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Extracts

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Sixty Summers

Oblivious to the golden morning awakening around her, the chorus of birdsong and the heckling of kookaburras in the ghost gums, Maggie swam laps of the pool.

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Hush Hush

Someone tries to kill me at least once a day.

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Miracle at St Andrews

For the fifth time on the back nine, my caddy, John Abate, pulls his green military-issue binoculars from the side pouch...

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The Parisian

There was one other Arab onboard the ship to Marseille. His name was Faruq al-Azmeh, and the day after leaving port in Alexandria he approached Midhat at breakfast, with a plate of toast in one hand and a string of amber prayer beads in the other.

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The Confessions of Frannie Langton

I never would have done what they say I’ve done, to Madame, because I loved her. Yet they say I must be put to death for it, and they want me to confess. But how can I confess what I don’t believe I’ve done?

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Machines Like Me

It was religious yearning granted hope, it was the holy grail of science. Our ambitions ran high and low – for a creation myth made real, for a monstrous act of self-love.

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The Aftermath

“We’ve found a house for you, sir.” 

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Lilac Girls

If I’d known I was about to meet the man who’d shatter me like bone china on terra-cotta, I would have slept in. Instead, I roused our florist, Mr. Sitwell, from his bed to make a boutonnière. My first consulate gala was no time to stand on ceremony.

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Lost Roses

I only put the centipede in Eliza’s slipper since I thought she was stealing my sister Sofya from me. I was eight years old and had just lost my mother. I couldn’t lose Sofya, too.

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Big Sky

And there’s the Ark Royal, keeping a good distance from the enemy...There were a couple of quiet explosions – pop-pop-pop.

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Mac and His Problem

I’m fascinated by the current vogue for posthumous books, and I’m thinking of writing a fake one that could appear to be “posthumous” and “unfinished” when it would, in fact, be perfectly complete.

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Four Respectable Ladies Seek the Meaning of Wife

The point of life had been preying on the Mayor’s mind. Why was he on earth? Other than greatness, what was required of him?

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The Gift of Life

‘So, it’s been a year since The Tin Man opened?’ the journalist asked, checking her notes. She was young and shiny and chirpy, which gave Gabby hope the article would be a correspondingly positive one.

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The Woman in Darkness

The noose tightened around his neck, and the oxygen deprivation spun his head into a splendid mix of euphoria and panic.

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Super Sidekicks 1: No Adults Allowed

Hi! My name is Junior Justice, but you can call me JJ. I'm glad you received my secret directions to this warehouse for our meeting.

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Run Away

Simon sat on a bench in Central Park—in Strawberry Fields, to be more precise—and felt his heart shatter.

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The Sparkle Pages

I have been hiding in the wardrobe for eleven and a half min¬utes. I’ve done ten and a half minutes of deep breathing and a bit of meditation and still I don’t trust myself to come out.

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Out of Sight

I know within thirty-three seconds of entering the front door that my home is empty and my husband and daughter are missing.

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One False Move

Carl said I was absolutely the right person for this job. I think he meant it. He didn’t actually say it was a job for a woman, but I could tell that’s what he thought.

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The Snakes

The night they decided to leave London Bea had a dream. Dreams are like silent films; guns are fired without shots, people talk without voices.

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Daisy Jones and The Six

Daisy Jones was born in 1951 and grew up in the Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles, California.

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A Rose Petal Summer

Caro pulled her jersey over her knees knowing she should just be sensible and have an early night.

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Charlie Savage

One of the grandkids wants a tattoo.

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Beautiful Death

The two men frowned at the map. It made little sense and one referred to the detailed instructions he’d taken good care to note down.

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