December Stories IThe mix of emotions anticipation, frustration, heartfelt despair, joyful ecstasy and uncertainty associated with the Christmas period is laid bare in Ian Sansom's latest collection of short stories. However, it is not a despairing collection. Nor is it all reindeer, eggnog and happy times that would be just too fictional. A festive collection to make readers stop and think about the nuanced difference between expectation false and hopeful and reality.

his other deep commitment is to Clara

Evan soon realises that his prospective client's past is as clouded and compromised as his own

Lee Child & Linda La Plante

A pedestrian with a nasty head injury won't let the crew near him on a busy road

a young British Roman

When Viscount Bullivant and his family are taken prisoner by the Russians

this is a spectacular return of the crew from Trainspotting

emotionalepic that asks important questions about humanity

and find the third and final manuscript that Hedda is convinced exists

Cecilia had packed up and left her family

India and Africa

Together with his friends Mirany