Southside Community Centre PEEP Group for Babies. Learning together to help parents and carers create the best start for their babies by making the most of everyday learning opportunities – listening, talking, playing, singing and sharing books and stories together. 1-2pm today (after Well Baby Clinic, which starts at 12) and every Wednesday for ten weeks, Room 1, Southside Community Centre, 117 Nicolson Street. Free: all very welcome! For more information please contact the centre on 0131 667 0484.
Blackwell’s Edinburgh Presents Aline Templeton: The Third Sin – the latest instalment in the DI Marjory Fleming series. Fleming investigates the murky relationships among the Cyrenaics, who believe that pleasure is the highest good. 6.30-8pm, Blackwell’s, South Bridge. Free tickets are available via eventbrite here, or in person from the store’s front desk, by emailing events.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk or calling 0131 622 8218.
Rhymetime: songs and tunes for young children and their parents and carers. 11-11.30am or 2-2.30pm today and every Wednesday, Newington Library, Fountainhall Road.
Common Weal Edinburgh North & Leith Monthly Book Group: currently reading Tariq Ali’s The Extreme Centre. 7.30-9.30pm, Area C Coffee House, 239-241 Leith Walk. All welcome.
Bookbug: for young children and their parents and carers. 10.30-11am, Oxgangs Library, Oxgangs Road North.
Looking Glass Books Presents Catherine Chanter The Well. The award-winning writer and poet launches her debut novel, in conversation with the inimitable Peggy Hughes. ‘A dark and devastating tale of obsession, motherhood and the complexity of female relationships, wrapped inside a gripping whodunnit’. 6.30pm, Looking Glass Books, Quartermile, Simpson’s Loan. Free but booking is required via eventbrite here, or by calling the shop on 0131 229 2902 or emailing hello@lookingglassbooks.com.
The Edinburgh Bookshop Presents Patrick Gale: A Place Called Winter. The author launches his first novel for three years, set in the newly colonised Canadian prairies. ‘An exquisite story of self-discovery, loosely based on a real-life family mystery, Patrick Gale has created an epic, intimate human drama, both brutal and breathtaking – a novel of secrets, sexuality, and ultimately of great love’. 7pm, Eric Liddell Centre, 15 Morningside Road. Free but booking is required: please contact the shop on 0131 447 1917.
Pedro Serrano: the Mexican poet, who has published five collections of poems, visits 
Edinburgh. 6.30pm, Word Power Books, West Nicolson Street. Free.
LGBT Icebreakers: if you would like to meet new people, are just coming out or don’t feel confident going out on the ‘scene’, try this informal, fun and friendly social group for LGBT people and anyone questioning their sexuality or gender identity. For over-18s. 7.30-9.30pm, The Regent Bar, 2 Montrose Terrace. For more information please contact Alison Wren on 0131 652 3283 or email alison@lgbthealth.org.uk.
Peter Ranscombe: Hare. The author launches his debut novel, a scandalous story close to Edinburgh’s heart. What happened to William Hare? After his partner-in-crime William Burke was hanged in 1829 for a series of murders in the city, Hare was set free after turning King’s evidence against him and headed for London, where rumours spread of his death in a lime pit at the hands of an angry mob. The murders carried out by Burke and Hare are historical fact, but Peter Ranscombe settles Hare in Boston during the early years of the American Civil War. A series of terrifying murders places him under suspicion once again and sends the city’s police force into a desperate search for the killer. Peter will read from and discuss his fast-moving historical thriller. 7-8pm, Central Library, George IV Bridge. Free tickets may be booked via eventbrite here.
Edinburgh Gay Men’s Book Group: an inclusive group where you can meet new people and read and discuss interesting books. 7-9pm, LGBT Health and Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. Group contact: info@gaybookgroup.co.uk.
Edinburgh Folk Club: Jenna Reid and Kevin MacKenzie.. 8pm, The Pleasance Cabaret Bar, 60 Pleasance. Tickets cost £10/£9/£7 (members)
North Edinburgh Arts AGM: come and hear about the work of NEA and its plans for the next three years. 
Nominations for new Board members will also be registered at the meeting. Refreshments will be served and a creche will be available but must be booked in advance. 12 noon, (soup and sandwiches served at 12.30pm), NEA, Pennywell Court. To register your intention to attend and to book a creche place please contact Sandra on 0131 315 2151 or email admin@northedinburgharts.co.uk.
