Strange Ways

“A great example of contemporary British fantasy; a gritty page-turner packed with creative twists on criminal magic.” —Phil Williams, author of the Ordshaw series No magician has ever escaped Coldwater Prison. But that is exactly where Amanda Coleman, heist artist and Abra-killer, must go. Somewhere in London, a mysterious blackmailer has enough evidence to put Amanda’s head in a noose and ensure her only remaining daughter, Michaela, is right alongside her when it happens. To save Michaela, Amanda must assassinate one of Coldwater’s most infamous residents. But the only way in is as an inmate. But a notorious Abra-killer like Amanda can expect a few old enemies in a prison full of mages, and they have their own plans . . . A fast-paced thriller filled with magic and suspense, perfect for fans of Lauren Beukes and James Oswald. “Starts off with a bang and ends up being a thrilling ride . . . Williams does a fantastic job setting the London and prison scenes with action-packed, suspenseful atmosphere . . . Supernatural mixed with Jessica Jones.” —Cemetery Dance publications “Strange Ways is a thrilling ride into a world full of dangerous magic that feels all too real. Williams is truly a master of storytelling’s darkest arts.” —Mike Shackle, author of We Are the Dead “Different and cunning, fast-paced and thrilling, a hugely entertaining story from start to finish.” —Edward Cox, author of the Relic Guild trilogy “Tense, oppressive and spectacular, a gritty and inventive tale of blood-soaked magic and razor-edged characters to root for.” —David Wragg, author of The Black Hawks “A brilliantly weaved redemption story with magic that will blow your mind.” —Mark Stay, author of The End of Magic

This Sunday Times bestseller is a shocking and at times darkly funny account of life as a prison officer in HMP Manchester. 'Authentic, tough, horrifying in some places and hilarious in others . . . the author’s honesty and decency shine through' – Jonathan Aitken ______________ Neil ‘Sam’ Samworth spent eleven years working as a prison officer in HMP Manchester, aka Strangeways. A tough Yorkshireman with a soft heart, Sam had to deal with it all – gangsters and gangbangers, terrorists and psychopaths, addicts and the mentally ill. Men who should not be locked up and men who should never be let out. He tackles cell fires and self-harmers, and goes head to head with some of the most dangerous men in the country. He describes being attacked by prisoners, and reveals the problems caused by radicalization and the drugs flooding our prisons. As staffing cuts saw Britain’s prison system descend into crisis, the stress of the job – the suicides, the inhumanity of the system, and one assault too many – left Sam suffering from PTSD. Strangeways by Neil Samworth is a raw, searingly honest memoir that is a testament to the men and women of the prison service and the incredibly difficult job we ask them to do. ______________ 'A frequently shocking read' – Daily Express

Acerbic dark humour meets hardcore science in this mind-boggling exploration of the nine worst ways the world could end Which will get us first? The supervolcano in Yellowstone National Park? An asteroid hurtling through outer space? Black holes from CERN gobbling up the solar system? An army of deranged nanobots? Or – who knows – alien invasion? Armed with lavish illustrations and their one-of-a-kind “Catastrophometer”, Dr David Darling and Dr Dirk Schulze-Makuch introduce the disasters you never saw coming, unpicking the science that makes them genuine possibilities, and providing everything from survival tips to danger ratings. So sit back, face the inevitable, and discover the delights of the nine oddest ways the world could end.

"While eighteenth-century efforts to standardize the English language have long been studied--from Samuel Johnson's 'Dictionary' to grammar and elocution books of the period--less well-known are the era's popular collections of odd slang, criminal argots, provincial dialects, and nautical jargon. 'Strange Vernaculars' delves into how these published works presented the supposed lexicons of the 'common people' and traces the ways that these languages, once shunned and associated with outsiders, became objects of fascination in printed glossaries--from 'The New Canting Dictionary' to Francis Grose's 'Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue'--and in novels, poems, and songs, including works by Daniel Defoe, John Gay, Samuel Richardson, Robert Burns, and others"--Front jacket flap.

"This big book of lists highlights the weird and wacky stuff found in the Bible and invites kids to get curious and engage with the Bible in a whole new way"--