Most Popular Books by Kate Saunders

A vividly drawn contemporary fairy tale—full of invention, adventure, and wonderfully colorful characters.

''A Dickensian glow pervades this immensely satisfying novel. Hugely enjoyable'' James Runcie, author of ''The Grantchester Mysteries'' ''Saunders''s prose is precise and a pleasure to read. The plot twists and turns, and Laetitia is a warm and engaging heroine'' The Times The first in the delightfully cosy and clever mystery series featuring private detective, Laetitia Rodd. Winter, 1850. Mrs Laetitia Rodd is the impoverished widow of an Archdeacon, living modestly in Hampstead with her landlady Mrs Bentley. She is also a private detective of the utmost discretion. When her brother Frederick, a criminal barrister, introduces her to Sir James Calderstone, a wealthy and powerful industrialist, she is tasked to investigate the background of an ''unsuitable'' woman his son intends to marry – a match he is determined to prevent. In the guise of governess, she travels to the family seat, Wishtide, deep in the frozen Lincolnshire countryside, where she soon discovers that the Calderstones have more to hide than most. As their secrets unfold, the case takes an unpleasant turn when a man is found dead outside a tavern, and Mrs Rodd''s search for the truth takes her from elite drawing rooms to London''s notorious inns and its steaming laundry houses. Perfect for fans of The Thursday Murder Club, M.C. Beaton, Jessica Fellowes and James Runcie.

Originally published: London: Marion Lloyd Books, 2010.

In this incredible, heart-wrenching story reminiscent of E. Nesbit’s Five Children and It, Kate Saunders illustrates the power of war but the even greater power of family, and the love that carries us out of the darkness of despair into the light of hope. The sand fairy, also known as the Psammead, is merely a creature from stories Lamb and Edith have heard their older brothers and sisters tell . . . until he suddenly reappears. Lamb and Edith are pleased to have something to take their minds off the war, but this time the Psammead’s magic might have a serious purpose. Before their adventure ends, all will be changed, and the Lamb and Edith will have seen the Great War from every possible viewpoint—that of factory workers, soldiers and sailors, and nurses. But most of all, the war’s impact will be felt by those left behind, at the very heart of their family. Praise for Five Children on the Western Front Winner of the Costas Award for Children’s Fiction ★ “An irresistible read.”—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review “Skillful and deeply moving.” —The Guardian “A rewarding experience.”—Booklist “Saunders strikes a surprisingly successful balance between the mischievous magic of the sand fairy and the harsh realities of wartime England.” —The Bulletin “A dramatic, heartrending look at World War I’s far-reaching consequences for families and individuals.”—SLJ “An emotionally resonant, engaging story of personal growth (the siblings’) and moral education (the Psammead’s). With issues of social and gender inequality and a compassionate take on the ruins of war, it’s historically convincing, thought-provoking, and sensitive.”—The Horn Book Magazine

Fans of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will adore Kate Saunders’s new middle-grade adventure that is “a whizz-pop chocolate romp” (Kirkus Reviews). Enter a world filled with magical chocolate, evil villains, and an adventure twins Lily and Oz never could have dreamed. . . . Lily and Oz Spoffard have just inherited a magical house with a mysterious boarded-up chocolate shop on the ground floor. The twins’ great-great-uncles were famous chocolatiers, and their chocolate was ANYTHING but ordinary. In fact, it had magical properties. Now an evil gang is after the secret recipe, and it’s up to Lily and Oz to stop them. The fate of their family, and the world, depends on it. Praise for The Whizz Pop Chocolate Shop “This story has adventure, excitement, humor and magic, and will appeal to boys and girls alike.”—SLJ “Reminiscent of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”—Booklist “A quick pace and intricate plot twists keep excitement high . . . [in] this enjoyable and moving romp through a magical London underworld.”—Publishers Weekly

M. C. Beaton meets Miss Marple in the second book in the Laetitia Rodd Mysteries, which sees Kate Saunders''s Victorian detective on the hunt for a missing Oxford academic. In 1851, private detective Laetitia Rodd is enjoying a well-earned holiday when she gets an urgent request for her services. Mrs. Rodd''s neighbor Jacob Welland is a reclusive, rich gentleman dying of consumption, and he wants Mrs. Rodd to find his brother, who has been missing for fifteen years. Joshua Welland was a scholar at Oxford, brilliant, eccentric, and desperately poor when he disappeared from the university. Friends claim to have seen him since, in gypsy camps and wandering around the countryside. But the last sighting was ten years before-when Joshua claimed to be learning great secrets from the gypsies that would one day astound the whole world. Mrs. Rodd travels to Oxford and begins to search for the wandering scholar. But as she investigates, Mrs. Rodd discovers something dark-and extremely dangerous-lurking in the beautiful English countryside. For readers of James Runcie, Alexander McCall Smith, and M. C. Beaton, Laetitia Rodd and the Mystery of the Wandering Scholar is a delightful new mystery about Victorian England and an indomitable female detective.

There''s trouble on the planet of Yule-1, the real home of Father Christmas... The Trubshaw family are flown back from Earth to help out! Once again Jake and Sadie are transported to a place where elves and reindeer are their friends and everything is about getting ready for Christmas, the best holiday of the year. Hysterically funny, wonderfully bonkers, it''s Christmas like you''ve never seen it before. With knock-out illustrations throughout from Super Star, Neal Layton.

At first glance there''s nothing special about the little white stone which Cat''s archaeologist father gives her. But then Cat makes a catastrophic discovery. The stone does have amazing powers. Power to take her away from bullying Emily Baines. Power to turn her into someone graceful, fast and agile. Power to turn her into a CAT! But all is not well in the feline world, for the cats'' symbol of nationhood –– the Blessed Sardine –– has gone missing. And the only one who can find it is a small marmalade cat called Cat!

It''s 1973 and Jenny has been cast in a major motion picture. Her ordinary life is about to become extraordinary! From the Costa-winning author of Five Children on the Western Front.

For fans of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Oz and Lily’s magical chocolate-filled adventure continues in the sequel to The Whizz Pop Chocolate Shop. In the wrong hands, chocolate can be very dangerous indeed. . . . Oz and Lily have a top-secret mission. Alba the witch has gotten her hands on a magical chocolate phoenix and is plotting to use it for some serious evil. With the help of an army of rats and an unreliable talking cat, the children must pursue her not only across London but through time itself. This might be their toughest adventure yet. Praise for The Curse of the Chocolate Phoenix “Saunders weaves the supernatural with the ordinary with ease. Readers who enjoyed The Whizz Pop Chocolate Shop will not be disappointed.”—Booklist “Clearly, Saunders has honed her deft and breezy comic style while affectionately channeling mild echoes of Harry Potter and The Hobbit....It’s official: more magical chocolate equals even more perceptive and magical fun for all.”—Kirkus Reviews “Saunders’s imagination is out in full force. Hand this to readers who love adventure, fantasy, and Mission Impossible–type adventure.”—SLJ

For the 90th anniversary of Winnie-the-Pooh, a sequel featuring new stories and a new character from the Hundred Acre Wood. Now a New York Times Bestseller. The Trustees of the Pooh Properties have commissioned four authors to write in the timeless style of A.A. Milne to create a quartet of charming new adventures for Winnie-the-Pooh, Christopher Robin, and their friends. Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall: take a trip back to the Hundred Acre Wood with a collection of tales sure to delight year-round. One story finds Winnie-the-Pooh and Piglet on a quest to discover the "Sauce of the Nile" (they suspect it''s apple). And in another, all the animals rally around poor Eeyore when he thinks he sees another donkey eyeing his clover. The winter story features a new penguin character, based on a stuffed toy owned by Christopher Robin Milne himself. Readers of all ages will love rediscovering old friends and making new ones in this essential new volume of Pooh stories. The book feature beautiful color artwork in the style of Ernest H. Shepard by Mark Burgess.

Tom is in shock. He''s just discovered that his dad is an escaped fairy on the run. Tom doesn''t know he is a demisprite - the child of a fairy and a human - until he meets his three fairy godmothers. They''ve been summoned to protect him, but they can''t stop bickering, and two of them are hardened criminals. Tom must survive their botched magic spells, learn to fly and enter the dangerous Fairy Realm to save his parents... From the author of BESWITCHED One of the most enchanting, funny and suspenseful stories to have been published for some time THE TIMES

Kate is a thirty-something-year-old adventurer and single mother who sells her stateside business to go to Kathmandu, Nepal with her young son, Jack. Her intention is to adopt an orphaned toddler named Devi, a little girl she knows only from a photograph. The expedition ends up completely redirecting Kate''s moral compass and forcing her to find peace within chaos. Stand in the Traffic is the story of Kate''s year long journey through culture shock, paperwork delays, and revolution. As the days drift by, Kate struggles to connect with the stoic little girl whose charcoal eyes and visible scars betray her elusive past. In Stand in the Traffic, Kate''s fresh, engaging voice speaks to women''s issues, parenting, politics, and adventure travel. Readers will be captivated by Kate and her family. Unlike other adoption retrospectives, this is not the dry, drawn out account of bureaucracy and childlessness, but rather a heart-pounding journey to the land of rickshaw wallahs and orange-clad saddhus, incense laden temples, and sly street dogs. As the months unfold, Kate finds herself contentedly immersed in Devi''s vibrant culture, in spite of the revolution brewing just down the lane. Kate''s story of immersion in a foreign culture leads readers into an enchanted dreamscape.

When Flora Fox''s parents send their daughter off to boarding school, they have no idea that the train will take her back to 1935. On the journey Flora has a strange dream. She wakes up without her laptop or her phone, wearing a hideous uniform with ridiculous bloomers underneath. She is a new girl at St Winifred''s, where the rules are mad, the food horrible, and the hairiness of the teachers unbelievable. Her 21st century manners will not be tolerated at strict St Win''s - how will she ever survive and find her way back to her own time? But there is a special reason why Flora has been summoned to the past. It involves the tempestuous girl who becomes her best friend...

Jingle bells, Jingle bells, smelly poo and bum! You can wait for Christmas but it''s never going to come! When a miniature reindeer named Percy falls down the chimney of the Trubshaws'' holiday cottage, the last thing they expect is to be whisked away to the distant planet of Yule-1 - the REAL home of Father Christmas, the elves, and his intrepid reindeer delivery teams. And what an amazing place it is - nobody minds being stuck there until the computer system has been mended. But the festive season is in danger! One rogue reindeer has teamed up with the evil Krampus to sabotage everything. Unless Percy and his new friends can track them down, there will be no Christmas this year - or EVER AGAIN! Illustrated in black and white by Neal Layton, this is destined to become a holiday favourite.

British journalist Saunders draws from interviews with former Chinese prisoners, including the celebrity Harry Wu who inspired the book, and from written accounts to recreate the day-to-day experience and engender outrage in readers. Among her chapter titles are No Day or Night, the State as Psychopath, Return from Hell, A Dream of Democracy, Getting Used to Surviving, Sexual Reform and the Pseudo- Boys, the Dream of Gold, and The Earth on the Other Side of the World. Distributed by Books International. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

A beautiful and heartbreaking novel from an award-winning author about a girl who gets swept up into an adventure involving forgotten toys, perfect for fans of Lauren Wolk and Kelly Barnhill. "A delicate, funny, poignant exploration of grief, love and memory that has the welcoming warmth of an instant classic."--The Guardian Emily and her sister, Holly, were as close as sisters could be. They did everything together. But Holly died three months ago, and Emily''s world is shattered. Amid a sea of changes--her best friend is acting distant, she''s just started at a new school, and she''s been cast as the lead in the school play--Emily is surprised to find that she misses Holly''s teddy bear, Bluey, almost as much as she misses Holly herself. But Bluey was buried with Holly, and there''s no getting either of them back. Then one night, Emily dreams of talking toys, who tell her they have come from the toy world with a message from Bluey. Emily is convinced she can be reunited with him. But there''s something strange about the barrier between the toy world and the real world. Not just strange, but dangerous--magic is spilling out, and it''s wreaking havoc on Emily''s world. Now she must decide whether finding Bluey is worth risking the lives of those she loves. "Deeply moving and highly imaginative."--The Daily Mail "Written from the heart and can''t fail to make yours sing."--The Times, Book of the Week "One of the wittiest books of the year."--The Sunday Times "Suffused with longing and dappled with humor, this novel explores the limits of grief and the lasting power of storytelling."--Wall Street Journal "From whimsical comicality to impending danger...a standalone title, in which the topic of loss is dealt with deftly. For readers willing to let their imagination soar, this fantasy may be just what they are looking for, especially if they have experienced grief."--School Library Journal "An imaginative, magical story ideal for kids experiencing loss."--Kirkus Reviews "Wise in the ways of loss as Emily discovers that the route through grief lies not in escaping to Smockeroon but in engaging with the hard world, in the passage of time, in friendship, memory, and, above all, storytelling."--The Horn Book, Starred Review "A refreshing take on the classic theme of toys coming to life, with the residents of Smockeroon amusingly sassy and self involved. There is still plenty of warmth...while the magical elements cushion the heftier themes...A pleasing blend of sentiment and humor."--Bulletin "Saunders combines the hard reality of loss and the soft comfort of fantasy surprisingly well, offering unexpected humor in Smockeroon as well as sharp insights into human characters."--Booklist

When four school girls take a blood oath of eternal friendship, little do they realize how love and war will shatter their vow, especially when two of them fall for the same man. The novel chronicles their lives as they go through the turbulent times surrounding World War I.

''Laetitia Rodd is a warm and engaging heroine'' The Times For readers of The Thursday Murder Club, M.C. Beaton and James Runcie, The Mystery of the Sorrowful Maiden is the charming third mystery in Kate Saunders''s series about Laetitia Rodd, the indomitable Victorian lady detective. In the spring of 1853, private detective Laetitia Rodd receives a delicate request from a retired actor, whose days on the stage were ended by a theatre fire ten years before. His great friend, and the man he rescued from the fire, Thomas Transome, has decided to leave his wife, who now needs assistance in securing a worthy settlement. Though Mrs Rodd is reluctant to get involved with the scandalous world of the theatre, she cannot turn away the woman in need. She agrees to take the case. But what starts out as a simple matter of negotiation becomes complicated when a body is discovered in the burnt husk of the old theatre. Soon Mrs Rodd finds herself embroiled in family politics, rivalries that put the Capulets and Montagues to shame, and betrayals on a Shakespearean scale. Mrs Rodd will need all her investigative powers, not to mention her famous discretion, to solve the case before tragedy strikes once more. Praise for the Laetitia Rodd Mystery series: ''A witty, genteel tale of secrets, lies and hidden gold... Enormous fun'' The Times ''With a well-crafted plot, an engaging protagonist, and astute nods to the literature and theological squabbles of the period, this is a perfect novel for a summer afternoon'' Guardian ''A Dickensian glow pervades this immensely satisfying novel. Hugely enjoyable'' James Runcie, author of the ''Grantchester Mysteries'' ''Pure delight'' Sunday Times

The Marrying Game opens on Christmas Eve, with four sisters at home worrying about money. The setting is present-day England, and the girls'' father, an eccentric aristocrat, has just died, leaving the Hasty family so impoverished that they are about to lose their splendid but crumbling house. So the two oldest sisters--Rufa, tall, elegant, and too serious for her own good; and Nancy, a gorgeous, irreverent redhead who relishes her work as a part-time barmaid in the local pub--decide that the way to redeem the family fortunes is to marry money. Surely it can''t be that hard to find two very rich men and make the men fall in love with them. Thus begins a gloriously modern story that makes us genuinely care about the whole Hasty family. As Rufa and Nancy set out to blaze a trail through London society, they find that nothing in The Marrying Game turns out quite the way they''ve planned.

"A young woman tries to help her childhood friends find suitable wives"--Publisher marketing.

From the author of Night shall overtake us and Wild young Bohemians, this is the story of three beautiful sisters, who are the toasts of wartime London. Thirty-five years on, age and enmity have driven the three sisters apart.

Vor 90 Jahren erschien Pu der Bär erstmals auf Deutsch, und der Atrium Verlag wurde seine Heimat. Zu diesem Jubiläum erscheinen jetzt vier völlig neue Pu-Geschichten, geschrieben von vier der bekanntesten Kinderbuchautoren Englands. Pu, der honigliebende Bär von geringem Verstand, hat Geburtstag. Alle seine Freunde haben sich versammelt, um mit ihm zu feiern: das ängstliche Ferkel, der Trübsal blasende I-Ah, die schlaue Eule, der ungestüme Tieger, Kaninchen, Känga und Klein-Ruh, und natürlich Christopher Robin. Gemeinsam erleben sie neue Abenteuer: Sie begegnen einem gefährlichen Drachen, geheimnisvollen neuen Freunden (und Feinden) und einer ganz speziellen Delikatesse.

Världens mest älskade björn på nya äventyr - rikt illustrerade i färg A. A. Milnes berättelser om Nalle Puh har lästs och älskats av generationer ända sedan den första boken kom ut 1926. Till 90-årsjubileet kom en uppföljare, Världens bästa björn, där vi får tillbringa ett helt år med Nalle Puh och Christopher Robin i Sjumilaskogen. Vid höstkanten är Puh och Nasse rädda för att en drake ska invadera skogen. Till vintern kommer en mycket blyg pingvin på besök, han behöver hjälp att lockas ut ur sitt skal. När våren nalkas oroar sig I-or för att en annan åsna ska komma och äta upp alla tistlar. Världens bästa björn presenteras här för första gången på svenska, i översättning av Torun Lidfeldt Bager, med färgillustrationer i klassisk Nalle Puh-stil signerade Mark Burgess. A. A. MILNE [1882-1956] var en engelsk författare och dramatiker som blivit känd över hela världen för sina odödliga berättelser om Nalle Puh. Karaktärerna baserades på sonen Christopher Robin och hans leksaksdjur. Världens bästa björn är en officiell och auktoriserad uppföljare, skriven i Milnes anda av författarna Paul Bright, Brian Sibley, Jeanne Willis och Kate Saunders. Boken är rikt illustrerad i färg av barnboksförfattaren och illustratören Mark Burgess - i den ursprunglige Nalle Puh-illustratören E. H. Shepards klassiska stil.

Reifrock, Tee und Mord: Laetitia Rodd ist die viktorianische Ermittlerin, die alles sieht und keinem auffällt. Mit Diskretion, Scharfblick und Witz löst sie Mordfälle in der guten englischen Gesellschaft - Lesevergnügen für alle Fans von Anne Perry und Richard Osman. Das Geheimnis von Wishtide Manor: Laetitia Rodd ist die Frau für heimliche Ermittlungen. Sie sieht, was anderen verborgen bleibt. Man vertraut ihr, denn sie gehört dazu. 1851 bittet Sir James Calderstone sie auf seinen Landsitz. Sein Sohn Charles will eine junge Frau heiraten, der Sir James misstraut. Laetitia soll dunkle Flecken in Helens Vergangenheit aufspüren. Doch da wird Helen ermordet, und ihr Verlobter Charles gilt als der Täter. Die Suche nach dem wahren Mörder bringt eine vergessene Tragödie ans Licht und Laetitia selbst in größte Gefahr ... Die Schatten von Freshley Wood: Für ihre Diskretion ist Laetitia Rodd in der guten Gesellschaft bekannt. Ihr Auftrag: Sie soll Joshua Welland aufspüren. Einst ein brillanter Oxford-Student, zieht er nun als zerlumpte Gestalt durch die Wälder und macht Andeutungen über ein düsteres Geheimnis. Mrs. Rodd nutzt ihre Verbindungen zum Pfarrer von Freshley Wood, um Joshuas Spur zu finden. Doch dann wird der Pfarrer ermordet. Ist Joshua in die schreckliche Tat verstrickt? Die Intrigen am King''s Theatre: Eigentlich sollte Laetitia Rodd lediglich dem berühmten Schauspieler-Ehepaar Transome während seiner Trennung zur Seite stehen – diskret wie immer. Doch noch während Mrs. Rodd versucht, hinter die intriganten Machenschaften der Familie zu blicken, überschlagen sich die Ereignisse: Im Londoner King''s Theatre wird eine Leiche gefunden und die Transomes geraten unter Verdacht – denn sie waren als letztes im Besitz des Theaters. Haben sie etwas mit dem Toten zu tun? »Laetitia Rodd ist eine wunderbar sympathische Heldin!« The Times

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Lecture Notes: Psychiatry provides a concise and accessible introduction to the fundamentals of Psychiatry, presenting the principles of Psychiatric examination followed by systematic coverage of the major psychiatric disorders, as well as covering management and treatment options. This eleventh edition has been revised to include recent developments in history-taking, psychotropic drugs and case presentations, as well as covering the practical elements of patient guidance and care. Key features include:Clearly presented tables, figures and end-of-chapter ''Key point'' summaries to aid revisionAn emphasis on core management skills needed by Junior Doctors in both psychiatric and general hospital settingsQuick reference guides to help structure patient assessments on-the-goMCQs and case studies in line with medical school and professional level psychiatry examsFor those embarking on study or refreshing their knowledge of psychiatry, Lecture Notes: Psychiatry provides a step-by-step guide to both its wider and patient-centred practice.