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
Hachette Australia Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society
Book Synopsis'Warm and uplifting' WOMAN'S DAY'Delightful'BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS'A ray of sunshine . . . and such a great armchair escape' THE VILLAGE OBSERVERNoosa Heads, 1987: Newly divorced Cynthia has returned to her hometown from Los Angeles to reconnect with her 19-year-old daughter, who is pregnant and determined not to listen to her mother's advice. Cynthia's former best friend, Lorraine, has been stuck mowing lawns as part of a business she shares with her husband - his dream, not hers. When Cynthia convinces Lorraine to join the local Sunshine Gardening Society, they meet young widow Elizabeth, and rootless, heartbroken Kathy. The four women soon discover the society is much more than an opportunity to chat about flowers. Rather, it offers them the chance to lend a helping hand to people whose lives need a bit of care and attenti
£9.49
Hachette Australia The Oasis
£16.99
Hachette Australia Tenderfoot
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£15.29
Hachette Australia The Clinking
Book SynopsisFrom Richell Prize-winning debut author Susie Greenhill comes a tender and profoundly moving exploration of life and loss.
£17.99
Hachette Australia The Opposite of Lonely
Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of THE LOUDNESS OF UNSAID THINGS comes a compelling new novel that illuminates the joys and sorrows of an ordinary life and delivers profound insights into human nature.
£17.99
Hachette Australia The Funeral Crashers
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£14.39
Hachette Australia Lessons in Love at the Seaside Salon
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£17.99
Hachette Australia The Glass House
Book Synopsis
£9.49
Prentice Hall Press North of Dawn
Book SynopsisA couple's tranquil life abroad is irrevocably transformed by the arrival of their son's widow and children.
£11.69
Riverhead The Ensemble
Book SynopsisAmbition, passion, and love intertwine in the lives of the Van Ness Quartet.
£12.59
Prentice Hall Press More Than Words
Book SynopsisA tender and moving novel about a woman at a crossroads after the death of her father, and caught between the love of two men.
£11.69
Prentice Hall Press The Big Door Prize
Book Synopsis
£15.29
Prentice Hall Press Everything Here is Beautiful
Book SynopsisA stunning novel of two sisters and their emotional journey through love, loyalty, mental illness and heartbreak.
£12.59
Penguin Canada Speak Silence
Book Synopsis
£17.84
Random House Canada real ones
Book Synopsis
£15.29
Simon & Schuster One No Many Yeses
Book SynopsisIt could turn out to be the biggest political movement of the twenty-first century: a global coalition of millions, united in resisting an out-of-control global economy, and already building alternatives to it. It emerged in Mexico in 1994, when the Zapatista rebels rose up in defiance of the North American Free Trade Agreement. The West first noticed it in Seattle in 1999, when the World Trade Organisation was stopped in its tracks by 50,000 protesters. Since then, it has flowered all over the world, every month of every year. The ''anti-capitalist'' street protests we see in the media are only the tip of its iceberg. It aims to shake the foundations of the global economy, and change the course of history. But what exactly is it? Who is involved, what do they want, and how do they aim to get it? To find out, Paul Kingsnorth travelled across four continents to visit some of the epicentres of the movement. In the process, he was tear-gassed on the streets of Genoa, painted anti-WTO puppets in Johannesburg, met a tribal guerrilla with supernatural powers, took a hot bath in Arizona with a pie-throwing anarchist and infiltrated the world''s biggest gold mine in New Guinea. Along the way, he found a new political movement and a new political idea. Not socialism, not capitalism, not any ''ism'' at all, it is united in what it opposes, and deliberately diverse in what it wants instead -- a politics of ''one no, many yeses''. This movement may yet change the world. This book tells its story.
£10.44
Simon & Schuster Mr MacGregor
Book SynopsisRob MacGregor, hired to recapture the declining audience for a daytime gardening programme, quickly becomes Britain''s latest heartthrob. The only trouble is, Rob''s co-presenter is not at all pleased to see his thunder stolen. Nor is Rob''s longterm girlfriend, Katherine, pleased to find out that Rob''s been having a steamy affair with one of the TV station''s newsreaders... Rob''s career goes from strength to strength, but he finds the in-fighting and TV politics harder and harder to cope with - and he''s becoming increasingly concerned about his recently widowed father, who seems to be in danger of losing the small nursery the family has run for generations. Somebody is desperate to buy that land, and Rob is determined to find out why...
£13.49
CamCat Publishing, LLC Girl Among Crows
Book SynopsisBeware the Brotherhood of the RavenWhen two boys vanish from her hometown, Daphne Gauge notices uncanny parallels to her brother?s disappearance 30 years earlier. Symbols of an ancient Norse god. Rumors of a promise to reward the town?s faithful with wealth and power, for a price. She warns her husband that another sacrifice is imminent, but just like last time, no one believes her.This leaves her with a desperate choice: investigate with limited resources, or give in to the FBI?s request for an interview. For years, they?ve wanted a member of the Gauge family to go on record about the tragedy back in 1988. If she agrees to a deposition now, Daphne must confess her family?s dark secrets. But she also might have one last chance to unmask the killer from back then . . . and now.For readers who enjoy Stephen King, Gillian Flynn, Joshilyn Jackson, Riley Sager, Jennifer McMahon, and Simone St. James.
£20.21
CamCat Publishing, LLC Space Holes
Book Synopsis
£18.71
CamCat Publishing, LLC Space Holes
Book Synopsis
£24.65
CamCat Publishing, LLC Ladies Day
Book Synopsis
£11.96
Headline Publishing Group Resurrection Dreams
Book Synopsis''If you''ve missed Laymon, you''ve missed a treat'' Stephen King Melvin always was a creepy kid. Vicki still has nightmares about what he did with the dead body and the car battery. Now, years later, he''s been released from the institution and Vicki knows she''ll be seeing him again. But Melvin''s been developing his work with the dead and this time his plans include her.
£9.49
Headline Publishing Group When One Door Closes A heartwarming saga of love
Book SynopsisIt''s May 1941 and Liverpool is taking a hammering from the German bombers. For young Mary Bradshaw and her widowed mother life is full of rationing, blackouts and the wail of the air-raid siren. Despite the gloom, Mary''s heart is light as she counts her blessings - she''s got her loving mother and Bob, her soldier boyfriend whom she adores and hopes to marry soon. During the worst air raid Liverpool has ever suffered, fate deals Mary the first of many cruel blows it has in store for her. She is devastated as her whole world collapses. But Mary doesn''t have to face the knocks alone. Her best friend Eileen has a heart and a sense of humour as big as her eighteen stone body - heaven help anyone who hurts her mate! Harry is the boy from up the road who''s loved Mary since they were kids and he''ll not desert her now. Soon Mary finds that when one door closes, another one really does open.
£9.49
Headline Publishing Group Man of the House A touching wartime saga of life
Book SynopsisOn VE day, everyone was rejoycing and it seemed the whole population of Liverpool had turned out to celebrate. Eileen Gillmoss, a colourful character with a smile forever lighting up her face was the life and soul of the party. Today was the day she''d prayed for and dreamed about. After five long, lonely years, her prisoner-of-war husband Bill would be coming home, back to the open, loving arms of his wife and children. But the man who comes back from the war is a complete stranger to her. It isn''t only that Bill''s appearance has changed. It''s his remoteness, his flinching from her touch that Eileen can''t cope with. Now, Eileen, who is always there to lend a shoulder to cry on, is the one in need. But who can she turn to? No one can give her what she craves most... her old husband back. She wants him back where he belongs, as the man of the house.
£9.49
Headline Publishing Group And One for Luck A compelling saga of finding
Book SynopsisGrace Wilkins and Bessie Rudney have been neighbours for over twenty years but it takes the outbreak of World War Two for them to become friends. The more time Grace spends with Bessie, her six boistrous children and her loving husband Tom, the more she realises what has been missing from her own loveless marriage.As the war takes its toll on Leicester, and one by one the men folk leave to join the fighting, Grace finds comfort in helping others. Each day, as she takes on another new challenge, Grace realises that her daughter might have been right all along - it''s time to break out, really make something of her life, and possibly find true love, before it''s too late...
£9.49
Headline Publishing Group Those Who Serve
Book SynopsisIt had all seemed so exciting and romantic! Not even out of their teens, Kate and Cass, friends since boarding school, both marrying dashing naval officers within weeks of each other. But after all the glamour of naval balls and white weddings, passing beneath the arches of naval swords had not led Kate down the pathway to marital bliss. Not even her cherished twins can compensate for her husband''s coldness and mental cruelty and she yearns for the peace of her beloved West Country. Cass, on the other hand, revels in the freedom of movement her husband''s long absences on the submarines provide - even with the arrival of the first of her four children, she is not to be denied the frenzied activity of the 1960s sexual revolution! But it is a dangerous game that Cass is playing, and as the decades roll by, Kate may not always be around to pick up the pieces...
£9.49
Headline Publishing Group Theas Parrot
Book SynopsisGeorge Lampeter certainly isn''t looking for a wife but as soon as the forty-three-year-old submarine commander sets eyes on Thea, twenty years his junior, he''s found his partner for life. Just about everyone knows of George''s long-standing affair with Felicity Mainwaring, the intimidating wife of a naval colleague. Her husband''s death the previous year had prompted many to speculate that George would end up marrying his formidable mistress. No one expected it more than Felicity herself and as her letters and calls to George go unanswered she becomes suspicious. He somehow manages to duck Felicity''s attempts to contact him long enough to marry Thea, and the couple embark on a harmonious life together in the heart of rural Devon. Thea enjoys matrimony immensely and through the naval network, finds a soul mate in Polly, another youthful bride, but not with such an understanding husband. But everything changes for Thea and George when she mentions that an old friend of his had drop
£9.49
Headline Publishing Group Stay in Your Own Back Yard A touching saga of
Book SynopsisIn her terraced house in Liverpool, Molly Bennett struggles to bring up four children on her husband''s meagre wage. But Molly doesn''t complain; she has an abundance of things money can''t buy - and a home filled with love and laughter. When her eldest daughter, Jill, is offered a place at high school, Molly is racked with guilt. She needs Jill working to relieve their poverty. But Jill eases Molly''s conscience by getting herself a job in a baker''s shop while signing up for night school. Molly''s best mate is Nellie McDonough; they spend hours laughing, gossiping and lending a helping hand to others. And when they discover one of their neighbours is being beaten by her violent husband, the friends roll up their sleeves and take action. Meanwhile, Jill starts dating Nellie''s son, Steve, and both families are delighted. But Jill lands herself an office job that takes her into a world beyond the confines of their close-knit community and she and Steve seem to be drifting apart...
£9.49
Headline Publishing Group Last Tram to Lime Street A moving saga of love
Book SynopsisMolly Bennett and Nellie McDonough are as close as can be. They sort out all the neighbours'' problems, care for seven children between them, and still have time for a giggle and a gossip. So imagine the excitement when Nellie''s son, Steve, proposes to Molly''s daughter, Jill. But it''s not long before unsettling events turn their attention again to friends in need. The Bradley family, who have moved in up the street, are a bad lot, and Molly and Nellie find their hands full with sorting out the troubles that ensue. Meanwhile, Molly''s teenage daughter, Doreen, has fallen head over heels in love with a young lad named Philip. She hasn''t been with anyone quite like him before, and she''s in for a terrible shock when she finds out whose family he comes from...
£9.49
Headline Publishing Group The Courtyard A captivating tale of an
Book SynopsisNell Woodward and Gussie Merton make unlikely friends - one a young married woman and the other a lonely elderly lady. Nell''s husband, John, is an estate agent fresh from the Navy, but he is ignorant of the outside world and, as others abandon the collapsing property market, he gets in deeper... It is at Nethercombe, the home of Gussie''s nephew, Henry, that a refuge is found. Henry has developed and sold a cluster of cottages, known as The Courtyard, and the people who buy them form a bond of friendship that embraces Nell and Gussie. But it is going to take all their strength to withstand the crises ahead...
£9.49
Headline Publishing Group The Dipper
Book SynopsisIn the depths of Dartmoor, Quentin and Clemmie Halliwell know that the onset of old age threatens their life together at The Grange. Phyllida Makepeace feels secure in her marriage to Alistair, but when a deep sorrow strikes them, she discovers that no one is untouched by human frailty. Claudia and Jeff Maynard seem the perfect couple. But they are hiding from the truth and Claudia is about to realise the shattering effects of denial. Turning to one another in their time of need, these friends and neighbours learn those vital lessons in how to love, forgive and, most importantly, how to trust again.
£9.49
Headline Publishing Group Never Far From Nowhere
Book SynopsisA passionate and perceptive story full of the pain and the humour of growing upTrade Review'Painfully perceptive and passionate, NEVER FAR FROM NOWHERE hits a raw nerve with its powerful concoction of poignancy and humour' * Pride *'Passionate and angry' * TLS *'In this lively, crisp, raw voice, young black Londoners may have found their Roddy Doyle' * Independent on Sunday *'Levy's raw sense of realism and depth of feeling infuses every line' * Elle *'An inspired coming-of-age novel with a mature grasp of generational conflict, pressure to conform, and the fraught process of discovering one's identity, NEVER FAR FROM NOWHERE should be read by anyone who is growing up in Britain today' * Scotsman *'The story is well told, does not dodge complexity and rings true' * The Times *
£9.99
Headline Publishing Group Sweet Rosie OGrady A touching wartime saga that
Book SynopsisNeighbours Molly Bennett and Nellie McDonough are thrilled to see their children settling down. Jill and Steve are making wedding plans and Doreen waits patiently at home for Phil''s next leave. But the Second World War is separating loved ones forever and the future looks bleak... Then Rosie O''Grady arrives in Liverpool from Ireland and Molly and Nellie are in for a treat. With her sparkling blue eyes and youthful charm, sweet Rosie O''Grady is like a breath of fresh air. Her direct approach to life soon has everyone crying with laughter; and Molly''s son, Tommy, who used to think girls were nothing but a nuisance, is in for a pleasant surprise...
£9.49
Headline Publishing Group Hatties Mill A gloriously warm tale of friendship
Book SynopsisHattie Weatherall''s heart leapt when she first saw Abbot''s Mill, and with her dog and an assortment of wild fowl for company she sets about renovating the mill. Sarah Farley feels a pang of envy for Hattie''s freedom. For over twenty years, Sarah has tolerated her husband''s infidelities - and her love for him is about to be tested again... As Hattie settles into life at the mill, she befriends two young boatmen. Toby is recovering from a broken marriage and, when he has a another chance at happiness, Hattie is glad welcome his new family into the fold. Joss''s problems are not so easily solved, but when he turns to Hattie for help, the motherly love that blossoms in her heart enables them both to heal old wounds...Trade ReviewPraise for Marcia Willett's previous novels: 'A fascinating study of character...a cleverly woven story * Publishing News *Poignantly told, with fine characterisation and a lavish sprinkling of humour * Evening Herald *This excellent first novel...is a rounded portrait of modern family life where light-hearted affection and friendship contrasts with the darker strands of human nature * Dartmouth Chronicle *A delight from start to finish * Kingsbridge Gazette *A must for women fiction readers * Booklist *
£9.49
Headline Publishing Group Blackstones Pursuits Oz Blackstone series Book 1
Book SynopsisWhen private enquiry agent Oz Blackstone takes on the job of finding an insurance company''s missing half million, he''s hoping for a healthy finder''s fee, not a life-changing experience. But when he finds the corpse of the would-be embezzler with a knife in his back and no sign of the missing money, what had seemed like a routine job begins to look distinctly dodgy. Until the captivating Primavera ''Prim'' Phillips arrives on the scene, wondering why she''s been greeted not by her sister Dawn, but Dawn''s dead boyfriend and a rather nervous-looking private eye. For Oz, things are looking up. This is the kind of girl who''s definitely worth pursuing. Especially if she knows where to get her hands on half a million pounds ...Trade ReviewPraise for Quintin Jardine:'Heart-stopping thriller' Peterborough Evening Telegraph'Gritty cop drama that makes Taggart look tame' Northern Echo Darlington 'More twists and turns than TV's Taggart at its best' Stirling ObserverSkinner's Rules:'Remarkably assured novel...a tour de force' New York Times'Excellent thriller' Manchester Evening News'Deplorably readable' Guardian'A first-class read' Jeffrey Archer'Compelling stuff...one to watch' Oxford Times'As hardboiled as any Taggart story' Peterborough Evening Telegraph'Rich in local characterisation...an enjoyable adventure' Edinburgh Evening NewsSkinner's Festival:'Comes through strongly and believably...has the right city atmosphere' Edinburgh Evening News'Robustly entertaining' Irish TimesSkinner's Trail:'Skinner is a TV series waiting to happen' Peterborough Evening Telegraph'Engrossing, believable characters...captures Edinburgh beautifully...It all adds up to a very good read' Edinburgh Evening NewsSkinner's Round:'The Skinner series grows in authority and should be a natural for television' Time Out'A complex and suspenseful saga that never flags from start to finish' Bolton Evening NewsSkinner's Ordeal:'Quintin Jardine has created the toughest Scottish cop since Taggart' Peterborough Evening Telegraph'Fast-paced, fast-cut stuff...some sharply written dialogue' Worcester & Hereford Evening NewsSkinner's Mission:'Once again Jardine serves up a thriller full of action, gritty realism and sharp patter' Darlington Northern Echo
£9.49
Headline Publishing Group A Coffin for Two
Book SynopsisAfter cracking their first case together as a private investigation team, Oz Blackstone and Primavera Phillips find themselves simultaneously in love and in the money. And where better to lie back and contemplate life than the picturesque village of St Marti, on the rugged Costa Brava. But beneath the surface of their idyllic new home bubbles a brew of intrigue, deception - and murder. Before long Prim and Oz find themselves helping to evict a skeletal squatter whom the locals fear might harm the tourist trade, as well as trying to authenticate a previously undiscovered Dali masterpiece bought by a gullible client at a highly unconventional auction...
£9.49
Headline Publishing Group Any Old Iron A gripping postwar saga of family
Book SynopsisKelly McCallan has more than her fair share of worries. Her mother is dying and needs constant care; her father has returned to Leicester from the Second World War but is an emotional wreck; and her brother Mickey has turned to a life of crime that is putting the whole family at risk. Kelly''s boyfriend Rodney and his sister Glenda know that she''s scared of what Micky might do next. But they turn a blind eye to her fears - with disastrous consequences for them all. When Kelly has lost eveything she holds dear, she and Glenda pick up the pieces and start again. And one man in particular, Alec Alderman, is there when she needs him most. But Alec has problems of his own...Trade ReviewPraise for Lynda Page: 'You'll be hooked from page one * Woman's Realm *Cookson/Cox aficionados who've missed her should grab this. Romantic and gripping * Peterborough Evening Telegraph *Ms Page creates strong characters and is a clever and careful storyteller... A great writer who gives an authentic voice to Leicester... A formidable talent * LE1 *In Lynda Page, we have an author who writes with skill and style... Leicester's Lynda Page is destined to share the limelight - and bestseller lists - with the likes of Catherine Cookson * Hull Daily Mail *If you want an enthralling saga read Lynda Page * Martina Cole *Lynda Page is a leading purveyor of the saga, enlivening her plots with all manner of page-turning twists and turns. Expect the unexpected * Choice magazine *Inspirational and heart-warming * Sun *
£9.49
Headline Publishing Group It Could Happen to You
Book SynopsisRowan has always cherished an ambition to travel. She didn''t just leave the small Scottish town where she grew up; she fled from it as fast as she could. Now she''s become expert at metropolitan living; she could walk by a million faces and not notice any of them. And her dream is almost within her grasp.When Rowan does start packing her bags, she has to find room for one very unexpected item. And she''s headed not for exotic distant shores but back to Scotland. There, she feels at first like nothing more than a source of good gossip. But as she discovers that no one is quite who she thought they were, Rowan begins to see that home could be where she''ll find what she was looking for after all...Trade ReviewYou'll love this enchanting, touchy-feely fairy tale of small-town Scottish life * Options *This is something very special indeed. A delightful read, equally enjoyed by my teenage and middle-aged reader. Dewar wrote GIVING UP ON ORDINARY, which was a joy, but this is better and deserves to increase her sales. It is astute, poignant and addictive, with shades of Kate Atkinson, and is full of lovely observations on human nature. She cares for her characters and so do we. Highly recommended * Sarah Broadhurst, Bookseller *Dewar's gift is to pull you into the minutiae of her people's lives. She takes you on a journey with them, a voyage you are happy to share in. Few writers are so good at making the reader empathise... Rowan is a delight * Scotland on Sunday *This is something very special indeed. A delightful read... astute, poignant and addictive, with shades of Kate Atkinson * Sarah Broadhurst, Bookseller *A breathless sneeze of a book... Refreshing and powerfully adept... Dewar has easily lived up to her enormous reputation * Irish News *
£9.49
Headline Publishing Group Sadie was a Lady An engrossing saga of family
Book SynopsisBeautiful, blonde-haired Sadie Wilson suffers abuse from her slovenly mother and lecherous father in order to protect her younger siblings from a similar fate. The neighbours avoid her parents like the plague and Sadie has no friends to turn to for help. But when Harry, the kind-hearted boy next door, sees Sadie crying because her father has lost all their money, he offers to pay her sixpence for a kiss. With coins in her pocket, Sadie goes to Paddy''s market to buy underclothes she so desperately needs and it is there that she meets Mary Ann and a lively bunch of Liverpudlian stallholders who are to be her salvation. Even though she is rescued by Mary Ann''s friends and starts a new life, Sadie''s thoughts still return to her brothers and sisters back at home. And no matter how many admirers she has, there''s a place in her heart for just one lad whose kisses she can''t seem to forget...
£9.49
Headline Publishing Group Alone Beneath the Heaven
Book SynopsisA powerful and absorbing saga, moving from Sunderland to London in the 1940s, as Sarah Brown dreams of a better life.Trade Review'Catherine Cookson fans will enjoy discovering a new author who writes in a similar vein' Home and Family'If you like gritty, rags-to-riches Northern sagas, you'll enjoy this' Family Circle'Displaying an uncanny ability to spin a good yarn' Sunderland Echo
£999.99
Headline Publishing Group Reach for Tomorrow A captivating saga of fighting
Book Synopsis When everyone''s deserted her, can she find the strength to go on? Reach for Tomorrow is a heart-warming saga of a young woman''s indomitable spirit and determination to survive no matter what, from much-loved author Rita Bradshaw. Perfect for fans of Annie Murray and Rosie Goodwin.''What an emotional rollercoaster ride of a book! It grabs your attention from page one and does not let go until the end'' - Sunderland Echo Rosie Ferry is hardly more than a child when her father and brothers are lost in a pit disaster. She has to grow up fast when her mother falls apart, leaving Rosie in charge of her two sisters. It''s Rosie who finds them lodgings, Rosie who tramps the streets looking for work. Without her friends Davey and Flora, Rosie doesn''t know how she''d cope.Then Davey - the boy Rosie always thought she''d marry - abruptly leaves Sunderland, and to make matters worse her mother turns to dTrade ReviewPraise for Rita Bradshaw: 'Catherine Cookson fans will enjoy discovering a new author who writes in a similar vein * Home and Family *If you like gritty, rags-to-riches Northern sagas, you'll enjoy this * Family Circle *What an emotional rollercoaster ride of a book! It grabs your attention from page one and does not let go until the end * Sunderland Echo *Displaying an uncanny ability to spin a good yarn * Sunderland Echo *All published writers have skill and creativity, but a few have more. It's called magic. I'm beginning to believe Bradshaw has it! * Historical Novels Review *
£10.44
Headline Publishing Group The Travelling Vampire Show An unforgettable
Book SynopsisOn a hot August morning in 1963, the rural town of Grandville is covered with fliers announcing the coming of something extraordinary - a one-night-only performance of The Travelling Vampire Show, featuring Valeria, the only known vampire in captivity. For three local teenagers, it''s a show they don''t want to miss. The trouble is, the show starts at midnight and they''re supposed to be home by then. And in any case, Janks Field, where the show will take place, has been declared off-limits because of its own sinister history. But they can''t just sit at home and let Valeria do her thing without them, can they?Trade Review'If you are not already well acquainted with Richard Laymon, get to know him now. This is an enticing tale of three youngsters in a small American town' Manchester Evening NewsA wickedly involving story...a horror tale that's not only emotionally true but also scary and, above all, fun * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY *'This gloriously inventive piece is probably Laymon's best book yet: dipping into the poetic vein of Ray Bradbury was clearly a vitalising exercise for him, and this is sheerly enjoyable... The prose here is rich and inventive, the atmosphere and scene-setting handled with real aplomb. Whatever you make of Laymon's earlier books, this is one you should try' News International LineoneIf you are not already well acquainted with Richard Laymon, get to know him now. This is an enticing tale of three youngsters in a small American town * MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS *'Set in a sleepy American town in the summer of 1963, this rites of passage novel recreates the long, stifling days - and nights filled with possibilities - that distinguish the teenage years' Belfast TelegraphThis gloriously inventive piece is probably Laymon's best book yet: dipping into the poetic vein of Ray Bradbury was clearly a vitalising exercise for him, and this is sheerly enjoyable... The prose here is rich and inventive, the atmosphere and scene-setting handled with real aplomb * NEWS INTERNATIONAL *Set in a sleepy American town in the summer of 1963, this rites of passage novel recreates the long, stifling days - and nights filled with possibilities - that distinguish the teenage years * BELFAST TELEGRAPH *Praise for previous books:'A grisly cocktail of horror, murder and mayhem laced with Laymon's distinct blend of black humour. Great stuff.' Yorkshire Evening Press'Richard Laymon doesn't disappoint with his latest offering.' Peterborough Evening Telegraph''So fastpaced you find yourself reading it at the speed of a bullet from a gun...a rollercoaster ride of fear' Peterborough Evening Telegraph'No one writes like Laymon and you're going to have a good time with anything he writes' Dean Koontz'This author knows how to sock it to the reader' The Times, If you've missed Laymon you've missed a treat' Stephen King, 'A brilliant writer' Sunday Express·'AMONG THE MISSING is strikingly different. From the chilling opening...we are plunged into a disturbing world of twisted psychopathology' The Times'There's not a crime novelist around who writes cleaner prose than Laymon - and few who can jack up the tension the way he does...Laymon likes to grasp readers by the neck with expert word-smithery, then haul them into a diabolical situation...once again, Laymon offers unexpected, well-rounded characters blown about in a narrative that moves like the wind.' Publishers Weekly
£9.49
Headline Publishing Group The Gingerbread Woman
Book SynopsisOn a rainy afternoon on Killiney Hill a young man walking, without his overcoat, happens upon a woman gazing out over Dublin bay, standing perilously close to the edge. From their testy encounter develops a remarkable friendship which will enable each to face afresh their very different, damaged pasts, and to look, however tentatively, towards the future.Trade ReviewShe writes with considerable acuity and understanding * Sunday Times *'The richness of themes here is as delicious at Mrs Barry's baking: the primary importance of self-esteem and the way this depends on developing a general kindliness to oneself as well as others; the vast opportunities for healing thrown up by simple pleasures, not least laughter. THE GINGERBREAD WOMAN is Johnston at her observant, compelling best' Image magazine'Despite its desolate background it is both entertaining and uplifting... The book has a musical feel and makes a poignant symphony of its themes of love and grief' Clare Boylan, Sunday Express'A beautifully-paced novel of solitariness... This is a book to steal for your friends and re-read your own copy for pleasure' Glasgow Herald'With Jennifer Johnston, even the worst suffering is redeemed by wit, good humour and a sense of fun... If you have already discovered Jennifer Johnston, you will enjoy THE GINGERBREAD WOMAN. If you haven't, then this is a good place to start' Daily Mail'Written in Johnston's usual haunting prose, where no word is unnecessary' Maeve Binchy, Sunday Times'The grande dame of modern Irish literature, Jennifer Johnston has been writing superior fictions, that both embody the wounds of Irish life and scrutinise themes beyond its orbit, for over a quarter of a century. THE GINGERBREAD WOMAN continues her theme of the search for personal freedom... Exceptionally gifted in structuring her narrative so that the reader is compelled to discover the secrets that scar her protagonists, Johnston is also blessed with an understated wisdom, and a heightened understanding of love and loss' Glasgow List'A superb stylist, humorous, surprising and virtuously plain' Lynne Truss, Sunday Times'A beautifully crafted novel' Sunday Telegraph'THE GINGERBREAD WOMAN is characteristic as well as untypical of Johnston, similar yet different. She knows her territory. Probably the most consistently undercelebrated of Irish writers, her genius lies in her calm, intelligence and her distinctive feel for the way an individual will act in an extreme emotional crisis.... Jennifer Johnston has always demonstrated an exact understanding of the cultural nuances of Irish life as well as the perceptions, even textures, that go into being Irish. Few Irish writers have pursued these questions so intently. Aside from all this, THE GINGERBREAD WOMAN reiterates she remains, as ever, a shrewd, canny storyteller who understands human error' Eileen Battersby, Irish Times'As in all her best novels, Johnston's vividly immediate effects belie the simple elements from which they are created. And although the book is firmly rooted in character, place and time, its reach extends well beyond the particular into the universal territory of classic storytelling' Spectator'This is the first Jennifer Johnston book I have read, but after sampling the intriguing characters and rich diversity of THE GINGERBREAD WOMAN, I have to admit I'm hooked... Jennifer Johnston presents two very strong, uncompromising characters, thrown together by chance and forming an inextricable bond; one exists to help the other. This is a powerful, moving novel which I found impossible to put down. If anything, it ended too soon' The Irish World'One of Ireland's most talented writers... THE GINGERBREAD WOMAN is another fine novel from a polished and sophisticated writer. The intelligence of Johnston's writing, the strength of her characterisation and the power of her dialogue all combine to make the book a strong addition to the Johnston collection' Sunday Business Post'The Gingerbread Woman is allegorical and poignant and acutely perceptive, crafted by a seventy-year-old mistress of words who refuses o bow to the purists in observing rigid rules of writing. All the confidence of a 12-times novelist shines through her simple and sometimes verbless sentences that ring with truth and beauty. Like Clara Barry, whose mother bakes cream sponges and gingerbread men, she was born to haunt' Irish Independent'I was entranced... An abrasive study of love and grief' Elspeth Barker, Independent on Sunday, Books of the Year'Johnston is at her storytelling best... An engaging and accessible novel, and those familiar with Jennifer Johnston's later writing will not be disappointed' TLS
£9.49
Headline Publishing Group TheCaptains and the Kings by Johnston Jennifer
Book SynopsisMr Prendergast, an elderly Anglo-Irishman, is living out his last years in the decaying splendour of his family mansion. As his mind wanders through the gloom he finds it peopled with memories of his neglected wife, his pale shadow of a father, his icily glamorous mother and Alexander, the son she so jealously loved, killed in the First World War. With only his ill-tempered alcoholic gardener left to attend to him, Mr Prendergast is content to pass his days in such ghostly company. Until young Diarmid arrives, keen-eyed and carrot-haired, to disperse the gathering darkness with curiosity, and the promise of friendship.Trade ReviewJennifer Johnston has written a beauty...full of sharp truth * Daily Telegraph *Elegantly written... it is a tragic story with a merciful ending... Jennifer Johnston knows her Ireland as well as she knows human nature * Irish Times *I greatly enjoyed and admired The Captains and the Kings -- Kingsley Amis * Observer *Assured and skillful * The Sunday Times *Formidably well done * Guardian *
£9.49
Headline Publishing Group TheRailway Station Man by Johnston Jennifer
Book SynopsisHelen has retreated to the remote north-west coast of Ireland to paint the sea and the shore, and to be alone with her past. English war hero Roger Hawthorne has settled in the neglected railway station house nearby. Mutilated and sick at heart, with the help of a young lad he has begun painstakingly to restore the derelict branch line station. Soon Roger and Helen form a bond which, over gramophone music, dancing and champagne, deepens into love. But Helen, enjoying her first taste of happiness in years, is to learn just how brutally fleeting it can be.Trade ReviewOne of our most impressive novelists * Sunday Express *Beautifully crafted -- Anthony Burgess
£9.49
Headline Publishing Group Fools Sanctuary
Book SynopsisThe Great War is over; but the war in Ireland is only just beginning, as the IRA and the Black and Tans move on to the attack. It all seems very remote to Miranda Martin, during that miraculous Indian summer. Her father, hoping to forget his dead wife, thinks of nothing but his trees; Miranda thinks of the future, a future which must surely include Cathal, who brings news from Dublin. Everything seems calm and serene. But then Andrew, her officer brother, comes home, bringing his eccentric, likeable friend Harry, and as the Indian summer fades, the scene is set for tragedy.Trade ReviewUncliched, wondrously (and deftly) evocative of time and place, and remarkably moving * Kirkus Reviews *One of Ireland's finest writers * Sunday Tribune *An immaculate artist: understated, unshowy, a careful and economical craftswoman of language and all the loose, unwieldy stuff of emotion * Scotsman *One of our most impressive novelists * Sunday Express *
£9.49
Headline Publishing Group The Catastrophist
Book SynopsisGillespie, an Irishman, goes to the Congo in 1959 in pursuit of his beautiful lover Inès, a passionate Italian journalist. Unlike her, Gillespie has no interest in the deepening independence crisis, nor in the charismatic leader, Patrice Lumumba. He has other business: this is his last chance to make love work for him.Trade ReviewA mighty achievement... vision, imagination and gravitas * Times *The Catastrophist Ronan Bennett - coverage to date'Bennett's writing is as lush and sensual as ripe mangoes. His characters are complex and sympathetic. The tone, which is perfectly pitched, and the exotic setting collude to evoke an era of colonial decadence'Financial Times 13th/14th JuneA writer to watch, a genuine and gifted novelist * Cole Moreton, Independent *As lush and sensual as ripe mangoes * Financial Times *'The finding of a voice and what one says with it is central to The Catastrophist... Along with its politics The Catastrophist is an intensely erotic novel'Linda Grant Guardian, Wednesday 17th June'Bennett is a writer to watch, a genuine and gifted novelist' Independent, Saturday 27th JuneI have not read such a good thriller in years * Ian Thomson, Evening Standard *Compelling... the power of this fine novel lies in its detached subtlety.... a memorable book with a ring of deeply felt authenticity * Hugo Hamilton, Sunday Tribune *'Bennett's knuckle-hard prose gives the region the clarity of a punch to the solar plexus. His Congans, far from being passive mutes, are both the rhetorical and satirical equals of the Belgians whose drinks trolleys they cart and whose floors they scrub. Conrad felt they existed outside of history - Bennett shows them engaged in transforming it.'The Literary Review, July 1998'Despite the African setting, The Catastrophist was obviously intended to explore some of the tensions and motivations in all similar conflicts - including Northern Ireland. Gillespie twice refuses invitations to write about what's going on in his homeland, and Bennett believes there has been a similar failure of nerve among writers of his own generation. "Most of the stuff that has been done about the North is grounded in the politics of compassion for the victims. I'm not saying there's no place for that, but fiction has been so affected by, overwhelmed by the death, the squalor, the sheer awfulness of it all, that it can't actually go beyond that, and ask, 'Why did this happen? Who are these characters? Why are they doing it?"'Cole Moreton, Independent on Sunday, 28th June'A mighty achievement. It has vision, imagination and gravitas. It does what only great novels do: it rises above itself; its themes transcend its narrative. The hero is immature, but the author is wise'Mary Loudon, The Times 27th June'This is a historical novel as well as a love story. But with the news from Congo continuing in the same vein nearly 40 years later, it has a lively currency... Like Muldoon, Bennett has gained a great deal by looking at political strife and engagement from a faraway place, from an oblique angle. To quote that poet's verse about Auden and Yeats, it may be the case that "history's a twisted root/ with art its small, translucent fruit/ and never the other way round" - but the fruit is beautiful and we see the branch better for looking through it'Giles Foden, The Guardian 4th July 'This is a very well-written and well-researched novel by a writer who is able to maintain a tense and gripping atmosphere of political intrigue and erotic passion' Harry Ritchie, Mail on Sunday 5 July'The traditional understatement of William Trevor and John McGahern endures, and nowhere more obviously than in the work of Belfast born novelist, Ronan Bennett....evoke[s] a similar atmosphere and reflective tone to that of the American, Robert Stone.Eileen Battersby, Irish Times 7 July'An enthralling and thought-provoking book, presenting crucial questions of historical and political responsibility' Times Literary Supplement, 9 July'Take[s] the reader into one of the most exciting and tragic places on the earth'Herald 9 July 1998'Immensely promising... has been compared to some of Graham Greene's finest efforts, and I'm not going to argue with that'Daily Mirror 10 July 1998'A welcome reminder that it is still possible to write clearly, coherently and movingly... a great achievement, an impressive testament to the appeal of strong narrative and sympathetic characterisation'Edward Smith Sunday Telegraph 12 July'The book comes spotted with puffs suggesting that Ronan Bennett is the millennial Graham Greene, and for once they do not exaggerate... Bennett writes with the same brilliance, the same remarkably effective eroticism'Sean McMahon, Irish IndependenThe Catastrophist Ronan Bennett - coverage to date'Bennett's writing is as lush and sensual as ripe mangoes. His characters are complex and sympathetic. The tone, which is perfectly pitched, and the exotic setting collude to evoke an era of colonial decadence'Financial Times 13th/14th June'The finding of a voice and what one says with it is central to The Catastrophist... Along with its politics The Catastrophist is an intensely erotic novel'Linda Grant Guardian, Wednesday 17th June'Bennett is a writer to watch, a genuine and gifted novelist' Independent, Saturday 27th June'Bennett's knuckle-hard prose gives the region the clarity of a punch to the solar plexus. His Congans, far from being passive mutes, are both the rhetorical and satirical equals of the Belgians whose drinks trolleys they cart and whose floors they scrub. Conrad felt they existed outside of history - Bennett shows them engaged in transforming it.'The Literary Review, July 1998'Despite the African setting, The Catastrophist was obviously intended to explore some of the tensions and motivations in all similar conflicts - including Northern Ireland. Gillespie twice refuses invitations to write about what's going on in his homeland, and Bennett believes there has been a similar failure of nerve among writers of his own generation. "Most of the stuff that has been done about the North is grounded in the politics of compassion for the victims. I'm not saying there's no place for that, but fiction has been so affected by, overwhelmed by the death, the squalor, the sheer awfulness of it all, that it can't actually go beyond that, and ask, 'Why did this happen? Who are these characters? Why are they doing it?"'Cole Moreton, Independent on Sunday, 28th June'A mighty achievement. It has vision, imagination and gravitas. It does what only great novels do: it rises above itself; its themes transcend its narrative. The hero is immature, but the author is wise'Mary Loudon, The Times 27th June'This is a historical novel as well as a love story. But with the news from Congo continuing in the same vein nearly 40 years later, it has a lively currency... Like Muldoon, Bennett has gained a great deal by looking at political strife and engagement from a faraway place, from an oblique angle. To quote that poet's verse about Auden and Yeats, it may be the case that "history's a twisted root/ with art its small, translucent fruit/ and never the other way round" - but the fruit is beautiful and we see the branch better for looking through it'Giles Foden, The Guardian 4th July 'This is a very well-written and well-researched novel by a writer who is able to maintain a tense and gripping atmosphere of political intrigue and erotic passion' Harry Ritchie, Mail on Sunday 5 July'The traditional understatement of William Trevor and John McGahern endures, and nowhere more obviously than in the work of Belfast born novelist, Ronan Bennett....evoke[s] a similar atmosphere and reflective tone to that of the American, Robert Stone.Eileen Battersby, Irish Times 7 July'An enthralling and thought-provoking book, presenting crucial questions of historical and political responsibility' Times Literary Supplement, 9 July'Take[s] the reader into one of the most exciting and tragic places on the earth'Herald 9 July 1998'Immensely promising... has been compared to some of Graham Greene's finest efforts, and I'm not going to argue with that'Daily Mirror 10 July 1998'A welcome reminder that it is still possible to write clearly, coherently and movingly... a great achievement, an impressive testament to the appeal of strong narrative and sympathetic characterisation'Edward Smith Sunday Telegraph 12 July'The book comes spotted with puffs suggesting that Ronan Bennett is the millennial Graham Greene, and for once they do not exaggerate... Bennett writes with the same brilliance, the same remarkably effective eroticism'Sean McMahon, Irish IndependenThe Catastrophist Ronan Bennett - coverage to date'Bennett's writing is as lush and sensual as ripe mangoes. His characters are complex and sympathetic. The tone, which is perfectly pitched, and the exotic setting collude to evoke an era of colonial decadence'Financial Times 13th/14th June'The finding of a voice and what one says with it is central to The Catastrophist... Along with its politics The Catastrophist is an intensely erotic novel'Linda Grant Guardian, Wednesday 17th June'Bennett is a writer to watch, a genuine and gifted novelist' Independent, Saturday 27th June'Bennett's knuckle-hard prose gives the region the clarity of a punch to the solar plexus. His Congans, far from being passive mutes, are both the rhetorical and satirical equals of the Belgians whose drinks trolleys they cart and whose floors they scrub. Conrad felt they existed outside of history - Bennett shows them engaged in transforming it.'The Literary Review, July 1998'Despite the African setting, The Catastrophist was obviously intended to explore some of the tensions and motivations in all similar conflicts - including Northern Ireland. Gillespie twice refuses invitations to write about what's going on in his homeland, and Bennett believes there has been a similar failure of nerve among writers of his own generation. "Most of the stuff that has been done about the North is grounded in the politics of compassion for the victims. I'm not saying there's no place for that, but fiction has been so affected by, overwhelmed by the death, the squalor, the sheer awfulness of it all, that it can't actually go beyond that, and ask, 'Why did this happen? Who are these characters? Why are they doing it?"'Cole Moreton, Independent on Sunday, 28th June'A mighty achievement. It has vision, imagination and gravitas. It does what only great novels do: it rises above itself; its themes transcend its narrative. The hero is immature, but the author is wise'Mary Loudon, The Times 27th June'This is a historical novel as well as a love story. But with the news from Congo continuing in the same vein nearly 40 years later, it has a lively currency... Like Muldoon, Bennett has gained a great deal by looking at political strife and engagement from a faraway place, from an oblique angle. To quote that poet's verse about Auden and Yeats, it may be the case that "history's a twisted root/ with art its small, translucent fruit/ and never the other way round" - but the fruit is beautiful and we see the branch better for looking through it'Giles Foden, The Guardian 4th July 'This is a very well-written and well-researched novel by a writer who is able to maintain a tense and gripping atmosphere of political intrigue and erotic passion' Harry Ritchie, Mail on Sunday 5 July'The traditional understatement of William Trevor and John McGahern endures, and nowhere more obviously than in the work of Belfast born novelist, Ronan Bennett....evoke[s] a similar atmosphere and reflective tone to that of the American, Robert Stone.Eileen Battersby, Irish Times 7 July'An enthralling and thought-provoking book, presenting crucial questions of historical and political responsibility' Times Literary Supplement, 9 July'Take[s] the reader into one of the most exciting and tragic places on the earth'Herald 9 July 1998'Immensely promising... has been compared to some of Graham Greene's finest efforts, and I'm not going to argue with that'Daily Mirror 10 July 1998'A welcome reminder that it is still possible to write clearly, coherently and movingly... a great achievement, an impressive testament to the appeal of strong narrative and sympathetic characterisation'Edward Smith Sunday Telegraph 12 July'The book comes spotted with puffs suggesting that Ronan Bennett is the millennial Graham Greene, and for once they do not exaggerate... Bennett writes with the same brilliance, the same remarkably effective eroticism'Sean McMahon, Irish IndependenThe Catastrophist Ronan Bennett - coverage to date'Bennett's writing is as lush and sensual as ripe mangoes. His characters are complex and sympathetic. The tone, which is perfectly pitched, and the exotic setting collude to evoke an era of colonial decadence'Financial Times 13th/14th June'The finding of a voice and what one says with it is central to The Catastrophist... Along with its politics The Catastrophist is an intensely erotic novel'Linda Grant Guardian, Wednesday 17th June'Bennett is a writer to watch, a genuine and gifted novelist' Independent, Saturday 27th June'Bennett's knuckle-hard prose gives the region the clarity of a punch to the solar plexus. His Congans, far from being passive mutes, are both the rhetorical and satirical equals of the Belgians whose drinks trolleys they cart and whose floors they scrub. Conrad felt they existed outside of history - Bennett shows them engaged in transforming it.'The Literary Review, July 1998'Despite the African setting, The Catastrophist was obviously intended to explore some of the tensions and motivations in all similar conflicts - including Northern Ireland. Gillespie twice refuses invitations to write about what's going on in his homeland, and Bennett believes there has been a similar failure of nerve among writers of his own generation. "Most of the stuff that has been done about the North is grounded in the politics of compassion for the victims. I'm not saying there's no place for that, but fiction has been so affected by, overwhelmed by the death, the squalor, the sheer awfulness of it all, that it can't actually go beyond that, and ask, 'Why did this happen? Who are these characters? Why are they doing it?"'Cole Moreton, Independent on Sunday, 28th June'A mighty achievement. It has vision, imagination and gravitas. It does what only great novels do: it rises above itself; its themes transcend its narrative. The hero is immature, but the author is wise'Mary Loudon, The Times 27th June'This is a historical novel as well as a love story. But with the news from Congo continuing in the same vein nearly 40 years later, it has a lively currency... Like Muldoon, Bennett has gained a great deal by looking at political strife and engagement from a faraway place, from an oblique angle. To quote that poet's verse about Auden and Yeats, it may be the case that "history's a twisted root/ with art its small, translucent fruit/ and never the other way round" - but the fruit is beautiful and we see the branch better for looking through it'Giles Foden, The Guardian 4th July 'This is a very well-written and well
£9.49
Headline Publishing Group Ragamuffin Angel
Book SynopsisConnie Bell, newly orphaned, is just twelve when she''s taken on at the laundry in Sunderland''s grim workhouse. Although she''s little more than a child the events of her past have forged a driving determination to rise above her beginnings. But when she applies for a job as a nurse Connie''s turned down: her mother was forced by poverty to work the streets and the Bell name is tainted. Bitterly hurt but undaunted, Connie''s soon assistant housekeeper at the Grand Hotel and saving hard for her own business. When her path crosses Dan Stewart''s, though, everything Connie''s ever dreamed of is threatened. There''s a dark and terrible history between the Bells and the Stewarts, and Dan''s mother Edith will do anything to keep Dan and Connie apart.Trade ReviewPraise for Rita Bradshaw: 'Catherine Cookson fans will enjoy discovering a new author who writes in a similar vein * Home and Family *If you like gritty, rags-to-riches Northern sagas, you'll enjoy this * Family Circle *What an emotional rollercoaster ride of a book! It grabs your attention from page one and does not let go until the end * Sunderland Echo *Displaying an uncanny ability to spin a good yarn * Sunderland Echo *All published writers have skill and creativity, but a few have more. It's called magic. I'm beginning to believe Bradshaw has it! * Historical Novels Review *
£999.99
