Contemporary fiction titles are those which focus on the present or near past. Stories rooted in the current cultural, social, and political landscape which feature characters we can all recognise.
Contemporary Fiction Books
Marion Boyars Publishers Ltd Aberration of Starlight
Book Synopsis
£999.99
Marion Boyars Publishers Ltd Sauls Book
Book Synopsis
£11.74
Marion Boyars Publishers Ltd The Distant Lands
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£15.15
Marion Boyars Publishers Ltd Tekin L Berji Kristin
Book SynopsisA nihilistic wit reminiscent of Samuel Beckett.?Independent on SundayThe cast-offs of modern urban society are driven out onto the edges of the city and left to make a life there for themselves. They are not, however, in any natural wilderness, but in a world of refuse and useless junk?a place which denies any form of sustainable life. Here, the unemployed, the homeless, the old and the bereft struggle to build shelters out of old tin cans, scavenge for food and fight against insuperable odds.And yet somehow they survive: it seems that society thrives on the garbage hills because it has always been built on one. In this dark fairy tale full of scenes taken from what has increasingly become a way of life for many inhabitants on this planet, Latife Tekin has written a grim parable of human destiny.A major best seller in her native Turkey, Latife Tekin maintains a politically active presence and has written a number of literary works.Saliha Paker translates Turkish poetry and is a member of the Centre for Byzantine, Ottoman and Modern Greek Studies at the University of Birmingham. Ruth Christie is a translator of Turkish poetry and prose.A provocative and enjoyable work.?Times Literary SupplementA small masterpiece of beauty.?Women''s Review of Books
£10.44
Marion Boyars Publishers Ltd The Serious Game
Book SynopsisArvid, an ambitious and educated young man, meets Lydia, the daughter of a landscape painter, one summer and falls in love. Lydia, however, has other suitors, and Arvid is frightened of being tied by his emotions. Years later, now trapped inside loveless marriages of convenience, the two struggle to rekindle the promise of their romance with bitter and tragic results--back cover.
£11.40
Marion Boyars Publishers Ltd Swords of Ice
Book SynopsisHalilhan Sunteriler, Turkish would-be entrepreneur, rescues a red Volvo from the scrap heap, which he believes will lead him to big money in business ventures. With his best friend Gogi - the most ''cultured'' man in the neighbourhood - and his brothers Hazmi and Mesut, Halilhan forms the Teknojen company.Halilhan is obsessed with his Volvo, blaming the car for leading him from one disastrous affair to the next. Mesut lives in the shadow of his wife Aynina, and Hazmi has severe ''anger management'' issues. Will they ever manage to pull together and make Teknojen a success?
£7.99
Alma Books Ltd Dead Fingers Talk
Book SynopsisFirst published in 1963 and representing Burroughs's literary breakthrough in the UK, Dead Fingers Talk is, in the words of Burroughs scholar Oliver Harris, a prophetic work of haunting power, and is perhaps the most commercial and accessible of his works. Combining new material with selections from Naked Lunch and his cut-up novels The Soft Machine and The Ticket That Exploded, the book is also a fascinating precursor to remix and mash-up forms in art and music, which owe much to Burroughs's influence. This newly edited edition of Dead Fingers Talk, based on the restored text of the novel, will delight all Burroughs fans and lovers of experimental literature, and offer a new insight into the artistic process of one of the most original and influential writers of the twentieth century.Trade Reviewa prophetic work of haunting power * Oliver Harris *
£9.99
Alma Books Ltd The Eyewitness Report
Book Synopsis
£15.00
Alma Books Ltd Man on a Road and Other Stories
Book SynopsisThe titular story in this collection, Man on a Road' which famously led to the 1936 congressional hearings that exposed the worst industrial disaster in American history is a snapshot of appalling capitalist exploitation from the perspective of a walking-dead miner slowly suffocating from silicosis. The Happiest Man on Earth', winner of the 1938 O. Henry Award, is about a man who, desperate to feed his family and regain his dignity, embarks on a long journey on foot in his quest for a job, while The Way Things Are' renders the terrors of the Jim Crow South with unflinching realism, foreshadowing the aesthetics and politics of the civil-rights movement.Albert Maltz, one of the Hollywood Ten of the McCarthy era, spent ten months in prison and twenty years on the blacklist as a banned artist forced to write under a pseudonym. With this collection of stories, spanning forty years of his career and including previously uncollected works, his long-silenced voice returns, re-establishing him as a master of hard-hitting but compassionate short fiction.
£8.54
Duckworth Books Viva La Madness The Gripping Sequel to the
Book SynopsisDarkly comic, fast-paced and full of twists Viva la Madness is packed with sex, scams, drugs and enough dirty money to fill a few offshore bank accounts.Trade Review'Masterful plotting - double-crosses abound - a cracking pace and some truly excellent set pieces including a chase through the London underground all lead up to a wham-bam ending. Fast, furious, funny and highly recommended for fans of Layer Cake and new readers alike' Guardian'Connolly's style is fast and funny and just frightening enough to make you sit up all night' Independent on Sunday'The novel has its predecessor's driving energy and the protagonist's disparate colleagues are terrific characters' The Sunday Times
£8.99
Duckworth Books Queen of Heaven Maid of Gascony Book 2
Book SynopsisThe White Tower. A terrible vision. Her home invaded and precious documents stolen. Queen of Heaven is the 15th century story of a woman who overcomes restrictions placed on her sex to save all she holds dear.
£8.54
Duckworth Books The Master of Measham Hall
Book Synopsis1665. King Charles II has returned from exile but the scars of the English Civil Wars are yet to heal and now the Great Plague engulfs the land. When Alethea is cast out on the streets of London, a longroad to Derbyshire lies ahead of her.Trade Review‘It’s rare for a historical novel to feel so timely’ Jo Baker, Sunday Times bestselling author of Longbourn‘Exciting and immersive. It took me straight into the heart of Restoration England in all its rich and vivid detail. I was gripped! Such beautiful writing too - Anna is a stunning new talent’ Nicola Cornick, international bestselling author of House of Shadows‘Impeccably researched and wonderfully atmospheric, with a heroine you can’t help rooting for’ Frances Quinn, author of The Smallest Man‘A thoroughly engaging romp… By turns entertaining, surprising and thought-provoking, this is an impressive debut’ Jane Johnson, author of The Sea Gate‘A gripping depiction of what people will do to survive, the long-held beliefs and scruples questioned and cast aside as well as the unexpected kindnesses and unusual alliances made. In elegant prose, this enthralling novel puts a human face to the trials, terrors and enduring hopes of the plague years’ Catherine Meyrick, author of The Bridled Tongue'A thrilling and original tale of reinvention! Death in a time of plague is expected. What happens to Abney's heroine Alethea is not. The Master of Measham Hall is a vivid and extraordinary journey of survival, and ultimately an exploration of what we gain and what we lose as we pass through this world' VL Valentine, The Plague Letters‘A powerful and engaging story, full of good characters, satisfying plot turns, and excellent scene-setting. With all the details and insights on offer, it feels like a rich and rewarding panorama of English culture in the 1660s. The transformation of Alethea was wonderful to read, and genuinely gripping’ Richard Hamblyn
£8.54
Duckworth Books The Soviet Sisters
Book SynopsisTwo sisters become embroiled in the burgeoning Cold War in this spellbinding novel of espionage, secrets and betrayalsTrade Review'Electrifying, meticulously researched, and expertly plotted, The Soviet Sisters is at once a Cold War thriller, a gripping spy story, a page-turning mystery, and a familial drama' Lara Prescott, bestselling author of The Secrets We Kept'What a page turner! The era and setting were very fresh, I learned so much, and I loved being taken around post-war Berlin. East and West, love and hate – this story gives beautiful insight into the opposites that can make or break a sisters' bond. Compelling' Mandy Robotham, bestselling author of The Berlin Girl and The Girl Behind the Wall
£11.69
Duckworth Books Hester
Book SynopsisIsobel, a gifted needleworker with strange talents, finds herself penniless and alone in Salem. When she meets Nathaniel Hawthorne, the two are drawn to each other. Together, they are dark storyteller and muse, but where will their affair lead?Trade Review'Like the greatest historical fiction, Hester makes you believe utterly' Gillian Flynn, international bestselling author of Gone Girl‘Full of lush and colourful prose, Hester proves that a woman will do whatever she must to prosper, even when she is left with nothing but courage – and a few secrets of her own’ Sarah Penner, bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary‘A masterpiece that should be required reading alongside Hawthorne’s classic tale of adultery. Enthralling, ambitious and a total knockout’ Fiona Davis, bestselling author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue‘A luminous blend of fiction and truth, Hester weaves a spellbinding tapestry of Salem history as it has never been told before’ Afia Atakora, author of Conjure Women
£15.29
Duckworth Books The Messenger of Measham Hall
Book SynopsisAs England slides towards invasion by the Protestant forces of Prince William of Orange, Nicolas becomes entangled in conspiracies within King James's court - and soon learns that both truth and love come at a high price.Trade Review‘A great yarn. Recommended!' Leonora Nattrass, author of Blue Water‘Is there anything better than realising a book you adored has a sequel? Immersive, with a cracking plot, The Messenger of Measham Hall draws you in as hero Nicholas seeks answers to questions too dangerous to ask. Full of intrigue and tension, roll on the next instalment!’ Lianne Dillsworth, author of Theatre of Marvels'A gripping mystery full of intrigue with wonderful well researched historical detail. A real page turner with a brilliant twist!' Clare Marchant, author of The Mapmaker's Daughter‘A thrilling adventure exploring complex themes of loyalty, faith and gender. Both a tender coming-of-age story and a tense spy thriller, nothing and no one is as it seems in the mysterious world of Measham Hall’ Miranda Malins, author of The Rebel Daughter‘Beautifully crafted: a portal to the past that feels instantly and entirely real’ A. J. West, author of The Spirit Engineer‘Political subterfuge and family secrets entwine in this tale of historical intrigue. Meticulously researched and alive with intricate period details to savour, I raced through it’ Lucy Ribchester, author of The Amber Shadows'The history is absolutely right, and so is the mystery: every reader is pretty well guaranteed at least two jaw-dropping moments' Ronald Hutton, Professor of History at the University of Bristol
£9.49
Duckworth Books The Prisoner of Measham Hall
Book Synopsis1690.Nicholas Hawthorne of Measham Hall is enlisted to fight in William III's wars in Ireland, but he's playing a dangerous double game. Meanwhile, his father faces a different problem one which both must conquer together.
£9.49
Duckworth Books The Secret Christmas
Book SynopsisThe Puritan parliament has outlawed the celebration of Christmas, but when a theatre troupe begging alms turns up at Measham Hall, the family's Catholic traditions of hospitality and charity dictate they must welcome the strangers in, despite the risks involved.
£9.50
Duckworth Books HOPE
Book SynopsisHopefollows the Greenspan family over the course of one tumultuous year as they question, and compromise, the values that have shaped their lives.
£10.44
Duckworth Books A Splintering
Book Synopsis
£15.29
Duckworth Books Dead Behind the Eyes
£9.49
Gill Going Back
Book SynopsisA heartwarming debut that continues the story of the hit RTÉ TV series Pure Mule, which captured the whole world in one small Irish town.Scobie Donoghue was once the king of Friday, Saturday and Sunday night, famous for the craic and the drink. His twenties were spent working on building sites during the Celtic Tiger, making good money and spending it on wild weekends. A lovable rogue, the lads wanted to be him and the girls wanted to be with him.But now, returning from Australia after the break-down of his relationship, Scobie is back in the single bed of his childhood home. About to turn forty, burnt out and depressed, he quickly discovers that life in the small midlands town he thought he had left behind has moved on but has Scobie?Just like Normal People, Pure Mule captured the zeitgeist at a pivotal time in modern Ireland.' Roscommon Herald
£16.19
Gill A Whisper from Oblivion
Book SynopsisThe follow-up to The Pawnbroker's Reward, his bestselling 2021 novel, Declan O'Rourke's second instalment sees the inhabitants of Macroom and its surroundings landed squarely into the eye of the storm that is 1847, during Ireland's Great Famine.After the landslide of their descent through 1846, Pádraig and Cáit Ua Buachalla awaken on the outskirts of Macroom to a new year fraught with the worst of weather, worse luck and a new level of problems that compound their desperate struggle to survive. In the heart of town, in the absence of her husband the pawnbroker, Paulellen Creed struggles to stay afloat.Follow this heart-wrenching story of tragedy and human beauty as, through the voices of Macroom in 1847, we hear a whisper from oblivion.
£20.39
Penguin Books Ltd Love Iris
Book SynopsisThe SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER AND RICHARD & JUDY BOOK CLUB pick from the author of The Family Holiday''A moving and heart-warming novel about love in all its forms'' Sunday Express ________Did you ever have a secret you knew would change everything?Tess''s happy childhood memories are mostly of the grandmother who helped raise her. And now she has a secret to tell Iris - one which will turn so many lives upside down.But how can you confide your future in someone who barely remembers her past?Tess knows everything is about to change. What she doesn''t know is that chance will lead her into the lives of two strangers - and uncover her grandmother''s secret from the past.A secret which will illuminate her own future . . .An uplifting, unforgettable story about keeping secrets, taking chances and finding happiness where you least expect it.Previously publTrade ReviewNobody weaves a complex web of stories with quite the same skill as Elizabeth Noble . . . An uplifting read written with wry humour, insight and sensitivity * Sunday Express *With a collection of well-drawn characters whose stories intertwine, this is a heart-warming novel about relationships, secrets and love in all its forms * Choice Magazine *A beautiful tale of love, loss and hope * Sun *Noble specialises in warm-hearted tearjerkers with strong connections between women * Daily Mail *A moving and heart-warming novel about love in all its forms: between parents and children, husbands and wives and the very best of friends * Sunday Express *We all know the strange power of old letters . . . Could they be the secret to the missing pieces of her grandmother's life? Packed with intrigue * Yours Magazine *Prepare to be ensnared in a complex web of deeply satisfying secrets * Event Magazine *A heart-warmer * Prima *Praise for Elizabeth Noble * - *Noble is the mistress of the tearjerking message of love * Express *A wonderfully well-written book, full of emotion * Daily Mail *Witty, affectionate and unashamedly tear-jerking * Red *Impossible to finish without tears streaming down your face * Daily Express *Honest and beautifully written * Woman & Home *Incredibly thought-provoking and poignant * Sun *Witty, pacy and immediately engaging * Glamour *Tissues are essential. You'll ricochet between delicately watering eyes at the romance of it all and howling sobs at the unbearable tenderness * Heat *It would be a hard heart indeed that remained unmoved . . . the tender feelings that Noble engenders in her readers are to be cherished * Daily Express *So fluid, the pages turn themselves * Daily Mirror *Irresistible comfort read * Glamour *
£10.46
Penguin Books Ltd The Accidental Husband
Book SynopsisJane Green''s The Accidental Husband is a powerful story about two women connected by an earth-shattering secret.Maggie and Sylvie are perfect strangers: two very different women, living very different lives on opposite coasts. But they share more in common than they could ever imagine.Both women have beautiful children on the verge of flying the nest, the home they worked hard to build and always longed for, and a handsome and devoted husband they can''t believe belongs to them. Both women think their lives are seamlessly secure, but they couldn''t be more wrong . . .For each is about to discover a secret that will shake their world to the very core, throwing into doubt everything they ever thought they knew, and bringing Maggie and Sylvie together in the most unexpected way.Praise for Jane Green:''A heartbreaking tale of love and family, truly compelling'' Closer''Compulsively readable. I raced through it'' Daily
£8.99
Penguin Books Ltd Buchan E I Cant Begin to Tell You
Book SynopsisSettle down with the stunning wartime story of a family trying to survive, from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The New Mrs CliftonWhen the Nazis invade Denmark, British-born Kay Eberstern is sickened when Bror - her husband of twenty-five years - collaborates with the enemy to save his family home.Lured by British Intelligence into a covert world of resistance, her life in the hands of London''s code breakers, Kay''s betrayal of her husband is complete as she risks her home and children to protect an SOE agent who won''t even tell her his name.As her family - especially her headstrong daughter - is drawn further into danger, Kay is faced with a wrenching moral dilemma.Who will be sacrificed next for the cause?Can she and Bror ever find their way back to one another?I Can''t Begin to Tell You is a beautiful story of bravery, broken loyalties, lies and how the power of love can bring redemptiTrade ReviewGripping, fascinating . . . Kay is prepared to sacrifice marriage, home, children and her life for the cause * Daily Mail *Impressive . . . nerve-janglingly engrossing . . . Buchan brings the period vividly to life * Sunday Times *This is such a good novel, full of incident and history and the minutiae of life as a spy * Daily Express *She who dares wins in Buchan's gripping doorstopper about the Nazi occupation in Denmark * Daily Mail *A gripping story of courage and conscience. Highly recommended * Sunday Mirror *Gripping, beautifully written and peopled with characters you believe in * Choice Magazine *A gripping story about a family divided by war time loyalties * The Irish News *
£10.44
Penguin Books Ltd The Bootlegger
Book SynopsisThe Bootlegger is the seventh of Clive Cussler''s bestselling Isaac Bell novels.It is 1920. Prohibition and bootlegging are in full swing. When Joseph Van Dorn is shot and nearly killed while in pursuit of a rum-running vessel, his friend and employee, Isaac Bell, swears to him that he will hunt down the lawbreakers. But Bell doesn''t know what he is getting into. When a witness to the shooting is executed in a manner peculiar to the Russian secret police, it becomes clear that these were no ordinary bootleggers.Bell is facing a team of Bolshevik assassins and saboteurs - and they are intent on overthrowing the government of the United States.An adventure laced with secret cargo and assassins, The Bootlegger is the seventh of Clive Cussler''s Isaac Bell novels, and follows The Spy, The Thief and The Striker.Praise for Clive Cussler:Cussler is hard to beat - Daily MailThe guy ITrade ReviewCussler is hard to beat * Daily Mail *The guy I read * Tom Clancy *The Adventure King * Sunday Express *
£11.39
Penguin Books Ltd How Far We Fall
Book SynopsisFROM THE AUTHOR OF THE BESTSELLING PHENOMENON DAUGHTERA wife who must keep her affair secret. A husband who has the power to bring her lover down.A marriage that could end in murder.Beth was still reeling from the end of her affair the night she met Albie - a man who knows her ex better than anyone, but has no idea of their history.He''s perfectly placed to give Beth the revenge she craves - if only she can keep her secret safe.But how far is she willing to go?''Instantly intriguing, chilling'' Daily Mail''A breathtaking dissection of a marriage'' Woman & Home''A brilliant exploration of power and responsibility, jealousy and vengeance, set against the fascinating backdrop of the world of neurosurgery'' Daily ExpressTrade ReviewBreathtaking dissection of a marriage * Woman & Home *Instantly intriguing, chilling * Daily Mail *A modern Macbeth, with a compelling sense of place, good twists, and a tense, intense ending -- Sarah Vaughan * bestselling author of Anatomy of a Scandal *A brilliant exploration of power and responsibility, jealously and vengeance, set against the fascinating backdrop of the world of neurosurgery * Daily Express *We couldn't put this down * Take a Break *Praise for Jane Shemilt * - *We absolutely loved this . . . It's difficult to believe that this accomplished book is a debut -- Richard & Judy Book ClubBuilds layer upon layer of tension in a novel you won't be able to put down -- Tess GerritsenUtterly gripping. A tautly-coiled spring of suspicion and suspense which builds to a devastating ending * Mail on Sunday *Thrilling * Sunday Express *A dark and twisty tale * Heat *Well-written, taut and tense -- Wendy Holden * Daily Mail *Taut and thought-provoking * Woman & Home *Gripping to the last page * My Weekly *Suspenseful, brooding * Sunday Mirror *Clever * Sun *
£10.44
Penguin Books Ltd The White Devil
Book SynopsisTHE GRIPPING NEW ADVENTURE FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE LEFT HAND OF GOD SERIESAmerica is on the brink of civil war. Only Thomas Cale can stop it . . .________Thomas Cale - the world''s most dangerous yet reluctant hero - has been running from his enemies. Tracked down moments before his execution, Cale is presented with a chance to escape.But it comes at a price: He must murder the American president. The father of modern democracy. The man fighting the south''s attempts to reinstate slavery.Accept, and he risks the fates of millions.Refuse, and he endangers his own life . . .________Praise for Paul Hoffman:''Fiction on a grand and ambitious scale'' Daily Telegraph''Brooding and magnificent'' Eoin Colfer''Exhilaratingly engaging writing'' Spectator''Gripped me from the first chapter'' Conn Iggulden''A riveting, powerful tale'' Publishers WeeklyTrade ReviewPraise for Paul Hoffman * - *Exhilaratingly engaging writing, imbued with zest and intelligence * Spectator *Brooding and magnificent. Hoffman has created a terrifying world and fitted it with strange and complex characters -- Eoin ColferA riveting, powerful tale, with irresistible characters, humour and a brilliantly imagined world * Publisher's Weekly *
£10.44
Penguin Books Ltd Cruelty
Book SynopsisPERFECT for fans of Roald Dahl.Think you know Dahl? Think again. There''s still a whole world of Dahl to discover in a newly collected book of his deliciously dark tales for adults . . . ''Cruelty has a human heart . . .''Even when we mean to be kind we can sometimes be cruel. We each have a streak of nastiness inside us. In these ten tales of cruelty master storyteller Roald Dahl explores how and why it is we make others suffer.Among others, you''ll read the story of two young bullies and the boy they torment, the adulterous wife who uncovers her husband''s secret, the man with a painting tattooed on his back whose value he doesn''t appreciate and the butler and chef who run rings around their obnoxious employer.Roald Dahl reveals even more about the darker side of human nature in seven other centenary editions: Lust, Madness, Deception, Innocence, Trickery, War and Fear.Trade ReviewFrom Roald Dahl, the master of the sting in the tail, a newly collected book of his darkest stories * from publisher's description *One of the most widely read and influential authors * The Times *That absolute master of the twist in the tale * Observer *
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd One Day in May
Book SynopsisIndulge in this deliciously romantic rural comedy about past love from the bestselling author of A Cornish SummerOne day in May, Hattie''s life changes for ever . . .Hattie Carrington has good reason to be happy. Her antiques business is flourishing, her teenage son is settled at school and she''s enjoying a fling with a sexy, younger man. But when work takes her back to the village of Little Crandon, heartbreaking memories of her first love surface.It seems that the secret affair with married politician Dominic Forbes, which changed the course of her life, just won''t go away. So when Hattie bumps into Dominic''s widow and his gorgeous younger brother, Hal, her world is turned upside down. Though she''s still trying to hide from her mistakes, she knows that if she''s ever to fall in love again she needs to be honest with others, and herself. Can she admit what really happened with Dominic all those years ago?And, if s
£10.44
Penguin Books Ltd Rebuilding Coventry
Book SynopsisDiscover the brilliant, hilarious and unlikely story of a woman''s life rebuilt, from the bestselling author of the Adrian Mole series and The Woman who Went to Bed for a Year''There are two things that you should know about me immediately: the first is that I am beautiful, the second is that yesterday I killed a man. Both things were accidents . . .''When Midlands housewife Coventry Dakin kills her next-door neighbour, in a wild attempt to stop him from strangling his wife, she goes on the run.Finding herself alone and friendless in London, she tries to lose herself in the city''s maze of streets.There, she meets a bewildering cast of eccentric characters.From Professor Willoughby D''Eresby and his perpetually naked wife Letitia, to Dodo, a care-in the-community inhabitant of Cardboard City, they all contrive to change Coventry in ways she could never have foreseen . . . Praise for Sue Townsend:
£9.49
John Murray Press The Book of Fame
Book SynopsisFrom the acclaimed author of Mister Pip.Trade ReviewThis starkly beautiful book . . . tackles the origin of myth, the creation and nature of man-made beauty, and the sense of self New Zealanders have both as individuals and as a nation * The Age *'Impressionistic and very vivid account of the birth of a sporting legend' * Good Book Guide *'Jones often expresses himself in beautifully clear prose poetry' * The Tablet *PRAISE FOR LLOYD JONES * - *Jones proves sly, engaging, worth-reading and even re-reading * London Review of Books *Being a truthful writer, Jones sees nothing; neither his heroes nor his villains in black and white. His is a bold inquiry into the way that we construct and repair our communities, and ourselves, with stories old and new * The Times *Lloyd Jones gives the tired post-colonial themes of self-reinvention ... a fresh, ingenious twist but his real achievement is bringing life and depth to his characters * Sunday Telegraph *Lloyd Jones brings to life the transformative power of fiction * Sunday Times *'Intriguing' * Sally Bunn. Shropshire Star *'Intriguing' * Sally Bunn. Shropshire Star *'Jones often expresses himself in beautifully clear prose poetry' * The Tablet *
£9.49
John Murray Press Speak No Evil
Book SynopsisIn the long-anticipated novel from the author of the critically acclaimed Beasts of No Nation, a revelation shared between two privileged teenagers from very different backgrounds sets off a chain of events with devastating consequencesTrade ReviewThat Iweala is a writer of spectacular talent is without question * Observer *A memorable book from an important talent * Guardian *A finely observed coming-of-age story . . . an emotional eloquence that reveals the awful power of love and guilt * Mail on Sunday *The soul of Speak No Evil is the tortuous, exquisitely rendered relationship between Niru and his father * New Yorker *Stunning * Vogue *Tackling race, gender and violence, it's a sharp burst of emotion * Stylist *Speak No Evil is the rarest of novels: the one you start out just to read, then end up sinking so deeply into it, seeing yourself so clearly in it, that the novel starts reading you * Marlon James *A lovely slender volume that packs in entire worlds with complete mastery. Speak No Evil explains so much about our times and yet is never anything less than a scintillating, page-turning read * Gary Shteyngart, author of Little Failure *A wrenching, tightly woven story about many kinds of love and many kinds of violence. Speak No Evil probes deeply but also with compassion the cruelties of a loving home. Iweala's characters confront you in close-up, as viscerally, bodily alive as any in contemporary fiction * Larissa MacFarquhar *A quietly tragic triumph * Financial Times *A craftily written heart-wrencher, it explores what it means to be black and queer in today's USA * Independent, Best LGBT novels to look out for in 2018 *Elegant and elegiac, and evokes Washington DC with subtle power -- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie * Guardian *Uzodinma Iweala . . . reminds his readers of the underlying humanity of his characters, whatever their heritage, race, or sexuality * TLS *Adept storytelling and eye for lucid detail . . . it has the stomach-churning pace of a Greek tragedy * Financial Times *Elegant and elegiac * Bookseller *
£9.49
John Murray Press The Brief History of the Dead
Book Synopsis''A prodigy of imagination, insight and overwhelming tenderness'' Independent''Remember me when I''m gone'' just took on a whole new meaning . . . Laura Byrd is in trouble. Three weeks ago she and her friends found themselves alone in one of the coldest, most remote places on earth. Her friends set out in search of help, and now Laura realises that they are not coming back. So she gathers her remaining supplies and sets out on an extraordinary journey.Meanwhile in another city, more and more people arrive every day. Each has a different story to tell, but their accounts have one thing in common - it was their final journey. For this is the city of the dead. And the link between this city and Laura''s journey lies at the heart of this remarkable novel. The Brief History of the Dead tells a magical story about our lives - about our place in the world, our connections with each other, and what happens to us all after our deaths. It iTrade Review'An unearthly literary tale' * Bookseller *'Sure-to-be-acclaimed fiction mixes with travelogue ... Gripping - and moving - stuff.' * Sunday Times Travel Magazine - February 2006 *'A moving and unsettling meditation on memories, how recollections of the seemingly trivial can sustain us' * Books Quarterly (Waterstone's) *'His confident voice, observational brilliance and playful humour dazzle to the end.' * The Times *'Convincing . . . reflects on relationships in a beautiful, delicate manner' * Publisher's Weekly *'A story of spellbinding power and imagination which resonates long after the final page' * Tangled Web *Unique and spellbinding ... Brockmeier is up to something different * Minneapolis Star Tribune *Brockmeier investigates our capacity for wonder ... and the result is exacting and perfectly strange * The New Yorker *'A spellbinding novel' * Amy Worth, lead account manager, books, Amazon; Bookseller/ February Booksellers' choice *'Such a powerful read' * Time Out *'Interesting and intellectually daring' * New Statesman *'The themes...are united with wonderful delicacy . . . A prodigy of imagination, insight and overwhelming tenderness' * Murrough O'Brien, The Independent *'The Brief History of the Dead is more magic realism than science fiction. Brockmeier brings to his book the inquisitive soul of a child. He is a master of the imaginative ponder. His prose is full of whimsy, word play and metaphysical musing. ... evocative and attentive...truly spellbinding' * Weekend Australian *'A genuine page turner' * Derby Evening Telegraph *'The inventiveness with which the author links (the worlds of the living and the dead) is highly impressive' * Financial Times *'Brockmeier is a lyrical yet subtle writer, interested in perplexing teleological questions . . . A powerful read' * Time Out *'Imagery like this abounds so that reading Brockmeier's prose is like eating a plate full of tasty titbits. You are bound to be delighted over and over again...it's entertaining and pleasurable to read.' * Canberra Times *'Luminous' * The Age *'Such is his sensitivity and skill that Brockmeier contrives a mystery that is nonetheless subtle, absorbing and ultimately satisfying.' * Colin Greenland, Guardian *'The Brief History of the Dead is altogether remarkable' * Good Reading *'An intriguing take on the afterlife and will encourage you to think about what death means to you' * The Weekly Times *'Sort of like Lost in a good book . . . Comparison with Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones is inevitable' * USA Today *'Brockmeier's tale of polar hardship is gripping, but this touching novel is more concerned with what it means to confront nothingness, and how small gestures and accidental meetings shape who we are' * James Smart, Guardian *
£9.49
John Murray Press The Meaning of Night
Book SynopsisShortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award''A novel of fate and free will, forensic detection and blind love, crime and its justifications . . . finely tuned yet extravagantly complex'' Evening StandardA cold October night, 1854. In a dark passageway, an innocent man is stabbed to death. So begins the extraordinary story of Edward Glyver, book lover, scholar and murderer. As a young boy, Glyver always believed he was destined for greatness. This seems the stuff of dreams, until a chance discovery convinces Glyver that he was right: greatness does await him, along with immense wealth and influence. And he will stop at nothing to win back a prize that he now knows is rightfully his. Glyver''s path leads him from the depths of Victorian London, with its foggy streets, brothels and opium dens, to Evenwood, one of England''s most enchanting country houses. His is a story of betrayal and treachery, of death and delusion, of ruthless obTrade ReviewA tale of obsession, love and revenge, played out amid London's swirling smog ... Glyver is an outstanding creation ... Cox lovingly recreates the atmosphere of the period, from grand dinner parties to assignation with ladies of the night ... Yet he never allows period detail to swamp the human drama at the novel's heart' * Daily Mail *'Spellbinding Victorian mystery . . .Dark atmospheric storytelling with wicked twists and turns' * Good Housekeeping *'A handsome slice of Victoriana... a rewarding, sinister yarn wrapped around an austere meditation on fate, faith and privilege' * Observer *'A novel of fate and free will, forensic detection and blind love, crime and its justifications. The atmosphere crackles, but beneath all is a sly sense of humour. The plotting is second to non - a finely tuned yet extravagantly complex piece of clockwork' * Evening Standard *'An unadulterated pleasure. In prose as flamboyant as a bespoke smoking jacket, Cox's metropolis comes to life, teeming with hearty whores and weasily clerks ... As thrilling as a Hansom cab chase and as guilty a pleasure as a nocturnal turn at a gentleman's "introducing house"' * Independent on Sunday *'Like Charles Palliser, Michel Faber and Sarah Waters, Cox is making the Victorian era a switchback ride for the reader's mind... a rich and complicated tale ... a journey into darkness' * Independent *'A brooding, sinister work ... seeps with questions about good and evil, fate, inheritance, love and, above all, faith' * Scotsman *'The pages teem with wit and erudition and the plot thickens like a good minestrone soup . . . Thrilling' * Courier Mail *'An enthralling journey into the depths of Victorian London and the psyche of a man obsessed, Michael Cox's The Meaning of Night will have you hooked from [the] stunning opening line to the thrilling final revelation' * InStyle *'Resonant with echoes of Wilkie Collins and Charles Dickens, Cox's richly imagined thriller features an unreliable narrator, Edward Glyver, who opens his chilling 'confession'; with a cold-blooded account of an anonymous murder that he commits one night on the streets of l854 London...Cox's tale abounds with startling surprises that are made credible by its scrupulously researched background and details of everyday Victorian life. Its exemplary blend of intrigue, history and romance mark a stand-out literary debut' * Publishers Weekly *'Impressively fluent first novel' * Sunday Telegraph *'Cox creates a strong sense of place, a complex narrative full of unexpectedly wicked twists, and a well-drawn cast of supporting characters. His language is mesmerizing, and his themes of betrayal, revenge, social stratification, sexual repression, and moral hypocrisy echo those of the great 19th-century novelists. Written in the tradition of Michel Faber's The Crimson Petal and the White and Sarah Waters's Fingersmith, Cox's masterpiece is highly recommended for all fiction collections' * Library Journal *'This is a gripping page-turner for dark winter evenings' * Good Book Guide *'A remarkably entertaining treat which begs comparison with the world of Patricia Highsmith' * Kirkus *'Unusual and remarkable... Key to the convincing nature of this confession is Cox's grasp of the minutiae of the times and the language of the period, so that the reader at times forgets this isn't a contemporary of Dickens' * South China Sunday Morning Post *
£10.44
John Murray Press An Incomplete Revenge
Book SynopsisA Zeppelin raid in a sleepy Kent village . . .An innocent family killed . . . Unsolved crimes hang over Heronsdene and Maisie Dobbs is hired to uncover the truth. But outsiders are not welcome and the locals will go to extreme lengths to prevent their long-buried secret from coming to light.Trade Review'Psychologically convincing' * Jessica Mann, Literary Review *'The author captures the atmosphere of (the 1930s) with great accuracy, borne out by extensive research' * Dover Express & Folkestone Herald *'A riveting read...it is an easy book to read yet is not, I felt, a light read as it delves into the horrors of the First World War' * Newbooks *'So well written that it leaves you wanting more' * The Bookfiends Kingdom *'The terrific mystery is intriguing and full of suspense which makes for an absorbing read' * Dartford Messenger *'The accurate period detail makes this series a worthy successor to Agatha Christie's Miss Marple books' * Good Book Guide *'She has created a fascinating working class heroine, Maisie Dobbs ... if you don't usually read detective stories just meet Maisie Dobbs and you may change your mind' * Driffield Leader *Praise for Jacqueline Winspear * *** *'In Maisie Dobbs, Jacqueline Winspear has given us a real gift. Maisie Dobbs has not been created - she has been discovered. Such people are always there amongst us, waiting for somebody like Ms. Winspear to come along and reveal them. And what a revelation it is!' * Alexander McCall Smith *A fine new sleuth for the twenty-first century * Elizabeth George *A heroine to cherish * New York Times *A wry and immensely readable beginning to what promises to be a vivid new addition to crime fiction * Praise for MAISIE DOBBS, Daily Mail *The British counterpart to Alexander McCall Smith's The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency * Associated Press *Feisty, working-class heroine Maisie is a deliberate throwback to the sleuthettes of old-fashioned crime writing. The well-plotted story, its characters and the picture of London between the wars are decidedly romantic. American readers loved it; many Brits will, too. * Guardian *A terrific mystery ... Intriguing and full of suspense, it makes for an absorbing read * Observer *Even if detective stories aren't your thing, you'll love Maisie Dobbs * New Woman *'Think Upstairs Downstairs meets Miss Marple - with a touch of chirpy cheerful Cockney from the Dick Van Dyke school' * Yorkshire Post *
£9.49
Andrews UK Limited The Brigadier Declassified
Book Synopsis
£999.99
Canongate Books The Auguries
Book SynopsisIn the 1500s an almanac full of magic spells was put together by someone intent on bringing about The End Times. It has resurfaced and is being used indiscriminately.An unexpected lunar eclipse. A poisonous fog that cripples the capital. Statues that weep blood.As the catalogue of calamities mount, fear and paranoia provoke rumours of terrorist attacks. But from whom?History professor Juliet Harrington is an authority on sixteenth-century mysticism and a long-time believer in the existence of the Almanac of Forbidden Wisdom, a potent spell-book legend insists was compiled in that period by a cabal of powerful occultists. Its magic is summoned though only at disastrous cost, signalled by The Auguries. Juliet is convinced that the recent plague of disasters means someone reckless is using the book - and she has little time left to stop them.
£19.94
Canongate Books After Melanie
Book SynopsisCan they start again, or will they lose one another forever?David and Judith''s fragile marriage is threatened by the sudden death of their beloved thirteen-year-old daughter, Melanie. As they struggle to cope with their loss, they confront bewildering challenges. But instead of turning to each other, they find comfort with others.David is drawn to Nancy, a colleague and single mother, and a survivor of her own personal tragedy, while Judith grows close to Jeffrey, a recently widowed physician whom she meets through her volunteer work at a thrift shop, itself the scene of multiple daily dramas. As their grief drives them further apart, does their future lie together ''after Melanie'', or are they destined to lose one another for ever?
£19.94
Canongate Books Guests of August
Book SynopsisFive families come together for a summer vacation that will change their lives forever in this moving tale of love, loss and hope.The Edwards, the Ames, the Epsteins, the Currans and the Templetons - five families bound together by the decades-old tradition of spending their August vacation at the idyllic Mount Haven Inn in New Hampshire.Despite living separate, disparate lives, the summer ritual of reconnecting remains an important yearly fixture for the families, with the inn and its tranquil surroundings offering a welcome safe haven and respite from their struggles - a place to draw comfort from their shared past and memories. But strained relationships, heartache, loss and devastating secrets all come to a head one climactic summer - a summer that will change their lives forever . . .
£19.94
Hachette Australia Beneath the Surface
Book SynopsisThe mist lifted the moment he stepped through. And there was the watertower at the summit. His watertower . . . This was what he had come for.In the award-winning book The Watertower, readers were introduced to the small town of Preston and the old watertower that stands outside the town. It is a place where Bubba and Spiro go to play and swim. But what lurks in the deep waters? Why are the townspeople changing? In Beneath the Surface, Spiro, now a doctor of science, returns to uncover the mystery and to find an explanation for the nightmares that haunt him. What he discovers will change his life forever.Beneath the Surface is the long-awaited sequel to The Watertower, winner of the 1995 CBC Book of the Year Award.
£9.49
Hachette Australia The House of Second Chances
Book SynopsisCan a house heal heartache? From coastal Australia to the rugged beauty of Ireland, an enchanting novel of starting over, in the tradition of Maeve Binchy and Monica McInerneyTrade ReviewLeaving Ocean Road is warm, wise and full of humour. Esther Campion is a wonderful new voice in Australian fiction * CATHY KELLY *Leaving Ocean Road is warm, wise and full of humour. Esther Campion is a wonderful new voice in Australian fiction * CATHY KELLY *Join[s] the captivating Maeve Binchy in the pantheon of popular Irish novelists * Irish Scene *Join[s] the captivating Maeve Binchy in the pantheon of popular Irish novelists * Irish Scene *This is a delightful tale, oozing with pathos and possibilities - perfect for when you want to forget about your own problems and slip inside Ellen's heart, one that was once terribly broken and is slowly rising from the ashes. A well-written novel with beautiful descriptions from this new Irish author * Starts at Sixty *This is a delightful tale, oozing with pathos and possibilities - perfect for when you want to forget about your own problems and slip inside Ellen's heart, one that was once terribly broken and is slowly rising from the ashes. A well-written novel with beautiful descriptions from this new Irish author * Starts at Sixty *A warm, funny, intelligent novel. It's ultimately not about how romantic love can save you, but rather how finding new hope and purpose in family can give you what you need to pull yourself from grief. Esther Campion has woven a poignant story... about that journey everyone takes to find their own beloved place in the wide wide world * Better Reading *A warm, funny, intelligent novel. It's ultimately not about how romantic love can save you, but rather how finding new hope and purpose in family can give you what you need to pull yourself from grief. Esther Campion has woven a poignant story... about that journey everyone takes to find their own beloved place in the wide wide world * Better Reading *
£11.69
Hachette Australia Terra Nullius
Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE STELLA PRIZE 2018Highly Commended in the Victorian Premier''s Literary Awards 2017Shortlisted for the ABIA Matt Richell Award for New Writers 2018Shortlisted for the Aurealis Award for a Science Fiction Novel 2017Longlisted for the Indie Book Award for Debut Fiction 2018Nominated for Ditmar Award Best New Talent 2018''Artfully combining elements of literary, historical, and speculative fiction, this allegorical novel is surprising and unforgettable'' - starred review, Publishers Weekly''The truth that lies at the heart of this novel is impossible to ignore.'' - Books+Publishing''a skilfully constructed pastiche of colonisation, resistance and apocalyptic chaos with parallels that sit unsettlingly close to home'' - The Big IssueJacky was running. There was no thought in his head, only an intense drive to run. There was no sense he was gettinTrade ReviewNoongar writer Claire Coleman's debut novel, Terra Nullius, envisions a continent disturbingly familiar and worryingly futuristic. Disturbing because it opens with a scenario of settler dispossession; worrying because Coleman's stories serve as a critique of recent history and prophesy a "second wave invasion and a post-colonial future". * Sydney Morning Herald *Noongar writer Claire Coleman's debut novel, Terra Nullius, envisions a continent disturbingly familiar and worryingly futuristic. Disturbing because it opens with a scenario of settler dispossession; worrying because Coleman's stories serve as a critique of recent history and prophesy a "second wave invasion and a post-colonial future". * Sydney Morning Herald *Coleman makes a significant contribution to the emerging body of Aboriginal writers such as Ellen van Neerven and Alexis Wright who write spectral and speculative fiction to critique the vicious fiction of the colonial archive. * Canberra Times *Coleman makes a significant contribution to the emerging body of Aboriginal writers such as Ellen van Neerven and Alexis Wright who write spectral and speculative fiction to critique the vicious fiction of the colonial archive. * Canberra Times *Coleman, a south coast Noongar woman from Western Australia, goes to the heart of Australia's challenge as a nation - how to universalise the experience of Indigenous people, so that it is something all Australians can understand. This is the essence of good fiction: it takes us away from our present reality and into another. * Zoe Pollock, Brisbane Writers Festival *Coleman, a south coast Noongar woman from Western Australia, goes to the heart of Australia's challenge as a nation - how to universalise the experience of Indigenous people, so that it is something all Australians can understand. This is the essence of good fiction: it takes us away from our present reality and into another. * Zoe Pollock, Brisbane Writers Festival *Set in an Australia that is simultaneously recognisable and bleakly foreign, Coleman's work of speculative fiction tells a story of colonisation and displacement that is both devastating and all too familiar. In our politically tumultuous time, the novel's themes of racism, inherent humanity and freedom are particularly poignant. * Books + Publishing *Set in an Australia that is simultaneously recognisable and bleakly foreign, Coleman's work of speculative fiction tells a story of colonisation and displacement that is both devastating and all too familiar. In our politically tumultuous time, the novel's themes of racism, inherent humanity and freedom are particularly poignant. * Books + Publishing *Coleman is unflinching. * Sydney Review of Books *Coleman is unflinching. * Sydney Review of Books *Terra Nullius is witty, weird, moving and original. * Weekend Australian *Terra Nullius is witty, weird, moving and original. * Weekend Australian *Claire G. Coleman's timely debut is testimony to the power of an old story seen afresh through new eyes. Terra Nullius tells a very familiar tale - with a twist. * Adelaide Review *Claire G. Coleman's timely debut is testimony to the power of an old story seen afresh through new eyes. Terra Nullius tells a very familiar tale - with a twist. * Adelaide Review *Terra Nullius takes reader expectations and confounds them, this is not the story you think it is... but at the same time it's all too familiar. * AU Review *Terra Nullius takes reader expectations and confounds them, this is not the story you think it is... but at the same time it's all too familiar. * AU Review *A speculative sci-fi struggle meaningfully grounded in Coleman's own Indigenous culture, Term Nullius offers something new - a skilfully constructed pastiche of colonisation, resistance and apocalyptic chaos with parallels that sit unsettlingly close to home. * The Big Issue *A speculative sci-fi struggle meaningfully grounded in Coleman's own Indigenous culture, Term Nullius offers something new - a skilfully constructed pastiche of colonisation, resistance and apocalyptic chaos with parallels that sit unsettlingly close to home. * The Big Issue *An incredible debut from striking new voice Claire G Coleman * The Saturday Age *An incredible debut from striking new voice Claire G Coleman * The Saturday Age *
£9.99
Hachette Australia The Writing Class
Book SynopsisA tender, heartwarming novel of unlikely friendships and second chances, perfect for fans of Monica McInerney and Maeve Binchy.Vivian Molloy hardly expected to retire early from teaching, but for her husband, Dave, she''d do anything. But when Dave abandons her after a weekend away, she returns home to their picturesque town in Tasmania, shell-shocked and alone with nothing to fill her days.When an old colleague tries to rope her into teaching a writing class at the local library, Vivian is hesitant. How can she teach with her life falling apart? But it is the people she meets that help her remember who she is. Marilyn, tough-as-nails, has a secret passion for reading and a complex family life. Sienna, a young single mother, is trying to outrun her painful past. Quiet Oscar is housesitting for his sister, retreating from the mainland after losing his job.As the writing class becomes a refuge and strangers become friends, its members will face decisions that will change their lives, and come to realise that when one door closes, others open in its place.Praise for Esther Campion:''An insightful and compassionate novel about loss, love and second chances . . . Esther Campion is an astute observer of human society and brings to her work a gentleness and sense of hopefulness that is immensely welcome'' LIVING ARTS CANBERRA''Warm, wise and full of humour'' CATHY KELLY''Join[s] the captivating Maeve Binchy in the pantheon of popular Irish novelists'' IRISH SCENE''An intelligent novel. Esther Campion has woven a poignant story about that journey everyone takes to find their own beloved place in the wide world'' BETTER READING
£13.49
Hachette Australia Still
Book SynopsisTHE #1 Australian best-selling fiction ''From screen to page, Matt Nable''s ability to breathe life into vivid characters shines against the grittiness of the harsh Australian landscape.'' - Jane Harper, author of The Dry ''a thrilling, heart-stopping novel that fans of The Dry are going to love'' - Weekender ''Nable renders the past both tangible and real and it''s riveting'' - Sue Turnbull, The Age ''must read'' - Who Weekly Darwin, Summer, 1963. The humidity sat heavy and thick over the town as Senior Constable Ned Potter looked down at a body that had been dragged from the shallow marshland. He didn''t need a coroner to tell him this was a bad death. He didn''t know then that this was only the first. Or that he was about to risk everything looking for answers. Late one night, Charlotte Clark drove the long way home, thinking about how stuck she felt, a 23-year-old hous
£9.49
Hachette Australia Willowman
Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKPEOPLE ADULT FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023SHORTLISTED FOR THE ACT NOTABLE BOOK AWARD FOR FICTION 2023''Willowman may well be the perfect Australian novel'' Readings''Beguiling and entertaining'' PETER LALOR, Weekend Australian''A sweet strike that goes beyond the boundary'' The Age''Joyous storytelling at its best. I was enthralled'' SARAH WINMAN, author of Still Life''I bloody loved this - a gorgeous, heartbreaking examination of so much more than cricket'' ROBBIE ARNOTT, author of LimberlostAllan Reader, one of the last traditional batmakers in the country, keeps his family business alive in a small workshop in Melbourne. When Todd Harrow, a gifted young batter, catches Allan''s eye, a spark is lit and Allan decides to make a Reader bat for him, selecting the best piece of willow he''s harvested in
£9.49
Hachette Australia The Thrill of It
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£16.99
Hachette Australia Prettier if She Smiled More
Book Synopsis'Jordan is a kind of Australian Marian Keyes, combining pace and humour with a razor intelligence' Sydney Morning Herald 'A funny and smart family drama' Weekend Australian 'Taps into the humour and pathos of ordinary life in a way that has you nodding with recognition . . . while at the same time laughing out loud' PIP WILLIAMS As the eldest child in a single-parent family, Kylie's always had more important things on her mind than smiling for random strangers. Controlling her job, her home, her romantic life and - most importantly - her family takes all her concentration. She's always succeeded, though, because that's just who Kylie is. When her fiercely independent mother breaks an ankle and needs help, it's up to Kylie, as usual, to fix things. She reluctantly packs her bags and moves in, but back in her childhood home, things start to unravel. Could it be that Kylie
£9.49
