Archie's Funhouse Comics Double Digest, 228 pages

 Archie and Veronica can't seem to go a day without getting into some silly argument, so Archie comes up with a foolproof plan to prevent that from happening -- he takes a vow of silence! If he can remain quiet for a whole 24 hours, there's no possible way he could get into any squabbles with anyone... right? Is Archie's plan infallible, or will he find himself wordlessly wandering into a war? Throw Reggie into the mix and anything's possible! Find out Archie's fate in "He's Quiet a Guy!" the new lead story to this fun comics digest!

Archie Comics Double Digest #261, 228 pages

 Summer's here and that means it's time for some summer camp adventures! Archie and his friends are all counselors at Camp Witwicky -- but Archie's determined to be the BEST one this year! Of course, Archie can only be as good as his campers -- and they're not nearly as excited about summer camp as Archie is! Will Archie impress all his campers and be the best counselor Camp Witwicky has ever seen -- or will his summer be a wash out? Find out in "All Camped Out!" the all-new, all-fun lead story to this comics double digest!

Archie Comics Digest Magazine #87, 128 pages

 

Betty and Veronica Comics Disgest Magazine #25, 128 pages

 

Laugh Comics Digest Magazine #59, 128 pages

 The Archie Digest Library "Laugh Comics Digest Magazine" #59. Archie Comics featuring: Archie, Jughead, Betty, Veronica, Mr. Lodge, Li'l Jinx, Mr. Hammer, Sabrina, Smithers, Moose, Reggie, Big Ethel, Little Archie, Shrimpy, Hot Dog, and Chuck.

White Trash Zombie Apocalypse by Diana Rowland, 311 pages

 Our favorite white trash zombie, Angel Crawford, has enough problems of her own, what with dealing with her alcoholic, deadbeat dad, issues with her not-quite boyfriend, the zombie mafia, industrial espionage and evil corporations. Oh, and it’s raining, and won’t let up.

But things get even crazier when a zombie movie starts filming in town, and Angel begins to suspect that it’s not just the plot of the movie that's rotten. Soon she's fighting her way through mud, blood, bullets and intrigue, even as zombies, both real and fake, prowl the streets.

Angel’s been through more than her share of crap, but this time she’s in way over her head. She’ll need plenty of brainpower to fit all the pieces—and body parts—together in order to save herself, her town, and quite possibly the human race.

Wrapped-Up Foxtrot by Bill Amend, 192 pages

 Bill Amends treasury, Wrapped-Up FoxTrot, will leave FoxTrot fans with a lasting impression and a lot of laughs.

Now a Sunday-only strip, this anthology includes colored Sundays as well as the final dailies of the comic Entertainment Weekly said "is the most idiosyncratic one to debut since Calvin and Hobbes."

Fans get all the family angst and antics they can handle with a collection of stories and experiences that only Jason, Peter, Paige, and parents can provide. Life is always fresh, topical, and irreverent in this wacky house.

One Last Gift by Emily Stone, 387 pages

 Cassie and Tom lost their parents at a young age and relied on each other--as well as a community of friends--to get through it. Especially Tom's best friend, Sam, who always made sure Tom and Cassie were surrounded with love. But now, twenty years later, Cassie has lost Tom as well. And in a way, she's also lost Sam; over the years they've drifted apart, and now the man she always had a crush on is someone she doesn't even recognize anymore.

She's never felt more alone.

Then she finds an envelope with her name on it, written in Tom's terrible handwriting, and she knows immediately what it is. It's the first clue in the Christmas scavenger hunt Tom made for her every year; he'd promised her for months that this year's would be the grandest one yet. At first, she's too scared to open it--what if she can't figure out the clues without his help? Or what if she does figure them all out, and her last connection to Tom is gone?

Tom's clues set Cassie on a heart-wrenching and beautiful journey that will change her life--if she lets them. And as she travels from London to the Welsh mountains to the French countryside, she reconnects with old friends, rekindles a lost love, and most importantly, rediscovers herself. But once she's solved the final clue, will she be brave enough to accept the gift her brother has given her--and the love it's led her to?

The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox, 342 pages

 All they want for Christmas is a different life.

When chef Charlie Goodwin gets hit on the head on the L.A. set of her reality baking show, she loses a lot more than consciousness; she also loses her ability to taste and smell--both critical to her success as show judge. Meanwhile, Charlie's identical twin, Cass, is frantically trying to hold her own life together back in their quaint mountain hometown while running the family's bustling bakery and dealing with her ex, who won't get the memo that they're over.

With only days until Christmas, a desperate Charlie asks Cass to do something they haven't done since they were kids: switch places. Looking for her own escape from reality, Cass agrees. But temporarily trading lives proves more complicated than they imagined, especially when rugged firefighter Jake Greenman and gorgeous physician's assistant Miguel Rodriguez are thrown into the mix. Will the twins' identity swap be a recipe for disaster, or does it have all the right ingredients for getting their lives back on track?

The Princess Knight by G. A. Aiken, 354 pages

 Gemma Smythe dedicated her life to the glory of battle. With her fellow War Monks, she worshipped the war gods, rained destruction on her enemies, and raised the dead when the fancy took her. Until her sister Keeley became the prophesied Blacksmith Queen, and Gemma broke faith with her order to journey to the Amichai Mountain and fight by Keeley’s side.

The Amichai warriors are an unruly, never-to-be-tamed lot, especially their leader-in-waiting, Quinn. But when the War Monks declare support for Gemma’s ruthless younger sister Beatrix, the immaturity of her key ally is the least of Gemma’s problems. She has to get to the grand masters, dispel their grudge against her, and persuade them to fight for Keeley and justice. If her conviction can’t sway them, perhaps Quinn’s irritating, irreverent, clearly unhinged, ferocity will win the day.

The Naughty List by Ellie Mae MacGregor, 59 pages

 While delivering presents on Christmas Eve, Santa gets a gift of his own.

Kate isn’t sure if Nikolai is the real deal, but this silver fox with big hands and thick thighs might just make her believe in Christmas miracles.

See if Kate has been naughty or nice in this light, fun, and steamy 15,000 word holiday romance with a guaranteed HEA.

Santa Claus Is Going to Town on Me by M. L. Eliza, 97 pages

 When Holly wakes up on Christmas Eve to find an intruder in her home, she does what anyone else would; grabs her replica medieval broadsword and sneaks downstairs to deal with him.

But he isn't a burglar. He wears a big red coat, big brown boots, and his big round belly shakes like a bowl full of jelly. He's Santa Claus. He's thick. And he's HOT.
What begins as a simple misunderstanding, develops into a passion Holly never knew she needed, with a man who knows her every want and desire. But Holly has a secret, one she can't ever let Claus discover; the true reason she hates Christmas.

Resting Scrooge Face by Meghan Quinn, 80 pages

 After a bad breakup, Nola wants nothing to do with Christmas, especially in her quaint hometown of Bright Harbor, Maine. Infuriatingly charming and cheery, Nola’s surroundings only worsen her sour mood.

To make matters worse, Caleb, the boy who broke her heart years ago, is all grown up and still living in town. While doing her best to avoid him, Nola bumps into the local mailman, who gives her a mysterious letter. And when she finds that the writer is a fellow Scrooge, she can’t help but feel her spirit lifting.

Nola writes back to her new pen pal—who, unbeknownst to Nola, is none other than Caleb. When Caleb gets a response hand delivered by the mailman, he’s intrigued by the mystery sender. A friendly correspondence develops—and quickly turns flirtatious.

Although Nola and Caleb claim they can’t stand each other, they can’t deny the simmering attraction that brought them together in the first place.

Can these nameless pen pals write their own love story—or will they be too caught up with the ghosts of their Christmases past to find a future together?

Archie's Funhouse Comics Double Digest #28, 128 pages

 In the BRAND NEW lead story, "Every Day is Sundae!," The Cooking Channel is looking for the best sundae in the country -- and one by Pop Tate is in the running! Archie and his friends all think they're the inspiration behind the recipe, but only one person knows the truth!

Jam-Packed Foxtrot by Bill Amend, 192 pages

 Meet the Fox family:

*  Roger, the sports-enthusiast father stuck in the middle rung of the corporate ladder.

*Andy, mother and mediator of the family. Always wanted lots of kids. Now knows better. Her gourmet specialty?-tofu casserole.

* Peter has never known a food he couldn't eat, but otherwise is a typical high schooler. Inherited the sports nut gene from Roger.

* Paige. Egads, a freshman! Mall rat, Cosmo queen. Knows full well Mr. Right is right around the corner . . . or the next one . . . or the next.

* Jason is the youngest sibling. This warped little genius' favorite pastimes include tormenting his sister and get-rich-quick schemes.

* And finally, Quincy, Jason's iguana. Vomits on Paige's pillow when not sleeping or eating. What more could a 10 year old boy ask for?

FoxTrot is a hugely popular comic strip, with twenty-three successful collections and nine treasuries. Appearing in over 1000 newspapers, three million FoxTrot books are in circulation. Jam-Packed FoxTrot features strips from Orlando Bloom Has Ruined Everything, My Hot Dog Went Out, Can I Have Another?, and How Come I'm Always Luigi?

Archie: 80 Years of Christmas, 256 pages

 

Lore Olympus: Volume Three by Rachel Smythe, 384 pages

 "It is natural for a King to be curious about his future Queen. . . ."

All of Olympus--and the Underworld--are talking about the God of the Dead and the sprightly daughter of Demeter. But despite the rumors of their romance, Hades and Persephone have plenty to navigate on their own.

Since coming to Olympus, Persephone has struggled to be the perfect maiden goddess. Her attraction to Hades has only complicated the intense burden of the gods' expectations. And after Apollo's assault, Persephone fears she can no longer bury the intense feelings of hurt and love that she's worked so hard to hide.

As Persephone contemplates her future, Hades struggles with his past, falling back into toxic habits in Minthe's easy embrace. With all the mounting pressure and expectations--of their family, friends, and enemies--both Hades and Persephone tell themselves to deny their deepest desires, but the pull between them is too tempting, too magnetic. It's fate.

This full-color edition of Smythe's original Eisner-nominated webcomic Lore Olympus brings Greek mythology into the modern age in a sharply perceptive and romantic graphic novel.

The Blacksmith Queen by G.A. Aiken, 296 pages

The Old King Is Dead

With the demise of the Old King, there’s a prophesy that a queen will ascend to the throne of the Black Hills. Bad news for the king’s sons, who are prepared to defend their birthright against all comers. But for blacksmith Keeley Smythe, war is great for business. Until it looks like the chosen queen will be Beatrix, her younger sister. Now it’s all Keeley can do to protect her family from the enraged royals. 
 
Luckily, Keeley doesn’t have to fight alone. Because thundering to her aid comes a clan of kilt-wearing mountain warriors called the Amichai. Not the most socially adept group, but soldiers have never bothered Keeley, and rough, gruff Caid, actually seems to respect her. A good thing because the fierce warrior will be by her side for a much longer ride than any prophesy ever envisioned …

The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik, 407 pages

 The one thing you never talk about while you're in the Scholomance is what you'll do when you get out. Not even the richest enclaver would tempt fate that way. But it's all we dream about, the hideously slim chance we'll survive to make it out the gates and improbably find ourselves with a life ahead of us, a life outside the Scholomance halls.

And now the impossible dream has come true. I'm out, we're all out--and I didn't even have to turn into a monstrous dark witch to make it happen. So much for my great-grandmother's prophecy of doom and destruction. I didn't kill enclavers, I saved them. Me, and Orion, and our allies. Our graduation plan worked to perfection: we saved everyone and made the world safe for all wizards and brought peace and harmony to all the enclaves of the world.

Ha, only joking! Actually it's gone all wrong. Someone else has picked up the project of destroying enclaves in my stead, and probably everyone we saved is about to get killed in the brewing enclave war on the horizon. And the first thing I've got to do now, having miraculously got out of the Scholomance, is turn straight around and find a way back in.

World of Betty and Veronica Jumbo Comics #16, 256 pages

 

Archie's Christmas Stocking #6, 228 pages

 

FoxTrot: The Works by Bill Amend, 256 pages

 This treasury edition, FoxTrot: The Works, combines two FoxTrot collections, FoxTrot and Pass the Loot. All the daily strips and color Sundays are collected in one large volume for FoxTrot fans everywhere.

The Necklace and Other Short Stories by Guy de Maupassat, 119 pages

 The French author Guy de Maupassant (1850-1893) was a master of the short story, creating detailed character studies and brief but moving dramas well suited to the genre.

The nine stories in this collection provide a vivid portrait gallery of his typical subjects — from simple peasants and prostitutes to soldiers, government clerks, and provincial bourgeois. Brilliantly naturalistic, these short works also reveal Maupassant's ability to observe the innumerable details of everyday life and reproduce them artfully and accurately, often with a caustic sense of humor.

His literary talents are amply displayed in this volume, which includes the memorable tale "Ball-of-Fat," regarded by many as technically one of the finest short stories ever written.

Ball-of-Fat (Boule de Suif)
The Necklace
A Piece of String
Mme. Tellier's Establishment
Mademoiselle Fifi
Miss Harriet
A Way to Wealth
My Uncle Jules
The Horla

Disney Cautionary Tales by Ridley Pearson & Abigail Larson, 256 pages

 What you are holding is no ordinary book. This book contains scary stories. Thrilling and chilling tales that feature the worst Disney villains. They twist and turn through unfortunate circumstances. Maybe you’ve heard of a cave full of wonders where no one escapes alive? Or a huntsman carrying a a princess’s heart back to an evil queen? Don’t forget the horseman who lost his head. Literally.

Something strange happens once you start reading. You might feel like you are in the story.

Right. Inside. The. Pages.

Just ask Billie Templeton. She knows allabout scary stories. Billie would rather such tales stay inside her book where they belong. If only her classmate, Tim, hadn’t found the mirror. The magic mirror. A mirror wrapped up and never to be opened.

But since when does Tim follow the rules?
Consider yourself warned.

Last Rites: The Evolution of the American Funeral by Todd Harra, 277 pages

 Why do we embalm the deceased? Why are funerals so expensive? Is there a reason coffins are shaped the way they are? When—and why—did we start viewing the deceased? Ceremonies for honoring the departed are crucial parts of our lives, but few people know where our traditional practices come from—and what they reveal about our history, culture, and beliefs about death. In Last Rites, author Todd Harra takes you on a fascinating exploration of American funeral practices—examining where they came from, what they mean, and how they are still evolving.

Our conventions around death, burial, and remembrance have undergone many great transitions—sometimes due to technology, respect for tradition, shifting sensibilities, or even to thwart grave robbers. Here you’ll explore:

• Influences for American rituals—from medieval Europe, the Roman Empire, and even ancient Egypt
• When mourning fell out of fashion—and how George Washington’s passing brought it back
• Abraham Lincoln’s landmark funeral and its widespread impact
• Flowers, liquor, mourning gifts, and caskets—the reasons behind our grieving customs
• Unknown soldiers—how warfare influenced funeral and bereavement practices … and vice versa
• How growing populations, religion, inventions, and media have changed and continue to shape our traditions
• The future of our death rites—mushroom suits, green burial, body donation, flameless cremation, home funerals, and more

The rich story of the American funeral is one of constant evolution. Whether you’re planning a funeral service or are simply intrigued by the meaning behind American burial practices, Last Rites is an informative and compelling exploration of the history—and future—of the ceremonies we use to say farewell to those who have departed this world.

Two Wrongs Make a Right by Chloe Liese, 326 pages

 Opposites become allies to fool their matchmaking friends in this swoony reimagining of Shakespeare’s beloved comedy, Much Ado About Nothing.

Jamie Westenberg and Bea Wilmot have nothing in common except a meet-disaster and the mutual understanding that they couldn't be more wrong for each other. But when the people closest to them play Cupid and trick them into going on a date, Jamie and Bea realize they have something else in common after all—an undeniable need for revenge.

Soon their plan is in place: Fake date obnoxiously and convince the meddlers they’re madly in love. Then, break up spectacularly and dash their hopes, putting an end to the matchmaking madness once and for all.

To convince everyone that they’ve fallen for each other, Jamie and Bea will have to nail the performance of their lives. But as their final act nears and playing lovers becomes easier than not, they begin to wonder, what if Cupid’s arrow wasn’t so off the mark? And what if two wrongs do make a right?

What To Do With a Dead Lawyer by Bill Berger and Ricardo Martinez, 65 pages

 

I Just Want to Talk to You, Beetle Bailey by Mort Walker, 128 pages

 

Beetle Bailey, Let's Grab a Bite! by Mort Walker, 128 pages

 

I Don't Want to Hear About It, Beetle Bailey, 128 pages

 Private Beetle Bailey and the cast of hilarious characters at Camp Swampy report to the forefront of the funnies once again! Sarge and his bull dog shadow, Otto really run Camp Swampy. Gen. Half-Track is too busy eyeing his office staff, playing golf and in general delegating duty to others. Lt. Fuzz is the company apple polisher and Lt. Flap is as unflappable as his name suggests.

The enlisted men are a delightful mix of very funny personalities. Killer Diller, with his romantic schemes, Rocky with his surly rebellion, Zero, the bunny-toothed rube and of course, Private Beetle Bailey leading the troops into laughter! You will learn the finer points in Sarge baiting, work dodging and AWOL without getting caught.

World of Betty and Veronica Jumbo Comics #3, 225 pages

 BRAND NEW STORY: “What if Betty and Veronica Were Guys?” We revisit “Reversedale” in this alternate reality story that turns the classic Archie/Betty/Veronica love triangle on its head! Who will win the heart of Riverdale’s most popular redhead Archina? Will it be Beau or Vernon?

World of Betty and Veronica Jumbo Comics #7, 225 pages

 

World of Betty and Veronica Jumbo Comics #12, 225 pages

 

Miss Davenport's Christmas by Marion Chesney, 168 pages

 The Davenport sisters were alone, without even a dour-faced maid to supervise their strict puritanical devotions. Then the elder, flame-haired Gillian, boldly decided it was high time they let their hair down. So, with the help of a kindly relation, the two daring misses exchanged their somber attire for modish gowns and hairstyles that would surely give their parents apoplexy!

But the best was yet to come: plum pudding, eggnog, carols, and a most breathtaking tree. The Davenport sisters reveled in the rituals of Christmas --- and in the selection of handsome gentlemen who decorated the festivities!
But when Gillian was caught under the mistletoe by Lord Ranger Marden, she discovered things her mother had never dreamed of telling her!

Tune In Tomorrow by Randee Dawn, 460 pages

 She’s just a small town girl, with big mythic dreams.

Starr Weatherby came to New York to become… well, a star. But after ten years and no luck, she’s offered a big role – on a show no one has ever heard of. And there’s a reason for that. It’s a ‘reality’ show beyond the Veil, human drama, performed for the entertainment of the Fae.

But as Starr shifts from astounded newcomer to rising fan favorite, she learns about the show’s dark underbelly – and mysterious disappearance of her predecessor. She’ll do whatever it takes to keep her dream job – though she might just bring down the show in the process.

European Travel for the Monstrous Gentlewoman by Theodora Goss, 720 pages

 In the sequel to the critically acclaimed The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter, Mary Jekyll and the rest of the daughters of literature’s mad scientists embark on a madcap adventure across Europe to rescue another monstrous girl and stop the Alchemical Society’s nefarious plans once and for all.

Mary Jekyll’s life has been peaceful since she helped Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson solve the Whitechapel Murders. Beatrice Rappaccini, Catherine Moreau, Justine Frankenstein, and Mary’s sister Diana Hyde have settled into the Jekyll household in London, and although they sometimes quarrel, the members of the Athena Club get along as well as any five young women with very different personalities. At least they can always rely on Mrs. Poole.

But when Mary receives a telegram that Lucinda Van Helsing has been kidnapped, the Athena Club must travel to the Austro-Hungarian Empire to rescue yet another young woman who has been subjected to horrific experimentation. Where is Lucinda, and what has Professor Van Helsing been doing to his daughter? Can Mary, Diana, Beatrice, and Justine reach her in time?

Racing against the clock to save Lucinda from certain doom, the Athena Club embarks on a madcap journey across Europe. From Paris to Vienna to Budapest, Mary and her friends must make new allies, face old enemies, and finally confront the fearsome, secretive Alchemical Society. It’s time for these monstrous gentlewomen to overcome the past and create their own destinies.

Sabrina: 60 Magical Stories, 515 pages

 Celebrate 60 years of Sabrina the Teenage Witch with this fun, full-color commemorative collection of magical and mischievous stories!

Sabrina: 60 Magical Stories collects over 500 pages of classic and beloved comic book stories—one from each of the 60 spell-binding years of Sabrina's history. The must-have collector’s item also features special behind-the-scenes anecdotes that shed light on each decade and iteration of Sabrina. This spellbinding tome is the perfect companion to 2021’s fan-favorite Best of Archie Comics: 80 Years, 80 Stories collection!

Meredith, Alone by Claire Alexander, 368 pages

 She has a full-time remote job and her rescue cat Fred. Her best friend Sadie visits with her two children.  There's her online support group, her jigsaw puzzles and favorite recipes, her beloved Emily Dickinson, the internet, the grocery delivery man.  Also keeping her company are treacherous memories of an unstable childhood, the estrangement from her sister, and a traumatic event that had sent her reeling.

But something's about to change. Whether Meredith likes it or not, the world is coming to her door.   Does she have the courage to overcome what's been keeping her inside all this time?

Plain Jane by Marion Chesney, 217 pages

 With each London season, an enchanting romance moves into the fashionable town house at number 67 Clarges Street. And there, below the stairs, the staff has a special mission--to arrange a match ...to hatch a scheme...to bring Love home to

A HOUSE FOR THE SEASON

"Oh to be as beautiful as Euphemia!" plain Jane Hart sighs when she joins her sister Euphemia at Number 67 Clarges Street for the season. Then Lord Tregarthan might notice her, as she had noticed him and forever lost her heart to the most eligible bachelor of the town. But Euphemia’s fate is to flirt through balls and into the arms of a marquis, while Jane’s is to stay home, amusing herself with snooping into the strange death of Miss Clara Vere-Baxton, a former tenant of Number 67 - until the downstairs staff transforms a plain Miss into the season’s sensation and sends her waltzing dangerously close to the secret of Clara’s demise and into a daring liaison with the lord of her dreams. 

The Miser of Mayfair by Marion Chesney, 167 pages

 Is Number 67 Clarges Street the unluckiest house in Mayfair? Every season the beau mondes of the Regency would hire a house in the heart of London’s fashionable West End at disproportionately high rent for often inferior accommodation and yet Number 67 Clarges Street, a town house complete with staff, remains vacant from year to year. Could it be that it is associated with ill luck and even death? Something must be done so that the servants of this house don’t lose their livelihood.

Salvation seems to come in the form of Roderick Sinclair who confirms he wishes to rent the house for the current season. The staff is overjoyed - until they find that Mr. Sinclair is a terrible miser who is planning no parties. Furthermore, his ward, Fiona, though a dazzling Highland beauty, does not seem to possess one bright idea in her head. But it is Rainbird, Number 67’s clever and elegant butler, who sees through her facade and resolves to help his mysterious mistress in whatever way he can.

Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn, 353 pages

 Older women often feel invisible, but sometimes that's their secret weapon.

They've spent their lives as the deadliest assassins in a clandestine international organization, but now that they're sixty years old, four women friends can't just retire - it's kill or be killed in this action-packed thriller.

Billie, Mary Alice, Helen, and Natalie have worked for the Museum, an elite network of assassins, for forty years. Now their talents are considered old-school and no one appreciates what they have to offer in an age that relies more on technology than people skills.

When the foursome is sent on an all-expenses paid vacation to mark their retirement, they are targeted by one of their own. Only the Board, the top-level members of the Museum, can order the termination of field agents, and the women realize they've been marked for death.

Now to get out alive they have to turn against their own organization, relying on experience and each other to get the job done, knowing that working together is the secret to their survival. They're about to teach the Board what it really means to be a woman--and a killer--of a certain age. 

Gleanings: Stories From the Arc of a Scythe by Neal Shusterman, 423 pages

 There are still countless tales of the Scythedom to tell. Centuries passed between the Thunderhead cradling humanity and Scythe Goddard trying to turn it upside down. For years humans lived in a world without hunger, disease, or death with Scythes as the living instruments of population control.

Neal Shusterman—along with collaborators David Yoon, Jarrod Shusterman, Sofía Lapuente, Michael H. Payne, Michelle Knowlden, and Joelle Shusterman—returns to the world throughout the timeline of the Arc of a Scythe series. Discover secrets and histories of characters you’ve followed for three volumes and meet new heroes, new foes, and some figures in between.

Come, Tell Me How You Live by Agatha Christie Mallowan, 222 pages

 Agatha Christie was already a celebrated writer of mysteries when, in 1930, she married the archaeologist Max Mallowan. In the pre-war years thereafter, Christie enthusiastically joined her husband on various archaeological expeditions in the Middle East, and these shared adventures, these happy and memorable times, provided her not only with the background for several of her novels, but also with the "everyday doings and happenings" which she zestfully describes in the pages of this high-spirited memoir, which was first published in 1946.

Archie Jumbo Comics #331, 225 pages

 

Archie Jumbo Comics #330, 225 pages

 

Peril in Paris by Rhys Bowen, 290 pages

What a delight it is to finally be able to enjoy a simple meal again! I have been in the throes of morning sickness for the last few months as Darcy and I prepare to welcome a brand-new addition to our little family. Now that I am feeling better, I have realized I am dreadfully bored! It seems that all my nearest and dearest are off leading their own busy lives while I sit at home and attempt to train our two adorably naughty puppies. Fun as it may be, it is hard not to long for a little adventure, a change of pace, before my true confinement begins when the baby comes.

Happily, it seems that Darcy has read my mind. When I receive a letter from my glamorous best friend, Belinda, Darcy suggests we take a trip to Paris to visit her. It seems he also has a spot of business of which to take care, so I will be staying in Belinda’s flat as she works feverishly on Coco Chanel’s fall collection. I happen to know Coco from a disastrous encounter in Nice years ago, and I am hoping this visit will go much more smoothly. But I soon learn that nothing about my time in Paris is going to be simple . . . or safe for that matter.

Darcy has asked me to take on a small chore as a part of his latest assignment. I am to covertly retrieve something from an attendee of Coco’s show. It seems easy enough, but I discover that this little errand could have terrifying consequences for a world on the brink of war. When things go horribly wrong, I am left to find a killer all while trying to fend off a French policeman who is certain that I am a criminal mastermind. But I have no plans to deliver my darling little one in a prison cell, and so I will muster every ounce of my courage to save the day . . . and, quite possibly, the world!