This year I'm doing Community Thursdays. Some of my activity will involve maintaining communities I run, and my favorites. Some will involve checking my list of subscriptions and posting in lower-traffic ones. Today I have interacted with the following communities...
đŹ Artificial intelligence and big data are flooding discovery pipelines with high-potential drug candidates, but this rapid innovation has created a new challenge. Simply put, our capability to design miracle molecules is vastly outstripping our technology to mass-manufacture them safely for the global public. Moving drug making from the scale of lab flasks to commercial bioreactors introduces non-linear biological and engineering shifts that can undermine tasks like purification.
âĄIn this New Scientist CoLab podcast, experts from global life sciences leader Cytiva explain the hidden, high-stakes science of purification that is required to close the gap between drug discovery and the pharmacy shelf.
Our guests are:
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Henrik Ihre, Distinguished Fellow, Cytiva
Paul Belcher, Business Leader, Cytiva
đ§ Stay tuned to learn about:
⥠The process of taking a drug from theoretical to the shop shelf
⥠How the drug purification works
⥠The human cost when purification goes wrong
⥠The challenges of keeping pace in manufacturing as AI supercharges drug discovery
Chapters:
(00:00) Intro â How drugs go from discovery to reality
(03:49) The purification process
(10:05) Why small scale success doesnât mean industrial scale success
(13:00) The challenge of the expanding drug pipeline
(21:39) Understanding the molecules that are being purified
(23:20) What is a chromatography resin?
(25:24) Why purification gets more difficult later in the process
(27:15) The human impact when purification goes wrong
(32:59) The future of AI drug discovery
(37:52) Is AI helping with purification?
(40:32) How it feels to be advancing drug discovery
So this morning I had to get up early for a doctors appointment but instead of my alarm I woke up to an incredibly loud IMMINENT THREAT flood warning and so it gave me an excuse to just go back to bed because I couldn’t drive, but then I woke up again to another screamingContinue reading "Not how I expected my morning to go"
Microglial immune cells (round) ingesting specialised cells called oligodendrocytes (branched) that maintain the myelin sheaths around nerves. This process is thought to occur in multiple sclerosis
Science Photo Library
The best treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) might be antivirals that target the Epstein-Barr virus. Pharmaceutical companies are now being called on to develop such drugs after researchers studied the immune responses of people with and without the condition.
âThere arenât good Epstein-Barr virus drugs currently available, but they can be developed,â says Michael Levy at Harvard Medical School. âThat might be the most useful specific therapy for MS in the future.â
MS is caused by an immune attack on myelin, a fatty sleeve that wraps around nerves. The loss of myelin reduces their ability to transmit signals and can cause a wide range of symptoms, including muscle weakness. Drugs that suppress the immune system can slow the progression of the condition.
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There is strong evidence that the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which causes mononucleosis, or glandular fever, is also the cause of MS. âI think most MS researchers now would agree that EBV plays a major role in the development of the disease,â says team member Kjetil Bjornevik at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
But exactly how remains a mystery. Almost everyone is infected with EBV during their childhood or teen years. It mainly infects immune cells known as B-cells, where it can remain dormantfor the rest of a personâs life. But in some cells, the virus can reactivate.
The big question is why only around 1 in 1000 people develop MS when nearly everyone gets EBV. This suggests there is something different about the immune response to EBV in people who go on to develop MS, says team member Natalia Drosu at Massachusetts General Hospital. âOur question for this study was: in people with MS, what parts of EBV does the immune system respond to? And do those responses look different from people who donât have MS?â
The team focused on immune cells known as CD4 T-cells, which circulate in the body. Although these arenât the cells that directly attack myelin, there are multiple lines of evidence suggesting they play a role in MS, says Drosu.
The team found that, in 30 people with MS, most of the CD4 T-cells targeting EBV were specifically targeting viral proteins produced when the virus is actively replicating, rather than the proteins associated with its dormant stage. Whatâs more, people with MS produced twice as many of these cells, on average, as 30 people without the condition.
The researchers then looked at T-cells in 60 people with MS before and after they began drug treatments that reduce their number of B-cells. They found these treatments reduced the T-cell response to EBV almost to the levels seen in people without MS.
In addition, the team found low levels of EBV in the saliva of these people before they were treated to reduce their number of B-cells, which shows that the virus was replicating in their bodies. After treatment, viral levels dropped below detectable levels in most people.
The thinking has been that B-cells help drive the harmful immune response in people with MS, says Levy, and this is why drugs that reduce B-cell levels are effective. But the results suggest these drugs also work by eliminating B-cells infected with EBV, he says, thereby reducing the immune response caused by active viral replication. âWeâre thinking that depleting B-cells is also depleting the reservoir of the Epstein-Barr virus.â
If so, targeting EBV directly with antivirals might be just as effective as B-cell-depleting drugs, but without the undesirable side effects of treatments that weaken the immune system, such as an increased risk of infections. âI think a lot of patients would prefer a specific drug,â says Bjornevik. âIf we can show that an antiviral had a similar effect as the most effective MS drugs, I think there will be a big market for that drug.â
Another approach already being trialled for treating MS is using modified immune cells called CAR T-cells. While existing drugs merely reduce B-cell levels, CAR T-cells can temporarily eliminate them altogether. Dozens of people with MS have gone into remission after CAR-T treatment, says Levy.
But EBV might linger in some other cell types and reinfect B-cells as they slowly recover in the years after the CAR T-cell treatment, he says. âThen we would need the antivirals⌠so we just have to wait and see.â CAR T-cells can also have serious side effects, says Bjornevik, so antivirals could be safer as well.
There are also vaccines against EBV under development. âIf people donât get infected with EBV, their risk of MS would be virtually zero,â says Drosu. âSo I think vaccines are [a] very promising strategy to eradicate MS.â
But 1000 people would have to be vaccinated to prevent just one case of MS, Levy points out, so it isnât clear if EBV would be justified for preventing MS alone. However, EBV causes many other problems, including a number of cancers, and has also been linked to other autoimmune conditions, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Â
The newly recognised monkey species Colobus congoensis
Daniel Rosengren
A monkey with a distinctive mask-like face, found in a remote part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has been declared a new species â only the fifth new species of monkey documented from Africa in the past 75 years.
The monkey is known as likweli to local people who hunt it for bushmeat, and it has been given the scientific name Colobus congoensis. It lives in one of the most inaccessible parts of Africa, without paved roads or infrastructure.
âA typical expedition involves multiple modes of transportation: a flight, followed by a motorcycle ride, two days of hiking on foot and finally travel by dugout canoe to reach the monkeyâs range,â says Kate Detwiler at Florida Atlantic University.
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One of the most intriguing features of likweli is its facial appearance, says Detwiler. The light-coloured skin around the mouth and beneath the nose is unlike that of any other African colobus species, but resembles the facial pattern seen in some Asian colobine monkeys.
Detwiler and her colleagues believe the speciesâ mask-like face may represent ancestral traits that were present before the African and Asian colobine lineages diverged over 8 million years ago. âIf so, likweli may have retained characteristics that were subsequently modified or lost in the other African colobus species,â says Detwiler.
Like other colobus monkeys, likweli also has a distinctive body odour that defies description, she says.
Scientists first became aware of the species in 2008 when a team surveying on the banks of the Lomami river, in what is now Lomami National Park, took a photo that showed only a part of a monkey that had not been seen before, high in the canopy.
Then, in November 2018, another group again spotted the monkey, which is about 1.3 metres long and weighs around 7 kilograms. Between 2018 and 2022, there were 114 recorded observations of the new species, 25 of which were from vocalisations.
In 2021, several monkeys that had been killed by hunters for bushmeat were confiscated and handed over to researchers. Detailed morphological and genetic analysis confirmed they were indeed a wholly separate species. Genetic tests and recordings of their vocalisations also added to the evidence of their uniqueness.
âThe genetic analyses revealed that likweli is a deeply divergent lineage that split from its closest known relative, Colobus satanas, approximately 4 to 5 million years ago,â says Detwiler. âThat was much older than we expected and provided strong evidence that likweli represents a distinct species.â
Likweli is isolated from C. satanas by more than 1200 kilometres and several major river barriers. Unlike most other members of the genus, which have habitats exceeding 60,000 square kilometres, likweli is only known to exist in 1700 square kilometres of rainforest.
âHunting is one of the primary threats facing likweli, particularly because the species has such a small known range and appears to occur at low densities,â says Detwiler.
Because of the risk of poaching and the monkeyâs small population and home range, the team is proposing that the species should be listed as endangered. âNow that likweli has been recognised as a distinct species, another important step would be to grant it protected status under national law,â says Detwiler. âThis would make it illegal to hunt the species, including in the buffer zone surrounding the park.â
The app allows users to take a picture of a pothole, use a GPS function to locate it in their area, and post them both to the Project Sadak server. AI makes sure the picture is of an actual pothole, while human review ensures that the given grade—severe, medium, or benign, accurately reflects what’s in the picture.
This ensures the worst potholes flash red and are not drowned out amid the complaints of angry citizens. Once the entry is finished, the user can automatically sign their name digitally to an email and send it to the authorities in their part of New Delhi
This approach should work with a wide range of things that need attention, from dysfunctional stoplights to apartment repairs, just directing reports to the relevant people. However, there's a big problem in that deferred maintenance tends to come because demand exceeds supply of repair materials, personnel, and budget. Many other projects have shown bottlenecks where the authorities did not fix problems but also refused to let anyone else do so. A solution would be to include a response timeframe of a month or so, after which other people would be free to repair the problem.
There is much to like in Janet Jones's look at horse "language" and the equine mind, A Horse's World, but beware unexpected issues, says Christa LestĂŠ-Lasserre
I started my colleague Karmela Padavic-Callaghanâs first book, Entangled States, with trepidation. How could they deliver on its subtitle, âa life according to quantum physicsâ? I finished it with both a better understanding of all things quantum and a deeper desire to understand myself after reading Karmelaâs own thoughtful journey as a queer, millennial immigrant.
This is a unique blend of memoir and science writing, in which Karmela interweaves growing up in Croatia, moving to New York, doing a physics PhD, teaching in high school and working as a New Scientist reporter with big physics concepts.
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So, how do you make links between, say, indefinite causality and a life-threatening tooth infection, or wave-particle duality and the realisation that you are queer? Somehow, Karmela does, and it all works to create a book that is clear and friendly on a scientific level, and candid and insightful on a personal one.
When the final of the 2026 menâs football World Cup kicks off in New Jersey this weekend, players can expect temperatures of over 30°C (86°F). Indeed, much of the tournament has been played in challenging conditions â like the high elevation and thin air of Mexico Cityâs Estadio Azteca â giving pundits plenty to chew over.
But one factor has been less discussed: humidity. High temperatures may be uncomfortable, but it is really the combination of heat and high humidity that can make a football match â indeed, any activity â physiologically unbearable. Humid conditions make it harder for our bodies to benefit from sweating, as the air is already laden with moisture, hampering our ability to cool down.
This impact of humidity is still underappreciated. One way of taking both humidity and heat into account is the wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT), a measure of heat stress used by sports organisations. As New Scientist went to press, the most extreme match of this World Cup (Uruguay vs Cape Verde) had an estimated WBGT of over 33°C (91°F) â a level at which people are advised to suspend all outdoor activity. Most of us simply arenât prepared for such conditions, as we explore here.
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It is really the combination of heat and humidity that can make activities unbearable
Yet, if we understand the dangers of humidity, we can start to grasp the advantages of dry heat. We detail the many ways in which saunas and heat therapy can keep you healthy, from cardiovascular benefits to protection against Alzheimerâs disease. The key is that saunas operate at extremely low humidity, allowing us to sweat comfortably while reaping the benefits of getting decidedly hot.
Saunas aside, we should still be wary of extreme heat. With European heatwaves on the rise, the 2030 menâs football World Cup â to be played across Portugal, Spain and Morocco â is likely to see low humidity but temperatures of up to 40°C (104°F). With no sign of us cutting carbon emissions, the World Cups of the early 21st century may one day be fondly remembered as nice and cool.
Feedback is New Scientistâs popular sideways look at the latest science and technology news. You can submit items you believe may amuse readers to Feedback by emailing feedback@newscientist.com
Imagining things
Late last year, between one news event and another (honestly, who can remember?), Feedback was delighted to discover the Journal of Imaginary Research. This is an online magazine publishing âshort works of fictionâ, but only if they take the form of âimaginary research abstractsâ. In other words, itâs a collection of summaries of (entirely fictional) research studies, each of which is a little short story in disguise.
Itâs the creation of two academics in the UK: Kay Guccione at the University of Glasgow and Matthew Cheeseman at the University of Derby. It grew out of a workshop intended âto introduce creative writing concepts to researchersâ, especially those âwho felt tense, anxious, about writing, or had fallen into a negative relationship with their writingâ â in other words, an aid for professionals with writerâs block. But, like the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it has grown beyond all expectations and is now a venue for rather lateral short stories.
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The 2026 issue came out in late June. Reader Alex Gough alerted us to it, having published in it himself âafter strenuous peer reviewâ. Alexâs piece is titled âSeven new examples of adaptive radiation and insular dwarfism in etapodsâ. He begins by explaining that âInsular dwarfism is a process in which species isolated on islands evolve to become smaller than their mainland counterparts, eg Lemerleâs hippopotamus.â From there he goes on to describe seven miniature species from a fictional archipelago, each of which has âdeveloped behavioural traits suited to [its] unique environmentâ.
For instance, âEtapodus malevolus is notably belligerentâ, in response to âthe high prevalence of predators on its islandâ. In contrast, âEtapodus somnolentus undergoes prolonged periods of hibernation to cope with its irregular food supply.â
However, not all the species could be explained in this kind of adaptive evolutionary language. âEtapodus jucundus is habitually carefree and contented, for reasons we have not yet discovered.â
We assume readers have got the joke by now. If not, go sweep the floor and whistle while you work, maybe itâll become clear.
Elsewhere in the issue, we find âMove fast and break everything: Deflecting anxiety in a tech-forward worldâ. It explains: âFor unclear reasons, the rapid-fire continuous release of life-altering and world-transforming technological developments in artificial intelligence, without oversight of any kind, has caused an increase in anxiety, with some people even proving inexplicably resistant to emerging technologies.â
Fortunately, a solution is at hand. âThe use of AI technologies reduces prefrontal cortex activity and critical thinkingâ, which may lead to âbrain atrophy, and therefore a reduction in distracting ethical questionsâ. The problem solves itself!
Etymological issues
Feedback is on a mission to get the word ânonomatopoeiaâ added to the dictionary. Attentive readers will recall that the neologism was proposed by Neil McKay and means the opposite of onomatopoeia, i.e. it is a word that doesnât sound at all like the thing it describes.
Several readers have submitted additional examples of nonomatopoeia, bolstering the evidence that the word would be a valuable addition to the language because it describes a widespread phenomenon. Elaine Coates says she has always struggled with âpedagogyâ. It refers to the method and practice of teaching, but, she says, âit sounds like some sort of foot fetishâ.
Likewise, Bob Munro nominates âvaletudinarianâ. It sounds like a religious order, but actually refers to âa person who is chronically sick, or believes themselves to beâ. These two alternative meanings, incidentally, are so radically distinct they render the word effectively useless.
In a nicely meta twist, Sue Tudor says that âonomatopoeiaâ is itself an example of nonomatopoeia. She describes âonomatopoeiaâ as âsurely one of the most non-onomaterwhatsit words in existenceâ, because the sequence of syllables suggests âstanding or sitting on a mat on a pierâ.
There is, we should say, a question about the etymology of nonomatopoeia, which computer scientist Julian Bradfield has flagged. âMay I be the 94th reader to point out that onomatopoeia is Greek, so its negation is anonomatopoeia, not nonomatopoeia,â he writes. âThe opposite, rather than the negation, is antonomatopoeia.â
We regret to inform Julian that he is so far the only reader to point this out, but if another 93 would care to write in making this same argument, we will place all this correspondence in one of our special folders.
Simon Goodman reports having found âa lovely exampleâ in Siem Reap, Cambodia, which is the jumping-off point to visit the Angkor temple complex. There he found a visitor centre for the charity APOPO, which uses trained African giant pouched rats to detect landmines. âThis is a must-see place,â says Simon. âThe highlight is seeing how the rats are trained and search out mines, which the carers show you live.â
If that werenât enough, if you agree to remove potentially toxic substances like sun cream from your skin, âYou are even allowed to cuddle the rats.â They are cat-sized and âdelightfulâ, Simon reports.
Why donât dogs look up when a low-flying plane or helicopter passes overhead? Iâve never seen one do this. And what changes will occur on Earth as the moon moves further away from us?
After the British ship Endurance (pictured above) became stuck in an ice sheet in the Weddell Sea off Antarctica in January 1915, the expeditionâs official photographer, Frank Hurley, made a brave decision. He waded into the icy water filling the lower deck to rescue hundreds of his precious glass-plate photo negatives.
To Hurleyâs dismay, Ernest Shackleton, the expedition leader, informed him he would have to abandon most of the negatives because they would weigh down their escape lifeboats. Hurley went through the plates one by one and smashed 400 of them on the ice before he could change his mind and risk his life to return for them, salvaging 120.
Hurley also had to relinquish most of his photography equipment and rely on a pocket camera and a few rolls of film to capture the crewâs fight for survival as they camped on the ice near their trapped ship for months. âIt is beyond conception, even to us, that we are dwelling on a colossal ice raft, with but five feet of ice separating us from 2,000 fathoms of ocean, and drifting along under the caprices of wind and tides, to heaven knows where,â wrote Hurley in his diary.
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The expeditionâs sledge dogs are given their first exercise in a month on 6 January 1915, after the Endurance manages to anchor to a large floe
Royal Geographical Society
The Endurance sank for good in November 1915. After months camped on the ice, in April 1916, Hurley and the rest of the crew took his fragile photo negatives and remaining supplies on lifeboats to the uninhabited Elephant Island. From there, realising there was little chance of rescue, Shackleton and five men took the James Caird lifeboat (pictured below) on a perilous journey of 1200 kilometres across the Southern Ocean to seek rescue in South Georgia, eventually rescuing the men (including Hurley) who had remained on Elephant Island in August 1916.
Ernest Shackleton and five men leave Elephant Island on the James Caird, aiming to travel 1200 kilometres to South Georgia
Royal Geographical Society
While stranded on the ice sheet in the Weddell Sea, Hurley proved to be a hardy survivor, fashioning a blubber stove from an old drum and eating the expeditionâs sledge dogs when food supplies ran short. Pictured below is Leonard Hussey lifting the largest sledge dog, Samson.
Expedition member Leonard Hussey with sledge dog Samson
Royal Geographical Society
Hurley, an Australian photographer, was recruited for the expedition to Antarctica after Shackleton saw a film he had made of Douglas Mawsonâs earlier Australasian Antarctic Expedition, for which he was also the official photographer. Unfortunately, the Shackleton expedition never succeeded in crossing the Antarctic continent.
Now, the UKâs Royal Geographical Society, in collaboration with Shackletonâs granddaughter and others, has published The Endurance Photographs, a compilation of Hurleyâs images that survived. It features the original glass-plate negatives alongside new, high-definition scans that uncover previously hidden faces and details, such as in the image below. Digitisation of the negative revealed a sixth crew member, hidden behind the smoke from the stove.
A sixth crew member appeared behind the smoke when this negative of Hurleyâs was digitised in 2015
Royal Geographical Society
âThe survival of these negatives through such a journey in such conditions to reach the safety of the Royal Geographical Societyâs collections is extraordinary,â says the societyâs president, Jane Francis, in the book. â[Hurleyâs] images are an example of documentary photography at its finest. He was committed to his craft and would often put himself in danger to create the perfect image. Each of his negatives is not just a visual record of a particular moment, but a beautifully composed, carefully considered piece of art.â
This book is a delight! I know the cover is not nearly as cute as the cover of the first in this series, Partners in Crime, but donât be put off! Enemies to lovers is suspenseful, twisty, swoony and so so good.
From the author of Partners in Crime, comes a sparkling new adventure rom-com where a con woman and a lawman team up on an epic cross-country road trip to save their familiesâŚand each other.
Sejal Chaudhary inherited her mamaâs calculating brain, her daddyâs quick fingers, and the boatload of trauma that comes with being the eldest daughter of criminals. Although Sejal has never claimed to be a good girl, sheâs spent the last couple years laying low and going (mostly) straight. That is, until a con gone wrong sends her into the arms of a handsome stranger whoâs set on dragging her back into her messy family drama.
Krish Anand never mastered the fine art of being a bad boyâŚhe would take a book over bullets any day. But when his FBI agent brother goes missing, he has no choice but to suit up for the adventure of a lifetime. Certain that someone in Sejalâs little crime family is behind the disappearance, a desperate Krish manages to convince the beautiful thief that his brotherâs badge is actually his.
The deal is simple: help him find his brother, and Krish and the law will leave Sejal be. With an up-to-no-good ex also hot on her trail, Sejal reluctantly agrees. As they wind their way across the country on planes, buses, and automobiles, sparks ignite, and what began as a fragile temporary truce starts to look more and more like a partnership.
Falling for the enemy? So cliche, but so goodâŚif only they can survive long enough to chance a happily ever after.
The Gilded Heiress by Joanna Shupe is $2.99! This is a Gilded Age historical romance. I’m not sure, but I think it’s a standalone. I don’t see any indicators of a series. Did you read this one?
From USA Today bestselling author Joanna Shupe comes a spicy Anastasia story full of secrets and betrayal, set among the glittering streets of New York City’s Gilded Age.
In 1880 a baby was stolen from the wealthiest family in America. Though no ransom was ever demanded, the Pendelton family never gave up hope . . . and their reward became the stuff of legend.
After being raised in a childrenâs asylum, Josie Smith ends up on the streets and quickly learns how to take care of herself. Her singing voice draws crowds on every corner, and sheâll stop at nothing to become famous and travel the world, loved and adored by all. Maybe then she wonât think about the family who gave her away as an infant.
Leo Hardy isnât afraid to use his charm and wits to make a fast buck, especially with a mother and five siblings to support. When he stumbles upon a beautiful young woman singing on the street, Leo notices her striking resemblance to the infamous missing babyâs mother, Mrs. Thomas Pendelton. The Hardys lost everything thanks to the Pendeltons, and once Leo sees Josie, he seizes the opportunity to settle the score. All he needs to do is pull off the biggest swindle of his career.
As the two are catapulted into Knickerbocker High Society, they grow closer to their goal, as well as to each other. But secrets can only stay hidden for so long. Soon the truth unfolds, and both Josie and Leo must separate whatâs real from whatâs just gilding.
The Starlight Heir by Amalie Howard is $2.99! I believe this is Howardâs first fantasy romance. This is book one in a completed duology.
A bladesmith blessed by the stars. A prince with a dangerous secret. A god bound in shadows. From USA Today bestselling author Amalie Howard comes a scorching new romantasy that will leave you spellbound.
âHis Imperial Majesty King Zarek requests your presence as his esteemed guest.â
When the gold-dusted court invitation arrives at Suraya Saabâs forge, she believes itâs a joke. Nobles might seek her skills as a bladesmithâone of few who can imbue her work with precious jadu, the last source of magic in the realmâbut she has no qualifications as a potential bride for the crown prince. Still, the invitation is the chance at adventure, and the means to finally visit the capital city her late mother loved.
But what awaits her in Kaldari is nothing she could have imaginedâand fraught with danger. Itâs not the crown prince, but his impossibly handsome, illegitimate half-brother, Roshan, who captures her interestâŚand her ire. The invitation isnât a quest to find a suitable bride, but a veiled hunt for the Starkeeperâa girl rumored to hold the magic of the stars in her blood. And across the city, unrest is brewing between the noble houses and the rebel militia.
When the rebels attack, Suraya and Roshan find themselves on the run, trying to deny their simmering attraction and the knowledge that Suraya herself might be the Starkeeper. But Roshan is guarding secrets of his own. And with no control over the power stirring within her, Suraya has drawn the attention of a dark god, an immortal whose interest might be the biggest threat of all.
RECOMMENDED: The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter is $2.99! Lara gave this an A:
This book just got better and better with every twist and reveal. Original, compelling, well-written and immersive, this is a great book to escape into. It is perfect for right now, for the holidays, and for re-reading, which I will definitely be doing very soon.
Knives Out gets a holiday rom-com twist in this rivals-to-lovers romance-mystery from New York Times bestselling author Ally Carter.
The bridge is out. The phones are down. And the most famous mystery writer in the world just disappeared out of a locked room three days before Christmas.
Meet Maggie Chase and Ethan
Sheâs the new Queen of the Cozy Mystery.
Heâs Mr. Big-time Thriller Guy.
She hates his guts.
He thinks her name is Marcie (no matter how many times sheâs told him otherwise.)
But when they both accept a cryptic invitation to attend a Christmas house party at the English estate of a reclusive fan, neither is expecting their host to be the most powerful author in the Eleanor Ashley, the Duchess of Death herself.
That night, the weather turns, and the next morning Eleanor is gone.
She vanished from a locked room, and Maggie has to Is Eleanor in danger? Or is it all some kind of test? Is Ethan the competition? Or is he the only person in that snowbound mansion she can trust?
As the snow gets deeper and the stakes get higher, every clue will bring Maggie and Ethan closer to the truthâand each other. Because, this Christmas, these two rivals are going to have to become allies (and maybe more) if they have any hope of saving Eleanor.
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