Contemporary Fiction Books

Book SynopsisMathematics student G is trying to resurrect his studies, which is proving difficult as he finds himself - and not for the first time - drawn into investigating a series of mysterious crimes.When Kristen, a researcher hired by the Lewis Carroll Brotherhood, makes a startling new discovery concerning pages torn from Caroll''s diary, she hesitates to reveal to her employers a hitherto unknown chapter in his life. Oxford would be rocked to its core if the truth about Lewis Carroll''s relationship with Alice Liddell - the real Alice - were brought to light.After Kristen is involved in a surreal accident and members of the Brotherhood are anonymously sent salacious photographs of Alice, G joins forces with Kristen as they begin to realise that dark powers are at work. More pictures are received, and it becomes clear that a murderer is stalking anyone who shows too much interest in Carroll''s life. G must stretch his mathematical mind to its limits to solve the mysTrade ReviewOnce again Guillermo Martínez provides a winning combination of highbrow book chat and high jinks * The Times *Highly entertaining * Sunday Times *A well-researched literary thriller, dripping with Oxonian atmosphere, this is also an absorbing detective story -- Mat Coward * Morning Star *Quirky, unashamedly intellectual, sexy, this is a truly ingenious story, brilliantly paced, and finely translated by Alberto Manguel. A worthy successor to the stupendous The Oxford Murders -- A. N. Wilson * The Tablet *

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Book SynopsisBook 13 in the delightful 44 Scotland Street series, by worldwide bestselling author Alexander McCall SmithIt is summer in Scotland Street (as it always is) and for the habitués of Edinburgh''s favourite street some extraordinary adventures lie in waiting. For the impossibly vain Bruce Anderson - he of the clove-scented hair gel - it may finally be time to settle down, and surely it can only be a question of picking the lucky winner from the hordes of his admirers. The Duke of Johannesburg is keen to take his flight of fancy, a microlite seaplane, from the drawing board to the skies. Big Lou is delighted to discover that her young foster son has a surprising gift for dance but she is faced with big decisions to make on his and her futures. And with Irene now away to pursue her research in Aberdeen, her husband, Stuart, and infinitely long-suffering son, Bertie, are free to play. Stuart rekindles an old friendship over peppermint tea whilst Bertie and his frienTrade ReviewFragrant, refreshing, and soothing as a cup of - well, you know what * Kirkus *From the sunshine world that is 44 Scotland Street... Pulsating with the little dramas of life, this delightful book is definitely our cup of tea * Sunday Post *Take a few minutes to relax with a cup of your favourite tea and savour the affairs of the world in microcosm, teeming with life's loves and challenges. Little dramas writ large by the master chronicler of modern life and manners * The Week *

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Book SynopsisLondon, Burning is a novel about the end of the 1970s, and the end of an era. It concerns a nation divided against itself, a government trembling on the verge of collapse, a city fearful of what is to come, and a people bitterly suspicious of one another. In other words, it is also a novel about now. Vicky Tress is a young policewoman on the rise who becomes involved in a corruption imbroglio with CID. Hannah Strode is an ambitious young reporter with a speciality for skewering the rich and powerful. Callum Conlan is a struggling Irish academic and writer who falls in with the wrong people. While Freddie Selves is a hugely successful theatre impresario stuck deep in a personal and political mire of his own making. These four characters, strangers at the start, happen to meet and affect the course of each other''s lives profoundly. As the clock ticks down towards a general election old alliances totter and the new broom of capitalist enterprise threatens to sweep all bTrade Review[A] marvellous new novel . . . This master storyteller recreates the whole world of the 70s, as the London we used to know is about to change for ever. The novel throbs with music and life, love and skulduggery, with the beating drum of the approaching Margaret Thatcher sounding the knell for that decade and the way we used to live on these islands -- Carmen Callil * i newapaper *Set during the dog days of the Callaghan Labour government, Anthony Quinn's latest period novel extends his richly pleasurable and loosely connected series portraying London down the decades. Since 2011, he has fused romance, mystery and social realism to produce a kind of epic Londoniad, tackling the city's Victorian slums (The Streets), the first world war (Half of the Human Race), the 30s (Curtain Call), the blitz (Our Friends in Berlin), the 50s and 60s (Freya and Eureka), and now the late 70s, a time of strikes, IRA violence and the imminent election of Margaret Thatcher. It's David Peace territory, but Quinn is a steadier, suaver writer, relying on the old-school charms of rounded characters and a clockwork plot -- Anthony Cummins * Observer *Anthony Quinn is one of my favourite novelists and London, Burning didn't disappoint ... Set in the grimy, unglamorous world of the winter of 1979, when most public workers were on strike and the IRA were at large, London, Burning deftly weaves together the stories of Vicky, a young police officer, Hannah, a journalist, Callum, an academic and Freddie a bon viveur and theatre director, whose lives connect and coincide with dramatic consequences -- Sarra Manning * Red *A multi-character tale of a paranoid, dirty London at the tired end of the seventies -- Francesca Carington * Telegraph *If you like BBC political dramas, you'll love this tale set in 1970s London, in a time of strikes and bomb threats. It weaves together stories of a theatre impresario, a policewoman, a journalist and a writer as their lives are profoundly affected by their relationships with one another -- Joanne Finney * Good Housekeeping *Anthony Quinn's excellent seventh novel . . . highly enjoyable -- Sarah Emma Adams * The Tablet *Quinn is a witty and erudite writer who manages to make his characters' dialogue sound natural and engaging . . . Quinn's book is a page-turning delight. I can pay it no higher compliment than to say that, when I finished reading it, I felt almost sad that I was not going to be spending time with its characters any longer, and I hope that a sequel or continuation of this fascinating saga awaits in due course -- Alex Larman * The Critic *Peopled by the kind of strong, fully realised individuals whom you could easily identify in a crowd, it is skilfully plotted and written with a rare elegance, sinuous wit and even optimism. It is a deeply satisfactory read -- Sue Gaisford * Financial Times *

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Book Synopsis''A gripping mystery... sweeping across centuries in its three interlinked sections, Molly & the Captain summons the past effortlessly'' Observer A celebrated artist of the Georgian era paints his two young daughters at the family home in Bath. The portrait, known as Molly & the Captain, becomes instantly famous. In the summer of 1889, a young painter glimpses a mother at play with her two daughters in Kensington Gardens and decides to include them in his picture. A century later, in Kentish Town, a painter and her grown-up daughters receive news of an ancestor linking them to the long-vanished double portrait. Molly & the Captain is a story about time and art and love. Through the prism of a single painting it examines the mysteries of creativity, and the ambiguous nature of success. With period subtlety, intricate characterisation and storytelling verve, Anthony Quinn melds three families and three centuries into a single vision of humaTrade Review[A] beguiling new novel about the mysteries of creativity from master storyteller Anthony Quinn... Every sentence he produces is a joy * Metro *A gripping mystery... Sweeping across centuries in its three interlinked sections, it summons the past effortlessly, as a vehicle for a plot that is both intricate and immaculately constructed... Quinn's most ambitious book to date and decidedly his best -- Alex Preston * Observer *Quinn is an accomplished writer at ease with the idioms of the past... He is also a subtle creator of character... opens up timeless themes of family, success and love -- Michael Prodger * New Statesman *Quinn is an intelligent analyst of the uncertainties of love and art * Sunday Times *These women's lives are gently and perceptively explored -- Antonia Senior * The Times *Gripping historical fiction * Good Housekeeping *[A] stylish literary triptych... Quinn is a fine writer with an instinctive understanding of the pitfalls of the bohemian life * Mail on Sunday *A deft, century-hopping novel... delight[s] in the granular details of an era, as well as a thorough knowledge of its broad sweep -- Imogen Hermes Gowar * Guardian *There is a delicious mystery at the heart of this novel * Daily Mail *One of my favourite writers... a breathtakingly ambitious novel that nails the small personal triumphs and tragedies of each woman's life -- Sarra Manning * Red *So versatile - Quinn seems to reinvent himself with every book * Jonathan Coe *A witty and affecting saga... It delights in exploring tiny, unexpected quirks of character and broad brushstrokes of greater emotion alike, and never fails to entertain -- Alexander Larman * Spectator *Quinn displays an impressive range of expression: the mannered, epistolary style of the early chapters gives way to touches of Victorian gothic, and then to crisp contemporary prose -- Kimberley Long * Financial Times *Truly magnificent... each part is separate and distinct, involving and compassionate, yet all are mysteriously connected... Period details sparkle in this elegant prose... This is Quinn's masterpiece -- Sue Gaisford * The Tablet *Quinn's books are unbeatable treats... His latest, a hall of mirrors across three centuries revolving around a single painting, is both about art and irresistibly artful * Dominic Dromgoole *Poignant, involving, beautiful and thoroughly entertaining... Quinn's best and most ambitious novel yet dances through three centuries, entwines the worlds of theatre and art in a thoroughly seductive embrace, and brings all his considerable gifts into play... This is a novel packed with pleasures -- Christobel Kent * Perspective Magazine *Pleasurable... The novel is a triptych, each part standing alone and quickly establishing its particular note and colour by means of language, carefully chosen detail and a sprinkling of familiar names * Times Literary Supplement *Quinn has an artist's eye and can mine drama from even the plainest parlour or afternoon in the park * Strong Words Magazine *

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Book Synopsis''A tightly written, fast-paced, often sharply savage societal satire... a rollicking read'' Sunday Times''An absolute riot - part thriller, part satire of contemporary urban India''Mail on Sunday ''Roars will brilliance, freshness and so much heart'' Kevin Kwan''Joyous'' The TimesIf you''re fat and Indian, you''re rich; if you''re fat and poor, you''re lying. It''s only the West where the rich are thin and vegan and moral...Ramesh Kumar grew up deprived and unloved, working on his father''s tea stall in the Old City of Delhi. Now, brilliant but poor, he makes a lucrative living taking tests for the sons of India''s elite. When one of his clients, the sweet but hapless eighteen-year-old Rudi Saxena, places first in the All Indias, the national university entrance exams, Ramesh sees an unmissable opportunity. Cashing in on Rudi''s newfound celebrity, all goes well fTrade ReviewA fun, fast-paced debut...HBO and the Oscar-nominated actor and producer Riz Ahmed have wisely already bought the screen rights to this Delhi-set, society-skewering debut caper...Raina, 28, was inspired to write How to Kidnap the Rich by the US "Varsity Blues" admissions scandal, but it is his depiction of bustling, hustling Delhi and its grafting populace that makes this tightly written, fast-paced, often sharply savage societal satire such a rollicking read. He conjures up a memorable world that is ghee-greased, polluted, mired in dust and corruption, but also thrusting...An impressively entertaining but also insightful debut * Sunday Times *This is an absolute riot - part thriller, part satire of contemporary urban India...Ramesh is a wonderfully vivid character and this is an explosively funny, surprisingly moving debut * Mail on Sunday *A joyous love/hate letter to contemporary Delhi . . . Genuine feeling flows beneath the potty-mouthed satire as it gradually spirals into farce. Rahul Raina suggests life may be "a relentless parade of fear", but it is far better to laugh than cry * The Times (The month's best crime novels) *India's politicians, endemic corruption, national obsession with the West and above all its super-rich come in for a bashing in How to Kidnap the Rich...what stands out in this book is its unapologetic depiction of a Delhi that's frankly a bit rubbish...But there's a fondness in this biting negativity, which convinces more than the graceful descriptive passages of other India-set novels. Chuck in twists and double-crossings, just the right amount of violence and a denouement in a besieged TV studio and you can't fail to be entertained * Novel of the Week, Sunday Telegraph *Like Mohsin Hamid's How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia, How to Kidnap the Rich purports to be a how-to manual but is in fact a rollicking urban adventure and a biting satire of inequality. Mr Raina adds a fast-paced crime caper and a stream of caustic humour.... a highly entertaining first novel from a writer to watch * The Economist *A satire, a love story and a thriller, How To Kidnap The Rich by Rahul Raina has shades of The Talented Mr Ripley that also casts an unerring eye over the huge disparity in Indian society. A rollercoaster of a read, this is going to be big * Stylist *Energetic, vivid and funny, Ramesh's narrative voice is magnificent and full of vigour * Scottish Daily Mail *[A] savage cinematic caper . . . In Rahul Raina's satirical state-of-the-nation debut, which slices into the soul of contemporary Indian society, things aren't always the way they appear . . . Social commentary meets stand-up comedy, as with a biting wit reminiscent of Binyavanga Wainaina's essay "How to Write About Africa" or Paul Beatty's Booker-winner The Sellout, Raina stretches stereotype and cliche into incisive satire * Guardian *Rahul Raina's How to Kidnap the Rich has already been optioned by HBO: a Delhi-set, reality TV-based literary crime crossover, it will appeal to fans of Parasite and Crazy Rich Asians * Daily Mail *Fans of My Sister the Serial Killer, Parasite and Crazy Rich Asians will be enthralled by this riotous tale from the very first line . . . A hugely entertaining and unique debut that satirically dissects India's inequalities * Cosmopolitan *You can absolutely imagine How to Kidnap the Rich blazing across the screen. It roars through New and Old Delhi , sending up new money and old money, and taking an acerbic yet affectionately head-tilted, eyebrow-raised look at the corruption, hypocrisy and dynamism of modern India...Ramesh is a bracingly cynical and funny narrator: endlessly snarking about insincerity and greed, with a side helping of self-flagellation for being no better than he ought to be - just a kid from a chai stall, plucked from poverty and educated by a saintly white nun, who's somehow ended up a serial kidnapper. * Observer *Intelligent, witty and sublime. I'm hooked. Remember the name. You'll be hearing more of it in future -- Abir Mukherjee, author of A RISING MANFunny and satirical, this is like nothing else I've read * Clare Mackintosh *Brutally funny and fast-paced, this debut from Rahul Raina proves he is a star in the making -- Nikesh ShuklaA satirical crime thriller-cum-profound social commentary, this is an uproarious ride through the caste system of Delhi, new and old. Energetic wit pours out of Raina's prose, while an acerbic bite highlights inequalities in race, sex and social class . . . Veering from ridiculous to heart-rending, Raina's exhilarating debut is pure entertainment -- Rebecca Wilcock * i Paper *A wild and wildly funny ride through a modern day India that pits the poor against the rich, high tech against ancient traditions and one smart hustler against anyone who gets in his way * Red magazine *Eye-opening and huge fun . . . . A merciless attack on the iniquities of new India in the guise of a comedy thriller -- Claire Allfree * Metro *An exciting blend of crime caper, satire, love story and social commentary . . . Raina, who was born in Delhi, neatly skewers the inequalities of Indian society, racism (education is merely a tool to a "whiter life"), sexism, and celebrity . . . Along with the fast-paced twists, Raina also satirises the state of modern India: the repercussions of the ongoing rivalry with Pakistan; the spectre of China as the predominant world superpower; the shallowness of modern culture; and the country's pervasive corruption. * May's Best Reads, Independent *Through a thrilling cross-sectional tale - that feels like a crime caper-meets-reality TV show-meets-time-hopping love story - Raina lets loose a real rollercoaster of a read, complete with a delightful twist * Apple Books Best of the Month *Sparky satire on modern India . . . a lot of fun * Sainsburys magazine *Rahul Raina's voice crackles with wit and the affecting exuberance of youth. His ripping good story grabs you on page one and doesn't let go, taking you on a monstrously funny and unpredictable wild ride through a thousand different Delhis at top speed. How To Kidnap the Rich roars with brilliance, freshness and so much heart -- Kevin Kwan, author of CRAZY RICH ASIANSWhite Tiger meets Caddyshack the movie in Raina's lively novel, brimming with rat-a-tat-tat wit, breezy prose and a keen observation of colorism, casteism and social inequity. Unputdownable! -- Alka Joshi, NYT bestselling author of The Henna ArtistRaina's debut novel lives up to its billing as a fun caper and social satire thanks to strong characterisation, a fast-paced plot and an eye for the ridiculous. His delicious skewering of the social mores of Delhi's über-rich and clear-eyed rendering of India's social hierarchy propel sheer entertainment into striking elucidation in the mode of Aravind Adiga -- Shoba Viswanathan * Booklist *With its witty, ruthless skewering of the Indian middle classes, Rahul Raina's roistering, whip-smart and deliciously fun Delhi-set crime caper, How to Kidnap the Rich, is the first great state-of-the-subcontinent novel of the 21st century * The Bookseller *Reading How to Kidnap the Rich by Rahul Raina was like being put in a sports car with no seat belt. Rakesh Kumar, the protagonist, gets your attention in minutes . . . How to Kidnap the Rich promises wit, satire, strange twists and will leave you entertained, frantically turning page after page . . . This one's a wild ride -- Resh Susan * The Book Satchel *[A] funny and touching satirical action thriller, in a setting that feels very fresh * Morning Star *A splendidly enjoyable farcical crime caper * Daily Mirror *

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Book Synopsis The awkward and lovable hero of Andrew Sean Greer''s bestselling and prize-winning novel Less returns in this unforgettable road trip across America. ''Wildly, painfully funny'' David Sedaris''Unforgettable'' Elizabeth Day''The joyfulness of this book is a balm'' Madeline Miller''What a joy'' Katie KitamuraFor Arthur Less, life is going surprisingly well: he is a moderately accomplished novelist in a steady relationship with his partner, Freddy Pelu. But nothing lasts: the death of an old lover and a sudden financial crisis has Less running away from his problems yet again as he accepts a series of literary gigs that send him on a zigzagging adventure across the US.Less roves across the ''Mild Mild West'', through the South and to his mid-Atlantic birthplace, with an ever-changing posse of writerly characters and his trusty duo - a human-like black pug, Dolly, and a rusty camper van nicknamed Rosina. He grows a Trade ReviewSo funny, jokes and wit and joy packed into every page. It's beautiful and light and deceptively fun, and then stabs you through the heart. Wonderful Less, more, more! -- Russell T DaviesAffecting and funny - so hysterical at times you may find yourself laughing aloud. * Daily Mail *There is no better guide across America than Arthur Less, the "bad gay" whose engaging awkwardness and self-deprecation are tragically funny and hugely insightful. We should all be so lost -- Bonnie Garmus, author of Lessons in ChemistryAndrew Sean Greer's writing nails both the absurdity of the human condition and its wistful beauty. Arthur Less is an unforgettable literary creation and I was so happy to be back in his company as he continues his elegant muddle through life -- Elizabeth Day, author of MagpieDoes Andrew Greer think of himself as a comic novelist? Does a giraffe think of itself as a giraffe? Probably it doesn't matter. This book, though, is wildly, painfully funny. It sometimes hurts to read it -- David Sedaris, author of A Carnival of SnackeryIt is a deep pleasure to return to the adventures of Arthur Less and his beloved Freddy. Greer is a brilliant storyteller as always, and the joyfulness of this book is a balm. I loved reading it -- Madeline Miller, bestselling author of CirceGreer's whimsically Wodehousian metaphors are as delightful as ever * Financial Times *What a joy to be reunited with the beloved, hapless, utterly delightful Arthur Less. With tenderness, wit and his incomparably lovely prose, Greer probes that most profound and mysterious of subjects: love. -- Katie Kitamura, author of IntimaciesExcited to be reunited with our neurotic hero Arthur Less, I ripped through this sequel. It was a thrill to go on this odyssey with Less where even the most picayune comic encounters turn profound. Vulnerable and witty, Less is Lost is a joy -- Cathy Park Hong, author of Minor FeelingsFunny and uplifting * Grazia *A gift of a story in these muddling, hard times, and a love letter to accepting yourself for who you are. Arthur Less is the protagonist we all need right now' -- Araminta Hall, author of Hidden DepthsAn emotional and soul-searching sequel ... recalls the plaintive laconicism of the American humourist David Sedaris * Sunday Times *The hapless protagonist of Greer's prize-winning novel, Less, is now touring America's heartlands .... it's huge fun. Greer's delight in language and the comedy of incongruity is infectious. * Spectator *An enjoyable encore ... Read Less to fall in love and then pick up Less is Lost to rekindle a favourite old flame * Irish Times *An unexpected gift... [Arthur Less] cuts a sympathetic, melancholy figure with a capacity for kindness, hope and romance. It's this evidence of his inventor's sympathy for his creation that makes this very funny novel stand out from its peers like Venus's starlight * Big Issue *Brimming with wit and pathos and a thing of joy * Saga Magazine *Shimmering with wit, a passion for language and astonishing insight, Less is Lost revels in its affection for the absurdity of life. Smart, and profoundly uplifting. A joy! * Attitude *

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Book Synopsis''[This] emotionally riveting debut novel focuses on several dynamic women in a wealthy suburb of Paris and a tragic event that changes their lives. Bestor-Siegal had me at Paris and she never let go. The Caretakers is extraordinary'' Laura Dave, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Last Thing He Told MeIn a smart Parisian suburb, in the wake of the Paris 2015 terrorist attacks, an au pair is arrested after the sudden and suspicious death of her nine-year-old charge...The truth behind what happened is unravelled through six women: Geraldine, a heartbroken French teacher who struggles to connect with her vulnerable students; Lou, an incompetent au pair fired by the family next door; Charlotte, a chilly socialite and reluctant mother; Holly, an anxious au pair who yearns to feel at home in Paris; Nathalie, an isolated French teenager desperate for her mother''s attention; and finally, Alena, the au pair accused of killing a chiTrade ReviewAmanda Bestor-Siegal's emotionally riveting debut novel focuses on several dynamic women in a wealthy suburb of Paris and a tragic event that changes their lives. Bestor-Siegal had me at Paris and she never let go. The Caretakers is extraordinary * Laura Dave, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Last Thing He Told Me *The Caretakers is a deep, enthralling pleasure, as wise as it is lovely. I read it voraciously, desperate to discover the fates of its unforgettable characters - but also with a deep regret that each page was bringing me closer to the end. I could have happily luxuriated in its words and world forever. It defies belief that this is a debut novel: it is magnificent * Robin Wasserman, author of Girls on Fire and Mother Daughter Widow Wife *Tender, brutal, frightening, captivating, The Caretakers is a novel about child care and abandonment that is as beautifully complicated as parenting itself. Amanda Bestor-Siegal opens for us the bloody heart of the contemporary family and exposes its darkest chambers - the loneliness, the longing, the love - to the light * Julia Phillips, National Book Award finalist and bestselling author of Disappearing Earth *How rare this is, a book - a first book - that has it all. The Caretakers is thrilling and deeply moving, gorgeously written and intricately plotted, morally complex and surprising and sweeping and intimate, with some of the most indelible and heart-breaking characters I have ever encountered in a novel. It's a bold and brilliant book * Elizabeth McCracken, author of Bowlaway and The Souvenir Museum *This is going to be one of the big book club books of 2022. I cannot stress enough how bewitching I found this brilliantly plotted novel about au pairs in Paris. If you enjoyed Big Little Lies, you will doubly love this novel! . . . It is an intricate tale of six women searching for happiness and love, and working hard for their families and to achieve their dreams. Some are running from their past, some are trying to find their way, and some are stuck in the present. We hear from three au pairs, as well as the mother of the child who died, his older sister, and the woman who teaches French to the au pairs. It's an absolutely stunning debut novel about class and identity, and so expertly executed. It's devastating and captivating * Book Riot *With well-developed characters and a strong sense of the city, this is a heart-wrenching novel about family, what can happen when a stranger is let in and the desire to belong * Irish Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisThe third book in Alexander McCall Smith''s new DETECTIVE VARG seriesPerplexing, unfathomable and perhaps unimportant, the cases that Malmo''s Department of Sensitive Crimes take on will test them to their limits.Life - and crime - is not always as it seems for Ulf Varg and the other fearless detectives in Malmo''s Department of Sensitive Crimes. There are always surprising new cases to take on, and the latest batch is no exception. And that''s not to mention Ulf''s struggle to contain his feelings for his colleague Anna Bengsdotter. All in all, things are distinctly difficult in Malmo, and it seems up to Ulf and the Department to set them right.''McCall Smith''s continuing warm-heartedness makes Ulf such unfailingly good company'' Reader''s Digest''Like AA Milne meets Karl Ove Knausgaard'' Financial Times''Wonderfully soothing and relaxing'' Daily TelegraphTrade ReviewAlexander McCall Smith is talented and prolific . . . His prose is leisurely. You feel the rights words come to him naturally without painful search . . . he is a reassuring writer * Yorkshire Post *

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE WALTER SCOTT PRIZE FOR HISTORICAL FICTION''Utterly absorbing, cleverly constructed and beautifully written'' The Times''Moving and exhilarating'' Spectator ''Evokes the messiness and fragility of everyday life in the nineteenth century'' Daily MailAlmost two hundred years ago, Abraham, an illiterate urchin, scavenges on a Suffolk beach and dreams of running away to sea ... Naomi, a seventeen-year-old seamstress, imagines a new life in the big city ... George, a private soldier of the 50th Regiment of Food, marries his Irish bride, Annie, in the cathedral in Manchester and together they face married life under arms. Now these people exist only in the bare bones of registers and census lists but they were once real enough.Simon Mawer puts flesh on our ancestors'' bones to bring them to life and give them voice. There is birth and death; there is love, both open and legTrade ReviewUtterly absorbing... so cleverly constructed and beautifully written * The Times *Moving and exhilarating * Spectator *Gripping... an intriguing blend of archival research and fictionalised accounts of the life histories of his own forebears... I won't forget these women whose DNA he is so proud of inheriting, or the voices he conjures for them... They were anything but ordinary * Financial Times *Mawer writes movingly about the privations of military life and the hardships endured by women in the Victorian era... His prose is measured and elegant * Sunday Times *Told with brio, the gutsy narrative evokes the messiness and fragility of everyday life in the nineteenth century... I was moved by Mawer's defense of storytelling as a vital tool of historical recovery * Daily Mail *An astonishing blend of historical fiction and imaginative non-fiction, Ancestry is a book that will stay with me forever... A beautiful, haunting and extremely moving testament to what men and women without means or agency must endure to keep their families together and what we owe - and can learn from them - in turn * Natalie Jenner *

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Book Synopsis''Original, tender, thoughtful and true'' Reese Witherspoon''Part tender coming of age story, part electrifying tale of political awakening, part heartfelt love letter to Deaf culture, True Biz is a wholly a wonder'' Celeste NgNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - REESE''S BOOK CLUB PICK - A ''tender, beautiful and radiantly outraged'' (The New York Times Book Review) novel that follows a year of seismic romantic, political, and familial shifts for a teacher and her students at a boarding school for the deaf, from the acclaimed author of Girl at War.True biz (adj./exclamation; American Sign Language): really, seriously, definitely, real-talkTrue biz? The students at the River Valley School for the Deaf just want to hook up, pass their history finals, and have politicians, doctors, and their parents stop telling them what to do with their bodies. This revelatory novel plunges readers into the halls of a residential school for the deaf, where they''ll meet Charlie, a rebellious transfer student who''s never met another deaf person before; Austin, the school''s golden boy, whose world is rocked when his baby sister is born hearing; and February, the headmistress, who is fighting to keep her school open and her marriage intact, but might not be able to do both. As a series of crises both personal and political threaten to unravel each of them, Charlie, Austin, and February find their lives inextricable from one another - and changed forever.This is a story of sign language and lip-reading, disability and civil rights, isolation and injustice, first love and loss, and, above all, great persistence, daring, and joy. Absorbing and assured, idiosyncratic and relatable, this is an unforgettable journey into the Deaf community and a universal celebration of human connection.Trade ReviewGoodness, I can't even begin to put into words all the feelings this book provoked!...An eye-opening and heartfelt story about human connection and the beauty and adversity woven into the deaf community and culture. It is both an educational and electrifying peek into a family's life as they fight to forge connections even as the outside world threatens to close the door on them. I loved this story so much, it is not one to miss * Reese Witherspoon (Reese’s Book Club April ’22 Pick) *Tender, beautiful and radiantly outraged...True Biz is moving, fast-paced and spirited... Novic, who is deaf and spent time at deaf schools researching the novel, makes an urgent and heartfelt case for the schools' importance in providing language access, and in nurturing community and a sense of self. Great stories create empathy and awareness more effectively than facts do, and this important novel should - true biz - change minds and transform the conversation. * Maile Meloy, New York Times Book Review *For those who loved the Oscar-winning film CODA, a boarding school for deaf students is the setting for a kaleidoscope of experience * Washington Post *Part tender coming of age story, part electrifying tale of political awakening, part heartfelt love letter to Deaf culture, True Biz is a wholly a wonder. Sara Novic examines the ways language can include, exclude, or help forge an identity - as well as what it means to carve out a place for yourself in a world that sees you as other * Celeste Ng *I fell in love with Sara Novic's True Biz from the first page: delicate, nuanced, playful, and at the same time sweeping in its ideas and reach, this book is a literary novel that is a page turner with a vision which will speak to many a reader in our times and beyond. Sara Novic is one of the best writers of my generation - not just *the* novelist of Deaf culture, but of human nature writ large. Do yourself a favor and get this book- it is inimitable * Ilya Kaminsky, author of Deaf Republic and Dancing in Odessa *I loved True Biz, it's warm, complex and compelling. Of course I love the way it provides a window into a culture that will be unfamiliar to many of us, but what really marks it out is its humanity and intelligence - the threads of coming-of-age, birth, death, and all the rites of passage are interwoven brilliantly, surrounding a core of passion for justice and equality.' * Bridget Collins *This is my favorite kind of novel, fascinating and smart and brimming with contrasts. It's a coming-of-age story but also one of anarchy and protest. It's about the ways communities are bound but also the ways they bind. It's about belonging versus conforming, individual strength alongside solidarity. I laughed. I learned. I entered a world I knew too little about, at once different from mine and of course the same. I will be recommending this book to absolutely everyone * Laurie Frankel, New York Times bestselling author of This Is How It Always Is and One Two Three *Reading True Biz was a transformative experience - it's as important a book as I've read in years. I was in awe of the care and love and hard-won wisdom that went into the writing of it. Sara Novic is the real deal * Jami Attenberg, author of All This Could Be Yours *True Biz is exquisitely crafted and absolutely riveting * Vendela Vida, author of We Run the Tides *Sara Novic's gifts for character, story, and language are evident from the first page. True Biz feels like the discovery of a new written form, a love letter to language itself * Liz Moore, New York Times bestselling author of Long Bright River *Rollicking, immersive, and boldly, exquisitely felt, True Biz delves into the deepest questions about community, communication, and collective action, inviting the reader into a world of language made new * Alexandra Kleeman, author of Something New Under the Sun *An electrifying narrativeset at a present-day boarding school for Deaf high school students, where they find love and friendship and battle a series of injustices...With complex characters seething with rage against the injustices they face, and an immersive and novel treatment of Charlie's experience learning ASL, Novic offers an unforgettable homage to resilience. This is brilliant * Publishers Weekly starred review *

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Book SynopsisAt eighteen, Emma Kenward runs away from her dull Sloane home to try her luck as a painter in Tuscany. Waspish, idealistic and far too clever for her own good, she is at the awkward age when women choose their futures - and their identities.Once in Italy, Emma blossoms and is taken up by a a mixture of characters including the local Contessa; Sylvia, her volatile American mentor; Dr Evenlode, an Oxford don she''d hoped never to see again; and Lucio, a seductive and anarchic young Italian, as interested in Emma''s body as in her mind. Santorno, however, is not merely a picturesque town set in the golden landscape of the Tuscan countryside. Hidden among the malicious tongues of the provincial gossips and the walls of the mysterious Palazzo Felici lie secrets, long buried, but not forgotten. Emma, ever curious, delves deep and discovers the truth about her new world, her old self - and a gruesome murder.

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Book Synopsis''It''s impossible not to be moved'' Stephen King''Stunning...this novel will break your heart and fire up your courage'' Mail on SundayThe New York Times bestseller, a deeply heart-wrenching novel about the unbreakable love between a mother and child and a TIMES BEST PAPERBACK OF APRIL 2023Twelve-year-old Bird Gardner lives a quiet existence with his loving father, a former linguist who now shelves books in a university library. His mother Margaret, a Chinese American poet, left without a trace when he was nine years old. He doesn''t know what happened to her-only that her books have been banned-and he resents that she cared more about her work than about him. Then one day, Bird receives a mysterious letter containing only a cryptic drawing, and soon he is pulled into a quest to find her. His journey will take him back to the many folktales she poured into his head as a child, through the ranks of an underground network of heroic librarians, and finally to New York City, where he will finally learn the truth about what happened to his mother, and what the future holds for them both. Our Missing Hearts is an old story made new, of the ways supposedly civilized communities can ignore the most searing injustice. It''s about the lessons and legacies we pass on to our children, and the power of art to create change.Trade ReviewA stunning story of injustice and resistance...Lyrical, intricate, unsparing: this novel will break your heart and fire up your courage * Mail on Sunday *A lyrical and touching testimony to maternal love, it's also a salutary reminder of how easily freedoms can be lost and of the power of words to change lives * Daily Mail *One of the biggest books of the year...deeply moving * Stylist *Beautifully stirring and heart-wrenching, this powerful novel from the author of Little Fires Everywhere is a homage to love and will tug at your heartstrings * Heat, Book of the Month *A beautiful, thoughtful book...Brilliant and moving * Hello magazine *Ng's compelling writing paints a picture of a world so real you can almost touch it. Despite the darkness of the story, the love of a family stands out. * Independent *[A] feat of meaty storytelling...Ng effortlessly combines a character-led family story with a detective tale, a tribute to books and storytelling and a confrontation with history...a story that is exceptionally powerful and scaldingly relevant * Observer *Remarkable and deeply moving... as moving as it is gripping. [Ng] is an astute writer...her writing feels gorgeously supple * The i *Thought-provoking, heart-wrenching...I was so invested in the future of this mother and son, and I can't wait to hear what you think of this deeply suspenseful story! * Reese Witherspoon (Reese’s Book Club October ’22 Pick) *On another level, Our Missing Hearts is a meditation on the sometimes accidental power of words... I won't give away the splendid conclusion of Ng's book; suffice it to say the climax deals with the power of words, the power of stories and the persistence of memory. It's impossible not to be moved by Margaret Miu's courage, or to applaud her craftiness * Stephen King, New York Times *Powerful and brilliant * Vogue *Thought-provoking... My heart broke and was remade several times over by this book * Good Housekeeping *Ng, whose previous novels subtly probed tensions surrounding race,class, and gender, boldly tacklesanti-Asian racism head-on * Time magazine, 100 Must-Read Books of 2022 *Shot through with vivid color and rising hope, an unflinching yet life-affirming drama about the power of art and love to push back in dangerous times...Ng's brilliance lies in leaving the reader with an unshakable belief that against all odds, people will find the courage to resist, revolt, and defend . . . remarkable * Oprah Daily *[Ng] has really hit her authorial stride in her eagerly anticipated third novel, Our Missing Hearts... It's her masterful weaving huge themes of race, class, privilege and identity with the simplicity of everyday lives that has made her a deserved international phenomenon * Daily Mirror *Ng's third novel is eagerly awaited and does not disappoint...Our Missing Hearts deftly weaves together a coming-of-age story with a threatening vision of a heavily censored future * Daily Express *Little Fires Everywhere became a global phenomenon and now author Celeste Ng is back with another gripping tale * Irish Mail on Sunday *Tense, poignant and chilling * Grazia *

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Book SynopsisThe latest in the hugely popular 44 Scotland Street series from the worldwide bestselling author, Alexander McCall SmithLife for Bertie seems to be moving at a pace that is rather out of his control. Upstairs, at 44 Scotland Street, his father Stuart is powerless to stop over-bearing Irene and her determination that Bertie will travel to deepest, coldest Aberdeen on a three-month sojourn. Can his friend Ranald Braveheart Macpherson save the day? And can the boys execute a great escape? Meanwhile, further up in the New Town, Bruce Anderson''s property development plans are thwarted by a sudden crisis of conscience that leads to a shocking revelation. And, in Big Lou''s cafe, it seems that love might blossom at last.Warm hearted, humorous and always wonderfully wise, Love in the Time of Bertie offers philosophical insight as well as sartorial elegance. There are tribulations as well as celebrations in this the next instalment in the 44 Sc

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Book SynopsisThirty-nine, divorced, jobless: Benedick Hunter is going nowhere, heading in the exact opposite direction he expected. So when he comes across a children''s book that his mother, Laura, wrote, he decides that her life and work - haunting stories replete with sinister woods, wicked witches and brave girls who battle giants - hold the key to finding out why his own life is such a mess.Setting out to discover why Laura killed herself when he was six, Benedick travels to the US. As he grows more obsessed with what happened to his mother, Benedick enters into a dark wood - one that is both hilariously real and terrifyingly psychological. Dark humorous and inventive, In a Dark Wood casts light on the nature of depression, genius and of the healing power of storytelling.

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Book SynopsisEdwidge Danticat''s groundbreaking debut, with new introduction from Booker Prize winner Bernardine EvaristoAt the age of twelve, Sophie Caco is sent from her impoverished Haitian village to New York to be reunited with a mother she barely remembers. There she discovers secrets that no child should ever know, and a legacy of shame that can be healed only when she returns to Haiti - to the women who first reared her. What ensues is a passionate journey through a landscape charged with the supernatural and scarred by political violence.In her stunning literary debut, Danticat evokes the wonder, terror, and heartache of her native Haiti - and the enduring strength of Haiti''s women - with vibrant imagery and narrative grace that bear witness to her people''s suffering and courage.AN OPRAH BOOK CLUB SELECTION ''A vision of female solidarity which transcends place and time'' Sunday Times''Exquisite and unforgettable'' Washington Post''Extraordinarily successful'' New York Times Book Review''A first novel of precious humanity'' IndependentTrade ReviewDanticat's calm clarity of vision takes on the resonance of folk art. In the end, her book achieves an emotional complexity that lifts it out of the realm of the potboiler and into that of poetry. The tale is lovingly dominated by powerful female characters who struggle to make better lives for themselves and their families . . . extraordinarily successful. * New York Times Book Review *A novel that rewards the reader again and again with small but exquisite and unforgettable epiphanies . . . This quiet soul-penetrating story about four generations of women trying to hold on to one another in the Haitian diaspora . . . is loaded with folk wisdom and fairy tales, the imagery of fear and pain, and an understated political subtext that makes this first novel much, much more than the elementary domestic story it might have been. * Washington Post *A first novel of precious humanity which mingles past and present, the horrors and delights of Haiti, in a quiet and dignified prose that would be impressive in a writer twice her age * Independent *Extraordinary... a young and genuinely fresh voice * Time Out *Stuffed with folk wisdom with a sprinkling of urban angst... a vision of female solidarity which transcends place and time * Sunday Times *She delicately tiptoes with poetic intent... brief, lyrical, disturbing novel * Mail on Sunday *Vibrant, magic... Danticat's elegant, intricate tale wraps readers into the haunting life of a young Haitian girl * Boston Globe *Written in prose as clear as a bell, magical as a butterfly, and resonant as drum talk... An impressive debut * Julia Alvarez *A distinctive new voice with a sensitive insight into Haitian culture distinguishes this graceful debut novel... In simple, lyrical prose enriched by an elegiac tone and piquant observations, [Danticat] makes Sophie's confusion and guilt, her difficult assimilation into American culture and her eventual emotional liberation palpably clear * Publishers Weekly *Danticat has created a stirring tale of life in two worlds: the spirit-rich land of her ancestry, whose painful themes work their way through lives across generational lines, and her adopted country, the United States, where a young immigrant girl must negotiate cold, often hostile terrain, even as she spars with painful demons of her past * Emerge *

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Book SynopsisFive friends. Five lives. Countless hopes. A novel about love, class, friendship - and what makes life worth living

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Book Synopsis''No Country for Love is Doctor Zhivago meets Stalingrad - a mix of romantic historical fiction and gritty, reportage-like storytelling... The history is spot-on, going from pre-Communist times, through World War II, to the era of Stalin and after. And the stories it tells of the human heart, through the eyes of its heroine Debora Rosenbaum and those who befriend or betray her, are unforgettable'' NPR Best Books of 2024''A captivating sweep of a novel about love, resilience and impossible choices'' Christina Lamb, chief foreign correspondent Sunday TimesSeventeen-year-old Debora Rosenbaum, ambitious and in love with literature, arrives in the capital of the new Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Kharkiv, to make her own fate as a modern woman. The stale and forbidding ways of the past are out; 1930 is a new dawn, the Soviet era, where skyscrapers go up overnight. Debora finds work and meets a dashing young officer named Samuel who is training to become a fighter pilot. They fall in love, and begin to mix with Ukraine''s new cultural elite. But Debora''s prospects - and Ukraine''s - soon dim. State-induced famine rolls through the over-harvested countryside, and any deviation from Moscow-dictated ideology is punished by disappearance. When Samuel is sentenced to ten years'' hard labour, Debora is left on her own with a baby. And this is only the beginning. As advancing Nazi armies move through Ukraine during World War II, its yellow fields of wheat run red with blood. Forced to renounce the man she loves, her identity and even her name, Debora also learns to endure, manipulate and resist.No Country for Love follows the hard choices Debora makes as Ukraine, caught between two totalitarian ideologies, turns into the deadliest place in the world - while she tries to protect those she loves most.A sweeping, stunningly ambitious novel about a young Ukrainian girl arriving in Kharkiv in 1930, determined to contribute to the future of her country, and her struggle to survive the devastation and trauma that ravage Ukraine.

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Book Synopsis The funniest, wildest and most original debut novel of 2024 ''Uproarious, generous and witty'' New York Times''What a debut'' Stephen Fry''A wild and funny ride through modern life'' Financial Times''Gobby, barbed and garrulous'' Eley Williams''Truly original'' Nicola Dinan, author of Bellies''Genuinely hilarious'' Keiran Goddard, author of Hourglass''It''s impossible not to be charmed by this big-hearted story'' BustleIt''s Natwest''s last day before he leaves for university, and there''s only one thing on his mind: the deeply embarrassing package he ordered to his house - which still hasn''t arrived. He won''t leave town without it. Any alternative is too distressing to consider ... This is the story of twenty-four hours in the life of NATWEST, and his small-town odyssey in pursuit of the missing package. And yet it''s also the story of a MIDDLE-AGED DENTIST who dreams of being a respected artist - but the only thing he can seem to paint is the human mouth. And it''s the story of a TORTURED IMAM involved in a quasi-romantic entanglement with the local vicar; and an OCTOGENARIAN mourning the death of her secretive husband; and a TROUBLED TEENAGER whose nudes have leaked on the internet. It''s the story of Natwest''s obnoxious EX-BOYFRIEND, and his CLASS-TRAITOR MOTHER and her CHILDHOOD BOYFRIEND, and the life-changing secrets he knows about Natwest''s past. Alternating between Natwest''s idiosyncratic inner world and the perspectives of the other characters - and dazzling in its energy, imagination and originality - this is an outrageously funny and tenderly moving story about being connected to everyone and everything at all times; about love, friendship, and the lies we tell ourselves; about unhappy endings, happy endings - and whether anything really is as simple as one or the other.

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Book SynopsisA bold, thought-provoking and very funny novel novel about friendship, love, sex and connection

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Book SynopsisA BARACK OBAMA SUMMER READING PICK 2023''You''ll be lucky if you read a more engaging novel this year'' The Times Thriller of the Month April 2023''At the heart of the book is a masterly psychological study of racism. Lehane (who was a writer on The Wire) provides top-notch dialogue, an absorbing mystery and an evocation of a historical moment foreshadowing America''s 21st-century ethnic divide'' Sunday Times, Thriller of the Month''Small Mercies is thought-provoking, engaging, enraging, and can''t-put-it-down entertainment'' Stephen King''A jaw-dropping thriller... a resonant, unflinching story written by a novelist who is simply one of the best around'' Gillian FlynnNew York Times bestselling author Dennis Lehane returns with a masterpiece to rival Mystic River - an all-consuming tale of revenge, family love, festering hate, and insidious power, setTrade ReviewAt the heart of the book is a masterly psychological study of racism. Lehane (who was a writer on The Wire) provides top-notch dialogue, an absorbing mystery and an evocation of a historical moment foreshadowing America's 21st-century ethnic divide * Sunday Times, Thriller of the Month *Dennis Lehane, the author of Mystic River, uses Mary Pat's search for answers to illuminate wider issues of racial tension, drug use and sexual inequality that still plague America. His real accomplishment, though, is his portrait of a mother both "irretrievably broken and wholly unbreakable", one he draws without smoothing over Mary Pat's own flaws and blinkered attitudes. You'll be lucky if you read a more engaging novel this year * The Times, April 2023 Thriller of the Month *A brutal, thrilling and relentlessly clear-eyed portrait of a city riven by fear and hatred * Mail on Sunday *Lehane's latest is a multifaceted affair, delivering an unsentimental account of a city at war with itself and a nuanced investigation of racism, class and cultural identity. Fundamentally, however, it's a powerful story of a woman who has stripped of everything she holds dear and who, with nothing left to lose, has nothing left to fear...Mary Pat Fennessy might be Dennis Lehane's single greatest creation' * Irish Times *Aficionados argue about who currently inhabits the top tier of American crime fiction...two names jostle for pole position: Dennis Lehane and Don Winslow. Both writers provide a perfect balance of detailed characterisation and state-of-the-nation underpinnings in their work...Lehane has said that his work is always about hope, however dark the scenarios, and that quality shines throughout this ambitious and multi-layered novel * Financial Times *'Small Mercies is thought provoking, engaging, enraging, and can't-put-it-down entertainment' * Stephen King *Small Mercies is a jaw-dropping thriller, set in the fury of Boston's 1974 school-desegregation crisis, and propelled by a hell-bent woman who's impossible to ignore. Thought-provoking and heart-thumping, it's a resonant, unflinching story written by a novelist who is simply one of the best around * Gillian Flynn *Lehane is now well established as one of America's finest crime writers, who superbly blends uncompromising social history with uncompromising tales of what people driven to the limit will do. As ever, Small Mercies is populated with a wide-ranging collection of unforgettable people * Reader's Digest *Excellent and unflinching... [Small Mercies] has all the hallmarks of Lehane at his best: a propulsive plot, a perfectly drawn cast of working-class Boston Irish characters, razor-sharp wit and a pervasive darkness through which occasional glimmers of hope peek out like snowdrops in early spring * New York Times Book Review *A truly exciting, engaging and enraging narrative...Lehane's ear for dialogue and emotion is incisive so all the characters come alive by deft turns of phrase and mannerism. There is wit that keeps the novel's dark tragedy and violence from overpowering the reader. Historical detail is realised with an uncommon vibrancy. Clipped short chapters are not written but carved, so there is not one superfluous word. Lehane has considered every sentence...This is Dennis Lehane at the height of his writing powers; for to miss this novel would be unforgivable -- Ali Karim * Shots Mag *[A] ferocious crime novel... Land[s] like a fist to the solar plexus... Full of booby traps, but the metaphorical kind that blow up futures instead of limbs... [As] in the best mysteries, the detective herself is cracked open and remade * New Yorker *Beautiful. I was blown away by how Dennis Lehane was able to bring such a deeply unfamiliar world into my heart. Small Mercies is hilarious and heartbreaking, infuriating and unforgettable * Jacqueline Woodson *Without flinching, Dennis Lehane shines a lantern on a dark story, one the reader will not forget * James Lee Burke *Dennis Lehane peels back the layers of his characters like a sculptor finding the face of an angel in a block of stone. By a true master at the top of his game, Small Mercies is vintage Lehane. Beautiful, brutal, lyrical and blisteringly honest. Not to be missed * S.A. Cosby, author of Blacktop Wasteland and Razorblade Tears *Dennis Lehane is a supernova and this is a novel that will throw your entire goddamn solar system out of alignment. Lehane has gone from strength to strength but never has he been more truthful, more heartbreaking, more essential. In the midst of our racial nightmare Small Mercies asks some of the only questions that matter: 'What's gonna change? When's it gonna change? Where's it gonna change? How's it gonna change?' This book is impossible to put down and its dark radiances will stay with you a long, long time * Junot Díaz, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of This Is How You Lose Her *This taut, gripping mystery is also a novel of soul-searching, for the author and reader alike * Kirkus Reviews (starred review) *Powerful, unforgettable...[a] remarkable novel about racism, violence, and parental vengeance * Library Journal (starred review) *A complex, multidimensional tragedy of epic proportions . . . Lehane straddles the line between historical fiction and thriller as dexterously as anyone, and this is his best work so far * Booklist (starred review) *One of the great diabolical thriller kings * New York Times *I would follow Dennis Lehane anywhere * Lee Child *Lehane writes expert, compelling thrillers that dive into mysteries much more universal and more urgent than just a whodunit; he's one of the game changers who smashed the imagined boundary between genre and literature, proving that we can have the best of both at once * Tana French *His ability to create crystal clear portraits of humanity and then place them in the darker side of life is a writer's true gift * USA Today *Excellent and unflinching... [Small Mercies] has all the hallmarks of Lehane at his best: a propulsive plot, a perfectly drawn cast of working-class Boston Irish characters, razor-sharp wit and a pervasive darkness through which occasional glimmers of hope peek out like snowdrops in early spring * New York Times Book Review *

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Book SynopsisIn the hilarious new novel in the best-selling Detective Varg series, Ulf Varg will need to resolve both a sensitive crime and his own delicate dilemma in the hopes of preserving the peace.The Department of Sensitive Crimes is downsizing in light of a recent downturn of sensitive crime, and staff members are wondering who among them will be transferred elsewhere. As the bickering between colleagues intensifies, Ulf tries his best to stay above the fray. But when Anna, a longtime friend and coworker, appears to blame him for an old case that went sideways, it seems she may be putting her own job prospects above their friendship.In the midst of all this, Ulf embarks on an important inquiry: a man''s cabin has mysteriously disappeared and Ulf is tasked with finding out what happened. How exactly does one steal a house? And, more to the point, how does one track down a stolen house? Meanwhile, a promising veterinary treatment for deafness in dogs has been announceTrade ReviewThe novels of Alexander McCall Smith aren't yet prescribed on the NHS, but it might not be a bad idea * Telegraph *Funny, farcical and filled with entertaining musings on human nature... an engaging, richly rewarding escapist read that throngs with mystery, humour and tender observations * LoveReading *Though he has the lightest of touches and is always entertaining, [McCall Smith] is a deeply serious writer who values truth, honesty, sympathy and kindness * Scotsman *A crime ripped from the mind of Mother Goose animates McCall Smith's witty fourth outing for Swedish police detective Ulf Varg... Ulf and company are extremely pleasant company, lending this farcical mystery all the comforts of a good cozy without most of the clichés, and Smith juggles the various subplots with ease * Publishers Weekly *McCall Smith's Detective Varg mysteries star a cerebral, conflicted detective in an appealingly oddball police department in Malmö, Sweden... High on comical quirkiness * Booklist *

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Book SynopsisIn the hilarious new novel in the best-selling Detective Varg series, Ulf Varg will need to resolve both a sensitive crime and his own delicate dilemma in the hopes of preserving the peace.The Department of Sensitive Crimes is downsizing in light of a recent downturn of sensitive crime, and staff members are wondering who among them will be transferred elsewhere. As the bickering between colleagues intensifies, Ulf tries his best to stay above the fray. But when Anna, a longtime friend and coworker, appears to blame him for an old case that went sideways, it seems she may be putting her own job prospects above their friendship.In the midst of all this, Ulf embarks on an important inquiry: a man''s cabin has mysteriously disappeared and Ulf is tasked with finding out what happened. How exactly does one steal a house? And, more to the point, how does one track down a stolen house? Meanwhile, a promising veterinary treatment for deafness in dogs has been announced, and Ulf''s dog, Martin, might be the perfect patient.This latest novel is another masterful, farcical installment in the series that defines the genre that Alexander McCall Smith is singlehandedly championing: Scandi blanc.

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Book Synopsis''An absorbing work of fiction'' Sunday Times''I was blown away by this dark, enchanting story of witchcraft, power and injustice. ..nothing short of brilliant'' Mary ChamberlainErzsébet Báthory, whose infamous place in history characterises her as the ''Blood Countess'', was accused of the murder of over 600 peasant girls in Hungary, 1610. The Nightingale''s Castle tells the story of a woman fighting for her survival and the complicated, often cruel, household over which she presides.Praise for The Nightingale''s Castle''Moving, fascinating and haunting.. A mesmerising combination of gothic horror and elegant restraint'' Francesca De Tores, author of Saltblood''Gripping... a fascinating exploration of women''s struggle to have their truth heard'' Louise O''NeillIn 1573, Countess Erzsébet Báthory gave birth to an illegitimate child. The infant, a girl, was swi

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Book Synopsis''Absorbing'' Sunday Times, Historical Fiction Picks''I was blown away by this dark, enchanting story of witchcraft, power and injustice'' Mary Chamberlain''A mesmerising combination of gothic horror and elegant restraint'' Francesca De Tores, author of SaltbloodMembers of Countess Báthory''s household have been sent out to gather new serving girls and the kindly old man who gave Boróka a home as a baby knows that it is dangerous to turn them away. As the 15-year-old girl reluctantly leaves the safety of the only home she has ever known in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, the future looks uncertain - and dangerous.Boróka is frightened of the countess''s reputation and the whispers of cruelty and unexplained deaths. She finds the women who run Cachtice Castle terrifyingly cold and the other girls are as scared as she is. Despite this, Boróka slowly begins to find her feet - until a bout of plague breaks out at the castle. Powerful forces are moving against a woman whose wealth poses such a threat to the king. And when the show trial begins against the infamous ''Blood Countess'' where will Boróka''s loyalties really lie?

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Book Synopsis''This sly, exhilarating novel takes on slut-shaming . . . and manages to be hilarious in the process'' People''It''s brilliant and hilarious . . . It has a heart. And a spine. It''s exactly what we need more of right now.'' Chicago Tribune''A smart, intersectional feminist tour de force'' Washington TimesThis is the story of five women . . . Meet Rachel Grossman. She''ll stop at nothing to protect her daughter, Aviva, even if it ends up costing her everything. Meet Jane Young. She''s disrupting a quiet life with her daughter, Ruby, to seek political office for the first time. Meet Ruby Young. She thinks her mom has a secret. She''s right. Meet Embeth Levin. She has made a career of cleaning up her congressman husband''s messes. Meet Aviva Grossman. The Internet won''t let her or anyone else forget her past transgressions. This is the story of five women...and the scandal that binds them together. From Gabrielle Zevin, the bestselling author of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, comes another story with unforgettable characters that is particularly suited to the times we live in now.Trade ReviewThis clever, thoughtful, witty novel follows what happens after twentysomething Washington intern Aviva falls for the flaky charms of congressman Aaron...The tale is told, brilliantly, in many voices, including Aviva's sharp Jewish mother and the congressman's unexpectedly funny wife. Significantly, there are no male narrators. This is a woman's story * Wendy Holden, Daily Mail *Whip-smart and full of great female characters, fans of Maria Semple will adore Young Jane Young * Red *Witty and insightful with a crowd of strong female voices, this is a brilliant read * Emerald St *This sly, exhilarating novel takes on slut-shaming . . . and manages to be hilarious in the process * People, Book of the Week *It's brilliant and hilarious, and it makes you wince in recognition - for the double-standard that relegates scandalized women to a life of shame even as their married lovers continue with their careers (and often their marriages), for the insatiable appetite we have for every last detail, for the ease and speed with which we stop seeing people as multilayered humans...The five main characters are among my favorite of any recent novel I've read * Chicago Tribune *A smart, intersectional feminist tour de force * Washington Times *Maybe with enough determination and love and support, women can choose their own adventures. They can start, like Aviva, by choosing not to be ashamed. In this life-affirming novel, Zevin doesn't make that look easy, but she makes it look possible * Ron Charles, Washington Post *This book will not only thoroughly entertain everyone who reads it; it is the most immaculate takedown of slut-shaming in literature or anywhere else. Cheers, and gratitude, to the author * Kirkus starred review *Aviva Grossman was far and away the most capable intern working in the Florida district office of her local congressman - until their affair was exposed and the subsequent national scandal destroyed her reputation (though, tellingly, not the congressman's) and doused her political aspirations...A satisfying and entertaining story of reinvention and second chances in the wake of a political sex scandal * Publishers Weekly *If you're going to have an affair with a married congressman, don't blog about it. That's one of the tough lessons young Aviva Grossman learns in this splendid novel...A witty, strongly drawn group of female voices tells Aviva's story, three generations exploring the ripple effect her actions created...Zevin perfectly captures the realities of the current political climate and the consequences of youthful indiscretions in an era when the Internet never forgets * Booklist *The pretty lies on which Young Jane Young turn are some of the oldest told by men. They don't love their wives, they'll divorce when the timing's right, ad nauseum....Young Jane Young is a witty and wise story of three generations of women; in particular, Rachel and Ruby are often laugh-out-loud funny, while Jane/Aviva and Embeth have a wryer take on their circumstances. Strong and brave, transformed by scandal, they make their way in an often hostile world. In a dream, Jane asks Aviva how she survived. Aviva replies, "I refused to be shamed" * Shelf Awareness *Presenting a sharp send-up of our culture's obsession with scandal and blame, this novel pulls at the seams of misogyny from all angles . . . Likely to be a popular book club pick * Library Journal *

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Book SynopsisA collection of brand-new short stories written by prize-winning, bestselling writers and inspired by Kafka - published to commemorate the centenary of his death*Chosen as a 2024 highlight in the Guardian, the Financial Times, the Daily Mail, New Statesman, Esquire and the New European*Franz Kafka is widely regarded as one of the great geniuses of twentieth-century literature. What happens when some of the most original literary minds of today take an idea, a mood or a line from his work and use it to spark something new?From a future society who ask their AI servants to construct a giant tower to reach God; to a flat hunt that descends into a comically absurd bureaucratic nightmare; to a population experiencing a wave of unbearable, contagious panic attacks, these ten specially commissioned stories are by turns mind-bending, funny, unsettling and haunting. Inspired by the visionary imagination of a writ

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Book SynopsisBOOK 15 IN THE MUCH-LOVED ISABEL DALHOUSIE SERIES''You can''t go out of the house without tripping over a philosophical question.'' That is a remark made by Isabel Dalhousie to Jamie, the bassoonist who is her handsome younger husband. Isabel''s own life, of course, points to the truth of this observation: she seems to attract philosophical problems in much the same way as a magnet attracts iron filings.In this latest movement in the symphony of her life, Isabel is faced with novel challenges, each of which tests her resolution to do the right thing. Dawn, a nurse in an infectious diseases ward, is let down by her lover and needs a place to live. Not surprisingly, Isabel offers her a roof over her head. What do you do, though if your house-guest locks herself away and avoids all contact?And then there is the pompous and slippery Professor Robert Lettuce. He is planning a prestigious conference, and involves Isabel in it. But look at the budget: why is

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Book SynopsisAN OPRAH''S BOOK CLUB SELECTION ''An epic novel... David takes us on an extraordinary journey that brilliantly interweaves history, philosophy, adventure, and mysticism to explore the meaning of love, friendship and living your life''s true purpose'' Oprah Winfrey''A story-telling bonfire as enthralling in its pages as it is illuminating of our fragile and complicated humanity. Familiaris is as expansive and enlightening a saga as has ever been written'' Tom Hanks''Impossibly wise, impossibly ambitious, impossibly beautiful'' Richard Russo''An American tour de force'' Colum McCannSpring 1919, and John Sawtelle''s imagination has got him into trouble...again. Now John and his newlywed wife, Mary, along with their two best friends and their three dogs, are setting off for Wisconsin''s north woods, where they hope to make a fresh start - and to live a life of meaning, purpose, and adventure. But the place

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Book SynopsisBook 6 in the Professor Von Igelfeld series

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Book SynopsisInspector Singh is irate. He''s been instructed to attend a Commonwealth conference on policing in London: a job for paper pushers, not real cops, as far as he is concerned.And as if that isn''t bad enough, his wife is determined to come along to shop for souvenirs and visit previously unknown relatives. But it isn''t long before the cold case that lands on Singh''s ample lap turns into a hot potato and he has to outwit Scotland Yard, his wife and London''s finest criminals to prevent more frightful executions from occurring on his watch - or indeed, from being added to their number.Trade ReviewIt's impossible not to warm to the portly, sweating, dishevelled, wheezing Inspector Singh. * Guardian *Flint adroitly explores both the comic and tragic aspects of life in the city. * Telegraph *It is impossible not to warm to Inspector Singh. We should cherish him. * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisWhen her husband Richard is killed in a freak accident, Shelby Pomeroy is devastated. But she soon learns a horrible truth - Richard was a conman and a cheat, and their life together was a lie.Returning home to Tennessee, Shelby discovers a new sense of strength and freedom. And hope, too, in the form of handsome carpenter Griffin Lott. But not everyone is thrilled to see Shelby Pomeroy back in town. And when a shocking act of violence is traced back to Richard''s shady business, Shelby realises she is still not safe from his lies...

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Book SynopsisSHE''S TAKING CHARGEPrim, proper, and thrifty, Eve Dinwoody is all business when it comes to protecting her brother''s investment. But when she agrees to control the purse strings of London''s premier pleasure garden, Harte''s Folly, she finds herself butting heads with an infuriating scoundrel who can''t be controlled.HE''S RUNNING THE SHOWBawdy and bold, Asa Makepeace doesn''t have time for a penny-pinching prude like Eve. As the garden''s larger-than-life owner, he''s already dealing with self-centered sopranos and temperamental tenors. He''s not about to let an aristocratic woman boss him around . . . no matter how enticing she is.BUT LOVE CONQUERS ALLIn spite of her lack of theatrical experience-and her fiery clashes with Asa-Eve is determined to turn Harte''s Folly into a smashing success. But the harder she tries to manage the stubborn rake, the harder it is to ignore his seductive charm and raw magnetism. There''s Trade ReviewThere is enchantment in the Maiden Lane series, not just the fairy tales Hoyt infuses into the memorable romances, but the wonder of love combined with passion, unique plotlines and unforgettable characters * RT Book Reviews *

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Book SynopsisIn this spellbinding novel about a woman whose past is catching up with her, #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts dazzles readers ''a story you won''t be able to put down'' (Library Journal)Naomi Carson is a survivor. As a child, her family was torn apart by a shocking crime. It could have destroyed her, but Naomi has grown up strong, with a passion for photography that has taken her all around the world.Now, at last, she has decided to put down roots. The beautiful old house on Point Bluff needs work, but Naomi is looking forward to making a home of her own.But as Naomi plans for the future, her past is catching up with her. Someone in town knows her terrifying secret - and won''t let her forget it... ''A read to be savored . . . Roberts has an unparalleled ability to paint a picture with words . . . and the story is expertly executed.'' -Publishers Weekly (starred review)

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Book SynopsisDeanna Reynolds has everything mapped out: her dream job, her dream life. A talented TV journalist, she is determined to make it big on her own terms. But in a world of public smiles and private feuds, Deanna has attracted some dangerous enemies - including her old mentor, the brilliant but emotionally manipulative Angela Perkins.As Deanna''s star rises, she is flung together with Finn Riley, the network''s most charismatic journalist. Finn is instantly attracted to Dee - but he is also Angela''s ex-lover. As sparks fly between Finn and Deanna, Angela plots her revenge. But there is an even darker obsession growing in the shadows - and no one is safe.Filled with intense passions, dark obsessions and bitter feuds, Private Scandals is pure, addictive pleasure.

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Book SynopsisYears ago, three friends unwittingly unleashed a terrible curse on their home town. Now, in this thrilling conclusion to the Sign of Seven trilogy, their final battle begins.Gage Turner has been running from his past for a long time. Now he has returned to help his blood brothers and to save his home town. To succeed, Gage must open his heart to the clever and beautiful Cybil, with whom he shares a powerful gift. But a lifetime as a loner has made Gage wary of emotional ties...

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Book Synopsis''A wonderful, captivating romantic story'' Chicklit ClubA free summer holiday in a beautiful villa in Lake Como. The catch? Sharing a house with her worst enemy . . . Cesca Shakespeare has hit rock bottom. After one prize-winning play that ended in disaster, writer''s block turned up, moved in and got a Netflix subscription. Six years later, she''s just lost her crappy job and is about to lose her flat. Worse still, her sisters have no idea how far she''s fallen. So when her fairy Godfather offers her a free summer holiday in a beautiful Italian villa, she grudgingly agrees to try writing a new play. That''s before she finds out the house belongs to her arch-nemesis, Sam Carlton. Having just hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons - again - Hollywood heart-throb Sam Carlton needs a place to hide out. Where better than his family''s gorgeous empty villa on Lake Como? Except when he arrives, it isn''t as empty as hTrade ReviewThe perfect book to snuggle up with when you have an evening spare with nothing but a hot chocolate or glass of wine to keep you company... Absolutely adore it beyond belief! * Rachale's Reads *A wonderful, captivating romantic story * Chicklit Club *Will stay with me for quite some time to come... Simply a wonderful read * A Spoonful of Happy Endings *I loved the characters, I loved the plot... and I loved the London and New York settings. It really was a marvellous read! * Leah Loves *An excellent novel * Shaz's Book Blog *

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Book SynopsisThe funny, sharply observed and life-affirming Radio 2 Book Club pick.''Hilarious and touching'' DAILY MAIL''Warm, humane, funny and sad . . . Absolute pleasure reading'' MARIAN KEYES''Keenly observed and utterly believeable'' PANDORA SYKES''Hilariously funny'' ROSAMUND LUPTON__________________________________________It''s the holidays, and the Birch family is gathering for the first time in years.Olivia, the eldest daughter, has returned from treating an epidemic abroad and must go into quarantine for seven days. Her mother has decided it''s the perfect opportunity to spend some ''special time'' together. Her youngest sister wholeheartedly disagrees. Her father isn''t allowed an opinion.When no one can leave the house and no one can enter, quaratine for the Birches feels like an eternity.Especially when they''re all harbouring secrets. One of which is about to come knocking at their door...__________________________________________''Absorbing, insightful and immensely enjoyable'' LAURA BARNETT''One of the best family dramas you''ll ever read'' BEST''I LOVED [it] . . . has all the makings of your classic rom-com, with characters that are both remarkable yet wonderfully relatable'' THE UNMUMSY MUM''Sharply observed by Hornak''s satirical eye'' GLAMOUR''One of the best books of the year'' HELLO!''Expertly captures the joys and the tensions of spending any time with those who know you best. It thoroughly deserves to be this year''s big Christmas hit'' THE ITrade ReviewOne of the best books of the year * Hello! *LOVED it! Warm and humane, funny and sad, with a great, twisty plot, Seven Days of Us is absolute pleasure reading from beginning to end. Francesca Hornak is a true talent. Just gorgeous! -- Marian KeyesI loved this comic drama . . . the plot is genius . . . and the results are hilarious and touching * Daily Mail *Read it if you like Marian Keyes' Rachel's Holiday... it's one of the best family dramas you'll ever read * Best *Sharply observed by Hornak's satirical eye, this has 'Working Title film deal' written all over it * Glamour *Seven Days of Us expertly captures the joys and the tensions of spending any time with those who know you best. It thoroughly deserves to be this year's big Christmas hit * The i *Absorbing, insightful and immensely enjoyable -- Laura Barnett, bestselling author of The Versions of UsCompassionate, witty and wise -- Saskia Sarginson, bestelling author of The TwinsTouching, funny, emotionally intelligent, Seven Days of Us is pure pleasure from beginning to end. It's stylishly written and totally engrossing. I really, really loved it -- Adele GerasIt's a cliché to say this book is a rollercoaster but the sun came up and the sun went down, people cried for help, and the bath overflowed, and I couldn't move, captivated by this extraordinary page-turner. The plot is compulsive and doesn't let up till the very last chapter. It has more twists and turns than Hampton Court Maze and yet Francesca Hornak guides one through it all with a confident hand until one puts it down, exhausted but exhilarated by such a rollicking good read. Terrific -- Virginia IronsideAn engrossing and funny study of a middle-class British family in crisis. I loved it! -- Keith Stuart, bestselling author of A Boy Made of BlocksWitty and deeply heartfelt -- Bestselling author Emily GriffinHornak's first novel is a farcical gem, perfect for fans of Matthew Norman and Emma Straub. Alternately tender and razor-sharp, Seven Days of Us will resonate with anyone who regresses the minute they step inside their childhood home * Booklist starred review *A superb drama - smart and touching * Sunday Mirror *An emotional but ultimately uplifting holiday story * Kirkus Review *A humorous and heartwarming page-turner * Belfast Telegraph *This book is heartwarming and gloriously funny, anyone who spends the Christmas period with their family will be able to relate hugely to this novel. Thank god it's happening to the characters and not to you! * Doncaster Free Press *If you are struggling with self-isolation in the family home, then this is the novel for you -- Abbie Greaves, author of The Silent TreatmentWith its wry observations on class, family, and veddy-British traditions, Francesca Hornak's absorbing debut sparkles with glints of Nancy Mitford and Julian Fellowes

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Book SynopsisPre-order the new sharp, hilarious Justin Myers novel, LEADING MAN, now!''If you liked Bridget Jones''s Diary, try this'' BBC News *****James is 34 and fed up. His six-year relationship with Adam has imploded, he hates his job making up celebrity gossip, and his best friend Bella has just announced she''s moving to Russia.Adrift and single in loved-up London, James needs to break out of his lonely, drunken comfort zone. Encouraged by Bella, he throws himself headlong into online dating, blogging each encounter anonymously as the mysterious Romeo.After meeting a succession of hot/weird/gross men, James has fans and the validation he''s always craved. But when his wild night with a closeted Olympian goes viral and sends his Twitter-fame through the roof, James realises maybe, in the search for happy-ever-after, some things are better left un-shared. Seriously, wherefore art thou RomeoTrade ReviewI adored The Last Romeo . . . funny, clever and warm. -- Adam Kay, author of This is Going to HurtSo funny and sharp, yet tender and emotional too. I loved it! -- Jill MansellJames becomes single at 34, and starts a dating blog. But when it becomes successful, his online persona begins to take over...This is lovely! Funny, smart, tart, full of great characters. It achieves something very clever: it looks at men with a fierce, critical stare, and yet it's never snide or critical or unfair. Written with a big, beating heart. -- Russell T. Davies

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Book SynopsisPre-order the new sharp, hilarious Justin Myers novel, LEADING MAN, now!''Funny, beautifully observed and moving'' Adam Kay*****Two brothers. Two different journeys. The same hope of a magnificent future.At twenty-nine, Jake D''Arcy has finally got his life just right. Job with prospects: check. Steady girlfriend: check. Keeping his exhausting, boisterous family at bay: check. So why isn''t he happier?When his confident, much-adored younger brother Trick comes out as gay to a rapturous response, Jake realises he has questions about his own repressed bisexuality, and that he can''t wait any longer to find his answers.As Trick begins to struggle with navigating the murky waters of adult relationships, Jake must confront himself and those closest to him. He''s beginning to believe his own life could be magnificent, if he can be brave enough to make it happen . . .*****''Tales OfTrade ReviewDoes exactly what it says on the tin: MAGNIFICENT. Funny, beautifully observed and moving -- Adam Kay, bestselling author of This is Going to HurtJust wonderful. Warm, funny and believable, with characters you feel you know. And with, as ever, some enviably KILLER lines . . . -- Marina O'LoughlinFunny, kind, insightful book, about those who get left behind. Sensitive, honest, and never afraid to take the piss -- Russell T DaviesTales Of The City for a new generation . . . I fell hard and fast for this and wasn't ready for it to end. It's an exceptional read, smart, touching, razor-sharp one-liners, a joyous, gorgeous, life-affirming read with characters that burst from the page yet remain believable. I fell utterly in love with it -- John MarrsThe Magnificent Sons is a witty, warm and wonderful novel. It has a terrific cast of characters, some really rich relationships, and offers a fascinating insight into both bisexuality and sibling rivalry. As ever, Justin Myers is as sharp as a stiletto and had me laughing like a particularly filthy drain -- Matt CainThis really is a touching, witty book. Myers cements his reputation for wry insights into modern sexuality -- Gareth RubinBrilliant. I fell in love with Jake and there was something special about reading the brothers' stories unfold while keeping one eye on my own magnificent sons playing in our garden -- The Unmumsy MumIn sparklingly astute prose Justin Myers pins down what it is to be struggling to articulate your sexuality in your thirties, and all the accompanying confusion, pain, family tensions and friendship shifts. Original, compelling, touching and funny -- Francesca Hornak, author of Seven Days of UsA funny, keenly observed tale about relationships and identity * Red Magazine *With razor sharp observation, this coming of age story is full of heart * Sunday Mirror *Really funny, really moving, really sweet, a really great read . . . I tore through it . . . Love it! -- Lindsey KelkThe Magnificent Sons is a compelling story that explores the intricacies of family and sexuality, while being entertaining and amusing; pick yourself a sunny afternoon and devour it! -- Is That You DarlingJustin Myers (AKA The Guyliner) brings his signature wit and empathy to this portrait of a larger-than-life family at a crossroads. It sparkles with humour and some great set pieces underpinned by a reflective layer concerned with self-and mutual acceptance. He does a good job of conveying the incomprehension and preconceptions which surround bisexuality -- Isabel Costello

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Book Synopsis''If you''re after the perfect pick-me-up, take-me-away-from-the-world read, then she''s your woman'' The Guardian''Nora Roberts is, quite simply, a one-woman phenomenon''Heat''I love Nora Roberts''Stephen KingWhen the shots rang out in the shopping mall, Simone Knox knew what to do. Shelter in place. That''s what they taught you to do in the event of a mass shooting. So on that terrible, hot summer day in 2005, Simone was lucky. She escaped death. But she would never be the same again. More than ten years later, Simone still struggles with grief, trauma and the misplaced guilt of a survivor. She spends much of her time alone on Tranquility Island - a quiet, artistic community off the coast of Maine. But she is transforming - shaping herself the way she shapes her extraordinary and highly prized sculptures. As she heals herself, she opens up to Reed Quartermaine, who survived the shooting himself and has Trade Reviewthe most popular novelist on Planet Earth - Washington Post

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Book Synopsis''With echoes of David Nicholls''s One Day, this romance has just the right mix of heart-melting moments and heart-rending near misses'' GOOD HOUSEKEEPING''Intensely romantic'' SUNDAY MIRROR''Wonderful, heart-tugging'' PRIMA''Timeless and moving'' HOLLY MILLERPerfect for fans of ONE DAY and ME BEFORE YOU, this is a heartbreaking love story spanning three decades that starts and ends on a bench, by the Richard & Judy Book Club bestselling author.__________________________________________It begins at the end.It begins on a bench, on a heath, where a woman waits for a man. Ten years ago, they made a pact: On this bench, on this day, they will end a love affair that''s spanned three decades, or start again.They should never have met. They should never have fallen in love.But they did, until a lTrade ReviewWith echoes of David Nicholls's One Day, this romance has just the right mix of heart-melting moments and heart-rending near misses * Good Housekeeping *A raw, emotional book about love in all its guises * The Sun *A wonderful, heart-tugging romance * Prima *Fans of David Nicholls's One Day will love this heart-tugging read * Hello! *A quirky and intensely romantic tearjerker * Sunday Mirror *Read it if you liked One Day . . . Have tissues to hand * Best *Heartbreaking * Bella *Captivating . . . this beautiful love story is touching, relatable and gloriously romantic. It found it impossible to put down * The Press and Journal *An unforgettable story about once-in-a-lifetime love. A heartfelt and emotional depiction of two people thrown together by destiny then torn apart by circumstance. Powerful, timeless and moving - I loved it -- Holly MillerA beautiful portrait of love. Real. Complicated. Irresistible -- Jemma WayneA wonderful, life-spanning novel with real heart and depth. I didn't want it to end -- Lisa BallantyneA sweeping love story rich with honest, tender moments -- Emma RousA beautiful, very special, love story about what can happen when life gets in the way. About how love can endure the impossible. About how some people are meant to be. Saskia Sarginson is such a talented writer. Her characters are so human with their shortcomings and virtues, they could be us - they are us. And thus, their moments of grace are ours. I loved this book. -- Cecilia EkbäckA poignant and heart-wrenching love story, tender and suspenseful and exquisitely written. The characters are painted with such compassion and sympathy: we enter into their longing, into their passionate and aching worlds, willing the story to end well for them, not wanting it to end, but to go on forever. This is one of the best love stories written, engrossing and utterly immersive. Saskia Sarginson never disappoints. -- Mary ChamberlainSaskia Sarginson is a gifted and versatile writer. She can turn her hand to just about any genre - be it thriller, historical or literary. This is the fourth novel of hers that I have read and for me, it's right up there with her best work. The Bench feels like a book that the world really needs right now. Packed full of surprises and kindness, I certainly fell head over heels in love with it. -- Fiona MitchellA beautiful romance with likeable characters you invest in wholeheartedly . . . an intriguing, thought-provoking, uplifting tale of love, loss, deceit, and destiny * www.moreaboutbooks.com *

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