Contemporary fiction titles are those which focus on the present or near past. Stories rooted in the current cultural, social, and political landscape which feature characters we can all recognise.
Contemporary Fiction Books
Vintage Publishing Trainspotting
Book Synopsis'An unremitting powerhouse of a novel that marks the arrival of a major new talent. Trainspotting is a loosely knotted string of jagged, dislocated tales that lay bare the hearts of darkness of the junkies, wide-boys and psychos who ride in the down escalator of opportunity in the nation's capital.Trade ReviewAbhorrently dark and raw to the core, Trainspotting is an insight into one of life’s many ugly personalities — addiction and the accompanying domino effect of grim inevitabilities… Irvine Welsh’s novel will always be a cult classic. -- Tori Chalmers * Culture Trip *Welsh’s skill as a storyteller is undeniable, bringing both wit and compassion to a grim subject matter. If you liked Danny Boyle’s film adaptation, you’ll love the original. -- Maddy Searle * i *
£9.49
Vintage Publishing The Sorrow of War
Book SynopsisKien's job is to search the Jungle of Screaming Souls for corpses. He knows the area well this was where, in the dry season of 1969, his battalion was obliterated by American napalm and helicopter gunfire. Kien was one of only ten survivors. This book is his attempt to understand the eleven years of his life he gave to a senseless war. Based on true experiences of Bao Ninh and banned by the communist party, this novel is revered as the All Quiet on the Western Front for our era'.Trade Review20 years on, [it] had an even greater impact on me than it did first time around... It is a remarkable and important novel -- Jamie Byng * Herald *The Sorrow of War vaults over all the American fiction that came out of the Vietnam war to take its place alongside the greatest war novel of the century, All Quiet on the Western Front. And this is to understate its qualities for, unlike All Quiet, it is a novel abut much more than war. A book about writing, about lost youth, it is also a beautiful agonising love story... a magnificent achievementThis hauntingly beautiful novel, written by a North Vietnamese Army veteran, manages to humanise completely a people who up until now have usually been cast as robotic fanaticsUnputdownable... This book should be required reading for anyone in American politics or policy-making. It should win the Pulitzer Prize, but it won't. It's too gripping for that
£9.49
Atlantic Books The Perfect Stranger
Book SynopsisWhat happens when your best friend becomes your worst nightmare...Having reached a dead end in Boston, failed journalist Leah Stevens needs a change. When she runs into an old friend, Emmy Grey, who is moving to rural Pennsylvania, Leah decides to join her. But their fresh start is quickly threatened when a woman with an eerie resemblance to Leah is assaulted by the lake, and Emmy disappears days later.Determined to find Emmy, Leah helps Detective Kyle Donovan to investigate her friend's life for clues. But with no friends, family or digital footprint, the police begin to suspect that there is no Emmy Grey. Forced to question her version of reality and to save herself, Leah must uncover the truth - no matter how dark or terrible it may be...Trade ReviewA twisty, compulsive read, I loved it. * Ruth Ware, author of In a Dark, Dark Wood, praise for All The Missing Girls *All the Missing Girls is a smart, suspenseful, and emotionally complex thriller... Lock the doors, turn off the phone, and read until the last satisfying page. * Alafair Burke, New York Times bestselling author of The Ex, praise for All The Missing Girls *'Both [Gillian] Flynn's and Miranda's main characters also reclaim the right of female characters to be more than victim or femme fatale... All the Missing Girls is set to become one of the best books of 2016.' --Los Angeles Review of Books'Are you paying attention? You'll need to be; this thriller will test your brain with its reverse chronological structure, and it's a page-turner to boot.' --ELLE'Intricately plotted...Ms. Miranda brings heightened suspense and a twist to this familiar scenario by telling the story, which unfolds over 15 days, in reverse chronological order.' --New York Times'All the Missing Girls is the archetypal murder mystery, the kind it seems like everyone has been hungry for since Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl and Paula Hawkins's Girl on a Train.' --Cosmopolitan.com * Praise for ALL THE MISSING GIRLS *
£8.99
Eye Books An Isolated Incident
Book SynopsisWhen 25-year-old Bella Michaels is brutally murdered in the small town of Strathdee, the community is stunned and a media storm descends. Unwillingly thrust into the eye of that storm is Bella's beloved older sister, Chris, a barmaid at the local pub, whose apparently easygoing nature conceals hard-won wisdom and the kind of street-smarts that only experience can bring.Trade Review"This is far more than a page-turning crime drama, though it is also that. Maguire's focus is on those left behind, the often unacknowledged victims of violent crimes. . . . It is a nuanced portrait of a group of flawed characters, male and female, responding to a tragedy. . . . Above all this is a powerful and provocative examination of grief and, in Chris, Emily Maguire has created a character who resounds in the imagination." --Newtown Review of Books "A harrowing, fascinating, compelling work from an accomplished and thoughtful Australian writer who uses the vehicle of a young woman's death to question and explore society's treatment of women, the everyday violence it condones and its intrusive fascination with the murder of pretty young women." --Australian "Utterly engrossing . . . skilfully constructed narrative. . . . Rather than creating a simple case of goodies and baddies, Maguire subtly examines the complexity of the human personality and what leads somebody to feel destructive. This hugely chilling and evocative story, mixing lyrical language and brutal events, is told with great psychological acuity." --Sydney Morning Herald
£8.54
Pearson Education Limited Sundiata an Epic of Old Mali 2nd Edition
Book SynopsisBorn in Guinea, author and playwright Djibril Tamsir Niane is a descendant of griots African oral historians/storytellers. He translated Sundiata, as told by the griot Djeli Mamadou Kouyate, into French under the title Soundjata ou Epoque Mandiginue in 1960. It was later translated into English by G. D. Pickett in 1965. Table of ContentsMap Introduction to the Revised Edition Background Information Geography Religion Society Politics Oral Tradition, Pronunciation and Spelling Who's Who of Characters/Glossary of Places Preface The Story of Sundiata The Words of the Griot Mamadou Kouyatç The First Kings of Mali The Buffalo Woman The Lion Child Childhood The Lion’s Awakening Exile Soumaoro Kantç: The Sorcerer King History The Baobab Leaves The Return The Names of the Heroes Nana Triban and Balla Fassçkç Krina The Empire Kouroukan Fougan or The Division of the World Niani Eternal MaliAuthor’s Notes
£15.47
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Salvage the Bones
Book Synopsis_______________''A brilliantly pacy adventure story ... Ward writes like a dream'' - The Times''Fresh and urgent'' - New York Times''There's something of Faulkner to Ward's grand diction'' - Guardian_______________WINNER OF THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARDHurricane Katrina is building over the Gulf of Mexico, threatening the coastal town of Bois Sauvage, Mississippi, and Esch''s father is growing concerned. He''s a hard drinker, largely absent, and it isn''t often he worries about the family.Esch and her three brothers are stockpiling food, but there isn''t much to save. Lately, Esch can''t keep down what food she gets; at fifteen, she has just realized that she''s pregnant. Her brother Skeetah is sneaking scraps for his prized pit bull''s new litter, dying one by one. Meanwhile, brothers Randall and Junior try to stake their claim in a family long on child''s play and shTrade ReviewFresh and urgent * New York Times *Masterful ... A palpable sense of desire and sorrow animates every page ... Salvage the Bones has the aura of a classic about it * Washington Post *A brilliantly pacy adventure story ... Ward writes like a dream. A real dream: uneasy, vivid and deep as the sea * The Times *Beautifully written ... A powerful depiction of grinding poverty, where somehow, amid the deprivation, the flame of filial affection survives and a genuine spirit of community is able to triumph over everything the system and nature can throw at it * Daily Mail *There’s something of Faulkner to Ward’s grand diction * Guardian *
£9.49
Orion Publishing Co Under a Cornish Sky
Book Synopsis*Shortlisted for the RNA Contemporary Romantic Novel of the Year 2016*For fans of Fern Britton and Rosamunde Pilcher, a spell-binding tale of romance and intrigue, set against the gorgeous Cornish coast.Demi desperately needs her luck to change. On the sleeper train down to Cornwall, she can''t help wondering why everything always goes wrong for her. Having missed out on her dream job, and left with nowhere to stay following her boyfriend''s betrayal, pitching up at her grandfather''s cottage is her only option. Victoria thinks she''s finally got what she wanted: Boscawen, the gorgeous Cornish estate her family owned for generations should now rightfully be hers, following her husband''s sudden death. After years of a loveless marriage and many secret affairs of her own, Victoria thinks new widowhood will suit her very well indeed . . .But both women are in for a surprise. Surrounded by orchards, gardens and the sea, Boscawen is aTrade ReviewLiz Fenwick weaves another deliciously irresistable tale set in the heart of her beloved Cornwall * WESTERN MORNING NEWS *
£9.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Watchmaker of Filigree Street
Book SynopsisWINNER OF A BETTY TRASK AWARD 2016SHORTLISTED FOR THE AUTHORS'' CLUB BEST FIRST NOVEL AWARD Thaniel Steepleton returns from his job at the Home Office to his tiny flat only to find a gold pocketwatch lying on his pillow. When the watch then saves Thaniel's life in a blast that destroys Scotland Yard, he goes in search of its maker, Keita Mori a kind, lonely Japanese immigrant. Meanwhile, Grace Carrow is sneaking into an Oxford library, desperate to prove the existence of the luminiferous ether before her mother can force her to marry.As the lives of these three characters become entwined, events spiral out of control until Thaniel is torn between loyalties, futures and opposing geniuses.Trade ReviewAn assured and absorbing debut … Immensely pleasurable reading. Ms Pulley’s prose is strong and energetic, with a wry edge … The Watchmaker of Filigree Street might be compared to one of Mori’s clockwork birds: intricate, charming and altogether surprising -- Helene Wecker * New York Times, Editors Choice *Ten out of ten * Spectator *Impressively competent: steam-punk meets Zuleika Dobson * Michèle Roberts, author of Daughters of the House *Forget steampunk. Welcome to tickpunk … Part Susanna Clarke, part Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes, The Watchmaker of Filigree Street is a delightful read that benefits from wonderfully colourful characters and a lyrical prose style full of esoteric detail … A compelling read * SFX Magazine *A charming, quirky, clever tale, filled with intricate detail, and a plot that feels as deftly crafted as a precision timepiece * Joanne Harris *Rare and precious … Humour, wit, mystery and danger are threaded through the book in musical measure. It dances between genres and makes partners of several … Pulley’s capacity for making antagonists out of fully realized and sympathetic characters is impressive, as is her ability to keep one guessing as the plot ticks along. There’s nothing quite like putting down a delightful, relentlessly charming and deeply moving book and then finding out it’s the authors first … A remarkable debut * Los Angeles Times Book Review *Historical fiction, magic realism and elements of gothic fiction combine in this ambitious debut ... This is accomplished writing from Natasha Pulley, whose imagination shines through * Irish Times *Enchanting … Amid this thriller-like plot, Pulley raises thought-provoking questions about free will, fate and identity — making for a rich brew of historical fantasy, philosophy and emotion * Washington Post *Elegantly composed, atmospheric and wholly compelling … Pulley’s style is reminiscent of filigree: a decorative work of fine strands woven together into a delicate tracery, which underpins the overarching plot. With music and time at the heart of this intriguing novel, the skilfully rendered interplay speaks volumes about the talent and imagination at work behind such an intricately beautiful piece of writing. A stunning debut by a promising new voice * The Lady, Book of the Month *The Watchmaker of Filigree Street breaks the mould … Genre-busting book of extraordinary imagination … The book is as elaborate as its title suggests, but the multiple plots tick along like clockwork … Exceptionally inventive and uniquely clear-headed, this is speculative fiction as it should be * Country Life *This delightful first novel is as impressive as a work of historical fiction … As it is a delicate fantasy with enough gadgetry to pull in the steampunk fans, and a mystery to boot … Readers will immediately want to read it again * Library Journal *Pulley’s electrifying debut is a triumph of speculative fiction. It captures the frenetic energy of a world undergoing extraordinary changes: London in the time of new electrical devices, Gilbert and Sullivan’s theater, and the terror of Irish nationalist bombings … Pulley expertly employs the tools of mystery and fantasy to examine the social pressures faced by the marginalized … The heart of the story is the universal human quest for acceptance, understanding, and love * Publishers Weekly *Meticulously researched, The Watchmaker of Filigree Street is a compelling mixture of fact and fantasy … The end of the book leaves the reader yearning for a sequel – and for a pet clockwork octopus (Keep reading it, you’ll see) * The Skinny *Everything you could ask for from the steampunk genre. It is full of enticing period detail yet is not boringly over-researched. Its language is charmingly old-fashioned and richly cadenced, without being fusty or archaic … She convincingly presents the telegraph system as a kind of proto-Internet. She conjures up such fanciful items as bottled weather. She muses philosophically on matters of free will and predestination. She illuminates the plight of unemancipated women … And all of this in the most graceful and vivid language one could desire … A poignant, funny, and heartfelt debut * Barnes & Noble Review *Set mostly in 1880s London, Pulley's debut novel twists typical steampunk elements — telegraphs, gaslight, clockwork automata — into a fresh and surprising philosophical adventure … Clever and engaging, this impressive first novel will reward both casual readers looking for a fun period adventure and those fascinated by the tension between free will and fate * Kirkus *Pulley’s imaginative first novel transports readers to a Victorian London teeming with danger and magic … Wholly original * Booklist *A masterful steampunk/mystery/historical fiction debut … A thrilling tale that sweeps readers into a dark and magical past. While The Watchmaker of Filigree Street is reminiscent of such steampunk classics as William Gibson and Bruce Sterling’s The Difference Engine, Pulley’s novel grounds itself in historical accuracy and exquisite prose, and even genre-adverse readers will be hooked * Bustle *A captivating and entertaining work of speculative fiction * BookBrowse *A unique blend of historical fiction and magical realism about the inextricable relationships between three people, a watch with magical powers and a clockwork octopus … Ideal escapist holiday reading, your imagination will run riot * Irish Tatler *A clever detective story, a thrilling steampunk adventure and a poignant examination of the consequences of class warfare and English, Irish and Japanese nationalism in the 19th century * BookPage *Gorgeous … I had high hopes for the Victorian-era novel. And I was not disappointed * Woman’s Way *Blends historical events with clever flights of fancy … An inventive debut; clever, intriguing, and astonishingly assured * Irish Examiner *A brilliant novel in which fantasy punctuates history * Times Higher Education Supplement *
£9.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Harry Potter and the HalfBlood Prince
Book SynopsisSuspicion and fear blow through the wizarding world as news of the Dark Lord's attack on the Ministry of Magic spreads. Harry has not told anyone about the future predicted by the prophecy in the Department of Mysteries, nor how deeply what happened to Sirius Black affected him. He's desperate for Professor Dumbledore to arrive and take him away from the Dursley's but Hogwarts may not be the safe haven from Voldemort's Dark Forces that it once was.In his sixth year, the names Black, Malfoy, Lestrange and Snape will haunt Harry with shades of trust and treachery as he discovers the secret behind the mysterious Half-Blood Prince and Dumbledore prepares him to face his own terrifying destiny.These adult editions with glorious jacket art by Andrew Davidson are now available in hardback for the first time.Trade ReviewAnd you thought wizardry was for children. Harry Potter will make you think again. He casts his spells on grown-ups too * James Naughtie *A gripping story with its clues trailed through the text, chills, spills and some excellent, new comic characters. There is a measure of sadness too … one of the elements of Rowling’s writing that I think entitles her to a seat in the pantheon * Julian Fellowes, Sunday Telegraph *Funny, imaginative, magical … In the 2020s, thirty-something book-lovers will know each other by smug references to Diagon Alley and Quidditch * The Times *One of the greatest literary adventures of modern times * Sunday Telegraph *Spellbinding, enchanting, bewitching stuff * Mirror *
£16.19
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Terranauts
Book SynopsisBY THE WINNER OF THE JONATHAN SWIFT PRIZE 2017LONGLISTED FOR THE INTERNATIONAL DUBLIN LITERARY AWARD 2018Eight people take part in an ecological experiment in 1990s Arizona. Inspired by real events, The Terranauts places human behaviour under the microscope to spellbinding effectLinda is desperate to be one of the lucky eight chosen to take part in the world's most ambitious ecological experiment. She knows that she can survive for two years under the glass dome of Ecosphere II, set in the Arizona desert. Competition is fierce between the hopefuls, among them smooth-talking PR man Ramsay, and Dawn, a naïve beauty. Inside the humid microcosm, the terranauts' labours over crops and livestock, their battles with creepy crawlies, their hostilities and sexual dalliances are all observed by tourists who come to gawp, Mission Control's cameras and the watchful eye of the media. As they struggle to control nature, and hunger sets in, the snakeTrade ReviewBased on a similar experiment in the Arizona desert in the 1990s, The Terranauts is funny, but not always in a way you can laugh at. Boyle’s dissections are far too accurate. One moment you’re watching the antics of a narcissistic cast; the next you’re finding it all heartbreakingly human. One thing is for certain: by the last few chapters, you know that you would pay not to live in an Elon Musk-financed habitat on Mars * Guardian *T. C. Boyle is by far and away one of the most inventive, adventurous and accomplished fiction writers in the US today ... Most of all, he is a mesmerising storyteller -- Lionel ShriverBoyle is a writer who chooses a large canvas and fills it to the edges -- Barbara KingsolverA virtuoso craftsman -- Annie ProulxA sort of Frank Zappa of American letters … Boyle is incapable of writing a boring sentence * Financial Times *Like the brilliant Karl Ove Knausgaard, he can make the cooking of a pork chop so exciting that you find yourself on the edge of your seat … a master * The Times *
£9.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Lowland
Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE 2013 SHORTLISTED FOR THE BAILEYS WOMEN''S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2014SHORTLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD 2013From Subhash's earliest memories, at every point, his brother was there. In the suburban streets of Calcutta where they wandered before dusk and in the hyacinth-strewn ponds where they played for hours on end, Udayan was always in his older brother's sight. So close in age, they were inseparable in childhood and yet, as the years pass as U.S tanks roll into Vietnam and riots sweep across India their brotherly bond can do nothing to forestall the tragedy that will upend their lives. Udayan charismatic and impulsive finds himself drawn to the Naxalite movement, a rebellion waged to eradicate inequity and poverty. He will give everything, risk all, for what he believes, and in doing so will transform the futures of those dearest to him.Trade ReviewSweeping, ambitious ... Confirms Lahiri as a writer of formidable powers and great depth of feeling, who makes the business of conjuring a story from the chaos of human lives seem quite effortless * Observer *This tale of family ties, the bond of brothers and the breaking of traditions is moving, surprising and utterly compelling ... It’s as beautiful as anything you will ever read – it touches your soul * Stylist *Devastating * Independent *A compelling novel that lingers long in the mind -- Books of the Year * Financial Times *A sad, haunting story, which resonates long after the last page has been turned * Evening Standard *
£10.44
Hodder & Stoughton Secrets at the Little Village School
Book Synopsis''[Gervase Phinn is] a worthy successor to James Herriott, and every bit as endearing.'' - bestselling author Alan Titchmarsh''It''s a small village is Barton-in-the-Dale, Mrs Stirling,'' said the shopkeeper. ''You ought to know that by now. Nothing can be kept secret for too long. News travels fast.''In the little village of Barton-in-the-Dale, long-hidden secrets are bubbling to the surface. Ashley Underwood and Emmet O''Malley are set to tie the knot, when a revelation from the handsome Irishman''s past returns to haunt him. The town''s resident nosey-parker discovers some juicy gossip about the primary school''s dishy new staff-member, and head teacher Elisabeth Stirling has a very special secret of her own.As the wedding day draws closer, brewing secrets threaten to boil over. But along with the skeletons tumbling out of the closet comes plenty of laughter, drama, friendship and love. One thing''s for sure: for some, life in Barton-in-theTrade ReviewPRAISE FOR GERVASE PHINN:Packed with delightful and authentic characters, juicy gossip, precarious romance and good old-fashioned village drama, this is a warm-hearted and hilarious account of a struggling school in a small community. * Good Book Guide *A worthy successor to James Herriot, and every bit as endearing. * Alan Titchmarsh *Written with all the humour and warmth one has come to expect from this master storyteller. * Countryman *As Yorkshire's favourite school inspector turns to fiction you can enjoy memorable characters and turns of phrase. * Choice *When Gervase Phinn receives his peerage for services to good-heartedness, this will be the motto on his coat of arms: "Ex silvis sed non supra montem." . . . This entertaining and moving homework earns a good few merit marks. Gervase Phinn is not going downhill yet, by a long chalk on a blackboard. * Independent *
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton Acts of Faith
Book SynopsisThey met as children, innocents from two different worlds. And from that moment their lives were fated to be forever entwined.Timothy: abandoned at birth, he finds a home and a dazzling career within the Catholic church. But the vows he takes cannot protect him from one soul-igniting passion.Daniel: the scholarly son of a great rabbi, he is destined to follow in his father''s footsteps. And destined to break his father''s heart.Deborah: she was raised to be docile and dutiful - the perfect rabbi''s wife - but love will lead her to rebellion. And into worlds the patriarch would never dare imagine.Reaching across more than a quarter of a century, from the tough streets of Brooklyn to ultramodern Brasilia to an Israeli kibbutz, this is an unforgettable story of three extraordinary lives . . . and one forbidden love.Trade ReviewA love story of cosmic proportions * Sunday Telegraph *Master storyteller Erich Segal has done it again - a real page-turner * Daily Express *
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton The Class
Book SynopsisFive lives, five love stories - the dramatic portrait of a generation by the internationally bestselling author of LOVE STORY.Trade ReviewFirst-class entertainment. * Cosmopolitan *An absorbing page-turner. * Publisher's Weekly *Erich Segal's best. * Pittsburgh Press *
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton Tigers Destiny
Book SynopsisTIGER'S DESTINY is the thrilling fourth volume in an epic fantasy-romance that will leave you breathless and yearning for more.Trade ReviewNot since the Twilight books has a series gripped me so intensely. Colleen Houck is a natural storyteller, who binds you into her web of adventure, keeping your interest locked all the way through until the end. This book is just as well paced and original as the first two in the series. I don't think you can read this series without falling under this author's spell. * Serendipity Reviews *This suspenseful tale of love, sacrifice, and redemption is not to be missed. * overflowinglibrary.com on TIGER'S QUEST *Colleen Houck is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors . . . If you haven't started this series yet then it's one I would highly recommend. * feelingfictional.com on TIGER'S QUEST *'I was wrapped up in the sweet romance and heart-pounding adventure of Tiger's Curse. I found myself cheering, squealing and biting my nails - all within a few pages. In short, it was magical!' * Becca Fitzpatrick, author of Hush, Hush *'Entrenched in the rich culture, history, mythology, and imagery of India. The exotic setting only enhances the deliciously romantic scenes. The book is as romantic as it is adventurous. . . it could easily be the next big thing.' * evesfangarden.com on TIGER'S CURSE *
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton Glow
Book Synopsis''ADDICTIVELY GOOD'' The Times''Over-whelming'' Independent''Supercharged'' Evening Standard''Deliciously, startlingly, exuberantly fresh'' GuardianWith GLOW, Ned Beauman has reinvented the international conspiracy thriller for a new generation.A hostage exchange outside a police station in Pakistan.A botched defection in an airport hotel in New Jersey.A test of loyalty at an abandoned resort in the Burmese jungle.A boy and a girl locking eyes at a rave in a South London laundrette . . .For the first time, Britain''s most exciting young novelist turns his attention to the present day, as a conspiracy with global repercussions converges on one small flat above a dentist''s office in Camberwell.Trade ReviewBeauman's writing is dazzlingly inventive. - The TimesA singular and almost recklessly gifted, young writer. - TimeSeriously intelligent and seriously funny at the same time. - Daily TelegraphUndoubtedly a writer of prodigious talent - Financial TimesUnhinged, over-whelming and brilliant ... Beauman has taste: his antennae are acutely tuned to the stylish and resonant. - IndependentA thoroughly enjoyable, playful read . . . The narrative hooks immediately, as does the language, which is often delightfully inventive. There are also surprisingly tender scenes that add depth and humour.. . . Beauman has created a truly modern thriller that is as addictive as it is inventive. - The ListBeauman writes with panache. - Daily MailSexy and urgent - Literary Review
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton The Night Guest
Book SynopsisShortlisted for the Guardian First Book AwardWinner of the inaugural Voss Literary PrizeJoint winner of the Barbara Jefferis AwardIn an isolated house on the New South Wales coast, Ruth, a widow whose sons have flown the nest, lives alone. Until one day a stranger bowls up, announcing that she''s Frida, sent to be Ruth''s carer.At first, Ruth welcomes Frida''s vigorous presence and her willingness to hear Ruth''s tales of growing up in Fiji. She even helps reunite Ruth with a childhood sweetheart. But why does Ruth sense a tiger prowling through the house at night? Is she losing her wits? Can she trust the enigmatic Frida? And how far can she trust herself?Trade ReviewThis debut novel stands out among the year's strongest so far, with its delicately told story of two women whose lives temporarily entwine: one an ageing widow, the other a larger-than-life carer who inveigles herself into the widow's emotional life - and home. Its cool, controlled prose explores the intersections between dementia, unreliable narration, and elderly exploitation, regarding loss, ageing and racial tension without a hint of cliché. And it's a tension-filled psychological thriller to boot, all inspiring the use of that overused phrase 'a must read'. * Independent on Sunday *Horribly believable, The Night Guest is an impressive debut novel that sustains the tense unravelling of its mystery. * The Sunday Times *This psychological thriller feels uneasily close to the realities many families face . . . What's real and what's imagined are terrifyingly difficult to distinguish. It's surreal and menacing. * The Times *McFarlane exploits the vulnerably blurry boundaries of memory here to create a subtle and beguiling crescendo of suspense . . . A limpid, beautiful novel. * Daily Mail *A witty, poetic psychological thriller in which the reader becomes so firmly embedded in Ruth's mind that one cannot help but sympathise with her confusion * Financial Times *A powerfully distinctive narrative about identity and memory, the weight of life and the approach of death * Guardian *Beautifully written and psychologically tense . . . extraordinarily accomplished * Sunday Express *You wouldn't think this was a debut novel, it is so accomplished and confident . . . A witty, menacing psychological thriller * Mumsnet *
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd The Ministry of Utmost Happiness
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewShe is back with a heavyweight state-of-the-nation story that has been ten years in the making * Daily Mail *Roy's second novel proves as remarkable as her first * Financial Times *The Ministry of Utmost Happiness confirms Roy's status as a writer of delicate human dramas that also touch on some of the largest questions of the day. It is the novel as intimate epic. Expect to see it on every prize shortlist this year * The Times *Heartfelt, poetic, intimate, laced with ironic humour...The intensity of Roy's writing - the sheer amount she cares about these people - compels you to concentrate...This is the novel one hoped Arundhati Roy would write about India * Daily Telegraph *Teems with human drama, contains a vivid cast of characters and offers an evocative, searing portrait of modern India * Tatler *A beautiful and grotesque portrait of modern India and the world beyond. Take your time over it, just as the author did * Good Housekeeping *Fantastic. The novel is unflinchingly critical of power, and yet she empowers her underdog characters to persevere, leaving readers with a few droplets of much-needed hope. It's heartening when writers live up to the hyperbole that surrounds them * Hirsh Sawhney *A kaleidoscopic story about the struggle for Kashmir's independence * Washington Post *A sprawling, kaleidoscopic fable about love and resistance in modern India * The Guardian *The follow-up we've been longing for - a poetic, densely populated contemporary novel in the tradition of Dickens and Tolstoy. From its beginning, one is swept up in the story... With her exquisite and dynamic storytelling, Roy balances scenes of suffering and corruption with humour and transcendence * Vogue *Compelling, musical, cinematic... [A] genuine poignancy and depth of emotion. Her gift is for the personal: for poetic description [and an] ability to map the complicated arithmetic of love and belonging . . . The Ministry of Utmost Happiness manages to extract hope from tragedies * The New York Times *A passionate political masterpiece * Times Literary Supplement *
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton Dont Stop the Carnival
Book SynopsisHow far would you go to realise your dreams?
£10.44
Hodder & Stoughton The Good Father
Book SynopsisA stunning novel of a young man accused of killing the next president of the United States, and his father's quest to understand what happened.Trade ReviewBrilliant and heartbreaking, THE GOOD FATHER is a thriller, a mystery and above all else a savagely contemporary, hugely important story . . . it will haunt the reader for a long time. * Tony Parsons *It is rare that a novel so considered is also so gripping. Intense and utterly humane, THE GOOD FATHER is a book, the moment you finish it, you just know you will want to read again. A tremendous achievement. * Simon Lelic *Riveting, moving, unique. This novel deserves to become a classic. * Sophie Hannah *I read THE GOOD FATHER into the small hours. It is that rare gem: a genuine literary thriller, as deep as it is wide. A beautiful, moving and important novel. * Erin Kelly, author of The Poison Tree *An unblinking look at the ills of modern America, and a conclusion: love might address them in a way that wealth cannot. * Justin Webb, presenter of the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 *An examination of conspiracy theories and political assassinations. * Mark Billingham *Discovering a way to be the good father in this context requires great imagination, and Hawley has written a convincing novel about the disturbing endurance of parental responsibility. * The Times Literary Supplement *Noah Hawley's flawless writing and staggeringly impressive narrative authority make THE GOOD FATHER so harrowingly plausible . . . a memorable, moving and unputdownable masterpiece. * Sunday Express *To what extent can a father's actions mess up his child's life? How responsible is a parent when their child does something really wrong? These are the questions posed by the American author Noah Hawley's gripping new novel, THE GOOD FATHER, and perhaps it is because these questions feel particularly relevant now that the novel has struck such a chord. * The Sunday Times Style magazine *This debut . . . explodes like a hand grenade with a force that drives the breath from your body. But, like every great story, it starts from a simple premise - what if your son assassinated a presidential candidate in the United States? Could you believe it? Would you blame yourself? . . . This isn't only a forensic examination of modern fatherhood; it's also a brutal attack on U.S. gun culture, and a reflection on the country's appetite for assassination. Haunting, terrible and yet utterly real, it's superbly written with a marvellous feel for the American landscape and its soul. It's also a tantalising thriller. * Daily Mail *THE GOOD FATHER packs [a] considerable emotional punch. Not as a harrowing investigation of evil, a critique of gun violence in America or a guide to good parenting, but as an account of a father finally accepting his child, for better or worse, until death do them part. Male readers: get your hankies at the ready. * Independent on Sunday *This is something different: edgy and confrontational in its treatment of the devastating effects of America's gun culture but shot through with real emotional heft and featuring characters it is impossible not to care about . . . powerful, involving and full of provocative invective. * Daily Express *Timely and unsettling . . . [a] curious but beguiling mixture of fact and fiction * Telegraph *Gripping . . . echoes Don DeLillo * The Sunday Times *An agonizing but irresistible look into the souls of a killer and a man who always thought he was a good, or good enough, father. * Wall Street Journal *Tackles the theme of parental soul-searching in the face of a child's arrest for a criminal . . . a powerful narrative that builds relentlessly to a stunning emotional climax. * Chicago Tribune *An exploration of the anxieties and challenges of parenthood, the flimsy grasp we have on our pasts when it most counts, and, ultimately, the extent to which our characters and fates are shaped by nature, nurture and chance . . . Family, the book seems to be saying, never breaks down completely, no matter how neglected or strained. Paul's instinctive willingness to take on the world for his son, at all costs, is a moving evocation of the bonds of blood . . . the prose has all the qualities of modern literary classic. * Huffington Post UK *Ostensibly a crime thriller, in American screenwriter Noah Hawley's hands it plays out more as a meditation on fatherhood with a subplot that brilliantly subverts the romance of the American road trip . . . sure to be a massive hit on both sides of the Atlantic. * Huffington Post UK *With nimble prose and acute psychological insight, Hawley traces Allen's guilt-racked quest to prove his son's innocence. The result is a moving family saga that explores the intriguing notion of a statue of limitations on parental responsibility. * People *Noah Hawley taps into Lionel Shriver and Jared Lee Loughner for THE GOOD FATHER, which tracks a man's descent into the mind of his son, arrested for killing a presidential front-runner. * Publishers Weekly best books of Spring 2012 *With great skill, Hawley renders Dr. Allen's treacherous emotional geography, from his shock and guilt to his growing sense tha the knows far less about his son than he thought . . . * Publisher's Weekly *A heartfelt and beautifully written novel . . . Comparisons with We Need To Talk About Kevin will be inevitable as THE GOOD FATHER deals with a parent trying to comprehend how their child could have become a killer. Written from the point of view of a father questioning his parenting skills. Noah Hawley gives the age old question of nature versus nurture a fresh angle. This is a novel about family, love and the decisions we make. Well written, thrilling and compelling. I highly recommend it. * U Magazine (Ireland) *A gripping and poignant novel that chimes with We Need to Talk About Kevin and Jon Krakauer's Into the Wild. The Good Father is a clever dissection of American gun culture, and what it means to love and trust someone. The perfect reading group book. * Patrick Neale in the Bookseller *A solid, gripping story that is as clever as it is bold, stripping down the paternal relationship to uncover the complex people beneath. * Associated Press *This emotionally fraught and acutely perceptive novel questions the concept of nurturing and how children of seemingly bright, caring parents can grow up and go seriously off the rails. There's a very big moment in this novel, and it delivers. * Daily Mirror *A thriller, a drama, a search for sanity in an insane situation; you absolutely must read this book. * Weekend Post (Cairns, Australia) *A compelling and compassionate book * Eye magazine, New Zealand *This book will hold your heart and mind in a vise and not release them, even when the last page becomes a memory . . . and believe me, that last page will become a searing, vivid memory . . . Hawley's research is faultless and detailed. He shows us the mind of a father trying to prevent himself from falling into an abyss, a mind that tries to survive by relating the horror back to something familiar: his experience in medicine. The author also manages an interesting transformation. The more that the Doctor frays at the edges, the more humane (and, for me, likeable) he becomes. It's as if, when everything that we know and believe in is stripped from us, the only thing that remains and develops is our humanity . . . THE GOOD FATHER is an excellent thriller, but more than that, it's a study of how well we know our children, how well our children understand us and, most importantly, the butterfly effect of a single word, action or event. This is the sort of novel that could encourage the examination of our interaction with children and that can't be a bad thing. * The Bookbag Blog *Heartbreaking. * Image (Ireland) *What sets it apart is the way it manages to be both a thriller and also an exploration of a father's unconditional love for his son. What Noah Hawley then produces is a brilliantly-written thrilling whodunnit full of conspiracy theories and red herrings that has at its heart one thing: the love between father and son. Pick up THE GOOD FATHER and you won't be able to put it down. * Fabulous Magazine *
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton The Rice Mother
A compelling glimpse into a captivatingly exotic world of myth and magic.Beguiled by promises of wealth, fourteen-year-old Lakshmi leaves her native Ceylon for Malaya and marriage to a man many years her senior. But Ayah has lied to her and her family about his circumstances and in fact he lives in poverty. A woman of formidable energy and intelligence, Lakshmi provides security, if not luxury, for her family, though at a considerable emotional cost. Then the Japanese army invades during WWII.The family bears deep scars and inflicts those wounds on the next generation. But in Nisha, Lakshmi's great-granddaughter, it is as if Fate has come full circle . . .
£10.44
Hodder & Stoughton Duma Key
Book SynopsisDuma Key is a powerful suspense novel from No. 1 bestseller Stephen King, now with a new cover.When Edgar Freemantle moves to the remote island of Duma Key, off Florida''s coast, to escape his past, he doesn''t expect to find much there. But Duma has been waiting for him, and something in the view from his window urges him to discover a talent he never knew he had. Edgar Freemantle begins to paint. And as he paints, the island''s secrets begin to stir. Secrets of children lost in the undertow, of a ghost ship riding the distant horizon - and a family''s buried past reaching long hands into the present.Trade ReviewThis is one of the most haunted character pieces he's ever written. Horrific. Tragic. And absolutely beautiful * Damon Lindelof, co-creator and writer of Lost *Fresh and frightening and highly recommended * Observer *King has become such a sophisticated writer that this novel is never less than page-turning . . . A first-class beach-read * Independent on Sunday *'Another masterpiece' * The Sun *
£11.69
Penguin Books Ltd Dandelions
Book SynopsisThe exquisite last novel from Nobel Prize-winning author Yasunari KawabataIneko has lost the ability to see things. At first it was a ping-pong ball, then it was her fiancé. The doctors call it ''body blindness'', and she is placed in a psychiatric clinic to recover. As Ineko''s mother and fiancé walk along the riverbank after visiting time, they wonder: is her condition a form of madness - or an expression of love? Exploring the distance between us, and what we say without words, Kawabata''s transcendent final novel is the last word from a master of Japanese literature. ''Lusciously peculiar'' Paris ReviewTrade ReviewYasunari Kawabata's lusciously peculiar novel Dandelions was unfinished when he took his life in 1972. It's a story of love and loss and mania, told in sparse, arresting prose * Paris Review *Kawabata's novels are among the most affecting and original works of our time -- New York Times Book ReviewThere are few other writers who could invoke such a lasting memory of a single image with so few words. * San Francisco Chronicle *A literary habitat like no other?quietly devastating fiction. Behind a lyrical and understated surface, chaotic passions pulse * The Independent *
£8.54
Transworld Publishers Ltd Where The Light Gets In: A heart-warming and
Book Synopsis'Lucy Dillon's books never fail to make me happy' Jenny Colgan'Deeply moving' Sophie KinsellaSometimes the cracks in your heart can be mended in unexpected ways . . .If Lorna's learned one thing, it's that courage is something you paint on like red lipstick, even when you're panicking inside. And right now, with the keys to the town's gallery in her hand, Lorna feels about as courageous as the anxious little dachshund trembling beside her.Sick of life in the big city, Lorna's come home to fulfil her dream of running a successful art gallery. Desperate for change, Lorna just wants a fresh start but can she find it in Longhampton? This is where her tight-knit family shattered into pieces. It's where her doubts about herself took root and where she first fell in love and had her heart broken. It's everything she was running away from.But life and love can surprise you and all Lorna has to do to let the light in is open her heart . . .An uplifting and inspiring novel about second chances and soon to be realised dreams. Perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes, Veronica Henry and Lucy Diamond.____________________AUTHORS AND READERS LOVE THIS BOOK:'Full of love, truth, art and dogs. I absolutely loved it.' Katie Fforde'Heart-gripping narrative''A beautiful, insightful and tender story. I felt bereft for having finished it' Milly Johnson'Could not put it down'____________________Lucy Dillon's latest heartwarming novel After the Rain is out now in paperback and ebook.Trade ReviewWhere the Light Gets In is full of love, truth, art and dogs. I absolutely loved it. * Katie Fforde *Life-affirming, funny and authentic, Lucy Dillon’s plot builds to a perfectly pitched emotional climax which will have you reaching for the tissues. * Sunday Express *Dillon has delivered another blinder . . . A bittersweet, moving examination of letting go and trusting one's own instincts in the face of self-doubt. * Sara Lawrence, Daily Mail *Lucy Dillon's books never fail to make me happy. * Jenny Colgan *A beautiful insightful and tender story. I feel bereft for having finished it. * Milly Johnson *
£8.54
Little, Brown Book Group Before and Again Fans of Jodi Picoult will love
Book SynopsisTHE BRAND NEW NOVEL FROMNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR BARBARA DELINSKY''Fans of Jodi Picoult will love this.'' Daily Express''If you''re a fan of Jodi Picoult you''ll love this thoughtful read.'' Woman''s Way''Warm, rich, textured and impossible to put down.'' Nora Roberts''A compelling, emotional read about love, loss, and becoming someone new.'' Sadie Pearse, author of This Child of Ours***************************************************Mackenzie Cooper took her eyes off the road for just a moment, but the resulting collision was enough to rob her of her life as she knew it. Forced to start again, she moved to a small town under a new name - Maggie Reid - and her only goal is to stay under the radar. She''s thankful for the few friends she''s made, although she can''t risk telling them too much about her previous life.But Maggie isn''t thTrade ReviewIf you're a fan of Jodi Picoult you'll love this thoughtful read * Woman's Way *A delicious beach read, set on the shores of Rhode Island * Booklist *Fans of Jodi Picoult will love this...a poignant family story * Daily Express on The Family Tree *This page-turner will be in demand by Delinsky's many fans * Library Journal (starred review) *A compelling, emotional read about love, loss, becoming someone new, and the heart's immense capacity to heal. * author of This Child of Ours *Delinsky's moving story is filled with love, loss, betrayal and passion. Readers will share the highs and lows experienced by the characters. This is a story for mothers and daughters everywhere. * RT Book Reviews *About the complicated dynamics of a family, the novelty of love no matter when in life you find it * Pop Sugar *
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers The Rules of Seeing The original and gripping
Book SynopsisWinner of the Debut Romantic Novel of the Year Award 2019When you make eye contact, when you hold someone''s gaze, it's the closest thing to knowing you''re not alone in the world.This year's Eleanor Oliphant' Claire Allan Astonishing' Ruth HoganStrikingly brilliant' Sun An exceptional book' Dundee CourierAfter 32 years of living her life in the dark, Jillian Safinova Nova to everyone, except her mother is learning to see.She can see that the sky is blue. And green. And grey. And a whole spectrum of colours, as changeable as her mood.She can see that clouds are surprisingly solid.And she can that Kate, a woman she's only just met, is going to change her life forever.Everyone is talking about The Rules of Seeing:A tender, tense drama about love and the unexpected places you can find it' Sunday ExpressA quirky love story which promises to make you see the world in a completely new way' Daily MailJoe Heap's fascinating debut makes you think about the things most of us take for granted'GTrade Review‘Truly original…it kept me guessing until the nail-biting end. A stunning and memorable page-turner’ Sarah J. Harris, author of The Colour of Bee Larkham’s Murder ‘Is it a love-story? Is it a thriller? It’s both. With tender love scenes that made me catch my breath and a menacing story thread that had me holding it, I loved it, loved it, loved it’ Irish Times best-seller Fionnuala Kearney ‘Extraordinary – a compelling, enlightening story with dark shadows and hope at its heart. It’s a book that reveals the world in a different light and changes the way you see it. So fresh, so original and so vivid, I loved it!’ Sunday Times bestseller, Miranda Dickinson
£11.07
Atlantic Books Top Dog
Book SynopsisFor decades, a secret network in Stockholm has been exploiting young girls, ruthlessly eliminating anyone who threatens to reveal their secret. As oddly paired duo Teddy and Emelie - the thug and the lawyer - investigate, the terrifying noose tightens. The police force has established a special team to find out just who's involved in the network, but can't seem to get close enough. And who is it that's trying to silence Teddy and Emelie, using any means necessary?Trade ReviewAt last: an epic European thriller to rival the Stieg Larsson books. It's an entirely new criminal world, beautifully rendered - and a wildly thrilling novel. * James Ellroy on the Stockholm Noir trilogy *Jens Lapidus, with his dazzling book, Easy Money, is the new Swedish thriller writer everyone's been waiting for. * Reggie Nadelson *Jens Lapidus is a very talented crime author. He is also a young author. He is only going to get better - and he has every potential of becoming the best. * Leif GW Persson *Anything Jens Lapidus writes is a must-read for me. His writing crackles with a profound understanding of not simply why bad people do bad things, but how. * Ryan Gattis *Breathless staccato phrases matched with stylish acceleration a la James Ellroy's raw, terse prose... Lapidus delivers an intrigue that will keep you nailed to the pages * Politiken, Denmark *[Stockholm Delete] is intense and hyperrealistic, written by a suspense novelist who this time has created a near perfectly matched relationship between the novel's content and the form in which it is presented. * Dagbladet, Norway *For those who like their Scandi noir on the bleak side-and really, who doesn't?-Jens Lapidus is your man... Lapidus creates a layered and satisfying portrait of Stockholm and its residents, from the scummiest to the most privileged. * Crimereads *
£7.59
HarperCollins Publishers The Deathless
Book SynopsisFrom the Gemmell Award-winning author of THE VAGRANT, a thrilling new series of power, intrigue, and magic.THE DEMONSCreatures lurk in the endless forests of the Wild, plucking victims from those who scratch a living by the sides of the great Godroads, paths of crystal which provide refuge from the infernal tide.THE DEATHLESSHumanity's protectors reign within crystal castles held aloft on magical currents seven timeless royal families, born and reborn into flawless bodies. As immortal as the precious stones from which they take their names, they fight to hold the Wild at bay. For generations a fragile balance has held.AND THE DAMNEDHouse Sapphire, one of the ancient Deathless families, is riven by suspicion and grief. Their hunting expeditions against the Wild are failing and entire villages have begun to disappear.Then, when assassins strike, House Sapphire shatters.NOTHING LASTS FOREVERTrade Review‘A unique world’Robin Hobb, bestselling author of ASSASSIN’S APPRENTICE ‘A compelling, vivid and skilfully crafted tale’SFX ‘Addictive’Starburst PRAISE FOR THE VAGRANT TRILOGY: ★★★★★ 'For fans of classic science-fiction literature, this is a must-read’SciFi Now ★★★★ 'Come visit this brilliantly imaginative land of winged swords and broken solar cells’SFX
£10.99
Cornerstone A Country Escape
Book SynopsisKatie Fforde lives in the beautiful Cotswold countryside with her family, and is a true country girl at heart. Each of her books explores a different profession or background and her research has helped her bring these to life. She's been a porter in an auction house, tried her hand at pottery, refurbished furniture, delved behind the scenes of a dating website, and she's even been on a Ray Mears survival course. She loves being a writer; to her there isn't a more satisfying and pleasing thing to do. She particularly enjoys writing love stories. She believes falling in love is the best thing in the world, and she wants all her characters to experience it, and her readers to share their stories. To find out more about Katie Fforde step into her world at www.katiefforde.com, visit her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter @KatieFforde.Trade ReviewFran has made the brave decision to move into a beautiful but run-down farm in the Cotswolds.She has one year to make a success of it, and to prove to herself and to the old lady who owns it that she can manage on her own. But can she? She’s going to need a lot of help. Not least from her very eligible neighbour next door … * from the publisher's description *A captivating read, the perfect tonic for these long winter months. * Emma Lee Potter Blog *Engaging, life affirming, exquisite book. * Shaz's Book Blog *Easily one of my favourite books by this always talented author. * Rachel's Random Reads *A Country Escapeis another delightful opportunity to settle back and enjoy a wonderful escapist read. Highly Recommended! * Hot Brands Cool Places *I loved this from start to finish but the last few chapters literally made it unputdownable as I just needed to know what happened next! As I’ve always said, Katie never disappoints. * Life Has a Funny Way of Sneaking Up On You Blog *Good, warming winter reading * Choice Magazine *great fun * Mama Geek blog *A satisfying bucolic meander -- Veronica Henry * Daily Mirror *Warm, funny and wonderfully romantic, this is Katie Fforde at her very best. * Silversurfers *
£8.54
Oneworld Publications The Woman at 1,000 Degrees: The International
Book Synopsis 'Incredibly funny, incredibly insightful and incredibly moving' Fiona Mozley, author of Hot Stew A darkly comic and explosive tale of a world at war and one island girl's struggle to survive Eighty-year old Herra Björnsson lies alone in her garage waiting to die. Oh, she has two weeks left, maybe three - she has booked her cremation appointment, at a blistering 1,000 degrees, so it won't be long. But until then she has her cigarettes, her laptop, a World War II grenade, and her memories to sustain her. One of the most original narrators in literary history, Herra takes readers with her on a dazzling ride of a novel as she reflects - in a voice by turns darkly funny, poignant and always, always smart - on the mishaps, tragedies and turns of luck that shaped her life. And with a bawdy, uncompromising spirit, she has survived it all. As hilarious as it is heartbreaking, Hallgrímur Helgason tells the deeply moving story of a woman swept up by the forces of history. Trade Review‘Published in 13 languages, this novel about one feisty Icelandic woman's proximity to history's big moments is a thoroughly entertaining ride.’ * People magazine *‘A blitzkrieg of a novel… Funny, shrewd and reliably rude… This hugely entertaining tale is surely destined for classic status.’ * Guardian *‘In this black-humoured novel...the narrator recounts her misshapen life with engaging vividness.’ * The New Yorker *‘Breathtaking… Herra’s life, and voice, is deeply compelling.’ * Financial Times *‘The hottest new book from Iceland… [Herra’s] perspective might be just what we need in these uncertain times: She survives and shares her story on her terms. And what a story it is, one worth reading to further understand the complexity of World War II — and to enjoy the quick wit of a woman you won’t forget.’ * Washington Post *‘The Woman at 1,000 Degrees is incredibly funny, incredibly insightful and incredibly moving.’ * Fiona Mozley, author of Elmet *‘What a novel! Helgason’s Woman at 1,000 Degrees is a gutsy, brilliant book: I could not tear myself away from it. Octogenarian Herra Björnsson’s dying recollections, as she lies nursing a hand grenade between her legs in an Icelandic garage, hurtle the reader headfirst into an epic narrative of war, loss, desire and survival, across years and continents. Both funny and deeply moving, I finished it utterly dazzled, my ears ringing.’ * Hannah Kent, author of Burial Rites *‘One of the most original novels of the year.’ * Irish Independent *‘An explosive experience.’ * Elle *‘By turns funny, sweet, gripping and sad but never sentimental, Helgason's work...is a sensitive tale of a nearly lived life.’ * Monocle *‘Herra…is exceedingly quick-witted and has a wickedly colorful way with words… Brilliantly written with flashing insights.’ * Kirkus *'The Woman at 1,000 Degrees is a bold work of fiction that gnaws at the silence blanketing the blackest holes of humanity to lay bare the author's dark vision of truth.' * Washington Independent Review of Books *'This novel is a shock, a laugh, an evocation of grief, and a tribute to survival and imagination.' * Affinity Konar, author of Mischling *'Helgason’s sad and funny novel begins in 2009, as 80-year-old Herra Björnsson lies dying in a Reykavík garage, still in possession of a live hand grenade from World War II...In her unsentimental, unsparing narrative, she offers insights into Icelandic culture and character, including a riff on reticence and a brief summary of Iceland’s financial meltdown. Like the Icelandic landscape, she can be both appealing and treacherous.' * Publishers Weekly, starred review *‘Compelling…uplifting…required reading for those who want sour along with the sweet of life.’ * New York Journal of Books *‘A very enjoyable story…a terrific read. Herra is a great character; she is bawdy, at times outright vulgar and mischievous.’ * The Bookshelf, ABC Radio Australia *'Gripping, darkly comic, and utterly original.' * Valerie Martin, author of Property *'Icelandic novelist Helgason shares with John Irving a knack for masterful plotting and clever, sarcastic humour...anyone willing to...revel in its flights of language will find much to enjoy.' * Booklist *‘Helgason’s characters are rare beauties. One falls for his absurd fantasies immediately.’ * Spiegel.de *‘Long after I read it, the story and its prickly protagonist has stayed with me.’ * Esmeralda Santiago, author of When I Was Puerto Rican, New York Magazine *‘You don’t know her yet, but she already despises you… With a biting humour, she examines love, marriage, sex, politics, and those who practice them.’ * Le Figaro Magazine *‘Extraordinarily absorbing and enjoyable. The story revolves around a woman who lived ahead of her time. Many young women would idealize Herra Björnsson. At the same time, it gives an insight into life during World War II.’ * Washington Book Review *'This is a profoundly, triumphantly feminist book... There’s nothing like it in our language.' * Toronto Star *‘Helgason’s novel is superbly written, with characters and events that grab your attention and make it hard to put down.’ * Tulsa Book Review *‘Unpredictable and endearing.’ * Jacksonville Journal-Courier *‘It's a sophisticated work, combining elements of Bildungsroman, comic burlesque, fictional biography and historical commentary… The novel's sheer invention, talkativeness and linguistic zest recall Joyce, while the plot itself, with its logical progression into the absurd, is not too distant from the labyrinths of Kafka.’ * David McDuff, literary translator and critic *‘A magnificent novel about maybe the most memorable character in Icelandic fiction.’ * Fréttablaðið *‘A mind-blowing doorstopper’ * Le Monde des Livres *‘This novel is toxic. The cover, the crumpled lady with the pink wig should have been warning enough, still one is stunned. This novel charges at you like a little terrier after you have opened a garden gate. It barks short, hoarse sentences. However, you don’t want to put this book down again!’ * Der Spiegel 1 *‘A ride through the 20th century of the ice island through the Nazi German Reich to Argentina and back again – wildly, tough, and devilishly clever. “Like” it? It rocks!’ * Stern *‘The most surprising, funny, bonkers novel of the season’ * Lire *‘Passionate, explosive and fiery…’ * El Periodico *‘Book of the year!’ * SWR3 Radio *‘Irresistible.’ * Paris Match *‘A caustic and human story that is tragic with a great sense of humour at the same time.’ * ABC Libros *‘If this had been written by a different, non-Icelandic author, it would be a pulp Charles Dickens, with a bit of Chuck Palahniuk thrown in.’ * Il Giornale *‘Playing with time and with history, this is a tragicomic and hard-hitting novel in which the author gets to the heart of a global situation and the vagaries of Icelandic politics.’ * El Diario *
£11.69
Headline Publishing Group Friend of the Family
Book SynopsisFrom the Sunday Times bestselling author of THE POOL HOUSE, a sensationally twisty page-turner about a woman with the perfect life and a woman determined to steal it. ''Gripping from the off... sexy, scandalous brilliance... this book is a genuine must *****'' Heat''A book to cancel plans for - we were completely gripped'' Closer She thinks your life is perfect. She thinks you don''t deserve it.Your jobAmy is more than happy to offer the daughter of an old friend work experience at her London magazine. Josie is young and ambitious. She just needs a foot in the door. Your homeWhen Josie arrives, she swiftly makes herself indispensable at work and at home. And when childcare falls through before a long-awaited university reunion in Provence, it begins to look as if Josie may be staying longer than Amy had bargained for.YoTrade ReviewPraise for Tasmina Perry's page-turnersYou'll love this suspenseful thriller * Best *Tasmina Perry's mix of glamour, social insight and psychological tension makes for a slick page-turner and the suspense ratchets up towards the end * Sunday Express *An enjoyable and suspenseful read * Woman's Own *Enjoyable and suspenseful * Woman's Weekly *Tense, escapist fun * Red *
£9.99
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The English Patient: Winner of the Golden Man
Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE GOLDEN MAN BOOKER PRIZE 2018 ‘Magnificent' Sunday Times 'The best piece of fiction I've read in years' Independent on Sunday The final curtain is closing on the Second World War and in an abandoned Italian village. Hana, a nurse, tends to her sole remaining patient. Rescued from a burning plane, the anonymous Englishman is damaged beyond recognition and haunted by painful memories. The only clue Hana has to unlocking his past is the one thing he clung on to through the fire – a copy of The Histories by Herodotus, covered with hand-written notes detailing a tragic love affair.Trade ReviewA masterpiece * Financial Times *Magnificent * Sunday Times *Extraordinary * Daily Telegraph *The English Patient wears the triple crown: it is profound, beautiful and heart-quickening -- Toni MorrisonLanguage of such riveting beauty that one is made to stop and stare * Observer *One of the most innovative and liberating writers of our time * Guardian *The best piece of fiction in English I’ve read in years * Independent on Sunday *An exotic, consuming and richly inspired novel of passion. In its elegance and its satisfactions it resembles no book I know -- Richard FordFeats of daring espionage, aeroplanes mysteriously buried beneath desert sand, archaeological exploration in the Sahara and nail-biting accounts of bomb-disposal against a nervous clock … this is the real thing: muscular, resonant, alive * Spectator *In descriptive prose of spectacular beauty, he invents a desert world which is both physical and imaginative. This is one of the few truly great post-war novels * Irish Times *A magic carpet of a novel that soars across worlds and times … As rare and spellbinding net of dreams as any that has emerged in recent years * Time *In this masterful novel Ondaatje weaves a beautiful and light-handed prose through the histories of people caught up in love and war. A rich and compelling work of fiction -- Don DeLilloOndaatje is one of North America’s finest novelists … the spell of his haunted villa remains with us, inviting us to reread passages for the pure pleasures of being there * Wall Street Journal *A tale of many pleasures--an intensely theatrical tour de force but grounded in Michael Ondaatje's strong feeling for distant times and places * New York Times Book Review *It is an adventure, mystery, romance, and philosophical novel in one ... Michael Ondaatje is a novelist with the heart of a poet * Chicago Tribune *Sensuous, mysterious, rhapsodic, it transports the reader to another world … Ondaatje’s most probing examination yet of the nature of identity * San Francisco Chronicle *A novel so compelling that you will likely read it as I did, in a single sitting. But it’s also one of those rare novels with so much poetry and lucidity that you will find yourself reading it a second and third time, savouring it beauty and intelligence for weeks … The English Patient is simply one of the best novels I have read in years -- Russell Banks
£9.49
Cornerstone Ambush: (Michael Bennett 11). Ruthless killers
Book SynopsisFROM THE AUTHOR OF SUNDAY TIMES NO. 1 BESTSELLER, THE PRESIDENT IS MISSINGDetective Michael Bennett's enemies know where to find him.An anonymous tip about a crime in Upper Manhattan proves to be a set-up. An officer is taken down - but despite the attackers' efforts, it's not Michael Bennett. New York's top cop is not the only one at risk.One of Bennett's children is attacked. And a series of murders follows, each with a distinct signature, alerting Bennett to the presence of a professional killer.Bennett can't tell what's driving the assassin.But he can tell it's personal.INCLUDES BONUS MICHAEL BENNETT STORY, MANHUNT
£19.82
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Travelling in a Strange Land
Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE KERRY GROUP IRISH NOVEL OF THE YEAR I loved this delicate, beautifully written novella about fathers and sons' David NichollsOne of Ireland''s great novelists' Roddy Doyle Wrings the heart' Bernard MacLaverty A mighty book' Frank McGuinness Extraordinary, raw and moving a chronicle of pain and powerlessness as could be written' Lisa McInerneyAN IRISH TIMES BOOK OF THE YEARThe world is shrouded in snow. With transport ground to a halt, Tom must venture out into a transformed and treacherous landscape to collect his son, sick and stranded in student lodgings. But on this solitary drive from Belfast to Sunderland, Tom will be drawn into another journey, one without map or guide, and is forced to chart pathways of family history haunted by memory and clouded in regret. Travelling in a Strange Land is a work of exquisite loss and transformative grace. It is a novel about fathers and sons, grief, memory, family andTrade ReviewBreathtaking ... A dark secret and a frozen journey through the fraught terrain of parenthood drive this brave, exhilarating novel … Every sentence in Parks’s book is felt. The author has weighed up each word and considered every image, electing only those that carry sufficient freight to bear the reader to his intended destination Park takes this emotional terrain of parenthood as both his setting and his subject, and creates something exhilaratingly brave and powerful from its jagged peaks and troughs -- Claire Kilroy * Guardian *Another beautiful offering from Northern Ireland is David Park’s Travelling in a Strange Land, though I accept that it’ll make my giftees cry buckets -- Lisa McInerney * Irish Times, Books of the Year *David Park’s Travelling in a Strange Land was a beautiful, intensely human study of fathers and sons that I’d gladly share -- Brian McGilloway * Irish Times, Books of the Year *This lucidly written and deceptively simple narrative by the highly regarded Northern Irish novelist David Park is the story of a troubled journey into the self and out into the world again, towards some glimmer of generosity and redemption * Sunday Times *A tense, tense, thrilling, strange and profoundly moving study of parenthood. There isn’t a wasted syllable in this short, beautiful book -- Donal Ryan * Irish Times *Moving and eloquent - stays with you long after the final pages have melted away -- Donal O'DonoghueSombre, but unsolemn, with a redemptive, tingling finale, this is a small book bursting with big emotions -- Anthony Cummins * Daily Mail *A deeply felt novel … of personal tragedy and failure … There is no false piety in this sometimes desperate, always measured novel, but a compassionately observed, manifestly flawed redemption * Irish Times *It is time to call David Park what he is - a very great writer. Travelling In A Strange Land is an eruption of love and sorrow, overwhelmingly compassionate and wise, hearing the heart break and maybe even heal, bearing the deepest testimony to the love, unending love, binding parent and child. A mighty book -- Frank McGuinnessAn extraordinary novel, at once startling and quietly brilliant. David Park is a one of Ireland's great novelists and this is, perhaps, his best -- Roddy DoyleThis is a father and son novel of rare intensity. We are taken on an unforgettable winter journey and, like in a skid, we have no idea which way we’ll be facing by the end. He writes with a focus and precision which wrings the heart -- Bernard MacLavertyI just loved the David Park. Everything about it. It's just a profound and beautifully sad work and if you want to know what great writing is, it's right there -- Niall MacMonagleThis, then, is the story of a lost child and a parent’s guilt about decisions that seemed justifiable at the time but that merely led the way to irreversible tragedy, about the search for redemption … Its concerns are firmly on one man and his search for meaning and solace * Irish Independent *Extraordinary ... As raw and moving a chronicle of pain and powerlessness as could be written. Beautiful, too -- Lisa McInerneyDavid Park is now one of the best British novelists. He’s perfected his art. His new book qualifies him as the Belfast Turgenev ... One of the truest observers of life … he is even more compelling on his favourite subject, the delicate balance which ties, and taunts, fathers and sons. This touching story of a ruminating father’s solitary journey to Scotland to bring home his sick son for Christmas is one of his best yet. It has all of Park’s magic, melancholy and tenderness, and is, in more ways than one, an absolute dream * Big Issue *Park appears to write effortlessly, with one foot planted firmly in the canon of traditional Irish lyricism and another flirting with modern parlance … His emotional intelligence is remarkable * Daily Mail *A writer’s writer … Park is to be commended for his great skill with language and emotion -- John BoyneOne of the shrewdest observers of the way we live now * Independent *He is an astute storyteller whose vision is sustained by instinct, intelligent observation, and a sense of responsibility * Irish Times *If there were any justice in the world this slim novel would be on everybody’s Christmas list ... A short, intimate book with a big story to tell * Herald, Books of the Year 2018 *
£9.49
Oneworld Publications The Return of the Young Prince
Book Synopsis A beautiful tribute to the international bestseller The Little Prince, with specially commissioned illustrations by the award-winning artist Pietari Posti Few stories are as widely read and as universally cherished by children and adults alike as The Little Prince. But even princes from faraway planets eventually grow up. No longer content with his tiny planet, the young prince sets off once again to explore the universe. And so begins another remarkable journey into the secrets and joys of living a meaningful life. A charming fable for all ages, this wonderful follow-up to the beloved classic overflows with love and wisdom, a true celebration of life as it should be lived in all its beauty and joy.Trade Review'This book reminds us of the values we should never have abandoned: the importance of friendship, family, community and compassion – the pillars of every civilized society.' * Bruno d’Agay *
£7.59
HarperCollins Publishers Knaves Over Queens Wild Cards
Book SynopsisThe return of the famous shared-world superhero books created and edited by George R. R. Martin, author of A Song of Ice and Fire.For decades, George R.R. Martin bestselling author of the A Song of Ice and Fire series has collaborated with an ever-shifting ensemble of science fiction and fantasy icons to create the amazing Wild Cards universe.In the aftermath of World War II, the Earth's population was devastated by a terrifying alien virus. Those who survived were changed for ever. Some, known as Jokers, were cursed with bizarre mental and physical deformities; others, granted superhuman abilities, are known as Aces. Now the virus has reached BritainQueen Margaret rules over a country in which such legendary figures as Herne the Hunter, Spring-heeled Jack and Babh, the goddess of war, roam at will. Her Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill gifted with extraordinary longevity together with the Enigma ace Alan Turing set up a special organization named the Order of the Silver HeliTrade ReviewPRAISE FOR THE WILD CARDS SERIES: “Deep and complex”Starburst “Perhaps the most original and provocative of the shared worlds books.”Peter S. Beagle, author of The Last Unicorn "Martin has assembled an impressive array of writers. . . . Progressing through the decades, Wild Cards keeps its momentum to the end."Locus "The shared-world series known as Wild Cards has had a long and illustrious history of contributors and achievements." SciFi.com
£8.54
Simon & Schuster Ltd If You Could Go Anywhere
Book Synopsis'Family secrets, new horizons and a gorgeous continent-crossing romance . . . prepare to be swept away!' LUCY DIAMOND HOW DO YOU FIND WHERE YOU'RE GOING, IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'RE FROM? Angie has always wanted to travel. But at twenty-seven, she has barely stepped outside the small mining town where she was born. Instead, she discovers the world through stories told to her by passing travellers, dreaming that one day she'll see it all for herself. When her grandmother passes away, leaving Angie with no remaining family, she is ready to start her own adventures. Then she finds a letter revealing the address of the father she never knew, and realises instantly where her journey must begin: Italy. As Angie sets out to find the truth – about her family, her past and who she really is – will mysterious and reckless Italian Alessandro help guide the way?'Heart-warming, wiTrade ReviewPraise for Paige Toon ‘You’ll love it, cry buckets and be uplifted’ MARIAN KEYES ‘Tender, heartbreaking and magical’ GIOVANNA FLETCHER ‘Heart-warming, wistful and full of joy’ LINDSEY KELK ‘Poignant and lovely, warm and wise’ MILLY JOHNSON ‘Family secrets, new horizons and a gorgeous continent-crossing romance... prepare to be swept away!’ LUCY DIAMOND ‘Warm, inspiring, like a holiday mood in book form’ MHAIRI MCFARLANE ‘For smart, romantic fiction, look no further than the new book from bestselling Paige Toon’ RED ‘Achingly romantic and brilliantly written... Five Stars!’ HEAT ‘Simply gorgeous’ SUN ‘You won’t be able to put down this emotional read’ CLOSER ‘Paige Toon is the queen of will-they/won't-they romance, setting up an ending that will leave you in bits’ SUNDAY EXPRESS ‘Full of living-in-the-moment and what-might-have-been contrasts, this tender read pulls at the heart strings’ FABULOUS
£8.54
City Lights Books Los Angeles Stories
Book SynopsisA Los Angeles Times''s and Southern California Indie Bookseller Association''s Bestseller!Los Angeles Stories is a collection of loosely linked, noir-ish tales that evoke a bygone era in one of America''s most iconic cities. In post-World War II Los Angeles, as power was concentrating and fortunes were being made, a do-it-yourself culture of cool cats, outsiders, and oddballs populated the old downtown neighborhoods of Bunker Hill and Chavez Ravine. Ordinary working folks rubbed elbows with petty criminals, grifters, and all sorts of women at foggy end-of-the-line outposts in Venice Beach and Santa Monica.Rich with the essence and character of the times, suffused with the patois of the city''s underclass, these are stories about the common people of Los Angeles, a sunny place for shady people, and the strange things that happen to them. Musicians, gun shop owners, streetwalkers, tailors, door-to-door salesmen, drifters, housewives, deTrade Review"In Los Angeles Stories, his first published collection of stories, Ry Cooder pays homage to the jazz, the blues and the Latin beat of a bygone era. He also honors a cast of boisterous musicians, some murdered, others spared to tell their gritty tales of life and death. A few famous musicians - John Lee Hooker and Charlie Parker among them - make cameo appearances in these pages, but most of the guitar players, drummers and lounge singers are as unknown as the repossession men, waitresses and mechanics they entertain in forgotten bars and derelict nightclubs. Cooder fans will enjoy the upbeat mix of music and murder. Aficionados of noir fiction will love the characters, all of whom have something to hide and all of whom are engaged in illegal activity." -- Jonah Raskin, San Francisco Chronicle "The stories of Ry Cooder are a lot like his music: stately, precise, well constructed; they grab you by the throat, quietly, and never let go... Cooder is a passionate historian of Los Angeles, curating its small joys and predilections, its cultural pratfalls and senseless tragedies... Los Angeles Stories is an unusual book, old-fashioned but not out of fashion. Its most beautiful quality is the genuine pathos, conveyed with tact and skill, for a city that has vanished, that has always been vanishing."--Andrew J. Khaled Madigan, The Iowa Review "Cooder's Los Angeles Stories are noir-infused, glamour-free portraits of working class loners, drifters, bums, musicians (both real and fictional), and numerous other fringe types. Each speaks with his or her own individuated, idiom-riddled (but cliche-free) patois." -- Casey Burchby, LA Weekly "There is a feeling in the stories, as in much of his music, that something is being documented; that voices, and personal histories, are being preserved not for posterity, but against annihilation by some overriding and corrupted power." -- C.P. Heiser, LA Review of Books "While some of the stories focus on those who end up in LA, Cooder's focus in this book is mainly about those who have called LA home for most of their lives. The way Cooder describes the neighborhoods in LA -- the homes and the working class -- really paints a picture that doesn't just give you an idea of what it was like; rather, he brings these images to life, especially if you live in or visit LA today." --Verbicide Magazine "... Ryland Peter Cooder ventures into new territory with his first collection of linked shortly stories, entitled (not surprisingly) Los Angeles Stories (City Lights) ... Eight stories are set in post World War II Los Angeles intermingling the kinds of characters and narratives that Cooder has put to good use in his songs-- blue collar workers, small time criminals and all kinds of fauna to be found in the barely visible underclass." --Robert Birnbaum, "Our Man in Boston"
£999.99
City Lights Books More Notes of a Dirty Old Man
Book SynopsisHe loads his head full of coal and diamonds shoot out of his finger tips. What a trick. The mole genius has left us with another digest. It''s a full house—read ''em and weep.—Tom Waits After toiling in obscurity for years, Charles Bukowski suddenly found fame in 1967 with his autobiographical newspaper column, Notes of a Dirty Old Man, and a book of that name in 1969. He continued writing this column, in one form or another, through the mid-1980s. More Notes of a Dirty Old Man gathers many uncollected gems from the column''s twenty-year run. Drawn from ephemeral underground publications, these stories and essays haven''t been seen in decades, making More a valuable addition to Bukowski''s oeuvre. Filled with his usual obsessions—sex, booze, gambling—More features Bukowski''s offbeat insights into politics and literature, his tortured, violent relationships with women, and his lurid escapades on the poetry reading circuit. Highlighting his versatility, the book ranges from thinly veiled autobiography to purely fictional tales of dysfunctional suburbanites, disgraced politicians, and down-and-out sports promoters, climaxing with a long, hilarious adventure among French filmmakers, My Friend the Gambler, based on his experiences making the movie Barfly. From his lowly days at the post office through his later literary fame, More follows the entire arc of Bukowski''s colorful career. Edited by Bukowski scholar David Stephen Calonne, More Notes of a Dirty Old Man features an afterword outlining the history of the column and its effect on the author''s creative development. Born in Andernach, Germany in 1920, Charles Bukowski came to California at age three and spent most of his life in Los Angeles. He died in San Pedro, California, on March 9, 1994. Trade Review"In another installment of his essays and ramblings, City Lights press have surely come up with a winner." -- Beat Scene "Proving that misanthropic and humanitarian are two sides of the same tarnished coin and that stagnation and metamorphosis are equally related, this collection arcs subtly from the banal side of addiction to the most extreme forms of love and hate. Bukowski's prose is still relevant, still shocking, still transcendent." -- Publishers Weekly "To anyone familiar with Bukowski's work, they're more of the good stuff -- essays on pure desire that demonstrate his lust for the physical world. And of course, they're shot through with Bukowski's admirable denial of a higher meaning to his work -- to an earnest interviewer, he writes, 'When I die they can take my work and wipe a cat's ass with it. It will be of no earthly use to me.'" -- LA Weekly "In these pieces, written for the alternative press from 1967 through the mid-'80s, is a Bukowski you might not know--the father taking his seven-year-old daughter to the beach in Santa Monica, where he rescues a homeless man who's been beaten up by thugs. Here's the Bukowski lost in the gender wars, confused and trying to keep his own desire (piggy at times, yes) alive. He wasn't looking for beauty, but he found it now and then. And he was happy writing these columns--as much as a grumpy middle-aged drunk can be." -- Susan Salter Reynolds, Los Angeles Magazine "He's been gone since 1994, but Charles Bukowski continues to fascinate us. His tales of sex, drugs,and booze, and more sex, drugs, and booze, ad infinitum, resonate a lurid energy that grabs our attention and keeps it." -- SF Weekly
£13.29
HarperCollins Publishers Darling The most shocking psychological thriller
Book SynopsisA teenage girl clashes with her new stepmother in this debut thriller with an unforgettable twistA pile-up of devastating plot twists' Bernardine Evaristo, author of Booker-winning Girl, Woman, OtherDark, deep, thought-provoking. Go and read it!' Adele ParksSimilar in spirit to We Need to Talk About Kevin' Sunday TimesGenuinely unputdownable' Clare Fisher, author of All the Good ThingsSure to be a reading group favourite' MetroStunning' Laura Marshall, author of Friend RequestThe twists and turns left me reeling' Eleanor Wasserberg, author of FoxloweI knew she was trouble from the moment I saw her. I felt it as she stood in the doorway that day: disaster. Not just because she was so different, that skin and that hair, as different from me as it's possible to be. There was something wrong about her. Wrong for us. It was never going to work.Now she is dead and only I am left to love him. She is dead, and it's all my fault.Trade Review'An impressive concoction of characterisation, language and daring, leading to a pile-up of devastating plot twists at the end. It's telly-ready!' Bernardine Evaristo, Booker Prize winning author of Girl, Woman, Other ‘Dark, deep, thought-provoking . What a debut! I recommend you go and read it!’ Adele Parks ‘A page-turning thriller that grips the reader with its twisty exploration of the complex relationship between step mother and step daughter’ Kate Hamer ‘Similar in spirit to We Need to Talk About Kevin’ Sunday Times ‘A fast-moving story about love, race and jealousy, sure to be a reading group favourite’ Metro ‘Oh so good’ Elle ‘Stunning. I swung back and forth, not knowing who to trust’ Laura Marshall ‘A tense novel about creating new families that explores the lengths people will go to in order to find and keep love. As it goes on, it becomes clear that Darling is not the story you thought it was’ Stylist ‘A brilliant and surprising chameleon of a novel. I was so absorbed in the voices of Darling and Lola that the twists and turns of their story left me reeling’ Eleanor Wasserberg, author of Foxlowe’ ‘I devoured Darling in a couple of days; told by two unforgettable female narrators, it's urgent, original and genuinely unputdownable’ Clare Fisher, author of All the Good Things ‘Dark, provocative and a refreshing take on the psychological thriller genre. Darling and Lola are both brilliant creations’ Emma Curtis, author of One Little Mistake
£8.54
HarperCollins Publishers Paris by the Book
Book SynopsisHELLO!'s Pick of the Week'A whirlwind mystery and unravelling love story set in a little bookshop in the heart of Paris.Heartbreaking, moving and completely riveting.'Quirky and unusual.'Atmospheric and with a lot of charm.'An engaging book perfect for reading with a coffee.'A literary lover's delight.'Some stories are still waiting to be found.In a city of millions, it's easy to lose someoneTwelve weeks before Leah Eady arrived in France, her husband disappeared. Early one morning, he walked out the door and never came back. All he left behind was a scrumpled note in a cereal box, leading her to the bustling streets of Paris.Once she arrives, she discovers a mysterious unfinished manuscript written by her husband, and set in the very same city. Hoping to uncover more clues, Leah takes over a crumbling bookshop with her two young daughters, only to realise that he might just be closer than any of them ever imaginedbut what if he doesn't want to be found?Don't miss the breathtaking debuTrade Review‘Lovely’ FROST Magazine ‘Sublime… A beautifully-drawn portrait of a woman interrupted set among the exquisite magic of Paris’ PUBLISHERS WEEKLY ‘Callanan’s sweet and compulsively readable tale invites readers to fall in love with Paris, Leah, and her family.’ BOOKLIST WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT PARIS BY THE BOOK: ‘Heartbreaking, moving and completely riveting.’ ‘Quirky and unusual.’ ‘Atmospheric and with a lot of charm.’ ‘An engaging book perfect for reading with a coffee.’ ‘A contemporary tale of love, loss and books…a literary lover’s delight.’
£10.79
Eland Publishing Ltd Jigsaw An Unsentimental Education
Book SynopsisThis intensely remembered, partly autobiographical novel, which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1989, describes the childhood of Billi, a girl growing up in Europe between the wars. When her father dies, she swaps life in a run-down German château for an exhilarating existence with her beautiful, talented and unreliable mother on the French Riviera. Sent away to England for schooling, the gypsy-like Billi ricochets between short-lived tutors and a life of reading, friends and public lectures. Returning to the Mediterranean, her unorthodox education intellectual, emotional and sexual continues among the vibrant community of artists, exiles and intellectuals who have colonised the coast, coaxing her towards a life of literature.
£11.69
The Quince Tree Press The Battle of Pollocks Crossing
Book Synopsis
£11.46
Paddleless Press An Insular Possession
Book Synopsis
£8.54
Catbird Press War With The Newts
Book Synopsis
£15.29
Little Lagoon Bukowski on Bukowski with CD
Book Synopsis
£10.24
Quercus Publishing Monsieur Linh and His Child
Book SynopsisMonsieur Linh and His Child is a remarkable novel with an extraordinary twist, a subtle portrait of friendship and a dialogue between two cultures.Trade Review'an impossibly elegant novel, one that makes you sort of wistful at the beauty of the words and their meaning' Black Sheep Dances. * Black Sheep Dances *'A delicately sympathetic portrayal of trauma, as well as a poignant evocation of guilt' Maya Jaggi, Guardian. * Guardian *'This is an extraordinary, powerful and moving novel of the refugee experience ... Highly recommended' Sarah Bower, Historical Novels Society. * Historical Novels Society *'Claudel maintains a simplicity and sensitivity throughout the book, mirroring the compassion and sympathy that the men share for each other' Irish Times. * Irish Times *'Exquisite' Allan Massie, Scotsman. * Scotsman *'An exquisitely crafted little gem of a book' Rebecca Isherwood, Skinny. * Skinny *'Like all good fables, it conveys the sense of a greater significance beyond itself' Daniel Hahn, Independent. * Independent *'There is nothing sentimental about the prose, which is as restrained and delicate as a piece of Indochinese artwork' Ophelia Field, Guardian. * Guardian *
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers SPRING ON THE LITTLE CORNISH ISLES The most
Book SynopsisBeautifully written and had me hooked from page one' Reader ReviewA gorgeous springtime read from the Sunday Times bestselling author, perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan and Karen Swan.Will love bloom on the little Cornish Isles?Jess has lived at the idyllic flower farm on the Isles of Scilly her whole life, but when her boyfriend Adam leaves without explanation, Jess discovers that even her little slice of Cornish heaven can be lonely.For the first time in Will's life, he's met someone he can't stop thinking about. But nothing is simple when the woman of your dreams is working for you.Gaby is running away from painful memories, and where could be more perfect than a remote island off the Cornish coast? But to put the past behind her, she must keep moving however much she might want to stay.A gorgeous spring-time romance from Sunday Times bestselling author Phillipa Ashley. Perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan, Karen Swan and Heidi Swain.Authors and readers can't get enough of Phillipa AshlTrade ReviewPraise for Phillipa Ashley: ‘Sheer joy!’ Katie Ffforde ‘A lovely read full of secrets and hope.’ Jo Thomas ‘Will make you laugh and cry.’ Miranda Dickinson ‘Gloriously uplifting and unashamedly warm hearted!’ Faith Hogan ‘A blissful story, full of sunshine, secrets and Phillipa’s trademark romance.’ Cressida McLaughlin ‘Escapism at its very best, what a book!’ Milly Johnson ‘Filled with warm and likeable characters. Great fun!’ Jill Mansell ‘An utterly glorious, escapist read from a one of the freshest voices in women's fiction today. I loved every gorgeous page.’ Claudia Carroll ‘Serious escapism … like a big warm hug.’ Popsugar ‘Romantic and life-affirming.’ Woman’s Weekly ‘Full of genuine warmth and quirky characters.’ Woman’s Own
£8.54
