Beaumont is back

October's mystery fiction recent picks include the latest in J.A. Jance's Beaumont series. Seattle cop J. P. Beaumont has the same job, working with the city's Special Homicide Investigation Team; the same girlfriend, fellow investigator Mel Soames; the same straight-shooting, stick-to-it, never-say-quit attitude. The Beaumont series has been going strong for more than 20 years now, and this time around Beaumont tackles the death of an ex-con. Also included this month: a forensic anthropologist investigates a possible death by spontaneous combustion in the Hebrides, a crime writer becomes embroiled in a mystery of his own, Daisy Dalrymple stumbles into yet another mystery, and Nick Stone's new novel is on show.

Kimono embroidery & felted jewellery

Our craft recent picks this month feature the art of the talented embroidery artist Shizuka Kusano, whose canvases are Kimono. You'll also find 20 stylish designs for felted jewellery and 35 amazing contemporary knitwear designs that take their cues from decades and designers past, plus lots of ideas for creative recycling in embroidery.

The revolution will not be microwaved

In this month's cooking recent picks you'll find 20 themed tea parties, an examination of underground food movements and our food choices, food and drink in American history, and more than 95 stylish, satisfying and simple midday meals to sink your teeth into. Have a look!

Take your pick: 1001 buildings or 1001 ways of looking younger?

October's Buyer's Choice has a full range including the above: not-so-perfect pups and how to solve their problems, fresh looks for your home, a history of communism, vacation homes around the world, and 100 views of Edo.

Never said goodbye

This is the second solo CD from former Catatonia lead singer, Cerys Matthews. Now based in Nashville she eschews the more traditional country feel of her debut CD 'Cockahoop', with a musically diverse CD that covers all the bases from the power-pop stylings of her previous band, to lounge jazz, new folk, & acoustic based songs.

Featured album: Never said goodbye by Cerys Matthews

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Thirteen tales of love and revenge

The Pierces are two Alabama-born sisters. After an alternative folk/rock debut on Sony that was well received critically but didn't sell, they delivered a second much more shiny pop album before they decamped for the indies to make the kind of music they wanted. Their album 'Thirteen tales of love & revenge' is an eclectic mix of lounge pop, country, gypsy folk, & new wave, full of the great harmonies that only siblings can achieve...

Featured album: Thirteen tales of love & revenge by The Pierces

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Time Being - Ron Sexsmith

If 2004's Retriever showed off the extroverted side of Ron Sexsmith's personality, his latest CD shifts back towards the more introspective work that characterised his earlier works, possibly due to the presence of Mitchell Froom back at the producers helm. Sexsmith's voice only gets better as he ages & this is another set of quietly melodic songs.

Featured album: Time Being by Ron Sexsmith

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Leigh Nash - Blue on Blue

The band Sixpence None the Richer seemingly came out of nowhere with the big hit 'Kiss me' in 1999, but they'd been around for a number of years before that making swirling alternative pop with vaguely Christian underpinnings. Alas they fell victim to a legal battle with their record label and were unable to release another album for 5 years, by which time the momentum generated by 'Kiss Me' was gone. 'Blue on Blue' is the debut of lead vocalist Leigh Nash. Produced by Pierre Marchand (Sarah McLachlan) the CD is a bit more 'pop' oriented than her previous band, but her great voice highlights some of the weaker songs. Worth checking out if you're a fan of female singers.

Featured album: Blue on blue, by Leigh Nash

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