Contemporary Fiction Books

Book SynopsisThis is a story about a Roman Catholic priest who runs his North London parish whilst harbouring an almighty secret: he doesn''t believe in God. This doesn''t stop him from being hugely successful, if a little unconventional in his work. He raises money by driving a London taxi and everything is going well until Sarah hops into his cab and into his life.Trade ReviewFATHER FRANK is a warm, funny, blisteringly good read that has the angels on its side * Tony Parsons *A dazzling first novel - funny, thoughtful and original * Stephen Fry *Refreshing * Adele Parks *A light-hearted comic novel with the feel-good factor of an Ealing comedy, and some cracking one-liners * Greg Eden, Bertrams in The Bookseller *The only novel I've ever read that tackles the fundamental issues of God, Irishness, advertising, love and cab driving all at once. Fast-moving, witty and highly digestible, it slips down like a fresh Eucharist wafer * Tim Lott *Original and comedic...very cool, very pithy * Express *Warm, tender, funny and engaging from start to finish. It's full of sharply-written dialogue, filled with characters you can take to your heart, and driven by a classic will they/won't they narrative * Scotsman *

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Book SynopsisCharles Carter, dubbed Carter the Great by Houdini himself, was born into privilege but became a magician out of need: only when dazzling an audience can he defeat his fear of loneliness. But in 1920s America the stakes are growing higher, as technology and the cinema challenge the allure of magic and Carter''s stunts become increasingly audacious. Until the night President Harding takes part in Carter''s act only to die two hours later, and Carter finds himself pursued not only by the Secret Service but by a host of others desperate for the terrible secret they believe Harding confided in him.Seamlessly blending reality and fiction, Gold lays before us a glittering and romantic panorama of our modern world at a point of irrevocable change.Trade ReviewEngaging, comical and, yes, magical, this is a sure-fire contender for the debut novel of the year. * Christian House, Independent on Sunday *Mesmerising ... the plot turns a dazzling array of somersaults ... Savour its every page * Graham Caveney, Independent *A top-hat-and-tails performance...suspenseful, compendious, moving and persuasive * Michael Chabon *It's refreshing to see an author so obviously into his characters and debut novelist Glen David Gold radiates enthusiasm in his tale of magician Charles Carter, implicated in the death of 29th US president Warren Harding. What's most unbelievable about this stagey set-up is that it's based on actual events. The droll, good-natured narrative never stumbles over 600 pages and Gold's characters, the endearingly troubled Carter at the top of the bill, sit so naturally in the proceedings they positively seem to enjoy being part of his show. Encore please! * The Face *A magnificent achievement. The plot is endlessly inventive and surprising and pulls the reader through some very complicated events in the most compelling way. * Charles Palliser *An extraordinary story ... a daredevil feat of writing that will remind you how much fun reading can be * Helen Brown, Daily Telegraph *Brilliantly inventive and constantly surprising ... you're unlikely to read a better book this year. * Eve *A stormer of a novel, this is the perfect read for people who despise airport blockbusters yet find themselves on aeroplanes longing for a good, meaty page turner * The Guardian *With elements of the whodunnit and, crucially for a book about magic tricks, the howdunnit, this is a four-course meal of a novel * The Guardian *This pacy book rips along to a marvellous and truly unexpected denouement * The Times *An enormously assured first novel * New York Times *This is the curtain-raiser for an intricately structured feast of a novel...a wonderful swirling novel * The Daily Telegraph *Spellbinding ... An inventively plotted novel that despite its size manages to surprise at every twist. * Arena Summer Reading *Carter Beats the Devil is all the things a good novel should be ... A daredevil achievement. Bravo. * Barbara Mella, What's on in London *An audaciously plotted and wonderfully camp adventure. * Telegraph Summer Reading Paperback Fiction Choice *Carter Beats the Devil is a cracking murder mystery unfurling the genteel milleu * The Times *This was many critics' choice for book of the year in 2001, and a first novel that's hard to fault. The plotting is so immaculate, and the themes of illusion and deception so well executed, it's utterly mesmerising. * Shauna Bartlett, Glamour magazine *A rollicking good read. * Mateen Kaul, Literary Review *

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Book SynopsisA blistering take on Cool Britannia and London''s underbelly in the 1990s, the third novel in Jake Arnott''s loose trilogy following The Long Firm and He Kills Coppers. It''s 1995, and crime is the new cool. Actress Julie wants none of it as she comes to terms with her hidden criminal roots. But her public-school boyfriend is going all mockney and writing the script of his ''classic British gangster movie''. Meanwhile, ''Geezer'' Gaz, wannabe villain, is losing control as he preys on the Essex rave scene. And sixties gang boss Harry Starks is back to haunt them all . . .New lads meet old lags, celebrity villains mix with media types and Cool Britannia is stripped bare in wickedly sardonic fashion. Welcome to Cruel Britannia.Trade ReviewA rollercoaster journey through a landscape most honest, decent people wouldn't know existed . . . sparklingly witty, immensely profound . . . it should be read as a matter of urgency * Erwin James, Guardian *The most expansive, ironical and funny novel of the series * David Isaacson, Daily Telegraph *The popularity of Arnott's work rests on his fluent, readable style and strong storytelling. While challenging the hype surrounding the genre, he avoids hypocrisy by stopping just short of glamorising his subject matter. * New Statesman *Arnott delivers a beacon-bright satire . . . a literary triumph * Metro *Arnott's satire is right on the money * Observer *'Arnott's clever, style-conscious book is brutally authentic, yet at the same time ironically "knowing", with an almost satirical attitude to gangster entertainment and the cult of criminal celebrity. Its total readability consolidates his status as a blue-chip crime writer'. * Sunday Times *Arnott has a sharp sense of humour and a real concern for the consequences of crime on his characters and society. * Daily Telegraph *Arnott is both witty and gritty. * Daily Telegraph *

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Book Synopsis'Hypnotic, feverish and altogether wonderful' (Guardian) - the author of the bestselling Long Firm trilogy turns his eye on the anarchic 1970s.Trade ReviewRich in the forensic detail that's made Arnott the pop-culture laureate he is...breathless and compelling * Martin Horsfield, Time Out *Fascinating, compelling, pulpy - all you'd expect from a writer who just keeps getting better. * Arena *Bristling with contained energy and generating a white-hot unease. Best of all, the novel rescues the 1970s from the simple-minded dismissal of the entire decade as a kitsch-only zone...as Arnott argues with urgent, spellbinding power, it was a decade aflame rather than just flaming' * Patrick Ness, Guardian *Beautifully observed and brilliantly paced...a fascinating portrait of impotence and amorality by a writer unafraid to take risks * Michael Arditti, Independent *Once again he has skewered an age to the page...funny, sexy, touching, too, but it is the undertow of dread beneath the antics that makes it a serious achievement * Mark Sanderson, Evening Standard *'Undoubtedly Arnott's best invention to date.' * Henry Sutton, Daily Mirror *Compelling * Peter Burton, Daily Express *

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Book SynopsisIn a snowbound railway station deep in the Soviet Union, a stranded passenger comes across an old man playing the piano in the dark, silent tears rolling down his cheeks. Once on the train to Moscow he begins to tell his story: a tale of loss, love and survival that movingly illustrates the strength of human resilience. ''A novella to be read in a lunch hour and remembered for ever'' Jilly Cooper, Books of the Year, Sunday TelegraphTrade ReviewWhen I describe Andrei Makine as a great writer, this is no journalistic exaggeration but my wholly sincere estimate of a man of prodigious gifts. In his combination of clarity, concision, tenderness and elegiac lyricism, he is the heir to Ivan Bunin, the first Russian ever to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature. * Francis King, Spectator *Makine here is as good as Stendhal - or Tolstoy ... [he is] storyteller, teacher, and enchanter most of all. I would rather read him than anyone else now writing, and then reread him. I think this is his best book so far. * Allan Massie, Literary Review *Makine's novellas are short in length but beautifully paced and filled with a lyricism that weaves reality and fantasy into a far bigger picture. Little wonder, then, that he's frequently likened to other Russian greats such as Nabokov and Chekhov ... an engrossing story of love, tragedy, betrayal and loss. Moving the plot forward effortlessly, he creates a mythic portrait of Communist Russia. * Scotsman *Beautifully paced and filled with a lyricism that weaves reality and fantasy into a far bigger picture ... engrossing * Scotsman *Geoffrey Strachan's strong and graceful translation of a novel written in French manages to let its Russian soul shine through. "A Life's Music" exchanges the lushness of Makine's earlier work ... for the fiercer pleasures of concise storytelling. This is Makine's art * Ann Harleman, New York Times *A Life's Music would make a terrific Tom Hanks movie. The tagline could be lifted straight from the book's jacket. A tale of war, heartbreak and survival. Both powerful and graceful, it has...depth and scope. * Scotland On Sunday *With matchless delicacy and economy ... Makine presents a movingly detailed history of survival, adaption and bitter disillusionment ... perfectly conceived and controlled. Its graceful narrative skilfully blends summarized action with powerfully evocative images charged with strong understated emotion ... masterly * Kirkus Reviews *[An] elegant, heart-rending little gem of a work ... entirely fresh and necessary. Highly recommended. * Barbara Hoffert, Library Journal (New York) *A Life's Music again proves Makine to be a very fine craftman. * Times Play *Makine makes fresh images that are also profound and poignant, and this gives his portrait of a life derailed by history an irresistible authority. * Sam Thompson, Times Literary Supplement *A tale of war, heartbreak and survival. Both powerful and graceful, it has...depth and scope. * Scotland On Sunday *True to Makine's exquisite and haunting work, with its characteristic atmosphere born of pain and philosophy, this magnificent elegy of loss evokes the sheer size, mystery and chaos that is Russia. * Irish Times *The writing remains both poignant and subtle with the nuances of living a secret life given both colour and gravitas. A Life's Music makes for a fascinating - if all too brief - read. * Big Issue *This is truly a book to treasure. * Good Book Guide *No contemporary writer has expressed his simultaneous love of Russia and hatred of Communism as eloquently as Andrei Makine, and this exquisite, poignant novella is one of his most satisfying works * Sunday Telegraph *An unforgettable testament to the indestructibility of the human spirit. * Simon Shaw, Mail on Sunday *Avoiding a heavy-handed treatment of Russian history, in little more than 100 pages Makine succeeds not only in condensing the life and loves of one man, but in capturing the fear that pervaded everyday life in Stalin's Soviet Union. It is the perfect riposte to anyone who believes that great Russian literature must be unwieldy and crammed with a cast of thousands * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisShe thought she could trust him . . .Eva Kershaw thought she would never marry, and is happy living a quiet life with her dear friend Alice. But Alice is ill, and her nephew, Gus, has thrust himself into their household. Alice''s dearest wish is that Eva should not make the same mistakes she did, and she alters her will so that Eva and Gus are strongly compelled to marry. Eva obliges to fulfil her dead friend''s wishes.But Gus is not all he seems to be: he is not Alice''s kind nephew, but a robber, confidence trickster, and not even Gus Blake. And Eva is in terrible danger . . .*********************What readers are saying about OUR EVA''Yet another fantastic story in the Kershaw Sisters series . . . Anna Jacobs is an amazing author'' - 5 stars''Another fantastic book you won''t want to put down'' - 5 starsA great read from great writer'' - 5 starsTrade ReviewPraise for Anna Jacobs * - *[Anna Jacobs' books have an] impressive grasp of human emotions * The Sunday Times *Anna Jacobs' books are deservedly popular. She is one of the best writers of Lancashire sagas around * Historical Novels Review *[Anna Jacobs is] especially big on resourceful, admirable women. Great stuff! * Daily Mail *Reader reviews on OUR EVAI have just finished reading this book and cannot fault it. ***** * Reader review *A tremendous read. ***** * Reader review *Another great book from Anna Jacobs. ***** * Reader review *

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Book SynopsisHanded a sacred scroll from Atlantis by a dying Tibetan monk, Marcus, Joanna and Helen are propelled into adventure as they race to get it translated and to follow its instructions. Because its contents hold the key to healing and empowering Earth and humanity, vested interests will stop at nothing to prevent the information from being revealed, and the lives of all three are endangered as their endeavours to protect and act on this information take them across the world, and to a final denouement in Machu Picchu, Peru.Diana Cooper weaves into her story profound elements of spiritual learning, as her characters reveal the seven Great Mysteries that are the spiritual laws of this planet, the illusions by which humans live, the symbols and sounds for unblocking interdimensional portals and the true purpose of Stonehenge and Machu Picchu.

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Book SynopsisThe Pennine waterways are the setting for Audrey Howard's spellbinding story of one girl's struggle to make her way in the world.Trade ReviewHer thousands of fans recognise the artistry of a true storyteller * Lancashire Life *Among the dross that constitutes the Liverpool saga market for women, Howard's enjoyable 19th-century historical romance of crossed love shines out. * Daily Mail *Poignant and well plotted, this is the book to curl up with to shut out troubles. * Woman's Realm on BEYOND THE SHINING WATER *This saga is, like all of Audrey Howard's books, compelling and memorable...a joy to read * The Historical Novels Review (A Place Called Hope) *

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Book SynopsisThe timely, exceptionally powerful new novel from the Booker-shortlisted author of OXYGENTrade ReviewExceptional . . . it describes a journey with many false starts and blind alleys; in its attention to detail, and its recurring theme of the power of images, it does so spellbindingly * Sunday Times *The writing is clear, precise, feelingly observant . . . Miller is a fine writer * Spectator *A powerful and lively book, seriously engaged and cathartic . . . gently, almost imperceptibly, impelled by the nourishment of love * Financial Times *A novel about humanity and inhumanity, about the nature of truth, reality and representation, and, most of all, about the ways in which we choose to see the world . . . A profound novel, meditative, not conclusive, offering no simplistic answers . . . it leaves the reader with a feeling of courage and, in the face of so much evidence to the contrary, hope * Observer *A shocking, moving but ultimately hopeful vision of the best and worst of humanity * Sunday Express *A delight to read . . . a novel of great intelligence and understanding, populated by characters who are recognisable yet exceptional * Time Out *Beneath the simplicity lies the profundity of Miller's writing . . . In Clem Glass, Miller has created neither a victim nor a victor but a man driven by his own innate decency, a character in whom we can believe, a person about whom we care and that is what great writing is about * Irish Times *The uncluttered narrative and the slow, quiet accumulation of everyday detail imbues this novel with a quiet grace, which is redemptive in itself * Daily Mail *A haunting exploration of good, evil and the possibility of redemption * Red *Miller has found in the tricky subject matter a vein of emotion that he draws from to brilliant effect * Herald *Delicate, compassionate * Metro *Andrew Miller again proved his ability to blend a sturdy and satisfying architecture of character and plot with headline-hot themes * Independent *[There are] some sentences you want to re-read, not because their meaning is unclear, but because they condense the world into a couple of words, capture a certain truth * Sunday Business Post *Once again Miller shows himself to be an acutely sensitive observer of life at a particular moment in history * Wall Street Journal *A work of solemn artistry. Miller's style is one of guarded lyricism, in which he allows just enough poetry in the language to get the job done, the mood or moment caught -- Editors' Choice * New York Times Book Review *Subtle, beautifully written . . . Miller's prose brings grace and lucidity to what is dark and baffling in Clem's predicament, the predicament of a caring man in an uncaring universe * Boston Globe *

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Book Synopsis***Pre-order Andrew Miller''s new novel THE LAND IN WINTER now - coming October 2024***''ANDREW MILLER''S WRITING IS A SOURCE OF WONDER AND DELIGHT'' Hilary Mantel ''ONE OF OUR MOST SKILFUL CHRONICLERS OF THE HUMAN HEART AND MIND'' Sunday Times ''Cinematic'' Times Literary Supplement ''A real achievement''Guardian ''Revelatory'' Sunday Times The mesmerising tale of a young man forced to make life-changing decisions, from the critically acclaimed author Pure Tokyo, 1940. While Japan''s war against China escalates, young Yuji Takano clings to his cocooned life: his beloved evenings of French conversation at Monsieur Feneon''s, visits to the bathhouse with friends, his books, his poetry. But conscription looms and the mood turns against foreigners, just when Yuji gets entangled with Feneon''s daughter. As the nation heads towards Trade ReviewMiller's writing is cinematic . . . at all times the author is in command * Times Literary Supplement *Revelatory * Sunday Times *A quite beautifully written coming-of-age novel . . . a precisely, lovingly rendered evocation of imperial Japan * Daily Mail *Miller's trademark is silken prose which gleams with acutely rendered detail * Independent *Miller's writing is a joy . . . a memorable novel, one that stays true to the randomness of life, to unplanned acts and fateful outcomes . . . Deeply moving, written with loving attention to language, it felt like Pasternak back from the dead * Scotsman *A real achievement * Guardian *Not only does he combine delicious literary conceits with thought-provoking explorations into the human condition, he has the rare gift of tossing out perfect sentences that make you stop in your tracks * Metro *There are moments of beauty, truth and irony * Daily Telegraph *Andrew Miller is one of Britain's most graceful historical prose stylists . . . He deftly captures the nuances of his subject's emotional maturation against the brittle bellicosity of mid-war Tokyo -- Books of the Year * Independent on Sunday *Miller's masterful coming-of-age story ranges from a subtle and spare poetry to an almost Proustian evocation of experiential time * The Age *Miller's writing reaches across historical distance . . . Like one of the silk umbrellas that Miller's characters carry, the novel unfurls slowly to reveal the intricate, hand-painted patterns hidden at its centre * Globe and Mail *

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Book SynopsisThe brilliant new romantic comedy from No. 1 bestseller Mike Gayle.Trade Review'If you've ever been in a relationship and wondered what the other person was thinking, you'll find this a warm, refreshingly honest and utterly compelling read' Heat on HIS N HERS'The male Bridget Jones' - Express'Full of belly-laughs and painfully acute observations' - Independent on Sunday on MY LEGENDARY GIRLFRIEND'Something near to mid-period Woody Allen...funny and clever...refreshing to find a male writer working in this genre' - Guardian on MR COMMITMENT'A warm, funny romantic comedy' - Daily Mail on TURNING THIRTY'Ever wished you could see into the male mind? Here's your chance . . . Insightful and hugely witty.' Cosmopolitan on HIS 'N' HERS

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Book SynopsisA brilliant romantic comedy from number one bestselling author Mike Gayle, author of MY LEGENDARY GIRLFRIEND, MR COMMITMENT, TURNING THIRTY and DINNER FOR TWO: finding friends is hard to do...Trade Review'Funny and well observed, this is the perfect summer read'. * Sunday Express *'More insights into the male psyche... fans will love it' * Cosmopolitan *'Funny and well-observed, this is another sure-fire hit.' * Heat *'A warm, funny tale of friendships between men and women and how they will never work' * Easy Living *'Mike Gayle's written about it all' * Select Living *

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Book SynopsisA brilliant romantic comedy about a year in the lives of three couples from number one bestselling author Mike Gayle.Meet Melissa and Paul: Five years after they split up he''s still looking for love in all the wrong places while she wants the one thing she can''t have: Paul.Meet Chris and Vicky: They''re so in tune they even brush their teeth in time with each other. So what is Chris doing risking it all for a meaningless affair?Meet Cooper and Laura: He wants to settle down, she wants to take a grown-up gap year but can their relationship really survive a year apart?Set across a year of leaving dos, birthday parties and anniversary celebrations, Life and Soul of the Party is a warm, funny and moving tale celebrating love, life and those special moments we''ve all spent in the kitchen at parties.Trade ReviewMike Gayle creates real, ordinary people with real ordinary lives who are so real and so believable that you mourn for them from the moment you finish reading. * Lisa Jewell *Packed with drama, friendship, love and tragedy, this is a brilliant touching tale of what happens when real life catches up with us * Heat *Moving and powerful * Daily Mirror *What I love about Mike Gayle is the way he seamlessly blends humour and sensitivity - his books are always rip-roaringly funny, yet so humane too. * Freya North *Gayle (rather bravely) often writes in the first person as a female character, but he hits the right notes, and the result is a warm and unforced comedy... Gayle's humour is human and he has a fine eye for the quiet pain of unrequited love. * Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisThis is the diary of an ordinary, insecure woman in her thirties, Jacqueline M. Pane.Trade ReviewA very funny and unexpectedly touching novel * JOANNA LUMLEY *Screamingly funny * WOMAN'S JOURNAL *Hilarious * COSMOPOLITAN *Read it and realise you're not alone * ESSENTIALS *

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Book SynopsisDiana Cooper''s first novel THE SILENT STONES has already proved to be a hugely popular success, and her new title continues the winning formula of weaving enlightening spiritual wisdom into a fast-paced and compelling adventure story. Set in Africa, this latest novel features anexciting quest to protect a sacred lion cub whose birth will heal the tear in the precious Web of Light surrounding the Earth. Throughout the story Diana Cooper unfolds the mystical secrets of the Sphinx, Pyramids and Bermuda Triangle, reveals the true purpose of our most sacred animals, as well as exploring the connections between our planet and others, and the pure wisdom of Atlantis.

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Book SynopsisThe third book in the bestselling Dan ''Spider'' Shepherd series. Even deadlier than terrorists . . . are the men trying to stop them.People-smuggling, counterfeit currency and attempted murder. It''s all in a day''s work for undercover cop Dan ''Spider'' Shepherd. But what starts as a run-of-the mill investigation quickly turns into a matter of life and death when he uncovers a terrorist cell on a mission of death and destruction. The target: hundreds of passengers on a cross-channel train deep below the English Channel.With the clock ticking and the explosives primed, Shepherd and his colleagues have to decide just how far they are prepared to go to save innocent lives. And they realise that to avoid catastrophe, they have to be even more merciless than the terrorists.Trade ReviewAn author who isn't afraid to tackle the new breed of crime that dominates today's headlines. * Daily Express *A breathless, exciting narrative with exquisite pacing. * The Good Book Guide *This is an aggressively topical novel but a genuinely thrilling one, too. * Daily Telegraph *Authentic stuff. * Observer *

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Book SynopsisA petty thief is bested by a widow and her card-playing friends; a farmer must cope with raising his baby granddaughter; a train engineer inadvertently causes a major disaster and finds himself amidst a media frenzy; a young man falls in love with a voice on the radio; and a camera repairman discovers a woman''s family history in a roll of undeveloped film. Ordinary people are confronted with extraordinary situations, with results that are sometimes comic, sometimes tragic, but always life changing.In stories filled with heart and humour, Tim Gautreaux explores the stresses and strains of everyday life as his characters struggle to make amends for their mistakes and hope for different, better days to come.Trade ReviewThis outstanding collection marks Tim Gautreaux as one of the best short story writers anywhere...it is magnificently enjoyable reading * Annie Proulx, Guardian *Tim Gautreaux deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as William Faulkner and Tennessee Williams. Scintillating...unforgettable * Mail on Sunday *'This man is a wonderful writer . . . I can honestly say I love to read his stories. He never exaggerates, never manipulates the reader's affections, but nonetheless he always captures the heart.' * James Lee Burke *'Startling and redemptive . . . These stories suggest . . . that to be alive means being open to grief and accident, chance and wonder' * Chicago Tribune *'Finely balanced, sweet, and gritty' * San Francisco Chronicle *

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Book SynopsisNumber One New York Times bestselling author Sandra Brown returns with another suspenseful thrillerTen years ago Sayre Lynch escaped from her small Louisiana hometown. Now she must return to Destiny to bury her brother, and confront her manipulative father and the painful memories she attempted to flee.As investigators raise questions about the nature of Danny''s death, Sayre examines the turbulent relationships within her own family. Complicating her attempts to learn exactly how her brother died is Beck Merchant, her father''s brilliant and canny attorney, who seems every bit as corrupt as her father. Yet despite her low opinion of Beck, Sayre finds herself irresistibly drawn to him.Tension between the workforce and management is mounting in Sayre''s father''s steel mill. While another hotbed of lies, secrecy and depravity smoulders and then ignites within his own family . . . Praise Trade ReviewMillions of readers clamour for the compelling novels of Sandra Brown ... irresistible characters, unexpected plot twists, scandalous secrets ... so electric you feel the zing! * Literary Guild *'Perfectly plotted . . . sin-tillating suspense' - People magazine'Get your page-turning finger ready for Sandra Brown's latest' - New Woman'Fast fun' - Cosmopolitan'Brown's novels define the term "page turner"' - Booklist'The plot [of The Crush] crackles with tension . . . Brown fans will not be disappointed' - Publishers Weekly'A masterful storyteller' - USA Today

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Book Synopsis'Ravishing' (The Times): a compelling, brilliant novel from a master of European literature, a bestseller in France.Trade Review'Ravishing' * The Times *'Achingly beautiful' * Guardian *'Bewitchingly mysterious...Makine's reputation rises with every book, and some have claimed that he deserves the Nobel Prize; on the strength of this teasing, emotionally dense novel, it's easy to see why' * Sunday Telegraph *'Luminous, enthralling...The enormity of the Second World War, with more than 20 million Russian dead, is allied with one, inconsolable human tragedy. This is where Makine dazzles. He can make the universal deeply intimate.' * Herald *'Beautiful...Makine gives us a work about love and its doppelganger, infatuation, which is by turns touching and profoundly sad' * Spectator *

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Book Synopsis''One of the bad girls of gritty crime'' Daily Mirror Maria Price is a survivor of the care system who thought she would never have a family or security again. She''s just inherited a house and a bank account, and things appear to be looking up.Joel Parry - good-looking, charming and a wonderful lover - seems to know everyone who is anyone in Manchester. He just happens to need a place to stay.Before long Joel moves into Maria''s house and is helping her to spend her money. But he isn''t what he seems to be. Deep in the drug scene, his terrifying past is about to catch up with him - and the naïve girl who trusts him . . . ''A cracking read that will chill you to the bone'' Sun on Two-Faced''Mandasue has played a real blinder with this fantastic novel'' Martina Cole on Forget-Me-NotTrade Review'Mandasue Heller writes with a hard-hitting authenticity and her dialogue is absolutely spot on in this page-turning tale that readers will find ideal for the train, ship, plane or beach.' * Radlett Life *Mandasue has played a real blinder with this fantastic novel. * Martina Cole on FORGET ME NOT *Cracking page-turner . . . a gritty compassionate account of life on the margins. * Manchester Evening News on FORGET ME NOT *Gripping . . . powerful writing. * Scotland on Sunday on FORGET ME NOT *Alarming and beguiling . . . curiously exhilarating. * Scotsman on THE FRONT *

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Book SynopsisFROM THE INTERNATIONALLY BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF WHAT I LOVED AND A WOMAN LOOKING AT MEN LOOKING AT WOMEN''A luminous collection of mind-expanding pieces on literary and philosophical themes'' Observer''Thoughtful and sensuous''Daily TelegraphThis illuminating collection brings together Siri Hustvedt''s earliest essays, exploring the themes that have preoccupied her writing throughout her career: memory and imagination, psychology and art, love and desire. Drawing on her personal experience - as daughter, sister, mother and wife; student, teacher, reader and writer - she illustrates fundamental aspects of our lives.Wise, honest and fiercely intelligent, this is a book that invites us to look afresh at ourselves and the world we inhabit.''One of the most talented voices in contemporary fiction . . . Hustvedt brings the same visual power, sensuality and intelligence to her collection of essays''Los Angeles TimesTrade Review'She strides across these pages: a 6ft tall Amazonian New Yorker...by whom we are at once riveted and faintly disconcerted...Hustvedt is a lucid writer, whose spare, elegant prose wears lightly its eclectic reference points.' * Observer *'Thoughtful, sensuous essays...her enthusiasms are oddly infectious' * Daily Telegraph *'A luminous collection of mind-expanding pieces on literary and philosophical themes...A book to renew one's faith in the literary essay' * Robert McCrum, Observer *'An intellectual, emotional and elegantly written collection that leaves the reader with plenty to ponder...Her passion for language and literature makes the prose leap from the page...Hustvedt is, quite simply, an extraordinary literary talent. Read it, ponder it, then go read it again.' * Image *

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Book SynopsisFrom the Sunday Times bestselling author of Me Before You and the new 2023 novel Someone Else''s Shoes.Liza McCullen will never escape her past. But the unspoilt beaches and tight-knit community of Silver Bay offer the freedom and safety she craves - if not for herself, then for her young daughter, Hannah.Until Mike Dormer arrives as a guest in her aunt''s hotel, and the peace of Silver Bay is shattered. The mild-mannered Englishman with his too-smart clothes and disturbing eyes could destroy everything Liza has worked so hard to protect: not only the family business and the bay that harbours her beloved whales, but also her conviction that she will never love - never deserve to love - again.Trade ReviewMoyes is a romantic, and there is a gloriously happy ending, but the story is also surprising and genuinely moving. * The Times *Impossible to put down. * Daily Express *Romance doesn't get much more topsy-turvy than this whale of a tale. * Daily Mirror *Unashamedly romantic. * Elle *

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Book SynopsisFrom the Sunday Times bestselling author of Me Before You and the new 2023 novel Someone Else''s Shoes.Isabel Delancey has always taken her gifted life for granted. But when her husband dies suddenly, leaving her with a mountain of debt, she and her two children are forced to abandon their home and move to a crumbling pile in the country.With the house falling down around them, and the last of her savings fast disappearing, Isabel turns to her neighbours, not knowing that her mere presence there has stirred up long-standing obsessions.As she fights to make her house a home, passions and lives collide. Isabel will discover an instinct for survival she never knew she had - and that a heart can play a new song . . .Trade ReviewA skilful blend of emotional intensity and satisfyingly drawn characters. * Marie Claire *Warm, engaging and acutely observed. * Woman and Home *A wonderful read. * Sunday Express *

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Book SynopsisA bestselling Richard and Judy Book Club title, THE CONJUROR'S BIRD is a dazzling debut novel, spanning three centuries of secrets and surprises.Trade ReviewA highly readable page-turner * Guardian *THE CONJUROR'S BIRD is a rare treat of a book; a romance, thriller and historical novel all in one - and perfectly formed. * Lucy Hale, Hodder Sales Director *'An exciting and absorbing debut novel...' * Sue Baker, Publishing News *'A pacy confection of history, mystery and romance... a most engaging and unusual novel' * The Times *An enjoyable tale of love, loss and taxidermy . . . a cracking holiday read. * Observer *'Enjoyable, gently told yarn...' * The Bookseller *A pacy confection of history, mystery and romance...Davies interweaves his complex narrative with energy and authority...a most engaging and unusual first novel. * The Times *'Two gripping, intercut narratives... a lyricism that captures the joy of the natural world... a highly successful and informative entertainment' * Independent *An absorbing historical detective story . . . a beautifully evoked narrative from the past * Guardian *'This book I loved on so many levels...the excitement of a great mystery...a truly fantastic book.' * Manly Daily (Sydney, Australia) *'A poignancy that will aptly linger with you after you've turned the final page' * Lincolnshire Echo *Ambitious and intriguing... part thriller, part love story, part quest, this is a hugely readable book. * Spectator *'Ideal for book clubs, ideal too for any lover of commercial literary fiction. An exciting and absorbing debut novel from Davies.' * Publishing News *'Intriguing and cleverly constructed' * Choice *'Ambitious and intriguing... part thriller, part love story, part quest, this is a hugely readable book whose concerns linger in the mind... Davies' novel hints, unobtrusively but effectively, at many of the issues underlying man's urge to collect ornithological specimens, and also the uneasy relationship between science, business and the natural world.' * Andrew Taylor, Spectator *'Poignant and beguiling... like all the best novels, it left me with a sense of having learned something.' * Andrew Taylor, author of The American Boy *"[A] gripping book of literary suspense. . . . Davies indulges in clever speculation about the bird's whereabouts and adds an appealing strain of romance surrounding the identity of Banks's mistress. . . . A captivating novel." * Publishers Weekly (starred review) *The book flits easily back and forth between the past and the present and I found it not only a page-turner but one where the turning accelerated as the story went along * Lincolnshire Echo *'Goddard-esque, drawing several mysteries and periods together in a fascinating tale' * Bookseller *"Suspenseful, intriguing, and romantic, this is great entertainment and an excellent choice for book discussion groups; highly recommended." * Library Journal (starred review) *"A gripping blend of history and conjecture, romance and detection...it consists of two parallel stories wrapped around the race to unravel one of natural history's most enduring puzzles. [An] elegantly crafted journey into the nature of loss and love, memory and history." * Canberra Times *"This book I loved on so many levels. Firstly for a greater understanding of the life of Sir Joseph Banks...then for the excitement of a great mystery... A truly fantastic book full of three centuries of secrets and surprises." * Manly Daily *This book haunts me: I was moved, intrigued and entertained and, with each page turned, I wanted, very much, to know what was going to happen. Economically and beautifully drawn, the enigmatic delicacy of the characters and the way the stories of the past and the present intersect so teasingly, so elegantly, makes THE CONJUROR'S BIRD a deeply satisfying novel. And, best of all, the layers of the story take one deeper and deeper into the worlds of the past and the present until, in the end, there seems nothing more to discover in the lives of these characters; yet I wanted more. I heartily recommend this book! * Posie Graeme-Evans, author of THE INNOCENT and THE *An entertaining read * New Books Magazine *

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Book Synopsis'A story of self-discovery, of difficult family relationships and redemptive friendships . . . An enjoyable, engrossing read' (Independent) by the Booker-shortlisted author of Astonishing Splashes of ColourTrade ReviewIt's the warmth and roundedness of her characters that give Morrall's novels their appeal . . . THE LANGUAGE OF OTHERS offers a suspenseful tale with a taut, spare style and real emotional impact. In this and in its brave challenge to our assumptions about what it means to be normal it's a more than worthy shelfmate to Astonishing Splashes of Colour. * Guardian *A story of self-discovery, of difficult family relationships and redemptive friendships that slips between past and present and unfolds not so much a coming-of-age as a coming-to-understanding . . . An enjoyable, engrossing read * Independent *A writer with a phenomenal imagination and power with words * Scotsman *Pacy with an intriguing plot, Morrall has produced a joyful novel . . . Morrall combines thoughtful, satisfying writing with an accessible style. Expect plaudits all round. * Birmingham Post *Enthralling * Irish Times *She [Morrall] also has a talent for making characters who might ordinarily alienate readers seem appealing, funny and moving. The result is a surprisingly joyful novel * Daily Mail *Not only very readable, but very moving; a funny, and occasionally sad, account of what it feels like to be outside the norm * The Times *Subtle and absorbing . . . Morrall has a talent for making pitiable characters triumphantly sympathetic * Guardian *Morrall's rewarding third novel combines strong characters and vital evocations of place with a greater psychological intensity * Financial Times *It's the warmth and roundedness of her characters that give Morrall's novels their appeal . . . THE LANGUAGE OF OTHERS offers a suspenseful tale with a taut, spare style and real emotional impact. In this and in its brave challenge to our assumptions about what it means to be normal it's a more than worthy shelfmate to Astonishing Splashes of Colour. * Guardian *'Enthralling' * Irish Times *

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Book SynopsisIt''s Easter in Reading - a bad time for eggs - and no one can remember the last sunny day. Humpty Dumpty, well-known nursery favourite, large egg, ex-convict and former millionaire philanthropist is found shattered beneath a wall in a shabby area of town.Following the pathologist''s careful reconstruction of Humpty''s shell, Detective Inspector Jack Spratt and his Sergeant Mary Mary are soon grappling with a sinister plot involving cross-border money laundering, the illegal Bearnaise sauce market, corporate politics and the cut and thrust world of international Chiropody. As Jack and Mary stumble around the streets of Reading in Jack''s Lime Green Austin Allegro, the clues pile up, but Jack has his own problems to deal with.And on top of everything else, the Jellyman is coming to town...Trade ReviewConsistently clever * Publishers Weekly *I love it. THE BIG OVER EASY is great not just because it's very funny...but also because it works properly as a whodunit...Comic genius. * Observer *A riot of puns, in-jokes and literary allusions that Fforde carries off with aplomb * Daily Mail *A riot of puns, in-jokes and literary allusions that Fforde carries off with aplomb * Daily Mail *Now humour is notoriously subjective so what I've just described might just sound plain daft to you. But I love it. THE BIG OVER EASY is great not just because it's very funny but also because it works properly as a whodunnit. Comic genius. * Observer,Peter Guttridge *'More twists and turns than Christie ... embellished with the rich details of a Dickens or Pratchett. A real treat.' * Independent *'The combination of fantasy and a (more or less) classic murder . . . makes a wild and enjoyable change' * Sunday Telegraph *Very accomplished indeed. * Guardian *'Fforde offers a cascade of puns, plays on words, surrealism, satire and verbal virtuosity based on children's rhymes and stories. Astonishingly, he stays funny for 400 pages . . . Even more amazingly, there's a real plot there, a proper mystery with a surprise solution' * The Times *'This is the first of best-selling Fforde's hilarious, absurd and utterly compelling new series' * Daily Mirror *'Fforde offers a cascade of puns, plays on words, surrealism, satire and verbal virtuosity...Astonishing, he is funny for 400 pages' * The Times *'Fforde's books are more than an ingenious idea. They are written with buoyant zest and tautly plotted. They have empathetic heroes and heroines who nearly make terrible mistakes and suitably dastardly villains who do. They also have more twists and turns than Christie, and are embellished with the rich detail of a Dickens or Pratchett . . . A summertime treat' * The Independent *'The combination of fantasy and a (more or less) classic murder . . . makes a wild and enjoyable change' * Sunday Telegraph *'A triumphant lampoon of the whodunnit genre . . . Fforde manages to cram in more jokes per page than before, and the relish with which he takes to his subject is infectious' * Herald *'The first of best-selling Fforde's hilarious, absurd and utterly compelling new series' * Mirror *'A book that should be more accessible to newcomers . . . Fforde may be an acquired taste, but it's worth acquiring' * SFX *'Continuing to ransack British fiction, Jasper Fforde here mixes nursery rhymes with golden age detective fiction to produce something very accomplished indeed' * Guardian *'Fforde is a master entertainer, and a wordsmith of dexterous genius.' * Scotsman *

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Book SynopsisFrom the New York Times bestselling author, an ambitious and explosive international thriller with an unexpected historical twist.A hidden treasure. A forgotten truth. Cotton Malone is in trouble. His son has been kidnapped and his bookshop in Copenhagen attacked, all because he is the only man alive who knows the whereabouts of the Alexandria link - the means of locating the most important cache of ancient knowledge ever assembled: the legendary Library of Alexandria, which vanished without trace fifteen hundred years ago.Now, Malone is forced to join the search for a forgotten truth hidden within that vast literary treasure - a truth that, if revealed, will have grave consequences, not only for Malone, but for the balance of world power . . .Trade ReviewDan Brown-style adventure, full of colour and energy * Good Book Guide *Pure intrigue. Pure fun. * Clive Cussler on Steve Berry *Writes with the self-assured style of a veteran -- Dan BrownA major twist... the puzzles are so much fun... radical thinking of the Gospels that's sure to spark some lively debate . . . pretty grabby stuff * Wall Street Journal on THE TEMPLAR LEGACY *Dan Brown-style adventure, full of colour and energy * Good Book Guide *'Pure intrigue. Pure fun.' * Clive Cussler on Steve Berry *'A major twist... the puzzles are so much fun... radical thinking of the Gospels that's sure to spark some lively debate . . . pretty grabby stuff' * Wall Street Journal on THE TEMPLAR LEGACY *'Complex and fast-moving thriller writing, delivered with a great deal of dash, and shades of The Da Vinci Code' * Good Book Guide on THE TEMPLAR LEGACY *Sexy, illuminating . . . my kind of thriller. * Dan Brown on THE AMBER ROOM *'Writes with the self-assured style of a veteran' * Dan Brown *'Not to be missed. Anagrams and complicated symbology... a complex, well-written, and extremely readable story.' * Library Journal on THE TEMPLAR LEGACY *Steve Berry is a writer on the rise. * David Morrell, author of NIGHTSCAPE and CREEPERS *Conspiracies and plots abound . . . Berry handles his thriller tradecraft skilfully, [and] his descriptions are stellar. * Booklist on THE THIRD SECRET *International intrigue, swashbuckling action, indestructible hero from the American South. . . . Not to be missed. * Kirkus Reviews, on THE ROMANOV PROPHECY *

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Book Synopsis''One of the bad girls of gritty crime'' Daily Mirror It begins on a winter afternoon, when schoolgirl Nicky Day runs from a gang of bullies. Then her little brother starts the fire. But the nightmare that is engulfing Sue and Terry Day is only beginning . . .A single mother who left a six-year-old on his own while she went clubbing on a Friday night. An absent father with a hot teenaged girlfriend who didn''t seem to care who was minding his former family. The police, the neighbours, the friends, the lovers turn accusing eyes on them both. Suspicious voices ask whether Nicky has run away; whether the fire is really an accident.And meanwhile, time is running out for Nicky. ''A cracking read that will chill you to the bone'' Sun on Two-Faced''Mandasue has played a real blinder with this fantastic novel'' Martina Cole on Forget-Me-NotTrade Review'A cracking read that will chill you to the bone.' * Sun *'One of the bad girls of gritty crime, Heller has written a blinder.' * Daily Mirror *Mandasue has played a real blinder with this fantastic novel. * Martina Cole on FORGET ME NOT *'A glamorous nightclub hides a seedy underworld that Heller knows only too well.' * Daily Express on THE CLUB *Gripping . . . powerful writing. * Scotland on Sunday on FORGET ME NOT *Cracking page-turner . . . a gritty compassionate account of life on the margins. * Manchester Evening News on FORGET ME NOT *Alarming . . . beguiling . . . exhilarating. * Scotsman on THE FRONT *

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Book SynopsisInvited to dinner with a man calling himself Jesus of Nazareth, stressed, overworked business man Nick Cominsky assumes his fellow workers are pulling a prank.On his arrival at the restaurant the stranger introduces himself as ''Jesus. My family called me Yeshua.'' Nick decides to play along but throughout the meal this game is continued, and Nick begins to wonder if this likeable apparent prankster may indeed be what he claims.As the meal progresses, this modern day Doubting Thomas confronts his own unfulfilled longings, spiritual uncertainties and anger with God...and he begins to wonder if it''s possible that the man across from him has the answers to his deepest questions.Nick''s life may be changed forever when he has Dinner with a Perfect Stranger.Trade ReviewHere's a wonderful feast for the mind and soul! Pull up a chair and eavesdrop on this provocative conversation. If you're like me, you'll hear questions that match your own -- and answers that can change your life. * Lee Strobel, author of The Case for Christ *I predict this little book will become a classic--one of a handful of modern books (like Mere Christianity) that people read to kindle or rekindle faith. All of the "business" surrounding the dinner is done so well it reminds me of Babette's Feast--simple, earthly details that profoundly convey spiritual reality. Dinner with a Perfect Stranger is truly a wonderful book that makes me feel I've just heard the gospel for the very first time. * Mike Mason, author of The Mystery of Marriage *The choice is yours: Enjoy a delicious meal of, say, veal fantarella with grilled vegetables. Or spend a quiet hour reading David Gregory's book. You may find an altogether different sort of hunger has been sated by the final page. Brilliant in its simplicity, fearless in its presentation of the truth, Dinner with a Perfect Stranger is one invitation you'll want to RSVP. * Liz Curtis Higgs, author, Thorn in My Heart *

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Book SynopsisHow to turn forty:1. Set yourself a personal challenge.2. Clear wardrobe of all age inappropriate clothing.3. Relax.How not to turn forty:1. Have a complete meltdown . . .High flier Matt Beckford''s sole ambition is to turn forty with his life sorted. And with a Porsche on the drive and a job that requires him to spend more time in BA''s club lounge than his own lounge, it looks like things are going in the right direction. But when Matt''s wife unexpectedly calls time on their marriage, a chain of events is set in motion that very quickly sees him facing forty broke, homeless and completely alone.But all is not lost because Matt has a plan . . .Wise, witty and wonderful . . . a triumph! Jenny Colgan Look out for Mike''s new novel, Half a World Away, available to pre-order now!Trade ReviewPraise for The Stag and Hen Weekend: 'Gayle back at his best' * Sun *'The Brummie author is particularly adept at depicting male and female characters with equal conviction . . . He affords his characters patience, and his plots all move along swimmingly on the back of his clear and comfy prose . . . The execution is pretty damn smart' Book of the Week **** * Daily Mirror *Unique, funny and full of drama, we loved this story's twist . . . Genius! * Closer *Innovative new book from chick-lit king Mike Gayle . . . it's hilarious * Now *A unique story, filled with quirky off-beat characters [...] An addictive read from start to finish, it is a bumpy ride as we join Helen and Phil on their adventures as they make the most of their freedom whilst learning a few home truths about one another as they discover that the path of true love never runs smoothly. Filled to the brim with vibrant characters and one-liners, Mike Gayle brings a breath of fresh air to the chick-lit genre. * Handwritten Girl *

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Book SynopsisCasting on . . . It starts almost by accident: the women who buy their knitting needles and wool from Georgia''s store linger for advice, for a coffee, for a chat and before they know it, every Friday night is knitting night. Finding a pattern . . . And as the needles clack, and the garments grow, the conversation moves on from patterns and yarn to life, love and everything. These women are of different ages, from different backgrounds and facing different problems, but they are drawn together by threads of affection that prove as durable as the sweaters they knit. The Friday Night Knitting Club - don''t you want to join?Trade ReviewThis is a very funny and moving book about life and friendships, and although it might not change your life it will possibly change the way you think about knitting. * First *Beautifully written with a fantastic cast of women . . . worth taking a duvet day for . . . you won't want to put this down * Heat *Have a tissue box ready for this emotional rollercoaster of a book * She *The fluffy escapism of this right-on read is bound to hook you in * Eve *The mother of them all. The Friday Night Knitting Club celebrates the power of women's independence * New Statesman *A colourful yarn. * Woman and Home *Thoroughly entertaining . . . with an unexpected twist * Prima *Funny, sad and effortlessly hip. * thelondonpaper *

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Book Synopsis''A consummate performance...virtuoso'' GuardianA fascinating, unusual and seductive historical novel by the bestselling author of The Long Firm.In a Parisian restaurant, Aleister Crowley, the notorious occultist, chances on Major-General Sir Hector Macdonald: once one of the greatest heroes of the British Empire, now facing ruin in a shocking scandal - and vulnerable to Crowley''s curious offer of help. An extraordinary night of transgression and revelation ensues . . . Probing beneath the surface of Victorian conformity, this is an enthralling tale of imperialism, sexuality and the nature of belief, which captures a world on the brink of a brutal new era.Trade ReviewBrilliantly expansive and original * Daily Mirror *A consummate performance...a virtuoso work of near history, with the occasional in-joke thrown in for good measure...immensely enjoyable * Guardian *One of the many pleasures of this skilful book is the maintenance of suspense...Arnott does not ask us to choose between [Crowley and Macdonald] - but much of the moral force of this excellent book lies in his demonstration that there is, nonetheless, a choice to be made. * Independent *A great read, full of compassion, humour and riveting detail. * Sunday Express *Arnott's great leap forward...Macdonald's predicament is sympathetically examined and Crowley's monstrous drive is brilliantly rendered...it is his best [novel] * The Herald *Arnott is clearly having fun here...So to combine that with how the necessity to be good - to be a hero - can be as suffocating a pressure as battling with occultist demons makes The Devil's Paintbrush a fine book * Metro *

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Book SynopsisA mind-bending, thrilling journey into 20th-century history and outer space - 'a brightly coloured portrait of our times that is alternatively intimate and epic . . . brilliant' (Independent on Sunday).Trade ReviewIt may be the ideal holiday read for those who like to take their brains with them on vacation. * Mark Lawson, Guardian *Highly entertaining and perhaps even mind-expanding, Arnott's high-class conjuring act shows that truth really is stranger than fiction. * Phil Baker, The Sunday Times *A supremely intelligent book as well as a surprisingly warm one. * Roz Kaveney, Independent *Arnott offers a brightly coloured portrait of our times that is alternatively intimate and epic...The House of Rumour is a brilliant achievement that invites repeated readings * James Kidd, Independent on Sunday *If this is that dark Prince Arnott's Jonbar Hinge, the future looks bright. * Andrew Anthony, Observer *A potent mix of fact and fiction that takes on 20th-century history but remains a page-turner * Elle *The House of Rumour is a page-turner with exceptional style, depth, thought, camp, counter-history and intrigue. It's both sci-fi/fantasy pulp and an ambitiously epic work of cosmic proportions: a welcome paradox of a novel that boldly toys with the boundaries between high and low-brow art. * Kirkus Review *It isn't a book, it's a revelation. * Geek Syndicate blog *

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Book Synopsis1912-1940A generation fallen. A country that will never be the same again. Nowhere in England avoids the searing loss of young men during the First World War and the remote Devon village of Shallowford is no exception. Many never return and the lives of those who do come back are changed forever. Paul Craddock must try to rebuild the estate and, with more difficulty, the bonds broken between the people who belong there. It is a time of huge social change and there are challenges in peace as hard to surmount as those of war. And before they are met, Germany once again threatens the stability of Europe and a way of life so hard won.''Sheer, wonderful storytelling'' - Chicago TribuneTrade ReviewMr Delderfield's manner is easy, modest, heartwarming * Evening Standard *R F Delderfield is a born storyteller * Sunday Mirror *Sheer, wonderful storytelling * Chicago Tribune *It is always a pleasure to read R F Delderfield, because he never seems to be ashamed of writing well * Books and Bookmen *Highly recommended. Combines tension with a splendid sense of atmosphere and vivid characterisation. An excellent read * Sunday Express *He built an imposing artistic social history that promises to join those of his great forebears in the long, noble line of the English novel. His narratives belong in a tradition that goes back to John Galsworthy and Arnold Bennett * Life Magazine *

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Book SynopsisThe first book in the acclaimed William Dougal crime series, from Richard & Judy bestselling author and CWA Dagger winner, Andrew Taylor.Trade ReviewLively and entertaining * Times Literary Supplement *An amusing romp * Sunday Telegraph *This one's a maverick . . . [with] a professional touch unusual in a first novel * Irish Times *A rather unusual book . . . with sharply etched characters and a rather shocking amorality * The New York Times Book Review *

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Book SynopsisWhy would anyone admit to the murder of someone who wasn't dead? The fourth psychological suspense novel from the phenomenal bestselling Sophie Hannah.Trade ReviewA masterclass in plotting, with twist after twist * Sunday Times *This utterly gripping thriller should establish her as one of the great unmissables of this genre * The Times *Beautifully written and precision-engineered to unsettle * Guardian *Sophie Hannah is the new British queen of the psychological thriller * Heat *Sophie Hannah has become the master, or mistress, of suspense. This one's even better than her others. Each moment is so purely enjoyable. Her genius is that she creates these very real characters - absolutely incredible. She's at the very peak of crime fiction at the moment * Simon Mayo Book Programme, Radio Five *This book is long but never tedious, and, as with the finest examples of the genre, Hannah refuses to allow the reader any hope of predicting how it will all end until she decides to put the final piece of the jigsaw in place * Daily Express *It's a difficult tightrope to walk but Hannah does it triumphantly, maintaining the tension until the very end -- Val McDermid * The Times *Beautifully written and absorbingly chilling, this is a tale that steadily builds in tension, throwing up twists and turns that keep you guessing right up until the very end * SHE *An intricate and sinister suspense novel * Woman & Home *A complex, unnerving study of relationships . . . Her exemplary skills put Hannah right up there with Ruth Rendell * Kirkus Reviews *This is a monster book in every sense. It is both a chunky psychological thriller and a testamony to the legacy of depravity . . . The trademark neuroses that afflict many of Sophie Hannah's characters lead to multiple twists in the plot, while her brilliantly acerbic dialogue lightens this clever but complicated tale * Waterstones' Books Quarterly *The pages keep turning . . . The firm grip of suspense will hold you fast until the thrilling ending * Sunday Telegraph *A real chiller; the clever plot will keep you hooked and guessing to the end * Choice *

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Book SynopsisIf you could go back in time, what would you do differently? For Eliott, there is no question. To all appearances, his life has been a success. At 60, he is an esteemed surgeon with a daughter he adores. The only thing missing is Ilena - a girl who died thirty years ago. But then he is given an extraordinary opportunity to revisit his past: to go back to San Francisco, when the seventies were in full swing, and find the passionate young doctor who has yet to lose the love of his life.Trade Review'Musso once again proves that he is a master of romantic stories, the ideal companion for cold winter's days on the sofa.' * Westdeutsche Zeitung *'Musso has written a sentimental love story with an intriguing twist. Humorously and suspensefully, Musso plays back and forth in time with the manipulation of fate and wish-fulfillment fantasy until the final heart-stopping sentence. Suspend your disbelief and take a trip back to the future, this time with feeling.' * Iain Finlayson, Saga *'Musso is from the Paul Coelho school of writing, with on-the-nose prose and a simple message. Think a sentimental Back to the Future.' * London Paper *'Light, but charming: a fantastic romance' ... 'Musso, keep writing! Whatever comes next, we'll be there.' * Thuringsiche Landeszeintung *'Will you be there' is a delightful, uncliched romance.' * Freundin, Germany *'A daring rollercoaster of a novel - readers of The Time Traveller's Wife will love it' * Sunday Express *Book of the Month: 'It's an irresistible tale of love conquering the boundaries of time and space - think Truly, Madly, Deeply meets The Time Traveler's Wife.' * Glamour *'A gripping read' * Augsburger Allgemeine *'You must read this book - and if you like Marc Levy, you'll love Guillaume Musso. Promise!' * Veranstaltungskalender *'It's no surprise that this novel has had its film rights snapped up - it's as high concept as they come . . . Musso is from the Paul Coelho school of writing, with on-the-nose prose and a simple message. As one reviewer put it, think: "a sentimental Back to the Future"' * London Paper *'A novel that people actually want to read and simply enjoy. Musso has written a sentimental love story with an intriguing twist - to put right a romance gone wrong . . . Humorously and suspensefully, Musso plays back and forth in time with the manipulation of fate and wish-fulfilment fantasy until the final heart-stopping sentence. Suspend your disbelief and take a trip back to the future, this time with feeling.' * Saga *'A daring rollercoaster of a novel - readers of The Time Traveller's Wife will love it' * Sunday Express *'It's an irresistible tale of love conquering the boundaries of time and space - think Truly, Madly, Deeply meets The Time Traveller's Wife.' * Glamour *'This young and rising French author has a way of captivating you . . . gripping . . .If you like Mitch Albom, you'll like Musso, even though he has a lighter and more humorous approach' * Hype Magazine, Singapore *'Stunning novel . . . an intelligent and emotional time-travelling romance, if you enjoyed The Time Traveller's Wife you will treasure WILL YOU BE BE THERE? A moving tale of love, loss and hope, it's not hard to see why this book was a runaway bestseller in France and has been translated into 24 languages with a film in the offing.' * East Anglian Daily Times *'Read this: WILL YOU BE THERE? is for anyone who has thought about what they would do differently if they could change the past. * Famous Magazine, Australia *'An enthralling tale which will keep you turning the pages until the very end . . . you will hear more about [Musso] in the future' * Daily Mercury, Australia *

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Book SynopsisFor the millions addicted to Strictly Come Dancing - a romantic, funny and moving novel that will make you want to put on your dancing shoes...Trade ReviewStrictly Come Dancing with added off-floor love, betrayal and glitz makes Lucy Dillon's dazzling debut a must for ballroom fans. * Mirror *Strictly Come Dancing with added off-floor love, betrayal and glitz makes Lucy Dillon's dazzling debut a must for ballroom fans. * Mirror *A charming, heartwarming, entertaining read for all would-be dancefloor divas. * Glamour *

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Book SynopsisThe second novel in the acclaimed V.I. Warshawski series from one of America's greatest female crime writers.Trade ReviewHow enjoyable to settle down with a new book by Sara Paretsky. * Sunday Telegraph *With the creation of V.I. Warshawski, Sara Paretsky did more than anyone to change the face of contemporary women's fiction. * Express on Sunday *Warshawski's darkest outing, with no sign that her creator is flagging. Paretsky has written a novel in which a great deal is stripped bare, including Warshawski's innermost anxieties about herself, producing a narrative as gripping as it is emotionally wrenching. * JOAN SMITH, Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisThe feisty, tough and shrewd heroine appears in her fourth adventure in the V.I. Warshawski series, from one of America's greatest female crime writers.Trade Review'How enjoyable to settle down with a new book by Sara Paretsky.' * Sunday Telegraph *'With the creation of V.I. Warshawski, Sara Paretsky did more than anyone to change the face of contemporary women's fiction.' * Express on Sunday *'Warshawski's darkest outing, with no sign that her creator is flagging. Paretsky has written a novel in which a great deal is stripped bare, including Warshawski's innermost anxieties about herself, producing a narrative as gripping as it is emotionally wrenching.' * JOAN SMITH, Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisNow a BBC Radio 4 Drama Series.Political corruption, capitalist greed and past injustices are all revealed when Inspector Chen investigates a serial killer in Shanghai.An early morning jogger found her. Clad in nothing but a red mandarin dress, she had been dumped, barely concealed, on a traffic island. The death of a dancing girl was unpleasant but this was particularly unusual in that she had been left openly in the centre of town. She had probably angered one of the Mr Big Bucks that were taking over and transforming Shanghai. Inspector Chen is an intuitive investigator, a talented poet and an honourable man on the edge of a nervous breakdown. Desperate to find a way to release himself from the perilous police career that had been chosen for him, he takes time off to begin an MA in Literature. Then another girl is found dead . . . With a serial killer on the loose. Chen is pulled back to work and into his most dangerous assignment yet.Trade ReviewIntriguing ... pertinent ... intelligent * New York Times *A thrilling crime story and also an absorbing look at modern China. * The Herald *Xiaolong's astute rendering of the many contradictions of contemporary Chinese life centres on the brilliant Inspector Chen . . . A series that might well get you hooked. * Sunday Telegraph *Atmospheric and rich in behind the scenes detail . . . Morse of the Far East. * Independent *Chen is a great creation, an honourable man in a world full of deception and treachery. * Guardian *With strong and subtle characterisation, Qiu Xiaolong draws us into a fascinating world where the greatest mystery revealed is the mystery of present-day China itself. -- John HarveyThe first police whodunnit written by a Chinese author in English and set in contemporary China . . . its quality matches its novelty. * The Times *The usual enjoyable mix of murder, poetry and contradictions of contemporary Chinese culture. Chen is a splendid creation. * Independent on Sunday *A vivid portrait of modern Chinese society . . . full of the sights, sounds and smells of Shanghai . . . A work of real distinction. * Wall Street Journal *Qiu Xiaolong is one of the brightest stars in the firmament of modern literary crime fiction. His Inspector Chen mysteries dazzle as they entertain, combining crime with Chinese philosophy, poetry and food, Triad gangsters and corrupt officials. * Canberra Times, Australia *Gripping . . . Chen stands in a class with Martin Cruz Smith's Russian investigator, Arkady Renko, and P.D. James's Scotland Yard inspector, Adam Dalgliesh. * Publishers Weekly *Wonderful. * Washington Post *

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Book SynopsisArt Bechstein steps out of the library into the summer of his graduation year. Not yet ready for respectability, he falls in with the exotic, charming Arthur Lecomte, and ricochets between a homosexual relationship and an intense affair with a strange and beautiful girl called Phlox. Before long, the world of his new friends and the underworld of his father must collide, with consequences that Art cannot control.Trade Review'A strikingly accomplished debut' * Sunday Times *His style has an enviable suppleness and fluency which offers the perfect vehicle for the moral feints and shifts of the cool crowd he portrays * TLS *Hard as it is to write about youth when you're young, Chabon has done it brilliantly * Cosmopolitan *Mingles wit, sex and fine writing * Sunday Telegraph *His control over his story, the wonderful use he makes of each description, of Pittsburgh itself, are often astonishing...a young writer with a tremendous skill * New York Times Book Review *

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Book SynopsisThe renowned comedian and presenter Alexei Sayle proves himself to be a formidable literary talent in this wonderful collection of sleek, dark, and witty short stories.Trade Review'Brilliant tragedy and brilliant comedy in one stunning sentence...It reminded me most of nothing I'd ever read before.' * Douglas Adams *'A cracking read...dense with smart ideas, sour observations and loony rants' * Independent on Sunday *'Arch, desiccated and menacing...brilliant' * The Times *'Barcelona Plates will put a smile on your face and a chill down your spine.' * Time Out *

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Book SynopsisLocked behind the Iron Curtain, a young boy grows up bewitched by his French grandmother''s memories of Paris before the Great War. Yet despite what he also learns of her suffering in the Soviet Union under Stalin and during the Second World War, as an adolescent he finds himself proud to be a Russian. Torn between the two cultures, he eventually makes a choice - which has a wholly unexpected outcome. Capturing the powerful allure of illusion, this unforgettable novel traces a sentimental and intellectual journey that embraces the dramatic history of the twentieth century.Trade ReviewA superb novel about fantasy and reality...It is Makine's achievement to convey the essential, with economy, grace and beauty * Scotsman *Great literature, necessary and profound * Independent *He communicates brilliantly the exquisite agony of nostalgia * Literary Review *Beautifully written...A deceptively profound novel. Makine's wonderful economy of image and phrase convey far more than one could think possible about the Russian soul * Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisWould a proper adult ignore the spilt milk under the fridge for weeks?Would a proper adult take three years to post a solitary Christmas card?Would a proper adult have decades-old underwear in active service?Mike Gayle is nowhere near being a proper adult - even though his tenth wedding anniversary is looming; his second child is due any moment; and in less than twenty-four hours he is going to be officially closer to forty than he is to thirty. Appalled by this lack of maturity, Mike draws up a To-Do list containing every single item he''s been meaning to do but just keeps putting off... He''s got a lot of stuff that needs doing. But unlike previous To-Do lists, he promises himself that this one will actually get DONE. And along the way, Mike will learn stuff about life (323), love (999), friends (1004) and family (9) and finally work out what it means to be a grown up (846).Trade ReviewBrilliantly funny * Daily Mail *'You'll laugh out loud throughout this brilliant and utterly hilarious read' ***** * Closer *I gave this to my chick-lit reader not realising it was non-fiction. She loved it, quite fell for Mike and was inspired to make her own list. I tell you this to reassure you his fiction fans will love it. * Sarah Broadhurst, Bookseller *Give it to your boyfriend straight away * Look *A book guaranteed to appeal to disorganised slackers everywhere * Mail on Sunday *A hilarious tale of a man's struggle to maturity * Now *It's a bright read for any dull winter's day * News Of The World *A funny, inspirational book * Daily Record *

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Book SynopsisThe acclaimed first novel from one of Granta's Best of Young British Novelists 2003, a powerful tale of love, war and divided loyaltiesTrade Review'A beautifully crafted, lyrical novel' * Maggie O'Farrell, Observer Books of the Year *'Moving, memorable and beautifully written' * Jessica Mann, Sunday Telegraph *'Deeply felt and vividly imagined' * Lionel Shriver, Daily Telegraph *'Fresh and engaging...Some sentences and passages are crafted so beautifully and seemingly effortlessly that it provokes envy.' * David Cornett, Sunday Express *'Quietly powerful... a fine piece of work * Stephen Knight, Times Literary Supplement *'His prose and the evocation of time and place are almost always of the highest order...he approaches the Second World War with a fresh and contemporary style, a gift that he shares with Kazuo Ishiguro' * Russell Celyn Jones, The Times *'A scintillating instance of fictional imagination applied to history' * Richard Eder, New York Times *'Impressive...a compelling story in itself, but Davies's special skill lies in integrating conflicts that drive the narrative at a more intense level' * Richard Gwyn, Independent *deft and graceful * Good Book Guide *

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Book Synopsis''Melvyn Bragg has added another formidable chapter to one of the most distinguished literary series of recent times'' David Robson, Sunday Telegraph It was not love at first sight. It proved to be not much of a conversation...Nothing should have come of it. A passionate but ultimately tragic love affair starts when two students - one French, one English - meet at university at the beginning of the sixties. From its tentative early stages, the relationship develops into a life-changing one, whose profound impact continues to reverberate forty years later. ''Daring and brave...With great skill and stunning insight, Bragg doesn''t just tell a very tragic tale, he explores what it really means to love and be loved...eclipses anything Bragg has written before'' Henry Sutton, Daily Mirror ''A powerful novel that communicates difficult emotional truths. Yet its dark themes are balanced by the vivid portrait it paints of 1960s London'' FTrade Review'All the craft and graft of good writing are here . . . Be warned, the last few pages are unsentimental, lump-in-the-throat stuff, presaging the extended emotional hangover that is the aftermath of a terrific book.' * John Harding, Daily Mail *'This sequence of novels is one of the best and most ambitious things written in the last 20 years, and REMEMBER ME... is utterly absorbing. Melvyn Bragg is worth a host of more fashionable writers. He never shows off, but tells us how it is.' * Allan Massie, Scotsman *Daring and brave . . . With great skill and stunning insight, Bragg doesn't just tell a very tragic tale, he explores what it really means to love and be loved . . . eclipses anything Bragg has written before * Henry Sutton, Daily Mirror *One can only applaud the seriousness, the humanity, the emotional honesty of the writing. Melvyn Bragg has added another forbidable chapter to one of the most distinguished literary series of recent times. * David Robinson, Sunday Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisIn 1915, two spirited Australian sisters join the war effort as nurses, escaping the confines of their father''s dairy farm and carrying a guilty secret with them. Used to tending the sick as they are, nothing could have prepared them for what they confront, first in the Dardanelles, then on the Western Front. Yet they find courage in the face of extreme danger and become the friends they never were before. And eventually they meet the kind of men worth giving up their precious independence for - if only they all survive.At once epic in scope and extraordinarily intimate, The Daughters of Mars brings the First World War to vivid life from an unusual perspective. Profoundly moving, it pays tribute to the men and women who voluntarily risked their lives for peace.Trade ReviewSuperbly exciting...unmissable, unforgettable. * Kate Saunders, The Times *'A tour de force of storytelling that is both epic and intimate, experimental and traditional.' * James Kidd, Books of the Year, Independent on Sunday *Along with a Tolstoyan ability to describe the horrors of battle, this amazing book also has an extraordinary intimacy...an altogether towering achievement. * AN Wilson, Readers Digest *'May be the best novel of his career: a book that aims for, and achieves, real grandeur' * James Walton, Books of the Year, Spectator *'Triumphant: this epic saga is one of the best things he has written' * Michael Prodger, Financial Times *Over and over again, a brief but brilliant phrase turns a statistic into a real person and wrings compassion from you. * Jake Kerridge, Sunday Express *'Superbly involving' * Catherine Taylor, Books of the Year, Sunday Telegraph *

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