Book of the week

'A heady mix of corrupt coppers, dodgy drug dealers and Japanese gangsters, all spiced with dark humour' – Sally McDonald, Sunday Post

For centuries our only real guide to future weather was folklore, but with the introduction of the first weather forecasts and maps in Victorian times, attempts were made to give some warning of the weather to come.

Until relatively recently, these forecasts could be wildly inaccurate - consider Michael Fish's denial that a storm was on its way on the eve of the Great British Storm of 1987. This was due to the mathematically chaotic nature of weather systems, first discovered in the 1960s, the understanding of which would transform forecasting from the 1990s onwards and see meteorologists become some of the first users of supercomputers.

Weather Science (2024) explores the science behind weather patterns, the role of mathematical chaos in weather forecasting and the use of supercomputers in meteorology.

Part memoir, part manifesto, part history, We Are What We Read is not just about how education can place you back on the right side of the tracks. It is also a rallying cry for the importance of literature in a world where the arts are being squeezed out at every level and where book bans in schools and libraries have surged to record highs.

At Ottersea Oceanworld, Jane the Octopus hears people’s secrets and understands everything during a sweltering summer of strange deaths, new friendships, and a whole lot of ice cream.

Two people. Two pasts. One summer to fall in love.

Sex, Love & Spirituality in a Toxic Dating World. Despite all her meditating and multiple tarot card readings, Rosalind Moody keeps manifesting similar men, over and over again. That is, until she finally learns the lessons the Universe was trying to show her and really begins to feel the love…

Brand-new for 2024, the next captivating, historical novel from Jan Casey about a female war artist in World War 2.

It’s an intriguing story with a secret at its heart involving drama, Karl Marx and several people hiding away from the unexpected consequences of literary discussions.

Fox Bites is a dark coming-of-age horror fantasy about pain, loneliness, and stepping back from the abyss.

A fiercely hopeful novel about family, sexuality, grief and how we as individuals can rediscover our political agency in the face of continued uncertainty.

Over the course of the eight-week Sleep Well programme, you will learn the surprising and effective habits necessary to optimise the length and quality of your sleep and transform your relationship with rest, resulting in long-term benefits to your health, mood and productivity.

At the age of twelve, Pat Sheedy placed his first 10p bet and concocted his first scam. This marked the beginning of his descent into a compulsive gambling addiction that would lead to close to one hundred criminal convictions, over a million euro squandered on bets and time served in some of Ireland's most unforgiving prisons. Now, almost four decades later, Pat Sheedy has, against all odds, got his life back on track and taken control of his addiction.

Heartwarming and uplifting, Every Shade of Happy will make you laugh, cry and want to call your grandfather. The first adult novel by award-winning British author, Phyllida Shrimpton.

Acclaimed cooker writer Ghillie Basan embarks on a journey around Scotland's coastline and over to the islands to capture the essence of our nation's seafood through the stories of fisherman, farmers, artisan smokers and curers, boat builders and net makers, creels and shacks, skin tanners and age-old traditions.

'Roman military adventure at its best. Ranks with the best historical fiction available today.' Simon Turney

Christopher Jones offers a practical guide for conquering common phobias and anxiety. The book outlines his 7-step Integrated Change System, providing readers with guided exercises to identify and overcome the sources of their fears.

A gripping thriller set in 1979's suburban Ridgefield, it revolves around four couples. Amidst a heat wave, they gather for a weekly dinner party. The evening seems ordinary, a break from daily life. But beneath the facade of perfect marriages, secrets lurk.

Barry Keith introduces his first book tailored for kids, seamlessly blending personal anecdotes from his own childhood with inspirational tips and life lessons. Drawing from his bestselling book for adults, "Brain Hacks," Keith offers techniques that have empowered thousands, now reworked to instill a winning mindset in children. From building confidence to handling setbacks and realizing true potential, "Mind Magic" provides tried-and-tested tips and tricks to encourage young readers to succeed in various aspects of their lives, be it academics, confidence-building, or achieving success in sports.

Only now appearing in English translation, Clemens Meyer’s debut — first published in German in 2007 — is an extraordinary coming of age novel by one of Germany's most ambitious writers, full of passion, rage, hope and despair. The book was longlisted for the International Booker Prize.

This is a captivating guide for book lovers, offering a concise bucket list of essential reads that transcend cultural and genre boundaries. Delving into the wisdom of literary giants like Dickens, Austen, and Murakami, the book explores themes beyond romance and wealth, tackling conflict, oppression, identity, and psychology. With over a hundred classic works from around the world, this gem reveals the transformative power of literature, illustrating how books enrich our understanding of ourselves and the diverse world we inhabit. An invitation to explore universal truths, it reminds us that a single book can change an entire life.