Apples and pears are two of the UK’s most abundant fruit trees. There are varieties dating back hundreds of years, but over time, many have become extinct. A new release from Frank P Matthews originat

Literary news andreviews with alocal flavour

The unconventional instrumentation favoured by Tortoise is an indicator of how many different lineups have always jostled for space under the jazz umbrella. The national treasure that is The Pete Alle

by Harriet Lane (£20, HB, Orion) What lies beneath the image we construct of ourselves? Ruth, newly divorced and drifting as her daughter leaves home, feels invisible – until Sookie, her dazzling form

In a world where image is everything, the quiet streets of suburbia hide deadly truths. Ambitious psychiatrist Dr Geddes is rising fast at a respected practice – until a troubling young patient threat

John Miles rounds up some recent releases…