Contemporary Fiction Books

Book SynopsisIn the arena of life and death, the world''s most brilliant doctors and scientists vie desperately - and ruthlessly - for the ultimate prize: the Nobel.Adam Coopersmith is a gifted and compassionate physician. Trapped in an unhappy marriage, he meets Anya, a Russian émigrée, and falls in love for the first time - only to have his career nearly destroyed.Sandy Raven is a cutting-edge researcher whose devotion is matched only by his genius. Yet as he makes his greatest discovery, he experiences his most profound betrayal. Will he choose to live a lie or abandon his dream to seek new, more worldly prizes?Isabel da Costa. A child prodigy, she owes all her success to her father, but though she becomes a brilliant physicist, she can''t capture her lost childhood. Ultimately she is torn between her father and the young man who holds the key to her happiness, until a shocking revelation explodes her world.Trade ReviewPRIZES is guaranteed to make readers laugh and cry * Sunday Telegraph *Nobel minds, ignoble lives . . . The world of scientific research is the background for Erich Segal's blockbuster . . . an entertaining read. * The Times *

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Book SynopsisThe next dark mystery featuring the Linköping''s best detective, Malin Fors, from the bestselling author Mons Kallentoft.In the early hours of the morning, the naked body of a young man is discovered in a ditch next to Gota Kanal. The cause of death is mysterious; the body bears no visible traces of violence.The man is soon identified as Peder Akerlund, a former Swedish politician, excluded from his party for racism but since reformed. Then sixteen-year-old Nadja Lundin is reported missing, possibly abducted, the same evening, and there are signs that suggest the two cases might be connected.But what do the victims have in common? And why were they chosen? Gradually, Malin Fors realises that they are dealing with someone who is playing a game with them, who speaks through murders and who will not be silenced. What is he or she trying to say? Desperate to fine Nadja alive, the team race against the clock to find an answer before it''s too late...Trade ReviewPraise for the Malin Fors seriesKallentoft's books have been called beautiful, exquisite and original. I can see why. * Literary Review *One of the best-realised female heroines I've read by a male writer. * Guardian *Meditative. Dark. Really, really cold . . . This is a worthy successor to Larsson's Millennium trilogy . . . This first installment in Kallentoft's crime series is a splendid representative of the Swedish crime novel, in all its elegance and eeriness. * Booklist Starred Review *

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Book Synopsis''ORIGINAL AND ENTHRALLING'' Guardian''AFFECTING AND TENDER'' The Times''COMPLETELY ENCHANTING'' Penny Vincenzi Elizabeth Pringle lived all her long life on the Scottish island of Arran. But did anyone really know her? In her will she leaves her beloved house, Holmlea, to a stranger - a young mother she''d seen pushing a pram down the road over thirty years ago. It now falls to Martha, once the baby in that pram, to answer the question: why? Martha is coping with her mother''s dementia and the possibility of a new life on Arran could be a new start.A captivating story for fans of Rosamund Pilcher, Maeve Binchy and Rachel Joyce of the richness behind the so-called ordinary lives of women and the secrets and threads that hold them together.And Kirsty Wark''s second novel, The House by the Loch, a story of unlikely love and long-hidden family secrets set in the beautifTrade ReviewKirsty Wark's first novel gleams with beauty... Part romance, part family history, mother-and-daughter fable and meditation on memory, The Legacy of Elizabeth Pringle has qualities of heart... something of great worth and beauty gleams through the narrative and haunts the reader with its imaginative truth... Wark's presentation of a unique love unalloyed by sexuality is original and enthralling. The Legacy of Elizabeth Pringle is a hymn to the stark beauty of the island of Arran. * Guardian *Curl up for this big-hearted romantic debut by the Newsnight presenter... A pulse of secrets drives the story along... affecting and tender. * The Times *Set on the Scottish island of Arran, Kirsty Wark's brilliantly vivid descriptions bring alive a story that reaches across the generations. * Daily Mail *The narrative switches between Elizabeth and Martha...The structure works well, demonstrating the similarities and differences between the two women. Both are well-rounded characters and their stories are engaging... Martha's relationship with Anna is beautifully and touchingly written, a daughter helplessly watching her beloved, vibrant mother fade away... This is an appealing debut that sustains interest to the very last page... Elizabeth Pringle is a quietly heroic character and, like Arran, she never fails to charm. * Independent on Sunday *The story is set in the beautiful Scottish island of Arran, a place Wark very obviously knows and loves... Wark's story telling is direct, compelling and rewarding for the reader. She is a real writer who happens to do television. * Daily Mail *The book is fresh and beguiling... Wark deftly and delicately plaits the intricate tales of three women... The narrative is packed with incidents but, for the most part, does not rush; it breathes, sighs, ponders. Wark has an exceptionally vivid sense of place. Windswept Arran and Holy Island become starkly beautiful lodestones which keep its old inhabitants and draw new ones. The landscapes, soil and vegetation have the power to heal broken humans, deliver love and hope after calamities. George Eliot paid homage to those "who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs." In this novel some of those hidden stories are told and graves visited with real tenderness. * Independent *a lyrical, truthful, contemplative book. [it] grows, imperceptibly, like bindweed round the reader, captivating them and then practically throttling them in with a denouement so shocking that I could barely speak afterwards. * Daily Telegraph *The BBC presenter's debut novel is an enjoyable mother-and-daughter fable and meditation on memory * Observer *Wark depicts the weather, the landscape and the inhabitants of the island so vividly that all I wanted was a ferry ticket. * Woman & Home *An excellent, page-turning debut from the Newsnight presenter. -- Viv Groskop * Red Magazine *This haunting story of love and loss, set in Kirsty's beloved Scottish Highlands, will linger with you long after you've reluctantly read the last page. * Woman's Weekly *The accomplished journalist and broadcaster's ­first foray into ­fiction is a moving and intelligent novel - its language is poetic without being overblown; its subject matter poignant but not overly sentimental... On the surface a tale of romance, loss, family and history, its emotional force comes from an exploration of that most intimate of relationships: between mothers and daughters...All the characters are well rounded and authentic, and the island itself emerges as one of them. Indeed, it is the depiction of Arran that lifts the book out of the ordinary: the haunting, evocative and nostalgic setting becomes the ­fitting backbone of this rich and captivating story. * The Lady *very, very good... a tribute to life and indomitability with smiles and excitement among the minutiae and discoveries... This wonderfully enthralling story held together by three redoubtable, engaging and very real women is for everyone * Bookbag (Top 10 Historical Novels of 2014) *meditative, beguiling and absorbing * Daunts Books - Marylebone Journal *Exquisite prose... a beautiful, sometimes devastating story that truly touches the heart. * Daily Record *Gentle and genteel * Sunday Herald *I can't imagine how Kirsty Wark found the time to write this big, rich novel when she is never off TV. It's terrifically readable, and the setting, the isle of Arran, is beautifully rendered. * Saga magazine *[An] elegant debut novel from journalist and TV presenter Kirsty Wark... The secrets and courage of [Elizabeth's] life become apparent and the climax of her story is as satisfying as it is unexpected. The magic of the island, with its soft rains, carpets of flowers and ever-changing seascapes comes across strongly as Wark makes equal magic out of the extraordinariness of ordinary lives. * WI Life Magazine *Beautifully paced and interesting... well defined and interesting. A really good read and a great first novel. * Bay of Plenty Times (NZ) *Deeply moving, this is broadcaster Kirsty's debut novel and we can't wait to see what else she's got for us. * Woman's Way (Ireland) *Completely enchanting. The story of two women's intertwined lives draws you in and holds you spellbound to the end. * Penny Vincenzi *Arran is the perfect setting and there is a deep sense of belonging. The Legacy of Elizabeth Pringle is a really good read. * Rosamunde Pilcher *An intriguing marriage of past and present, and an absorbing narrative. It made me want to go to Arran. * Penelope Lively *

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Book SynopsisThe debut novel that catapulted Clare Morrall on to the Booker shortlist, a compelling and affecting tale of a woman whose longing to have children and for the mother she never knew leads her into serious trouble. .Trade ReviewAstonishing Splashes of Colour is not a showy book, but it is extremely well written and compulsively readable. At her very first attempt, Morrall has written a genuinely solid and satisfying work of fiction, skilfully plotted and fielding a cast of fully realised and individualised characters. More, please. * The Sunday Times *This is a novel that never puts a foot wrong, despite a storyline that takes some surprising twists and turns. It is confident, astute and moving...Morrall reveals [Kitty's] mystery artfully and convincingly, telling a story that is shocking, heart-stopping and completely absorbing * Observer *An extremely good first novel: deceptively simple, subtly observed, with a plot that drags you along like a strong current * Daily Mail *Fresh, frightening and raw. There's nothing in the least depressing about this nevertheless sad story, certainly nothing remotely sentimental. * Margaret Forster *

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Book SynopsisThe third book in the SEASONS series by the author of the AFTER DARK trilogy - a provocatively thrilling and romantic story of desire, submission and love.All Summer Hammond has ever wanted is love and security. Now, she feels terribly alone. Her sisters Freya and Flora are consumed with their love affairs, and worse than that, their father has finally lost patience with his wayward daughters, deciding he will cut them off financially for good.The shock of rejection hits Summer hard and she decamps to LA, where she meets Jack Fiori, a gorgeous Italian American. The attraction between them is unmistakable and when Jack invites Summer on a trip to Vegas, just the two of them, she eagerly accepts. But it soon becomes clear that the trip was a ruse. To her horror, Summer realises she''s been kidnapped. But Jack won''t listen to her explain she''s no longer an heiress. For a kidnapper, he seems curiously uninterested in money.Summer is sure that Jack isn''t going to hurt her,Trade ReviewSadie has a lovely, easy style of writing that makes the story flow so easily as it process along the ups and downs of the couples new relationship, that you really feel part of their world. Without the hint of repetition and wonderfully left open for a sequel, Fire After Dark is an intense and passionate book, that is perfect for those who tentatively want dip their toes into the exciting world of BDSM. - www.handwrittengirl.com on FIRE AFTER DARKThis book is written at such an easy pace which allowed me to finish the whole book in one evening! I would definitely describe this book as sexy, sassy and exciting and I did find I was hooked - www.reabookreview.blogspot.co.uk on FIRE AFTER DARK

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Book SynopsisCaroline Wallace is one of New Orleans Police Department''s top hostage negotiators, and she''s never failed to get every hostage out alive. But this time, it''s different: the hostages include her father - the superintendent of police - and the mayor. And this time, she''s trying to negotiate with Reed Ware, a former co-worker who left the force in disgrace, and who is considered to be volatile and extremely dangerous. As police snipers arrive on the scene, Caroline has only a few moments left to persuade the hot-headed, reckless (and extremely handsome) Reed to turn himself in before anyone gets hurt. But when the SWAT team runs out of patience and launches an attack, Reed manages to escape - taking Caroline hostage in the chaos. He then tells her he''s uncovered corruption at the highest levels of the police department and city government, and those involved will stop at nothing to keep him from exposing what he knows . . . including murder. Now Caroline must queTrade ReviewRobards is one terrific storyteller. * Chicago Tribune *The plot will keep the readers turning the pages. * Publishers Weekly *A top-notch romantic suspense writer. * Booklist *

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Book Synopsis'True American original' Joe Lansdale's wildly entertaining novel based on the real-life figure of Nat Love, an African-American cowboy and Buffalo Soldier. If you enjoyed Deadwood or Django Unchained, this is for you.Trade ReviewLansdale's tall tales are reminiscent of other western fiction from Thomas Berger's Little Big Man onwards but his original, blackly comic prose gives them new vigour. * The Sunday Times *A rip-roaring tale completely in keeping with dime novel traditions and the cinematic hyperbole of Blazing Saddles or Django Unchained * Los Angeles Times *A full-blooded western, served up unapologetically and masterfully...Lansdale is one of those very rare authors who can have his readers howling with laughter during one sentence while bringing tear to their eyes with the next. * BookReporter *A sweeping Western epic...Lansdale at his funniest and most energetic, with some of the most engaging writing you'll read this year * Houston Chronicle *Enough guns, glory and goofiness to keep you entertained * LitReactor *Throughout Paradise Sky, Lansdale the master storyteller gives lessons in corralling point-of-view, tone, plot, irony, character development and just plain old good writing...may well prove to be Lansdale's best * Dallas News *Speaking with stoicism and a relentless humour, he (Nat) is the perfect narrator for Lansdale's tale of injustice and ultimately hope. * Daily Express *

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Book SynopsisStephen had seemed enthusiastic about the walk, when Benny first invited him. He kept going on about how amazing it'd be, the two of them out in the wilderness - the landscape shots, the pubs, etc., etc. Benny didn't interrupt this stream of enthusiasm. They were in the car park of the Miners, and Benny was too busy concentrating on his own stream of piss. He didn't think about it at all until the next morning. When he remembered inviting Stephen, Benny laughed out loud - a single ha - then spent three minutes silent-screaming into his pillow. **** Benny thought that it would be him and his dad doing the walk. Just him and his father, hiking through the Welsh countryside, like they used to. Only, when his dad got ill, it became obvious that this would never happen. So Benny was forced to consider other options. If Benny is honest, him and Stephen haven't been close since school, but once Benny had dTrade ReviewA modern picaresque that will grab and guide you through some of Britain's last remaining wildernesses, both inner and outer: the Wales/England border, the ransacked sociopolitical contract, the crisis of contemporary masculinity and its effect on all kinds of interpersonal relationships, the crags and quicksands of the soul. It is compelling and propulsive from the serene and optimistic beginning all the way to the stricken end. Fantastic. -- Niall GriffithsA mad picaresque across Wales which is promising a twist that I know is coming but just can't guess from which direction. I'm half way through it and enjoying every step of the journey. * Wales Art Review *This one's special. Bold, unapologetic, superbly written. 'Walk' offers a masterclass in how to write lean prose that's visually stunning and dialogue that's entirely real. -- Caroline Smailes

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Book SynopsisUnlike most people Matt Beckford is actually looking forward to turning thirty. At last, he thinks his career, finances and love life are all sorted. But life has other plans, and after splitting up with his girlfriend Matt is forced to move back in with his parents.This scenario soon has Matt feeling nostalgic, and desperate for some sanity. So, one by one, he tracks down his old school mates - the rest of the Magnificent Seven.But when you''re turning thirty nothing''s as simple as it used to be.Trade ReviewNot just readable, fresh and witty but sophisticated in execution . . . funny but also poignant * Independent on Sunday *Not just readable, fresh and witty but sophisticated in execution . . . funny but also poignant * Independent on Sunday *A warm, funny romantic comedy * Daily Mail *A warm, funny romantic comedy * Daily Mail *Mike Gayle has carved a whole new literary niche out of the male confessional novel. He's a publishing phenomenon * Evening Standard *Mike Gayle has carved a whole new literary niche out of the male confessional novel. He's a publishing phenomenon * Evening Standard *Delightfully observant nostalgia . . . will strike a chord with both sexes * She *Delightfully observant nostalgia . . . will strike a chord with both sexes * She *Mike Gayle manages to weave everything together with such a warm-the-cockles-of-your-heart manner that once you've finished reading Turning Thirty you want to turn right back to the beginning and start all over again. It's real life - but better than we know it * B Magazine *Mike Gayle manages to weave everything together with such a warm-the-cockles-of-your-heart manner that once you've finished reading Turning Thirty you want to turn right back to the beginning and start all over again. It's real life - but better than we know it * B Magazine *Funny and endearing . . . chuckle-on-the-bus readable * Heat *Funny and endearing . . . chuckle-on-the-bus readable * Heat *

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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of NETFLIX SENSATION ANATOMY OF A SCANDALTrade ReviewDelicious . . . friendship, rivalry and exposed secrets, gorgeously told * Elle *Heavenly * Candis *Pick up this tale of five enthusiasts competing to be the new Mrs Eaden - a renowned baker (think an oh-so-glam '60s version of Mary Berry) * Fabulous Magazine *Warm, wise and inspiring, an utterly delicious novelFabulous * Good Housekeeping *Vaughan's engaging writing is packed with brilliant baking tips not to mention delectable descriptions of the food the contestants create. Enjoy. * WI Magazine *Kathleen's heartbreaking story is so vivid, I had to check she wasn't a real person. It's a challenge to manage a story with five protagonists, particularly in a debut, but Sarah Vaughan manages it with aplomb. One to add to your holiday reading pile and indulge in. * The Writes of Women blog *Sarah Vaughan's debut novel is a delicious treat . . . There's plenty of baking and food talk for foodies but it's contained within a wonderful narrative. Sarah Vaughan has perfectly balanced the ingredients of this book . . . Where the baking lends a warm and pleasant tone, this is brilliantly offset by the darker side of the narratives. Each of the stories is compelling. * We Love This Book blog *5 out of 5. An amazing read. It makes you crave cake and it makes you want to devour the words, enjoying every morsel till it reaches the . . . tear-jerking . . . end. * Random Redheaded Ramblings blog *The Art of Baking Blind is gorgeous. Not just to look at and touch, but Sarah's writing is beautiful. She pulls you in, she captivates you and you just don't want to leave. Her writing creates such warmth; it really hugs you tightly. She describes the cakes and bakes exquisitely . . . Mouth-watering. * novelicious *An extremely enjoyable book with strong characters and intriguing story lines. I loved every minute of it. * Bookbag *Before I knew anything about the contents of this novel I had already fallen in love . . . It begs to be oohed and aahed over, not to mention to be stroked. A lot. And once I started reading, I discovered that the story within was equally beautiful and enthralling . . . A delicious read which I devoured like a freshly baked, homemade bread . . . The lush descriptions of the food made them so vivid that I could almost taste them on the tip of my tongue . . . [and] for all the sweetness of the sugary decadences . . . there is also plenty of drama and intrigue to balance it all out. * novelicious *A novel to devour. * Maxi magazine, France *Attention fans of GBBO! If you can drag yourself away from the doughy goings-on in the famous tent, you're sure to love this story * New *

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Book SynopsisIn this world, Dr Charlotte Stone is an expert psychologist, helping to catch serial killers. In the next world, Charlotte''s ghostly lover - wrongly executed killer Michael Garland - is facing death yet again: the ultimate annihilation of his soul. Can Charlie prove Michael''s innocence and rescue him from total oblivion?A stranger has turned up in Big Stone Gap, Virginia - a man who could be Michael''s identical twin. But the resemblance is only skin deep - behind the handsome face lurks the twisted mind of the real Southern Slasher, whose heinous crimes sent Michael to death row. Charlie intends to draw the truth out of the mysterious killer . . . whatever it takes.But Michael will move heaven and hell - even make a devil''s bargain - for the chance to save Charlie''s life, and feel her touch once more . . . maybe for the final time.Trade ReviewRobards is one of the most reliable thriller-romance writers in the world. * Daily Mail *Thrilling ... A fun and sexy read. * Booklist *Top-notch ... Suspense mixed with heart-pounding sensual tension. * Kirkus Reviews *

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Book Synopsis''A thoughtful, engrossing read. Warm and insightful. Roisin Meaney is a skillful storyteller'' - Sheila O''Flanagan, author of The Missing Wife, on The Reunion.It''s their twenty-year school reunion but the Plunkett sisters have their own reasons for not wanting to attend ... Caroline, now a successful knitwear designer, spends her time flying between her business in England and her lover in Italy. As far as she''s concerned, her school days, and what happened to her the year she left, should stay in the past.Eleanor, meanwhile, is unrecognisable from the fun-loving girl she was in school. With a son who is barely speaking to her, and a husband keeping a secret from her, revisiting the past is the last thing on her mind.But when an unexpected letter arrives for Caroline in the weeks before the reunion, memories are stirred.Will the sisters find the courage to return to the town where they grew up and face what they''ve been rTrade ReviewPraise for Roisin Meaney - :'A book to bring some sunshine into your life' - Woman's Way'If you like Maeve Binchy, this will be a treat' - Stellar magazine'This is a feelgood book you won't be able to put down' - Irish Independent'This book is like chatting with a friend over a cup of tea - full of gossip and speculation, and all the things that make life interesting.' - The Irish Mail on Sunday'A warm, engaging read' - Woman's WayMeaney weaves wonderful, feelgood tales of a consistently high standard. And that standard rises with each book she writes. - Irish Examiner'Highly engaging and heartwarming' - Melissa Hill

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Book Synopsis''If you like Trainspotting, Peaky Blinders, Guy Ritchie and Quentin Tarantino then this rackety, kinetic, hold-your-attention at gunpoint book for you'' THE TIMES''Devastatingly brilliant'' SALLY ROONEY''Delectable and vigorously entertaining'' IRISH INDEPENDENTLike all twenty-year-olds, Ryan Cusack is trying to get his head around who he is. This is not a good time for his boss to exploit his dual heritage by opening a new black market route from Italy to Ireland. It is certainly not a good time for his adored girlfriend to decide he''s irreparably corrupted. And he really wishes he hadn''t accidentally caught the eye of an ornery grandmother who fancies herself his saviour. There may be a way clear of the chaos in the business proposals of music promoter Colm and in the attention of the charming, impulsive Natalie. But now that his boss''s ambitions have rattled the city, Ryan is about to find out what he'Trade ReviewThis summer I can wholeheartedly recommend Lisa McInerney's novel The Blood Miracles, the devastatingly brilliant follow-up to her prize-winning debut The Glorious Heresies. In my inexpert opinion, McInerney's hero Ryan Cusack is quickly becoming one of Irish fiction's iconic protagonists * Sally Rooney, Irish Times *If you like Trainspotting, Peaky Blinders, Guy Ritchie and Quentin Tarantino then this is a rackety, kinetic, hold-your-attention-at-gunpoint book * The Times *The narration is brisk and slick, the dialogue fizzing with acerbic wisecracking * Literary Review *Lisa McInerney is a writer busily combining the traditions of hardcore Irish crime writing with the kind of fast-talking foul-mouthed wit and gentle good humour that readers will recall from the work of Roddy Doyle, and producing popular state-of-the-nation novels as a consequence * Times Literary Supplement *An addictive read * Guardian *Trainspotting meets Goodfellas . . . McInerney writes with delicious irreverence and her fiction in this book has a fast, filmic quality * Evening Standard *McInerney writes with enviable verve, swagger and humour * Mail on Sunday *Delectable and vigorously entertaining * Irish Independent *Lively, entertaining, salty and funny * Irish Examiner *Vivid, compelling and moving * Observer *The plot's a slippery snake of dodgy deals and deadly double crosses, with a series of handbrake turns at the end. It's standard gangster stuff, spiked into originality by the chemical kick of McInerney's prose * The Spectator *A hard-edged, gritty novel with terrific tempo and good characterisation . . . McInerney is a pacy storyteller at the top of her game * Daily Express *Lisa McInerney is a preposterously gifted writer, Amis-like, almost Shakespearean, in her ability to riff, refresh and amuse * New Statesman *An exuberant noirish romp that also speaks of the sad fallout of a loveless childhood * Financial Times *An exuberant noirish romp that also speaks of a loveless childhood * Financial Times, Books of the Year *The narration is brisk and slick, the dialogue fizzing with acerbic wisecracking * Literary Review *Lisa Mcinerney is a writer busily combining the traditions of hardcore Irish crime writing with the kind of fast-talking foul-mouthed wit and gentle good humour that readers will recall from the work of Roddy Doyle, and producing popular state-of-the-nation novels as a consequence * Times Literary Supplement *If you like Trainspotting, Peaky Blinders, Guy Ritchie and Quentin Tarantino then this is a rackety, kinetic, hold-your-attention-at-gunpoint book * The Times *An addictive read * Guardian *Trainspotting meets Goodfellas . . . McInerney writes with delicious irreverence and her fiction in this book has a fast, filmic quality * Evening Standard *McInerney writes with enviable verve, swagger and humour * Mail on Sunday *Delectable and vigorously entertaining * Irish Independent *Lively, entertaining, salty and funny * Irish Examiner *Vivid, compelling and moving * Observer *The plot's a slippery snake of dodgy deals and deadly double crosses, with a series of handbrake turns at the end. It's standard gangster stuff, spiked into originality by the chemical kick of McInerney's prose * The Spectator *A hard-edged, gritty novel with terrific tempo and good characterisation . . . McInerney is a pacy storyteller at the top of her game * Daily Express *Lisa McInerney is a preposterously gifted writer, Amis-like, almost Shakespearean, in her ability to riff, refresh and amuse * New Statesman *An exuberant noirish romp that also speaks of the sad fallout of a loveless childhood * Financial Times *This summer I can wholeheartedly recommend Lisa McInerney's novel The Blood Miracles, the devastatingly brilliant follow-up to her prize-winning debut The Glorious Heresies. In my inexpert opinion, McInerney's hero Ryan Cusack is quickly becoming one of Irish fiction's iconic protagonists * Sally Rooney, Irish Times *An exuberant noirish romp that also speaks of a loveless childhood * Financial Times, Books of the Year *

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Book SynopsisGarden Lakes, Jaime Clarke''s third novel featuring Charlie Martens, finds Charlie employed as an Arizona newspaper columnist who has built his career on a deception he committed that inadvertently stirred up anti-immigrant sentiment, casting a pall over the state. But Charlie''s story is really one of serial deception, a life of prevarications he traces back to a summer fellowship program he attended while a junior at an all-boys prep school. The chosen fellows were tasked with undertaking supervised construction of a house in a half-built development donated to the school by the bankrupt developer. The fellows lived and worked together and were tested when a transient girl wandered into the development after the disappearance of both of the fellowship''s chaperones. What happened at Garden Lakes reverberates through everyone''s lives, but especially Charlie''s, which is forever altered by his actions that summer.Trade ReviewAn intriguing cross-section of loneliness and power in the world of boys and men * Kirkus Reviews *Astute study in the darker aspects of adolescent psychology * Booklist *It takes some nerve to revisit a bulletproof classic, but Jaime Clarke does so, with elegance and a cool contemporary eye, in this cunningly crafted homage to Lord of the Flies. He understands all too well the complex psychology of boyhood, how easily the insecurities and power plays slide into mayhem when adults look the other way. -- Julia Glass, National Book Award-winning author of Three JunesJaime Clarke reminds us that if the banality of evil is indeed a viable truth, its seeds are most likely sewn among adolescent boys. -- Brad Watson, author of Aliens in the Prime of Their LivesIn the flawlessly imagined Garden Lakes, Jaime Clarke pays homage to Lord of the Flies and creates his own vivid, inadvertently isolated community. As summer tightens its grip, and adult authority recedes, his boys gradually reveal themselves to scary and exhilarating effect. In the hands of this master of suspense and psychological detail, the result is a compulsively readable novel. -- Margot Livesey, author of The Flight of Gemma HardySmart, seductive, and suggestively sinister, Garden Lakes is a disturbingly honest look at how our lies shape our lives and destroy our communities. Read it: Part three in one of the best literary trilogies we have. -- Scott Cheshire, author of High as the Horses’ BridlesAs tense and tight and pitch-perfect as Clarke’s narrative of the harrowing events at Garden Lakes is, and as fine a meditation it is on Golding’s novel, what deepens this book to another level of insight and artfulness is the parallel portrait of Charlie Martens as an adult, years after his fateful role that summer, still tyrannized, paralyzed, tangled in lies, wishing for redemption, maybe fated never to get it. Complicated and feral, Garden Lakes is thrilling, literary, and smart as hell. -- Paul Harding, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Tinkers

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Book SynopsisTimely and tantalizing, C.S. O'Cinneide masterfully blends domestic suspense with a touch of black magic in this bewitching thriller Erin Ruddy, author of Tell Me My NameAfter losing her young son in a tragic accident, Eve struggles to protect the one child she has left, a teenage daughter who just might be pure evil.The dark side of magic is where the Ragman dwells. Nobody knows that better than Eve. Desperate for a child, she called on that cunning conjurer eighteen years ago. Her daughter, Abbey, was the result.After Abbey's younger brother dies in a fall, Eve fears the worst about her daughter. Five years later, she still battles her guilt and grief over what happened the day she lost her son. Her husband, Richard, doesn't understand. He doesn't know the truth about Abbey; and besides, he has secrets of his own to keep.But when terrible things begin to happen to those who get in Abbey's way, Eve must overcome her own pain and Trade ReviewAn unflinching portrayal of a family torn at the seams. Timely and tantalizing, C.S. O’Cinneide masterfully blends domestic suspense with a touch of black magic in this bewitching thriller about a mother and her bad-seed daughter. Rife with secrets and tension, you’ll be glued until the haunting last page. * Erin Ruddy, author of Tell Me My Name *Full of secrecy and dark magic, C.S. O’Cinneide expertly weaves the differing voices of a grieving family into a story that is both creepy and atmospheric, with an ending that will haunt the reader far beyond the last page. * S.M. Freedman, award-winning author of The Faithful series, The Day She Died, and Blood Atonement *

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Book SynopsisHot chemistry, fantastic writing, realistic character flaws, triumphs, and family dramaXio Axelrod never misses a beat! REBECCA YARROS, #1 New York Times Bestselling AuthorREADY OR NOT, SOON THE WHOLE WORLD IS GOING TO KNOW HER NAMEOnce upon a time, the pressure to be the perfect daughter nearly broke Kayla Whitman. Desperate to find an outlet away from her controlling mother, she picked up a pair of drumsticks, forever altering the rhythm of her life. Since then, she''s been determined to make her own way, finding her home with her bandmates even as she fights to keep her past and her present firmly separate.Things were simple enough when the Lillys were playing local gigs at dive bars, but now they''re on their first official tourand all Kayla can see are warning signs. Desperate to escape the worry churning inside her, Kayla finds solace in quiet tour bus driver Ty Baldwinand discovers in him a kindred spirit like no one she''s ever met before.<Trade ReviewHot chemistry, fantastic writing, realistic character flaws, triumphs, and family drama—Xio Axelrod never misses a beat! Girls With Bad Reputations is one you don't want to miss! * Rebecca Yarros, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of Fourth Wing *

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Book SynopsisIt is 1970. ''Bean'' Holladay is twelve and her sister Liz fifteen when their artistic mother Charlotte, a woman who ''flees every place she''s ever lived at the first sign of trouble'', takes off to ''find herself''. She leaves the girls enough money for food to last a month or two. But when Bean gets home from school one day and sees a police car outside the house, she and Liz board a bus from California to Virginia, where their widowed Uncle Tinsley lives in the decaying antebellum mansion that has been in the family for generations. An impetuous optimist, Bean discovers who her father was and learns many stories about why their mother left Virginia in the first place. Money is tight, so Liz and Bean start babysitting and doing office work for Jerry Madox, foreman of the mill in town, a big man who bullies workers, tenants and his wife. Bean adores her whip-smart older sister, inventor of word games, reader of Edgar Allan Poe, non-conformist. But when school starts in the au

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Book SynopsisIn an effort to save the universe, she just might destroy it. THE STARS NOW UNCLAIMED is the incredible debut by a brilliant new voice in science fiction, perfect for everyone who loves READY PLAYER ONE, STAR WARS, MASS EFFECT or just a really huge battle...AN IMPOSSIBLE MISSION   A century ago, a mysterious pulse of energy spread across the universe. Meant to usher in a new era of peace and prosperity, it instead destroyed technology indiscriminately, leaving some worlds untouched and throwing others into total chaos.  AN UNSTOPPABLE ENEMY The Justified, a mysterious group of super-soldiers, have spent a hundred years trying to find a way to restore order to the universe. Their greatest asset is the feared mercenary Kamali, who travels from planet to planet searching for gifted young people and bringing them to the secret world she calls home. Kamali hopes that those she rescues will be able to find a way t

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Book Synopsis‘I want you to remember something, Nat. You’re small on the outside. But inside you’re as big as everyone else. You show people that and you won’t go far wrong in life.’  An uplifting, feel-good story perfect for fans of Mrs England The Doll Factory and The Devil and the Dark Water   My name is Nat Davy. Perhaps you’ve heard of me? There was a time when people up and down the land knew my name, though they only ever knew half the story.   The year of 1625, it was, when a single shilling changed my life. That shilling got me taken off to London, where they hid me in a pie, of all things, so I could be given as a gift to the new queen of England.   They called me the queen’s dwarf, but I was more than that. I was her friend, when she had no one else, and later on, when the people of England turned against their king, it was me who saved her life. When Trade Review‘An enchanting tale about a small man with a big heart. Nat Davy is so charming that I couldn't bear to put this book down. I loved it’ -- Louise Hare, author of This Lovely City'What a page-turner! A timely tale celebrating courage, determination and friendship, it serves as a warning against prejudice and superficial judgements' -- Anita Frank, author of The Lost Ones‘I absolutely loved it. It's a rare thing to get a historical fiction that is wonderfully researched, pitch-perfectly voiced and unputdownable, but this is the real deal. A perfectly formed masterpiece. I raced through it’ -- C.S. Quinn, author of The Bastille Spy‘A fascinating tale of extraordinary accomplishment, and a story about how anything is possible and how love has always been a beacon of hope’ -- Phillip Schofield'I adored Nat Davy’s witty narrative as his personal struggles and triumphs unfolded alongside the compelling events of a troubled court and a Queen in jeopardy. I found myself rooting for the Smallest Man in England from the very first page' -- Sonia Velton, author of Blackberry and Wild Rose‘Great memorable books are made by great, memorable characters. Frances Quinn’s Nat Davy is such a character. The Smallest Man is a beautiful, heartwarming tale, weaving history and fiction intricately and seamlessly. I was routing for Nat from the first page. Quinn shows us how a big heart and strength of character can lead anyone, perceived disability or not, to achieve great things, and that kindness and compassion are the most important of human qualities. I loved this book’ -- Louise Fein, author of People Like Us‘A beguiling and well-written tale, whose mysterious protagonist is plucked from a famous painting; the carefully crafted historic context uncannily reflects contemporary politics’ -- Ellen Alpsten, author of Tsarina ‘What a wonderful romp through such a turbulent period of history. I absolutely fell for the book’s narrator: an ebullient character whose voice and world view I adored’ -- Polly Crosby, author of The Illustrated Child‘A perfect fusion of history and invention. It’s so purposefully written, cuts right to the chase, galloping along. Nat’s wit and humour makes the poignancy of his story all the more powerful - The Smallest Man has the biggest heart’ -- Beth Morrey, author of Saving Missy‘This book took me on an epic journey with a character that will always have a special place in my heart, I shall miss Nat Davy immensely!’ -- Emma Cooper, author of If I Could Say Goodbye‘Written with a wonderful lightness of touch, full of humour and humanity... An engaging, compelling, thought-provoking story of a life less ordinary’ -- Caroline Scott, author of The Photographer of the Lost'A captivating story, part fact, part fiction — always a tricky balancing act, but Quinn pulls it off with pretty much perfect poise' * Books of the Year, The Spectator *‘What a wonderful romp through such a turbulent period of history. I absolutely fell for the book’s narrator: an ebullient character whose voice and world view I adored’ -- Polly Crosby, author of The Illustrated Child‘A wonderful character in a compelling story’ * Choice *‘The author vividly depicts life in 17th-century England, from the small village of Nat’s childhood, through to the splendours of court and the horrors of a country at war. Nat is an entertaining and joyous narrator, whose determination and courage shine through the pages of the book. His love for his friends and family is the anchor which enables him to cling to hope and bravery, despite a backdrop of cruelty, war and treachery. It is a truly delightful novel. Highly recommended’ * Historical Novel Society * ‘An unlikely friendship blossoms between the two as they navigate the scary world of the Civil Wars. The Smallest Man is inspired by the true story of the court dwarf Jeffrey Hudson, who could be found in the court of Charles I’ * History Extra *

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Book SynopsisA family pulled apart. A love silenced . . . For as long as Briony Valentine can remember she has been soft on Eddie, the boy next door. But their chance of romance is stifled when the Luftwaffe begin dropping bombs on the midlands. Eddie is called up to serve, as is Briony's father, tearing her world apart. As the telegrams arrive, all she can do is pray. Despite past disagreements, Briony's affluent grandparents open their doors to the three Valentine children, offering them the safety of Cornwall far from the bombs and far from the only world they've ever known. Will the Valentine family ever unite, and will Briony ever see Eddie again? A moving, compelling and wonderfully authentic portrait of family life amongst the perils of WWII, from a much-loved author. Trade ReviewGoodwin is a master of her craft: she excels in writing about the complexity of relationships, the hardships of life, the ties of family and the joys of love and friendship. Lancashire Evening Post Rosie Goodwin excels at tugging-the-heartstrings Lincolnshire Echo Rosie is a talented storyteller. -- Dee Williams The new Catherine Cookson. Coventry Evening Telegraph A gifted writer. Tells a cracking story and does so with an insight into people that is rarely found. Nottingham Evening Post

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Book SynopsisA captivating story of love, family and survival, from a beloved author who ''tells a cracking story...an insight into people that is rarely found'' (Nottingham Evening Post)Life is tough on the cobbled backstreet courtyards of Abbey Street, Warwickshire, in the 1840s: boys are destined for the pit and girls for the mill. Despite this, clever, feisty Maryann is happy there - until her mother dies. Her family collapses, leaving Maryann coping with everything, exhausted and lonely. Especially as Toby, the boy she is set on marrying, insists they wait.When things are at their bleakest, Maryann is offered a lifeline: a position as nanny to the daughter of the mill owner, Wesley Marshall. Though the house is filled with secrets and heartache, there is kindness, too, and to Maryann''s surprise she grows close to Marshall. But their relationship has not gone unnoticed and it threatens to unleash a world of problems on them all . . .''A gifted wrTrade ReviewGoodwin is a master of her craft: she excels in writing about the complexity of relationships, the hardships of life, the ties of family and the joys of love and friendship. * Lancashire Evening Post *Rosie Goodwin excels at tugging-the-heartstrings * Lincolnshire Echo *Rosie is a talented storyteller. -- Dee WilliamsThe new Catherine Cookson. * Coventry Evening Telegraph *A gifted writer. Tells a cracking story and does so with an insight into people that is rarely found. * Nottingham Evening Post *

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Book SynopsisNishimura is a seasoned pickpocket, weaving through Tokyo''s crowded streets, in search of potential targets. He has no family, no friends, no connections . . . But he does have a past, which finally catches up with him when his old partner-in-crime reappears and offers him a job he can''t refuse. Suddenly, Nishimura finds himself caught in a web so tangled and intricate that even he might not be able to escape. Taut, atmospheric and cool, The Thief will steal your breath away.Trade ReviewA masterpiece in miniature ... wonderfully deft ... The Thief seems destined to become a landmark thriller. Daily Mail An intelligent, compelling and surprisingly moving tale, and highly recommended. -- Laura Wilson The Guardian Nakamura's achievement is to dovetail the various elements in the most adroit of fashions, producing a mesmeric piece of crime fiction and a cold-eyed meditation on modern society in which predatory human nature is accepted as the norm. And the author's fatalistic tone is rounded off with a devastatingly surprising end. The Independent Nakamura is a name to watch. Daily Mirror Japanese fiction is the new Scandicrime - and if The Thief is anything to go by, it is apparently just as dark and plentiful. A detective story told from the other side of the fence, brilliantly spun in the narrative voice of a skilled pickpocket. The Pulse Beautifully written and elegantly crafted. The Lady A psychological thriller that will grip your imagination from the very first page. Crime Ficton Lover A meditation on what it is like to be alone and on the nature of fate and free will, and featuring a lead character who would look at home in a 19th century Russian novel.' Big Issue The Thief is a swift piece of crime noir, surprisingly light on grit but weighted by existential dread. It's simple and utterly compelling - great beach reading for the deeply cynical. If you crossed Michael Connelly and Camus and translated it from Japanese. Grantland Nakamura is one of the most award-winning young guns of Japanese hard-boiled detective writing ... his award-winning novel The Thief does for Japanese fiction what John Woo did for Chinese film-making: bringing the darker side to a [western] audience. Daily Beast A mystery novel more in the tradition of Dostoevsky than Agatha Christie ... Fuminori Nakamura's noir transforms from a mood piece into a chilling philosophical thriller. Wall Street Journal It's the combination of thoughtful, noir-tinged character piece with punchy, well-plotted thriller that puts The Thief ahead of the pack. Glasgow Herald

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Book SynopsisHenry Farr is forty years old. He is suburban, average, conventional - and desperate to be rid of his wife, Elinor. Inspired by a grisly episode in Wimbledon''s local history, Farr begins to concoct a recipe for the perfect murder. But his plans go terribly, terribly wrong - and before long, poor Henry''s best efforts to set himself free, in fact send him spiralling wildly out of control.Trade ReviewNigel Williams's comedy of suburban manners is very, very funny; the writing is sprightly, the caricatures spot on. * The Times *A brilliantly witty writer. * The Sunday Times *A very good read, with a few comic set pieces that are comparable to Wodehouse * New Statesman *I laughed aloud sufficiently often over this book that it was necessary to sit in a room on my own to read it. * The Spectator *The Wimbledon Poisoner is a marvelously funny book. * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisUnder the direction of famed explorer Porter Stone, an archaeological team is secretly attempting to locate the tomb of King Narmer, an ancient pharaoh unlike any other. And Stone is anticipating a further discovery, the first of its kind in history: Narmer''s famed crown, supposedly possessed of mythical powers, is thought to be buried with him. The dig is located in the Sudd, a nearly impassable swamp in northern Sudan and one of the most forbidding places on earth. And amid the nightmarish tangle of mud and dead vegetation, a series of harrowing and seemingly inexplicable occurrences has the team living in fear of a centuries-old curse. With a monumental discovery at stake, Professor Jeremy Logan is brought in to investigate. What he finds will raise new questions...and alarm. With The Third Gate, master storyteller Lincoln Child breaks new ground and introduces a fascinating new protagonist to the thriller genre.Trade ReviewPraise for Deep Storm: Harrowing and brilliantly conceived * Clive Cussler *Praise for Deep Storm: Thrilling and tantalizing. . . . A fascinating riddle. * Vince Flynn *

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Book SynopsisWith this anthology, honoured on first publication as a Lambda Literary Award finalist, Emma Donoghue offers an eloquent and timely definition of the modern lesbian short story. Breaking out beyond North American writer, she assembles an impressively broad array of twenty-nine writers from South Africa to Trinidad, from Australia to Ireland, and from Jamaica to New Zealand. The greater international range is evident not just in subject matter, but in style, too: the writers have little in common other than that they have written on lesbian themes. The intention was not to compile a ''Best of'' collection; the focus is very much on new stories rather than those already much-anthologised. Well-known authors are represented, but not by their best-known work, and widely anthologised authors make way for less familiar names.Chronologically, the focus is on the modern side of the watershed marked by the June 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York and the ensuing Gay Libe

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Book Synopsis''Sliver is the ultimate fin de siècle horror novel'' Stephen KingKay Norris, a successful book editor, moves into the affluent Carnegie Hill district of Manhattan, into an apartment in a slender high-rise. A man watches her. He watches her unpack, watches her make her bed. He owns the building: a shocking secret is concealed within the walls.Sliver is a sinuous, erotic thriller that explores the menacing evil behind the glittering façade of Manhattan''s skyscrapers; a hypnotic story of obsession and the temptation of ultimate power.Trade ReviewSliver is the ultimate fin-de-siècle horror novel, a fiendish goodbye wave to trendy urban living in the last decase of the twentieth century. Mr Levin has in Sliver created the apartment dweller's worst nightmare. As always his characters have a texture and a reality that's almost eerie, and the narrative is as stripped-down and efficient as an automatic weapon * Stephen King *Levin's latest thriller, Sliver, is as successful a page-turner as his first, A Kiss Before Dying, thirty-eight years agoSliver is the ultimate fin de siecle horror novel, a fiendish goodbye wave to trendy urban living in the last decade of the twentieth century. Mr. Levin has in Sliver created the apartment dweller's worst nightmare. As always, his characters have a texture and a reality that's almost eerie, and the narrative is as stripped-down and efficient as an automatic weapon. -- Stephen KingLevin's thriller, Sliver, is as successful a page-turner as his first, A Kiss Before Dying...Ira Levin never gets serious, he just gets better. Grade A. * Entertainment Weekly *

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Book SynopsisFor more than 80 years H. P. Lovecraft has inspired writers of horror and supernatural fiction with his dark vision of humankind''s insignificant place in a vast, uncaring cosmos. At the time of his death in 1937, Lovecraft was virtually unknown, but from early cult status his readership expanded exponentially; his nightmarish visions laying down roots in the collective imagination of his readers. Now this master of the macabre is accepted as part of the literary mainstream, as an American author of note, and the impact of his work on modern popular culture - in literature, film, television, music, the graphic arts, gaming and theatre - has been profound. As Stephen King wrote in Danse Macabre, the shadow of H. P. Lovecraft ''underlies almost all of the important horror fiction that has come since.''Today, Lovecraft''s themes of cosmic indifference, the utter insignificance of humankind, minds invaded by the alien, and the horrors of history remain not only viable mo

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Book SynopsisThe Swan Book is set in the future, with Aboriginals still living under the Intervention in the north, in an environment fundamentally altered by climate change. It follows the life of a mute teenager called Oblivia, the victim of gang-rape by petrol-sniffing youths, from the displaced community where she lives in a hulk, in a swamp filled with rusting boats, and thousands of black swans driven from other parts of the country, to her marriage to Warren Finch, the first Aboriginal president of Australia, and her elevation to the position of First Lady, confined to a tower in a flooded and lawless southern city.The Swan Book has all the qualities which made Wright''s previous novel, Carpentaria, a prize-winning bestseller. It offers an intimate awareness of the realities facing Aboriginal people; the wild energy and humour in her writing finds hope in the bleakest situations; and the remarkable combination of storytelling elements, drawn from myth and legeTrade ReviewThis is the saddest love story I have ever read ... Like the best fiction, it is excessive, impossible to contain in any review * Sydney Review of Books *One of the most beautiful, furious and urgent novels to be published [in Australia] in recent years * The Australian *This is not myth as Western culture understands it: not an imagined dimension, but a literal if incorporeal one that bisects and animates the physical world; it makes for marvellous theatre * London Review of Books *[A] bruising, beautiful, brutal narrative ... a bitter, lovely and tragic book * Australian Book Review *Rich with allegory and symbolism, this wild, explosive story blends the myths and legends of numerous cultures in a dystopian near future ... profound ... Significant and contemporary * Booklist *Astonishingly inventive * The Oprah Magazine *

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Detective Lotte Meerman is convinced the death of Frank Stapel, a painter and decorator, isn't an accident after she and his widow Tessa find a skeleton in a sports bag in his left luggage locker at Amsterdam Central train station. The remains date from the Second World War and Lotte's colleagues consider it of minor importance . . . until forensic tests show that amongst the bones is the arm bone of a crime boss who recently went missing.

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Book SynopsisWhen a three-year old girl is reported missing, DCI Andy Gilchrist is assigned the case. But Gilchrist soon suspects that the child''s mother - Andrea Davis - may be responsible for her daughter''s disappearance, or worse, her murder. The case becomes politically sensitive when Gilchrist learns that Andrea is the daughter of Dougal Davis, a former MSP who was forced to resign from Scottish Parliament after being accused of physically abusing his third wife. Now a powerful businessman, Davis demands Gilchrist''s removal from the case when his investigation seems to be stalling. But then the case turns on its head when Gilchrist learns that a paedophile, recently released from prison, now lives in the same area as the missing child. The paedophile is interrogated but hours later his body is found on the beach with evidence of blunt force trauma to the head, and Gilchrist launches a murder investigation. As pressure relentlessly mounts on Gilchrist, he begins to unraTrade ReviewDCI Gilchrist is a thoughtful, believable character, leading a well-rounded team. Muir knows what he's about . . . A truly gripping read, with all the makings of a classic series -- Mick Herron, winner of the 2013 CWA Gold Dagger AwardA slow burn thriller that is impossible to put down * Caro Ramsay *It's the best yet ... pure fiction gold * Daily Record on Life for a Life *The jaws of this book grab you, bite down and hold you in their grip * Daily Record on Tooth for a Tooth *A high-tension, fast-paced crime thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very last page * Allison Brennan on Tooth for a Tooth *Terse, dark, and ultimately very scary... Gilchrist's failings and his subsequent attempts to reach out to his loved ones make for a memorable, draining read * Library Journal on Hand for a Hand *

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Book Synopsis''I thoroughly enjoyed Splash! It''s a delicious confection of excellent plotting, an inventively bonkers cast of characters, subtle insights into the world of newspapers and a satisfying ending which invokes the great Evelyn Waugh''s masterpiece, Scoop. A fine comedy of manners by a writer who knows the media inside out'' BEL MOONEYSam Blunt is a drunken, broken-down tabloid reporter, working for a once-mighty newspaper struggling to come to terms with the digital age. With the assistance of Benedict, an earnest though clever wet-behind-the-ears young intern on the paper, Sam grapples to uncover the story of the century which reveals the political corruption and cynicism at the heart of a rotten Establishment.As they try to nail the story amid a series of capers, Sam and Benedict are frustrated by the self-serving proprietor of the Daily Bugle, various self-appointed do-gooders who want to rein in the Press, and Trevor Yapp, the mTrade ReviewUtterly brilliant and irresistible -- Amol Rajan, former editor of The IndependentI would recommend it to anyone without reservation . . . very funny -- Andrew RosenheimA proper novel - something that journalists don't always manage to write. Society hostesses, billionaires, bishops, a newspaper baron, MPs, journalists noble and scurrilous: modern London life is there, fully realised -- Simon CarrPotentially Splash! could do more for restoring public confidence in newspapers than sanctimonious leader articles from big publishers . . . Splash! might also remind owners and editors [of newspapers] of the public good they can do when at their best -- Ian Burrell * i *Written in Waugh's style, Splash! imitates his practice of giving characters expressively comic names . . . Glover clearly enjoyed writing it and I enjoyed reading it . . . Glover's novel is an apologia for tabloid journalism and a celebration of its role in exposing corruption among the elite -- Peter Wilby * New Statesman *Both a terrific romp through the indiscretions, dodgy deals and Establishment stitch-ups of our times, and an invaluable reminder of just how vital the Press is in holding power to account -- John Harding * Daily Mail *Veteran insider's sharp, timely satire on the newspaper business * Daily Mail *Splash! has the pace and wit of Tom Sharpe at his Porterhouse best and the mournfulness of Michael Frayn's Towards the End of the Morning . . . captures the thrill of the newsroom -- Laura Freeman * Standpoint *Thoroughly enjoyable . . . Glover hits the mark with uncanny accuracy . . . A rollicking good read * Journalist *Extremely funny . . . If there has been a more spot-on and funnier satire about news folk since Evelyn Waugh's Scoop, I haven't read it * Oxford Times *Splash! is a brilliant book, a comedy with a serious and thought-provoking moral for us all -- Fr Alexander Lucie-Smith * Church Times *Very funny, also poignant in places, and merits favourable comparison with Evelyn Waugh's classic newspaper novel, Scoop, but this time in the digital age -- Carole Dawson Young * Tribune *Plot twists aplenty propel this veteran insider's sharp, timely satire on the newspaper business in a corrupt, cynical London swilling with oligarchs * Mail on Sunday *Funny . . . cleverly plotted, the novel is a love letter to a bygone world of journalism * Sunday Times *A compelling satire -- Michael Burleigh * London Evening Standard *I thoroughly enjoyed Splash! It's a delicious confection of excellent plotting, an inventively bonkers cast of characters, subtle insights into the world of newspapers and a satisfying ending which invokes the great Evelyn Waugh's masterpiece, Scoop. A fine comedy of manners by a writer who knows the media inside out * Bel Mooney *A condition of England novel, and especially the condition of the English press . . . Very enjoyable -- Andrew Gimson * Conservativehome *The spirit of Scoop, Evelyn Waugh's satirical novel about the newspaper world, hovers over Stephen Glover's satire of 21st-century journalism . . . a pacy story of murky ministerial shenanigans, late lunches and love in the afternoon . . . Those in the know will enjoy identifying the characters in this sprightly roman-a-clef, while everyone can relish the all too convincing twists of Glover's neatly plotted narrative * Daily Mail *

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Book Synopsis''Engaging and enjoyable . . . as probing and as penetrative as a Jimmy Anderson opening spell . . . This is no ordinary novel by no ordinary novelist'' Sunday Times''A fine addition to the painfully thin oeuvre of modern fictional works about cricket'' Mike Atherton, The Times''Outstanding'' Mail on Sunday''If all you know is cricket, then cricket will break you . . .''It is the final Test match of The Ashes. A nation expects, and the rest of the cricketing world is watching.Fast-paced, humorous and candid, The Test follows the battles on and off the field as stand-in England captain, James McCall, tries to get his exhausted team across the finish line. Along the way, his story becomes one of fatherhood, friendship and trusting yourself when no one else will.Nathan Leamon''s love letter to Test cricket is that rare thing: a novel that captures the feel and flavour of profeTrade ReviewEngaging and enjoyable . . . as probing and as penetrative as a Jimmy Anderson opening spell . . . This is no ordinary novel by no ordinary novelist -- Nick Greenslade * Sunday Times *Outstanding first novel . . . The book deserves a readership beyond the narrow circle of cricket buffs. The characterisation is excellent, and the writing has a crispness from which novelists with more literary pretensions could learn -- Max Davidson * Mail on Sunday *An ambitious warts-and-all peek into the inner sanctum of the England dressing room . . . a fine addition to the painfully thin oeuvre of modern fictional works about cricket . . . You will have realised that this is no romantic take on professional sport, rather a faithful one. Leamon weaves the strands together expertly, finding moments to teach and inform readers about the endless fascination of the five-day game, while the narrative of the final Test of the Ashes series rumbles along to its epic, heartfelt rather than Hollywood, conclusion -- Mike Atherton * The Times *It's that authenticity, a feel for the cadences and limits of the vernacular of professional cricketers, and for their daily routines, that Leamon makes most vivid . . . Leamon is excellent too on what comes next, the existential nature of batting that offers the game its psychological pivot . . . Leamon has had a direct line into this authenticity, and it takes a writer to bring it out . . . I hope Nathan Leamon writes more -- Jon Hotten * Wisden Cricket Monthly *Brave and humane . . . authentic reflection of life inside a Test match dressing room . . . a work of fiction possessing an authenticity that can only come from experience . . . There are many ways of approaching this book. All are valid and all are rewarding . . . This freshman novelist has dug deep into fresh turf. He has taken a subject that most people thought too technical for fiction . . . The Test is, as it were, the real McCall -- Paul Edwards * ESPN *I loved reading this book. It grabbed my attention from the outset and held it right up until the end. The feel of the dressing room, the thoughts, doubts and emotions that affect even the best competitors, and the descriptions of the life of an international cricketer are all hauntingly familiar * Andy Flower *Nathan Leamon's ambitious and gripping novel has the ring of truth about it - as befits a voice coming from a detached place within the England dressing room * Mike Brearley *There is no novel that captures first class professional cricket: the village green, yes, club games, yes, but not the real top end stuff. Indeed, I have never been convinced that such a fiction is even do-able. Well, Nathan Leamon's The Test settles the argument * Jonathan Smith *

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Book SynopsisDarke Matter is a brilliant, mordant examination of the nature and obligations of love. Both immensely sad and extremely funny, the story wrestles with one of the great moral issues of our time.Trade ReviewClever, witty and perceptive . . . Gekoski writes movingly about love, loss and grief, while handling the difficult issue of assisted dying with considerable balance and finesse. Beautifully written, engrossing and heartbreakingly funny -- Simon Humphreys * Mail on Sunday *A funny and stylish novel provides light in the dark . . . The central, delicate issue of assisted dying is given a fully rounded perspective by a range of intelligent voices . . . It's hard to fault Gekoski's writing, or the splendid character he has created. This book is even more stylish, funny and daring than his last. It enthusiastically embraces so many subjects, from the nothingness-but-everythingness of words to how foie gras should never come out of a tin. Contrary to its punny title, the clarity and energy of Darke Matter fill you with light -- Melissa Katsoulis * The Times *A winningly sweet and sour grumpy-old-man comedy, mixing knockabout gags with heart-swelling tenderness -- Anthony Cummins * Daily Mail *Harrowing, funny, tender and nearly always beautifully written -- Matthew Adams * Sunday Times *Supremely accomplished * Economist *Gekoski writes with pace, wit and a lovely eye for telling detail . . . his command of the issue of assisted dying is masterly . . . a fine read. It should go straight into the A-Level English syllabus as a set text * Jewish Chronicle *But what enriches this novel beyond the predictable is the skilled way Gekoski entwines his protagonist's nightmarish experience of being hounded and vilified . . . * The Critic *

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Book SynopsisA determined young Lancashire girl arrives in London intent on a stage career - this tale from the author of I Capture the Castle is told with the candour and authenticity that derives from Dodie Smith''s own experience of the theatre world. Mouse never did fully suit her nickname. Tiny she may have been, but timid never. After less than twenty-four hours in London she had bluffed her way into an audition at a famous theatre, infuriated its forceful young stage director, and amused its kind if quite amoral actor-manager. She had finally landed not a part but a toehold as a junior secretary. During her involvement in the engrossing affairs of the Crossway Theatre she met her friends Molly, a baby-faced six-footer; and elegant, ambitious Lilian, who was fated to clash disastrously with Mouse. Later, there was also Zelle, rich, generous, enigmatic, and responsible for an outing to Suffolk village pageant which proved a turning point for them all.Life was alwayTrade ReviewThis is a book one can truly love. -- Christopher Isherwood

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Book SynopsisA small community on New Zealand''s Tasman Bay is suddenly overwhelmed by a bloodthirsty madness.There are fourteen survivors.Trapped in by a strange force-field called the ''no-go'', cut off from the world outside, they must pull together, bury the dead and face their fears. Because whatever caused the insanity is still at large. And it hasn''t finished with them yet.Wake is a riveting tour-de-force. A book about extreme events, ordinary people, heroic compassion - and invisible monsters.Trade ReviewOne for fans of Stephen King * Red magazine *Wake is a triumph all of its own. Knox writes with a rare psychological acuity about humans under pressure in an intolerable, incomprehensible predicament * Financial Times *Knox keeps the monster off stage and examines the psychological consequences of its depredations on the survivors, subverting the norms of the horror genre and thus making the ambiguous finale all the more startling. Wake reads like a collaboration between Dean Koontz and John Wyndham, rewritten by Margaret Atwood * Guardian *What starts off as a horror story builds into a taut, psychological sci-fi thriller that is alive to the troubling questions of what happens to humans when civilisation as they know it disintegrates * Sunday Times Culture *Elizabeth Knox has the most original and lateral literary mind in New Zealand . . . I steamed through the book; by the end my hair stood of end. I shouted , "Holy shit!" several times * Metro *Unflinchingly gory and truly insightful, this stand-out tale of humanity vs horror will keep you up all night * Heat magazine *

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Book Synopsis''An enticing and clever book, inside and out'' Book Of The Month - The TimesYork, 1799. In August, an artist is found murdered in his home - stabbed with a pair of scissors. Matthew Harvey''s death is much discussed in the city. The scissors are among the tools of his trade - for Harvey is a renowned cutter and painter of shades, or silhouettes, the latest fashion in portraiture. It soon becomes clear that the murderer must be one of the artist''s last sitters, and the people depicted in the final six shades made by him become the key suspects. But who are they? And where are they to be found?Later, in November, a clever but impoverished young gentleman called Fletcher Rigge languishes in the debtor''s prison, until a letter arrives containing a bizarre proposition from the son of the murdered man. Rigge is to be released for one month, but in that time, he must find the killer. If he fails, he will be incarcerated again, possiblTrade ReviewDrier than a cream cracker; northern not only in vernacular but saturninity which envelops like a quilt giving off cigar smoke and port; memorable characters who vie for oddity or unpleasantness . . . Andrew Martin's splendidly drawn snow-smothered York is a perfect foil for his sooty 18th-century gubbins and goings on, in which little turns out to be precisely black - or precisely white. - Evening Standard'The book's many voices are written with skill, and York's parallel worlds of fashion and poverty are vividly created. The physical book itself is stunning - the front of the hardback is swirled with soot, and the pages are black-edged. An enticing and clever book, inside and out'. Book Of The Month. - The TimesA literary thriller of great ingenuity and originality - Sunday TimesA fascinating read - Catholic HeraldIn a cunningly constructed narrative made up of letters, diaries and other documents, the mystery is unravelled with a nod to the 18th-century novel while remaining bang up-to-date . . . Strong characters, humour and a dash of the picaresque flesh out a sophisticated, confident and intriguing treat. - Daily MailExquisitely written . . . Soot is a well-made whodunnit, an artful pastiche and an atmospheric recreation of Georgian England . . . Comic but never arch, it is an artfully sophisticated entertainment - Irish Times

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Book Synopsis''Call The Committed many things. A white hot literary thriller disguised as a searing novel of ideas. An unflinching look at redemption and damnation. An unblinking examination of the dangers of belief, and the need to believe. A sequel that goes toe to toe with the original then surpasses it. A masterwork'' Marlon James, Booker Prize-winning author of A Brief History of Seven KillingsThe long-awaited new novel from one of America''s most highly regarded contemporary writers, The Committed follows the Sympathizer as he arrives in Paris as a refugee. There he and his blood brother Bon try to escape their pasts and prepare for their futures by turning their hands to capitalism in one of its purest forms: drug dealing. No longer in physical danger, but still inwardly tortured by his reeducation at the hands of his former best friend, and struggling to assimilate into a dominant culture, the Sympathizer is both charmed and disturbed by Paris. As he fTrade ReviewCall The Committed many things. A white hot literary thriller disguised as a searing novel of ideas. An unflinching look at redemption and damnation. An unblinking examination of the dangers of belief, and the need to believe. A sequel that goes toe to toe with the original then surpasses it. A masterwork. * Marlon James, Booker Prize-winning author of A Brief History of Seven Killings *This follow-up to his seminal The Sympathizer is Nguyen at his most ambitious and bold. Fierce in tone, capacious, witty, sharp, and deeply researched, The Committed marks, not just a sequel to its groundbreaking predecessor, but a sum total accumulation of a life devoted to Vietnamese American history and scholarship. This novel, like all daring novels, is a Trojan Horse, whose hidden power is a treatise of global futurity in the aftermath of colonial conquest. It asks questions central both to Vietnamese everywhere - and to our very species: How do we live in the wake of seismic loss and betrayal? And, perhaps even more critically, How do we laugh? * Ocean Vuong, New York Times-bestselling author of On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous *A brilliant rollercoaster of ideas and action. * Daily Mail *An elegy to idealism, Orientalism, and existentialism in all its tragic forms, Nguyen's novel doesn't so much inhabit early eighties Paris, as it pulls the plug on the City of Light. Think of The Committed as the declaration of the 20th ½ Arrondissement. A squatter's paradise for those with one foot in the grave and the other shoved halfway up Western civilization's ass. * Paul Beatty, author of the Man Booker prize-winning The Sellout *The Committed, Viet Thanh Nguyen's furious and exhilarating sequel to The Sympathizer, is part gangster-thriller, part searing cultural analysis of the post-colonial predicament, seen through the eyes of a Vietnamese-French mixed race bastard double agent. Paris of forty years ago swirls to life around him, from intellectual salons to filthy toilets-with glimpses of everyone from Johnny Hallyday to Frantz Fanon to Julia Kristeva. Like Ellison's Invisible Man, these novels will surely become classics. * Claire Messud, author of The Emperor's Children *The Committed is nothing short of revelatory . . . This book is fierce, and unrelentingly good. Hilarious and subversive, philosophical and hallucinatory, it is much more than a sequel, more like a necessary appendage in a brilliant and expansive anti-colonial body of work. Bravo. * Tommy Orange, New York Times-bestselling author of There There *The Committed is a rich and exhilarating story of friendship, loyalty, and greed. Set in 1980s Paris, it follows the characters from The Sympathizer as they try to fashion new lives among all the wretched of the earth. Viet Thanh Nguyen gives us an unsparing look at the poisonous effects of ideology - whether colonialism, communism, or capitalism - even as he explores the deep-seated need we all have to believe in something. A deep, compelling and humorous portrait of how we are shaped by fictions others have for us. * Laila Lalami, author of The Other Americans, finalist for the National Book Award *The Committed is a wonderful successor to The Sympathizer, a splendid tapestry of a novel, full of dubious but richly realized characters. It solidifies what we already know - Viet Thanh Nguyen is a gifted storyteller. It is difficult to know where to start with the praise. The characters have a sad and often tragic complexity, and the language offers a terrific ride for the reader. This is a grand novel full of breathtaking and luminous insights and a pure joy to read. Anticipation is why we come to a book, and joy is why we keep turning page after page. The Committed offers both, and so very much more. * Edward P. Jones, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Known World *Delightfully sardonic humour . . . These are lectures that make you engage. * Francesca Angelini, the Guardian *If The Sympathizer was ostensibly a spy novel, then The Committed is a gangland thriller . . . Two contemporary classics for your bedside table. * The Telegraph, five stars *Here it is, with perfect timing, a novel that anyone who is part of a colonising or colonised nation - and that includes, of course, America - should read . . . Nguyen is a craftsman . . . And then there's the sharp humour . . . In The Committed, a political novel comes in the guise of a thriller . . . Like The Sympathizer, it amounts to much more than the sum of its parts. These two novels constitute a powerful challenge to an enduring narrative of colonialism and neo-colonialism. One waits to see what Nguyen, and the man of two faces, will do next. * the Guardian, Aminatta Forna *Its rawness and ideated rage make it easy to admire and perfect to study * Financial Times *Just as The Sympathizer transformed the hulk of an old spy novel, The Committed does the same with a tale of crime noir. * The Independent *A brilliant rollercoaster of ideas and action. * Daily Mail *A high-stakes crime thriller . . . A thrilling alternative to the Western narrative. * The i *

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'A voice that shakes the walls of the old literary comfort zone' New Yorker 'Goes toe to toe with the original then surpasses it. A masterwork' Marlon James, Booker Prize-winning author of a Brief History of Seven Killings'Fierce and unrelentingly good. Hilarious and subversive' Tommy Orange, New York Times bestselling author of There There------------------------------------It's the early 1980s and the Sympathizer arrives in Paris. As a refugee, he and his blood brother Bon try to escape their turbulent pasts by turning their hands to capitalism in one of its purest forms: drug dealing. No longer in physical danger, the Sympathizer is both charmed and disturbed by Paris. Falling in with left-wing intellectuals and politicians at dinner parties held by his French Vietnamese "aunt", he finds customers for his merchandise as well as stimulation for his mind. But this new life he's living has unforeseen dangers of oppression, addiction and the seemingly unresolvable paradox of reuniting his two closest friends, men whose world views stand them poles apart.The highly suspenseful sequel to The Sympathizer, both literary thriller and brilliant novel of ideas, The Committed is a blistering portrayal of commitment and betrayal that will cement Viet Thanh Nguyen's position in the firmament of American letters.

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Book SynopsisA reissue of the national bestselling novel by JT LeRoy/Laura Albert - published to coincide with the Jeff Feuerzeig documentary: Author: The JT LeRoy Story.''A deft and imaginative...novel'' New York Times Book ReviewSarah never admits that she''s his mother, but the beautiful boy has watched her survive as a lot lizard: a prostitute working the West Virginia truck stops. Desperate to win her love, he decides to surpass her as the best and most famous lot lizard ever. With his own leather mini-skirt and a makeup bag that closes with Velcro, the young Cherry Vanilla embarks on a journey through the Appalachian wilds, dining on transcendental cuisine, supplicating to the mystical Jackalope, encountering the most terrifying of pimps, walking on water, being venerated as an innocent girl saint - and then being denounced as the devil.By turns exhilarating and shocking, magical and realistic, Sarah brings urgency, wit, and imagination tTrade ReviewA deft and imaginative...novel * New York Times Book Review *LeRoy's work is a startling achievement in his accelerating mastery of the literary form * Publishers Weekly *Extraordinarily, LeRoy manages to lace this story with tenderness and humour. Not for the fainthearted, these few raw pages constitute a breathtaking debut * Guardian *Sarah has a strong seductive quality, and it is impossible to forget. LeRoy's ability to present trauma and tenderness simultaneously is entirely his own. 'This book is nothing short of a miracle,' LeRoy has said. I have to agree * New Statesman *Extraordinary. LeRoy writes with astonishing flair and confidence, making Sarah a very impressive debut indeed * Sunday Telegraph *Sarah is surprising, upsetting, offensive, and fun. It's everything a good read - or good sex for that matter - should be * Chuck Palahniuk, author of Fight Club *Like a cross between Nathanael West and Mark Twain, drunk out of their minds and collaborating on Charlie's Angels meets The Headless Horseman - Sarah is a wildly comic tour de force and a brilliant debut * Mary Gaitskill, author of Two Girls, Fat and Thin *JT LeRoy is one of the most interesting, passionate and gifted of writers, very few have his heart and courage. I admire his writing tremendously * Lou Reed (The Velvet Underground) *LeRoy brushed achingly close to duplicating Genet's legerdemain - mythologizing self-abasement so as to transform it into glorious apotheosis * New York Times *I have just finished reading Sarah and found it incredible, very moving, very sad and very beautiful * PJ Harvey *Sarah is weird, darkly funny and haunting. JT LeRoy has a gift, to be able to articulate his world so clearly and astringently, with grace and humor, but without glossing over the pain and brutality of it * Suzanne Vega *Remarkable * Diva magazine *

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Book SynopsisA timely reissue of the extraordinary stories by JT LeRoy/Laura Albert that won international acclaim, to be timed with the theatrical release of the documentary Author: The JT LeRoy Story.''A startling achievement'' Publishers WeeklyThis book of interconnected stories depicts the chaotic life of a young boy on the run with his teenage mother. When Sarah reclaims Jeremiah from his foster parents, he finds himself catapulted into her world of motels and truck stops, exposed to the abusive, exploitative men she encounters. As he learns to survive in this harrowing environment, Jeremiah also learns to love his mother, even as she descends into drug-fueled madness.Told in spare, lyrical prose, rich with imagination and dark humor, The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things transforms the savagery of Jeremiah''s world into an indelible experience of compassion. This special edition includes an additional seven stories, previously uncollectTrade ReviewA startling achievement * Publishers Weekly *An eyewitness's imagination burns in his language ... as vivid as a match held close to the face * New York Times *[The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things] is a fascinating book, a book that instantly stirs the emotions and involves the readers in the lives of the people. It did not take long for the judgments to come fast and furious. That's what can be so deceitful about this book: you get so caught up in the circumstances and lives of the people you can easily overlook the quality of the writing, which is exceptional. One of the reasons this book is so powerful and effective is because it is beautifully structured and written. JT LeRoy should have a most remarkable future as a writer * Hubert Selby, Jr., author of Last Exit to Brooklyn *JT LeRoy's first two books, Sarah and The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things, will prove to be among the most influential books of the last ten years. This is not because they are read and understood by everyone; it's because they are read and loved, rabidly, by thousands of young and very sensitive people who believe that JT speaks for them. He does speak for them, and does so without knowing that he does, and does so with a perfect and bizarre eloquence * Dave Eggers, author of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius *JT Leroy has succeeded in writing the perfect novel * Shirley Manson (Garbage) *a genuinely authoritative voice ... truly remarkable * Booklist *JT's stories are like stitches, like exit wounds, dispatches, depositions. He is the brilliant, gifted, and profound fly on the wall * Tom Waits *One of the most honest and distinctive voices in American fiction * Nan Goldin *Good Lord, what a book! JT LeRoy's writing is savagely authentic and appallingly beautiful. They don't make 'em like this anymore. Christ, he's good. He's a born writer * John Waters, writer/director of Pink Flamingos *I'm reading The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things by JT LeRoy. It's blowing my mind, just the directness of the prose * Bono Vox (U2) *

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Book Synopsis''Erdrich is one of the greatest living American writers'' GuardianLouise Erdrich, the New York Times bestselling, National Book Award-winning author of LaRose and The Round House, paints a startling portrait of a young woman fighting for her life and her unborn child against oppressive forces that manifest in the wake of a cataclysmic event.The world as we know it is ending. Evolution has reversed itself, affecting every living creature on earth. Science cannot stop the world from running backwards, as woman after woman gives birth to infants that appear to be primitive species of humans. Thirty-two-year-old Cedar Hawk Songmaker, adopted daughter of open-minded Minneapolis liberals, is as disturbed as the rest of America around her. But for Cedar, this change is profound and deeply personal. She is four months pregnant.Cedar feels compelled to find her birth mother, Mary Potts, an Ojibwe living on the reservation, toTrade ReviewTense and memorable . . . A journey worth taking and a worthy addition to contemporary apocalyptic fiction. * Daily Mail *Believable and absorbing . . . Smart and compelling, it's ultimately deeply unsettling . . . because it all feels horribly plausible. * SFX magazine *Erdrich is a wonderful storyteller and this rich, poetic tapestry is shot through with threads of despair and glints of hope. She deals unflinchingly with religion's capacity to oppress, but also offers the consolations of spirituality. * Daily Mail *If you enjoyed Naomi Alderman's The Power then Future Home is a more plangent, reflective variation on a theme . . . The tone is dreamy, close, pressing . . . an unsettling tale. * The Times *There is something particularly filmic about Cedar's story. At times, her address to her unborn son resembles the voiceover of Sarah Connor, the pregnant mother on the run from cyborgs in the Terminator series. Erdrich's narrative is not derivative or pulpy but its scenes are fast, visual, action-packed, perfect for film. And Cedar, like Sarah, is angry, fugitive, both powerless and brave, and ultimately a hero-mother in this chilling book,which is at once a dystopia and a state-of-the-nation novel. * Financial Times *

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Book SynopsisSet on the eve of the financial crash of 2008, Barcelona Dreaming is made up of three stories that are linked by time and place, and also by the moving, unexpected interactions of a rich cast of characters.Trade ReviewElegant and electrifying. Thomson's prose is sparse, yet so highly charged that I couldn't stop reading. I love all his novels - but this one is my new favourite. * Andrea Wulf *I don't know how Rupert Thomson does it. Each novel he writes is a new vision of a new world; he's the least predictable, the most surprising of writers. Barcelona Dreaming is set in that city, and it seems as if Thomson knows every corner of it, and every kind of human being who might live there. My astonishment is only surpassed by my admiration. * Philip Pullman, author of the bestselling His Dark Materials trilogy *The three stories in Barcelona Dreaming are connected by ingeniously created threads, but also by a tone that is ironic, observant, alert to the complexity of the characters' motives and desires. The book is set in the modern city of Barcelona, its atmosphere invoked with intimate knowledge and a matchless sense of place. * Colm Tóibín, New York Times bestselling author of Brooklyn and The Master *I wonder if I've ever sat so intimately alongside characters in a story. Rupert Thomson has so brought this writing to life I can literally feel it on my skin. Save yourself the airfare: your new friends in Barcelona live right here * DBC Pierre *What a haunting book. I didn't want to finish it...The stories have stayed with me as if they are actually memories...Extraordinary * Kitty Aldridge *Thomson is at his full powers in this 13th captivating novel. He reaffirms his gift for writing on place, bringing Barcelona vividly and complexly to life for a travel-starved pandemic audience. His confident , spellbinding prose is jewelled with uncanny details, gliding along in language that strikes, unsettles, and reawakens at every turn. This is a brilliant book. * Maya C. Popa *Barcelona Dreaming is a wonderful book, a phantasmal hymn to a city and a lost way of life * Alex Preston, New York Times *The supremely sensuous rendering of Barcelona itself is superb * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE EDWARD STANFORD PRIZE FOR FICTION WITH A SENSE OF PLACE''His confident, spellbinding prose is jewelled with uncanny details, gliding along in language that strikes, unsettles, and reawakens at every turn...This is a brilliant book'' Maya C. Popa''Cool and controlled...Electrifying...Reading Rupert Thomson novels can easily become an obsession'' The Times--------Set on the eve of the financial crash of 2008, Barcelona Dreaming is made up of three stories that are linked by time and place, and also by the moving, unexpected interactions of a rich cast of characters.The stories are narrated, in turn, by an English woman who runs a gift shop, an alcoholic jazz pianist, and a translator tormented by unrequited love, all of whose lives will be changed forever. Underpinning the novel, and casting a long shadow, is a crime committed against a young Moroccan immigrant.Exploring themTrade ReviewElegant and electrifying. Thomson's prose is sparse, yet so highly charged that I couldn't stop reading. I love all his novels - but this one is my new favourite. * Andrea Wulf *I don't know how Rupert Thomson does it. Each novel he writes is a new vision of a new world; he's the least predictable, the most surprising of writers. Barcelona Dreaming is set in that city, and it seems as if Thomson knows every corner of it, and every kind of human being who might live there. My astonishment is only surpassed by my admiration. * Philip Pullman, author of the bestselling His Dark Materials trilogy *The three stories in Barcelona Dreaming are connected by ingeniously created threads, but also by a tone that is ironic, observant, alert to the complexity of the characters' motives and desires. The book is set in the modern city of Barcelona, its atmosphere invoked with intimate knowledge and a matchless sense of place. * Colm Tóibín, New York Times bestselling author of Brooklyn and The Master *I wonder if I've ever sat so intimately alongside characters in a story. Rupert Thomson has so brought this writing to life I can literally feel it on my skin. Save yourself the airfare: your new friends in Barcelona live right here * DBC Pierre *What a haunting book. I didn't want to finish it...The stories have stayed with me as if they are actually memories...Extraordinary * Kitty Aldridge *Thomson is at his full powers in this 13th captivating novel. He reaffirms his gift for writing on place, bringing Barcelona vividly and complexly to life for a travel-starved pandemic audience. His confident , spellbinding prose is jewelled with uncanny details, gliding along in language that strikes, unsettles, and reawakens at every turn. This is a brilliant book. * Maya C. Popa *Barcelona Dreaming is a wonderful book, a phantasmal hymn to a city and a lost way of life * Alex Preston, New York Times *The supremely sensuous rendering of Barcelona itself is superb * Daily Mail *Rupert Thomson's Barcelona Dreaming tells three lightly interlinked stories of residents of the city on the eve of the financial crash of 2008. Thomson conjures up a fascinating cast of beautiful people with complicated lives who've lost a lot and have more to lose. * The Gloss Magazine *'I was captured by Barcelona Dreaming' * Irish Times Books of the Year 2021 *'The next best thing to actually moving to the Catalan capital' -- Rob Doyle * The Sunday Times *'What a book! So deft, and oblique, and mysterious, and vivid. I absolutely loved it.' (ONLY USE FOR PRESS RELEASE) -- Gwendoline Riley

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Book SynopsisFrom international bestselling author Laurent Gounelle, a captivating novel about a young woman whose marketing project to help save a parish church turns into a revealing spiritual journey.Alice, a young marketing consultant, pays a visit to an old friend who has seemed depressed lately. Jeremy, now a parish priest in a charming French village, explains that he is dejected at the dwindling number of parishioners attending church. It seems no one has time anymore for faith, spirituality, or the sense of community the little village church has always provided.Though an avowed atheist, Alice decides to apply her professional skills to the problem. The first step is research: she reads the Bible and consults with a number of experts in religious studies--on Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism, among others. She even interviews a physicist on the Big Bang.Her inquiries lead her to uncover a disturbing truth, one that has been suppressed for centuries by p

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Book Synopsis''Dark and dreadful and persistently clever. Ortberg bloodily turns familiar tales inside out.'' Rainbow Rowell''A collection of stories delectable, formidable, and nimble. As a fantasist and short story writer, Ortberg is without peer.'' Kelly Link''Ortberg has a voracious appetite for poison apples, and a genius for finding the places in fairyland where all the bodies are buried. The Merry Spinster will ruin your most-loved fables, in the best possible way.'' Charlie Jane Anders''Ortberg has the sloe gin wit of Dorothy Parker and the soul of a Classics nerd. It''s like both of them sat next to each other in The Merry Spinster and gossiped away. The result is an absolute delight.'' John Scalzi''Ortberg has created a Frankenstein''s monster of familiar narratives . . . [that swings] between Terry Pratchett''s satirical jocularity and Angela Carter''s sinister, shrewd storytelling, and the result is gorgeousTrade ReviewThis delightfully disturbing collection . . . delivers on chills, laughs, and much more. There is plenty of humor to be had here, with Ortberg's signature biting wit and nerdy whimsy out in full force . . . Ortberg's point of view is thoughtful, insightful, and unpretentious. A wholly satisfying blend of silliness, feminist critique, and deft prose makes this a collection of bedtime stories that will keep you up at night for all the right reasons. * Kirkus, starred review *The book brings the shock of the new and the shock of recognition into play at the same time; it's a tour de force of skill, daring, and hard-earned bravura. * Publisher's Weekly, starred review *Dark and dreadful and persistently clever. Ortberg bloodily turns familiar tales inside out. * Rainbow Rowell, No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of Carry On *A collection of stories delectable, formidable, and nimble. As a fantasist and short story writer, Mallory Ortberg is without peer. * Kelly Link, author of Get in Trouble *Feminist fairy tales? Just what the doctor ordered. Texts From Jane Eyre and Dear Prudence agony aunt Mallory Ortberg conjures up the kinds of stories that will hopefully scary the bogeymen - with the emphasis on "men" - away. * Elle UK, Books We're Most Excited to Read in 2018 *Dear Reader: It would, truthfully, be simplest to call the stories in THE MERRY SPINSTER 'retellings,' but that word does not adequately capture their dark alchemy. Mallory Ortberg has created a Frankenstein's monster of familiar narratives. . .[that swings] between Terry Pratchett's satirical jocularity and Angela Carter's sinister, shrewd storytelling, and the result is gorgeous, unsettling, splenic, cruel, and wickedly smart. I've never read anything quite like them, and I bet, Dear Reader, that you haven't either. * Carmen Maria Machado, author of Her Body and Other Parties: Stories *Mallory Ortberg has a voracious appetite for poison apples, and a genius for finding the places in fairyland where all the bodies are buried. The Merry Spinster will ruin your most-loved fables, in the best possible way. * Charlie Jane Anders, author of All the Birds in the Sky *The secret to THE MERRY SPINSTER, I think, is that she never wanted to be your wicked stepmother -- she was too busy. There are uncanny slivers of delight and recognition mixed here with the wit we all love Ortberg for, but here that wit is wielded with new force. If fairy tales are ways to describe the rules we don't dare put down on paper, in her hands they become ways to challenge those, or even to write new rules. I don't know if these stories are for bedtimes, but they are for us. * Alexander Chee, author of Edinburgh and The Queen of the Night *Mallory Ortberg has the sloe gin wit of Dorothy Parker and the soul of a Classics nerd. It's like both of them sat next to each other in THE MERRY SPINSTER and gossiped away. The result is an absolute delight. * John Scalzi, New York Times bestselling author of Lock In and Redshirts *

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Book SynopsisIn The Refugees, Viet Thanh Nguyen gives voice to lives led between two worlds, the adopted homeland and the country of birth. From a young Vietnamese refugee who suffers profound culture shock when he comes to live with two gay men in San Francisco, to a woman whose husband is suffering from dementia and starts to confuse her for a former lover, to a girl living in Ho Chi Minh City whose older half-sister comes back from America having seemingly accomplished everything she never will, the stories are a captivating testament to the dreams and hardships of immigration. The second piece of fiction by a major new voice, The Refugees is a beautifully written and sharply observed book about the aspirations of those who leave one country for another, and the relationships and desires for self-fulfillment that define our lives.Trade ReviewNguyen's eight heart-wrenching and hopeful stories ought to be required reading for every politician in this era of wall-building and xenophobia. - The Guardian, Fiction to Look Out for in 2017A remarkable debut . . . both thriller and social satire . . . tense, psychologically complex, riveting - New York Times on The SympathizerA powerful antidote to all the fearmongering and lies out there . . . A rich exploration of human identity, family ties and love and loss, never has a short story collection been timelier. ***** Five stars. - the IndependentThe Sympathizer reminded me of how big books can be - Guardian (Best Books of 2015) on The SympathizerA collection of fluidly modulated yet bracing stories about Vietnamese refugees in the US, powerful tales of rupture and loss that detonate successive shock waves . . . Each intimate, supple, and heartrending story is unique in its particulars even as all are works of piercing clarity, poignant emotional nuance, and searing insights into the trauma of war and the long chill of exile, the assault on identity and the resilience of the self, and the fragility and preciousness of memories. - Booklist (starred review)For Nguyen groupies desperate for future titles (including a Sympathizer sequel), [The] Refugees is a highly gratifying interlude. For short fiction fans of other extraordinary, between-culture collections such as Daniyal Mueenuddin's In Other Rooms, Other Wonders and Jhumpa Lahiri's Unaccustomed Earth, Nguyen won't disappoint. - Library Journal (starred review)Precise without being clinical, archly humorous without being condescending, and full of understanding; many of the stories might have been written by a modern Flaubert, if that master had spent time in San Jose or Ho Chi Minh City . . . [Nguyen's] stories, excellent from start to finish, transcend ethnic boundaries to speak to human universals. - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)Beautiful and heartrending - the New Yorker, Joyce Carol Oates

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Book Synopsis''This Is Yesterday is a song for the outsiders, a hymn to the suburban misfits. Here the tensions and oddness of lower-middle class family life are explored in poetic detail . . . A voice of hope for those who boldly follow their own creative path from adolescence to middle age'' Benjamin Myers, author of The OffingPeach is alone and adrift in London''s sprawl, with a stalled art career and an unhappiness she knows won''t be cured by a boyfriend or baby. Then she gets a shocking phone call that brings her face to face with her fractured family, and sends her spiralling into her past, to a scorched summer years ago in 90s suburbia . . .Back in 1994, Peach longs to flee the stifling nowhere that makes her a misfit. Hot listless days and sleepless drunken nights have awakened in her a latent, destructive curiosity; she haunts airless attics, unlocks sealed doors, pries into private affairs and finally unearths a secret that rips her family apart, dTrade Review'This Is Yesterday is a song for the outsiders, a hymn to the suburban misfits. Here the tensions and oddness of lower-middle class family life are explored in poetic detail. Inhabited by weak men and strong women, it is shot through with rumination and echoes with regret, yet offers a voice of hope for those who boldly follow their own creative path from adolescence to middle age' * Benjamin Myers, author of The Offing *Mind-blowingly masterful with words . . . This Is Yesterday jangled my insides around completely. Rose Ruane is truly something else * Jessica Fostekew, co-host of The Guilty Feminist *Stunningly written debut . . . The real subject of this enjoyably disturbing book is being a hormonal school-leaver in a dead-end town who feels all the real action is elsewhere -- Wendy Holden * Daily Mail *This darkly funny book is very insightful about family dynamics and how small choices can leave us far from where we meant to be * Good Housekeeping *Ruane brings an earthy immediacy to bear on her exploration of the long-simmering tensions that warp the middle-class Lewis family . . . a tale told with passion and honesty -- Hephzibah Anderson * Mail on Sunday *Sex and desire are complicated, and Ruane captures the how and why of that perfectly . . . Ruane's Peach is someone you'll want to shake and cuddle, sometimes simultaneously, for This is Yesterday conveys the messiness of real life - as well as its poignancy -- Lee Randall * Books from Scotland *

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