Poppy was fit, strong and healthy - her parent's delight. But for reasons unknown she was born without sight. But lucky for you lot, she had an amazing sense of smell. So she's recruited by the police force to solve the toughest crimes by nose . . .

Now Dad has got a mohawk -It must be two feet tall!It's scraping on the ceiling!Oh, I don't like this at all.Dad usually looks fairly sensible, so it's a bit surprising when he starts appearing with outlandish new hairstyles! Then things get weirder when he turns up in odd and eccentric clothes! Why can this be? Has he gone mad? No, it's a fancy dress party!

Poppy Markham practically grew up at the family restaurant in Austin, Texas, and, until recently, worked as a sous chef under her surly stepsister, Ursula. Poppy's not sure if her dad will ever forgive her for leaving the family business to become a public health inspector-the most reviled figure in the restaurant industry-but when he asks her back into the kitchen to help out during the restaurant's grand re-opening, she can't refuse. Chaos ensues when the guest of honor, Michelin-rated chef Évariste Bontecou, is found stabbed to death with Ursula's knife. Sacrebleu! Sorting through everyone who had it in for the hot-headed, philandering French chef is worse than deboning a Coho salmon. Could it be the bad-boy sous chef eyeing his chance at the top or the conniving waitress rumored to be Évariste's paramour du jour? The closer Poppy gets to solving the mystery, the hotter things get. And as everyone knows: if you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen.

A heartwarming story of a couple and their horse exploring what caring for a horse can teach us about companionship—whether it’s with a four-legged friend or a fellow human. A surprise birthday gift plunged Joe and his wife, Kathleen, into the world of horses as complete neophytes without a clue as to what a horse needed or wanted. They searched for logic and sense in the rule books of traditional horse care. What they found was not what they had expected. Written for everyone who has ever loved a horse or ever loved the idea of loving a horse, this memoir leads us on a voyage of discovery as Joe and Kathleen navigate uncharted territory on their way to achieving a true relationship with their horses. Joe Camp’s inspiring book unlocks the mystery of a majestic creature who has survived on earth, without assistance, for fifty-five million years and teaches us that the lessons he learned apply not only to horses but also to our relationships with people.

Colin was a cart horse, Hay his favourite treat, It was ever so soft and incredibly sweet, But the day he branched out and broadened his diet... Why, who could have guessed it would trigger a riot? Gavin Puckett, Welsh comic extraordinaire, brings us another wonderful tale of rhyming fun and nonsense, in the very best tradition of Edward Lear and Hilaire Belloc.

Hayley the Horse is a beauty!Her sleek tail was glossy, her black mane perfection. Her coat shone so bright you could see your reflection. And when she gets a haircut . . . she is proud to see her locks used to make fine paintbrushes and bows for violins. But when the famous violinist La Rue comes to town and spots Hayley, he hatches a plan to steal her whole tail.So Hayley has to be strong - this horse couldn't fail. There was no way on earth he was taking her tail!She is going to put on a performance that the Queen will never forget! A laugh-out-loud horsey fable from our favourite Welsh policeman!

'A gloriously readable slice of historical crime fiction featuring a charismatic amateur sleuth.' Liz Robinson, LoveReading The 1920s most stylish sleuth returns in The Crystal Crypt for another thrilling murder mystery! “But accidents can still happen… Perhaps there was something out of her control, something she couldn’t have foreseen…” “Like someone plotting to kill her?” Reporter sleuth Poppy Denby is asked to investigate the mysterious death of an up-and-coming female scientist in an Oxford laboratory known as the Crystal Crypt. The official verdict is that Dr June Leighton died in a tragic accident, but Dr Leighton's lab assistant believes it was murder. However, when Poppy discovers that the colleague has spent time in a mental institution and has an unresolved murder in her own past, Poppy wonders if she is being misled. But then, another female academic is attacked, and Poppy herself becomes a target. 'The latest instalment in the Poppy Denby Investigates series is another cracking piece of historical crime fiction by Fiona Veitch Smith. The author’s enthusiasm for the 1920s really shines through and her in-depth knowledge of the period ensures that the settings and dialogue ring true.' Erin Brittan, Crime Fiction Lover

Originally published: Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1981.

Curl up this Christmas with a glorious collection of sweeping sagas – intrigue, romance, danger and delight.

A Tricky Sleepover introduces early readers to chapter books by creating a familiar setting that showcases a variety of important social and emotional concepts associated with growing up. Rourke's Beginning Chapter Books deliver realistic fictional narratives that are relatable and fun to young readers. With 48-pages of bold illustrations, simple language, and engaging discussion questions, transitioning readers can enjoy following the chapters while also building their comprehension skills.