Contemporary fiction titles are those which focus on the present or near past. Stories rooted in the current cultural, social, and political landscape which feature characters we can all recognise.
Contemporary Fiction Books
Hodder & Stoughton Pretending
Book SynopsisWHY BE YOURSELF WHEN YOU CAN BE PERFECT?**As featured on The High Low podcast** ''MAGNIFICENT. Brutally honest and righteously angry but still HUGELY enjoyable and engaging. I bow down!'' Marian Keyes ''A thoughtful, intelligent, urgent novel women need to read.'' Dolly Alderton _____________He said he was looking for a ''partner in crime'' which everyone knows is shorthand for ''a woman who isn''t real''. April is kind, pretty, and relatively normal - yet she can''t seem to get past date five. Every time she thinks she''s found someone to trust, they reveal themselves to be awful, leaving her heartbroken. And angry. If only April could be more like Gretel. Gretel is exactly what men want - she''s a Regular Everyday Manic Pixie Dream Girl Next Door With No Problems. The problem is, Gretel isn''t real. And April is now claiTrade ReviewMAGNIFICENT. The whole sorry mess of gender and sexual politics wrapped up in a compelling story told by an ADORABLE heroine. I feel educated and empowered from reading it. Brutally honest and righteously angry but still HUGELY enjoyable and engaging. I BOW DOWN! -- Marian Keyes'Unsettling and hopeful, enlightening and entertaining. A thoughtful, intelligent, urgent novel women need to read' * Dolly Alderton *Pretending is the most freeing, reassuring book on dating after #MeToo I've ever read. Perceptive. Hilarious. Reassuring. Brilliant. -- Laura Jane WilliamsI love this book! It made me cry and laugh and rage and fall completely in love with the characters and you MUST READ IT! It's beautifully written and completely engrossing but also a really important, timely book. Sheer brilliance. -- Lucy FoleyPretending looks at what it is to be a woman and makes the reader look inwards (or backwards), reflecting on past encounters with more awareness, forgiveness and understanding than ever before. Empowering, thought-provoking, honest, observant, heart-wrenching and uncomfortable - an exposing and healing read * Giovanna Fletcher *I cannot think of a more important modern love story to tell * Dolly Alderton, The High Low podcast *What looks like a lolzy rom-com is actually a punch-in-the-gut brilliant novel about consent and mental health. Don't let this one pass you by * Grazia *The amazing thing about Holly's writing is how she's able to say not just what we're all thinking but what we're even too afraid to admit to ourselves. Her books should be mandatory reading for everyone.Thoughtful, smart and painfully true * Cosmopolitan *A brilliant, hard-hitting, tell-all-your-girlfriends-to-read-it book * Fabulous Magazine *Hugely entertaining rom-com for the post #MeToo generation * Daily Mail *As with all of Holly's books, I was totally hooked from the first page. Her unique voice immediately invites you in and you can't look away. Gritty, funny and poignantWhat a painful, raw, important, hilarious, whip-smart triumph of a book.I adore-love-worship this book. Every page brings another eye-wateringly relatable moment and I couldn't put it down. I was constantly laughing, crying, and nodding aggressively at every page. Holly Bourne is officially my favourite writer and this book is everything.I really, really enjoyed but also really, really admired this bookOne of Holly Bourne's greatest gifts as a writer is her ability to cut to the emotional core of her chosen subject and nowhere is that shown with more deftness than in Pretending. Searingly honest, intense, and insightful, this is a profoundly moving novel, and to my mind, Bourne's best work to dateSo relatable, powerful and thought-provoking. April is a rare and wonderful protagonist, I fell for her instantly, I loved her rage and vulnerability and I constantly rooted for her even when I knew she was doing the wrong thing. This is a vivid, contemporary exploration of the darkest side of relationships, anger and powerlessness, but it's filled with joy too. If we've all been suffering from Gone Girl Cool Girl syndrome, Holly has written the antidotePretending is Holly Bourne at her best. It's a funny, feminist yet challenging read that will make many readers feel validated and seen * Red *Bourne's novels are so witty, so stingingly acute on millennial pop culture, that you only notice by stealth their serious intent * Metro *A funny, feminist and challenging story, which will make readers feel validated and seen. What an accomplishment for a novel * Red Magazine *An extraordinary book. Properly funny, effortless to read and yet it deals with real and visceral trauma in a way that is incredibly effective and true to life. It's feminist and angry and compassionate and hopeful. I would give this book to every woman in her 20s and 30s.Smart, perceptive, funny and touching about modern life for modern women.I just read this in two sittings and I need to reiterate: I love Holly Bourne. Such unbelievably dark themes and brutal cynicism yet Pretending still has a joy and a lightness of touch that makes it easy to breeze through.Devastating, funny and insightful, Holly Bourne's Pretending is a read that will resonate * Stylist *What a brilliant book this is! I felt such lacerating anger, laughed and was incredibly moved all in the space of one book. I hope everyone reads it. Fantastic -- Lucy DiamondA novel about female fragility and female power and about the endless tightrope we all walk as women in the #metoo era. Honest, courageous and fiercely funny. A surefire hit.A brilliant takedown of the rules and expectations of the dating game, with a spot-on analysis of the falseness and contradictions within. Insightful, relatable and excruciatingly honest, with a serious heart. Holly's style is so clear and her pace so perfect, the Things We Don't Talk About Enough are presented in the most accessible way imaginable. That's an exceptional gift. I'm sure thousands of women will find comfort in April's story. I absolutely loved it I inhaled this in two greedy sittings because WOW. What a read - perceptive, unflinching, funny and raw, this story and its characters just leapt from the page.After Bourne's How Do You Like Me Now? became a bestseller, we predict great things * Red *This book will make you laugh, cry, think and feel understood in less than 500 pages * Platinum-mag.co.uk *An author highly attuned to the concerns of 20/30-something women, but writes so engagingly that her readership goes well beyond this demographic * The Bookseller *
£13.49
John Murray Press The Rules of Revelation
Book Synopsis''THE RULES OF REVELATION is not only a glorious, bold, funny state-of-the-nation novel, but a beautiful and painful love story too'' SALLY ROONEY''One of the great achievements of modern Irish fiction'' SUNDAY TIMESREUNIONS. RECRIMINATIONS. RECKONINGS. Ireland. Great nationalists, bad mothers and a whole lot of secrets. Ryan Cusack is ready to deliver its soundtrack. Former sex-worker Georgie wants the truth about Ryan''s past out there but the journalist has her own agenda. Mel returns from Brexit Britain, ill-equipped to deal with the resurgence of a family scandal. Karine has always been sure of herself, till a terrible secret tugs the rug from under her. Maureen has got wind that things are changing, and if anyone''s telling the story she wants to make sure it''s her. A riotous blast of sex, scandal, obsession, love, feminism, gender, music, class aTrade ReviewIt's got all the crackle and verve and mad vivid life we've come to expect but it's so open-hearted and warm, too, and utterly engrossing - it's her best work to date, which is really saying something -- KEVIN BARRYSharp and satisfying . . . McInerney's world is a compelling sleazy demi-monde of drug dealers, sex workers and property developers, and she has a pleasing disdain for minimalism: here you'll find big characters and lots of them * Guardian *[Lisa McInerney has] high-voltage verve and an acute understanding of Ireland . . . [she is] a richly savage writer and an incisive chronicler of her home country * The Times *No other writer captures the pained, complex lives of damaged young men and women in contemporary Ireland like McInerney does. With her savage wit and caustic eye there's no shirking of the ugly truths of Irish society and the havoc wreaked on innocent lives. This is a raw, intense novel, full of tenderness, humour and above all humanity. -- MARY COSTELLOUnsparing, unsentimental, but deeply affectionate...THE RULES OF REVELATION is stylish and relentlessly original -- NICOLE FLATTERYTHE RULES OF REVELATION is a perfect end to one of the best trilogies in modern Irish literature. McInerney's writing moves from the tragic to the hilarious with a dazzling deftness, examining a post-Crash Ireland - and its hypocrisy in how it shapes class, art, and feminism - with a gimlet eye. A triumph -- LOUISE O'NEILL * Irish Examiner *Sardonic, sexy, witty, lanky with a winsome smirk, which breaks into a long-stride run for the pure pleasure of it - and it is a pleasure to observe * The Spectator *Bristles with snap, crackle and pop . . . [Rules of Revelation] showcases a writer who isn't afraid to raise her voice . . . frank, gutsy and not for the faint-hearted * Irish Independent *An enthralling and expansive novel. There is no mistaking the brilliantly inventive, savage, technicolour bounce of McInerney's prose -- COLIN BARRETTThe characters, the dialogue, the wit and humanity - everything about this book glows -- RODDY DOYLEImpressive . . . As in its predecessors in this, the most essential English-language fiction cycle since St Aubyn's Patrick Melrose novels, The Rules of Revelation's scenes are so alive and real, so insidiously affecting, that they weirdly engage most of the senses. -- GAVIN CORBETTFlesh and blood, [McInerney's characters] are filled with the same contradictions and insecurities we all possess. On every page, we see how love, death and art inform their personalities . . . McInerney is a talented writer and has a way of injecting fun, farce and pathos when least expected * Sunday Independent Review *Lisa McInerney writes beautifully, her swooping prose offset by her brisk, blunt and unaffected dialogue * TLS *Few [Irish writers] have their finger on the pulse of contemporary society as strongly as Lisa McInerney. She propels the story via an energetic combination of irreverent dialogue, intimate vernacular and a vivid socio-political backdrop . . . you'll get a genuine sense of modern Ireland post-marriage equality and abortion referendums. You'll also get warmth, humour and an engaging love story amid all the division. * Sunday Business Post Review *The Rules of Revelation makes its own music, bold and bawdy, as it chases the demons and dragons that tease, thwart and titillate a quartet of women, all living in that city by the Lee * RTE Guide *A belting read of drink, drugs, music and finally getting to grips with the past * The Gloss Mention *Bright, funny and inventive with a chart-topper's swagger . . . McInerney's set is as Cork as Barry's Tea and just as strong * Irish Times *There's a gang of powerful young women writers in Ireland right now. But the one they should all be looking up to is Lisa McInerney . . . [she] is a fine writer who knows how to sharpen a sentence, and make every word count. She also writes brilliantly about music . . . Take a deep breath and hear this. Lisa McInerney's Cork trilogy is a major Irish literary achievement. And The Rules of Revelation is a riveting and essential read. * Hot Press Magazine *McInerney's observations on both gender politics and Ireland's perpetual identity crisis remain acute * Daily Mail *A literary feast . . . when it comes to fine writing [McInerney] is both architect and interior designer in her craft . . . [McInerney's] novels are rich with intriguing individuals of varying morals * Connaught Tribune *Bright and inventive, the dialogue funny, sharp and revealing of character * Irish Times Culture *The rollercoaster conclusion to the Women's prize-winning 'unholy trinity' of big-hearted, sharp-mouthed novels set amid Cork's seamy underbelly. A sideways look at modern Ireland, and a comic treat * Guardian *A belting read of drink, drugs, music and finally getting to grips with the past * The Gloss *Remarkable . . . It's hard to imagine anyone making a better go of creating a world this rich and real than McInerney * RTE Culture *
£8.99
Hodder & Stoughton Tailspin
Book Synopsis''Everyone, and that means everyone is hiding secrets. . . '' NetGalley reviewer THE NUMBER 1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!! Don''t miss this spine tingling thriller about a daring pilot caught in a race against timeRye Mallett, a fearless ''freight dog'' pilot charged with flying cargo to far-flung locations, is often rough-spoken and soft of regulations. But he does have a rock-solid reputation: he will fly in the foulest weather, day or night and deliver the goods. So when Rye is asked the fly into a completely fogbound northern Georgia town and deliver a mysterious black box to a Dr Lambert, he doesn''t ask questions. As Rye''s plane nears the isolated landing strip, worse trouble than bad weather awaits him. He is greeted first by a sabotage attempt that causes him to crash land; and then by Dr Brynn O''Neal, who claims she was sent for the box in Dr Lambert''s stead. Rye finds himself irresisTrade ReviewPraise for Sandra Brown - -One of the hottest Sandra Brown books ever - Huffington PostBrown has written another gripping page-turner . . . will enthrall both her fans and anyone who enjoys their tales mixed with a romantic flair. - Associated PressPerfectly plotted . . . sin-tillating suspense - People magazineMillions of readers clamour for the compelling novels of Sandra Brown. And no wonder! She fires your imagination with irresistible characters, unexpected plot twists, scandalous secrets . . . so electric you feel the zing - Literary GuildLust, jealousy, and murder suffuse Brown's crisp thriller - Publishers WeeklyBrown's novels define the term "page turner" - BooklistFast fun - Cosmopolitan
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe a feelgood
Book Synopsis''I absolutely adored this novel; it''s the perfect holiday romance!'' Netgalley Reviewer, 5 starsDarcy Fitzwilliam simply doesn''t have time to fall in love. But this Christmas, a kiss under the mistletoe will change everything...As partner at a major New York hedge fund, Darcy''s only serious relationship is with her work cellphone. The truth is, she''s too busy being successful and making money to have time for Christmas... let alone to allow romance into her life. But this year Darcy is coming home to Pemberley, Ohio, for the holidays. There, she runs into her old neighbour and high-school foe Luke Bennet - the oldest of five wayward brothers. When Darcy''s enmity with Luke is re-opened, along with a hefty dollop of sexual chemistry... well, sparks are sure to fly. Can Darcy fall in love - or will her pride, and Luke''s prejudice against big-city girls, stand in their way?This sparkling retelling of Pride and Prejudice will
£9.49
John Murray Press The Electric
Book SynopsisA grandmother, a mother, a son, bound together by love, tragedy, and the one place they can escape to - The ElectricTrade ReviewWhat with coming of age, a love triangle or two and the discovery of family secrets over a fifty-year timeframe, there is a lot going on, and Hogan manages it elegantly. He has a knack for giving us just the right amount of detail * TLS *
£12.74
John Murray Press M for Mammy
Book SynopsisA heartwarming and funny debut of an Irish family, the Augustts, all bound together with love and language and stories. For fans of Roddy Doyle and Marian Keyes.Trade ReviewStrong and taut -- Anne Griffin, author of WHEN ALL IS SAID * Literary Hub *M is for Mammy. It's also for Magnificent! What a wonderful story - in turns heart-breaking, heart-warming, and hilarious (which is not an easy combination to pull off). Also, Granny Mae-Anne is a FABULOUS creation . . . Eleanor, it's a glorious debut. -- Ruth HoganI really enjoyed this, Eleanor is a lovely writer * Sheila O'Flanagan *Lovely, sharp, compassionate, well-observed writing -- Felicity Hayes-McCoy, author of the Finfarran seriesFresh, thoughtful and original - a charming debut. * Irish Times *Rambunctious -- 2019 highlights * Irish Times *Channelling the warm heart and good cheer of Marian Keyes, this debut novel from O'Reilly . . . tells the very amusing story of the Augustt family. We meet the son who doesn't speak, the mother who's had a stroke, the granny who talks enough for the lot of them - and the daughter who's decided to write it all down. * Irish Independent *Exuberant. A brilliant, bubbly new voice. * Irish Examiner *A heartfelt debut about love, understanding and the complicated ties of family * Prima *Joining the ranks of brilliant female contemporary fiction authors like Cecelia Ahern, Marian Keyes and Emma Hannigan hailing from the Emerald Isle, Eleanor O'Reilly's debut offers a great new Irish voice. * New Books *O'Reilly writes with a deep sense of compassion and understanding * Sunday Business Post *Charming . . . utterly heartwarming. * Image *A cracking good read . . . more characters like the formidable, feisty Granny, please! LOVED HER. * The Book Scoop *A gloriously funny, bittersweet debut. * Ireland of the Welcomes *Offers a powerful message about the bond of family and of the drama of holding everything together when it seems as if the world is falling apart * Jaffa Reads Too *
£8.54
Hodder & Stoughton The Mercy Seat
Book SynopsisAs another baking hot day dawns over Louisiana in 1943, a young black man wakes in a town jail to the final hours of his life: at midnight, eighteen-year-old Willie Jones will be executed by electric chair for raping a white girl - a crime some believe he did not commit. In a tale taut with mounting tension, the day unfolds hour by hour from nine points of view: Willie himself, knowing what really happened and grappling with what it means to die; his father, desperately trying to reach home with a tombstone for his son before it''s too late to see him one last time; the lawyer, haunted by being forced to seek the death penalty against his convictions, his wife, who believes Willie to be innocent, and their 12-year-old son, determined to get as close as possible to the action regardless of the dangers; the priest assigned to Willie in jail; the prisoner entrusted with driving the executioner and his travelling electric chair to the place of execution; and the mother whose onlTrade ReviewIt takes a brave writer to compose a novel about the execution of an African-American man in the Deep South when the topic has previously been brought to life by authors like Harper Lee and Ernest Gaines. There are multiple possibilities for failure: preachiness, melodrama and bias, to name a few. But Elizabeth H. Winthrop avoids these hazards by writing well, demonstrating once again that while the subject matter is the body of the narrative, the prose itself is the soul and the thing that makes a topic new . . . [The novel] gathers great power as it rolls on propelled by its many voices. -- Tim Gautreaux * New York Times *In this spare, taut novel, the separate stories of the people around an execution join together to form a portrait of a town, a mentality, a moment in time. This is a compelling, sorrowful read, deeply perceptive and wonderfully full of grace. -- Andrew SolomonThis is an atmospheric, subtle and beautifully crafted portrait of a divided community, riven by prejudice. Echoing William Faulkner and Harper Lee, this moving novel has clear contemporary resonance. -- Simon Humphreys * Mail on Sunday *A heart-rending, devastating read. -- Nina Pottell * Prima *A choral reckoning with our human cruelty and with the modesty of our very real and resisting grace - and this excellent writer's best novel yet. -- Joshua FerrisThis taut, deft novel asks us to look, and to look hard, and our willingness is profoundly honoured. -- Michelle LatiolaisPlease celebrate Winthrop's audacious determination to walk through the narrative minefield of this account of an electrocution in the Deep South during the Gothic worst of Jim Crow times. Winthrop redeems her daring by lovely discipline and dignity, by the care she lavishes on each of her rounded characters. The Mercy Seat is a truly bravura performance. -- Geoffrey WolffSome novels seem to set your soul ablaze with an author-induced explosion of empathy for our flawed, beautiful world. The Mercy Seat does just that . . .astonishingly moving . . . Narrated in turn by nine characters, Winthrop's story has the inexorable pace of a thriller; her writing of voice and character is masterful. And like the best fiction about the past, The Mercy Seat speaks to the challenges of the present. It's an astonishing feat. -- Sarah Harrison Smith * The Amazon Book Review *Winthrop creates a kaleidoscopic narrative that captures the wildly different perspectives of characters beyond accuser and accused. . . Suspenseful and highly nuanced, Winthrop's novel raises profound questions about truth and justice. * The National Book Review *An absorbing slice of historical fiction. * Good Housekeeping *Beautifully crafted. -- Jane Ciabattari * BBC Culture *Gripping . . .This is a small book, but one certain to make a big impact. Questions are raised and left unanswered in regard to the death penalty; no matter what your belief in this regard, it's impossible not to have empathy for Willie, as the author painstakingly walks us through his final hours, the clock ticking as 'The Mercy Seat' waits. * Missourian *Praise for THE WHY OF THINGS: With insight, respect and luminous clarity . . . This haunting, shimmering novel reminds us how all of us know our families: with unimaginable intimacy, and hardly at all. -- Andrew SolomonKeenly observed . . . richly drawn. * New York Times Book Review, Editor's Choice *Totally engrossing from start to finish. Winthrop's scene building is captivating, her characterization intricately layered, and her ability to build tension both preternatural and Hitchcockian. * Ploughshares *Praise for DECEMBER: Winthrop is brilliant at depicting the bewildering world and its assault on the senses of a struggling adolescent . . . This extraordinary novel seduces as it also challenges: curiously provoking and offering small flashes of illumination, like matches struck in that dim and meaningful space on the far side of language. -- Natalie Sandison * The Times *Praise for FIREWORKS: Winthrop sketches her hapless hero with uncommon charm . . . both he and the reader learn to appreciate anew the 'non-stories' that make up life. * Observer *A bitingly intelligent writer who infuses otherwise unremarkable moments with bittersweet pathos. * New York Times Book Review *A multi-layered tale of life, death and the grey pain of grief. And yet, it is not depressing . . . though slow burning, [it] still manages to be explosive. * Irish Examiner *
£9.49
John Murray Press Two Steps Forward
Book SynopsisA smart, funny novel of love, self-acceptance, second chances and blisters, from the author of The Rosie Project. Two misfits walk 2,000km along the Camino to find themselves and, perhaps, each other. ''Charming and absorbing'' Daily Mail''Sleepless in Seattle meets Wild . . . A beautifully crafted tale of love, self-acceptance, and blisters'' Sunday ExpressZoe, a sometime artist, is from California. Martin, an engineer, is from Yorkshire. Both have ended up in picturesque Cluny, in central France. Both are struggling to come to terms with their recent past - for Zoe, the death of her husband; for Martin, a messy divorce.Looking to make a new start, each sets out alone to walk two thousand kilometres from Cluny to Santiago de Compostela, in northwestern Spain, in the footsteps of pilgrims who have walked the Camino for centuries. The Camino changes you, it''s said. It''s aTrade ReviewSleepless in Seattle meets Wild as missed opportunities and misunderstandings keep the pair from getting together and a raucous supporting cast of fellow walkers keep the fun bubbling. A beautifully crafted tale of love, self-acceptance and blisters. * Sunday Express *Charming and absorbing * Daily Mail *The cast of quirky characters make this a diverting read * The Herald *The misunderstandings, blisters and bust ups make for a charming, uplifting journey * The People *An authentic and diverting read that will make you want to put on your walking boots and book a one-way ticket to southern France * Press Association *A charming tale of intrepid, later-life romance ... Much like the winding pilgrimage the book's characters take, their romance charts a bumpy course. The authors unpack their protagonists' insecurities and emotional issues with great skill and sensitivity. * iBooks *Entertaining and refreshingly unpredictable -- Frances Atkinson * Sydney Morning Herald *Intriguing * Sunday Post (Dundee) *A fun misadventure of misunderstandings * The New Daily *Incredibly powerful . . . An untraditional love story, a time to reflect and some fascinating characters; I was completely caught up in the magic of this book * Chloe Douglas blog *
£9.49
Hachette Books Ireland The Outsider
Book Synopsis''A brilliant blend of sweeping satisfying family drama with a tense undercurrent of psychological thriller that hooks on and doesn''t let go until [Hourican] delivers her last devastating page'' Sunday Independent''The Outsider is everything you could want from high-end commercial fiction - it''s sharp, compelling, and full of keenly observed truths about human behaviour. Emily Hourican has always been an insightful, astute writer but this may be her best novel yet.'' Louise O''NeillTwo very different families ... One is loud, eccentric, rich and confident. The other is less sure of their place in life. On holidays in Portugal, a near-drowning brings the ten-year-old daughters, Jamie and Sarah, together and a friendship is formed. As the bond between the girls grows deeper, so too do the ties between their families and an unsettling closeness develops between two of the adults. Then, as Jamie begins Trade ReviewAn exquisite evocation of childhood and adolescence, riven with a dark underbelly in [this book] will resonate with readers ... fresh and full of well-drawn characters, The Outsider is almost impossible to put down - Irish IndependentAn atmospheric sizzler - The Gloss magazineA brilliant blend of sweeping satisfying family drama with a tense undercurrent of psychological thriller that hooks on and doesn't let go until [Hourican] delivers her last devastating page - Sunday IndependentCompelling, almost hypnotic in its storytelling ... with plenty to sink your teeth into, The Outsider by Emily Hourican is a haunting story about friendship, relationships, and the pressure to be something to everyone, and I highly recommend it. - Books of All Kinds
£7.59
Hodder & Stoughton Christmas at Silver Dale
Book SynopsisThe perfect Christmas romance for 2023 - featuring the original characters in the much loved Animal Ark series!Although Christmas should be the most wonderful time of year, Mandy Hope is struggling. Her relationship with Jimmy Marsh is on the rocks, while her best friend James has a gorgeous new son which only confirms how much Mandy wants children of her own. Desperately in need of a friend, Mandy strikes up a close relationship with new Welford resident Geraldine Craven, who is only too happy to offer a shoulder to cry on. Geraldine looks to be a lifeline in these troubled times, until she reveals a devastating secret about Mandy''s past. With so much uncertainty, is there still hope for a happy Christmas?******Read what everyone''s saying about Animal Ark Revisited!''An adorable read [with] a real sense of village community'' Bookworms anTrade ReviewPraise for the Animal Ark Revisited series - :A stunning, emotional, beautiful tale of friendship, love, and the importance of being who you need to be. I laughed, I cried, and I became completely ensnared, and I cannot recommend it highly enough - it really has got it all!!An adorable read [with] a real sense of village communityJust the right amount of nostalgia... wonderful and very poignantAn incredibly lovely storyA lovely story of what it's like to be working with animals and travelling around the beautiful Yorkshire countrysideThe romance, tragedy and drama play[s] out alongside some deeply poignant animal stories...an absolute must read for animal lovers
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton Summer Days at Sunrise Farm
Book Synopsis**Christmas at Silver Dale, the new book in the Animal Ark revisited series, is currently available for pre-order!**A romantic and charming holiday read from the Animal Ark Revisited series, featuring the series'' original characters. The perfect summer read for fans of Cathy Bramley and Heidi Swain.****Summer has arrived in Welford, but does a new season mean new beginnings?Veterinary nurse Helen Steer adores her job at Animal Ark, and with the summer ahead things couldn''t be better.That is until her best friend goes travelling, leaving Helen unexpectedly jealous and questioning her own stable life with her boyfriend Seb. Charming new vet Toby Gordon, with his flirtatious wit and mysterious family background, suddenly seems a much more exciting prospect. But just as Helen and Toby''s friendship starts to become something more, Sunrise Farm, the beautiful fruTrade ReviewPraise for the Animal Ark Revisited series * : *A stunning, emotional, beautiful tale of friendship, love, and the importance of being who you need to be. I laughed, I cried, and I became completely ensnared, and I cannot recommend it highly enough - it really has got it all!! -- Books of All KindsAn adorable read [with] a real sense of village community -- Bookworms and ShutterbugsJust the right amount of nostalgia... wonderful and very poignant -- The World is a Book BlogAn incredibly lovely story -- Rachel's Random ReadsA lovely story of what it's like to be working with animals and travelling around the beautiful Yorkshire countryside -- JaffareadstooThe romance, tragedy and drama play[s] out alongside some deeply poignant animal stories...an absolute must read for animal lovers -- The Book Bag
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton Things to Make and Break
Book SynopsisA sublime and provocative debut from one of the UK's most exciting new writers, for fans of Miranda July, Carmen Maria Machado and Lydia Davis.Trade ReviewA visceral collection ... There's an irresistible tautness to Tan's writing style, and she looks at her characters with such clear-eyed sensitivity that, as a reader, you can barely tear your eyes away. * AnOther magazine *
£8.54
Hodder & Stoughton The Last Voyage of Mrs Henry Parker
Book SynopsisA poignant ode to love and the memories that make a well-lived life, from the author of THE SINGLE LADIES OF JACARANDA RETIREMENT VILLAGE As the wife of retired ship''s doctor Dr Henry Parker, Evelyn is living out her twilight years aboard the Golden Sunset. Every night she dresses for dinner - gown, tiara, runners - and regales her fellow passengers with stories of a glamorous life travelling the world in luxury. The crew treat her with deference. And forbearance. But when Henry goes missing, Evelyn sets off to search every part of the grand ocean liner to find him - casino, nightclub and off-limits areas included. The misadventures, scandalous behavior and new friends that make up her search are all news to Evelyn, though. If only she could remember recent events as clearly as she can recall the first time she met Henry on a passage from England to Australia in 1953 and fell in love . . . Why is it so hard to forget soTrade ReviewPraise for Joanna Nell * : *Hugely entertaining . . . funny and heart-warming * Woman & Home *A gentle, warm-hearted book that had me rooting for all the characters and laughing out loud at points. A book that shows it is never too late to learn how to live, to make new friends and to fall in love. -- Libby Page, author of The LidoA warm and touching story with a cast of characters who became my friends - I loved The Single Ladies of the Jacaranda Retirement Village with all its wit, wisdom and spirit -- Katie Marsh, author of The Rest of MeThe perfect blend of funny and moving; Peggy Smart had me laughing and crying in this ultimately uplifting story -- Natasha Lester, author of The Paris SeamstressA funny and poignant exploration of growing old disgracefully and enjoying your twilight years. * Culturefly *Funny, insightful and deliciously refreshing, it's the most heartwarming book we've read in a long time. * Woman's Weekly *It's the kind of poignant, perceptive story that brings a tear to your eye one minute, and has you smiling the next. * Culturefly *
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton The Last Voyage of Mrs Henry Parker
Book SynopsisA poignant ode to love and the memories that make a well-lived life, from the author of THE SINGLE LADIES OF JACARANDA RETIREMENT VILLAGE As the wife of retired ship''s doctor Dr Henry Parker, Evelyn is living out her twilight years aboard the Golden Sunset. Every night she dresses for dinner - gown, tiara, runners - and regales her fellow passengers with stories of a glamorous life travelling the world in luxury, as well as showing off her superior knowledge of everything from ships'' customs to biographical details of her heroine, Florence Nightingale. The crew treat her with deference. And forbearance. But when Henry goes missing, Evelyn sets off to search every part of the grand ocean liner to find him, casino, nightclub and off-limits areas included. Misadventures are had, new friends are made, scandalous behaviour noted - all news to Evelyn. If only she could remember the events of the night before as clearly as she cTrade ReviewPraise for Joanna Nell * : *Hugely entertaining . . . funny and heart-warming * Woman & Home *A gentle, warm-hearted book that had me rooting for all the characters and laughing out loud at points. A book that shows it is never too late to learn how to live, to make new friends and to fall in love. -- Libby Page, author of The LidoA warm and touching story with a cast of characters who became my friends - I loved The Single Ladies of the Jacaranda Retirement Village with all its wit, wisdom and spirit -- Katie Marsh, author of The Rest of MeThe perfect blend of funny and moving; Peggy Smart had me laughing and crying in this ultimately uplifting story -- Natasha Lester, author of The Paris SeamstressA funny and poignant exploration of growing old disgracefully and enjoying your twilight years. * Culturefly *Funny, insightful and deliciously refreshing, it's the most heartwarming book we've read in a long time. * Woman's Weekly *It's the kind of poignant, perceptive story that brings a tear to your eye one minute, and has you smiling the next. * Culturefly *
£17.09
Hodder & Stoughton The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna
Book SynopsisFrom Calabria to Connecticut: a sweeping family saga about sisterhood, secrets, Italian immigration, the American dream, and one woman's tenacious fight against her own fate.Trade ReviewA compulsive, huge-hearted novel about family, home and how women move through the world; you don't read this book, you live it. -- Erin Kelly, author of HE SAID/SHE SAIDA sweeping story of immigration, family, betrayal and most importantly, one extraordinary woman. This book is gorgeous, harrowing and magical -- Julie CohenThanks to gorgeous writing from Grames, it's full of beautiful passages and is the perfect book to take with you on holiday . . . a messy, complex and convincing story of women struggling to find their true power -- Francesca Brown * Stylist *This is wonderful storytelling, seamlessly capturing the love and horror at the heart of family. Juliet Grames's novel, tracing the extraordinary life - and deaths - of an ordinary woman, sits the reader down at a well-laden table, and offers a hugely satisfying feast. Delightful -- Mick HerronA sumptuous inter-generational saga . . . heart-wrenching * Observer *Packed with family secrets and their repercussions, the novel memorably pins down the American immigrant experience. It's an impressive achievement. * Daily Mail *Superbly enjoyable . . . a darkly funny story about two sisters . . . A class act - don't miss it. * Woman *I loved this meaty family saga . . . I couldn't help rooting for the complicated and unstoppable hero -- Joanne Finney * Good Housekeeping *Fresh and intriguing . . . gripping -- Sabine DurrantThe Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna achieves what no sweeping history lesson about American immigrants could: It brings to life a woman that time and history would have ignored * Washington Post *[Its] emotional force . . . illuminates every page. A beautifully painted portrait, majestic and masterful; a very fine novel indeed. -- Laura CarlinBy turns captivating, shocking, heartbreaking and life-affirming. This is no ordinary family epic; it is the story of generations of women who, in conformity and non-conformity, blaze with strength, compassion and formidable will . . . An extraordinary debut -- Vaseem KhanA magnificent debut . . . a deeply felt, richly imagined world . . . Moody, original and profound. Brava! -- Adriana TrigianiReading The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna is like listening to the rollicking stories of your Italian grandmother - full of memorable characters and speckled with fascinating bits of history. This is a fantastic and timely family story -- Jessica ShattuckJuliet Grames's epic novel . . . is rich in eccentric characters and unlikely encounters, and she inhabits a world that is tinged with magic but still limited by patriarchal values - and she carries with her a dark family history. It's an extensive, often cheeky, exploration of lineage, fate, and womanhood. * Buzzfeed *Paint[s] sensually intricate portraits of Calabria and Connecticut. With her story of an "ordinary" woman who is anything but, Grames explores not just the immigrant experience but the stages of a woman's life. This is a sharp and richly satisfying novel * Publishers Weekly *Compelling * Kirkus *Readers who appreciate narratives driven by vivid characterisation and family secrets will find much to enjoy here . . . [Grames is] an author to watch * Booklist *While the subject matter isn't always easy . . . the Fortunas are so lively and sharply drawn that you'll eagerly follow their journey from pre-World War II Italy to early aughts Connecticut * Vulture *Twisty and complicated, but wholly original * Electric Literature *Witty and deeply felt * Entertainment Weekly *
£8.99
Hachette Books Ireland The Transatlantic Book Club Finfarran 5
Book SynopsisFinfarran Book 5''I was utterly charmed - a pitch-perfect delight'' Marian Keyes''A sparkling, life-affirming novel'' Cathy KellyEager to cheer up her recently-widowed gran, Cassie Fitzgerald persuades Lissbeg library to set up a Skype book club, linking readers on Ireland''s Finfarran Peninsula with the little US town of Resolve, where generations of Finfarran''s emigrants have settled. But when the club decides to read a detective novel, old conflicts on both sides of the ocean are exposed, hidden love affairs come to light, and, as secrets emerge, Cassie fears she may have done more harm than good. Will the truths she uncovers about her granny Pat''s marriage affect her own hopes of finding love? Is Pat, who''s still struggling with the death of her husband, about to fall out with her oldest friend? Or could the transatlantic book club itself hold the clue to a triumphant happy ending?Trade ReviewA sparkling, life-affirming novel * Cathy Kelly *I was utterly charmed - a pitch-perfect delight * Marian Keyes *Engaging...full of humour ... plenty of lively characters to add spice to this charming story * Books Ireland *
£7.59
Hachette Books Ireland The Heart of Summer Finfarran 6
Book Synopsis''Maeve Binchy fans will adore it - she just gets better and better'' Patricia Scanlan''Such a glorious read!! It''s magical and transporting and I adore it'' Claudia CarrollIt''s summer in Finfarran on the west coast of Ireland. Librarian Hanna Casey is looking forward to al fresco lunches with friends, and balmy evenings with her boyfriend Brian in their stunning new home in the beautiful Hag''s Glen.With family drama and a painful divorce behind her, Hanna is browsing romantic holiday brochures and making plans with Brian for the future. Then, unexpectedly, Brian''s adult son moves in with them, and Hanna re-encounters Amy, one of three girls with whom she shared a London flat in her twenties. And all of a sudden, Hanna begins to question her apparently perfect life. When Amy suggests a visit to London''s bright lights and a flatmates'' reunion, Hanna accepts. But, while it might be a short hop to England, somehow she feels like she''s leavi
£7.59
Hachette Books Ireland If Only
Book SynopsisErin wants a fresh start.With her thirtieth birthday coming up, she''s taken a long hard look at her life (the job she hates, the wedding she just cancelled) and concluded that it''s basically a mess.If only she knew where to begin.A trip to her hometown in Ireland to visit her beloved grandmother is a welcome escape from her disappointments. But, there, Erin also finds an unexpected solution to her problems, in the form of a magical family heirloom. No more of the ''what ifs'' she''s been tormenting herself with -- now all she needs to do is whisper two little words and she''ll be able to see for herself what might have been, had she chosen a different path.But as Erin gets caught up in one ''if only'' after another, changing her life proves more complicated than expected. And she starts to realise that, by chasing dreams and searching for an easy fix, she might be missing out on what''s right in front of her...Trade ReviewMelanie's debut novel will warm your heart, reassure your mind and help you see the true magic of life - Shemazing
£9.49
John Murray Press The Frank Business
Book Synopsis''A talented, witty writer with a sharp eye for social observation'' Daily MailAfter Frank drops down dead in Heathrow Arrivals on Christmas Eve, his estranged daughter Jem is called in to identify the body. When Jem travels back to Frank''s house in France - a house she hasn''t been in since she was a child - she realises that Frank had a son too.Frank has died of a congenital heart defect, a defect he may have passed on to his daughter - or on to his son. Jem must warn her brother, but in finding herself a family she risks ripping another apart. Shrewd, witty and poignant, The Frank Business is a vivid tale of love and other battlefields.Trade ReviewThe Frank Business starts with a death, works through shock revelations and ends with a satisfying resolution . . . This meditation on the meaning of family is fabulously written, moving and wry * Daily Mail *Gleaming moments of dark humour and droll dialogue . . . an absorbing, psychologically agile novel * Irish Times *She has the ability, like Anita Shreve or Maggie O'Farrell, to scrutinise and describe complex family dynamics with forensic precision * The Spectator *A talented, witty writer with a sharp eye for social observation * Daily Mail *I sank into the book, and looked forward to diving back into its world each time I was away from it . . . Olivia Glazebrook's writing has a lovely, fluid rhythm, and she writes with insight and candour about complex family dynamics, and the ways in which we love and hurt each other * Laura Barnett *Olivia Glazebrook nails the complexity of family dynamics with sharp, witty writing * Good Housekeeping *An intriguing read about undisclosed family issues * Prima *[A] finely written and very English novel . . . The plotting and interweaving of narrative lines are worthy of Jane Austen . . . Glazebrook writes with a literary style but is not above being very entertaining * Irish Examiner *
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton The Book of Two Ways The stunning bestseller
Book Synopsis Order Jodi Picoult''s stunning new novel about life, death, and missed opportunities. THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER''A writer the world should be reading right now.'' IndependentWho would you be, if you hadn''t turned out to be the person you are now? Dawn is a death doula, and spends her life helping people make the final transition peacefully. But when the plane she''s on plummets, she finds herself thinking not of the perfect life she has, but the life she was forced to abandon fifteen years ago - when she left behind a career in Egyptology, and a man she loved. Against the odds, she survives, and the airline offers her a ticket to wherever she needs to get to - but the answer to that question suddenly seems uncertain. As the path of her life forks in two very different directions, Dawn must confront questions she''s never truly askeTrade ReviewA writer the world should be reading right now * Independent *It is hard to exaggerate how well Picoult writes * Financial Times *A wise, cerebral, propulsive adventure . . . It eruditely spans the worlds of Egyptology, university physics and end-of-life care, while never losing sight of its high-stakes human story... a captivatingly immersive, multilayered, painstakingly researched and impressively realised exploration of deeply human geographies -- Patricia Nicol * Sunday Times *Ambitious * The Times *This complex, time-shifting romance combines moral hazard with Wuthering Heights echoes and degree-level Egyptology. And there aren't many books you can say that about. -- Wendy Holden * Daily Mail *The pull of the well-drawn characters and powerful themes of regret and love make this head-spinning story a compelling read * Sunday Mirror *Literary powerhouse Jodi Picoult writes novels that make you think and her latest is no exception * Sunday Express *This brilliant Sliding Doors-style novel will really get you thinking * Sun, Fabulous Magazine *Riveting * Hello *A consummate storyteller * Saga *A thrilling adventure ... one that will lead readers to both learn a lot and also ask themselves key questions about how to create happy lives for themselves * Associated Press *Similar to Alice Hoffman's depiction of complex family ties, Picoult's latest stretches the importance of recognizing our bonds to those we love. Highly recommended for open-minded readers. * Library Journal, starred review *The Book of Two Ways is a return for Picoult to the themes of her earliest books -motherhood, complicated romantic love . . . Picoult, at this point in her career, could skilfully build tension in a broom closet, but the best part of this book is not the suspense; it's the look at the complexity of a woman as she enters middle age . . . [Picoult] always tells both sides of a story not with judgment, but with grace. * Washington Post *Picoult's fans will appreciate this multifaceted, high concept work. * Publishers Weekly *Picoult's fans will be more than ready for this puzzle of a novel . . .[they] will find heady themes to consider. * Booklist *Powerful and compelling * VIP Magazine *You're sure to be moved by the questions it poses about the meaning of life and death. Food for thought in these current crazy times * Heat *If you've ever wondered if you could have lived another life, you'll like this * Sun *Picoult's writing is insightful and richly descriptive * Press Association *A stunning Sliding Doors-style novel about life, death, and missed opportunities * East Anglian Daily Times, Top 10 of 2020 *How many of us have looked back on a decision that changed our lives and wondered: what if we had made a different choice? Picoult's novel The Book of Two Ways digs into this very question and the result is incredibly thought-provoking. Dawn Edelstein was once a young grad student working on a dig in Egypt, in love with a fellow Egyptologist, and getting ever closer to proving a radical new theory about ancient Egyptians' burial rituals for the road to the afterlife. Then a phone call from home changed everything. Fifteen years later, Dawn is married, with a teenage daughter, and working in Boston as a death doula, helping the dying prepare to leave this world in the best way possible. When Dawn has a near-death experience she is confronted with the question of whether the good life she has could have been a great one. Dawn doesn't just ponder the question-she returns to Egypt, and the man she once loved, to see if she can find the answer. Picoult incorporates fascinating details about Egyptology into her novel-the title comes from an ancient Egyptian tome of the same name-bringing history and a universal connection into the story. The Book of Two Ways is a provocative exploration into monumental questions: about the life we are living, who we want to be with when we die, and whether it's possible-and acceptable-to change our mind, return to the trailhead, and go another way. * Seira Wilson, Amazon Best Book of September 2020 *Picoult always tells both sides of a story not with judgment, but with grace * Washington Post *
£15.29
Hodder & Stoughton Homes and Experiences
Book Synopsis'Voice of a generation' (Independent) and creator of Ladhood and Pls Like Liam Williams turns his caustic eye to fiction in his debut novel Homes and Experiences, in a tale which reads like David Nicholls' Us meets Adrian Mole, told with an ironic humour reminiscent of Richard Ayoade.Trade ReviewHilarious and heartbreaking in equal measure. A total joy -- Laura Kay, author of The SplitA hilarious and unexpectedly moving book, Liam Williams' wanderlust-inducing take on gentrification and Millennial angst is superbly written, and I know already that this is a book I will keep coming back to in many years to come. -- Richard Roper, author of Something to Live ForSuch a clever premise, superbly executed . . . The perfect book for summer 2021 -- James Bailey, author of The Flip SideBrilliantly written, properly funny and poignant, and such a great takedown of the more absurd aspects of life in the 21st century. Also, the scene in Barcelona involving sun cream and the e-bike tour . . . actually, genuinely, made me Laugh Out Loud. -- Tom Ellen, author of All About UsLiam is a writer of vast intelligence and wit as well as an excellent storyteller. A delightful, moving and unique take on travel writing. -- Katy WixBreathtakingly good. -- Robert Popper, creator of Friday Night Dinner
£8.54
Hodder & Stoughton Homes and Experiences
Book SynopsisIt's not the destination that counts: it's the homes and experiences you encounter along the way.Trade ReviewHilarious and heartbreaking in equal measure. A total joy -- Laura Kay, author of The SplitA hilarious and unexpectedly moving book, Liam Williams' wanderlust-inducing take on gentrification and Millennial angst is superbly written, and I know already that this is a book I will keep coming back to in many years to come. -- Richard Roper, author of Something to Live ForSuch a clever premise, superbly executed . . . The perfect book for summer 2021 -- James Bailey, author of The Flip SideBrilliantly written, properly funny and poignant, and such a great takedown of the more absurd aspects of life in the 21st century. Also, the scene in Barcelona involving sun cream and the e-bike tour . . . actually, genuinely, made me Laugh Out Loud. -- Tom Ellen, author of All About UsLiam is a writer of vast intelligence and wit as well as an excellent storyteller. A delightful, moving and unique take on travel writing. -- Katy WixBreathtakingly good. -- Robert Popper, creator of Friday Night DinnerEuphorically ordinary * Guardian *Articulate and original * Telegraph *Undoubtedly one of the finest comic minds of Generation Y * The Times *Refreshingly tender, honest and funny * Vice *The voice of a generation * Independent *
£13.49
John Murray Press All the Water in the World
Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE COSTA FIRST NOVEL AWARD 2020. A stunning novel about a teenage girl and her mother, as they grapple with serious illness, first love, family secrets and tragic loss.Trade ReviewVery moving, a warm and compassionate novel with two arresting voices * Diana Evans, author of ORDINARY PEOPLE *This tender bruise of a novel captures a mother and her teenage daughter in a heart-rending moment of change. Full of both joy and despair, its careful elegant prose dissects the tragedies of life and death with aplomb * Mary Paulson-Ellis, author of THE OTHER MRS WALKER *Heartbreaking and heartwarming in equal measure. Unafraid to probe the complexities of parenthood and partnership, Raney is an author to watch * Booklist *An exquisite tracing of the tangled lines of mother-daughter love, loss, and grief * Kirkus *Beautiful, raw, bold, heartfelt, heartbreaking and brave just some of the words to describe this excellent book - one to watch for 2020. * CenSational Reads *
£8.54
Hodder & Stoughton The Good Sister
Book Synopsis ''There''s only been one time that Rose couldn''t stop me from doing the wrong thing and that was a mistake that will haunt me for the rest of my life.''Fern Castle works in her local library. She has dinner with her twin sister Rose three nights a week. And she avoids crowds, bright lights and loud noises as much as possible. Fern has a carefully structured life and disrupting her routine can be . . . dangerous.When Rose discovers that she cannot fall pregnant, Fern sees her chance to pay her sister back for everything Rose has done for her. Fern can have a baby for Rose. She just needs to find a father. Simple.Fern''s mission will shake the foundations of the life she has carefully built for herself and stir up dark secrets that she long thought were buried.****************************************************Praise for Sally Hepworth:''Women''s fiction at its finest'' LIANE MORIARTY''ClTrade ReviewI absolutely loved The Good Sister. Fern is such a wonderful character. The crossover of uplit and psychological suspense is so successful. I found it immensely enjoyable, heart-warming and satisfying. Sally Hepworth is a brilliant writer * Emma Curtis, bestselling author of Keep Her Quiet *No one writes domestic suspense like Sally Hepworth. The Good Sister is the perfect blend of suspense and heart * Kelly Rimmer, bestselling author of Truths I Never Told You *Compelling story, plenty of twists and a satisfying ending. Sally is an exceptional observer of people and their relationships * Graeme Simsion, author of The Rosie Result *Absolutely stunning * Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times bestselling author of The Weight Without Silence *Sally keeps getting better and better. The Good Sister is the perfect blend of suspense, twists and richly drawn characters that will have you loving or hating them * Heidi Perks, bestselling author of The Whispers *An utterly compelling emotional mystery, with beautifully realised characters and a delicious dark twist. I loved it! * Adele Parks *I was utterly enthralled as I always am with Sally Hepworth's extraordinary novels. I loved the way my feelings for the two sisters grew and changed and twisted throughout the read as I got to know them more and towards the end there was no way I was putting that book down! * Nicola Moriarty *A stunningly clever thriller made doubly suspenseful by not one, but two unreliable narrators * People (Australia), Book of the Week *A captivating story with utterly convincing characters. A sense of threat lurks quietly in the background throughout, making this both a satisfying and chilling read * Rachel Abbott, bestselling author of Close Your Eyes *This is a very sensitively told story, not afraid to pull its punches right to the final page * Daily Mail *A riveting page-turner that asks when noble support become manipulation * Woman’s Weekly *If you loved The Family Next Door and The Mother-in-Law you'll be glued to her latest twisty drama. Read it, then breathe again!' * Peterborough Telegraph *Incredibly sweet and utterly shocking, this domestic thriller compels from the very first page * Heat *A delicious baked Alaska of a novel: sweet and warm with an icy chill at the centre * Saga Magazine *A riveting page-turner * Woman *A gripping, thoroughly original and sinuously twisting shocker * Independent.ie *An intelligent, emotional and quirky story rooted in a dark, suspenseful thriller about an ugly truth and secret manipulations. Truly unique * Platinum *
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton The MotherinLaw
Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of The Family Next Door comes a new domestic page-turner about that trickiest of relationships and what happens when it all goes wrong**PREORDER THE GOOD SISTER NOW**''Fiction at its finest'' Liane Moriarty, Number One bestselling author ''Perfect for fans of BIG LITTLE LIES'' - Library Journal She has never approved of you. But it''s when her body is found the secrets really start to come out ...From the moment Lucy met her husband''s mother, Diana, she was kept at arm''s length. Diana was exquisitely polite, and perfectly friendly, but Lucy knew that she was not what Diana envisioned. Even so, Lucy wanted so much to please her new mother-in-law. That was five years ago.Now, Diana has been found dead, a suicide note near her body. Diana claims that she no longer wanted to live because Trade ReviewClever, chilling and beautifully crafted -- Adele Parks, bestselling author of * I Invited Her In *I totally loved the book. The characters are so beautifully drawn and it was an emotional read, but I couldn't put it down -- Heidi Parks, bestselling author of * Now You See Her *It's not often that such a gripping page-turner can be so moving -- Sarah Naughton, bestselling author of * The Other Couple *The Mother-in-Law was absolutely wonderful! A real slow burn domestic mystery, which had me turning the pages faster and faster the deeper I delved into the story! Throughout the second half you couldn't tear me away from it and every new twist and turn was a slap to the face! Cleverly plotted and completely compelling -- Nicola Moriarty, author of * The Fifth letter *I read a lot of psychological suspense, and I can honestly say, this is one of my favourites. What I loved about it was its humanity and believablity. Sally demonstrates that you don't need outlandish situations and monstrous characters to write a thoroughly engrossing, suspenseful thriller, and her writing feels so effortless. I hope it does very well -- Emma Curtis, bestselling author of * One Little Mistake *Praise for Sally Hepworth * - *Women's fiction at its finest -- Liane Moriarty, Number One bestselling author of * Big Little Lies *Reminds us of Big Little Lies and is just as gripping * Good Housekeeping *A compelling read that touches on important themes, not least the different forms that love may take -- Number One bestselling author of * The Rosie Project *
£10.62
Hachette Books Ireland Grace in Winter
Book Synopsis''Thought-provoking, absorbing, superbly written ... Deirdre Purcell at her best'' Patricia ScanlanA winter cruise sounds like a dream come true. But this gift from Grace''s ex-husband is less a selfless act and more an effort to keep their highly destructive daughter Leonie away from his new family over the Christmas season.Despite her reservations, Grace accepts, hoping that a change of scene will be a good thing for herself and Leonie. Though what she really longs for is some time alone, away from her responsibilities as a mother and carer.Their cruise holiday has barely begin when Leonie''s beauty attracts the attention of Ben, a fellow passenger. But as Ben does his best to get to know Leonie, Grace finds herself developing an unexpected bond with the young novelist, one which awakens feelings in her that she had thought buried forever.Then, it''s discovered that Leonie has gone missing -- and what happens next will change the course of Grace'
£7.59
Orion Publishing Co Good Morning Midnight
Book Synopsis NOW A MAJOR NETFLIX FILM ''THE MIDNIGHT SKY'', DIRECTED BY GEORGE CLOONEY, STARRING FELICITY JONES AND GEORGE CLOONEY ''''A remarkable and gifted debut'' Colson Whitehead, author of The Underground Railroad''Fans of Emily St. John Mandel''s Station Eleven and Kim Stanley Robinson''s Aurora will appreciate the Brooks-Dalton''s exquisite exploration of relationships'' Washington PostThere is a particular beauty in silence, in being cut off from the world. Augustine, a brilliant, ageing scientist, is consumed by the stars. He has spent his entire life searching for the origins of time itself. He has now been left alone on a remote research base in the Arctic circle, all communication with the outside world broken down. But then he discovers a mysterious child, Iris, who must have hidden herself away when the last of his colleagues departed. Sully is a divorced mothTrade ReviewAmbitious . . . Brooks-Dalton's prose lights up the page in great swathes, her dialogue sharp and insightful, and the high-concept plot drives a story of place, elusive love, and the inexorable yearning for human contact . . . Memorable characters explore complex questions that resonate with the urgency of a glimpse into the void * Publishers Weekly *Beautiful descriptions create a sense of wonder and evoke feelings of desolation while Brooks-Dalton's heartfelt debut novel unfolds at a perfect pace as it asks readers what will be left when everything in the world is gone * Booklist *What does it mean to be isolated from the ordinariness of the everyday world, yet to find the extraordinariness of being close to another human being? . . . Lily Brooks-Dalton takes us on an emotional journey in this beautiful debut -- Yiyun Li, author of THE VAGRANTSA truly original novel, otherworldly and profoundly human . . . This beautiful story reminds us of our deep longing for connection-with those we love, with strangers, with ourselves -- Keith ScribnerGood Morning, Midnight is a remarkable and gifted debut novel. Lily Brooks-Dalton is an uncanny chronicler of desolate spaces, whether it's the cold expanse of the universe or the deepest recesses of the human heart -- Colson Whitehead, author of THE UNDERGROUND RAILROADIt takes a brave writer to leave the biggest questions unanswered, but Brooks-Dalton handles her unpulled threads masterfully. . . . We tend to think of the end of the world as a bombastic event, massive and rife with destruction. Good Morning, Midnight gives us a different look. . . . Technically, this could be considered a post-apocalyptic story, but the truth is that Brooks-Dalton has created something much more poignant. . . . Powerful and moving, Good Morning, Midnight is an exceptional example of the literary power of speculative fiction * The Maine Edge *What does it mean to be isolated from the ordinariness of the everyday world, yet to find the extraordinariness of being close to another human being? With imagination, empathy, and insight into unchanged and unchangeable human nature, Lily Brooks-Dalton takes us on an emotional journey in this beautiful debut * Yiyun Li *Good Morning, Midnight is a remarkable and gifted debut novel. Lily Brooks-Dalton is an uncanny chronicler of desolate spaces, whether it's the cold expanse of the universe or the deepest recesses of the human heart * Colson Whitehead *
£10.44
Orion Publishing Co Smoke
Book SynopsisImagine a world in which every bad thought you had was made visible. Where anger, hatred and envy appeared as a thick, infectious smoke pouring from your body, leaving soot on your skin. A society controlled by an elite who have learned to master their darkest desires.Thomas and Charlie are friends at a boarding school near Oxford, where the children of the rich and powerful are trained to be future leaders. Charlie is naturally good, but Thomas''s father was accused of a terrible crime, and Thomas fears that the same evil lies coiled inside him. Then, on a trip to London - a forbidden city shrouded in darkness - they learn all is not as it appears. So begins a quest to understand the truth about this world of smoke, soot and ash - and perhaps to change it.''Mesmerising and imaginative ... a novel that tackles the most fundamental question of good versus evil'' Hannah Beckerman, Observer''Like an adult version of the Harry Potter books with Trade ReviewFor once both comparisons (with Harry Potter and Philip Pullman's Northern Lights) are apt . . . this is a novel that stays in the imagination long after it is read * THE GUARDIAN *Mesmerising and imaginative . . . Smoke is at once profound, moving and timely: a novel that tackles the most fundamental question of good versus evil -- Hannah Beckerman * THE OBSERVER *Astonishing . . . it's filling in that gaping hole left by both Harry Potter and Philip Pullman's Northern Lights. Yes, really * Stylist *Its subtle touches mean the story takes on a world of its own . . . you'll wonder why no one has seen smoke this way before * EMERALD STREET *It's detailed, multi-layered and feels authentic - and might just win over historical fiction fans too * THE POOL *a great work of imagination -- Cathy Rentzenbrink * STYLIST.CO.UK *Potter-esque comparisons will be made (with some Dickensian England thrown in) of the richness and intricacy of Vyleta's world * STYLIST *Original and enthralling * GOOD HOUSEKEEPING *Books to look out for in 2016 * NEW STATESMAN *a vivid, imaginative and gripping fantasy thriller * SCIFI NOW *
£10.44
Orion Publishing Co Soot
Book SynopsisWelcome to a world where every desire is visible, rising from the body as a plume of Smoke. A world where bodies speak to one another and infect each other with desire, anger, greed. It is 1909 and this world stands on a precipice - some celebrate this constant whisper of skin to skin, and some seek to silence it forever.Enter Eleanor, a young woman with a strange power over Smoke and niece of the Lord Protector of England. Running from her uncle and home, she finds shelter in a New York theatre troupe.Then Nil, a thief hiding behind a self-effacing name. He''s an orphan snatched from a jungle-home and suspects that a clue to his origins may lie hidden in the vaults of the mighty, newly-risen East India Company.And finally Thomas, one of the three people to release Smoke into the world. On a clandestine mission to India, he hopes to uncover the origins of Smoke and lay to rest his doubts about what he helped to unleash.In a story that crosses continenTrade ReviewDaringly conceived and brilliantly executed, Soot is the follow-up to Smoke and just as gripping - an immersive epic with a high-gothic tang, imperial reach and filigree steampunk detailing. * DAILY MAIL *
£10.44
Orion Publishing Co The Maker of Swans
Book Synopsis''Compulsive reading . . . rich, strange, beautiful'' Helen Macdonald, author of H is for Hawk''A strange, new and captivating look at a magical realm . . . Lavishly entertaining'' Independent''Enthralling . . . a literary feast'' StylistThe world had forgotten Mr Crowe and his mysterious gifts. Until he killed the poet. He lived a secluded life in the fading grandeur of his country estate. His companions were his faithful manservant and his ward, Clara, a silent, bookish girl who has gifts of her own. Now Dr Chastern, the leader of a secret society, arrives at the estate to call Crowe to account and keep his powers in check. But it is Clara''s even greater gifts that he comes to covet most. She must learn to use them quickly, if she is to save them all.Trade Review[With much] in common with Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell ... a tale about magic and art, power and responsibility ... [that will] keep the reader enfolded * DAILY MAIL *It would not be surprising if the public clamours for a second instalment of this vividly imagined and deeply pleasurable gothic fantasy - not to mention a film. * FINANCIAL TIMES *The prose in O'Donnell's first novel is glorious, combining an ear for deep cadences of language with a phenomenal acuity of vision ... O'Donnell is clearly a major talent * THE GUARDIAN *Poetic and strange, this Gothic novel is a dark, elegant celebration of the power and beauty of words and the spells they weave. * SUNDAY EXPRESS *Strange and new and captivating * THE INDEPENDENT *A charming, lyrical read even when tension is high. I admired the depth of O'Donnell's imagination, which allowed him to conjure up this enthralling tale . . . A literary feast * STYLIST *A powerful thriller * VOGUE *Wonderfully dark, magical * ELLE *Strange and beautiful - one of Stylist's Essential Reads for 2016 * STYLIST *A fabulously assured, elegant Gothic-flavoured tale * WOMAN AND HOME *A peculiar and beautiful tale of art and magic * STYLIST.CO.UK *An oddly beautiful tale of magic and art, this reminded me of Alain-Fournier's Le Grand Meaulnes * Cathy Rentzenbrink, author of THE LAST ACT OF LOVE *Compulsive reading . . . rich, strange, beautiful * Helen Macdonald, author of H IS FOR HAWK *I devoured this book and it kept me guessing right to the very end . . . Line by line, Paraic's writing contains some of the most beautifully turned phrasing I've read in a long while * Laura Barnett, author of THE VERSIONS OF US *Dazzlingly inventive, compelling * Jane Casey, author of THE BURNING *Exquisite * Liz Nugent, author of LYING IN WAIT *The Maker of Swans combines through-the-looking-glass enchantment with Nabokovian dexterity. O'Donnell has written a mesmerizing book whose prose absolutely soars * Sandra Newman, author of THE COUNTRY OF ICE CREAM STAR *Sonorous, beautifully made, disquieting * THE SPECTATOR *
£9.49
Orion Publishing Co The Queens Gambit
Book SynopsisNOW A MAJOR NETFLIX SERIES starring Anya Taylor-Joy from Academy-Award nominee Scott Frank and BAFTA nominee Allan Scott''Superb'' Time Out''Mesmerizing'' Newsweek''Gripping'' Financial Times''Sheer entertainment. It is a book I reread every few years - for the pure pleasure and skill of it'' Michael Ondaatje''Don''t pick this up if you want a night''s sleep'' ScotsmanWhen she is sent to an orphanage at the age of eight, Beth Harmon soon discovers two ways to escape her surroundings, albeit fleetingly: playing chess and taking the little green pills given to her and the other children to keep them subdued. Before long, it becomes apparent that hers is a prodigious talent, and as she progresses to the top of the US chess rankings she is able to forge a new life for herself. But she can never quite overcome her urge to self-destruct. For Beth, there''s more at stake thanTrade ReviewSuperb * Time Out *Gripping reading . . . Nabokov's The Defense and Zweig's The Royal Game are the classics. Now joining them is The Queen's Gambit * FINANCIAL TIMES *The Queen's Gambit is sheer entertainment. It is a book I reread every few years - for the pure pleasure and skill of itMesmerizing * NEWSWEEK *Walter Tevis's most consummate and heartbreaking work -- Jonathan LethemDon't pick this up if you want a night's sleep * Scotsman *More exciting than any thriller I've seen lately; more than that, beautifully writtenWhat Walter Tevis did for pool in The Hustler, he does for chess in The Queen's Gambit * Playboy *A psychological thriller * New York Times *Walter Tevis is famous for writing The Hustler and The Man Who Fell to Earth, but this is my favorite book of his. It is about a girl who, guided by her somewhat unreliable mother, becomes a child prodigy at chess. Even if you do not know how to play chess, it is a great thriller * Literary Hub *Tevis was a great storyteller -- Lionel Shriver
£9.49
Orion Publishing Co The Kindness of Enemies
Book SynopsisFor fans of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and THE NARROW ROAD TO THE DEEP NORTH, a sweeping new novel from the three times Orange Prize longlisted, Scottish Book Award and Caine Prize winner Leila Aboulela.Trade ReviewThe passages are arresting in their descriptiveness, with beautiful pockets of calm in which the spiritual journey, as advocated by Shamil's Sufi teacher, is explored. * THE INDEPENDENT *The reader flicks back and forth through time, gleaning pleasure and enlightenment through each of the doorways as they go, finishing with a head filled with different nuances on questions politicians demand we reflect upon. * i newspaper *Aboulela's graceful writing style makes for a pleasurable read. * INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY *One of Aboulela's aims - apart from telling a fascinating story with the verve and assurance of a natural novelist - is surely to present a sympathetic picture of Islam to a western readership more accustomed to being what, for devout Muslims, is a distorted and reprehensible version of their faith. * THE SCOTSMAN *[A] treat - a novel that recreates the fascinating story of the rebel of the Caucasus, Imam Shamil, a 19th-century warrior who battled to defend his home against the invading Russians and united the Muslims of the region under his iconic leadership. Weaving the story of his relationship with a Georgian princess he kidnapped into a more contemporary story of mistaken terrorism, we learn much about the nature of loss, the legacy of exile and the meaning of home at a time in our world when all three are high in our minds -- Mariella Frostrup * GUARDIAN, Best Books of 2015 *An often intriguing story, politically relevant and historically fascinating * THE HERALD *
£9.49
Orion Publishing Co Jane is Trying
Book Synopsis''Tremendous'' Adam Kay''Heart-warming'' Sarah Pascoe''So well-observed'' Daisy Buchanan''Hilarious'' James Acaster''I LOVED it'' Aisling Bea''The perfect concoction of warmth and grit'' i Newspaper''Wonderful'' StylistJane is trying.She''s been trying for a baby, with increasing desperation as her thirties sail by.Now, she''s trying to make a new start back home with her overprotective, charades-obsessed parents - having left her career and cheating fiancé behind in London.With an increasing load on her plate, friends and family who think she''ll have a perfect life if she only listens to them, and a brain which questions every decision she''s ever made, can Jane conquer her demons and step forward on her own?Trade ReviewI LOVED Jane Is Trying. It has all the warmth, cleverness, wit and turn of phrase I fell in love with watching Isy performing -- Aisling BeaJane Is Trying is Isy Suttie's first novel but her voice has the easy, warm confidence of someone whose been at the lark for yonks; slyly funny, gently incisive, compassionate yes but with just enough wicked accuracy about the process of growing up and getting things wrong to make it painfully true. -- Stuart MaconieBig-hearted, stacked with empathy, and properly splutter-coffee funny. A book so full of love that there ought to be a huggable version of it. Isy goes from warm-hearted to outrageous so deftly that I think she might have special powers. WHAT a book. How many times can I say 'brilliant'? -- Jason HazeleyA hilarious and touching story about going backwards in order to move forwards, imbued with Isy Suttie's unique voice and outlook on our stressful, ridiculous world -- James AcasterSharp, tender, darkly funny and so well observed -- Daisy BuchananGripping, laugh out loud and heart-warming. Suttie has created a charming world of oddballs (and their even odder parents) I miss them all already! -- Sara PascoeA rich comedy about the joy and horror of romance, sex, family life and small towns, Jane Is Trying is one of the most delightful and rewarding first novels I've ever read. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading, laughing or doing both at the same time. -- Sam Bain, co-creator of PEEP SHOWJane is Trying is laugh out loud funny, beautiful and brave. It manages to be true to life and yet so full of funny and outrageous drama, too. This is the kind of book that you wish would never end. I loved it! -- Josie LongOffbeat, hilarious, tender and vulnerable. I loved it. -- Michelle Thomas, author of My Sh*t TherapistI was already a huge fan of Isy Suttie and can confirm I'm now at the raging, crying, teenager-obsessed-with-Harry-Styles level. Jane Is Trying is absolute genius; so clever and funny. I laughed and cried constantly and couldn't put it down. Everyone should read it. -- Lucy VineVery funny and utterly charming. Jane is Trying is tremendous -- Adam KayA chilling scenario: the move back to your childhood home. Isy explores its perils in her usual manner: 0% pretension, 100% warmth and love. You root for Jane to pull through this pickle, and you root for Isy to write more and more of these -- Tim KeyGripping. Brilliant. Hilarious. Poetic. Profound. An absolute triumph. Every single line is a thing of beauty -- Bridget ChristieThis is a very entertaining book but it's a lot more than a comic novel. It has real heart and humanity and goes deep into the anxieties of pregnancy, relationships, home, and (in Jane's case) pretty much every other aspect of life -- Mark WatsonA phenomenally funny, thoughtful and, at times, pulverising novel -- Mike WozniakIsy Suttie writes with a warmth and wit that makes me want to move to the Peak District and open a bookshop -- Josh WiddicombeSuttie brightens the page with her eccentric characters and wonderful observations of small-town life...will have you scoffing with laughter * STYLIST *Some of Jane's musings are so relatable you'll catch yourself laughing out loud, slightly alarmed by the accuracy . . . Suttie portrays the more honest aspects of what are usually regarded as the best parts of life - family, relationships, friends, career - with the perfect concoction of warmth and grit * INDEPENDENT *Suttie has a keen eye for supplementary detail, which makes her story seem all the more real, and an ear for a nice turn of phrase, which makes it delightful to read * CHORTLE *This debut novel exudes all the offbeat humour and acute observation you might expect from the actress and comedian who first stole our hearts as Dobby in Peep Show. This beguiling tale captures how modern pressures fuel anxiety, and how it feels when your life falls into the gap between expectation and reality * CULTURE WHISPER *A story of courage, and the need to progress on your own terms, this novel will move you from tears to laughter * HAPPIFUL *Funny and so relatable, this is a winning debut * HEAT *Suttie portrays the more honest aspects of what are usually regarded as the best parts of life - family, relationships, friends, careers - with warmth and grit * I NEWSPAPER *
£9.49
Orion Publishing Co Whered You Go Bernadette
Book SynopsisA NEW YORK TIMES bestsellerShortlisted for the 2013 Women''s Prize for FictionNow a major motion picture, directed by Richard Linklater and starring Cate Blanchett, Kristen Wiig and Billy Crudup''Like A VISIT FROM THE GOON SQUAD written by Tina Fey'' RED MAGAZINEBernadette Fox is notorious.To Elgie Branch, a Microsoft wunderkind, she''s his hilarious, volatile, talented, troubled wife.To fellow mothers at the school gate, she''s a menace.To design experts, she''s a revolutionary architect.And to 15-year-old Bee, she is a best friend and, quite simply, mum.Then Bernadette disappears. And Bee must take a trip to the end of the earth to find her.WHERE''D YOU GO, BERNADETTE is a compulsively readable, irresistibly written, deeply touching novel about misplaced genius and a mother and daughter''s place in the world.Trade ReviewIt's intelligent but easy to read; eccentric but never twee. * ELLE UK *I love the extraordinarily well-drawn characters, the plot, the tender, lovely relationship, the humour, and the courage to do daring things -- Nina StibbeWhere'd You Go, Bernadette is a wonderful piece of satire that pinpoints so many of the flaws in our current society. [Semple's] writing is sharp and witty but also incredibly heart-warming. * DOG EAR DISCS *It has had a strong hardback life, it's had some great reviews, now it's got to really capture the masses. I normally don't like books written in emails, journals, notes form, and had not realised this was - just as I hadn't realised Salmon Fishing in the Yemen was! This has the same feel, same contagious look, same wacky scenario (well, not quite), same relentless pull. From page one I was smitten, my dislike for emails forgotten. It is the mother/daughter relationship which is so brilliant, that and the character of Bernadette - a prize-winning architect who doesn't realise that what she needs in life is a new project Clever, witty and hugely satisfying * THE BOOKSELLER *it's a very enjoyable read and the satirical look at modern life * THE BOOKBAG *Laugh-out-loud funny and bitingly satirical * DAILY EXPRESS *a breathtakingly original comedy * ES MAGAZINE *Maria Semple's witty, engaging novel takes the form of a collage of documents, emails, transcripts, liveblogs, FBI reports and magazine articles, all strung together by Bee Branch, a smart and articulate 15-year-old girl, but beneath this surface playfulness is a fascinating story of one woman's retreat from the world...refreshing in its honesty and complexity * THE OBSERVER *a novel full of honesty and heart * CNN *The funniest book I've read in a decade. I laughed to the point of crying on an airplane. My wife thought I'd lost my mind until she read it a few days later. -- John Green * MARIE CLAIRE *an invigorating, hilarious, addictive ride of a novel -- Maggie O'FarrellLocal menace, genius architect, recluse, mother: meet Bernadette Fox and her Mensa-level teenage daughter Bea as they travel from silicon valley-Seattle to Antartica and back again. With the kind of sharp, wish-I-wrote-it dialogue you'd expect from a former Saturday Night Live scriptwriter, this is like Tina Fey wrote Welcome to the Goon Squad. I can't say enough about this book, I loved it. -- Sam Baker * HARPERS BAZAAR *Witty and compelling. * THE SUN ON SUNDAY *This fiercely sophisticated novel... whips us around in the maelstrom that is Bernadette Fox: a woman on the edge. * SAINSBURY'S MAGAZINE *full of quirky charm about the mother/daughter bond * GOOD HOUSEKEEPING *This novel, shortlisted for the 2013 Women's Prize for Fiction, uses email correspondence to hilarious and heartbreaking effect. The disappearance of Bernadette Fox drives the engaging plot, with the mother/daughter relationship across geographical divides at its core * METRO *When eccentric ex-architect Bernadette goes AWOL, her 15-year-old daughter, Bee, goes all Sherlock and reads her mum's emails for some answers - and a secret past. Surprisingly, I found myself seriously LOLing too. No wonder it's being turned into a movie! * COMPANY *It is extremely funny, and Semple has a way of combining a technologically savvy, ice-cool wit with a stealthy ability to show gradually a character's warmer side. -- Tom Cox * THE SUNDAY TIMES *This is an extraordinary novel - a fresh, funny, perceptive voice, and an exhilarating read. * GOOD BOOK GUIDE *it's refreshing in its honesty and complexity -- Natasha Tripney * THE OBSERVER *Semple is a TV comedy writer, and the pleasures here are the pleasures of the best American TV: plot, wit and heart. It's refreshing to find a female misunderstood genius at the heart of the book, and a mother-daughter relationship characterised by unadulterated mutual affection. -- Justine Jordan * THE GUARDIAN *compulsively readable comedy... packed with wit, honesty and charm * MUMSNET *Refreshing, honest and witty, this novel about motherhood zips and fizzes along, from start to end -- Janine Cook * THE INDEPENDENT '50 Best Beach Reads' *Delivered from multiple perspectives through letters, telephone calls, magazine articles and emails, it is cleverly plotted and compulsively readable. -- Ian Wall * PROPERTY WEEK *Semple's exuberant tale is buoyed up by deft plotting and pitch-perfect characters, whose idiosyncrasies and wrong-headed interactions are by turns comic, tender and craven. Excellent stuff. -- James Urquhart * FT *This light relief on the Women's prize shortlist has warmth and bite in equal measure. Brilliant, troubled Bernadette - a visionary architect who's started a family but lost the plot - is a fantastic creation, and Semple's picaresque comedy, told through letters, emails and even a live blog, skewers the absurdities of American privilege while drawing a heartfelt portrait of mother-daughter love * THE GUARDIAN *I've been devouring the savagely funny Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple. A TV comedy writer, Semple's wide array of targets include parenting, over-achievement, schoolgates rivalry, creativity, Seattle, Canadians, Microsoft, Antarctica and marital love... Semple is funny, smart and deeply touching -- Rowan Pelling * THE DAILY TELEGRAPH *Where'd You Go, Bernadette is my favorite novel so far this year. It's funnier than a season's worth of Modern Family, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Justified episodes; it's also the most original and imaginative fiction I've read since The Invention of Hugo Cabret -- James Patterson * NEW YORK TIMES *...this book is highly enjoyable. -- David Hebblethwaite * FOLLOW THE THREAD *...wonderfully eccentric * MUMSNET *This is an extraordinary novel - a fresh, funny, perceptive voice, and an exhilarating read. * GOOD BOOK GUIDE *This novel, written in the form of emails, notes and phone calls, is original and funny and you'll learn a lot about Antarctica. -- Joanna Czechowska * WOMAN *An extremely funny and ultimately moving farce about a quirky American family falling apart over a holiday to Antarctica -- Alex von Tunzelmann * EVENING STANDARD *A dazzling comic novel about a misunderstood architect. It's an eccentric and brilliantly accomplished story with a real screenplay quality to it -- Viv Groskop * THE OBSERVER *My happy summer holiday book was the funny, quirky and surprisingly moving Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple. It's the kind of book you read and want to buy for friends -- Alison Starling * THE GUARDIAN *
£9.49
Orion Publishing Co Sharp Objects
Book SynopsisFrom the author of the No.1 bestseller and international phenomenon GONE GIRL. Now a major HBO/SKY ATLANTIC TV series starring Amy Adams, with the director of BIG LITTLE LIES, Jean-Marc Vallee.When two girls are abducted and killed in Missouri, journalist Camille Preaker is sent back to her home town to report on the crimes. Long-haunted by a childhood tragedy and estranged from her mother for years, Camille suddenly finds herself installed once again in her family''s mansion, reacquainting herself with her distant mother and the half-sister she barely knows - a precocious 13-year-old who holds a disquieting grip on the town.As Camille works to uncover the truth about these violent crimes, she finds herself identifying with the young victims - a bit too strongly. Clues keep leading to dead ends, forcing Camille to unravel the psychological puzzle of her own past to get at the story. Dogged by her own demons, Camille will have to confront what happened to her yTrade ReviewTo say this is a terrific debut novel is really too mild ... [it is] a relentlessly creepy family saga. I found myself dreading the last thirty pages or so, but was helpless to stop turning them. Then, after the lights were out, the story just stayed there in my head, coiled and hissing, like a snake in a cave * Stephen King *This is a stylish thriller about housewives who don't recognise their own desperations, while the reader recognises with fascinated clarity the nastiness and vacuity of life in an updated Stepford * Literary Review *It is a stunningly accomplished evocation of the oppressiveness of small-town life and is just as assured in depicting the gradually revealed psychological disorder that links Camille to both the killer and victims * Sunday Times *Compulsively disturbing and ... exciting * Time Out *[A] striking first novel ... a relentlessly dark tale, with some very disturbing characters, Camille among then, and it makes a powerful impact * Sunday Telegraph *A stylish and compelling debut. A real winner * Harlan Coben *If you love Martha O'Connor look out for Gillian Flynn's debut, Sharp Objects ... a gothic fairytale-gone-bad * Company *The horror creeps up slowly, with Flynn misdirecting the reader until the shocking, dreadful and memorable double ending * Publisher's Weekly *Six years before she became famous for Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn's first book wowed the critics.. it's a dark, unsettling read that fills you with doubt and keeps you second-guessing the whole way through" * ESSENTIALS *
£9.49
Orion Publishing Co The Labyrinth of the Spirits
Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER''Magnificent: a dizzying tale of drama, intrigue and passion'' MAIL ON SUNDAY''A colossal, genre-crossing achievement'' GUARDIANAs a child, Daniel Sempere discovered among the passageways of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books an extraordinary novel that would change the course of his life. Now a young man in the Barcelona of the late 1950s, Daniel runs the Sempere & Sons bookshop and enjoys a seemingly fulfilling life with his loving wife and son. Yet the mystery surrounding the death of his mother continues to plague his soul.Just when Daniel believes he is close to solving this enigma, a conspiracy more sinister than he could have imagined spreads its tentacles from the hellish Franco regime. That is when Alicia Gris appears, a soul born out of the nightmare of the war. She is the one who will lead Daniel to the edge of the abyss and reveal the secret history of his family, although at a terrifying price.Trade ReviewMoving and engaging. This is a novel to lose oneself in, and it promotes the sort of reading experience we remember from childhood - of complete absorption into a fantasy world * Irish Times *Zafón is a master storyteller, combining the postmodern and the traditional in an enchanting hymn to literature... Magnificent: a dizzying tale of drama, intrigue and passion * Mail on Sunday *A colossal, genre-crossing achievement * Guardian *Rich, ambitious storytelling * Sunday Times *Sprawling, seductive and hugely atmospheric * Sunday Express *Neither too geeky nor too highbrow, Zafon's genre-mashing novels provide a high-definition, alternative account of Spain's turbulent 20th-century history, with added Hollywood blockbuster thrills. I was hooked * Daily Mail *This is a suspenseful story of loss, betrayal and redemption * Independent *By the author of the brilliant Shadow of the Wind, this is a good long read to relish on chilly winter evenings. * Saga *
£9.49
Orion Publishing Co Restless Souls
Book SynopsisA stunning debut novel about war and loss, male friendship and the power of home.Trade ReviewRESTLESS SOULS is a hilariously shambolic road trip, a moving, freaked out, at times bruisingly mordant examination of the purgatorial agonies of PTSD, and above all a bawdy, alive, profane panegyric to the indissoluble bonds of friendship -- Colin Barrett, author of YOUNG SKINS, Winner of the Guardian First Book AwardRESTLESS SOULS is a terrific debut novel, bold and wise, each page lit with wit and with feeling. In his examination of friendship, Ireland, and a distant Sarajevo under siege, Dan Sheehan marks himself out as a writer to watch -- Jonathan Lee, author of HIGH DIVEA great rattlebag of a novel, Restless Souls turns genre inside out. At turns comedic, at turns literary, at turns thriller, at turns philosophical, it never stops being a page-turner. Mixing humour with its attendant darkness, Sheehan postulates that we all must eventually face our own history. Ultimately this is a road journey into memory. This is a great debut, reminiscent of Colin Barrett, Sara Baume, Rob Doyle, Claire Louise Bennett and a whole new generation of Irish writers. -- Colum McCann, author of TRANSATLANTICRESTLESS SOULS is the funniest sad book I've read in a long time, and a first novel of amazing complexity and maturity. Sheehan shows us the traumas of war and family like a seasoned veteran of both, and administers jokes like a battlefield nurse. A terrific debut from a dynamic new writer -- J. Robert Lennon, author of BROKEN RIVERA brilliant debut from a talented young Irishman, RESTLESS SOULS is alternately comic and tragic, as three boyhood friends come to grips with the loss of innocence and the suddenly forceful presence of death in their lives -- Philipp Meyer, author of THE SONSheehan's debut novel is ambitious, rambunctious and extremely accomplished. Ambitious, in so far as it addresses daunting and complex issues; rambunctious, in its wild, road-trippy exuberance; and accomplished because it combines these elements with style, wit and compassion . . . The prose style, full of vibrant wise-cracking energy, can turn on a dime into a controlled lyricism befitting serious subjects such as PTSD, mental health and the nature of masculinity... -- Bert Wright * SUNDAY TIMES *Bittersweet might be the word for the feeling Dan Sheehan conjures up with this tale of three childhood friends trying to put things right, except that the warmth and depth with which he portrays the challenges of friendship go way beyond sweetness, and there's nothing bitter about the anger and darkness into which he is unafraid to send his characters; instead, this is a story of what happens when the best of intentions meet the hardest of truths. Here are the shadow of war, the long reach of trauma, and the moments when it becomes clear that shared memories, and banter, and boyhood code, may no longer be enough. A touching, brave book -- Belinda McKeon, author of TENDEROne part war story, one part bro story, and one part road trip, RESTLESS SOULS is a wonderful debut by a talented, intelligent writer who knows how to make you think and make you feel and make you laugh. I devoured it * David Ebershoff, author of THE DANISH GIRL and THE 19TH WIFE *[An] enjoyable debut novel . . . there's some fine Irish comedy along the way, and Sheehan adeptly pierces the nature of lasting friendship * Observer *[Sheehan] evokes the boys' confusion, their tenderness, their fear. But also their hope that they can save their damaged friend and, in so doing, rescue themselves from the guilt that has haunted them since the first of their number took his life, a message that transcends generations. * GUARDIAN *Vivid, funny and emotionally intelligent, Sheehan's exploration of male friendship yokes extremes of human behaviour into a labile, and page-turning, tragicomedy. * SYDNEY MORNING HERALD *A strong and striking debut * THE AU REVIEW *[A] tender, banter-filled debut * DAILY MAIL *[A] bold, brave, bravura debut * SUNDAY EXPRESS S MAGAZINE *Sheehan's stunning and moving debut novel explores the weight of trauma and the complicated contours of male friendship . . . Sheehan's blend of breathless action, unsentimental depictions of love, and spot-on period touches will appeal to readers who like their hopeful narratives tinged with powerful uncertainties * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY starred review *RESTLESS SOULS is set amidst the siege of Sarajevo and catches admirably the madness of those times. For more than three years the embattled Holiday Inn in the Bosnian capital was the headquarters of the foreign press. The rooms without a view were the ones most in demand. We called ourselves the Sarajevo Survivors' Club. If I had the talents of a novelist, Dan Sheehan's book is one that I would love to have written -- Martin BellAn insightful dissection of male friendship -- Karen Hardy * CANBERRA TIMES *A great and intriguing read . . . an astonishingly assured look at three friends battling to make sense of their lives . . . I love the structure - as it flits back and forwards, and a picture is gradually built of the friends as they develop from being teenagers when, with Gabriel as the protector, their futures seemed full of promise, through a sense of helplessness, and finally to, if not an assured future, at least a feeling of hope . . . the heartrending scenes in Sarajevo are meticulously researched * IRISH EXAMINER *I was engrossed in this novel from the start - engaged by the author's acute observations of human nature, and the way the friends' characters gradually emerge through their, apparently mindless, banter. [Sheehan] is destined for great things. He has combined horror, sadness and comedy to brilliant effect; his structure is masterly; his pacing pitch perfect, and his characters ring eerily true. I was blown away by this; it's a book I will never forget. -- Sue Leonard * BOOKS IRELAND MAGAZINE *Striking . . . Sheehan deals deftly with sensitive subjects, tempering his prose with a darkly comic streak that never feels misjudged. As a study in how young men process and express their grief, Restless Souls is a highly promising debut * TLS *Tender and rambunctious and animated by a dauntless faith in human connection, RESTLESS SOULS is a book that that boldly ranges across the borders of nations, decades, and literary genres. Sheehan is a brave new voice in fiction, fusing comedy and heart to explore a friendship transformed by trauma, but vitally, achingly resilient nevertheless -- Alexandra Kleeman, author of YOU TOO CAN HAVE A BODY LIKE MINERESTLESS SOULS is a compelling debut, one which impels its readers to reckon with the pressing questions we, in all our varied societies, face. Sheehan brings distant parts of the world closer, writing about besieged Sarajevo with nauanced understanding, and reminding us that achieving inner peace is often more difficult than reaching the end of a conflict. Ultimately, this novel boldly alleges that, above all, we need each other. -- Jasminko Halilovic, author of WAR CHILDHOOD
£8.54
Orion Publishing Co Northern Spy
Book Synopsis THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERA REESE''S BOOK CLUB PICK - SOON TO BE A MAJOR NETFLIX PRODUCTION''You''ll devour Northern Spy . . . I loved this thrill ride of a book''Reese Witherspoon''A sharp, moving thriller: you lose your breath for adrenalin''Abigail Dean, author of Girl A''A chilling, gorgeously written tale''New York Times''Nerve-shredding suspense''Daily Mail''Thrillingly good... Flynn Berry shows a le Carré-like flair for making you wonder what''s really going on at any given moment''Washington Post A producer at the Belfast bureau of the BBC, Tessa is at work one day when the news of another IRA raid comes on the air: as the anchor requests the public''s help in locating those responsible for this latest attack - a robbery at a gas station - Tessa''s Trade ReviewA sharp, moving thriller, combining motherhood and espionage, sisterhood and sacrifice. You lose your breath for adrenalin, but also in empathy: for Tessa and Finn, in those quiet nightime moments between mother and son. As tender as it is tense. * Abigail Dean, author of GIRL A *A chilling, gorgeously written tale of a modern community poisoned by ancient grievances . . . Berry is a beautiful writer with a sophisticated, nuanced understanding of this most complicated of places. * New York Times *Thrillingly good . . . Flynn Berry shows a le Carré-like flair for making you wonder what's really going on at any given moment. * Washington Post *Even at its highest pitch, Ms. Berry's novel remains a human-centered story that closely examines the behavior of siblings, babies, mothers and friends...a beguiling thriller that's hard to put down. * Wall Street Journal *Flynn Berry has written a thriller for the ages. * Entertainment Weekly *Taut and passionate. . . full of threat and heartbreak. . . Northern Spy will be a hit for readers of Dublin noir and tartan noir. . . Denise Mina and Tana French readers can also find familiar ground - but so in fact can any readers who treasure a well-plotted mystery with a powerful sense of how place and the near past can force a person to cross the lines they once felt were sacred. * New York Journal of Books *Emotional and intellectually engaging * Crime Time *PRAISE FOR FLYNN BERRY'S A DOUBLE LIFE'A thrilling page-turner' Paula Hawkins'What a book!' Clare Mackintosh'Beautifully paced and satisfyingly ominous' Observer'Mesmerisingly effective' The Sunday Times'Berry brings the story to a satisfyingly shocking conclusion' Guardian'A compulsive page-turner' Daily Mail
£8.99
Orion Publishing Co IQ
Book Synopsis''Joe Ide is the best new discovery I''ve come across in a long time. And Isaiah Quintabe is the kind of sleuth not seen on the mystery landscape before.'' MICHAEL CONNELLYTHE TIMES CRIME BOOK OF THE MONTH: ''Full of humour, originality and high-quality writing''WINNER of the ANTHONY AWARD for Best Debut, the SHAMUS AWARD for BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL. the MACAVITY AWARD for Best First Novel; SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2017 EDGAR AWARD and STRAND CRITICS AWARD.East Long Beach. The LAPD is barely keeping up with the high crime rate. Murders go unsolved, the elderly are being mugged, children go missing. But word has spread: if you''ve got a case the police can''t - or won''t - touch, Isaiah Quintabe will help you out.They call him IQ. He''s a loner and a high school dropout, his unassuming nature disguising a relentless determination and a fierce intelligence. His clients pay him whatever they can afford, a new set of tyres or sTrade ReviewNominated for the Edgar Award for Best First NovelJoe Ide is the best new discovery I've come across in a long time. And Isaiah Quintabe is the kind of sleuth not seen on the mystery landscape before -- Michael Connellysucceeds in being both highly original and continuing the spirit of Conan Doyle... it will be fascinating to see which details from his inspiration the writer adopts. -- Mark Lawson * THE GUARDIAN *CRIME BOOK OF THE MONTH: full of humour, originality and high-quality writing. * THE TIMES *This is one of the most remarkable debuts I've read...Deliciously quirky, written with exceptional panache and a fine ear for dialogue, it introduces the world to an LA private detective who might just become the Holmes of the 21st century * Daily Mail *This debut novel offers an original twist on the idea of the Sherlockian super-sleuth.. This is terrific fun, a classic crime formula with a cool comtempory feel. * SUNDAY EXPRESS *Sherlock Holmes meets The Wire * GRAZIA *One of the Best Books of 2016 according to the New York Times, the Washington Post, the New York Times Book Review and Amazon.com[IQ] kicks off what is apt to be a madly lovable new detective series about this smart guy and the vibrantly drawn criminal culture that surrounds him . . . Ide packs a lot of action and scenery into the book's investigation scenes. But he has also built and bolstered Isaiah as a fine, durable character * New York Times *One of the most original thrillers of the year . . . [A] sometimes scary, often whimsical, off-the-wall delight . . . It's a mad world that late-blooming Joe Ide has brought forth from his past, a spicy mix of urban horror, youthful striving and show-business absurdity. His IQ is an original and welcome creation * Washington Post *Wonderfully quirky . . . Exhilarating language and [an] oddball cast . . . A total laff-riot * New York Times Book Review *A crackling page-turner of a debut * Entertainment Weekly *Joe Ide introduces one of the coolest investigators working the mean streets of Los Angeles . . . Ide emulates Walter Mosley, that great chronicler of South Central Los Angeles via the Easy Rawlins novels. That's some serious company with whom to be traveling * Chicago Tribune *With its street poetics and truer-than-life characters, this beautifully spun first novel is gonna blow through the crime fiction world like a fire hose-blast of fresh air. Joe Ide has that rarest of writerly skills - a wholly unique voice, one that is at once irreverent and compelling, moving and incisive. IQ will become a reader favorite -- Gregg Hurwitz, author of ORPHAN XI don't know how fast Joe Ide writes, but from now on he'll have to write faster. Everyone who reads IQ will be clamoring for the next book, and for the one after that. This is one of the most intriguing - and appealing detective characters to come along in years -- Carl Hiaasen, author of SCATWow! This crime novel has it all - a truly unusual hero, a fast-paced plot, vivid characters, great dialog, tremendous energy, acute observations, a sharp sense of humor, and a touching finale -- John Verdon, author of WOLF LAKEFantastic detective debut about LA and rap moguls -- India Knight * Sunday Times Magazine *Ide . . . dexterously juggles multiple styles and tones to create a seamless, utterly entertaining blend of coming-of-age saga, old-school detective story, and comic caper novel * Booklist Online *Boasting a combustible cocktail of Bosch, Hiaasen and Conan Doyle, Joe Ide's Sherlock home-boy is the detective you need in your life right now -- Chris Brookmyre
£8.99
Orion Publishing Co The Butterfly Girl
Book Synopsis'Heartbreaking, finger-gnawing, and yet ultimately hopeful' Margaret Atwood, via TwitterNaomi Cottle's sister went missing 20 years ago. Could there be a link to the street children disappearing in a nearby town? And is her sister still alive?Trade ReviewA heart-breaking, finger gnawing and yet ultimately hopeful novel by the amazing Rene Denfeld -- Margaret AtwoodThe Butterfly Girl is a beautiful and very moving novel about lost souls. This heart-stopping thriller left me breathless -- Shari Lapena, author of 'The Couple Next Door'Equal parts chilling, tragic and hopeful, Rene Denfeld's new novel combines her haunting, lyrical prose with a page-turning and harrowing mystery, putting The Butterfly Girl into a league of its own. Fans of The Child Finder will devour this -- Mary Kubica, author of The Good GirlEqual parts chilling, tragic and hopeful, Rene Denfeld's new novel combines her haunting, lyrical prose with a page-turning and harrowing mystery, putting The Butterfly Girl into a league of its own. Fans of The Child Finder will devour this. -- Mary Kubica, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Good GirlThere is a beautifully plangent, poetic quality to her depiction of a world that she knows all too well. * SUNDAY EXPRESS *Vivid * SUNDAY TIMES *Reminds us that storytelling remains one of the most powerful means we have of confronting our darkest human impulses, and sometimes overcoming them * Washington Post *There is a beautifully plangent, poetic quality to Denfeld's depiction of a world that she knows all too well * Sunday Express *Denfeld lived on the streets herself as a child, and some of the most vivid passages are based on her memories. In an atmosphere of dread, the novel leads to a climax that exposes decades of murder and abuse * The Times *
£8.54
Orion Publishing Co Bitter
Book Synopsis''A novel to detonate the heart. Fans of Gail Honeyman and Joanna Cannon will love Bitter'' A.J. Finn, author of The Woman in the Window ''As gripping as Zoe Heller''s Notes on A Scandal'' Peter Bradshaw, Guardian Film Critic''Brilliantly paced, moving, thoughtful and sharp. Loved it'' Renée Knight, author of Disclaimer''An absolutely astonishing first novel'' Michael Frayn, author of SpiesIt''s 1969, and while the summer of love lingers in London, Gilda is consumed by the mistakes of her past. She walked out on her beloved son Reuben when he was just a boy and fears he will never forgive her. When Reuben marries Alice, he seems transformed by love - a love Gilda has craved his entire adult life. What does his new wife have that she doesn''t? And how far will she go to find out? It''s an obsession that will bring shocking truths about the past to light . . .Trade ReviewBitter by Francesca Jakobi is stormingly good, deliciously addictive, as gripping as Zoë Heller's Notes on a Scandal. It's got to be the beach read of 2018! -- Peter Bradshaw, Guardian Film CriticBITTER is just wonderful. It's a very painful story but told with a kind of lightness and grace. It's so well-written, with such deceptive directness and simplicity, so well-organised and well-paced. Francesca Jakobi completely inhabits Gilda, in all her pain and obsession, all her self-deception and self-sabotage. An absolutely astonishing first novel -- Michael Frayn, author of SPIESI bloody loved this book. It was emotionally so intense, so addictive, I tore through it, unable to stop. Buy it. Read it -- Susie Steiner, author of MISSING, PRESUMED and PERSONS UNKNOWNProvocative and skilful . . . The results are as hilarious as they are unsettling as Jakobi exploits the stereotype of the needy Jewish mother and we are drawn against our better judgment to side with out-of-control Gilda -- Barry Forshaw * GUARDIAN *Jakobi's debut is ambitious in scope, investigating her central character in forensic detail, with short, pacy chapters that alternate between past and present . . . At once tragic and engrossing, this gimlet-eyed character study elicits sympathy and damnation, both for Gilda herself and for the circumstances that have defined her' * FINANCIAL TIMES *[A] riveting study of a woman who takes motherly concern to rather sinister extremes . . . it slowly, tantalisingly becomes clear that Gilda has never been in charge of her life . . . and shocking secrets from her past will have the power to transform her present * Daily Mail *Brilliantly paced, moving, thoughtful and sharp. Loved it -- Renée Knight, author of DISCLAIMERBitter, yes, but also sweet -- and moving, and searching, and quietly devastating: a novel to detonate the heart. Steep yourself in this exquisite story. You won't regret it, and you won't forget it. Fans of Gail Honeyman and Joanna Cannon will love Bitter * A.J. Finn, author of THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW *Gloriously sinister and yet, when you least expect it, quietly heartbreaking. Brilliant -- Nicci Cloke, author of CLOSE YOUR EYESI loved BITTER . . . an incredibly moving novel about a mother's guilt and shame at her inability to bond with her son. It is a beautifully woven tale that tilts with issues of class and race and religion. The reader's feelings towards the protagonist always balance somewhere between pity and indignation, never drifting towards any simplistic sense of certainty -- Brett Anderson, GUARDIAN, Best Books of 2018A moving, powerful story of love, obsession, guilt, lies and the lengths we'll go to for a second chance -- Tammy Cohen'I loved this book so much. Really moving and completely absorbing - I loved Gilda's voice' -- Laura Marshall, author of FRIEND REQUESTThis is an original and heartbreaking novel - beautifully written with such a powerful voice. I couldn't put it down -- Chloë Mayer, author of THE BOY MADE OF SNOWA beautiful, poignant and - at times - unsettling insight into motherhood: its triumphs and disappointments but, above all, its power to transform relationships. I loved it -- Elisa Lodato, author of AN UNREMARKABLE BODYCompelling and, in places, heartbreaking. A beautiful portrait of a mother's love -- Joanna Barnard, author of PRECOCIOUS and HUSH LITTLE BABYI hated Gilda at first, her judgemental, mean spirited view of the world. She seemed to be the kind of person I would run from at parties. Then, as time went on, this woman felt no longer bitter, but like someone I had come to love. Such clever storytelling . . . By the end I was running towards the finish line, desperate to see her come through -- Amanda Smyth, author of BLACK ROCK and A KIND OF EDENWarning to readers: this book is highly addictive and could keep you awake at night. It has a wonderfully compelling narrative, driven by a fascinating unreliable narrator . . . BITTER manages to be a psychological thriller while at the same time dealing with such complex subjects as female autonomy, post-natal depression and loneliness. It is a remarkable first novel . . . poignant, funny, tender and bittersweet -- Sipora Levy * JEWISH CHRONICLE *Beautifully written and paced. I was hooked - heart in mouth from the beginning. Exquisite storytelling * Sally Magnusson, author of THE SEALWOMAN’S GIFT *BITTER is an incredible book about familial love gone wrong: deeply felt, subtly wrought and deliciously complicated -- Rachel Heng, author of SUICIDE CLUBIt's not easy to make a reader fall in love with a character who is as flawed as Gilda. She is difficult, snooty, and unhinged - and I absolutely adored her. She deserves to take her place beside character greats such as Olive Kitteridge and Eleanor Oliphant . . . Although this is an incredibly moving book - I sobbed my way through the final 30 pages - there are some wonderfully funny moments too. Bitter has left me with one of the most severe book hangovers I've ever experienced. It's a masterpiece -- Fiona Mitchell, author of The Maid’s RoomA beautiful and original story. I absolutely loved it -- Clare Empson, author of HIMJakobi's imagery transports you from bombed London streets to the anything goes vibes at the end of the swinging '60s . . . a terrifying and poignant portrait of a lonely woman **** -- Jennifer Platt * SOUTH AFRICAN SUNDAY TIMES *BITTER hits every single one of my must-reads. An incredibly well-drawn, flawed female lead character; a 1960s setting and an unsettling yet realistic family dynamic . . . BITTER is deeply moving and so very wise. I absolutely adored it -- Anne Cater * Random Things Through My Letterbox *Gilda's personal trials will keep readers in thrall to the bittersweet ending * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY starred review *Compelling and, in places, heartbreaking. A beautiful portrait of a mother's love -- Joanna Barnard, author of PRECOCIOUS and HUSH LITTLE BABY
£8.54
Orion Publishing Co Wrecked
Book SynopsisIsaiah Quintabe - IQ for short - has never been more successful, or felt more alone. A series of high-profile wins in his hometown of East Long Beach have made him so notorious that he can hardly go to the corner store without being recognized. Dodson, once his sidekick, is now his full-fledged partner, hell-bent on giving IQ''s PI business some real legitimacy: a Facebook page, and IQ''s promise to stop accepting Christmas sweaters and carpet cleanings in exchange for PI services.So when a young painter approaches IQ for help tracking down her missing mother, it''s not just the case Isaiah''s looking for, but the human connection. And when his new confidant turns out to be connected to a dangerous paramilitary operation, IQ falls victim to a threat even a genius can''t see coming.Waiting for Isaiah around every corner is Seb, the Oxford-educated gangster who was responsible for the death of his brother, Marcus. Only, this time, Isaiah''s not alone. Joined by a new lTrade ReviewJoe Ide is one of the hottest mystery novelists at work... The wonder of love, the cruelty of war, the black world he knows well, the music he loves (Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, George Shearing) - all the beauty and cruelty and craziness he filed away in his mind before he began writing these novels. With Wrecked, Ide confirms that he's among the most original new voices in today's crime fiction -- Patrick Anderson * Washington Post *Wrecked is full of violent action, hairbreadth escapes and poignant life lessons: an unpredictable book written by an author with wizard-like gifts -- Tom Nolan * Wall Street Journal *The hip-hop generation's answer to Sherlock Holmes returns fast and furious in the third installment of Ide's (Righteous, 2017, etc.) celebrated series. . . Ide's penchant for colorful characters, droll banter, and whackadoodle set pieces is aided by a growing command of narrative dynamics. And Isaiah Quintabe remains an engaging, fascinating protagonist . . . There's a harder, darker edge to the violence that gives this ripsnorting follow-up a rueful yet resonant aftertaste, perhaps in anticipation of more unsettling jolts in the hero's future. * Kirkus *With writing so sharp you may cut your fingers on the pages, Joe Ide's latest IQ novel, Wrecked, is outrageous and laugh-out-loud funny, a page-turner with devastating observations about the dangers of state-sanctioned violence and its consequences. The characters are unforgettable, none more so than IQ himself. Like the previous books, IQ's tender intelligence and his tight moral compass are what make this series so stirring... and touching -- Attica Locke, Edgar Award-winning author of Bluebird, BluebirdTo describe the series in a single sentence, it embodies a lot of thought-provoking analysis, a good deal of brutality, and more than a smattering of Three Stooges thrown in for balance . . . Of his many talents, Ide's greatest is putting the reader definitively in the moment. The sense of authenticity is what sets him far apart from writers who try mightily to simulate tough guys from the streets. Ide grew up in South Central. He doesn't have to imagine anything. His characters' vernacular, some of it hysterically funny, is unfailingly spot-on -- Fran Wood * Newark Star-Ledger *Joe Ide's IQ novels are an electrifying combination of Holmesian mystery and SoCal grit * Time *Blazing... Ide is still the hottest of recently-emerged crime writers. He has populated Southern California with wildly entertaining characters, from those hinted at offstage to the motormouths whose priceless talk fills his pages -- Janet Maslin * New York Times *Wrecked is full of violent action, hairbreadth escapes and poignant life lessons: an unpredictable book written by an author with wizard-like gifts * Wall Street Journal *
£9.49
Orion Publishing Co Painted in Blood
Book SynopsisTHE SECOND INSPECTOR TERESA BATTAGLIA NOVELA portrait painted in blood. A valley shrouded in secrecy. A woman fighting for her life.Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR FLOWERS OVER THE INFERNOSuperintendent Teresa Battaglia, a criminal profile expert, is in her sixties, overweight, lonely, diabetic, full of the ailments of ageing - and delightful. It's rare that such a character enters crime fiction for the first time, and with such gripping impact. * Marcel Berlins, The Times (Crime Book of the Month) *Creepy and evocative... but what gives this novel particular appeal is the sixty-something central character, whose abrasive manner hides a warm heart. * Guardian *Teresa Battaglia is set to give Tyneside's Vera a run for her money. * Lancashire Post *Exhilarating... Teresa Battaglia, who must deal with casual and constant sexism in her position of authority, is an unforgettable character readers will want to see a lot more of. * Publishers Weekly (starred review) *One of the best parts of Flowers Over the Inferno is the older, gruff superintendent Teresa Battaglia. She is out of shape, diabetic and busy fighting the early stages of Alzheimer's disease - on top of handling a complex case. We sympathise with Battaglia quite naturally, and it's nice to see a cop who isn't slim and sexy chasing after serial killers. * NPR *Painted In Blood shows a young writer flexing her muscles trying, and succeeding, to produce a crime novel which is distinctive, unusual and makes full use of the myths and magic of its chosen landscape. -- Mike Ripley * SHOTS *The talented Italian writer takes us to Friuli in the company of her uncompromising sleuth, Teresa Battaglia. Unlike so many female cops (especially on TV), Teresa is not svelte, soignée or young; she is overweight, over 60 and prone to unbuttoned cursing. And she has a secret she is hiding from colleagues: the onset of Alzheimer's. A canvas by a second world war partisan is found to have been painted with the blood from a human heart in a mystery yoking in the horrors of the Nazi era, shamanistic rituals and more contemporary murder. It's a heady mix. * Financial Times *
£10.44
Orion Publishing Co Call Him Mine
Book SynopsisA TELEGRAPH THRILLER OF THE YEAR''A wild ride'' Ian Rankin''Tough and uncompromising: you''ll be glad you read it'' Lee Child''Hilarious, gripping, poetic. I loved it'' Adrian McKinty, author of The Chain''Gripping from beginning to end'' Independent''Intoxicating and chilling'' Observer''Pacy and exciting'' Daily Telegraph''Vivid and lyrical'' Guardian''MacGabhann paints an extraordinarily vivid picture of Mexico, in all its seething, sweltering madness and beauty'' Irish IndependentNobody asked us to look.Every day, every since, I still wish we hadn''t.Jaded reporter Andrew and his photographer boyfriend, Carlos, are sick of sifting the dregs of Mexico''s drug war: from cartel massacres to corrupt politicians, they think they''ve seen it all.But when they find a body even the police are too scared to Trade ReviewA wild ride. Imagine the film Desperado scripted by Hunter S Thompson. Murder and corruption in Mexico; a journalist narrator with a death wish and a thirst for vengeance. Que chingados! * Ian Rankin on twitter *A tough and uncompromising debut - you'll be glad you read it. * Lee Child *A hilarious, gripping, poetic off-the-wall crime story set in a delirious Mexican underworld that William Burroughs, Sam Peckinpah & Hunter Thompson would have recognised. I loved it. * Adrian McKinty, author of THE CHAIN *Intoxicating and chilling. * Observer *Feverish, lyrical and gripping from beginning to end the Irish writer's crime novel is both a searing indictment of corruption and murder in Mexico and a darkly moving gay love story as reporter Andrew finds himself out of his depth and out of control as he investigates his lover Carlos's death. * Independent (30 best books for summer 2019) *Strong stuff... MacGabhann's blend of violent action and vivid, even lyrical description is laced with dark humour and is very readable. * Guardian *One thing novelists can do more effectively than journalists, perhaps, is to remind us that every killing in Mexico ought to seem as shocking an aberration as a murder in the St Mary Mead vicarage. This is one of the achievements of this debut novel by Tim MacGabhann, an Irish journalist and Mexico resident... Although this is a country in which "every lamppost on every street wears a peeled lagging of 'Missing' posters'", the novel is not an epic catalogue of depravity in the manner of Don Winslow's Cartel trilogy; instead, it uses just two murders as a focal point for Mexico's grief and rage... Pacy and exciting... The novel is written ... lyrically, with an offbeat humour, which helps defamiliarise a situation to which Western readers have become inured, and communicate its horrors afresh. * Daily Telegraph *Arresting: it spins a tale of murder and murky deeds, but really excels in how it seems to capture something essential at the heart of his adopted country... Call Him Mine soars in two regards. First MacGabhann paints an extraordinarily vivid picture of Mexico, in all its seething, sweltering madness and beauty. The last time I read a book which placed the reader so firmly and intensely into the heart of a place, it was the 'Fate' and 'Santa Teresa' sections of Roberto Bolano's great 2666: also set in Mexico and, perhaps not coincidentally, also written by an outsider. The second is the quality of MacGabhann's prose. Phrases like 'bruised poetry' sound glib I know, but it's about the best way I can think of describing Call Him Mine... It will be interesting to see where MacGabhann's career goes next. For now, Call Him Mine is a fine start. * Irish Independent *Audacious and affecting. From the first page the reader is immersed in a modern-day Mexico beset by drug cartels and corrupt police forces... Most books succeed or fail based on the sensibilities of their protagonists and the truth of their voices and Call Him Mine succeeds... In his writing MacGabhann has conjured up a vivid sense of place... the language of the prose is rich and radiant... The pacing of the book is breathtakingly fast, but the chapters are so well composed that we never lose sight of the flow or the narrative clarity... This exciting and accomplished novel is a major achievement, as MacGabhann displays the grace of Greene, the pace of Hammett, the imagination of Bolano and the darkness of Elroy. An exciting new voice in Irish writing. * Irish Examiner *Intense, inventive and gritty. * Attitude *Both a harrowing thriller set in the horrific wilderness of the Mexican drug wars and a moving, gay love story, this striking debut by a new Irish author hits many buttons and deserves to be singled out for acclaim... Both a shimmering tale of feelings and the acute sense of loss, and a journey into the hell of grief and the actuality of Mexico's drug shame, this is a memorable book that has arrived out of the blue, and is all the more welcome for it. * Crime Time (Highly Recommended) *This impressive read from the Irish writer is a gay love story set against the backdrop of gangland Mexico. Indeed, it does have everything, including murder, mayhem, and espionage as journalist Andrew tries to find out how his boyfriend Carlos met his demise. * The Herald *A superb, realistic rollercoaster of a read from an incredible new talent. * Irish Examiner *Compelling and bold. * Irish Times *Imagine Narcos crossed with Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas crossed with Raymond Chandler's The Long Goodbye and you'll begin to have an idea of Tim MacGabhann's brilliant debut. A visceral, acid-soaked trip through Mexico's many underworlds, and a heartfelt testament to lost friendship, Call Him Mine pulls you in by the eyeballs, steals your wallet, tramples on your heartstrings, and somehow leaves you feeling uplifted and alive. * Paul Murray, author of SKIPPY DIES and THE MARK AND THE VOID *This audacious and ingenious combination of hardcore reporting and genre fiction gives the clearest account and synthesis I've read anywhere of the staggering horror that has befallen contemporary Mexico. If a young journalist really were to investigate the murder in Mexico of another daring journo and justice warrior who was also his lover, this terrifying, riveting, emotionally wrenching narrative is a realistic account of how that might go. But Call Him Mine gives the reader more than that, because Macgabhann is a writer of gritty poetic genius. This is the wired fevered enthralling Mexico City I live in. This is the most beautiful writing about Mexico in an English-language novel since Malcolm Lowry's Under the Volcano. * Francisco Goldman, author of Say Her Name and The Interior Circuit: A Mexico City Chronicle *This gritty crime novel set in Mexico follows reporter Andrew as he investigates the murder of his own boyfriend. Brilliantly plotted, with a strong sense of the vibrant and violent setting, Call Him Mine is a must-read for those who were glued to Narcos and Sicario. * Dead Good (Debut crime novels to watch out for in 2019) *A terrific, tightly-paced thriller that utterly transports its reader. With beautifully poetic visual description, the tale takes us from the saturated palettes and neon diffusions of Mexico City to the filthily polluted, crime-ravaged regions in the eastern part of the country - land rich with oil and horror... The sense of place, too, is utterly electric: with considered, efficient strikes, the story's sounds, smells, weather and colour diffuse across the narrative... Call Him Mine has been likened to 'Breaking Bad' and 'Narcos', and the narrative, with its fast-moving combinations of crucial quests, visceral violence and dark humour, is certainly gripping. But central to the trajectory of the plot is Andrew's uncovering of a scoop; though the subject may differ, the text's progress, in this respect, bears some similarity to the 2015 film Spotlight. Like Spotlight, it is cleverly composed of truths to be uncovered by the protagonist, and truths withheld by him - alluded to, and then gradually revealed in later stages. And like that film, MacGabhann's novel simultaneously informs and celebrates the diligence involved in gathering and disseminating that information: facts those in the highest echelons of power would rather stay deeply buried. * Totally Dublin *
£8.99
Orion Publishing Co Under Occupation
Book SynopsisSpying and subterfuge in occupied Paris from one of the great masters of the spy genre. Inspired by the true story of Polish prisoners in Nazi Germany, who smuggled valuable intelligence to the French resistance.Trade Review'If any thriller writer has absolutely nailed a time and place in which to set his fiction, in this case France and Eastern Europe at the beginning of World War II, it is the American master of historical spy-fi Alan Furst ... Alan Furst is a master of his chosen material and his writing is cool, calm and very collected and proves, yet again, that he is one of the truly great writers of espionage fiction. * Shots Magazine *Furst's novels are often seen as historical thrillers because they are set in WWII but there is no need to look to the sub-set for reputation, he stands with the best in the espionage genre. * NB Magazine *Furst's prose is almost understated but he conjures up a universe. Wartime Paris is lovingly depicted: the smell of wet leaves, the taste of chicory coffee, the flics in their rain capes, a loaded glance across a cafe. Most of all, the sense of menace * Financial Times *A gripping story of a novelist handed a top-secret blueprint by a dying man and tasked with getting it into the hands of the French resistance while hounded by the Gestapo . . . the twists and intrigue keep coming * Observer *As ever, Furst vividly evokes a sense of time and place * Mail on Sunday *PRAISE FOR ALAN FURST, THE MASTER OF THE HISTORICAL ESPIONAGE NOVEL'Furst's ability to recreate the terrors of espionage is matchless' Robert Harris'Furst is an addiction' The Times'If you are a John le Carre' fan, this is definitely a novel for you' James Patterson on Mission to Paris 'Furst never stops astounding me' Tom Hanks'America's preeminent spy novelist' New York Times 'How I envy anybody who has not yet discovered Furst's writing' Telegraph'Furst's books are like Chopin's nocturnes: timeless, transcendent, universal. One does not so much read them as fall under their spell' Los Angeles Times
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Orion Publishing Co Here Comes the Miracle
Book Synopsis'I adored this novel' Pandora Sykes 'Incredibly moving' Charlie Gilmour 'I read it in two evenings' Clover Stroud 'Brilliant' Sarah Moss It begins with a miracle: a baby born too small and too early, but defiantly alive. This is Joe. Then, two years later, Emily, arrives. From the beginning, the siblings' lives are entwined. Snake back through time. In a patch of nettle-infested wilderness, find Edward, seventeen-years-old, and falling in love with another boy. In comes somebody else, Eleanor, with whom Edward starts a family. They find themselves grandparents to Joe and Emily. When Joe is diagnosed with cancer, the family are left waiting for a miracle. From one of our finest new authors, this is a profoundly beautiful novel about the unexpectedness of life and the miracle of love.Trade ReviewI adored this novel. Very lovely -- Pandora SykesWhat a gorgeous book. Lovingly told, with a poet's eye for the small miracles to be found in each passing moment. Such light and poetic prose, at times unspeakably tender. There were so many moments I found incredibly moving -- Charlie Gilmour, author of FEATHERHOODPowerful, sensual, deeply moving ... A stunning novel I read in two evenings -- Clover Stroud, author of THE WILD OTHERAn exceptional novel - subtle, accomplished, and powerful. It deals unflinchingly with death but also brings life, lived and unlived, tenderly and clearly into focus. -- Anjali Joseph, author of SARASWATI PARKAnna Beecher has produced an evocation of loss and mourning that is nevertheless suffused with a sense of wonder - about the world and its objects, about different kinds of love, about the way our lives form round absences. In this quietly devastating novel, she attends, with tenderness and precision, to the details of both life and death. Here Comes the Miracle is a work of depth, sorrow, and great beauty. -- Molly McCloskey, author of WHEN LIGHT IS LIKE WATERA lyrically-written tale of loss, fear and the miracle of love, which finds great significance in small things and quiet moments. Painful and beautiful. -- Julie Cohen, author of TOGETHERHere Comes the Miracle may be a story about loss but it is also a testimony to life, survival and the revitalising powers of memory * The Irish Times *a bittersweet story of love and loss across the years * Waitrose Weekend *
£8.54
Orion Publishing Co Not Saying Goodbye
Book SynopsisRUSSIA, 1918The young Soviet state is in turmoil. Chekists walk along the streets. Hunger, cold and mud crawl away in the former aristocratic quarters of Moscow. The old order has been turned upside down, leaving room for political infighting and dark subterfuge.This is the world Erast Fandorin - the celebrated detective - wakes up to after three years in a coma. His faithful assistant Masa might have nursed him successfully back to life, but there is no guarantee that the old Fandorin, with his razor-sharp intellect and superhuman strength, will ever be back.Determined to leave behind Moscow - a city he doesn''t recognise anymore - Fandorin embarks on one last great adventure. But who can he trust in a country torn apart by civil war?Trade ReviewOne of the most distinctive characters in historical crime fiction... Twenty years after his debut, Fandorin remains a thoroughly engaging hero * Sunday Times *The Erast Fandorin detective novels are always meaty, packed with historical detail, old-fashioned in the best sense and intricately plotted. * Daily Mail *A popular hero to equal Sherlock Holmes and James Bond . . . Akunin's finest creation and the star of his titles is Erast Fandorin - genius, gentleman, polyglot, kickboxer, and all-round inordinately lucky bloke. * The Times *The most playful, ingenious historical thriller series in modern publishing. * Guardian *So, farewell then, Erast Petrovich Fandorin, Boris Akunin's vain, stammering, Quizotic sleuth, perhaps the most widely loved fictional detective of our time . . . As always, Andrew Bromfield does a heroic job . . . there are some surprisingly effective assaults on the emtions as Fandorin's story zigzags to its close * Daily Telegraph *
£9.49
Orion Publishing Co The Ministry of Special Cases
Book SynopsisBuenos Aires, 1970s. Kaddish Poznan chips the names off gravestones for a living, removing traces of disreputable ancestors for their more respectable kin. His wife Lillian works in insurance, earning money when people live longer than they fear. When the government is overthrown in a military coup, their son Pato is arrested by the police and becomes one of the disappeared. Desperate to find him, Kaddish and Lillian turn to the Ministry of Special Cases, a bureaucracy of anguish and false promises, and they discover just how far they are willing to go to save their son...Trade ReviewPowerful and engaging ... shot through with a dark humour, which makes it all the more moving * The Times *Who is this Nathan Englander, so young in novelist years, but already possessed of an old masters voice? One reads this novel in awe of Englander's talent * New York Times *Wry and haunting ... Englander's novel is a striking memorial to the victims of political oppression * Sunday Times *Englander writes with exquisite precision * Guardian *At times so heartbreaking that you want to turn away * Sunday Telegraph *
£9.49
