORK TIMES'A COMEDY ABOUT TRAGEDY. BRUTAL, PROFOUND AND VERY FU...

Destination: Mexico. The Global Protection Force has summoned Secret Agent Jack Stalwart to Mexico to hunt down a stolen map leading to hidden Aztec gold. Suddenly, he finds himself trapped in the hands of one of the most treacherous treasure hunters in the world. Can Jack stop Callous Carl and his band of thieves before they plunder again?

A super-charged comedy that explores the eternal question: must you change your lifestyle in your thirties, or can you keep partying until the bitter end?Laura and Tyler are two young women who have been tearing up the city streets for ten years, leaving a trail of angry drug dealers and spent men in their wake. Now Laura is engaged to be married and her teetotal classical pianist fiancé, Jim, is away overseas. Tyler wants to keep the party going, but Laura is torn...

"Hilary Mantel and Helen Simpson feature in the nation's favourite annual guide to the short story, now in its fifth year …"Best British Short Stories invites you to judge a book by its cover – or more accurately, by its title. This new series aims to reprint the best short stories published in the previous calendar year by British writers, whether based in the UK or elsewhere. The editor's brief is wide ranging, covering anthologies, collections, magazine...