Deadly machines. Strange creatures. A sinister secret. A crew of treasure hunters risking their hearts to uncover the truth. But they’ll have to find the lost House of Matchsticks first … "Readers will be swept away … [House of Matchsticks] is a literary rarity." –The Booklife Prize On the surface of the sea, a burning island beckons the Collector. Approaching the fire, the Collector bears witness to a vicious crime. When he realizes an innocent life will be lost—a baby, swathed in a bundle and left to die in a floating rowboat—the Collector makes a choice that will change his course forever. So begins House of Matchsticks, a brand-new, unforgettable YA Fantasy series set in a world called Benemourne, where a mysterious ore powers a society rife with danger. Follow Isaline, a girl who dreams of becoming a City Watchman in Benemourne’s capital, and Jack, a former treasure hunter with a dark and painful obsession, as they are dragged with the Collector into the beginnings of a deadly adventure. House of Matchsticks is a third person, multi-POV series with found family, slow-burn romance (straight and LGBTQ+), and a healthy dose of action/adventure. This is Part 1 in the series. Expect a cliffhanger. The House of Matchsticks series: 1. House of Matchsticks 2. Night of Matchsticks 3. Tree of Matchsticks ... and more to come. PS. Your first clue: it’s all upside down.
“Readers will be swept away … [House of Matchsticks] is a literary rarity." –The Booklife Prize Stolen memories. Poison-induced visions. A mission they might not survive. The House of Matchsticks is calling ... Isaline is desperate to keep her identity a secret. In the space of one night, her future as a City Watch has crumbled before her eyes. And now she’s on a train across Benemourne with two complete strangers—dangerous treasure hunters that she can’t trust with her real name. But she can’t outrun her lies forever. Jack Fael, a retired treasure hunter thrust back into the mystery that’s been haunting him for years, senses Isaline is keeping secrets. His obsession with the House of Matchsticks has been reignited, and when Jack receives a crucial message in the form of an Adrudian vision, he finds the discovery of his lost expedition tied to Isaline’s fate. The Collector’s own destiny has been turned upside down. After witnessing the events at Casret Academy, his companion, Caladrius, seems unwilling to lead him anywhere but on Isaline’s trail. Shadowing a human goes against the Collector’s every intuition—and he’s beginning to fear he altered his course forever when he pushed that rowboat sixteen years ago. In Night of Matchsticks, follow Isaline, Jack, and the Collector as they delve deeper into the hidden truths of their mechanical, Adrudian-lit world and grow closer to the underground expedition that will prove every secret comes with a price. House of Matchsticks is a third person, multi-POV series with found family, slow-burn romance (straight and LGBTQ+), and a healthy dose of action/adventure. This is Part 2 in the series. Expect a cliffhanger. The House of Matchsticks series: 1. House of Matchsticks 2. Night of Matchsticks 3. Tree of Matchsticks ... and more to come.
“Readers will be swept away … [House of Matchsticks] is a literary rarity." –The Booklife Prize Ancient secrets. Simmering lies. A deadly expedition into the deep. The House of Matchsticks is calling … Lost, frightened, and thousands of feet underground, Isaline is trying to hold herself together. The expedition to find King Faraday’s workshop has begun, and deep in Benemourne’s deadly Adrudian mines, anything can happen. With the help of her companions, Isaline is ready to discover who she is. But lies and forgotten memories are catching up to her. Jack Fael is no stranger to forgotten memories. Finally on the way to finding the House of Matchsticks, Jack is torn between a new friendship and uncovering the details of his lost expedition. When Adrudian Milk brings old feelings to the surface, past and present threaten to entwine, and Jack finds himself drawn to a discovery that could change everything. The Collector and Caladrius have been making discoveries of their own. After the events at the palace, the Collector is desperate to leave Isaline and Jack behind. But Caladrius has other plans, and with their friendship on the line, the Collector must decide between the life he knows and a journey deep underground, where something ancient stirs … In Tree of Matchsticks, descend into a world of buried secrets and otherworldly evil as Isaline, Jack, and the Collector come face-to-face with an adventure that will test their friendships, their romances, and the very fabric of destiny itself. House of Matchsticks is a third person, multi-POV series with found family, slow-burn romance (straight and LGBTQ+), and a healthy dose of action/adventure. This is Part 3 in the series. Expect unanswered questions. The House of Matchsticks series: 1. House of Matchsticks 2. Night of Matchsticks 3. Tree of Matchsticks ... and more to come.
The number-one guide, internationally, to all aspects of forensic isotope analysis, thoroughly updated and revised and featuring many new case studies This edition of the internationally acclaimed guide to forensic stable isotope analysis uses real-world examples to bridge discussions of the basic science, instrumentation and analytical techniques underlying forensic isotope profiling and its various technical applications. Case studies describe an array of applications, many of which were developed by the author himself. They include cases in which isotope profiling was used in murder, and drugs-related crime investigations, as well as for pharmaceutical and food authenticity control studies. Updated with coverage of exciting advances occurring in the field since the publication of the 1st edition, this 2nd edition explores innovative new techniques and applications in forensic isotope profiling, as well as key findings from original research. More than a simple update, though, this edition has been significantly revised in order to address serious problems that can arise from non-comparable and unfit-for-purpose stable isotope data. To that end, Part II has been virtually rewritten with greater emphasis now being placed on important quality control issues in stable isotope analysis in general and forensic stable isotope analysis in particular. Written in a highly accessible style that will appeal to practitioners, researchers and students alike Illustrates the many strengths and potential pitfalls of forensic stable isotope analysis Uses recent case examples to bridge underlying principles with technical applications Presents hands-on applications that let experienced researchers and forensic practitioners match problems with success stories Includes new chapters devoted to aspects of quality control and quality assurance, including scale normalisation, the identical treatment principle, hydrogen exchange and accreditation Stable Isotope Forensics, 2nd Edition is an important professional resource for forensic scientists, law enforcement officials, public prosecutors, defence attorneys, forensic anthropologists and others for whom isotope profiling has become an indispensable tool of the trade. It is also an excellent introduction to the field for senior undergraduate and graduate forensic science students. "All students of forensic criminology, and all law enforcement officers responsible for the investigation of serious crime , will want to study this book. Wolfram highlights the value, and future potential, of Stable Isotope Forensics as an emerging powerful tool in the investigation of crime." —Roy McComb, Deputy Director, Specialist Investigations, National Crime Agency (NCA), UK “A single author text in these days is rare and the value of this book lies in the dedication and experience of the author which is evident in the clarity of prose, the honest illustration of evidence and the realistic practical application of the subject - it makes this a text of genuine scientific value.” — Prof Dame Sue Black, PhD, DBE, OBE, FRSE, Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science, University of Dundee, UK The book provides an excellent, vivid and comprehensible introduction into the world of stable isotope science and analytics. Compared to the first edition, the aspects of quality control and assurance in the analysis of stable isotopes in general, and forensic application in particular, are now taking much more room. This allows the book to serve the target groups: students, academic professionals and practitioners, and serves as a solid resource of basic and applicable information about the strengths and potential pitfalls of the application of stable isotope signatures. The present high-quality book shows the great potential of stable isotopes and is a must for everyone interested in isotope forensics. M.E. Böttcher & U. Flenker, Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies, January 2018. A list of errata is available at http://booksupport.wiley.com
Everybody needs someone who gets their crazy Hank Kirby can't catch a break. He doesn't mean to screw up. It just happens. Case in point: his attempt to ask out the girl he likes literally goes up in flames when he spelled "prom" in sparklers on Amanda Carlisle's lawn...and nearly burns down her house, without ever asking her the big question. Hank just wants to pretend the incident never happened. And he might've gotten away with it—except there is a witness. Peyton Breedlove, brooding loner and budding pyromaniac, saw the whole thing, and she blackmails Hank into an unusual friendship. Sure, Hank may be headed for his biggest disaster yet, but it's only when life falls apart that you can start piecing it back together. "Funny, authentic, and, at turns, heartbreaking."—Jessi Kirby, author of Things We Know by Heart and Moonglass "I had so much fun reading this book."—Adi Alsaid, author of Never Always Sometimes and Let's Get Lost
NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE • A novel about grifters with issues, by the acclaimed cult author of Anonymous Rex and Casual Rex Roy and Frankie are matchstick men—con artists. Partners in elegant crimes for years, they know each other like brothers and have perfected the rules of the game. Roy is the careful one, saves every penny. Frankie is the adventurous one, hungry for a big score. He wants Roy to join him in running a tricky game, but Roy is distracted by the discovery that he is the father of a punky teenage daughter from a brief marriage that ended years ago. The kid wants to get to know her father. She also wants to learn the family business. Novelist Eric Garcia takes readers into the fast and funny world of grifters with issues. Matchstick Men is a dazzling literary con game that will keep readers guessing until the last page.
The year was 1961, a year marking the start of the racial unrest that would last throughout the decade. Living in a trailer camp in Maryland with his wife and children, Fred’s future seemed bleak—that is, until he heard a college football coach being interviewed on a local radio show talking about becoming a Physical Education teacher. The coach’s words would inspire him enough to register at Maryland State College, a then all-black college. The thing of it was, Fred Engh was white. He would become the first white student to attend Maryland State, a segregated college. His intention was not to break any racial barriers or make any headlines. He simply wanted a better life for himself and his family as an accredited teacher. What he learned from attending that college however was something he had not expected. Matchsticks: An Education in Black & White is his story. Fred Engh and his non-profit organization, NAYS—the National Alliance for Youth Sports—have positively affected the lives of millions of children throughout the country for decades, but chances are you have never heard of him or his group. What he has tried to do is make organized sports for kids fun. He has done this by training coaches to be fair, avoid playing favorites, bulling players, and stopping fans from getting out of control. He has also tried to even the playing field for children of different colors and ethnicities. From baseball to soccer to golf, he has made it his mission to let children choose to play the sport they love—no matter where they live or how well they play. And yet, the story behind how he discovered his calling in life is definitely a remarkable one of transition. Today, when racial disparagement has once again taken the form of marches, protesters, and daily news headlines, here is a tale of discovery, understanding, and personal change. A lesson still as valuable today as it was then.
Matchstick puzzles are a timeless classic. In each puzzle you must transform one arrangement of matches into another using only the stipulated number of moves. This collection includes 80+ puzzles, graded into three levels of increasing difficulty. The easy puzzles are great for getting familiar with the rules and tactics, and the hard will really require you to think outside the box! Whether you wish to sketch out your solutions in the book, or try with your own matches, this superb collection with test your lateral thinking and provide hours of entertainment.