Search Results for: the dip

From the world’s largest castle to the coziest pubs, experience the Old World charm of the Czech Republic with Rick Steves. Inside Rick Steves Prague & the Czech Republic you’ll find:

– Comprehensive coverage for spending a week or more exploring Prague and the Czech Republic

– Rick’s strategic advice on how to get the most out of your time and money, with rankings of his must-see favorites

– Top sights and hidden gems, from the city’s stunning Old Town Square and Prague Castle to charming neighborhood bars and restaurants

– How to connect with local culture: Take a dip in freshwater peat spas, explore the medieval villages of Bohemia, or enjoy a wine-cellar serenade with friendly vintners

– Beat the crowds, skip the lines, and avoid tourist traps with Rick’s candid, humorous insight

– The best places to eat, sleep, and relax with a pint of local Pilsner

– Self-guided walking tours of lively neighborhoods and thought-provoking museums

– Detailed maps and directions, including a fold-out map for exploring on the go

– Useful resources including a packing list, a Czech phrase book, a historical overview, and recommended reading

– Over 500 bible-thin pages include everything worth seeing without weighing you down

– Complete, up-to-date information on Prague, Kutna Hora, Terezin Memorial, Litomerice, Konopiste Castle, Karlstejn Castle, Krivoklat Castle, Karlovy Vary, Cesky Krumlov, Trebon, Telc, Trebic, Slavonice, Olomouc, Kromeriz, Wallachia, Mikulov, Pavlov and the Palava Hills, Lednice and Valtice, and more

Make the most of every day and every dollar with Rick Steves Prague & the Czech Republic.

Spending a week or less in the city? Check out Rick Steves Pocket Prague

Want to know the secret to growing gorgeous hair or how your favourite celebrities have such flawless skin? Introducing the power of food into your beauty routine in a whole new way, you’ll uncover the recipes that promote beauty from within (with beauty-boosting foods you’ll salivate for!) as well as topical DIY beauty recipes (for facial masks, body scrubs, and more that are, well, good enough to eat,literally!). Dubbed the Female Beauty MacGyver” by Access Hollywood, Alexis Wolfer shares with you 131 easy, all-natural, affordable, and effective recipes that feed your beauty. Combining the best recipes from her personal archives with DIY beauty secrets and food recipes shared with her by chefs, beauty editors, and celebrities (including Kristen Chenoweth, Brooklyn Decker, Vanessa Williams, Molly Sims, Byrdie Bell, Donna Karan, and more), The Recipe For Radiance will take you into your kitchen to discover the food-based beauty secrets even the most well-pampered women rely on to look their best. Each chapter in The Recipe for Radiance addresses a different beauty concern,acne, fine lines and wrinkles, brittle nails, lackluster hair, sun spots, cellulite, chapped lips, under-eye circles, and more,giving you the inside scoop on the causes and symptoms of the most common beauty concerns along with their food-based solutions. Sample recipes include:Strawberry + champagne serum to fight wrinklesAvocado + oatmeal revival mask to heal dry skinSweet potato chips + cumin dip to even skin toneCreamy kale and walnut salad to reduce under-eye circlesSweet watermelon serum to soothe sunburn Be prepared to cook yourself beautiful, all the while saving money on products and keeping your beauty routine chemical free.

Hungry for your favorite meal from Chili’s, P.F. Chang’s, or The Cheesecake Factory? You can satisfy those cravings at home-without the expensive bill after dessert.

Bestselling authors Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough are the authorities on getting the most out of your Instant Pot, having sold hundreds of thousands of copies of their Instant Pot Bible cookbooks. Now, they reveal the secrets to bringing all the flavor and excitement from dozens of beloved restaurants into your own Instant Pot-from Applebee’s and Buca di Beppo to Olive Garden and Ruby Tuesday.

Not only do these 175 original recipes taste like the real thing, they put you in control of the cooking. That means you can avoid processed foods, use the ingredients you prefer, and adjust each dish to meet your dietary needs. Plus, they have all been tested to work with every model of Instant Pot.

With Instant Pot Bible: Copycat Recipes, any night can taste like dining out on the weekend, featuring original Instant Pot versions of:
– Chipotle’s Queso Blanco
– Hale and Hearty’s Chicken Pot Pie Soup
– Red Robin’s Creamy Artichoke and Spinach Dip
– The Capital Grille’s Lobster Mac-and-Cheese
– P. F. Chang’s Spicy Miso Ramen
– Applebee’s Three Cheese Chicken Penne
– Buca di Beppo’s World-Famous Meatballs
– Cracker Barrel’s Sunday Pot Roast
– Café Rio’s Sweet Pork Barbacoa Tostadas
– Noodles & Company’s Pad Thai with Shrimp
– Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen’s Cajun Rice
– Marie Callender’s Famous Golden Cornbread
– The Cheesecake Factory’s Marshmallow S’mores Cheesecake

…and other dishes inspired by Buffalo Wild Wings, Rao’s, Outback Steakhouse, Red Lobster, TGI Friday’s, and more!

Have you ever found that once you are between the sheets Madame Bovary is too heavy, magazines are too slippery, and The Guns of Navarone too long? In that case A Gentleman’s Bedside Book is perfectly designed to satisfy those final moments of the days with facts, stories, ideas and instructions that will help every bright boy to become a smarter man with a well rounded curriculum of lessons in Science, English, Home Economics, R.E, Modern Languages, P.E, Art, Music and Woodwork.

A lucky dip of bedside derring-do, humour, and oddity, written in his unique style by best-selling humourist Tom Cutler. Constantly surprising, ridiculously fascinating, and very, very funny.

Includes such entries as: Human anatomy for the practical man; the most frequent dream subjects; delicious caustic curries you can make; Emergency meals from nowhere; Shaving: top tips from the pros; Deerstalkers and why they matter; How to grow a dashing moustache; How to open a Champagne bottle with a sword; Samuel Pepys: the rude bits; Best ever book titles; Tongue twisters; Those you may not marry, from The Book of Common Prayer; The worst ever movie dialogue; Useful foreign chat-up lines; An international swearing dictionary; filthy foreign food; Historic dumb predictions; The history of concrete; Dad rock; Coming out on top in a pub brawl; How to dissolve your wife; Mental arithmetic tricks for the practical man: ten tricks; Famous car crashes and victims; The seven habits of the highly effective Lothario; Really bad chat-up lines; Best urban legends: a list; Sword swallowing for fun and profit; How to develop a gigantic memory; Mind blowing mind reading for the complete novice.

The perfect summer read from the internationally bestselling author. If you loved The Lido, you won’t want to miss The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle . . .

‘Heart-warming’ Hello
‘Wonderfully atmospheric’ Sunday Mirror
‘A heart-warming tale’ Woman & Home (Best Escapist Reads)
‘The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle will have you laughing and crying’ Yours

In a seaside suburb on Australia’s golden coast, four women head to the water to swim every day . . .

Housewife Theresa wants to get fit; she also wants a few precious minutes to herself. So at sunrise each day she strikes out past the waves.

From the same beach, the widowed Marie swims. With her husband gone, it is the one constant in her new life.

Elaine takes to the sea having recently moved from England, while Leanne is twenty-five years old and only has herself to rely on.

In the waters of Shelly Bay, these four women find each other. They will survive bluebottle stings and heartbreak, they will laugh so hard they swallow water, and they will plunge their tears into the ocean’s salt.

Most of all, they will cherish their newfound friendship, each and every day.

Praise for Sophie Green, author of The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle:

‘Reading this book was like snuggling beneath a warm beach towel after a bracing dip in the ocean’ Joanna Nell, author of The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village

‘Brimming with atmosphere and warmth, this gorgeous book completely carried me away. I absolutely loved it’ Jenny Ashcroft

Nikki Sixx is one of the most respected, recognizable, and entrepreneurial icons in the music industry. As the founder of Mötley Crüe who is now in his twenty-first year of sobriety, Sixx is incredibly passionate about his craft and wonderfully open about his life in rock and roll, and as a person of the world.

Born Franklin Carlton Feranna on December 11, 1958, young Frankie was abandoned by his father and partly raised by his mother, a woman who was ahead of her time in some ways and deeply troubled in others. Frankie ended up living with his grandparents, bouncing from farm to farm and state to state. He was an all-American kid-hunting, fishing, chasing girls, and playing football-but underneath it all, there was a burning desire for more, and that more was music. He eventually took a Greyhound bound for Hollywood.

In Los Angeles, Frank lived with his aunt and his uncle-the president of Capitol Records. But there was no short path to the top. He was soon on his own. There were dead-end jobs: dipping circuit boards, clerking at liquor and record stores, selling used light bulbs, and hustling to survive. But at night, Frank honed his craft, joining Sister, a band formed by fellow hard-rock veteran Blackie Lawless, and formed a group of his own: London, the precursor of Mötley Crüe. Turning down an offer to join Randy Rhoads’ band, Frank changed his name to Nikki London, Nikki Nine, and, finally, Nikki Sixx. Like Huck Finn with a stolen guitar, he had a vision: a group that combined punk, glam, and hard rock into the biggest, most theatrical and irresistible package the world had ever seen.

With hard work, passion, and some luck, the vision manifested in reality – and this is a profound true story finding identity, of how Frank Feranna became Nikki Sixx. And it’s a road map to the ways you can overcome anything, and achieve all of your goals, if only you put your mind to it.

Simple, effective exercises to reduce stress and renew your sense of contentment and joy

No matter who we are, or what stage of life we are at, we all long for similar things; to be happy, connected with others, in touch with a sense of calm and peace, vital, alive and joyful. And we long to be able to ride out the tough patches that hit all of us from time to time with some degree of grace and dignity.

The good news is that we can fulfil these longings at any time, in any place. They are only a moment away, a breath away. We can learn how to be comfortable with our body, know and understand our mind, and love our heart. It isn’t difficult, long-winded or time-consuming. In doing so you’ll feel happier in your own skin, less stressed, more confident, more capable and more at ease with yourself and life.

This is what Mindfulness for Women is about. It is a practical guide for busy women to coming home to yourself in each present moment. To finding the ledge behind the waterfall. To resting in the depths of the ocean rather than being tossed about by surface waves.

Mindfulness is a potent antidote to anxiety, stress, depression, exhaustion and irritability. It leads to a greater sense of contentment and can also reduce addictive and self-destructive behavioural patterns. This book will enable you to experience the benefits for yourself. It’s not designed as a lengthy course but is solutions-based. It’s fast – evidence shows that a little bit of mindfulness goes a long way. It’s also bespoke – you can read all of it cover to cover, or simply dip in and out, depending on what you want to focus on. You can listen to whichever meditation track suits you at any given time and you can run tracks together if you want to meditate for longer periods. It’s designed to suit your life and priorities now and well into the future.

Find Your Adventure with Moon Travel Guides!

Breathe in the pine-scented coastal air and discover a new kind of serenity with Moon Acadia National Park.

Inside you’ll find:

* Itineraries for every timeline, budget, and travel style, ranging from one day in the park to a two-week road trip
* Full color, vibrant photos and detailed maps
* Strategies for getting to Acadia National Park, avoiding crowds, and exploring its less-visited areas
* Expert tips for hiking, cycling, shopping, kayaking, and more, plus information on the right gear to pack
* The top activities and unique ideas for exploring the park: Pedal Acadia’s famed carriage roads or take a driving tour along the scenic byways. Island-hop by sea kayak, or embark on a whale-watching excursion. Wiggle your toes in the warmth of Sand Beach, hike the remote Isle au Haut, or take a romantic horse-drawn carriage to the summit of Day Mountain. Peruse downtown Bar Harbor, take a dip in Echo Lake, and watch the sunset over a feast of freshly caught lobster
* Local insight from Maine native and Acadia expert Hilary Nangle
* Honest advice on when to go and where to stay near the park, including campgrounds, hotels, and cottages
* Up-to-date information on park fees, passes, and reservations
* In-depth coverage of Acadia on Mount Desert Island, Schoodic Peninsula, Blue Hill Peninsula, Deer Isle, Isle au Haut, Ellsworth, and Trenton
* Additional coverage of gateway towns, including Bay Harbor, Northeast and Seal Harbors, the Southwest Harbor, Tremont, and islands in Mount Desert’s vicinity
* Recommendations for families, LGBTQ+ travelers, seniors, international visitors, travelers with disabilities, and traveling with pets
* Thorough background on the wildlife, terrain, culture, and history

With Moon Acadia National Park’s practical tips, myriad activities, and local expertise, you can plan your trip your way.

Exploring the rest of New England? Try Moon New England or Moon Maine, Vermont & New Hampshire.

From that blues bar you haven’t visited yet to the desert hike you keep meaning to plan, experience something new right here at home with Moon 52 Things to Do in Phoenix & Tucson.

* Cool things to do in and around the cities: Kick back at a Spring Training game or squeeze into the grandstands of El Gran Mercado for some lucha libre. Bike the famed Loop in Tucson, kayak Tempe Town Lake, and lace up your boots for an urban hike in the Phoenix Mountains. Support local BIPOC writers at Palabras Bilingual Bookstore and taste what’s on tap at a women-owned brewery. Savor Sonoran-style food like tamales and carne asada or try authentic Tohono O’odham fry bread
* Day trips and weekend getaways: Dip into hot springs or cool off in a secret swimming hole. Travel back in time in a ghost town or sip your way through wine country. Trek the Arizona Trail, hike the hoodoos at Chiricahua National Monument, pick saguaro fruit, and spend a night under the stars
* Experiences broken down by category: Find ideas for each season, activities for kids, outdoor adventures, learning about indigenous cultures, getting to know a new neighborhood, and more
* A local’s advice: Whether it’s a wilderness area or a beloved soul food spot, local author Jessica Dunham knows the ins and outs of Arizona
* Inspirational full-color photos throughout
* Easy-to-scan planning tips: Addresses and nearby spots, plus tips for avoiding the crowds if you’re heading to a popular attraction

What are you doing this weekend? Try something new with Moon 52 Things to Do in Phoenix & Tucson.

About Moon Travel Guides: Moon was founded in 1973 to empower independent, active, and conscious travel. We prioritize local businesses, outdoor recreation, and traveling strategically and sustainably. Moon Travel Guides are written by local, expert authors with great stories to tell-and they can’t wait to share their favorite places with you.
For more inspiration, follow @moonguides on social media.

Misty ancient forests, rugged high deserts, and black sand beaches: wherever you turn in Oregon, adventure awaits. Pack a lunch, lace up your boots, and hit the trails with Moon Oregon Hiking. Inside you’ll find:

* Diverse Hiking Options: Whether you plan to take peaceful walks along the coast or challenging treks up Mount Hood, enjoy outdoor getaways ranging from easy day hikes to multi-day backpacking trips

* Find Your Hike: Looking for something specific? Choose from strategic lists of the best hikes for wildflowers, waterfalls, or hiking with your dog, plus a breakdown of the best hikes by season

* The Top Outdoor Experiences: Explore a Mars-like red rock landscape in the Alvord Desert, or marvel at one of the 90 rushing waterfalls in the Colombia River Gorge. Peer into the mouth of a volcano crater, gaze at the Portland skyline from afar, or climb to the top of a picturesque lighthouse. Take a dip in relaxing hot springs, study real wagon ruts on the historic Oregon Trail, and spot puffins, pelicans, and plovers along the coast

* Nearby Fun: Spend a night under the stars at a nearby campground, sip a refreshing local brew after a day of hiking, or enjoy fresh-caught fish at a beachfront restaurant

* Essential Planning Details: Each hike is described in detail and marked with round-trip distance and hiking time, difficulty, terrain type, elevation gain, and access points

* Maps and Directions: Find easy-to-use maps, driving directions to each trailhead, and details on where to park

* Expert Advice: Seasoned hiker Matt Wastradowski offers experienced insights, local secrets, and honest opinions of each trail

* Tips and Tools: Advice on gear, first aid, and camping permits, plus background information on climate, landscape, and wildlife

Whether you’re a veteran or a first-time hiker, Moon’s comprehensive coverage and local expertise will have you gearing up for your next adventure.

Hitting the road? Check out Moon Pacific Northwest Road Trip!

Sunshine, hot dogs, friends, and the excitement of the game: Baseball is called America’s pastime for a reason. Experience the best of the MLB cities and stadiums with Moon Baseball Road Trips.

* Flexible Itineraries: Explore the 30 major league cities with a variety of road trip options, including a Boston to DC route, a loop through the Midwest, a dip into Toronto, a cruise along the West Coast, and more
* Visit all the Ballparks: From the ivy walls of Wrigley to Fenway’s Green Monster and Dodger Stadium’s gorgeous mountain views, experience every ballpark in the league and dive into local fan culture
* Catch a Game: Find valuable tips for snagging tickets and get the inside scoop on the best places to park or catch public transit, where to eat and drink nearby, and events like music festivals, the Hall of Fame Weekend, Fourth of July celebrations, and more
* Explore the Major League Cities: Get to know the MLB hometowns with full chapters on each city. Pay respects to Babe Ruth in Baltimore, visit Cleveland’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and stroll through the Boston Common. Find the best local craft breweries, and chow down on chili dogs, barbecue, fresh crab, and more foodie specialties. Hold back a tear at the Field of Dreams, grab a seat for a Spring Training game, or rent a kayak on the bay and try to catch a fly ball from San Francisco’s Oracle Park
* Expertise and Know-How: Former baseball writer and avid Phillies fan Timothy Malcolm shares his advice for planning the perfect baseball road trip
* Maps and Driving Tools: Easy-to-use maps, along with mileages, driving times, and directions, with full-colour photos throughout
* Planning Tips: Where to stay, when and where to get gas, how to avoid traffic, and tips for driving in different road and weather conditions, plus suggestions for seniors, families with kids, and more

With Moon Baseball Road Trips’ practical tips, local expertise, and flexible itineraries, you’re ready to step up to the plate and hit the road.

‘Comfortably mixing science, myth, and mystery, Armstrong creates a vivid world highlighted by appealing characters. Fans and newcomers alike will be eager for more after Armstrong’s story drives to its pulse-pounding climax.’ – Publishers Weekly

‘Armstrong begins her new series with a swift-paced start, creating memorable characters and interesting premises.’ – Booklist

The world seemed to dip and darken and I smelled wet earth and thick musk and fresh blood. The wind whipped past, like I was running. Running so fast the ground whizzed beneath me and the wind cut across my skin . . .

Maya Delaney has always felt a close bond with nature. The woods around her home are a much-loved sanctuary – and the pawprint birthmark on her hip feels like a sign that she belongs.

But then strange and terrible things begin to happen in the tiny medical-research town of Salmon Creek (population: 200). The captain of the swim team drowns mysteriously in the middle of a calm lake. Mountain lions appear around Maya’s home, and won’t go away. Her best friend, Daniel, starts experiencing ‘bad vibes’ about certain people and things. One of those people is Rafe – the new bad boy in town. What is he hiding – and why is he suddenly so interested in Maya . . . ?

The first in the sensational YA series from bestselling author Kelley Armstrong.

Books by Kelley Armstrong:

Women of the Otherworld series
Bitten
Stolen
Dime Store Magic
Industrial Magic
Haunted
Broken
No Humans Involved
Personal Demon
Living with the Dead
Frost Bitten
Walking the Witch
Spellbound
Thirteen

Nadia Stafford
Exit Strategy
Made to be Broken
Wild Justice

Rockton
City of the Lost
A Darkness Absolute
This Fallen Prey
Watcher in the Woods
Alone in the Wild

Darkest Powers
The Summoning
The Awakening
The Reckoning

Otherworld Tales
Men of the Otherworld
Tales of the Otherworld
Otherworld Nights
Otherworld Secrets
Otherworld Chills

Darkness Rising
The Gathering
The Calling
The Rising

Cainsville
Omens
Visions
Deceptions
Betrayals
Rituals

Despite the billions of dollars we’ve poured into foreign wars, homeland security, and disaster response, we are fundamentally no better prepared for the next terrorist attack or unprecedented flood than we were in 2001. Our response to catastrophe remains unchanged: add another step to airport security, another meter to the levee wall. This approach has proved totally ineffective: reacting to past threats and trying to predict future risks will only waste resources in our increasingly unpredictable world. In Learning from the Octopus , ecologist and security expert Rafe Sagarin rethinks the seemingly intractable problem of security by drawing inspiration from a surprising source: nature. Biological organisms have been living- and thriving- on a risk-filled planet for billions of years. Remarkably, they have done it without planning, predicting, or trying to perfect their responses to complex threats. Rather, they simply adapt to solve the challenges they continually face. Military leaders, public health officials, and business professionals would all like to be more adaptable, but few have figured out how. Sagarinargues that we can learn from observing how nature is organized, how organisms learn, how they create partnerships, and how life continually diversifies on this unpredictable planet. As soon as we dip our toes into a cold Pacific tidepool and watch what we thought was a rock turn into an octopus, jetting away in a cloud of ink, we can begin to see the how human adaptability can mimic natural adaptation. The same mechanisms that enabled the octopus’s escape also allow our immune system to ward off new infectious diseases, helped soldiers in Iraq to recognize the threat of IEDs, and aided Google in developing faster ways to detect flu outbreaks. While we will never be able to predict the next earthquake, terrorist attack, or market fluctuation, nature can guide us in developing security systems that are not purely reactive but proactive, holistic, and adaptable. From the tidepools of Monterey to the mountains of Kazakhstan, Sagarin takes us on an eye-opening tour of the security challenges we face, and shows us how we might learn to respond more effectively to the unknown threats lurking in our future.

The sands of Cape Cod, the peaks of the Maine Highlands, and the forests of Bear Mountain: wherever you turn in New England, adventure awaits. Pack a lunch, lace up your boots, and hit the trails with Moon New England Hiking. Inside you’ll find:
*Diverse Hiking Options: From breathtaking seaside walks in Coastal Maine to challenging backcountry treks in the Berkshires, find 150 outdoor getaways ranging from easy day hikes to multi-day backpacking trips
*Find Your Hike: Looking for something specific? Choose from strategic lists like the best spots for a swim, high-elevation vistas, New England oddities, and hikes with nearby breweries, plus a breakdown of the best hikes for each season
*The Top Outdoor Experiences: Cool off under a cascading waterfall, pick wild blueberries from a meadow, and take in views of endless autumnal foliage. Take a dip in the ocean after scaling the cliffs in Acadia or meander through shorebird habitats in Rhode Island. Visit a replica of Thoreau’s cabin at historic Walden Pond, enjoy a peaceful afternoon on a secluded trail, and marvel at the Boston skyline from afar
*Nearby Fun: Relax after your hike at a local brewery, find a nearby campground, or stop for lunch at a mom n’ pop eatery
*Essential Planning Details: Each hike is described in detail and marked with round-trip distance and hiking time, difficulty, terrain type, elevation gain, and access points
*Maps and Directions: Easy-to-use maps, driving directions to each trailhead, and details on where to park
*Full-colour photos throughout
*Expert Advice: Seasoned hikers Miles Howard and Kelsey Perrett reveal their experienced insights, local secrets, and honest opinions of each trail
*Tips and Tools: Advice on gear, first aid, protecting the environment, and getting park passes, plus background information on climate, landscape, and wildlife
*Moon New England Hiking covers Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut
Whether you’re a veteran or a first-time hiker, Moon’s comprehensive coverage and local expertise will have you gearing up for your next adventure.

Exploring the region? Check out Moon New England.

Poe’s just hanging around on a Saturday afternoon…

Dangling from a hook in a meat packing plant isn’t how Detective Sergeant Washington Poe wants to spend his weekend. He’s been punched and kicked and threatened, and when a contract killer arrives it seems things are about to go from bad to worse. He goes by the name of the Pale Man and he and his straight-edged razor have been feared all over London for twenty years.

But Poe knows two things the Pale Man doesn’t. Although it might seem like a hopeless situation, Poe has planned to be here all along. More importantly, a nerdy, computer whizz-kid called Tilly Bradshaw is watching his back. And now things are about to get interesting . . .

_______________
This is a short story, not a full-length novel.
_______________

Praise for M W Craven:

‘I’ve been following M.W. Craven’s Poe/Tilly series from the very beginning, and it just gets better and better. Dead Ground is a fast-paced crime novel with as many twists and turns as a country lane. I can’t wait for the next one.’ Peter Robinson

‘Dead Ground is both entertaining and engaging with great characters and storyline. I loved this first dip into the world of Tilly and Poe!’ BA Paris

‘A brutal and thrilling page turner’ Natasha Harding, The Sun

‘A thrilling curtain raiser for what looks set to be a great new series’ Mick Herron

‘One of the most engaging teams in crime fiction’ Daily Mail

‘A powerful thriller from an explosive new talent. Tightly plotted, and not for the faint hearted!’
David Mark

‘A gripping start to a much anticipated new series’ Vaseem Khan

‘Satisfyingly twisty and clever and the flashes of humour work well to offer the reader respite from the thrill of the read’ Michael J. Malone

‘Nothing you’ve ever read will prepare you for the utterly unique Washington Poe’ Keith Nixon

‘Beware if you pick up a book by M.W. Craven. Your life will no longer belong to you. He will hold you spellbound. Linda’s Book Bag

‘Craven’s understanding of the criminal world is obvious in this cracking read’ Woman’s Weekly

‘Breath-taking’ Random Things Through My Letterbox

‘5 Stars… another fantastic literary experience and a welcome addition to the already brilliant Poe and Tilly series’ Female First

‘An explosive plot, slippery twists and my fave new crime-busting duo…Fantastic!’ Peterborough Telegraph

Are you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin . . .

Washington Poe has a story to tell.

And he needs you to listen.

You’ll hear how it started with the robber birds. Crows. Dozens of them. Enough for a murder . . .

He’ll tell you about a man who was tied to a tree and stoned to death, a man who had tattooed himself with a code so obscure, even the gifted analyst Tilly Bradshaw struggled to break it. He’ll tell you how the man’s murder was connected to a tragedy that happened fifteen years earlier when a young girl massacred her entire family.

And finally, he’ll tell you about the mercy chair. And why people would rather kill themselves than talk about it . . .
Poe hopes you’ve been paying attention. Because in this story, nothing is as it seems . . .

Praise for M W Craven

“Washington Poe is a brilliant creation, from one of the finest and most inventive crime writers of today’ Peter James

‘Mesmerising, macabre and magnificent. The Mercy Chair is truly terrifying, laugh-out-loud funny, and impossibly clever. Poe and Tilly are unstoppable’ Chris Whitaker

The Curator shortlisted for the VN Thriller of the Year 2022 & longlisted for the Crime Writers’ Association Gold Dagger 2021

Dead Ground longlisted for the Theakston Old Peculiar Crime Novel of the Year 2022 & longlisted for the Crime Writers’ Association Ian Fleming Steel Dagger 2022

‘The Poe and Tilly books are a joy’ Steve Cavanagh

‘Unputdownable, gripping, clever and with a rich seam of trademark Craven humour running through it’ Imran Mahmood

‘A sinful treat’ Vaseem Khan

‘Fast, furious, and utterly enjoyable.’ Keith Nixon

‘An unforgettably compulsive read’ Bishop’s Stortford Independent

‘Heart-pounding, hilarious, sharp and shocking, Dead Ground is further proof that M.W. Craven never disappoints. Miss this series at your peril.’ Chris Whitaker

‘Dark and entertaining, this is top rank crime fiction.’ Vaseem Khan, Author of the Malabar House series and the Baby Ganesh Agency series

‘M. W. Craven is one of the best crime writers working today. Dead Ground is a cracking puzzle, beautifully written, with characters you’ll be behind every step of the way. It’s his best yet.’ Stuart Turton

‘Fantastic’ Martina Cole

‘Dark, sharp and compelling’ Peter James

‘I’ve been following M.W. Craven’s Poe/Tilly series from the very beginning, and it just gets better and better. Dead Ground is a fast-paced crime novel with as many twists and turns as a country lane. I can’t wait for the next one.’ Peter Robinson

‘Dead Ground is both entertaining and engaging with great characters and storyline. I loved this first dip into the world of Tilly and Poe!’ BA Paris

‘A brutal and thrilling page turner’ Natasha Harding, The Sun

‘A thrilling curtain raiser for what looks set to be a great new series’ Mick Herron

‘A powerful thriller from an explosive new talent. Tightly plotted, and not for the faint hearted!’
David Mark

‘Satisfyingly twisty and clever and the flashes of humour work well to offer the reader respite from the thrill of the read.’ Michael J. Malone

‘Nothing you’ve ever read will prepare you for the utterly unique Washington Poe’ Keith Nixon

Winner of the prestigious CWA IAN FLEMING STEEL DAGGER AWARD 2022

Longlisted for the Theakston Old Peculiar Crime Novel of the Year 2022

‘Heart-pounding, hilarious, sharp and shocking, Dead Ground is further proof that M.W. Craven never disappoints. Miss this series at your peril.’ Chris Whitaker

‘Dark and entertaining, this is top rank crime fiction.’ Vaseem Khan, Author of the Malabar House series and the Baby Ganesh Agency series

‘M. W. Craven is one of the best crime writers working today. Dead Ground is a cracking puzzle, beautifully written, with characters you’ll be behind every step of the way. It’s his best yet.’ Stuart Turton

‘Fantastic’ Martina Cole

‘Dark, sharp and compelling’ Peter James

‘You can taste the authenticity’ Daily Mail

Detective Sergeant Washington Poe is in court, fighting eviction from his beloved and isolated croft, when he is summoned to a backstreet brothel in Carlisle where a man has been beaten to death with a baseball bat. Poe is confused – he hunts serial killers and this appears to be a straightforward murder-by-pimp – but his attendance was requested personally, by the kind of people who prefer to remain in the shadows.

As Poe and the socially awkward programmer Tilly Bradshaw delve deeper into the case, they are faced with seemingly unanswerable questions: despite being heavily vetted for a high-profile job, why does nothing in the victim’s background check out? Why was a small ornament left at the murder scene – and why did someone on the investigation team steal it? And what is the connection to a flawlessly executed bank heist three years earlier, a heist where nothing was taken . . .


Praise for Dead Ground:

‘Unmissable’ Sunday Express

‘I’ve been following M.W. Craven’s Poe/Tilly series from the very beginning, and it just gets better and better. Dead Ground is a fast-paced crime novel with as many twists and turns as a country lane. I can’t wait for the next one.’ Peter Robinson

‘Dead Ground is both entertaining and engaging with great characters and storyline. I loved this first dip into the world of Tilly and Poe!’ BA Paris

Praise for M W Craven:

‘A brutal and thrilling page turner’ Natasha Harding, The Sun

‘A thrilling curtain raiser for what looks set to be a great new series’ Mick Herron

‘One of the most engaging teams in crime fiction’ Daily Mail

‘A powerful thriller from an explosive new talent. Tightly plotted, and not for the faint hearted!’
David Mark

‘A gripping start to a much anticipated new series’ Vaseem Khan

‘Satisfyingly twisty and clever and the flashes of humour work well to offer the reader respite from the thrill of the read.’ Michael J. Malone

‘Nothing you’ve ever read will prepare you for the utterly unique Washington Poe’ Keith Nixon

‘Beware if you pick up a book by M.W. Craven. Your life will no longer belong to you. He will hold you spellbound.’ Linda’s Book Bag

‘Craven’s understanding of the criminal world is obvious in this cracking read’ Woman’s Weekly

‘Breath-taking’ Random Things Through My Letterbox

‘5 Stars… another fantastic literary experience and a welcome addition to the already brilliant Poe and Tilly series’ Female First

‘An explosive plot, slippery twists and my fave new crime-busting duo…Fantastic!’ Peterborough Telegraph

WINNER OF THE THEAKSTON OLD PECULIER CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR 2023

‘Mesmerising, macabre and murderously funny. The Botanist is M.W. Craven at his sinister best. I couldn’t love this series more’ Chris Whitaker

‘Another classy thriller from the king of Cumbrian crime’ Paul Finch

‘I swear I’m one bad mood away from calling it black magic and going home . . .’

Detective Sergeant Washington Poe can count on one hand the number of friends he has. And he’d still have his thumb left. There’s the insanely brilliant, guilelessly innocent civilian analyst, Tilly Bradshaw of course. He’s known his beleaguered boss, Detective Inspector Stephanie Flynn for years as he has his nearest neighbour, full-time shepherd/part-time dog sitter, Victoria.

And then there’s Estelle Doyle. It’s true the caustic pathologist has never walked down the sunny side of the street but this time has she gone too far? Shot twice in the head, her father’s murder appears to be an open and shut case. Estelle has firearms discharge residue on her hands, and, in a house surrounded by fresh snow, hers are the only footprints going in. Since her arrest she’s only said three words: ‘Tell Washington Poe.’

Meanwhile, a poisoner the press have dubbed the Botanist is sending high profile celebrities poems and pressed flowers. The killer seems to be able to walk through walls and, despite the advance notice he gives his victims, and regardless of the security measures the police take, he seems to be able to kill with impunity.

For a man who hates locked room mysteries, this is going to be the longest week of Washington Poe’s life . . .

Praise for The Botanist:

‘Unputdownable, gripping, clever and with a rich seam of trademark Craven humour running through it’ Imran Mahmood

‘A sinful treat’ Vaseem Khan

‘Fast, furious, and utterly enjoyable.’ Keith Nixon

Praise for M W Craven:


‘Heart-pounding, hilarious, sharp and shocking, Dead Ground is further proof that M.W. Craven never disappoints. Miss this series at your peril.’ Chris Whitaker

‘Dark and entertaining, this is top rank crime fiction.’ Vaseem Khan, Author of the Malabar House series and the Baby Ganesh Agency series

‘M. W. Craven is one of the best crime writers working today. Dead Ground is a cracking puzzle, beautifully written, with characters you’ll be behind every step of the way. It’s his best yet.’ Stuart Turton

‘Fantastic’ Martina Cole

‘Dark, sharp and compelling’ Peter James

‘I’ve been following M.W. Craven’s Poe/Tilly series from the very beginning, and it just gets better and better. Dead Ground is a fast-paced crime novel with as many twists and turns as a country lane. I can’t wait for the next one.’ Peter Robinson

‘Dead Ground is both entertaining and engaging with great characters and storyline. I loved this first dip into the world of Tilly and Poe!’ BA Paris

‘A brutal and thrilling page turner’ Natasha Harding, The Sun

‘A thrilling curtain raiser for what looks set to be a great new series’ Mick Herron

‘A powerful thriller from an explosive new talent. Tightly plotted, and not for the faint hearted!’
David Mark

‘A gripping start to a much anticipated new series’ Vaseem Khan

‘Satisfyingly twisty and clever and the flashes of humour work well to offer the reader respite from the thrill of the read.’ Michael J. Malone

‘Nothing you’ve ever read will prepare you for the utterly unique Washington Poe’ Keith Nixon

‘The Dictionary of Crime is now the first book I reach for when beginning a new novel. An essential resource, it’s packed with explanations, insider information, contemporary and historical slang, as well as some downright bizarre laws and practices. It’s funny, fascinating and a damn good read’
M. W CRAVEN, winner of the 2019 Crime Writers Association Gold Dagger for best crime novel of the year for The Puppet Show

‘A really good idea . . . executed neatly to come up with the perfect gift for crime lovers’
MAT COWARD, Morning Star

‘I found myself rolling around in it for hours, like a gangster’s moll on a bed full of money. Sheer delight!’
CATRIONA McPHERSON

‘Where was this book when I started writing? From Aconite to the Zodiac Killer is the essential companion for any serious reader or writer of crime’
LEYE ADENLE, author of When Trouble Sleeps

‘A fascinating compendium of crime facts which should be on the shelves of every crime writer ­­- and every crime reader’
SIMON BRETT

‘This is a dangerous book in so many ways, chock full of ways of killing people, from undetectable poisons to various types of guns. It contains riveting accounts of notorious murderers, is crammed with fascinating details of slang, and precise particulars of police procedures. The perfect gift for any true crime enthusiast and an indispensable guide for all crime fiction writers.’
S. W. WILLIAMS, author of Small Deaths and How to Write Crime Fiction

‘A remarkable achievement. At once elucidating and compelling, indispensable and unputdownable. It reads like a page-turning thriller. Whether a crime writer who needs to distinguish a blood agent from a bum beef or a reader with an interest in queer coal makers, this lexicon will keep you hooked, and leave you sublimely informed.’
GARY DONNELLY, author of Killing in Your Name and Blood Will Be Born

‘Fascinating, insightful and taking up permanent residency on my desk. Amanda Lees’ Dictionary of Crime is my new bible!’
CHRIS WHITTAKER, award-winning author of Tall Oaks, All The Wicked Girls and We Begin at the End

‘What a little gem this is ­- such a great idea and a valuable resource for writers. I found myself dipping into it at intervals and marvelling at the extent of the research that’s gone into it, as well as chuckling over some of the more unusual entries. My personal favourites? BINGO seat, nicker, moll buzzer and lully-prigger. Wouldn’t have had a clue what they meant . . . but I’m determined to work them in somewhere in a future novel!’
G. J. MINETTT, author of The Syndicate


‘A fascinating journey through the dark side of the human psyche. Highly recommended for anyone interested in criminals and crime’
PATRICK REDMOND, bestselling author of The Wishing Game

An essential popular A-Z reference guide for fans of crime fiction and true crime, in books, TV and film, helping to make sense of everything from asphyxiation to VX nerve agent.

This is an indispensable guide for fans of true crime and crime fiction, whether in books, film or on TV, who want to look behind the crime, to understand the mechanics of an investigation, to walk in their favourite detectives’ shoes and, most importantly, to solve the clues.

To do that, one needs to be fluent in the language of the world of crime. We need to know what that world-weary DI is talking about when she refers to another MISPER. We have to immediately grasp the significance of the presence of paraquat, and precisely why it is still a poison of choice.

If you want to know how many murders it takes for a killer to be defined as a serial killer, what Philip Marlowe means when he talks about being ‘on a confidential lay’ and why the ‘fruit of a poisonous tree’ is a legal term rather than something you should avoid on a country walk, this is the reference book you’ve been waiting for.

It covers police and procedural terms and jargon of many different countries; acronyms; murder methods; criminal definitions, including different types of killers; infamous killers and famous detectives; notorious cases often referred to in crime fiction and true crime; gangster slang, including that of the Eastern European mafia; definitions of illegal drugs; weapons; forensic terminology; types of poisons; words and phrases used in major crime genres, including detective fiction, legal thrillers, courtroom dramas, hardboiled crime, Scandi and Tartan Noir, cosy crime and psychological thrillers; criminology terms; and the language of the courts and the legal systems of British, American, French, Nordic and other countries.

From Aconite to the Zodiac Killer is an essential, go-to resource for readers and even for writers of crime fiction. More than simply a glossary, this is a guide that provides a doorway into a supergenre, and one that is not just for readers, but also for the many fans of film and TV dramas, of podcasts, and crime blogs. It is also an indispensable resource for writers or would-be writers of crime fiction.