Aura Libraries: Crime novel of the year, and author visit

We're looking forward to reading some of these great titles for this year's Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. The longlist is selected by a mix of crime authors, editors, agents and reviewers. The shortlist will be announced and public voting for the winner of this prestigious award will begin, on Thursday, June 15.

The overall winner will be revealed on July 20, at the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate.

Who will you vote for? We are spoilt for choice with all this fantastic titles and authors.

Vote - Harrogate Theakstons Crime Awards (harrogatetheakstoncrimeaward.com)

Liam McIlvanney - The Heretic

Lucy Foley - The Paris Apartment

M.W. Craven - The Botanist

Clare MacKintosh - The Last Party

Mark Billingham - The Murder Book

Val McDermid - 1989

Sarah Vaughan - Reputation

Ruth Ware - The It Girl

Gillian McAllister - Wrong Place, Wrong Time

Imran Mahmood - All I Said Was True

Fiona Cummins - Into the Dark

Lisa Jewell - The Family Remains

Vaseem Khan - The Lost Man of Bombay

Mick Herron - Bad Actors

Elly Griffiths - The Locked Room

Victoria Selman - Truly, Darkly, Deeply

Janice Hallett - The Twyford Code

Leonora Nattrass - Blue Water

Alan Parks - May God Forgive

Douglas Johnstone - Black Hearts

These titles are, or will be, available to borrow from Aura libraries as either a book or e-book or eAudiobook. You can browse these titles and hundreds more on our online library catalogue!

Let us know what you think about the titles, find us on social media - @LlyfrgelloeddAuraLibraries on Facebook and Instagram and @LibFlintshire on Twitter.

Aura Library members can download e-books and audiobooks free of charge from Borrowbox and Libby to a PC, laptop or Mac. Alternatively, you can download the Borrowbox and Libby apps directly to a smartphone or tablet.

To access most online library resources you will need to enter your library membership number and pin. If you do not have this then you can join up as a member online via the Aura website for instant access. All links and further details about our digital library resources can be found here: www.aura.wales/libraries

Shaping the Wild

What can one Welsh hill farm tell us about how we can help nature to thrive?

Shaping the Wild by David Elias.

Join us for our next event at Mold Library in partnership with The Bookshop for an evening with author and naturalist David Elias on Wednesday, June 21 at 7pm. David will be talking about his new book Shaping the Wild. Tickets are £6 or £20 including a copy of the book and are available from Mold Library, The Bookshop or online.

In this captivating debut, conservationist David explores a farm in the Snowdonia National Park and unpacks what it shows us about the gritty reality of trying to reconcile hill farming and caring for nature. Visiting through the seasons, he forms a deep relationship with the land and the people who work it, coming to understand their particular way of life, history and concerns about the future. It is also a farm rich in nature and he brings his experienced eye to how its habitats and wildlife have been shaped by changing farming practices over the generations.

Through lyrical prose and first-hand conversations with farmers, Elias also shows what current government policies have achieved - or not achieved - and why it is so important for us to understand what it really takes ensure farming families remain on the land while simultaneously allowing nature to flourish. David is a retired warden and lifelong conservation enthusiast, whose roles took him from Malawi to the Berwyn Mountains. This is his first book.

Warm welcome at Aura Libraries

Whether you are looking for things to do or if you would just like a time and space to unwind Aura Libraries will offer you a warm welcome. Why not pop into your nearest library and join one of our friendly groups or activities or call in for a cuppa and chat or a read of the newspapers? All our libraries have hot drinks available plus a variety of games for all ages.

There's always something to join in with too from family activities such as rhyme time or Lego Club to knit and natter, Reading Friends, Sporting Memories or craft and chat, jigsaw clubs and Scrabble Club.

For more information on our regular groups please contact your nearest library or email libraries@aura.wales

Broughton 01352 703760

Buckley 01352 703860

Connah's Quay 01352 703730

Deeside 01352 703770

Flint 01352 703737

Holywell 01352 703850

Mold 01352 703780

Visit us on social media to view handy information about our services, events, and lots of book and audiobook recommendations.

From everyone here at Aura Libraries, thank you for reading and we hope to hear from you or see you soon!

• Aura is a charitable, not-for-profit, organisation responsible for managing the majority of leisure, libraries and heritage services in Flintshire. Aura is owned by its employees and operates for the benefit of local communities.