When beautiful but aloof Claire Harkness is found dead in her dorm room one spring morning, prestigious Armitage Academy is shaken to its core. Everyone connected to school, and to Claire, finds their lives upended, from the local police detective who has a personal history with the academy, to the various faculty and staff whose lives are immersed in the daily rituals associated with it. Everyone wants to know how Claire died, at whose hands, and more importantly, where the baby that she recently gave birth to is--a baby that almost no one, except her small innermost circle, knew she was carrying. At the center of the investigation is Madeline Christopher, an intern in the English department who is forced to examine the nature of the relationship between the school's students and the adults meant to guide them. As the case unravels, the dark intricacies of adolescent privilege at a powerful institution are exposed, and both teachers and students emerge as suspects as the novel rushes to its thrilling conclusion. With The Twisted Thread, Charlotte Bacon has crafted a gripping and suspenseful story in the tradition of Donna Tartt's The Secret History, one that pulls back the curtain on the lives of the young and privileged.

Returning to the quaint coastal town of Harbor Haven, Maine--a place she once called home--Angie Curtis finds her memories aren't all quite pleasant ones. . . After leaving a decade ago, Angie has been called back to Harbor Haven by her grandmother, Charlotte, who raised her following her mother's disappearance when she was a child. Her mother has been found, and now the question of her whereabouts has sadly become the mystery of her murder. The bright spot in Angie's homecoming is reuniting with Charlotte, who has started her own needlepointing business with a group called Mainely Needlepointers. But when a shady business associate of the stitchers dies suddenly under suspicious circumstances, Charlotte and Angie become suspects. As Angie starts to weave together clues, she discovers that this new murder may have ties to her own mother's cold case. . .

When Vivekanand Modi wins the general elections, the world turns upside down for She Who Shall Not Be Named. Fearing the loss of her political power, carefully nurtured over the years, she leaves no stone unturned to undermine the new government. The ever loyal echo-system thrusts a reluctant Amulya, the young heir to her vast political empire, to take the plunge into the buzzing beehive. The only problem is that, despite all the support from dead leaders to speaking machines, Amulya has the unerring knack of running away to secret lands… Meanwhile, the Jinn who was released from a magic lamp by Abdul Malik, decides to traverse the real, the social, and the magical worlds, twisting them all. “Hilariously incisive and thought-provoking. Bhavesh has a superlatively deep take on the system which couldn’t have been presented any funnier.” Ashwin S Kumar, ex-Columnist, The Unreal Times. “Sharp, edgy political satire, with more ‘Laugh Out Loud’ moments than a Rahul Gandhi rally.” Gappistan Radio, Former Editor, Faking News.

For crafters who like their stitching with a twist, this book reworks or reimagines fine embroidery and cute craft imagery so that they cross over to the dark side. Think charming cottages with roses around the door - and trash and abandoned vehicles in the front yard, or napkins embroidered with pretty but poisonous plants. Projects include a RIP (read in peace) bookmark, a butterfly and skulls tote bag, and a pig strikes back barbecue apron. Inspired by popular culture and street art, it's the craft equivalent of the Jane Austin and vampire novel smash-up and is guaranteed to amuse. The book contains 30 original cross stitch and embroidery designs, organised by project type (eg home or clothing). Projects include pictures, cards, cushions and accessories. Twisted Stitches also features instructions on techniques for new stitchers. All projects use DMC threads.

According to tradition, students of Japanese embroidery must watch a master at work and 'steal the knowledge'. Here, Julia shares her passion for this exquisite craft, revealing her in-depth knowledge of the skills and symbolism involved. Detailed instructions reveal the intricacies of working with silk thread and silk fabric, and clear step-by-step photographs show how to create beautiful embroideries inspired by the four seasons. Previously published as Beginner's Guide to Japanese Embroidery by Julia D. Gray, ISBN: 978 0 85532 857 3

Create Heirloom-Quality Needlework Noted needlework author and designer Shay Pendray shares her secrets for unique, inventive stitchery. From years of study in Japan and around the world, Shay has learned stitching techniques that will help you create one-of-a-kind works of art. From the basics of framing up, starting and stopping threads, and laying multi-standard threads, to embellishing, combining stitches, and couching techniques, you will be inspired to create needlework you never dreamed possible. Suitable for needlepoint stitchers of all levels, this reference combines illustrations and full-color photographs to demonstrate each technique. • Gold Work - Stunning projects using metallic threads on silk ground fabric with a variety of couching techniques (Shippo, maze, back and fourth, raised, and cloud filling) • Painted Canvas - Tips for selecting the stitches and threads most suitable for each area of the design • Shading - Methods to blend thread colors for lovely realism