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
Penguin Books Ltd A Cornish Summer
Book SynopsisESCAPE TO THE CORNISH COAST IN THIS DELIGHTFULLY HEARTWARMING SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER''THE PERFECT SUMMER READ'' Sophie Kinsella__________Flora''s been in love with her husband for twenty years. The trouble is, he''s been married to someone else for the past fifteen . . . Now she''s been invited to spend the summer in the sandy coves of Cornwall, which should be blissful.But there''s one small snag: she''ll be staying with her former mother-in-law, Belinda.And then her ex-husband shows up out of the blue, complete with his new wife . . . Can Flora spend the summer playing happy families with the woman who stole her husband''s heart, and the mother-in-law who might have had a hand in it?Could a holiday romance help her finally get over her him? And will stumbling on the family secret change her mind about them all?If you like Fern Britton, Katie Fforde and Jill Mansell, Trade ReviewSimply a delight: funny, intelligent and at times heart wrenching. It's full of such witty, entertaining characters, and best of all, it transported me away from real life into a Cornish holiday that I didn't want to leave. It's the perfect summer read * Sophie Kinsella *Oh how I enjoyed this! No one writes about Cornwall like Catherine. Yet another fabulous book, packed with glamour, delicious characters and myriad family complications! -- Jill MansellI LOVE it. Catherine's writing is so warm, funny and heartfelt and no matter what's going on in your own world, you can curl up in Catherine's and feel her warmth like summer sun * Cathy Kelly *I've loved Catherine Alliott books since he first one. They're always a delight and this one's no exception * Carole Matthews *A wonderful story of family and love, secrets and sunshine. Catherine Alliott is on top form with this * Milly Johnson *A magical mix of wit, warmth and poignancy * Trisha Ashley, bestselling author of The House of Hopes and Dreams *Alliott is always an absolute joy to read * Veronica Henry *Another blissful read from Catherine Alliott * Hello Magazine *Evokes the perfect summer romance * Cornwall Life *The perfect summer romance * Cornwall Life *It's full of Cornish colour and a plot that seems plausible from your deckchair * Peterborough Evening Telegraph *Praise for Catherine Alliott * - *Compulsively readable * The Times *Her writing is both intelligent and sparklingWarm, witty and wise * Daily Mail *A huge treat. Hilarious yet poignantHilarious and full of surprises * Daily Telegraph *An addictive cocktail of wit, frivolity and madcap romance * Time Out *Classy, wonderfully gossipy and breathless * Red *
£8.99
Orenda Books Cage
Book SynopsisDrugs, smuggling, big money and political intrigue in Iceland rally with love, passion, murder and betrayal until the winner takes all … in the masterful, explosive conclusion to the award-winning Reykjavík Noir trilogy… ***Guardian Book of the Year******WINNER of the Best Icelandic Crime Novel of the Year*** ‘Tough, uncompromising and unsettling’ Val McDermid ‘One of the darkest and most compelling series in modern crime fiction … Tackling topical issues, the book will tell you a great deal about why the world’s in the state it is, while never neglecting its duty to entertain’ Sunday Express ‘A tense thriller with a highly unusual plot and interesting characters’ The Times –––––––––––––––––––––––– The prison doors slam shut behind Agla, when her sentence ends, but her lover Sonja is not there to meet her. As a group of foreign businessmen tries to draw Agla into an ingenious fraud that stretches from Iceland around the world, Agla and her former nemesis, María find the stakes being raised at a terrifying speed. Ruthless drug baron Ingimar will stop at nothing to protect his empire, but he has no idea about the powder keg he is sitting on in his own home. At the same time, a deadly threat to Sonya and her family brings her from London back to Iceland, where she needs to settle scores with longstanding adversaries if she wants to stay alive… –––––––––––––––––––––––– Praise for the Reykjavik Noir Trilogy: ‘Cage is the muted and more credible conclusion to a wayward, but diverting trilogy that began with Snare (2017) and continued with Trap (2018) — ironic titles for essentially escapist fiction … Compassion beats complexity every time’ The Times ‘In keeping with a lot of Icelandic fiction, Cage is written in a clean, understated style, the author letting the reader put together the emotional beats and plot developments. Smart writing with a strongly beating heart’ Big Issue ‘Deftly plotted though and with a forensic attention to the technicalities of stock exchange manipulations and drug running techniques’ Crime Time ‘With shocks and surprises in store, and that oh so satisfying end, Cage provoked, chilled, and thrilled me’ LoveReading ‘A novel about survival, about scheming, it’s about self-preservation and about clinging to a vestige of decency in a screwed up world. Superbly translated by Quentin Bates, who knows the language, the country, the people and crime writing intimately. Cage is a pacy thriller; you will find yourself invested in the story’ New Books Magazine ‘An emotional suspense rollercoaster on a par with The Firm, as desperate, resourceful, profoundly lovable characters scheme against impossible odds’ Alexandra Sokoloff ‘Clear your diary. As soon as you begin reading … you won’t be able to stop until the final page’ Michael Wood ‘Zips along, with tension building and building … thoroughly recommend’ James Oswald ‘The intricate plot is breathtakingly original, with many twists and turns you never see coming. Thriller of the year’ New York Journal of Books Trade ReviewFurther showcases Sigurdardottir's facility with intricate plotting and sympathetic characters. . . . A worthy addition to the icy-cold crime genre popularized by Scandinavian noir novels." --Foreword Reviews on Trap "Sigurdardottir's unflinching portrayal of Iceland's burgeoning underworld and the streamlined, raw intensity of her prose distinguishes her from fellow Icelanders who have become popular in the American crime-fiction world. . . . This is prime binge-reading." --Booklist starred review of Trap "[A] lively conclusion...Fans already invested in this Nordic crime series will race through the pages."-- Publishers Weekly "Now this one is pure Scandinavian noir...No other crime series promises to be both a thrilling epic and a careful dissection of Iceland's 2008 banking crisis." --CrimeReads
£8.54
Simon & Schuster Ltd Ghost Country
Book SynopsisA breath-taking contemporary thriller for readers of Robert Harris, John le Carré and Martin Cruz Smith
£9.49
Simon & Schuster Ltd Come In and Shut the Door
Book SynopsisThe new epic new novel from the cult film maker and author ofThe Psalm KillerandRobinson.
£17.09
HarperCollins Publishers Postscript
Book SynopsisThe long-awaited sequel to the international bestseller PS, I Love You.The PS, I Love You Club.These are the six words written on a card handed to Holly Kennedy. They're words that are engraved on her heart because PS, I Love You is how her husband, Gerry, signed his last letters to her, letters that mark a year she will never forget.Now, the mysterious club wants something from her. And if Holly can find the courage meet them, she'll learn what it really means to live life to the full.Because every love story has one last thing to sayTrade Review‘A gorgeously hopeful, poignant story that is guaranteed to make readers weep but leave them with a warm heartl’ Irish Independent ‘Touching, full of humour…life-affirming. Ahern writes with honesty and empathy. I had a lump in my throat when I finished reading’ Irish Times ‘Explores one of the fundamentals of human experience with warmth, humour and pathos’ Sunday Independent ‘Cecelia Ahern is without a doubt an incredibly talented storyteller … heartbreaking, bittersweet and beautifully written’ RTE Guide ‘The book, like the first, spoke straight to my heart…perhaps it’s the realness and simplicity of Ahern’s observations that make it so impactful’ Irish News 'As this gorgeous novel illuminates, life does on, even in the wake of loss'Nicholas Sparks, bestselling author of The Notebook ‘Fans of PS, I Love You are in for a treat… Warmth emanates from the pages of this lovely, uplifting novel’ Good Housekeeping ‘A poignant, warm and hopeful novel’ Woman & Home ‘Ahern’s warm-hearted and surprisingly upbeat novel celebrating the enduring power of love’ Daily Mail ‘Wise and uplifting – but keep a box of tissues at the read. You’ll need it’ Sunday Express ‘I adored this uplifting story about hope and love’ Prima ‘A weepy about grief and the enduring power of love’ Sunday Mirror ‘This is a novel to delight loyal fans and new readers alike’ Woman’s Weekly ‘A gorgeous read for fans of PS, I Love You’ Carmel Harrington
£9.49
Orion Publishing Co For the Relief of Unbearable Urges
Book SynopsisRuchama, a wigmaker from an ultra-orthodox Brooklyn enclave, journeys into Manhattan for inspiration, frequenting a newsstand where she flips through forbidden fashion magazines. An elderly Jew with a long, white beard reluctantly works as a department store Santa Claus every year - until he can take it no longer. And a Hasidic man, frustrated by his wife''s lack of interest, gets a dispensation from a rabbi to see a prostitute for the relief of unbearable urges.
£8.54
HarperCollins Publishers The Dark Crusader
Book SynopsisA classic tale of espionage, secret missions and exotic locations which out-Bonds Bond, from the acclaimed master of action and suspense.Eight job advertisements.Eight jobs. Eight specialists in modern technology required.Eight scientists to fill them.Applicants to be married, with no children, and prepared to travel. Highly persuasive salaries.One criminal mastermind.Eight positions filled. Eight scientists and their wives disappear. Completely.One secret agent to stop him.Advertisement no.9. Sydney, Australia. Fuel specialist required. Looks like a job for John BentallTrade Review'A fierce whodunit set on a rocket-proving island in the Pacific. Moves at jet pace' Oxford Mail 'As satisfying a saga of death, double-dealing and cloak-and-dagger work as I've read in a long time' Books and Bookmen
£8.54
Amazon Publishing Time for You
£8.54
Orion Publishing Co Attachments
Book Synopsis''Heartwarming, romantic and great fun'' CLOSER Everyone in the newsroom knows that somebody is monitoring their emails, but Beth and Jennifer don''t believe anyone would read their never-ending conversations. But Lincoln does, it''s his job, and Beth and Jennifer''s hilarious, no-holds-barred emails are the best part of his day. The only problem is he''s starting to fall in love with Beth, and yet she doesn''t even know he exists. With ex-boyfriends, office politics and family drama, there never seems to be a good time for Lincoln to introduce himself. But to get the life you want sometimes you need to put yourself out there...Trade ReviewAn original, quirky but enjoyable book with many likeable characters and a plot that keeps you guessing all the way through. -- Carl Difford * South Wales Argus *Attachments is such a fantastic book! It's funny and heart-warming, and just a beautiful, beautiful read * ONCE UPON A BOOKCASE *
£9.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Road to Grantchester
Book Synopsis_______________''If you love the TV series Grantchester, don't miss this captivating prequel. It reveals the backstory of how a young Sidney Chambers, carefree in London just before the Second World War, came to be the charming crime-fighting clergyman we know today'' - Yours''Charming, clever and warm: perfect comfort food for the soul'' - Joanne Harris, Daily Telegraph''An engaging and witty prequel'' - Washington Post''Hugely enjoyable Some of the finest writing I have ever read about the sorrow and the pity of war'' - Herald_______________The captivating prequel to the treasured Grantchester series follows the life, loves and losses of a young Sidney Chambers in post-war London It is 1938, and eighteen-year-old Sidney Chambers is dancing the quickstep with Amanda Kendall at her brother Robert's birthday party at the Caledonian Club. No one can believe, on this golden evening, that theTrade ReviewWritten with a delicate intelligence … Sidney Chambers is as convincing as any flesh-and-blood creature, not just an idea of a parson. This is because Runcie has thoroughly imagined him and in this coming-of-age novel he shows us how and why he became what he is -- Allan Massie * Scotsman *Charming, clever and warm: perfect comfort food for the soul -- Joanne Harris * Daily Telegraph *Hugely enjoyable … Some of the finest writing I have ever read about the sorrow and the pity of war * Herald *A tremendous novel — shrewd, compelling and full of insight — James Runcie elevates the genre to impressive new heights -- William BoydWritten with such tenderness, and very moving – I loved it * Elizabeth Buchan *Runcie excels at evoking the look and feel of warfare … Casts the show’s first three series in a disturbing but satisfying new light. One can hardly ask for more * independent.co.uk *If you love the TV series Grantchester, don’t miss this captivating prequel. It reveals the backstory of how a young Sidney Chambers, carefree in London just before the Second World War, came to be the charming crime-fighting clergyman we know today * Yours *The brand new prequel to Runcie’s much-loved series takes Archdeacon Chambers right back to his time as a demobbed young soldier in post-war London * Mail on Sunday *Fans of Grantchester will be more than delighted with the latest instalment of this historical series ... A truly engaging read * Woman *If you love the TV series Grantchester, don’t miss this captivating prequel. It reveals the backstory of how a young Sidney Chambers, carefree in London just before the Second World War, came to be the charming crime-fighting clergyman we know today * Yours *An engaging and witty prequel * Washington Post *
£8.54
HarperCollins Publishers The Second Chance Supper Club
Book SynopsisPRE-ORDER NOW
£9.49
Text Publishing The Subjects
Book SynopsisA terrifyingly credible novel about the juvenile justice system, by a lawyer working in the field.
£8.24
Hodder & Stoughton Summer of '69: One Summer. So Many Secrets . . .
Book Synopsis'I just LOVE [Elin Hilderbrand's] books, they are such compulsive reads' - Marian Keyes'The beach read of the summer . . . A must buy' - Library JournalWelcome to the most tumultuous summer of the twentieth century . . .Every year the Levin children have looked forward to spending the summer at their grandmother's historic island home, but this year it's not to be. Blair, the oldest sister, is marooned in Boston, pregnant with twins and unable to travel. Middle sister Kirby is caught up in the thrilling vortex of civil rights protests with her friend Mary Jo Kopechne. And Tiger, the only son, has just been deployed to Vietnam.Thirteen-year-old Jessie, the youngest of them all, suddenly feels like an only child, marooned in the house with her out-of-touch grandmother who is hiding secrets of her own . . .In her first historical novel, Elin Hilderbrand once again cements her title as 'Queen of the Summer Novel' (People).************Praise for Elin Hilderbrand'Sink into this book like a hot, scented bath . . . a delicious, relaxing pleasure' - Kirkus'[Elin Hilderbrand] signifies the start of summer to readers' - The Book Reporter'Perfect holiday reading' - Candis'The queen regent of the easy-breezy summer novel' - New York PostTrade ReviewPraise for SUMMER OF '69 - * - *More than a beach read, Summer of '69 delves deep into history . . . [an] enchanting novel * New York Journal of Books *Praise for Elin Hilderbrand: * - *Hilderbrand throws enough curveballs to keep readers guessing, but not too many, maintaining the breezy pace her novels are known for * Booklist on THE PERFECT COUPLE *An honest, raw tale of friendship and love * Cosmopolitan on THE CASTAWAYS *A pacey read, with colourful characters that have fascinating motivations. I couldn't get them out of my head for days. * Sunday Express on SILVER GIRL *So deliciously addictive that it will be the 'It' beach book of the summer * Kirkus Review on THE ISLAND *This book was a great read - you really care what happens to the characters. Perfect holiday reading. I didn't want to put it down * Candis on BAREFOOT *Misunderstandings, secrets, and wrong choices are revealed in this completely satisfying novel that is the beach read of the summer, sure to appeal to Hilderbrand's fans while earning her new readers. A must buy. * Library journal *
£9.49
Swift Press Everything Will Swallow You
£15.29
Page & Vine Match Penalty
Book Synopsis
£15.19
Allison & Busby The Witches of Cambridge
Book Synopsis
£8.99
Orion Publishing Co Like A House On Fire
Book SynopsisAnother achingly funny, uncomfortably relatable novel from the brilliant Caroline Hulse, chock full of black humour, family drama and a murder mystery with an explosive end ...Trade ReviewCaroline Hulse is a very funny writer and a wonderfully compassionate observer of human frailty -- Kate EberlenI SO enjoyed Like A House on Fire - Acutely observed and brilliantly funny. Very Nina Stibbe * Clare Mackintosh *I loved it - Funny and sad and relatable and deeply human. A big hat tip to the citing of We Need To Talk About Kevin, too * Harriet Tyce *Absolutely loved Like A House on Fire. A proper delight * Richard Roper *Witty, whip-smart and wincingly observant, pure entertainment from start to finish. A Caroline Hulse book is a reading highlight of my year * Cathy Bramley *Sheer delight from start to finish * Lesley Kara *I could not put Like a House on Fire down. Funny, moving and astute. A triumph! * Nicola Mostyn *Part Fleabag, part Agatha Christie, Like A House On Fire is everything I love in a book. A sharply observed study of relationships packed with subtle wit, I was hooked from page one. Bravo Caroline, what a triumph! * Josie Silver *Painfully astute and brilliantly funny, Like A House On Fire is a triumph of a novel. I loved it * Beth O'Leary *I loved Caroline Hulse's first novel, The Adults, so much, and I love her second book EVEN MORE. Like A House On Fire is hilarious and brilliant and clever in that way only Caroline knows how to be. The story is so compelling, I couldn't put it down, and the writing is so fresh and relatable. Highly, highly recommend! * Lucy Vine *A total joy from start to finish, Like A House on Fire is a treat to savour. Caroline's perceptive, warm and witty characterisation brings this book to life - readers will all recognise (with affection) someone within its pages. I absolutely loved it and can't wait to read Caroline's next book * Charlotte Duckworth *An engaging domestic drama with well-drawn characters. * Candis Magazine *Warm, witty & brilliantly realised. * Daily Mail *A riveting read that shows the lengths people will go to to keep up appearances, this will reel you in and keep you hooked. * Heat Magazine *Hulse astutely taps into the underlying tensions of family life [...]. A deliciously dark comedy of manners. * Daily Express *
£8.54
Canongate Books Silk
Book SynopsisIn 1861 French silkworm merchant Hervé Joncour travels to Japan, where he encounters the mysterious Hara Kei. He develops a painful longing for Kei's beautiful concubine - but they cannot touch; they don't even speak. And he cannot read the note she sends him until he has returned to his own country. But the moment he does, Joncour is enslaved.Subtle, tender and surprising, Silk is an evocative tale of erotic possession.Trade ReviewMesmerising and starkly beautiful * * Observer * *A heart-breaking love story told in the form of a classic fable . . . A stylistic tour de force, a literary gem of bewitching power * * Sunday Times * *Deeply moving . . . A delicately crafted love story and an anatomy of desire * * Guardian * *An intensely powerful and perceptive drama of the deepest human desires . . . One of the most astonishing and moving novels I have ever read * * Daily Telegraph * *Haunting and delicately erotic * * Mail on Sunday * *
£8.54
Dedalus Ltd New Finnish Grammar
Book Synopsis
£11.78
HarperCollins Publishers Dead to Her The new gripping crime thriller book
Book SynopsisThe latest gripping thriller from the No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author of Behind Her Eyes, now a Netflix sensation!Gloriously glamorous, and brilliantly plotted: Dead to Her iseverything I love in a novel' Clare Mackintosh, bestselling author of I Let You GoAn absolute rollercoaster of a ride: twist upon twist, expertly handled I actually gasped out loud several times' Lucy Foley, bestselling author of The Guest ListThe perfect coupleWhen Marcie walked down the aisle to marry Jason Maddox, she knew her life would never be the same again. Charming, rich, handsome Jason can give her everything she's ever wanted.The uninvited guestBut then Keisha arrives in town, and Marcie realises her life of luxury could be snatched away. Because Keisha seems to know all of Marcie's secrets the shocking, the scandalous, and the downright sinful.The fight for survivalMarcie refuses to go down without a fight. The only question is how far will she go to come out on top?A marvellously compelling rTrade Review‘Dead to Her is an absolute blinder of a read, possibly my favourite of hers yet and that’s saying something. It’s an absolute rollercoaster of a ride: twist upon twist, expertly handled – I actually gasped out loud several times. So atmospheric – seriously sexy, with strong shades of Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca. A triumph!’ Lucy Foley ‘Gloriously glamorous, and brilliantly plotted: Dead to Her is everything I love in a novel’ Clare Mackintosh, bestselling author of I Let You Go ‘A marvellously compelling read…intriguingly plotted with characters that spring to life, I thoroughly enjoyed it’ Liz Nugent ‘Dark, hypnotic and immersive…beautifully written and full of Pinborough’s trademark twists – sultry and seductive as its Savannah setting. I loved it’ Harriet Tyce, Sunday Times bestselling author of Blood Orange ‘Set in the racially charged high society of the American deep South, this is the clash of two ambitious, beautiful trophy wives, each with her own secrets…genuine psychological insights are Pinborough’s trademark’ Daily Mail ‘A wonderful, spooky romp…like Dallas meets Tales of the Unexpected!’ Richard Osman, author of The Thursday Murder Club ‘I LOVED Dead to Her! So deliciously dark and twisted, and that setting was just perfection’ Lisa Hall, bestselling author of Between You and Me ‘Exciting…myriad unusual twists’ Daily Mail ‘Warning: you won’t put this down…twisty, addictive’ Sunday Telegraph ‘Pinbrough’s intricately woven mystery will please fans of B.A. Paris and Paula Hawkins’ Publishers Weekly ‘With Dead to Her, Pinborough plants her flag as the master of seductively sinister suspense’ Booklist PRAISE FOR SARAH PINBOROUGH: ‘Bloody Brilliant' Stephen King ‘Piledriver domestic thriller with pull-the-rug-out ending’ Ian Rankin (on Twitter) ‘Brilliantly clever and compelling, loved it!’ B A Paris ‘Dark, unflinching and disturbing…Heart-breaking in places, twisty as hell’ C.L. Taylor
£8.54
Penguin Books Ltd Where Reasons End
Book Synopsis''Profoundly moving. An astonishing book, a true work of art'' Max Porter, author of Grief is the Thing with Feathers From the critically acclaimed author of The Vagrants, a devastating and utterly original novel on grief and motherhood''Days: the easiest possession. The days he had refused would come, one at a time. They would wait, every daybreak, with their boundless patience and indifference, seeing if they could turn me into an ally or an enemy to myself.''A woman''s teenage son takes his own life. It is incomprehensible. The woman is a writer, and so she attempts to comprehend her grief in the space she knows best: on the page, as an imagined conversation with the child she has lost. He is as sharp and funny and serious in death as he was in life itself, and he will speak back to her, unable to offer explanation or solace, but not yet, not quite, gone.Where Reasons End is an extraordinary portrait of parTrade Reviewan incredible piece of work * Chris Power, Open Book *a disquieting, delicate, affecting book * Irish Times *One of the most moving books I've ever read. * Leslie Jamison *Profoundly moving. An astonishing book, a true work of art. * Max Porter, author of Grief is the Thing with Feathers *The writing is raw and deeply affecting. * The Times *Heart-rending * The Sunday Times *Li writes with a shimmering and deeply felt precision. * Guardian *Unsentimental, brave and beautiful. An absolutely monumental book. * Daily Mail *The most intelligent, insightful, heart-wrenching book of our time. -- Andrew Sean GreerA masterpiece. This book haunts me more than any other novel I've read in recent years. -- Garth GreenwellA highly unusual novel in which a writer confronts one of life's deepest sorrows in losing her child. . . Funny, touching and profoundly moving -- Chigozie Obioma
£9.49
Pushkin Press Crossing
Book Synopsis'Crossing will devour you; this is some fierce, dazzling, and heartbreaking shit' NoViolet Bulawayo Bujar's world is collapsing. His father is dying and his homeland, Albania, bristles with hunger and unrest. When his fearless friend Agim is discovered wearing his mother's red dress and beaten with his father's belt, he persuades Bujar that there is no place for them in their country. Desperate for a chance to shape their own lives, they flee. This is the beginning of a journey across cities, borders and identities, from the bazaars of Tirana to the monuments of Rome and the drag bars of New York. It is also a search through shifting gender and social personae, for permission to leave their pasts behind, for acceptance and love.
£8.54
Penguin Books Ltd Summer
Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE ORWELL PRIZE FOR FICTION 2021 LONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN''S PRIZE 2021 A once-in-a-generation series, Ali Smith''s Seasonal quartet is a tour-de-force about love, time, art, politics, and how we live now. ''A maestra''s portrait of her age . . . remarkable'' GuardianIn the present, Sacha knows the world''s in trouble. Her brother Robert just is trouble. Their mother and father are having trouble. Meanwhile the world''s in meltdown - and the real meltdown hasn''t even started yet. In the past, a lovely summer. A different brother and sister know they''re living on borrowed time. This is a story about people on the brink of change. They''re family, but they think they''re strangers. So: where does family begin? And what do people who think they''ve got nothing in common have in common? Summer. Discover all four instalments: Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer. Ali Smith''s new novel, Companion piece, is available to pre-order now.*****''The first great coronavirus novel - a book to savour, a literary tour de force'' Evening Standard''Exquisite. Smith is in a class of her own'' Nicola Sturgeon ''An astonishing finale to a prescient series . . . Ali Smith brilliantly weaves strands of joy and celebration to end her Seasonal Quartet'' Irish TimesTrade ReviewAn astonishing finale to a prescient series . . . Ali Smith brilliantly weaves strands of joy and celebration to end her Seasonal Quartet * Evening Standard *The first great coronavirus novel - a book to savour, a literary tour de force that captures the nation's psyche exquisitely * Evening Standard *This singular writer has found her moment * Prospect *A maestra's portrait of her age. . . remarkable * Guardian *Few writers today can make a more compelling claim to singularity of innovation and sustained brilliance * TLS *The bravura performance of a writer, poised at the edge of the day's vast darkness, gathering all the warmth and light of our inner summer * The Washington Post *Smith bring[s] this brilliant quartet to a satisfying close * NPR *The final flourish of a mazy and beautiful quartet * Telegraph *Sublime * The Boston Globe *Brilliant * The Scotsman *The novel's hopeful message about the healing power of friendship ensures the quartet ends on a feel-good note * Sunday Times *A remarkable experiment with timeliness in fiction * Literary Review *
£16.99
Hodder & Stoughton The Time of Her Life: romantic comedy to make you
Book Synopsis'Wonderfully funny and chaotic, Annie Stoneycroft is the heroine we all want to be friends with. She is the best fun with a heart of gold' - Katie Fforde'Carpe diem, as all our generation seem to be saying these days,' Annie Stoneycroft instructs her friend Liz, who is sixty going on sixteen and trembling on the brink of a love affair. 'Roughly translated: bloody well stop messing about and get on with it.'Annie naturally embraces the baby boomer's credo that old age, far from being a biological inevitability, is a mere lifestyle choice. If not downright carelessness. That doesn't stop her marshalling her contemporaries into suitable relationships - before it's too late. Perhaps it's even time she did the same for herself. But while smart, sassy Ms Stoneycroft may tempter any romantic fancies with Yorkshire common sense, what she has yet to learn is that love is like the measles. The later it strikes, the harder it hits . . .Sparkling, witty and intelligent, The Time of Her Life is a deliciously perceptive romantic comedy for the modern reader.Trade ReviewWith her flair for characterisation, Kate Fenton's latest read brings sensible 60-year-old Annie to life in style . . . A delightful read sure to put a smile on your face * Woman’s Weekly *There is a colourful bunch of characters to keep up with and their storylines will surprise and warm you. We enjoyed the rolling laughter Fenton draws out of you, making light out of some of life's sillier side * Magic Book Club *A romantic comedy with a difference, having a character who is more mature in many ways but still has a lot to learn * Woman's Weekly *
£8.54
Little, Brown Book Group Smooth Talking Stranger
Book SynopsisJack Travis is a macho Houston businessman - rich, tough and always in control. So when a beautiful young woman approaches his office carrying a baby that she claims is his, he''s shaken more than he would ever let on. Stunned, Jack listens to Ella Varner as she explains that her sister recently gave birth and then abandoned her baby boy - and that enquiries have brought Ella to Jack''s door. He virtually has a seizure when she asks him to do a paternity test. But ultimately, will a paternity test set things right? If Jack is the father, will he be the one to care for the baby? Would Ella be prepared to let him go? And if not? Ella can''t bear to think of an answer...
£9.49
Pan Macmillan The Telephone Box Library: Escape To The
Book SynopsisSet in a picturesque Cotswold village, The Telephone Box Library is an uplifting story about fresh starts and new beginnings, by bestselling author of The Village Green Bookshop, Rachael Lucas.'A delightful slice of escapism tied up with a gorgeous, romantic ribbon' - Cathy Bramley, author of A Vintage Summer.The Cotswolds: the perfect retreat for a stressed-out teacher. And Lucy has found just the right cottage for a bargain rent. All she has to do is keep an eye on Bunty, her extremely feisty ninety-something neighbour . . .With her West Highland terrier Hamish at her side, Lucy plans to relax and read up on the women of nearby Bletchley Park. But the villagers of Little Maudley have other ideas, and she finds herself caught up in the campaign to turn a dilapidated telephone box into a volunteer-run library.Along the way, she makes friends with treehouse designer Sam, and finds herself falling for the charms of village life. And it seems Bunty has a special connection to Bletchley Park and the telephone box – one that she's kept secret for decades . . .'I loved it! Intrigue, romance, and utterly compelling' – Alex Brown, author of A Postcard from Italy.Trade ReviewThis is such a tender and warm-hearted story. A delightful slice of escapism tied up with a gorgeous romantic ribbon. -- Cathy Bramley, author of The Lemon Tree CaféI loved it! Intrigue, romance, and utterly compelling -- Alex Brown, author of A Postcard from ItalyA heart-warming and enchanting read that reminds us of the value of patience, kindness and above all love -- Cathy Bramley on Finding Hope at Hillside FarmWonderfully warm, brave and wise, it’s a gentle story that steals your heart and reaffirms your hope in life -- Miranda Dickinson on Finding Hope at Hillside FarmA gorgeous grown-up romance where loss collides with love . . . Full of warmth, heart and humanity -- Laura Kemp on Finding Hope at Hillside FarmHeartwarming -- Woman's Weekly on Finding Hope at Hillside Farm
£8.54
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Old School
Book SynopsisA novel from an American writer.Trade Review'Think Dead Poets' Society crossed with The Catcher in the Rye ... a beautifully crafted all-American coming-of-age tale' Esquire 'This is the kind of novel that endures - wise, clever and written with immense heart' Observer 'Exceptionally good ... comparable to the work of Philip Roth. This reviewer was tempted to send Wolff a fan letter' Blake Morrison, Sunday Telegraph 'A wonderful, subtle novel' Geoff Dyer, Books of the Year, Daily Telegraph
£10.44
Atlantic Books The Forgotten Sister
Book Synopsis'Caroline Bond has a gift for weaving heart-rending tales of impossible decisions' Amanda Brooke, author of The Bad MotherHow do you protect the ones you love from the secrets that hurt them most?____________________Cassie is adopted. She's never felt like the odd one out in her family, but at seventeen she decides to find her birth mother. As she starts digging, she discovers her adoption was far more complicated than she could ever have imagined. And, in uncovering her history, Cassie learns of a terrible secret that her parents kept from her. A secret that will shatter relationships, expose the decisions of the past and lead everyone involved to question what really makes a family.Trade ReviewCaroline Bond has a gift for weaving heart-rending tales of impossible decisions and The Forgotten Sister is no exception. A beautifully written story that will stay with me for quite some time. Would I have made the same choices? * Amanda Brooke, author of The Bad Mother *Accomplished and deeply affecting, The Forgotten Sister examines how perilous secrets can be in families, and yet how some bonds are almost impossible to break. It really resonated with me. * Carol Mason, author of After You Left *A deftly written novel [and] a moving exploration of love between sisters and the tangled, often complex emotions that exist in families. * Madeleine Reiss, author of Someone to Watch Over Me *Caroline Bond takes a complex situation and has written a thoughtful, wrenching and, at times, tear-jerking novel. * Elizabeth Buchan, author of The Museum of Broken Promises, on The Second Child *I stayed up long into the night to finish The Second Child... a carefully crafted and utterly compelling tale of lost opportunity and impossible choices. * Amanda Brooke, author of The Bad Mother, on The Second Child *I was so invested in every word of this novel. An unthinkable situation, but highly believable, this story is spellbinding, real, and brilliantly written. I felt for every character. It mines the depth of every possible human emotion. Caroline Bond will go far. * Carol Mason, author of After You Left, on The Second Child *
£8.54
Canongate Books A Golden Age
Book SynopsisSpring, 1971, East Pakistan. Rehana Haque is throwing a party for her beloved children, Sohail and Maya. Her young family is growing up fast, and Rehana wants to remember this day forever. But out on the hot city streets, something violent is brewing. As the civil war develops, a war which will eventually see the birth of Bangladesh, Rehana struggles to keep her children safe and finds herself facing a heartbreaking dilemma.Trade ReviewDeftly balances the story of nation against that of family . . . heart-shattering -- KAMILA SHAMSIE * * Guardian * *A stunning debut. Anam writes of torture, brutality, refugees and desperation, but she also writes of love and joy, food and song * * Observer * *A real page-turner, with a bravura, heart-stopping ending * * Sunday Telegraph * *Beautifully told, intimate and touching; Anam has a knack for making you care so desperately for her characters that you admire their failings as much as their strengths * * Daily Mail * *Anam's prose is glowing and graceful throughout; whether detailing the degradations of a refugee camp, the tenderness of an unexpected love affair, or the exhilarated dread of a nation in cataclysm * * Guardian * *Spellbinding -- TULIP SIDDIQThe authenticity shines through beautiful, simple prose * * Harper's Bazaar * *A striking story of a spirited mother struggling to bring up her children * * Financial Times * *A voice of real eloquence -- ANITA SETHI * * Independent * *Compellingly twists the personal and the historical, humming with handed-down wisdom * * Literary Review * *
£9.49
Little, Brown Book Group More to Life Than This
Book SynopsisA wonderful novel for anyone who's ever wondered what life is all about from the Sunday Times bestselling and readers' favourite Carole MatthewsTrade ReviewMatthews is one of the few writers who can rival Marian Keyes's gift for telling heart-warming tales with buckets of charm and laughs * Daily Record *They get better every time * Observer *Simply brilliant * Closer *Hilarious * OK! *
£9.49
Little, Brown Book Group The Longest Ride
Book SynopsisThe bestselling love story behind the massive Hollywood filmTwo couples. Two love stories. One epic tale.Ninety-one-year-old Ira Levinson is in trouble. Struggling to stay conscious after a car crash, an image of his adored - and long-dead - wife Ruth appears. Urging him to hang on, she lovingly recounts the joys and sorrows of their life together - how they met, the dark days of WWII and its unrelenting effect on their families.A few miles away, college student Sophia Danko''s life is about to change. Recovering from a break-up, she meets the young, rugged Luke and is thrown into a world far removed from her privileged school life. Sophia sees a new and tantalising future for herself, but Luke is keeping a secret that could destroy it all.Ira and Ruth. Sophia and Luke. Two couples, separated by years and experience, whose lives are about to converge in the most unexpected - and shocking - of ways.The new love story from the mTrade ReviewNicholas Sparks clearly knows how to tug at heartstrings and so he proves again with this tale of two love stories . . . The fortunes of both romances are described with a noticeably old-fashioned tenderness which prizes love and devotion and which, especially in Ira's story, provides a proper, old-fashioned weepie * Daily Mail *A fiercely romantic and touching tale, with the added bonus of a sexy cowboy. When it comes to tales about love, Nicholas Sparks is one of the undisputed kings * Heat *(Sparks) has a canny knack of tapping into what makes us human, and before you know it, you are rooting for Ira and engrossed in his life story * Irish Independent *Will suck you in and leave you a sobbing mess * Star Magazine *
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Vintage Publishing Runaway
Book SynopsisThe matchless Munro makes art out of everyday lives in this exquisite short story collection.**WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY JONATHAN FRANZEN**Here are men and women of wildly different times and circumstances, their lives made vividly palpable by the nuance and empathy of Munro''s writing. Runaway is about the power and betrayals of love, about lost children, lost chances. There is pain and desolation beneath the surface, like a needle in the heart, which makes these stories more powerful and compelling than anything she has written before.The way to do it justice is to read it. Read Munro!' Jonathan FranzenThese stories are breathtaking - they leave you winded with their toughness and brilliance' GuardianWinner of the Nobel Prize in LiteratureWinner of the Man Booker International Prize 2009Trade ReviewMunro is one of my all-time favourite writers. She seems to really see people, like a mind reader who knows what her characters are thinking before they do do, and tells their stories with simplicity and empathy. -- Natasha Lunn * Red *Runaway is so good I don't want to talk about it. Quotation can't do the book justice, and neither can synopsis. The way to do it justice is to read it. Read Munro! Read Munro! -- Jonathan Franzen * New York Times Book Review *Millions of words have been spilt in attempts to tell us exactly what it means to be human. In Runaway, Munro performs that very miracle * The Times *A beautiful, echoing collection, and a demonstration of perfected and unflinching form -- Ali Smith * Scotsman *These stories are breathtaking - they leave you winded with their toughness and brilliance -- Helen Simpson * Guardian *
£9.49
Faber & Faber Your House Will Pay
Book SynopsisIn her blistering and beautifully written UK debut, Steph Cha has craftedan urgent, timely and unforgettable novel about the intertwined fates of two families.
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Cornerstone Blott On The Landscape
Book SynopsisThe landscape is flawless, the trees majestic, the flora and the fauna are right and proper. All is picturesquely typical of rural England at its best. Sir Giles, an MP of few principles and curious tastes, plots to destroy all this by building a motorway smack through it, to line his own pocket and at the same time to dispose of his wife, the capacious Lady Maude. But Lady Maude enlists a surprising ally in her enigmatic gardener Blott, a naturalised Englishman in whom adopted patriotism burns bright. Lady Maude''s dynamism and Blott''s concealed talents enable them to meet pressure with mimicry, loaded tribunals with publicity and chilli powder, and requisition orders with wickedly spiked beer. This explosively comic novel will gladden the heart of everyone who has ever confronted a bureaucrat, and spells out in riotous detail how the forces of virtue play an exceedingly dirty game when the issue is close to home.Trade ReviewConfirms that he had inherited the mantle of the late P.G. Wodehouse. This is deliciously English comedy * Guardian *Extremely funny . . . Mr Sharpe's dialogues is nifty, imaginative, enjoyable -- Peter Ackroyd * The Spectator *I laughed out loud, I really did . . . Tom Sharpe is nowhere more buoyant than when mounting catastrophic scenes of hilarious mayhem * The Statesman *A very funny writer indeed . . . Tom Sharpe's comedy lies as much in his language and the pace of the dialogue as in the outrageous muddles and confusions of his comic situations * The Times *This exuberant novel will cheer all those who dislike bureaucracy * Daily Telegraph *
£9.49
Vintage Publishing Wild Palms
Book SynopsisBorn in 1897 in New Albany, Mississippi, William Faulkner was the son of a family proud of their prominent role in the history of the south. He grew up in Oxford, Mississippi, and left high school at fifteen to work in his grandfather's bank. Rejected by the US military in 1915, he joined the Canadian flyers with the RAF, but was still in training when the war ended. Returning home he studied at the University of Mississippi and visited Europe briefly in 1925. His first poem was published in The New Republic in 1919. His first book of verse and early novels followed, but his major work began with the publication of The Sound and the Fury in 1929. As I Lay Dying (1930), Sanctuary (1931), Light in August (1932), Absalom, Absalom! (1936) and The Wild Palms (1939) are the key works of his great creative period leading up to Intruder in the Dust (1948). During the 1930s, he worked in Hollywood on film scripts, notably The Blue LaTrade ReviewThere is no writer living who can play upon a scene the rich and Rembrandtesque flame that Faulkner commands * Evening Standard *His prose style is all his own, often sensuously alert, evocative, graceful * Daily Telegraph *Lays to rest any doubts that Faulkner could write a powerful love story * Washington Post *There is an extraordinary vigor and power in his writing, a feverish urge toward description in which words combine in a dense web of meaning * Chicago Tribune *
£9.49
Vintage Publishing Mrs de Winter
Book SynopsisRebecca was Daphne du Maurier''s most famous and best-loved novel.But what happened next?Married to the sophisticated, wordly-wise Maxim, the second Mrs de Winter''s life should be happy and fulfilled. But the vengeful ghost of Rebecca, Maxim''s first wife, continues to cast its long shadow over them. Back in England after an absence of over ten years, it seems as if happiness will at last be theirs. But the de Winters still have to reckon with two hate-consumed figures they once knew - both of whom have very long memories...Trade ReviewRetains all the brooding menace and enigmatic mystery of the original * Daily Mail *The oustanding virtue of Mrs de Winter is the elegance of its style... Susan Hill, winner of both the Somerset Maugham and Whitbread prizes, ignores the lush emotionalism of the original, sacrificing psychological menace for a fresh, modest lyricism which suits both her story and her times...dignified and respectful * Independent *Splendid... A very good ghost story -- Beryl Bainbridge * Evening Standard *Susan Hill's imagination is a force to be reckoned with * The Times *Done excellently, with professionalism and panache * Sunday Times *
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Vintage Publishing Love On The Dole
Book SynopsisIn Hanky Park, near Salford, Harry and Sally Hardcastle grow up in a society preoccupied with grinding poverty, exploited by bookies and pawnbrokers, bullied by petty officials and living in constant fear of the dole queue and the Means Test. His love affair with a local girl ends in a shotgun marriage, and, disowned by his family, Harry is tempted by crime. Sally, meanwhile, falls in love with Larry Meath, a self-educated Marxist. But Larry is a sick man and there are other more powerful rivals for her affection.Trade ReviewBeing conceived in suffering and written in blood, it profoundly moves its audience. * The Times *Not for nothing did Edith Sitwell claim that she could not recall being "so deeply, so terribly moved" as when reading this story.An evocative portrayal of life in depression-era Britain. * The Guardian *One of the earliest and best novels to call for social change in Britain * Dazed Digital *
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Cornerstone Timeline
Book SynopsisAn old man is found wandering disoriented in the Arizona desert. He is miles from any human habitation and has no memory of how he got to be there, or who he is. The only clue to his identity is the plan of a medieval monastery in his pocket. So begins the mystery that will catapult a group of young scientists back to the Middle Ages.Trade ReviewTimeline combines all the ingredients that make Crichton's books compulsive reading ... a brilliantly imagined story * Los Angeles Times *Hollywood's favourite thriller writer evokes the experience of time travel superbly ... a rollicking read * Observer *A thrilling race against time * Daily Express *A cracking thriller * Daily Express *The present and the long-ago past collide [as] three young historians whisk themselves back to fourteenth-century feudal France to rescue a friend - and engulf themselves in all manner of mind-blowing intrigue * Chicago Sun-Times *
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John Murray Press Loving Frank
Book SynopsisThe international bestseller. When renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright ran off in the early 1900s with Mameh Cheney, his client's wife, polite Chicago society was shocked. While both abandoned their children, it was Mameh who paid society's price - a price that had shocking consequences.Trade ReviewLoving Frank is one of those novels that takes over your life. It's mesmerizing and fascinating filled with complex characters, deep passions, tactile descriptions of astonishing architecture, and the colorful immediacy of daily life a hundred years ago all gathered into a story that unfolds with riveting urgency. * Lauren Belfer, author of City of Light *This graceful, assured first novel . . . is engrossing, provocative reading. * Scott Turow *A riveting historical novel. * Seattle Post-Intelligencer *Horan does an impressive job of rescuing Mamah from the footnotes of history . . . This compelling read sheds light on an ill-fated relationship from the foundations up * Independent *Outstanding... Nancy Horan has found an untold tale of a famous couple that rocked society at the start of the last century, and she tells it with gut wrenching raw emotion that could not fail to stir even the hardest heart. * Daily Mail *Enthralling * New York Times *A novel of impressive scope and ambition * Washington Post *
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Hodder & Stoughton Whirlwind
Book Synopsis''James Clavell does more than entertain. He transports us into worlds we''ve not known, stimulating, educating, questioning . . . a wonder of detail'' Washington Post''The author handles the plot with all the confident authority of a ring-master, keeping a half-dozen themes and a formidable cast of characters moving along at a cracking pace. By the end I was breathless and lost in admiration at the sheer professionalism of it all'' Sunday TelegraphWhirlwind is the story of three weeks in Tehran in February 1979: three weeks of fanaticism, passion, self-sacrifice and heartbreak. Caught between the revolutionaries and the forces of international intrigue is a team of professional pilots. They are ordered to flee to safety with their helicopters. Two of them, both Europeans, have Iranian wives whom they love beyond safety and politics.''So abundant in sub-plots, characters, intrigue and atmosphere that its 1,000-plus pages seem baTrade ReviewSo abundant in sub-plots, characters, intrigue and atmosphere that its 1,000-plus pages seem barely adequate. Some of the most enjoyable reading around. * Daily Mail *'Clavell seems to creep inside the very soul of the land and the people . . . A damn good read' * Boston Herald *WHIRLWIND is strongly structured, skilfully plotted, rich in detail and very entertaining. Clavell brings the grimness and grandeur of an ancient land to life * San Francisco Chronicle *James Clavell does more than entertain. He transports us into worlds we've not known, stimulating, educating, questioning . . . a wonder of detail * Washington Post *The author handles the plot with all the confident authority of a ring-master, keeping a half-dozen themes and a formidable cast of characters moving along at a cracking pace. By the end I was breathless and lost in admiration at the sheer professionalism of it all * Sunday Telegraph *
£13.49
Hodder & Stoughton Wish You Were Here
Book SynopsisA brilliant romantic comedy exploring beach basics for the broken-hearted from number one bestselling author Mike Gayle, author of MY LEGENDARY GIRLFRIEND, MR COMMITMENT, TURNING THIRTY and DINNER FOR TWOTrade Reviewspot on, easy beach read. Just add sangria! * Independent *'Mike Gayle's the guy to give us a tantalising insight into the way men's minds tick . . . this romantic romp is bound to be another huge success . . . a feel-good read with lots of laughs.' * Woman *This has the makings of another Mike Gayle classic . . . this is spot on, easy beach read. Just add sangria. * Independent *As you'd expect from Gayle, the laughs flow thick and fast, making this a top match for your sunny holiday spirits. * Glamour *An observant offering * Heat *The prolific Mike Gayle knows a thing or two about the male psyche, and how not even an extended adolescence will prevent the pain from catching up in the end. * Herald *If we needed more proof that men don't think like women, then Wish You Were Here delivers it in extra strength doses . . . A fun story of three 30 somethings as they come to rueful - and thankful - realisation that they are no longer 18. * Candis *This book makes great beach reading . . . A heartwarming and funny tale. * Love It! *A delightfully witty tale * Star *
£8.99
Penguin Books Ltd Honour
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewA powerful book; thoughtful, provoking and compassionate -- Joanne Harris, bestselling author of 'Chocolat'Vivid storytelling... that explores the darkest aspects of faith and love * Sunday Telegraph *[Elif Shafak] joins writers such as Hanif Kureishi, Zadie Smith, Monica Ali, Aamer Hussein, Andrea Levy, Hanan al-Shakyh and Leila Aboulela, who offer us fictional glimpses of London's Others * Independent *Fascinating and gripping - a wonderful novel -- Rosamund Lupton
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Pan Macmillan From The Wreck
Book Synopsis‘This strange story of love and loneliness, which explores how we all long to belong, is simply wonderful.’ Daily Mail When, in 1859, George Hills is pulled from the wreck of the steamship Admella, he carries with him the uneasy memory of a fellow survivor. Someone else – or something else – kept him warm as he lay dying, half-submerged in the freezing Southern Ocean, kept him bound to life. As George adapts to his life back on land, he can’t quite escape the feeling that he wasn’t alone when he emerged from the ocean that day, that a familiar presence has been watching him ever since. What the creature might want from him – his life? His first-born? Simply to return to its home? – will pursue him, and call him back to the water, where it all began.‘[A] singular novel . . . [From the Wreck] movingly explores themes of loss, loneliness and guilt.’ Guardian ‘An absorbing, disturbing read, full of deep currents and lurking fears.’ Adrian Tchaikovsky, Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning author of The Children of TimeTrade ReviewThe power of this singular novel lies in Rawson’s ability to meld seemingly disparate narrative elements into a convincing whole that movingly explores themes of loss, loneliness and guilt. * Guardian *This strange story of love and loneliness, which explores how we all long to belong, is simply wonderful . . . Jane Rawson’s writing is uncannily good — an original blend of speculative fiction, chilling horror and emotional empathy, fluidly carrying the reader along on a remarkable journey. * Daily Mail *[A] superb novel . . . Rawson uses [the novel’s] set up to examine huge themes – the nature of existence and society, the symbiotic relationships between us all – but it’s also deeply personal and ultimately very moving. Extraordinary work. * Big Issue *An absorbing, disturbing read, full of deep currents and lurking fears. -- Adrian Tchaikovsky Arthur C Clarke Award-winning author of The Children of TimeFrom the Wreck is an utterly unique, fascinating story, richly and compellingly written. An impressive, absorbing reading experience that evokes empathy for Rawson’s unforgettable characters. -- Kate Mayfield, author of The Undertaker's Daughter[Rawson] has the rare talent of stretching our capacity to believe, while at the same time making us feel genuinely for the characters. There’s a beautiful quality of empathy here, light and aching . . . An intriguing tale whose humanity lingers warm long after the reading. * Australian *Rawson recreates a vanished historical world with utterly convincing characters . . . [Her] writing is mysterious, chilling and tender. The book is a sort of miracle. -- Lian HearnThis book had it all for me; originality, wonderful writing, a brilliant twisting plot, fantastic characters and some themes within it that you can really get your teeth into. -- Simon SavidgeIn this masterful novel, Jane Rawson combines the grim beauty of a dark fable with the gripping plot and breathtaking pace of a literary thriller. This captivating, otherworldly story will enchant you from start to finish. -- Jennie Melamed, author of Gather the DaughtersHaunting and marvellous . . . From the Wreck takes real historical events and bends them to its own ends in a manner I’ve not seen before, an imaginative leap that truly exemplifies the nature of radical speculation. -- Nina Allan, author of The RiftIntensely researched historical fiction . . . [From the Wreck] also has a cephalopod shapeshifting alien, so. SO, it’s remarkable . . . It’s dark and beautiful, and puzzling. -- Maria Dahvana Headley, author of The Mere WifeSomething approaching an old-fashioned historical yarn spliced with Cronenbergian body horror . . . The commonplace rubbing shoulders with the supernatural adds to the book’s considerations of mourning and absence a vivid hue . . . a genuine tension and sense of dread. * Sydney Morning Herald *Beautifully written. * SFX *
£8.54
Little, Brown Book Group The Quality of Silence
Book SynopsisSunday Times Top-Ten Bestseller and Richard and Judy Book Club Choice.''An elegant and icily unique thriller: you won''t read anything like it this year'' Observer''Scary, suspenseful and so exquisitely, evocatively written. Everything you want in a wonderful novel'' Liane MoriartyI''ll risk my life for you.On 24 November Yasmin and her ten-year-old daughter Ruby set off on a journey across Northern Alaska. They''re searching for Ruby''s father, missing in the arctic wilderness.More isolated with each frozen mile they cover, they travel deeper into an endless night. And Ruby, deaf since birth, must brave the darkness where sight cannot guide her.She won''t abandon her father. But winter has tightened its grip, and there is somebody out there who wants to stop them.Somebody tracking them through the dark.Praise for The QualitTrade ReviewThere are many things to love about Lupton's third novel, not least its stunning evocation of Alaska ... The Quality of Silence is an elegant and icily unique thriller, you won't read anything like it this year. -- Alison Flood The Observer Like a breath of icy air, this relentlessly tense thriller is also a child's-eye family drama like none other. Not since Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow have I shivered like this. -- Emma Donoghue I loved The Quality of Silence. It was scary, suspenseful and so exquisitely, evocatively written I often found myself shivering as if I were there in Alaska with Ruby and her mother. It was everything you want in a wonderful novel. -- Liane Moriarty - author of The Husband's Secret Masterful pacing, riveting plotting. The Quality of Silence will have your heart thumping. Absolutely gripping. -- Louise Penny With The Quality of Silence, Rosamund Lupton brings her sophisticated brand of suspense to a setting that might have attracted Jack London: the remote frontier of northern Alaska. An elegant, chilling read from a writer who continues to stretch the bounds of suspense. -- William Landay Chilling in every sense. Woman & Home A gripping, twisting tale. Glamour Magazine Sister brought huge success for Rosamund Lupton. The Quality of Silence is just as engrossing, with the same claustrophobic feel. Good Housekeeping The pressure is on to keep creating equally brilliant stories. British author Rosamund Lupton has done just that with new novel The Quality of Silence. Red magazine A forbidding Alaskan winter is the setting for this ambitious and imaginative novel ... Narrated in part, by Ruby, who is a delightfully realized character, (her deafness is treated with great sensitivity), the landscape, wildlife and bitter climate of Alaska are powerfully drawn. Chilling in every sense, you won't want to step away from this story. Sunday Mirror The Quality Of Silence will have you gripped from start to finish. Cosmopolitan This novel is a winner ... Lupton's prose is as beautiful as it is pacey. Singapore Straits Times This is Lupton at the height of her storytelling powers. Daily Mail This is a beautifully written thriller and the way Lupton, author of the bestselling Sister, uses the tundra as a metaphor for both grief and faith is stunning. The voice of Ruby, who is profoundly deaf, and her compassionate exploration of a life without sound, only adds to the richness of the book. The Press & Journal The Quality of Silence is a vivid and elegant thriller with great heart in its chilling narrative. -- Renee Knight, author of Disclaimer The story is told with Lupton's deft characterisation and is an engaging read Daily Express A thrilling Alaskan adventure...The Quality of Silence is a sophisticated thriller which brilliantly evokes the sublime and terrifying landscape of Alaska The Sunday Telegraph
£9.49
Little, Brown Book Group Faith Fox
Book SynopsisWhen sweet, healthy hearty Holly Fox dies suddenly in childbirth, the Surrey village whose pearl she was reverberates with shock. She leaves behind her a helpless, silent husband, and a tiny daughter, Faith. Everyone assumes Holly''s loving and capable mother Thomasina will look after Faith, but when she unaccountably deserts her newborn grandchild, the baby must be packed off to her father''s peculiar family in the North - ''the very strangest people you ever saw my dear''.With wisdom, generosity, and understanding, Jane Gardam takes as her subject the English heart in all its eccentric variety. FAITH FOX sheds a clear, true light on the pain of bereavement whilst always offering the joyous possibility of a new beginning.Trade ReviewFAITH FOX has quite as sharp a take on modern times as Trainspotting ... if you're too hip for Jane Gardam, then you're too hip * NEW STATESMAN *Funny & admirable ... she writes with a dark & buoyant energy which continually challenges & provokes * THE TIMES *Dazzling ... Funny, bleak & full of wisdom, it's a complete delight * MARIE CLAIRE *Terribly funny & clever ... the best thing she's done * Victoria Wood *She does fiction as it should be done, with confidence and insight -- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie * Observer *
£10.44
Little, Brown Book Group God On The Rocks
Book Synopsis''A meticulously observed modern classic'' Independent During one glorious summer between the wars, the realities of life and the sexual ritual dance of the adult world creep into the life of young Margaret Marsh. Her father, preaching the doctrine of the unsavoury Primal Saints; her mother, bitterly nostalgic for what might have been; Charles and Binkie, anchored in the past and a game of words; dying Mrs Frayling and Lydia the maid, given to the vulgar enjoyment of life; all contribute to Margaret''s shattering moment of truth. And when the storm breaks, it is not only God who is on the rocks as the summer hurtles towards drama, tragedy, and a touch of farce.''Tantalising, funny, sharp'' Daily Telegraph''So charming a novel that you don''t want to give away a single one of the many twists of its plot'' New York Times''Jane Gardam has a spectacular gift'' Times Literary SupplementTrade ReviewA meticulously observed modern classic * Independent *Tantalising, funny, sharp * Daily Telegraph *Exact, piquant and comical * Observer *Marvellous... A wonder * Vogue *Jane Gardam has a spectacular gift for detail of the local and period kind, and for details which make characters so subtly unpredictable that they ring true * Times Literary Supplement *So charming a novel that you don't want to give away a single one of the many twists of its plot... We are in the hands of a master storyteller * New York Times *Gardam orchestrates the subtle evolution of character and plot with Olympian omniscience and wry humor * Boston Globe *Gardam is a unique and wonderful writer, mixing no-nonsense presentations of heartbreak, despair, and uncertainty, with equally dry but hilarious bouts of humor, desire, love, friendship, and even happiness, fleeting as that might be * Huffington Post *This treasure should send readers back for all of [Gardam's] books * Library Journal (starred review) *Gardam doesn't waste a word, and the story reads as fresh and relevant now as when it was originally published * Publishers Weekly *
£9.49
Little, Brown Book Group The Wrench
Book SynopsisAmid Levi's grim tales of the Holocaust, The Wrench is an optimistic life-enhancing novel.
£9.49
Little, Brown Book Group Espedair Street
Book Synopsis''Charming, sad, comic... the funniest, truest rock biopic yet'' ObserverDaniel Weir used to be a famous - not to say infamous - rock star. Maybe still is. At thirty-one he has been both a brilliant failure and a dull success. He''s made a lot of mistakes that have paid off and a lot of smart moves he''ll regret for ever. He has gone from rags to riches and back, and managed to hold on to them both, though not to much else. His friends all seem to be dead, fed up with him or just disgusted - and who can blame them? As he contemplates his life, Daniel realises he has only two problems: the past and the future. He knows how bad the past has been. But the future - well, the future is something else. Praise for Iain Banks:''The most imaginative novelist of his generation'' The Times''His verve and talent will always be recognised, and his work will always find and enthral new readers'' Ken MacLeod, Guardian
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