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万本电子书0元读

Leonardo and the Death Machine
Leonardo and the Death Machine
Robert J. Harris
¥45.22
Adventure thriller set in Renaissance Italy starring Leonardo da Vinci as a young apprentice who witnesses a murder and becomes involved in a plot to take over the city. LEONARDO AND THE DEATH MACHINE is first and foremost a thriller, set against the background of Renaissance Italy. However, the Leonardo of the title is in fact Leonardo da Vinci. This is a totally fictional adventure, but it COULD have happened. When we first meet Leonardo we find him apprenticed to a successful artist in Florence. But although he yearns to be a great artist himself, he's rather disillusioned with his apprenticeship, which has made him more of an errand boy than an art student. Then, when an impromptu street football match ends in an arm injury for his friend Sandro (whom history will know as Botticelli), Leonardo leaps at the opportunity to help out the unfortunate painter who has been commissioned to paint a portrait for the rich Medici family. Little does our young hero know that soon he will be dragged into murder and intrigue, and will be fleeing for his life!
The Fields of Grief
The Fields of Grief
Giles Blunt
¥53.76
A terrifying psychological thriller in which a spate of suicides could just be the work of a serial killer; featuring homicide detectives Cardinal and Delorme from the award-winning ‘Forty Words for Sorrow’. Photographer Catherine Cardinal’s fatal fall from a high building one moonlit night is ruled an act of suicide. She has a history of depression, a note is found and her psychiatrist is not surprised. But her husband, John Cardinal, won’t accept this conclusion. Driven by grief and guilt, he launches his own investigation, helped by his reluctant colleagues. And when vicious notes appear, taunting him for his loss, his theory that she was murdered suddenly seems to be credible. Cardinal revisits his past, searching for a possible suspect among his previous arrests. Someone with a grudge, a person twisted enough to target his innocent wife in revenge. But could he be looking in the wrong place? The mystery deepens when he uncovers a spate of tragic suicides, leading him to investigate a startling new possibility – one so shocking, it has never been suspected…
Black Fly Season
Black Fly Season
Giles Blunt
¥65.53
The third atmospheric psychological thriller featuring detectives Cardinal and Delorme, from the award-winning author of FORTY WORDS FOR SORROW. Sacrifice for the spirits or brutal murder? Someone in Algonquin Bay is out for blood. A young woman has been shot in the head. She can't remember why anyone wants to hurt her, or even her own name. Then a body turns up – Wombat Guthrie, biker and drug dealer, has taken his last ride. It's unlikely that the two cases are linked, but detectives Cardinal and Delorme keep encountering a name – 'Red Bear'. A Chippewa shaman, Red Bear has recently moved into drugs and has enlisted the help of the spirit world. In return the 'spirits' demand sacrifice – human sacrifice. As the woman regains her memory, Cardinal suspects that she may not be as innocent as she appears. And what of Red Bear? Really a shaman? Or just another dealer with an appetite for murder? The truth must be found before the spirits claim another 'sacrifice'…
The Queen of Subtleties
The Queen of Subtleties
Suzannah Dunn
¥63.18
A tremendously vivid, page-turning and plausible novel that depicts the rise and fall of Anne Boleyn, the most spirited, independent and courageous of Henry’s queens, as viewed from both the bedrooms and the kitchens of the Tudor court. Everyone knows the story of Anne Boleyn. Henry VIII divorced his longstanding, long-suffering, older, Spanish wife for a young, black-eyed English beauty, and, in doing so, severed England from Rome and indeed from the rest of the western world. Then, when Henry had what he wanted, he managed a mere three years of marriage before beheading his wife for alleged adultery with several men, among them his own best friend and her own brother. This is the context for Suzannah Dunn's wonderful new novel, which is about – and told by – two women: Anne Boleyn, king's mistress and fated queen; and Lucy Cornwallis, the king's confectioner, an employee of the very highest status, who made the centrepiece of each of the feasts to mark the important occasions in Anne's ascent. There's another link between them, though: the lovely Mark Smeaton, wunderkind musician, the innocent on whom, ultimately, Anne's downfall hinged… Suzannah Dunn has all the equipment needed for literary-commercial success: wit, a mastery of dialogue, brilliant characterization, lack of pretence, and good humour. The Queen of Subtleties adds to that mix a wonderfully balanced, strong story; Dunn has plumped for a fascinating retelling of one of the most often-told, most compelling stories of our islands' history. In doing so, she's turning from contemporary stories to historical fiction. The result is sensational.
The Confession of Katherine Howard
The Confession of Katherine Howard
Suzannah Dunn
¥66.22
The new novel from the bestselling author of THE SIXTH WIFE. When 12-year-old Katherine Howard comes to live in the Duchess of Norfolk's household, poor relation Cat Tilney is deeply suspicious. The two girls couldn't be more different: Cat, watchful and ambitious; Katherine, interested only in clothes and boys. Their companions are in thrall to Katherine, but it's Cat in whom Katherine confides and, despite herself, Cat is drawn to her. Summoned to court at 17, Katherine leaves Cat in the company of her ex-lover, Francis, and the two begin their own, much more serious, love affair. Within months, the king has set aside his Dutch wife Anne for Katherine. The future seems assured for the new queen and her maid-in-waiting, although Cat would feel more confident if Katherine hadn't embarked on an affair with one of the king's favoured attendants, Thomas Culpeper. However, for a blissful year and a half, it seems that Katherine can have everything she wants. But then allegations are made about her girlhood love affairs. Desperately frightened, Katherine recounts a version of events which implicates Francis but which Cat knows to be a lie. With Francis in the Tower, Cat alone knows the whole truth of Queen Katherine Howard – but if she tells, Katherine will die.
The Lover’s Dictionary: A Love Story in 185 Definitions
The Lover’s Dictionary: A Love Story in 185 Definitions
David Levithan
¥66.22
How does one talk about love? We are all beginners when it comes to love, from those tentative first dates to learning how to live with, or without, someone. But how does one describe love? How does one chart its delights and pleasures, its depths and desolations? Do we even have the right words to describe something that can be both utterly mundane and completely transcendent, pulling us out of our everyday lives and making us feel a part of something greater than ourselves? David Levithan's The Lover's Dictionary starts where we all once started – with the alphabet. Constructing the story of a relationship as a dictionary, Levithan explores the intimacies and workings of love through his nameless narrator, to paint a moving portrait of love through everyday words. Cleverly using the confines of language to provide an intimate window into the great events and quotidian trifles of being part of a couple, Levithan gives us an indelible and deeply moving portrait of love in our time.
The Kingdom by the Sea (Collins Modern Classics)
The Kingdom by the Sea (Collins Modern Classics)
Robert Westall
¥51.50
Guaradian award winning novel about courage, friendship and war. Reissued into the Essential Modern Classic list. When a bomb during an air raid destroys Harry's home and kills his family, he knows that he is all alone in the world and has only himself to rely on. Anxious that he will be sent to live with his fussy Cousin Elsie he goes on the run across the war-battered land of North East England, his only friend in his journey a stray dog that he meets on the beach. Will Harry ever find a place to call home again, or will he be on the run forever?
Ironcrown Moon: Part Two of the Boreal Moon Tale
Ironcrown Moon: Part Two of the Boreal Moon Tale
Julian May
¥59.15
The continuation of a powerful new fantasy adventure filled with dark magic and deadly intrigue, from the worldwide bestselling author of the SAGA OF THE PLIOCENE EXILE. King Conrig Ironcrown now rules the entire island of High Blenholme. But the peace he achieved after ruthlessly uniting its four quarrelling kingdoms into a Sovereignty is about to be challenged by enemies both mortal and supernatural. Rumours abound that his vengeful first wife, Maudrayne, believed to have committed suicide when she discovered his infidelity, is in fact still alive and about to reveal a secret that could cost Conrig his throne. A more tangible threat is posed by the ambitious sorcerer Beynor, and his crony, Conrig's traitorous former alchymist Kilian, who have stolen a trove of currently inactive moonstones capable of drawing tremendous power from the mysterious supernatural Beaconfolk. After initiating a civil war, the pair hope to utilize this power to vanquish Conrig's fatally divided realm and rule it themselves. The King's unlikely champion is his royal intelligencer, Deveron, a young man secretly possessed of magical talents. But Deveron is torn between his loyalty to the iron-willed king and his own conscience. The resulting clash involves not only human beings, but also the ancient races who inhabited High Blenholme before them – and who now intend to take back their lost homeland.
Jimmy Coates: Target
Jimmy Coates: Target
Joe Craig
¥31.49
Jimmy’s back in the electrifying sequel to Jimmy Coates: Killer. Stand back for this high-speed adventure, packed with surprises, danger and escape against the odds. “Jimmy's fingers were slipping. Smeared with blood, he had hardly any grip. He had to hold on. Mitchell chopped his hand down hard into Jimmy's shoulder, cutting off the nerves to his fingers. Staring up into Mitchell's ice-cold eyes, Jimmy fell into the shredder.” Jimmy Coates is still on the run – and this time NJ7 are pulling no punches. They’re out for blood, and even though Jimmy has gone into hiding in France, they still track him down. Jimmy might think that life could hold no further surprises for him – but he’s very, very wrong.
Ben, in the World
Ben, in the World
Doris Lessing
¥68.67
From Doris Lessing, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, the sequel to one of her most celebrated novels, ‘The Fifth Child’. ‘The Fifth Child’, Doris Lessing’s 1988 novel, made a powerful impact on publication. Its account of idyllic marital and parental bliss shattered by the arrival of the feral fifth child of the Lovatts made for unnerving and compulsive reading. That child, Ben, is the central character of this sequel, which picks up the fable at the end of his childhood and takes our primal, misunderstood, maladjusted teenager out into the world. He meets mostly with mockery, fear and incomprehension, but with just enough kindness and openness to keep him afloat as his adventures take him from London to the south of France and on to South America in his restless quest for community, companionship and peace. Lessing employs a plain, unadorned prose fit for fables; again, we have a childlike perspective at the heart of the book; again, the world in all its malevolence and misapprehension swirls around at the edge, while, occasionally, a strong character steps forward to try to set a good example.
Cocaine Nights
Cocaine Nights
J. G. Ballard,James Lever
¥57.09
‘Snort up “Cocaine Nights”. It’s disorientating, deranging and knocks the work of other avant-garde writers into a hatted cock’ Will Self Five people die in an unexplained house fire in the Spanish resort of Estrella de Mar, an exclusive enclave for the rich, retired British, centred on the thriving Club Nautico. The club manager, Frank Prentice, pleads guilty to charges of murder – yet not even the police believe him. When his Charles arrives to unravel the truth, he gradually discovers that behind the resort’s civilized fa?ade flourishes a secret world of crime, drugs and illicit sex. At once an engrossing mystery and a novel of ideas, ‘Cocaine Nights’ is a stunningly original work, a vision of a society coming to terms with a life of almost unlimited leisure. This edition is part of a new commemorative series of Ballard’s works, featuring introductions from a number of his admirers (including Neil Gaiman, Zadie Smith, John Lanchester and Martin Amis) and brand-new cover designs.
Glover’s Mistake
Glover’s Mistake
Nick Laird
¥63.18
From a rising young novelist comes an artful meditation on love and life in contemporary London. When David Pinner introduces his former teacher, the American artist Ruth Marks, to his friend and flatmate James Glover, he unwittingly sets in place a love triangle loaded with tension, guilt and heartbreak. As David plays reluctant witness (and more) to James and Ruth's escalating love affair, he must come to terms with his own blighted emotional life. Set in the London art scene awash with new money and intellectual pretension, in the sleek galleries and posh restaurants of a Britannia resurgent with cultural and economic power, Nick Laird's insightful and drolly satirical novel vividly portrays three people whose world gradually fractures along the fault lines of desire, truth and jealousy. With wit and compassion, Laird explores the very nature of contemporary romance, among damaged souls whose hearts and heads never quite line up long enough for them to achieve true happiness.
13 Little Blue Envelopes
13 Little Blue Envelopes
Maureen Johnson
¥58.86
Everything about Ginny will change this summer, and it’s all because of 13 little blue envelopes… Perfect summer read from Queen of Teen 2012 Ginny, aged 17, is left 13 little blue envelopes by her free-spirited young Aunt Peg. Little does she know just how much they will change her life… ? Inside envelope No 1 is money and instructions to buy a plane ticket. ? Inside envelope No 2 are directions to a specific London flat ? Inside envelope No 3 a note to Ginny says: Find a starving artist. ? And because of envelope No 4 Ginny and a man called Keith go to Scotland together, with somewhat disastrous – though utterly romantic – results.
Trixie Fights For Furry Rights
Trixie Fights For Furry Rights
Ros Asquith
¥45.42
Trixie is a feisty, funny ten-and-three quarters-year-old who knows exactly what she thinks and is always ready to share it! Irresistible illustrated stories from the creator of the highly successful Teenage Worrier series. Trixie's beloved doggy Harpo (yes, the infamous Doggy Yap Star) had puppies and the day has come to find them a new home, much to Trixie's despair. Nothing she says can convince her parents that they really DO need to keep all of the Very Extremely cuddly and talented furry friends. Nobody understands that Trixie is the only person who can bring up puppies, when everyone else keeps calling them "Dumb Animals" and outrageous things like that. Especially the local posh lady who wants to buy THE WHOLE LITTER, convincing Trixie that they have their very own Cruella de Ville situation on hand. Naturally, Trixie has a plan involving a school project, teaching the new dogs old tricks, and a Very Extremely Brilliant trap!!
Keeping Her Safe (Mills & Boon M&B)
Keeping Her Safe (Mills & Boon M&B)
Myrna Mackenzie
¥27.27
When investigative journalist Natalie McCabe discovers a local investment bank is taking retirees for a ride, she's all over the case, even going undercover to get the goods on dirty brokers. But then Jason Jamison, the man she recently saw murder his wife, escapes from jail. And incognito or not, Natalie's life is in danger. Fortunately her new bodyguard, Vincent Fortune, has the brawn to keep her safe…as long as she plays by his rules. Vincent can't figure out his spitfire client. She wants security, but sneaks away as soon as she thinks she has a lead. All he knows is their attraction is growing stronger each day. And Vincent's not sure how much longer he can protect Natalie from his own desire.
Family in Hiding (Mills & Boon Love Inspired Suspense)
Family in Hiding (Mills & Boon Love Inspired Suspense)
Valerie Hansen
¥31.10
TILL DEATH DO US PART? When her estranged husband Dylan's inadvertent dealings with a crime ring bring danger to her doorstep, Grace McIntyre has no choice but to follow him into the witness protection program. To safeguard her children, they must all go into hiding as one big happy family. Grace doesn't know what's worse–having to pretend she's in love with the man who betrayed her trust or keeping ahead of the killers. In hiding, Dylan is all that stands between their safety and certain death. Now more than ever, he wants to be the man that Grace once loved. Keeping his family alive is his only hope–to be a hero and a husband.
Healed with a Kiss (Mills & Boon Cherish)
Healed with a Kiss (Mills & Boon Cherish)
Gina Wilkins
¥22.07
One night is never enough! There are many words people use to describe Logan Carmichael, but romantic is not one of them. Even he can see the irony that he has become co-owner of the Bride Mountain Inn! Until he falls – hard – for the one woman who is determined to stay just out of his reach… Alexis Mosley might be the only wedding planner in the world who doesn’t believe in happily-ever-after. She believes she and Logan can just ‘keep things casual’ – nothing more. But as she surrenders herself to him each night, Alexis begins to wonder if they might have a fairytale ending after all…
A Convenient Wedding (Mills & Boon Vintage Cherish)
A Convenient Wedding (Mills & Boon Vintage Cherish)
Lucy Gordon
¥31.10
It was a grand white wedding that would make the society pages the world over–handsome British aristocrat Jarvis Larne was marrying beautiful American oil heiress Meryl Winters. But behind the lavish ceremony, their vows were a sham. Marrying for convenience had been the only way Jarvis could save his estate–and that had hurt his pride. But after the wedding came the wedding night–which exceeded both their expectations! Was their society wedding set to become a marriage for real?
A Surprise Christmas Proposal (Mills & Boon Vintage Cherish)
A Surprise Christmas Proposal (Mills & Boon Vintage Cherish)
Liz Fielding
¥31.10
Her Christmas gift came in a small velvet box… "Isn't it strange how things turn out? A week ago I was virtually jobless, almost homeless, and had totally sworn off men–a sad way to be before Christmas, don't you think? Now I'm not only working for the most gorgeous man alive, but I'm living in his house!" Meet sassy, smiley Sophie Harrington. Read in her own words how a much-needed job brings her up close and personal with rugged bachelor Gabriel York. Although Sophie is hardly a waif or stray, Gabriel ends up taking her in as a temporary lodger in his exclusive London home. How long before he realizes Sophie isn't just for Christmas–but for life…?
A Wife on Paper (Mills & Boon Vintage Cherish)
A Wife on Paper (Mills & Boon Vintage Cherish)
Liz Fielding
¥20.60
A convenient wife… An inconvenient love… Francesca walked into the room and Guy Dymoke was mesmerized. But she was pregnant with Guy's brother's baby. An impossible situation…and Guy had been hiding his feelings ever since. Years later, Francesca is now a widow, and when the will is read she's stunned to discover she's been placed into Guy's safekeeping…as his convenient wife! Guy wants to give Francesca and her son all the care in the world. He also yearns to tell her how much he really loves her. But he'll wait for the day that she gives her love freely in return….
Navarro or Not (Mills & Boon American Romance)
Navarro or Not (Mills & Boon American Romance)
Tina Leonard
¥31.10
That Man's Only Interests Were Boots, Babes And Beds! A love-'em-and-leave-'em cowboy was not what Nina Cakes wanted when she asked for a muscular man to help move her heirloom bed. After all, it was a cowboy who had gotten her sister into trouble, and no handsome rancher–not even a notorious Jefferson brother named Navarro–would make Nina forget why she'd come to Lonely Hearts Station: to save her sister's good name. Staid, ordinary, respectable, Nina was a librarian on a mission, and it would take more than sweet talk, teasing grins and world-shaking kisses to tempt her onto the wild side…. She'd settle for nothing less than lassoing his untamed heart!