Contemporary Fiction Books

Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE AUTHOR'S CLUB BEST FIRST NOVEL AWARD SHORTLISTED FOR THE HWA DEBUT CROWN 'It makes Game of Thrones look like a nursery rhyme' - Daisy Goodwin Lover, mother, murderer, Tsarina 1699: Illegitimate, destitute and strikingly beautiful, Marta is sold into labour at the age of fifteen - where in desperation she commits a crime that will force her to go on the run. Cheating death at every turn, she is swept into the current of the Great Northern War. Working as a washer woman at a battle camp, she catches the eye of none other than Peter the Great. Passionate and iron-willed, Peter has a vision for transforming the traditionalist Tsardom of Russia into a modern, Western empire. With nothing but wits, courage and formidable ambition, Marta will rise from nothing to become Catherine I of Russia. But it comes at a steep price and is tied to the destiny of Russia itself.Trade ReviewAlpsten's colourful narrative does full justice to her extraordinary career * Sunday Times *With its sprawling canvas and huge cast...it's an entertaining romp through the endless intrigue, violence and debauchery of court life.' * Mail on Sunday *The extraordinary life of Catherine I of Russia is brought to life in Alpsten's colourful novel. * Sunday Times, Summer Picks *This is the ultimate Cinderella story of an illiterate peasant girl who becomes the empress of Russia. It makes Game of Thrones look like a nursery rhyme. * Daisy Goodwin *As detailed as the jewels and enamel inlay on the creations of Faberge...[a] crisp, elegant fictional account of history, woven with emotion and brio.' * Adriana Trigiani *Luscious...Alpsten has clearly done some brilliant research. It reads like Game of Thrones without the dragons. * Natasha Pulley *[Alpsten] recounts this remarkable woman's colourful life and times. * Count Nikolai Tolstoy *

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Book SynopsisBy the Sunday Times bestselling author of A Golden Cornish Summer, discover the perfect escapist read.''Warm and funny and feel-good. The best sort of holiday read'' Katie FfordeMiranda''s taken great care to create a calm and ordered world for herself, and in her job as property manager of a spectacular island castle in Cornwall, she''s had the castle running like clockwork. But this summer, its sexy owner returns to claim his birthright - and Miranda''s careful life will never be the same again.Dark, handsome and with a rakish reputation, Jago St Merryn not only looks like a pirate but is intent on flogging the Mount to a soulless leisure corporation. Miranda faces the battle of her life as she tries to persuade him to change his mind. But if she''s going to convince him, she''ll have to face some secrets from her past that she''d much rather keep hidden away - and she might even have to risk opening up her heart...Trade ReviewPerfect for an afternoon in the hammock * A Bookworm's World *

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Book SynopsisA secret history. A long-ago summer. A house with an untold story . . .THE SPELLBINDING MYSTERY FROM THE WINTER 2020 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING RICHARD & JUDY PICK, THE GLASS HOUSE''Completely swept me away. Glorious, beautifully written . . . I absolutely loved it'' LISA JEWELL''Utterly gorgeous, atmospheric and spellbinding'' 5***** READER REVIEW''Black Rabbit Hall''s beautifully crafted mystery is a delight I want to experience again and again'' STYLIST_________The hours pass differently at Black Rabbit Hall.For the four Alton children, it''s the perfect summer escape where not much ever happens - until one stormy evening their idyllic world is shattered.Decades later, Lorna is drawn to a crumbling Cornish manor house she hazily remembers from childhood - feels a bond she does not understand.But a disturbing message left by one of the Alton childrTrade ReviewApart from the occasional classic, I have rarely felt the urge to read a book twice . . . Black Rabbit Hall's beautifully crafted mystery is a delight I want to experience again and again . . . make Chase's debut the one to pack in your suitcase * Stylist *There's something about tales of mysterious old buildings that have the ability to set hairs on end. In this one, two intertwining stories explore the magnificence of Black Rabbit Hall and the dark secrets behind its walls. Perfect * Red *Atmospheric, with echoes of du Maurier, this haunting novel enchanted me * Woman & Home *Beautifully, poetically written and reminiscent of everything from I Capture The Castle to Hansel And Gretel. Eve Chase is a name to watch * Daily Mail *A cracking pool-side saga * Good Housekeeping *Black Rabbit Hall pulls you like a sleepwalker into a beautiful, hazy story about a grand Cornish home full of character and thunderclap memories, we found ourselves breathless with anticipation. Eve Chase's debut novel is like a prolonged and beautiful daydream, celebrating the enduring power of place in our lives * iBook Books of the Month *Black Rabbit Hall completely swept me away. Glorious, beautifully written. I absolutely loved it * Sunday Times bestselling author of I Found You *Black Rabbit Hall is a seductive wonder of a novel; with echoes of Daphne du Maurier and Dodie Smith, it pulls you irresistibly into its world where nothing is quite as it first appearsExpertly crafted, dark, beautiful and utterly enthrallingFamily secrets, forbidden lust, and a family of four extraordinary children who'll stick with you long after they've scattered off the page. Eve Chase kept me up with her gorgeous descriptions of a crumbling Cornwall estate and the unruly brood who meets tragedy within its walls * New York Times bestselling author of Bittersweet *A stunning new writer has arrived - gripping and heart rending, this novel is full of original characters which don't let you forget themA deliciously intriguing novel whose rich sense of time and place bear more than a few echoes of du Maurier's best * Edgar Award-winning author of The Wicked Girls *A sheer delight. It has everything: a glorious setting, characters to fall in love with, secrets galore and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing until the very last page. WonderfulA plot so absorbing that Black Rabbit time will creep up out of the pages and envelop you completely . . . To say I loved this book would be an understatement * The Book Bag *It's a fast-paced story of secrets, betrayal and consequence . . . we promise you'll be gripped * Essentials Magazine *The perfect piece of summer escapism, gently edged with glamorous fairy dust. We loved it * Psychologies Magazine, September Book Club choice *A fabulous story. Masterfully realised by Chase, this is one of those books that demands complete attention and lingers in your mind for days after finishing the last page * thebookbag.co.uk *Brilliant * The Lady *Debut novelist Chase weaves together Lorna's investigations with Amber's tribulations, a tapestry embroidered with madness, a horrifying accident, and malicious lies. Compellingly readable and riddled with twists and turns worthy of Daphne du Maurier, Chase's tale will delight * Kirkus Reviews *Chase's heart-wrenching first novel is equal parts romance, mystery, and historical fiction * Library Journal *Chase deserves high marks for her atmospheric setting and vivid prose, and fans of old-fashioned gothic stories will find this a winner * Publishers Weekly *An absorbing, pacy book full of secrets, lovable characters and dramatic turns, Black Rabbit Hall revolves around the lives and loyalties of four siblings caught up in a life-changing event at their family's country home in Cornwall. A fantastic debut * Mumsnet *A beautifully written novel * Marie Claire *Apart from the occasional classic, I have rarely felt the urge to read a book twice . . . Black Rabbit Hall's beautifully crafted mystery is a delight I want to experience again and again . . . make Chase's debut the one to pack in your suitcase * Stylist *There's something about tales of mysterious old buildings that have the ability to set hairs on end. In this one, two intertwining stories explore the magnificence of Black Rabbit Hall and the dark secrets behind its walls. Perfect * Red *Atmospheric, with echoes of du Maurier, this haunting novel enchanted me * Woman & Home *Beautifully, poetically written and reminiscent of everything from I Capture The Castle to Hansel And Gretel. Eve Chase is a name to watch * Daily Mail *A cracking pool-side saga * Good Housekeeping *Black Rabbit Hall pulls you like a sleepwalker into a beautiful, hazy story about a grand Cornish home full of character and thunderclap memories, we found ourselves breathless with anticipation. Eve Chase's debut novel is like a prolonged and beautiful daydream, celebrating the enduring power of place in our lives * iBook Books of the Month *Black Rabbit Hall completely swept me away. Glorious, beautifully written. I absolutely loved it * Sunday Times bestselling author of I Found You *Black Rabbit Hall is a seductive wonder of a novel; with echoes of Daphne du Maurier and Dodie Smith, it pulls you irresistibly into its world where nothing is quite as it first appearsExpertly crafted, dark, beautiful and utterly enthrallingFamily secrets, forbidden lust, and a family of four extraordinary children who'll stick with you long after they've scattered off the page. Eve Chase kept me up with her gorgeous descriptions of a crumbling Cornwall estate and the unruly brood who meets tragedy within its walls * New York Times bestselling author of Bittersweet *A stunning new writer has arrived - gripping and heart rending, this novel is full of original characters which don't let you forget themA deliciously intriguing novel whose rich sense of time and place bear more than a few echoes of du Maurier's best * Edgar Award-winning author of The Wicked Girls *A sheer delight. It has everything: a glorious setting, characters to fall in love with, secrets galore and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing until the very last page. WonderfulA plot so absorbing that Black Rabbit time will creep up out of the pages and envelop you completely . . . To say I loved this book would be an understatement * The Book Bag *It's a fast-paced story of secrets, betrayal and consequence . . . we promise you'll be gripped * Essentials Magazine *The perfect piece of summer escapism, gently edged with glamorous fairy dust. We loved it * Psychologies Magazine, September Book Club choice *A fabulous story. Masterfully realised by Chase, this is one of those books that demands complete attention and lingers in your mind for days after finishing the last page * thebookbag.co.uk *Brilliant * The Lady *Debut novelist Chase weaves together Lorna's investigations with Amber's tribulations, a tapestry embroidered with madness, a horrifying accident, and malicious lies. Compellingly readable and riddled with twists and turns worthy of Daphne du Maurier, Chase's tale will delight * Kirkus Reviews *Chase's heart-wrenching first novel is equal parts romance, mystery, and historical fiction * Library Journal *Chase deserves high marks for her atmospheric setting and vivid prose, and fans of old-fashioned gothic stories will find this a winner * Publishers Weekly *An absorbing, pacy book full of secrets, lovable characters and dramatic turns, Black Rabbit Hall revolves around the lives and loyalties of four siblings caught up in a life-changing event at their family's country home in Cornwall. A fantastic debut * Mumsnet *A beautifully written novel * Marie Claire *

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Book SynopsisPULITZER PRIZE-WINNING AUTHOR OF A VISIT FROM THE GOON SQUADA Time Magazine Must-Read''A complex, compelling read that showcases Egan''s masterful storytelling'' TIME''A dazzling feat of literary construction'' VOGUEFrom one of the most dazzling and iconic writers of our time comes an electrifying, deeply moving novel about the quest for authenticity, privacy, and meaning in a world where our memories are no longer our own--featuring characters from A Visit from the Goon Squad.It''s 2010. Staggeringly successful and brilliant tech entrepreneur Bix Bouton is desperate for a new idea. He''s forty, with four kids, and restless when he stumbles into a conversation with mostly Columbia professors, one of whom is experimenting with downloading or externalising memory. Within a decade, Bix''s new technology, Own Your Unconscious--that allows you access to every memory you''ve ever had, and to share eTrade Review'A complex, compelling read that showcases Egan's masterful storytelling' * Time *'Fans of A Visit from the Goon Squad will not want to miss this new novel' * jNews *'A thrilling, endlessly stimulating work that demands to be read and reread' * Kirkus Reviews *'Egan returns to the fertile territory and characters of A Visit from the Goon Squad with an electrifying and shape-shifting story that one-ups its Pulitzer-winning predecessor' * Publisher’s Weekly *'A forceful, wonderfully fragmented novel of a terrifyingly possible future, as intellectually rigorous as it is formally impressive, and yet another monumental work from Egan' * Library Journal *'Playfully twists various narratives into a series of compelling interconnected vignettes, featuring many of the same characters from her award-laden 2010 novel. Ever the consummate storyteller and with a deft and powerful sense of characterisation, Egan is sure to have struck gold once more' * Harper's Bazaar *'A fast-paced polyvoiced romp through America in the grip of a sinister tech that allows others into your mind. EEK! Includes a dazzling novella Egan wrote' -- Margaret Atwood, via Twitter'Egan is skilful, even masterful, at writing in a variety of styles and formats to suit each character's voice, making the book that much more real and that much more affecting' * Bloomburg Businessweek *Impressive * A Life in Books *A dazzling feat of literary construction that belies the profound questions at its core: Does technology aid our sense of narrative or obscure it? * Vogue *You don't have to read A Visit From the Goon Squad to love this sibling novel to Egan's stellar hit...complex and intimate * Good Housekeeping *Inventive, effervescent...Egan plaits multiple narratives and techniques to underscore the manifold ways our own desires betray us in a brave new coded world * Oprah Daily *Very funny, penetrating, and impactful * Glamour *Tech guru Bix Bouton creates 'Own Your Unconscious,' a technology that allows users to access and share every memory they've ever had. It's a concept so killer, it's hard to believe such technology doesn't already exist * USA Today *[The Candy House] does what only the best and rarest books can: peel back the thin membrane of ordinary life, and find transcendence on the other side * Entertainment Weekly *Haunting and often hilarious...a wondrous, riotously inventive work of speculative fiction * Booklist, STARRED review *'Humming with a sustained brio, The Candy House is especially rewarding on a micro level. Even post-BLM, Egan felt free to write from the perspective of a black character, as she should feel free, and she's apt to get away with it, too. The chapter narrated by an autistic character is convincing. Egan is particularly good at evoking the insecure teenage girl. The writing is stylish: "a man of so few words that the occasional word he did utter had the cleaving finality of an ax splitting a log". The novel is spirited, playful, sometimes incisive. So who cares if I can't remember anyone's name' * Financial Times *'Intellectually dazzling and extraordinarily moving . . . Egan's writing - as always - is flawless, offering plenty to think about' * The Book-It-List *A staggering story in concept and thrilling in delivery * Sainsbury's Magazine *A Time Magazine Must-ReadIt may be the smartest novel you've read all year * LOVEBYLIFE *Mind-bogglingly clever * The Telegraph *Playful... By means probably even they cannot explain, novelists loot the experiences of others and distribute them equably with no reference to fancy uploading machines. And no one writing now does it more generously than Egan. I hope she wins another Pulitzer. * The Times *The Candy House is just as compelling as its predecessor... some brilliantly executed scenes * Evening Standard *At the level of the sentence, The Candy House zings * i News *The Candy House is a bold, eclectic novel about the darker sides of the digital age. It's quietly captivating * Evening Standard *a collection of exceptionally clever, sometimes funny short stories * The Spectator *This novel is a triumphant exploration of analogue versus digital, surveillance versus freedom, literature versus technology * Irish Times *Poignant and entertaining * The Independent *At its best it reads as if AM Homes, George Saunders and David Foster Wallace took turns in rewriting Middlemarch for our modern age. It's full of melancholic commentary about the human need for redemption, reinvention and reconciliation. * Sunday Times *This novel is a triumphant exploration of analogue versus digital, surveillance versus freedom, literature versus technology. Egan's virtuosity in style and form allows her to reflect life online, her characters changing with the fluidity of a status update * Idependent.ie *[A] colourful tale packed with poignancy... Egan has produced a powerful satire of social media culture while telling a deeply intimate story about family * Spears Wealth Management *Egan is one of the few names that, when linked with the expression 'novel of ideas', makes the heart sing rather than sink * Mail on Sunday *Intellectual, philosophical, empathetic, moving - The Candy House further cements Egan's iconic status in contemporary literature * The Irish Times *[An] inventive, intelligent novel... rooted in human stories * Good Housekeeping *Part social-media satire, part treatise on nostalgia and ownership of experience, The Candy House is experimental and intriguing, with each chapter often vastly different from the last... The Candy House is a tour-de-force, an exceptional book...bold and inventive...stunning * Taum Herald *Exhilarating, deeply-pleasurable * Prospect *Just as innovative, wise, funny and confounding as its predecessor. * Metro *A mind-bending book full of techies and artists and savvy entrepreneurs...Just as you're in deep with one story, another unfolds in what is a true box of candy of a book * The Gloss.ie *Everything [Egan] writes fizzes with ideas and feels wonderfully warm and engaging at the same time... [The Candy House] gives you more insight into how people tick than you'd get from six months' scrolling on social media * The Daily Mirror *[A] mind-bending book full of techies and artists and savvy entrepreneurs catching various waves as the action moves from the late 1960s to the 2030s...Just as you're in deep with one story, another unfolds in what is a true box of candy of a book * The Gloss *The Candy House... offer[s] [a] powerful and nuanced critique of surveillance capitalism * The Guardian *Dazzling - and often very funny...Egan's style is compulsively readable * The Tablet *A clever, endlessly inventive exploration of our increasingly connected, surveilled society and the individual yearning for privacy and meaning * Guardian *For all its fluency in the languages of gaming, addiction and tech, this is a social novel with numerous characters and perspectives; a kind of 21st-century "Middlemarch" * Economist, Book of the Year 2022 *Dazzling inventiveness * Guardian, Book of the Year 2022 *As thought-provoking as it is entertaining * The Irish Times, A Best Book of 2022 *

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Book Synopsis''We are so ready for this book. Exploring the exhausting push-pull of trying to pin down a career you love but that doesn''t love you back, Buchanan''s book is set to capture the zeitgeist as so many of us question where we''re at'' Stylistcareering (verb) 1. working endlessly for a job you used to love and now resent entirely2. moving in a way that feels out of controlImogen has always dreamed of writing for a magazine. Infinite internships later, Imogen dreams of any job. Writing her blog around double shifts at the pub is neither fulfilling her creatively nor paying the bills.Harri might just be Imogen''s fairy godmother. She''s moving from the glossy pages of Panache magazine to launch a fierce feminist site, The Know. And she thinks Imogen''s most outrageous sexual content will help generate the clicks she needs.But neither woman is aware of the crucial thing they have in common. Harri, at the other end of her career, has also been bitten and betrayed by the industry she has given herself to. Will she wake up to the way she''s being exploited before her protégé realises that not everything is copy? Can either woman reconcile their love for work with the fact that work will never love them back? Or is a chaotic rebellion calling... Hilarious and unflinchingly honest, Careering takes a hard look at the often toxic relationship working women have with their dream jobs.''A love story about work, self-worth and modern womanhood, Careering is, quite simply, the funniest novel I''ve read all year.'' Nell Frizzell, author of The Panic Years''There is no writer out there who can make you laugh and cry quite like Daisy Buchanan. Careering is a compelling and thoughtful read that every woman (and man) should have on their shelves.'' Lucy Vine, author of Bad Choices''Full of brilliant characters, loveable chaos and a world of magazine nostalgia. If you''ve ever had a job suck your soul, even slightly, you''ll love it.'' Emma Gannon, author of Olive''Blisteringly funny and painfully perceptive. Daisy has that magic gift, of capturing the nuance and detail of a very specific world in such a way that it feels universally, eternally relatable.'' Lauren Bravo, author of How To Break Up With Fast Fashion''Careering is instantly addictive. It''s fresh and raw and mesmerising, filled with humour and heart. Without a doubt, this is the book I''ll be shouting about to everyone this year as a must-read.'' Beth Reekles, author of The Kissing Booth''Careering will strike such a chord with anyone who has ever walked to a job interview in trainers with a tote bag containing heels over their shoulder, feeling like an imposter.'' Emma Hughes, author of No Such Thing As Perfect''So perceptive and wise about the media, privilege, the differing but equally troubling pressures that women of all ages face, while still being moving, laugh out loud funny, and inspiring. I loved it.'' Louise O''Neill, author of Idol ''A great great book. Daisy Buchanan has that special something that makes a wonderful popular fiction writer - acute observational skills, huge empathy and a perfect balance of light and shade. I loved loved loved Careering.'' Marian Keyes, author of Again, Rachel Trade ReviewDaisy Buchanan writes about all the chaos and conflict of being a young woman in a hard-edged, hard-faced world * Red *Full of brilliant characters, loveable chaos and a world of magazine nostalgia. If you've ever had a job suck your soul, even slightly, you'll love it. -- Emma GannonHilarious, acutely observant and completely engrossing -- Issy SuttieHilarious, astute and full of human truths, Careering is a compelling and thoughtful read that every woman (and man) should have on their shelves. Buchanan portrays women and their lives better than anyone and I came out the other side feeling thoroughly broken and yet somehow stronger than before. -- Lucy VineA love story about work, self-worth and modern womanhood, Careering is, quite simply, the funniest novel I've read all year. -- Nell FrizzellBlisteringly funny and painfully perceptive, with a warmth that radiates off the page, this book will speak straight to the heart of anyone who has ever felt like their own career is playing hard-to-get. Daisy has that magic gift, of capturing the nuance and detail of a very specific world in such a way that it feels universally, eternally relatable. It's a triumph. -- Lauren BravoWe are so ready for this book. Exploring the exhausting push-pull of trying to pin down a career you love but that doesn't love you back, Buchanan's book is set to capture the zeitgeist as so many of us question where we're at. * Stylist *Funny and warm but also so sharp on the struggles of women who want it all. Daisy's insight about being a woman trying to navigate life and desire is brilliant. -- Ayisha MalikCareering is an absolute triumph. Daisy has woven an astute tale of ambition and its place in women's lives, putting words to feelings I've had for age. How is it possible Daisy is so clever? This novel should be a must-read for everybody who has ever thought life will be better once their work rewards them. Spoiler: it won't, and this novel makes it feel ok. Unmissable. -- Laura Jane WilliamsAppallingly funny and ruthlessly honest, CAREERING shines a deeply human light on the exhausting highs and lows of life as a modern working woman. I loved it and related to just about every word. -- Rosie WalshA witty tale of the toxic world of modern work * Independent *A hard look at the often toxic relationship working women have with their dream jobs. * Irish Times *Just as hilarious as her first [novel] * Stellar *As she did with sex in her first novel, Insatiable, now Daisy Buchanan holds up a mirror to the changing way we work in the raw and relatable Careering. * Red *Buchanan is a queen of acerbic wit and demonstrates an incredible talent for the dark comedy that so perfectly articulates the often poisonous power structures at play * Irish Times *Buchanan's real talent is writing sex. As in her debut novel, Insatiable, there's not a cringey metaphor in sight. The intimacy is so real that it feels a bit dirty to read it on the Tube - devour it at home instead * The Sunday Times *The zeitgeisty read tackles the myth of the girl boss, with feelings of imposter syndrome, burnout and comparison rife throughout. Though entertaining - you can't help but cringe at some of the situations Imogen finds herself in - the novel takes a hard look at the very real challenges women still face in the workplace today. With the events of the last two years making many question what really matters in life, Buchanan leaves you with the reminder that whether you love or loathe your job, it doesn't define who you are or put a value on your self-worth. * Stylist *This thought-provoking, emotionally intelligent, hilarious, sexy and always sharp novel is a fabulous ride * Daily Mail *An entertaining read that reminds us we've all got more in common than we think * Heat *Sexy, funny and insightful, a must for anyone who's ever worked in a creative environment. * Belfast Telegraph *Buchanan's incisive, sharp-witted novel has plenty to say about women's working lives. * Mail on Sunday *This is a fabulous and fierce take on womanhood in the workplace and the toxic relationship we can have with our vocation. * Magic Radio *An honest, raw account of being a working woman * The Sun *Daisy Buchanan is a spirited, observant writer who captures the brutality of the magazine industry through the eyes of her relatable underdog heroine * Daily Express *Careering is about modern womanhood, giving a funny, honest take on what it's like when a dream job turns sour - and what happens when you reach the other side of a toxic relationship with your career. * I Paper *

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Book Synopsis''So perceptive and wise about the media, privilege, the differing but equally troubling pressures that women of all ages face, while still being moving, laugh out loud funny, and inspiring. I loved it.'' Louise O''Neill, author of Idol''As she did with sex in her first novel, Insatiable, now Daisy Buchanan holds up a mirror to the changing way we work in the raw and relatable Careering'' Red''This thought-provoking, emotionally intelligent, hilarious, sexy and always sharp novel is a fabulous ride.'' Daily Mail''A witty tale of the toxic world of modern work'' Independentcareering (verb) 1. working endlessly for a job you used to love and now resent entirely2. moving in a way that feels out of control*Imogen has always dreamed of writing for a magazine. Infinite internships later, Imogen dTrade ReviewDaisy Buchanan writes about all the chaos and conflict of being a young woman in a hard-edged, hard-faced world * Red *Full of brilliant characters, loveable chaos and a world of magazine nostalgia. If you've ever had a job suck your soul, even slightly, you'll love it. -- Emma GannonHilarious, acutely observant and completely engrossing -- Issy SuttieHilarious, astute and full of human truths, Careering is a compelling and thoughtful read that every woman (and man) should have on their shelves. Buchanan portrays women and their lives better than anyone and I came out the other side feeling thoroughly broken and yet somehow stronger than before. -- Lucy VineA love story about work, self-worth and modern womanhood, Careering is, quite simply, the funniest novel I've read all year. -- Nell FrizzellBlisteringly funny and painfully perceptive, with a warmth that radiates off the page, this book will speak straight to the heart of anyone who has ever felt like their own career is playing hard-to-get. Daisy has that magic gift, of capturing the nuance and detail of a very specific world in such a way that it feels universally, eternally relatable. It's a triumph. -- Lauren BravoWe are so ready for this book. Exploring the exhausting push-pull of trying to pin down a career you love but that doesn't love you back, Buchanan's book is set to capture the zeitgeist as so many of us question where we're at. * Stylist *Funny and warm but also so sharp on the struggles of women who want it all. Daisy's insight about being a woman trying to navigate life and desire is brilliant. -- Ayisha MalikCareering is an absolute triumph. Daisy has woven an astute tale of ambition and its place in women's lives, putting words to feelings I've had for age. How is it possible Daisy is so clever? This novel should be a must-read for everybody who has ever thought life will be better once their work rewards them. Spoiler: it won't, and this novel makes it feel ok. Unmissable. -- Laura Jane WilliamsAppallingly funny and ruthlessly honest, CAREERING shines a deeply human light on the exhausting highs and lows of life as a modern working woman. I loved it and related to just about every word. -- Rosie WalshA witty tale of the toxic world of modern work * Independent *A hard look at the often toxic relationship working women have with their dream jobs. * Irish Times *Just as hilarious as her first [novel] * Stellar *As she did with sex in her first novel, Insatiable, now Daisy Buchanan holds up a mirror to the changing way we work in the raw and relatable Careering. * Red *Buchanan is a queen of acerbic wit and demonstrates an incredible talent for the dark comedy that so perfectly articulates the often poisonous power structures at play * Irish Times *Buchanan's real talent is writing sex. As in her debut novel, Insatiable, there's not a cringey metaphor in sight. The intimacy is so real that it feels a bit dirty to read it on the Tube - devour it at home instead * The Sunday Times *The zeitgeisty read tackles the myth of the girl boss, with feelings of imposter syndrome, burnout and comparison rife throughout. Though entertaining - you can't help but cringe at some of the situations Imogen finds herself in - the novel takes a hard look at the very real challenges women still face in the workplace today. With the events of the last two years making many question what really matters in life, Buchanan leaves you with the reminder that whether you love or loathe your job, it doesn't define who you are or put a value on your self-worth. * Stylist *This thought-provoking, emotionally intelligent, hilarious, sexy and always sharp novel is a fabulous ride * Daily Mail *An entertaining read that reminds us we've all got more in common than we think * Heat *Sexy, funny and insightful, a must for anyone who's ever worked in a creative environment. * Belfast Telegraph *Buchanan's incisive, sharp-witted novel has plenty to say about women's working lives. * Mail on Sunday *This is a fabulous and fierce take on womanhood in the workplace and the toxic relationship we can have with our vocation. * Magic Radio *An honest, raw account of being a working woman * The Sun *Daisy Buchanan is a spirited, observant writer who captures the brutality of the magazine industry through the eyes of her relatable underdog heroine * Daily Express *Careering is about modern womanhood, giving a funny, honest take on what it's like when a dream job turns sour - and what happens when you reach the other side of a toxic relationship with your career. * I Paper *

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Book SynopsisOne of Elena Ferrante''s best 40 books by female writersWhen Maria, the fourth child of a widow, is adopted by the old and childless Bonaria Urrai, her life is instantly transformed - she finally has the love and affection she craves. But her new ''soul mother'' is keeping something hidden from her, a secret life that is intimately bound-up with Sardinia''s ancient traditions and customs. Midwife to the dying, easing their suffering and sometimes ending it, she is revered and feared in equal measure as the village''s Accabadora. Bonaria tries to shield the girl from the truth about her role as an angel of mercy, until, moved by the pleas of a young man crippled in an accident, she breaks her golden rule of familial consent. The consequences - for Bonaria, for Maria and for the whole village, are devastating - and cause a rift between the two women that can only be bridge by another death.Translated from the Italian by Silvester MazzarellaTrade Review'An original work of serious accomplishment' Paul Bailey, Independent. * Independent *'A curious and elegiac work, it takes no prisoners when it comes to the realities of birth and death. Tenderly translated by Silvestre Mazzarella' Independent. * Independent *'A powerful and at times genuinely spellbinding piece of work' Billy O'Callaghan, Irish Examiner. * Irish Examiner *'A real gem ... Beautifully written ... Wonderfully well evoked ... It reminded me a little of The Tiger's Wife' Liz Jensen, Radio Four. * Radio Four *'Her evocation of rural life feels authentic and the atmosphere of earthy darkness is well sustained' Sunday Times. * Sunday Times *'Incredibly moving ... I really enjoyed it' Miranda Sawyer, Radio Four. * Radio Four *

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Book Synopsis**Pre-order Graham Norton''s new novel Frankie now**''Such nuance and warmth! It''s GORGEOUS'' MARIAN KEYES''Beautifully written'' LIZ NUGENT''What a storyteller!'' ELIZABETH DAYGraham Norton''s powerful and timely novel of emigration and return demonstrates his keen understanding of the power of stigma and secrecy - with devastating results...It is 1987 and a small Irish community is preparing for a wedding. The day before the ceremony a group of young friends, including bride and groom, drive out to the beach. There is an accident. Three survive, but three are killed. The lives of the families are shattered and the rifts between them are felt throughout the small town. Connor is one of the survivors. But staying among the angry and the mourning is almost as hard as living with the shame of having been the driver. He leaves the only place he knows for another l

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Book Synopsis ‘A short, sharp, shock of a novel… beautifully done’  Daily Mail 'The modern day successor to Francoise Sagan' Evening Standard ‘Jestin evokes adolescent turmoil with great delicacy and poignancy’ Times Literary Supplement 'The Summer Page-Turner You Have To Read' WaterstonesWinner of the Prix de la vocation 2019 Winner of the Prix Femina de lycéens 2019Longlisted for the Crime Writers Association 'Crime Fiction in Translation Dagger' 2022Oscar is dead because I watched him die and did nothing. It is the end of August and the long summer holidays are drawing to a close. Seventeen-year-old Leonard is on a camping holiday with his family in the South of France. Awkward and ill at ease, he is an outsider who creeps away from parties unnoticed after a couple of drinks.

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Book SynopsisWhen Pius Fernandes, a retired schoolteacher living in modern day Dar es Salaam, discovers a diary of a British colonial administrator from 1913, he is drawn into a provocative account of the Asian community of East Africa, and the liaisons, feelings and secrets of its people, over the course of a century.Part generational history, part detective story, part social chronicle, M.G. Vassanji's award-winning novel magnificently conjures setting and period as it explores notions of identity and exile.Trade Review...a fascinating tale * * Sunday Herald * *M.G.Vassanji is an acclaimed author and The Book of Secrets is an epic novel that ought to knock your socks off. Only it doesn't.. It is not all hard work, though. The descriptions of African life are often wonderful... Any one of the book's many strands would have provided sufficient meat for a novel on its own. * * The Times * *

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Book SynopsisNewly married to novelist Rosie M. Banks, Bingo bucks the current trend by being extremely happy, although he does tend to lose his shirt on various horses. This collection of wonderfully funny stories features a cast of outrageous characters.

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Book SynopsisBy the author of The Handmaid''s Tale and The Testaments A leathery bog-man transforms an old love affair; a sweet, gruesome gift is sent by the wife of an ex-lover; landscape paintings are haunted by the ghost of a young girl. This dazzling collection of ten short stories takes us into familiar Atwood territory to reveal the logic of irrational behaviour and the many textures lying beneath ordinary life.''Atwood is a writer of importance, with a deep understanding of human behaviour, a beautiful understated style and, rarest of all, a broad scope'' Marilyn French''Funny, sharp and always incisive'' Time Out''Everything Atwood forms in words has substance and weight'' Daily Telegraph ''Margaret Atwood deserves an adjective - Atwoodian - in recognition of her virtuoso wit and unmistakable style'' Chicago Tribune

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Book SynopsisLyrical, dark, comic or iconoclastic, the Irish short story has always punched well above its weight. Anne Enright has brought together a dazzling collection of Irish stories by authors born in the twentieth century - from Mary Lavin and Frank O'Connor to Claire Keegan and Kevin Barry. With a pithy and passionate introduction by Enright, The Granta Book of the Irish Short Story traces this great tradition through decades of social change and shows the pleasure Irish writers continue to take in the short-story form. Deft and often devastating, the short story dodges the rolling mythologies of of Irish life to produce truths that are delightful and real. Also includes stories by: Maeve Brennan, Roddy Doyle, Mary Lavin, Colum McCann, William Trevor, John McGahern, Colm Tóibín, Claire Keegan and Kevin Barry.Trade ReviewEnright has assembled a collection notable for its emotional range, its openness to many voices (not all lonely) and its willingness to reflect current realities. There is no conclusive formula linking such disparate narratives, no slick exploitation of Irishness, but rather a rich interplay of themes that capture a world in transition -- Declan Kiberd * Irish Times *A rich and absorbing volume, an evocation of life in Ireland which, at its finest, produces brilliantly skewering fragments written to pierce as well as gleam ... Enright's choice is a shrewd one, succeeding in typifying each writer whilst expressing their uniqueness -- Tom Adair * Scotland on Sunday *A book that intoxicates you with the sheer scope and potency of the short story form -- Daragh Reddin * Metro *The Granta Book of the Irish Short Story is more cherishable than canonical, and refreshingly contemporary in its selection of writers and writerly concerns -- Keith Hopper * Times Literary Supplement *[Anne Enright's] witty, brilliant introduction is one of the jewels in this selection ... When making her choices she concentrated on the art rather than the Irishness, and the result is sometimes wonderfully unexpected - here are William Trevor, Colm Tóibín, Roddy Doyle, Clare Boylan and all the other geniuses, but not as you think you know them. Unmissable -- Kate Saunders * The Times *In an elegant and considered introduction to this collection, [Enright] explains that these short stories are simply ones she enjoys. However, the 31 inclusions cannot but say something about Ireland ... 'A Priest in the Family' by Colm Tóibín is superb ... Edna O'Brien offers another fresh take on the sexuality of the clergy ... The further positives of The Granta Book of the Irish Short Story are too many to mention ... In this collection you encounter loners, outsiders and deeper versions of people you know; and eventually, one will say something just to you, and the mystery of the Irish short story comes as close as it can to being understood -- Eithne Shortall * Sunday Times Ireland *We may not be very good at economics or honest politics, but we certainly know how to write a short story. The excellent Granta Book of the Irish Short Story, edited by Anne Enright, is a must-read. * Irish Times *Full of tales that combine lyricism, humour and tragedy by the likes of William Trevor as well as relative newcomers such as Claire Keegan and Philip Ó Ceallaigh, it is shot through with an enduring sense of place but at the same time marks the enormous social changes Ireland has undergone in the past century -- Giles Foden * Conde Nast Traveller *This collection makes a bewitching bedside companion, amply illustrating that the Irish short story is very much alive and kicking -- Emma Hagestadt * Lady *The collection shines with personality, studiously avoiding what the editor describes as "charm", or "God save the mark", Irish charm * Independent *From Roddy Doyle to Elizabeth Bowen, and William Trevor to Edna O'Brien, a wealth of authors are contained within this excellent collection of modern Irish short fiction * Metro *An eclectic mix of intriguing short stories ... each story leaves you hungry for the next one -- Siobhan White * Big Issue in the North *This collection attempts to define the essential Irish aspects of the stories chosen ... the best pieces here serve as a prompt to find or rediscover the writers' other works -- Isobel Montgomery * Guardian *An] excellent miscellany of modern short fiction from Ireland ... Throughout, the prose is economical, in the sense of being deft, not sparse ... The prevailing mode is an everyday realism of carefully observed gestures and lifelike dialogue, well adapted to the mental turmoil of lustful, lovelorn protagonists ... Wisely, the stories are arranged imaginatively, not chronologically - think mix tape, not reference work - so, unlike many anthologies, this is a book you actually want to sit down with and read -- Anthony Cummins * Observer *Over 400 pages of amazing writing -- Judi Curtin * Irish Daily Mail *A dazzling collection * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisJust thirty, with a well-paid job, no love life and a terrible attitude, the anti-hero of this grim, funny novel smokes four packs of cigarettes a day and writes weird animal stories in his spare time. A computer programmer by day, he is tolerably content, until he's packed off with a colleague - the sexually-frustrated Raphael Tisserand - to train provincial civil servants in the use of a new computer system Houellebecq's first novel was a smash hit in France, expressing the misanthropic voice of a generation. Like A Confederacy of Dunces, Houellebecq's bitter, sarcastic and exasperated narrator vociferously expresses his frustration and disgust with the world.Trade ReviewFunny, terrifying and nauseating * Independent *The balance between philosophy and narrative detail is perfectly judged; the book slips down easily like a bad oyster. As is the nature of such things, it is grimly comic -- Nicholas Lezard * Guardian *Le grand fromage du jour * The Face *It could well turn out to be a cult here too ... astonishing * Time Out *Snappy, bite-sized, and often very funny. Is it European exhaustion? Is it the soul of man under late capitalism? Millenial gloom? Post-Christian despair? Is it the death of love? Whatever. But Houellebecq describes it perfectly * Literary Review *This boy needs serious therapy. He may be beyond help * Washington Post *The mischief-making enfant terrible of new-wave French fiction * Independent *Houellebecq captures precisely the cynical disillusionment of disaffected youth * Booklist *

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Book Synopsis*SENSATIONAL WINNER OF THE BOOKER INTERNATIONAL PRIZE 2020* ''One of the best debut novels I have ever read. Shockingly good ... A classic.'' Max Porter''Haunting . . . reminded me a lot of Iain Banks. It''s incredible that it''s a debut.'' Douglas Stuart''Exceptional'' (Financial Times)''Exhilarating'' (Independent)''Luminous'' (Observer)''Beautifully wild'' (Guardian)''An earthy and irreverent new voice, thrillingly uninhibited'' (New York Times)I asked God if he please couldn't take my brother Matthies instead of my rabbit. Amen.' Ten-year-old Jas has a unique way of experiencing her universe: the feeling of udder ointment on her skin as protection against harsh winters; the texture of green warts, like capers, on migrating toads; the sound of ''blush words'' that aren''t in the Bible. But when a tragic accident

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Book SynopsisSaramago's Jesus is the son not of God but of Joseph. Mary Magdalene is his lover not his convert. In the wilderness he tussles not with the Devil – a kindly and necessary evil – but with God, a fallible, power-hungry autocrat. And he must die not for the sins of the fathers but for the sins of the Father. By investigating these simple inversions Saramago has woven a dark parable; a secular gospel of astonishing richness and depth.‘An original, wild and beautiful book’ Times Literary SupplementTrade ReviewProfound and poignant * Independent *An original, wild and beautiful book * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book Synopsis''A warm and engaging read'' Trisha Ashley''Lovely... Made me long for a long hot summer by the sea'' Jo ThomasA sweeping story about family and buried secrets set in Devon, perfect for fans of Erica James and Veronica Henry.After the death of her father, El moves into his home just outside Tavistock in Devon. Fresh out of university and dangling on the precipice of adulthood she questions what it is she really wants from life. Although her childhood friend, Will, is there to help her through her grief she soon realises there were things her father was hiding from her...Jules is also mourning Martin, but they thought best to keep their relationship secret, she must now grieve entirely alone. All she has to remember her love are the memories of their time spent at a beautiful community garden and teashop nearby. The Garden House is where they met, fell in love and where their secret affair will inevitTrade ReviewLovely . . . Made me long for a long hot summer by the sea with friends and family. I loved that new beginnings turn up when you least expect them. * Jo Thomas, author of Escape to the French Farmhouse *Warm summer reading * Choice Magazine *

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Book Synopsis**LITTLE ROT - THE NEW NOVEL FROM AKWAEKE EMEZI - IS AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER NOW**SHORTLISTED FOR THE DYLAN THOMAS PRIZESHORTLISTED FOR THE DUBLIN LITERARY AWARD''Astonishing.'' Stylist''Electrifying.'' O: The Oprah Magazine''Brilliant and heartbreaking.'' Marie Claire''Propulsive and resonant.'' EsquireThey burned down the market on the day Vivek Oji died.One afternoon, a mother opens her front door to find the length of her son's body stretched out on the veranda, swaddled in akwete material, his head on her welcome mat. The Death of Vivek Oji transports us to the day of Vivek's birth, the day his grandmother Ahunna died. It is the story of an over protective mother and a distant father, and the heart-wrenching tale of one family's struggle to understand their child, just as Vivek learns to recognize himself.Teeming with unforgettable characters whose lives have been shaped by Vivek's gentle and enigmatic spirit, it shares with us a Nigerian childhood that challenges expectations. This novel, and its celebration of the innocence and optimism of youth, will touch all those who embrace it.What readers are saying:''The book is so beautifully written and I''ve never read anything like it ever before.''''This is a gorgeously written story of identity, sexuality, love, grief, friendship, and the need to live the life you want, even in a country where doing so might be deadly . . . This was emotional, beautiful, and so poignant, and their storytelling took my breath away.''''This book is both so joyful and so devastating.''''The way Emezi made me care so deeply about these characters was just incredible, so that when the whole truth of Vivek''s death was revealed I felt so personally affected by it. This book is about so many things all at once . . . The writing is so simple yet beautifully emotive. And I cried.''''FIVE HUGE STARS . . . The Death of Vivek Oji is a poignant and tantalizing novel that wraps you up in its web of characters and feeds on you with carnivorous force, all while softening your heart and mind to a world outside of the normal social constraints we have been conditioned to.''(Goodreads reader reviews)Trade Review'Emezi's surreal prose shines...extraordinary.' - Ayobami Adebayo, on FRESHWATER, Guardian'This book lured me in from the first sentence. It shook me to the core. This book forges its own glorious path. Read it now. Give it to everyone you know. Read it again.' - Daisy Johnson, on FRESHWATER

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Book SynopsisForeshadowing his later detailed accounts of the Soviet prison-camp system, Solzhenitsyn's classic portrayal of life in the gulag is all the more powerful for being slighter and more personal than those later monumental volumes. Continuing the tradition of the great nineteenth-century Russian novelists, especially Dostoevsky and Tolstoy, Solzhenitsyn is fully worthy of them in narrative power and moral authority. His greatest work.

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Book SynopsisImagine being famous. Wouldn't that be great?'A real beauty of a book' - Jonathan Franzen'Riffs echo through this playful, perplexing landscape' - The Times But what if, one day, you got stuck in a country where no one spoke your language. Where no one knew your face and you had no way of contacting home. How would your fame help you then? What would happen if someone got hold of your mobile phone? If they spoke to your girlfriends, your agent, your director and started making decisions for you. And when no one believed that you were you any more, when you saw a lookalike acting your roles for you, what would you do? In this delightfully entertaining book, Daniel Kehlmann throws his characters into situations that are thrilling, funny, surprising and tragic, confirming his place as one of his generation's finest writers.Trade ReviewOne of the most consistently original novelists writing today. * New European *'Ingenious' * Daily Telegraph *'Riffs echo through this playful, perplexing landscape' * The Times *'Brilliant' * Independent *'A real beauty of a book' * Jonathan Franzen *'Kafkaesque' * Time Out *'Extraordinary' * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisIn Oe's masterpiece of the human condition and family psychology, estranged brothers Mitsusaburo and Takashi have long since left their family home in a remote forested valley on Shikoku, in the south of Japan: Mitsusaburo for work in Tokyo; his younger brother Takashi for the United States, to atone for his part in anti-American student protests. Takashi's return to Japan coincides with a local Korean supermarket magnate's offer to buy the brothers' ancestral storehouse, pitting the brothers against one another and dredging up family histories best forgotten. The Silent Cry is the most important Japanese novel of the post-war period and a strange, unsettling tale of how the call of blood and history echoes down the generations.Trade ReviewAn extraordinary work -- Kazuo IshiguroAn imagined world, where life and myth condense to form a disconcerting picture of the human predicament today ... at first glance [The Silent Cry] appears to concern an unsuccessful revolt, but fundamentally the novel deals with people's relationships with each other in a confusing world in which knowledge, passions, dreams, ambitions and attitudes merge into each other -- Nobel Prize for Literature citationThough thoroughly Japanese, Oe, in the range of hope and despair he covers, seems to me to have in him a touch of Dostoevsky -- Henry MillerSomehow - and this is what gives his art such unquestionable stature - Oe manages to smuggle a comic thread in all this tragedy * Independent *A new pinnacle in postwar Japanese fiction -- Yukio MishimaOe piles copious and inventive misery onto his hero before allowing him enlightenment and redemption. -- Jake Kerridge * Sunday Telegraph *A formidable scholar and intellectual whose novels express the soul-searching of postwar Japan * Boston Globe *

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Book SynopsisMEET ENZO MACLEOD, AND BEGIN THE ADDICTIVE COLD-CASE SERIES FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE LEWIS TRILOGY AND COFFIN ROAD.An old mystery. As midnight strikes, a man desperately seeking sanctuary flees into a church. The next day, his sudden disappearance will make him famous throughout France. A new science. Forensic expert Enzo Macleod takes a wager to solve the seven most notorious French murders, armed with modern technology and a total disregard for the justice system. A fresh trail. Deep in the catacombs below the city, he unearths dark clues deliberately set - and as he draws closer to the killer, discovers that he is to be the next victim.Trade ReviewA rip-roaring thriller . . . thoroughly enjoyable * Mail on Sunday *A rip-roaring thriller . . . thoroughly enjoyable * Mail on Sunday *A wonderfully complex bookA wonderfully complex bookHe is a terrific writer doing something different * Mark Billingham *He is a terrific writer doing something different * Mark Billingham *From the first page I knew I was in safe hands. I knew I could trust this writerFrom the first page I knew I was in safe hands. I knew I could trust this writerWonderfully compellingWonderfully compellingWestern France - now May's own stamping ground - is as much a character in the book as the Hebrides were in his formidable Isle of Lewis sequence * Guardian *Western France - now May's own stamping ground - is as much a character in the book as the Hebrides were in his formidable Isle of Lewis sequence * Guardian *Peter May is a writer I'd follow to the ends of the earth * New York Times *Peter May is a writer I'd follow to the ends of the earth * New York Times *One of the best regarded crime series of recent years * Independent *One of the best regarded crime series of recent years * Independent *Lyrical, empathetic and movingLyrical, empathetic and movingMay's novels are strong on place and the wounds left by old relationships * Sunday Times *May's novels are strong on place and the wounds left by old relationships * Sunday Times *Will have the reader relishing every tendency of description and characterization * Independent *Will have the reader relishing every tendency of description and characterization * Independent *Dark, exciting and atmospheric * Scotland on Sunday *Dark, exciting and atmospheric * Scotland on Sunday *Powerful and authentic * Glasgow Sunday Herald *Powerful and authentic * Glasgow Sunday Herald *Fast, exciting ... an entertaining read that will also give food for thought * Irish Times *Fast, exciting ... an entertaining read that will also give food for thought * Irish Times *A tense and atmospheric thriller with a heart-stopping ending * Tangles Web *A tense and atmospheric thriller with a heart-stopping ending * Tangles Web *Truly the best of May's series so far, this is not to be missed * The Good Book Guide *Truly the best of May's series so far, this is not to be missed * The Good Book Guide *He is a terrific writer doing something different.From the first page I knew I was in safe hands. I knew I could trust this writer.Wonderfully compelling.Peter May is an author I'd follow to the ends of the earth. * New York Times *Dark, exciting and atmospheric. * Scotland on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisThese eleven masterful stories - the first collection from acclaimed author Jennifer Egan - deal with loneliness and longing, regret and desire. Egan's characters, models and housewives, bankers and schoolgirls, are united by their search for something outside their own realm of experience. They set out from locations as exotic as China and Bora Bora, as cosmopolitan as downtown Manhattan, or as familiar as suburban Illinois to seek their own transformations. Elegant and poignant, the stories in Emerald City are seamless evocations of self-discovery.Trade ReviewEgan displays wonderful empathy toward people who are standing at the brink of life; her tales celebrate the power of hope and redemption. Like a necklace in which every stone is a stunner, Emerald City will take your breath away * Glamour *Astounding...The wistfulness of her characters, her transcendent prose-concise and lyrical-and the consistently high caliber of stories in this collection mark Jennifer Egan as a tremendous talent. * Detour Magazine *Immensely appealing...Told with dazzling insight and emotional daring * Elle *Affecting accuracy...quiet but disturbing...She deftly depicts the ways in which women can create glamorously detailed personas for one another based on passing observations * Time Magazine *boldly modulated short stories, tales of displacement and blazing moments of truth...riveting, vaguely Hitchcockian...piercingly tender...outstanding. * New York Times Book Review *...almost as good as her astounding novel A Visit from the Goon Squad, which is going some. -- Julie Burchill * Observer Books of 2012 *

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Book SynopsisAs much a thriller as a chilling exploration of grief, The Woman on the Pier is one of B P Walter's finestand most shockingnovels yet' A. J. Gnuse, author of Girl in the WallsTwo strangers meet on the pierOnly one walks awayScreenwriter Caroline Byrne is desperate to know why her daughter Jessica died, murdered in Stratford when she was supposed to be at a friend's in Somerset.When Caroline discovers the messages Jessica had been sending a boy named Michael, she realises it's because of him. Because he failed to meet her that day.He's the reason why her daughter is dead.And so she makes a choice. He's the one who's going to pay.That is her promise. Her price.Set between Essex, Kent, and Australia, The Woman on the Pier is a dark suspense thriller brimming with secrets and lies seeping across three generations a must-read for fans of Lucy Foley and Rosamund Lupton.An unflinching, visceral and eloquently written dissection of a mother's grief and her journey to get what she perceives asTrade ReviewPraise for THE DINNER GUEST: ‘Stayed up till past 2am to finish this! Well done, B P Walter – immensely gripping!’ Sophie Hannah, Sunday Times-bestselling author of the Hercule Poirot Mysteries ‘Could not put this book down, kept me guessing the entire way. Wow! A triumph from B P Walter’ Susan Lewis, Sunday Times-bestselling author of FORGIVE ME ‘I couldn't put this down. Suspenseful and well crafted, this is twisty, addictive reading to add to your list’ Debbie Howells, bestselling author of THE VOW and Richard and Judy Book Club pick THE BONES OF YOU Praise for A VERSION OF THE TRUTH: ‘Devilishly well-plotted, crisply written – and a hell of a lot of fun. What a smashing debut!’ A.J. Finn, #1 bestselling author of THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW ‘Beguiling, surprising and sometimes shocking. Cleverly crafted with characters who stay with you. Highly-polished debut.’ Jane Corry, author of THE DEAD EX ‘Such a confident debut from Barnaby Walter and the most disturbing thriller I’ve read this year.’Emma Curtis, author of ONE LITTLE MISTAKE and WHEN I FIND YOU. ‘Day one of my holiday lost to B P Walter and his intriguing thriller A Version of the Truth. If you like Peter Swanson, this will be right up your dark, twisted alley’John Marrs, author of THE ONE ‘A Version of the Truth is engaging and sinister in places. Walter has created wonderfully authentic characters, and the writing is superb. Highly recommended.’ Elisabeth Carpenter, author of 99 RED BALLOONS ‘Walter's debut is an assured piece of world-building, with characters both flawed and real, and a crescendo that sweeps you up then crashes you down. Unpredictable, clever & subtly twisted. Loved it.’ Helen Fields, author of PERFECT SILENCE ‘A dark and sometimes disturbing debut; a compelling story with credible characters. Walter emerges as a powerful new voice in the world of thriller writing.’ Diane Jeffrey, author of HE WILL FIND YOU

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Book SynopsisThe international bestselling classic from the author of Animal Farm.Winston Smith rewrites history. It's his job. Hidden away in the Record Department of the sprawling Ministry of Truth, he helps the Party, and the omnipresent Big Brother, control the people of Oceania.Winston knows what a good citizen of Oceania must do: show his devotion for Big Brother and the Party; abstain from all vices; and, most importantly, possess no critical thoughts of their own. The new notebook he's begun to write in is definitely against the rules in fact, the Thought Police could arrest him simply for having it. Yet, as Winston begins to write his own history, a seed of rebellion begins to grow in his heart one that could have devastating consequences.In George Orwell's final and most well-known novel, he explores a dystopian future in which a totalitarian government controls the actions, thoughts and even emotions of its citizens, exercising power through control of language and history. Its lastingTrade Review‘His final masterpiece … enthralling and indispensable for understanding modern history’ New York Review of Books ‘A profound, terrifying and wholly fascinating book … Orwell’s theory of power is developed brilliantly’ The New Yorker ‘A prophet who thought the unthinkable and spoke the unspeakable, even when it offended conventional thought’ Daily Express ‘Brilliantly constructed and told’ Guardian ‘There is not a smile or a jest that does not add bitterness to Orwell’s utterly depressing vision of what the world may be in 35 years’ time’ TIME

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Book SynopsisA New York Review Books Original   In 1908, deep in Siberia, it fell to earth. THEIR ICE. A young man on a scientific expedition found it. It spoke to his heart, and his heart named him Bro. Bro felt the Ice. Bro knew its purpose. To bring together the 23,000 blond, blue-eyed Brothers and Sisters of the Light who were scattered on earth. To wake their sleeping hearts. To return to the Light. To destroy this world. And secretly, throughout the twentieth century and up to our own day, the Children of the Light have pursued their beloved goal.   Pulp fiction, science fiction, New Ageism, pornography, video-game mayhem, old-time Communist propaganda, and rampant commercial hype all collide, splinter, and splatter in Vladimir Sorokin’s virtuosic Ice Trilogy, a crazed joyride through modern times with the promise of a truly spectacular crash at the end. And the reader, as eager for the redemptive fix of a good story as the Children are for the Primordial Light, has no choice except to go along, caught up in a brilliant illusion from which only illusion escapes intact.

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Book Synopsis'An incredible book. Profoundly affecting and deeply soulful. This book will stay with me forever.' Ruth Jones, No.1 Sunday Times bestselling authorI don't know how you've made it this far . . .Sami's childhood is much like any other - school with his friends, dinners with his family, playing with his pets (stray cats and dogs, and the turtle he keeps on the roof).But with Syria at war with itself, nothing is really normal. And Sami's hopes for a better future are about to be ripped away.Inspired by extraordinary true events, The Stray Cats of Homs is the breathtaking story of a young man who will do anything to keep the dream of home alive.___'An absolutely riveting novel and a searing and incredibly important book. Storytelling at its best.' Donal Ryan'Warm, captivating and inspiring.' Mike Thomson, author of Syria's Secret Library'Compelling and uncompromising' BBC Radio 4, SundayTrade ReviewAn absolutely riveting novel . . . a rare and precious humanizing of the terrible conflagration in Syria. Eva is a writer of the first order and this is a searing and incredibly important book, storytelling at its best. * Donal Ryan, author of FROM A LOW AND QUIET SEA (longlisted for the Man Booker Prize and shortlisted for the Costa Book Awards) *Profoundly affecting and deeply soulful . . . This book will stay with me forever. * Ruth Jones, bestselling author of US THREE *This warm, captivating and inspiring story shows that even the bottomless horrors of war-torn Syria are no match for the extraordinary resilience of the human spirit and the power of love and friendship. * Mike Thomson, author of SYRIA'S SECRET LIBRARY *Compelling and uncompromising. * BBC Radio 4 Sunday *Incredible... a deeply interesting and loving recounting of not just Sami's experience, but the wider story of the people of Syria. * Sunday Business Post *[The Stray Cats of Homs] burns and it stings; each sentence is an accusation - but to read it is to begin to pay a debt that all of us owe. If you can't alleviate the pain, the least you can do is not shut your eyes to the suffering. * Culturefly *The Stray Cats of Homs brings to life the human, inside story of one of the most brutal sieges in recent history, with Syria's Assad trying to break the will of young rebels daring to stand up to the dictator and taking refuge in an ancient city. The novel is as revealing as it is inspiring with its depictions of the lengths heroes will go to in search of personal freedom. * Mark Sullivan, author of BENEATH A SCARLET SKY *A vital and affecting narrative ... imbued with emotional and personal authenticity. * NB Magazine *[A] beautiful, heart-rending book. * Helen Paris, author of LOST PROPERTY *It’s been a long time since a book kept me up all night, but Eva Nour’s The Stray Cats of Homs did. A tender, yet wild and tangible testimony bearing witness to the tragedy in Syria. * Theodor Kallifatides, Award-winning author and Professor of Literature *

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Book Synopsis'A modern master at work’ THE TIMES ‘Heart-poundingly suspenseful’ WASHINGTON POST ‘Joseph Kanon owns this corner of the literary landscape’ LEE CHILDBerlin, 1963. The height of the Cold War and an early morning spy swap. On one side of the trade: Martin Keller, an American physicist who once made headlines, but who then disappeared into the English prison system. Keller's most critical possession: his American passport. His most ardent desire: to see his ex-wife Sabine and their young son. But Martin has questions: who asked for him? Who negotiated the deal? Just the KGB bringing home one of its agents? Or, as he hopes, a more personal intervention? He has worked for the service long enough to know that nothing happens by chance. They want him for something. Not physics – his expertise is years out of date. Something else, which he cannot learn until he arrive

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Book SynopsisAn exquisitely poignant tale of life, friendship and facing death Everyone should read this book'Ruth Hogan, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Keeper of Lost ThingsUSA TODAY BESTSELLER*Shortlisted for the RNA Contemporary Romantic Novel of the Year Award*Eudora''s beautifully-told story shows us how we can live and support others at all stages of life, value what matters most and suck the juice out of every day'Kathryn Mannix, Sunday Times bestselling author of With the End in MindWow definitely my book of the year in my all time top ten!' Reader reviewThis is undoubtedly one of the best books that I have read this year' Reader reviewEudora Honeysett is done with all of it. Having seen first-hand what a prolonged illness can create, the eighty-five-year-old has no intention of leaving things to chance. With one call to a clinic in Switzerland she takes her life into her own hands.But then ten-year-old Rose arrives in a riot of colour on her doorstep. Now, as precocious Rose takeTrade Review‘An exquisitely poignant tale of life, friendship and facing death. In the latter, the author dares to explore a subject that many shy away from, but she does so with touching sensitivity, gentle humour and absolute honesty. Eudora’s courage, dignity and wry sense of fun are beautifully drawn as she takes the reader on the heart-breaking yet ultimately uplifting journey of her life and death. Everyone should read this book’ Ruth Hogan, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Keeper of Lost Things ‘Made me laugh out loud’ Sue ‘An incredibly uplifting book…made me read into the night’ Kerry ‘An absolute perfect read…I cannot speak highly enough of this book’ Maria ‘It celebrates life… a surprise in a book’ Angela ‘A beautifully written book and highly recommended’ Laura ‘The author writes with such inspiring words…Love this story’ Eileen ‘Emotional, moving, delightful’ Abby ‘A fantastic story of love and friendship which I recommend’ Christine

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Book SynopsisCharming and compelling a beautiful book, wise, heartfelt and full of hope' Hazel Prior, Away with the PenguinsWitty and delightful, this story is a salve to the soul' Colleen Oakley, The Invisible Husband of Frick IslandIt's never too late to start a new chapterLiv Green loves losing herself in a good book. But her everyday reality is less romantic, cleaning houses for people who barely give her the time of day. So when she lands a job housekeeping for her personal hero and mega-bestselling author Essie Starling, she can''t believe her luck.When Essie dies unexpectedly, Liv is left with a life-changing last wish: to complete Essie's final novel. To do so, change-averse Liv will have to step away from the fictitious worlds in her head, and into Essie's shoes. As she begins to write, she uncovers a surprising connection between the two women and a secret that will change Liv's life foreverBrimming with joy and packed with a sparkling cast of characters, The Book Share is a moving reminTrade Review Praise for Phaedra Patrick: ‘A gem of a book. I loved it.’ Sarah Morgan, Sunday Times bestseller ‘A charming story of self-discovery.’ Hello! ‘Wonderful… the perfect summer read.’ Woman ‘A charming story with thought-provoking themes.’ Candis ‘A feel-good story with oodles of charm.’ The Daily Mail ‘This book is a balm for the soul and the heart.’ The Sun ‘Eccentric, charming and wise, this will illuminate your heart.’ Nina George, author of The Little Paris Bookshop ‘A gorgeous journey told through charms.’ Heat ‘A charming, unforgettable story.’ Harper’s Bazaar ‘With many poignant as well as laugh-out-loud moments, in the vein of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, this is a lovely feel-good read.’ Compass ‘As charming and witty as the title suggest.’ My Weekly ‘We love this sweet story about self-discovery.’ Take A Break

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Book SynopsisRemember me? Relive Takumi Fujiwara's journey from tofu delivery boy to street-racing legend in an all-new, large-sized, 2-in-1 print edition of the series that made Japanese street racing into a worldwide phenomenon. Contains a new translation of Initial D Vol. 9-10. Slashed-up stickers of Gunma's teams is the hot pursuit of the invading Emperor team. The hot-headed Seiji Iwaki has challenged Takumi to a race on Mount Akina, overflowing with confidence that an old Eight-Six has nothing against his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. But what does it mean when team leader, Kyoichi Sudo, advises Seiji to do Simulation 3? On the other side, Bunta has acquired a new engine for the Eight-Six, but he will only give it if Takumi loses. How will this battle end?This edition is still running in the '90s but features a refreshed translation and lettering for the 2020s, as well as a special large size.

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Book SynopsisA “one-sitting-read" (Laurie Frankel, New York Times bestselling author) about two very different sisters, and a love letter to childhood, growing up, and the power of imagination—from the bestselling author of Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead and Interesting Facts About Space.Sigrid hates working at the Dollar Pal but having always resisted the idea of growing up into the trappings of adulthood, she did not graduate high school, preferring to roam the streets of her small town with her best friend Greta, the only person in the world who ever understood her. Her older sister Margit is baffled and frustrated by Sigrid’s inability to conform to the expectations of polite society. But Sigrid’s detachment veils a deeper turmoil and sensitivity. She’s haunted by the pains of her past—from pretending her parents were swamp monsters when they shook the floorboards with their violent arguments to grappling with losing Greta’s friendship to the opioid epidemic ravaging their town. As Margit sets out to understand Sigrid and the secrets she has hidden, both sisters, in their own time and way, discover that reigniting their shared childhood imagination is the only way forward. “A must read” (Haley Jakobson, New York Times Editor’s Choice author), We Could Be Rats is an unforgettable story of two sisters finding their way back to each other, and a celebration of that transcendent, unshakable bond.

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Book SynopsisBehind You Is the Sea is a compelling debut that fearlessly challenges stereotypes surrounding Palestinian culture.Intergenerational differences are explored from both sides withkeen-eyed humanity and understanding' Marie ClaireFunny and beautifully written' Stylist MagazineA rich panoply of a community' Crack MagazineBook of the MonthWonderful A novel about ordinary people fighting for what they believe to be right'Irish IndependentA poignant reminder of our shared humanity brimming withhope and empathy'Irish TimesFunny and touching, Behind You Is the Sea brings us into the homes and lives of three main families the Baladis, the Salamehs and the Ammars Palestinian immigrants who've all found a different welcome in America. Their various fates and struggles cause their community dynamic to sizzle and sometimes explode, as their lives intersect across divides of class, generation and religion.

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Book Synopsis''One of the world''s funniest novelists''SUNDAY TIMES ''Scabrous and unrelentingly hilarious . . . the Trump era is truly Carl Hiaasen''s moment''WASHINGTON POSTFrom the highly acclaimed author of Bad Monkey and Razor Girl comes this hilarious new novel of social and political intrigue, set against the glittering backdrop of Florida''s gold coast. It''s the height of the Palm Beach charity ball season: for every good cause, there''s a reason for the local luminaries to eat (minimally), drink (maximally), and be seen. But when prominent high-society dowager Kiki Pew suddenly vanishes during a swanky gala, and is later found dead, panic and chaos erupt.Kiki was an ardent fan of the Winter White House resident just down the road, and a founding member of the POTUSSIES, a group of women dedicated to supporting their President - who immediately declares that Kiki was the victim of rampagingTrade ReviewCarl Hiaasen remains the undefeated, unscored-upon conscience of Florida, maybe the conscience of the whole country. I laughed and laughed and laughed while I read Squeeze Me - until I remembered, hey, I live in Palm Beach! * James Patterson *Scintillating, driven and very, very funny. Sheer comic genius * Metro *Hiaasen is wondrously fertile in devising fizzing plots and zany characters, but also as a comic prose stylist he can give Wodehouse and Waugh a run for their money * The Sunday Times *Creating laughter in a tough world may be Hiaasen's hallmark * Independent *If you could use some wild escapism right now, Hiaasen is your guy. In its themes and its wild imagination, Squeeze Me offers some familiar pleasures, akin to a Greatest Hits collection. Anyone who's read him will know what a prime recommendation that is * New York Times *By the evidence of the scabrous and unrelentingly hilarious Squeeze Me, the Trump era is truly Carl Hiaasen's moment * Washington Post *Rampagingly funny satire * Kirkus *Splendid satire [...] One of his best * Crime Club *Will have you crying with laughter * Best *

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Book SynopsisQueenie must fight against the suffering caused by her fatherQueenie seemed born to suffer. Her mam died giving birth to her, her drunken father George Kenney either ignored her or cursed her, and only beloved Auntie Biddy provided an anchor for the little girl. Growing up in post-war Blackburn, life could be tough when Biddy had to take in washing to make ends meet - at a time when the washing machine began to gain popularity. After Auntie Biddy''s death there was only Queenie to care for the home and to earn money, and no one to protect her from the father who blamed his daughter for her mother''s death. But Queenie was resilient. And in spite of hardship, she grew up tall and strikingly beautiful with her deep grey eyes and her abundant honey-coloured hair. Love, in the shape of Rick Marsden, might have released her from the burden of the drink-sodden George. But the sins of the fathers would not be easily forgotten . . .

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Book SynopsisPicking up after the events of the first hit series, Tariq Geiger leaves his home behind and now walks the radioactive roads of the former United States with his two-headed wolf Barney. But as his enemies doggedly pursue him, Geiger discovers salvation from the unlikeliest of foes. Searching for a cure to what turned him into the Glowing Man Geiger faces new threats, uncover longhidden secrets, and discover there are more people after him than he ever imagined. Don't miss this vital action-packed chapter in THE UNNAMED saga!Collects Geiger Vol II issues #1-#6 and Geiger: Ground Zero #1-#2.

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Book SynopsisThe rare book world is stunned when a reclusive collector, Adam Diehl, is found on the floor of his Montauk home: hands severed, surrounded by valuable inscribed books and original manuscripts that have been vandalised beyond repair. Adam's sister, Meghan, and her lover, Will - a convicted if unrepentant literary forger - struggle to come to terms with the seemingly incomprehensible murder. But when Will begins receiving threatening handwritten letters, seemingly penned by long-dead authors, but really from someone who knows secrets about Adam's death and Will's past, he understands his own life is also on the line - and attempts to forge a new beginning for himself and Meg. In The Forgers, Bradford Morrow reveals the passion that drives collectors to the razor-sharp edge of morality, brilliantly confronting the hubris and mortal danger of rewriting history with a fraudulent pen.Trade ReviewThose who like their murder mysteries soft-boiled and with a literary bent will love The Forgers. Devotees of Arthur Conan Doyle will especially appreciate Bradford Morrow's exploration of the seamy underbelly of the rare book world. . . . Morrow's language is so pitch perfect, his metaphors so startling, and his truths so pithy that you continue to listen to his tale with a growing fascination and unease. * New York Journal of Books *An excellent suspense novel. . . . Bradford Morrow is, quite skillfully, paying homage to one of Agatha Christie's most famous whodunits. Yet even then, he offers a few twists of his own and will keep all but the most astute mystery aficionado guessing about the truth until the end. * Washington Post *[A] consistently unnerving mystery. . . . The best moments in The Forgers come . . . from its intimate knowledge of books, details about signatures, ink, bindings, the slant of Arthur Conan Doyle's handwriting . . . creating an ambience of old-fashioned gothic suspense that bibliophiles in particular will enjoy. * USA Today *The Forgers is remarkable. Bradford Morrow is remarkable. The Real Thing, which is rare on this earthly plane -- Michael CunninghamThe Forgers is quintessential Bradford Morrow. Brilliantly written as a suspense novel, lethally enthralling to read, and filled with arcane, fascinating information - in this case, the rarified world of high-level literary forgery. -- Joyce Carol Oates

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Book SynopsisJeffrey Archer, whose novels and short stories include the Clifton Chronicles, Kane and Abel and Cat O' Nine Tales, is one of the world's favourite storytellers and has topped the bestseller lists around the world in a career spanning four decades. His work has been sold in more than 100 countries and in fifty-one languages. He is the only author ever to have been a number one bestseller in fiction, short stories and non-fiction (The Prison Diaries).Jeffrey is also an art collector and amateur auctioneer, and has raised more than 50m for different charities over the years. A member of the House of Lords for over a quarter of a century, the author is married to Dame Mary Archer, and they have two sons, two granddaughters and three grandsons.

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Book SynopsisHallucinatory, stylish, and erotic,The Dissentersis a transcendent portrait of a woman and an era that explodes our ideas of faith, gender roles, freedom, and political agency.

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'An apocalyptic novel for our times' – Guardian'Horrifyingly resonant' – ObserverSuperbowl Sunday, 2022. A couple wait in their Manhattan apartment for their final dinner guests to arrive. The game is about it start. The missing guests' flight from Paris should have landed by now.Suddenly, screens go blank. Phones are dead. Is this the end of civilization? All anybody can do is wait.From one of America’s greatest writers, The Silence is a timely and compelling novel about what happens when an unpredictable crisis strikes.'The Silence is Don DeLillo distilled . . . a straight shot of the good stuff' – Spectator

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Book SynopsisOne spring afternoon, defence attorney Guerrieri is confronted with an unexpected spectre from his past. In her youth, Lorenza had been a beautiful and unpredictable girl with dazzling charm. A changed woman faces him in his office that day. The ensuing years have ravaged her appearance and embittered her mind. As if that weren’t enough, her son Jacopo, a small-time delinquent, stands convicted of the first-degree murder of a local drug dealer. Her trial lawyer has died, so, for the appeal, she turns to Guerrieri as her last hope. Guido is not convinced of the innocence of Lorenza’s son, nor does he have fond memories of the way their relationship ended two decades earlier. Nevertheless, he accepts the case; perhaps to pay a melancholy homage to the ghosts of his youth. His old friend Carmelo Tancredi, a retired police inspector, and his girlfriend, the charming investigator Annapaola Doria are once again by his side. A masterful, compassionate novel, striking a balance between a straightforward trial story –some say the purest distillation of human experience – and the sad notes of time as it passes and exhausts itself.

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Book SynopsisA brand new short story set in the world of His Dark Materials and The Book of Dust by master storyteller, Philip Pullman.Serpentine is a perfect gift for every Pullman fan, new and old. ''Lyra Silvertongue, you''re very welcome . . . Yes, I know your new name. Serafina Pekkala told me everything about your exploits''Lyra and her daemon Pantalaimon have left the events of His Dark Materials far behind.In this snapshot of their forever-changed lives they return to the North to visit an old friend, where we will learn that things are not exactly as they seem . . .Illustrated throughout by Tom Duxbury, the perfect re-entry for fans of His Dark Materials and a wonderful companion to The Book of Dust.''It''s a stunning achievement, the universe Pullman has created and continues to build on''New York Times''Pullman is an easeful storyteller and an intricate and inventive world-builder, and everything he has to write is worth reading'' The TelegraphTrade Review[Serpentine] brings with it all the familiar delights of Pullman's work: its effortless clarity, its intelligence, its ineffable mix of coziness and darkness, innocence and experience. * Lev Grossman - New York Times *Tom Duxbury's linocut-inspired illustrations give Serpentine a handsome look and accessible feel . . . Serpentine offers aficionados a poignant return to Lyra and Pan. * Wall Street Journal *Foreshadowing the events of The Secret Commonwealth, this gorgeously illustrated volume is a treat for fans of the fantasy. * Sunday Mirror *

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