Arsène Lupin, gentleman thief – New detective and thriller titles

France Vintage GIF by RATP

Image via Giphy.

Welcome to this month’s selection of newly acquired detective and thriller titles.

There is a plethora of diverse and thrilling titles  on offer this month, but the title that caught our eye was The best of Lupin: adventures of Arsène Lupin, gentleman-thief by Maurice Leblanc; a reprint of stories from the first half of the twentieth century.

The huge runaway success of A.C. Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes, and the complexity of the character he created, spawned a whole host of budding detectives from all sorts of backgrounds, all hoping to emulate the success of the master detective.

And this was true of  the French novelist Maurice Leblanc, who took a rather unique approach to his central character Arsène Lupin – making him not a detective, but a gentleman thief  in a similar vein to E. W. Hornung’s  A. J. Raffles character. Coincidentally, E.W. Hornung was the brother-in-law of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.  The approach proved to be successful, with Arsène Lupin the gentleman thief going on to feature in 17 novels and 39 novellas .

The Holmes connections didn’t stop with the intellectual gentleman link or the E.W. Hornung connection. In one story, Lupin is introduced Sherlock Holmes – though for copyright reasons, his name was changed to Herlock Sholmès.

Our other top picks in this month’s selection can be viewed below.

The best of Lupin : adventures of Arsène Lupin, gentleman-thief / Leblanc, Maurice
“A collection of 22 short stories selected from the five collections of short stories about master criminal Arsene Lupin that Maurice Leblanc published in France a century ago. The English translations (some by George Morehead and some by Alexander Teixeira de Mattos) are now in the public domain. With a new introduction by mystery writer Martin Walker.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Continue reading “Arsène Lupin, gentleman thief – New detective and thriller titles”

Travel through time and space: New science books

Come for a journey through the vast universe to galaxies and dimensions far, far away. Explore the limits of human knowledge this month with our brand-new scientific books. If keeping your feet firmly on the ground is more appealing, we also have books set here on Earth for you! Pick up one of these books to begin your next science expedition.

To infinity and beyond : a journey of cosmic discovery / Tyson, Neil deGrasse
“No one can make the mysteries of the universe more comprehensible and fun than Neil deGrasse Tyson. The book begins as we leave Earth, encountering new truths about our planet’s atmosphere, the nature of sunlight, and the many missions that have demystified our galactic neighbors. When we finally arrive in the blackness of outer space, Tyson takes on the spookiest phenomena of the cosmos: parallel worlds, black holes, time travel, and more.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Deep sea : 10 things you should know : a deep dive into one of the most mysterious environments on our planet / Copley, Jon
“Uncover what lies at the deepest depths of our oceans… In ten brief and informative essays, Copley journeys to one of the most mysterious and fascinating environments on Earth, the deep sea. The Deep Sea: 10 things you should know is a brilliant guide to one of the most fascinating and curious places known to humankind.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Transient and strange : notes on the science of life / Greenfieldboyce, Nell
“An astonishing debut from the beloved NPR science correspondent: intimate essays about the intersection of science and everyday life. In this, her debut book, she delivers a wholly original collection of powerful, emotionally raw, and unforgettable personal essays that probe the places where science touches our lives most intimately. Transient and Strange captures the ache of ordinary life, offering resonant insights into both the world around us and the worlds within us.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Continue reading “Travel through time and space: New science books”

Beyond the surface: New personal development books

We are intricate beings, with complex emotions woven through a web of interconnected systems. This collection of books explores the vast tapestry of human experience, from navigating societal challenges to confronting personal grief. By celebrating our beautiful diversity and fostering connection within this complexity, we pave the path to true wellbeing and empowerment.

The Alternative: How to Build a Just Economy / Romeo, Nick
“While many still preach outdated economic dogmas, a growing number are rejecting these myths and reshaping economies around ethical values. Journalist Nick Romeo explores innovative models being implemented globally, from purpose-driven companies to climate budgeting to worker ownership. He outlines an alternative economic system structured around equity, sustainability and accountability that could work for everyone.” (Adapted from catalogue)

Fat Talk: Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture / Sole-Smith, Virginia
From a young age, kids internalize that being “fat” is bad and are pressured to pursue thinness by diet culture and weight-centric healthcare. ‘Fat Talk’ exposes how the war on “childhood obesity” has fuelled disordered eating and body hatred across all sizes. Drawing on research and personal accounts, the book argues to reclaim “fat” as not inherently unhealthy, stop trying to “prevent obesity,” and instead adopt a weight-inclusive approach that addresses societal fatphobia rather than viewing kids’ bodies as the problem. It provides an alternative framework for parenting around food and bodies.” (Adapted from catalogue)

How To Be: Life Lessons From The Early Greeks / Nicolson, Adam
“2,500 years ago, a few heroic individuals in small Mediterranean cities pioneered the beginnings of Western philosophy, casting off the dominance of god-kings and priests. Adam Nicolson takes readers on an expedition into these early innovative thinkers like Homer, Heraclitus, Xenophanes, Sappho and Pythagoras, who shaped ground-breaking ideas about the natural world, ethics, authenticity and the soul. Enhanced with visuals, it revisits the ancient philosophers’ fundamental questions about how to live and understand existence, shedding new light on the radical, investigative thought that formed the bedrock of Western philosophy.” (Adapted from catalogue)

Continue reading “Beyond the surface: New personal development books”

Tiny humans, big emotions: New parenting books

Whether you’re parenting a tiny human, or a tween or teen — or even an emerging adult — there are books that can support you as you go. Have a browse of the latest parenting books below, or head to our catalogue for the topic that interests you!

What’s my tween thinking? : practical child psychology for modern parents / Carey, Tanith
“Parenting just got tougher. As your child’s brain rewires, hormones kick in, and independence beckons, a perfect storm for family conflict emerges. But help is at hand. Divided into two sections – aged 8 to 10 and aged 10 to 12 – this practical parenting book is grounded in evidence-based psychology, exploring the science at work during this period of your child’s development.” (Catalogue)

When life sucks : parenting your teen through tough times / Prendergast, Jo
When Life Sucks is an essential guide to supporting your teen’s mental health. As a parent and psychiatrist, Dr Jo knows how hard it can be – especially if a teen communicates only in eye rolls and grunts! Covering everything from anxiety, depression, trauma and eating difficulties, to understanding neurodivergence and gender identity, this book is a first-aid manual for some of life’s toughest challenges. It’s not easy being a parent in a world of TikTok and bubblegum-flavoured vapes, but When Life Sucks gives you the practical tools to help make your life a little lighter and to support your teen towards a healthy headspace.” (Catalogue)

The mediatrician’s guide : a joyful approach to raising healthy, smart, kind kids in a screen-saturated world / Rich, Michael
“Dr. Michael Rich, dubbed the ‘Mediatrician’ thanks to his acclaimed work as a pediatrician, child health researcher, and children’s media specialist, offers a science-backed approach to give parents the confidence they need to raise a child well (and to raise a well child) in the digital age.” (Catalogue)

Tiny humans, big emotions : how to navigate tantrums, meltdowns, and defiance to raise emotionally Intelligent children / Campbell, Alyssa Blask
“Emotional development experts Alyssa Blask Campbell, M.Ed. and Lauren Stauble M.S. are at the forefront of a movement to foster little ones’ emotional intelligence. Their revolutionary Collaborative Emotion Processing (CEP) method has been a game changer for parents and educators, and now they are sharing it with readers in this indispensable guide.” (Catalogue)

Continue reading “Tiny humans, big emotions: New parenting books”

A Little Bit of Everything to Eat: new cook books

Here are some of the latest cook books that have arrived. Each book is uniquely different to suit a large variety of meal ideas.  From pairing cheese with wine, making preserves, quick vegan meals, first time baker and more… there’s something for everyone.

One pan chicken : 70 all-in-one chicken recipes for simple meals, every day / Thomson, Claire
“Providing solutions for if you’re cooking in the oven, on the stovetop, or need to use up leftovers, best-selling author and professional chef Claire Thomson offers up her best 70 recipes with chicken as star of the show, revealing just how simple it is to create delicious one-pan meals that all of the family will love. Whether you’re using a casserole dish, roasting pan, sheet pan, skillet, or stockpot, you’ll find delicious and inventive recipes using all your favorite and most popular cuts.” (Catalogue)

The little book of marmalade / Deedes, Lucy
“Marmalade had been around for hundreds of years – as a Portuguese sweetmeat, an after-dinner digestif, an aphrodisiac – before it turned into the most famous breakfast ingredient ever. It has been a household staple for over 200 years. Some like a clear jelly marmalade, with just a few wafers of peel; some a firm orange mixture with no extras. Some refuse to touch it unless it’s a dark paste, boiled down almost to toffee with a passing suggestion of booze about it. Whichever way you like yours, there’s the perfect recipe in The Little Book of Marmalade for you.” (Catalogue)

The best things in life are cheese : how to buy it, store it, cook with it and wow your guests with it / Studd, Ellie
“Cheese experts Ellie and Sam Studd unlock the world of cheese and share all the practical info you’ll need to up your game: how to buy and store cheese, how to pair cheese with drinks, crackers or fruit and how to put together the ultimate cheese board. Learn about the different categories of cheese – from blues and washed rinds to fresh cheeses such as mozzarella – and discover Ellie and Sam’s top picks for both Aussie and international varieties of each. Get ready to fall (even more!) in love with cheese and arm yourself with all the knowledge you need to select, store, serve, taste and cook with cheese like a true pro.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Continue reading “A Little Bit of Everything to Eat: new cook books”

Deepen Your World View: New Travel Books

Up to the peaks of mountains and down under the ocean, following locals and adventurers alike, these new travel books will take you to all the corners of the world! You can discover some interesting hotels in Unusual Hotels or be inspired by adventurous women in Adventuress. Check out what you can discover in our new travel books:

Unusual hotels : world
“Discover the finest unusual hotels from around the world in this exceptional photographic guide. How about spending the night in a see-through capsule stuck on the edge of a cliff, in a secret contemporary work of art, in an old church, or in a house sitting atop a water tower? Would you like to treat yourself to a night in an igloo, in a circus, in a futuristic tree house, in an underwater bedroom or at an open-air suite? Sometimes, hotels can be destinations in their own right.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Adventuress : women exploring the wild / Amell, Carolina
“In turn inspirational and extraordinary, these profiles in female courage, determination, and adventure are illustrated with breathtaking photography from some of the most intriguing corners of the world. From the ocean’s deepest canyons to the earth’s highest peaks, these extraordinary women offer readers the inspiration and encouragement they need to pursue their dreams-whatever they are, wherever they may be.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Windswept : life, nature and deep time in the Scottish Highlands / Worsley, Annie
“Annie Worsley traded a busy life in academia to take on a small-holding or croft on the west coast of Scotland. Windswept explores what it means to live in this awe-inspiring place of unquenchable spirit and wild weather. Windswept evokes a place where nature reigns supreme and humans must learn to adapt. It is her paean to a beloved place, one richer with colour, sound and life than perhaps anywhere else in the UK.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Continue reading “Deepen Your World View: New Travel Books”