Contemporary Fiction Books

Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE SWEDISH ACADEMY'S NORDIC PRIZE 2023Shortlisted for the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize and the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award'A terrific read...an extraordinarily accomplished novel' Independent'Kaleidoscopic and mesmerising, comic and poignant' TLSIn this magical evocation of a vanished age, a poet and self-taught healer is banished in 1635 to a barren island off Iceland - a place darkened by superstition, poverty and cruelty. With only a purple sandpiper for company, Jónas Pálmason retraces his path to exile, recalling his exorcism of a walking corpse, the massacre of innocent Basque whalers at the hands of local villagers and the deaths of three of his children. But amid the cacophony of Copenhagen he will find hope and, finally, recognition of his enlightened ideas.Trade Review'A terrific read...an extraordinarily accomplished novel' * Independent *'Kaleidoscopic and mesmerising, comic and poignant' * TLS *'An extraordinary and original writer' * AS Byatt, Guardian *Hallucinatory, lyrical and by turn comic and tragic-an extraordinary novel. * Hari Kunzru *Sjón's novels are brilliant collisions of history and fable, psychology and fantasy. * Chris Power, Guardian *Wildly comic and incandescent, elegant and brittle. * Keith Donohue, Washington Post *

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Book Synopsis'White's sharp-eyed take on modern life couldn't be more on target ' Irish Independent All looks perfect for Ali and Shelly. And that's what counts, right? But beneath the filters, it's a different story . . .Ali Jones is dealing with a lot. The fallout from her ill-conceived plan to fake a pregnancy to gain new social media followers, an inbox filled with horrible messages, her ex is still ignoring her ... Oh, and she actually is pregnant. For real this time.But as Ali debates trying to salvage her online career as a desperate step to support her baby, Queen of the Influencers Shelly Devine discovers that her mysterious stalker seems to know a shocking amount about the life not shown in her glossy aspirational content - a life Shelly wants to keep hidden.As Ali and Shelly try to figure out how to live their lives online, they start to realise that the lines between fact and fiction are still blurry, even for them. And are they in danger of losing the people that matter most?Trade ReviewWhite's sharp-eyed take on modern life couldn't be more on target and fans of the equally readable Aisling series by Sarah Breen and Emer McLysaght will doubtless lap up White's mad world * Irish Independent *Good fun ... those aching for a bit of light humour and distraction these days might count White's novels as medicine * Irish Times *Those who loved Filter This won't be disappointed * Sunday Independent *

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Book Synopsis'A beautifully crafted book from a wonderful storyteller. It sings with humanity.' Sarah WinmanAUSTRALIAN INDIE BOOK AWARD WINNER 2020 BOOK OF THE YEAR & FICTION BOOK OF THE YEARSHORTLISTED FOR THE STELLA PRIZE 2020PRAGUE, 1938: Eva flies down the street. A man steps out suddenly.Eva runs into him, hits the pavement hard. His hat is in the gutter.His anger slaps Eva, but his hate will change everything,as war forces so many lives into small brown suitcases.PRAGUE, 1980: No one sees Ludek. A young boy can slip right underthe heavy blanket that covers this city - the fear cannot touch him.Ludek is free. And he sees everything. The world can do what it likes.The world can go to hell for all he cares because Babi is waitingfor him in the warm flat. She is his whole world.MELBOURNE, 1980: Mala Liska's grandma holds her hand as they climbthe stairs to their third floor flat. Inside, the smell of warm pipetobacco and homemade cakes. Here, Mana and Bill have made alife for themselves and their granddaughter. A life imbued withthe spirit of Prague and the loved ones left behind.Because there is still love. No matter what.Trade ReviewMeticulously observed and masterfully crafted * Books and Publishing *A beautifully crafted book from a wonderful storyteller. It sings with humanity. * Sarah Winman, author of Tin Man *Beautifully layered and complex * Canberra Times *Breathtaking, poignant, hauntingly beautiful * Rachel Joyce on When the Night Comes *If you only read one book this year, make sure it's this. * The Sunday Times on Past the Shallows *

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Book SynopsisThe superb novel from the bestselling author of Half A World Away and All the Lonely People.'A joyful celebration of life' - Heat'Filled with warmth, tenderness and character. It really made me think, too - I love that it encourages us to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. A gorgeous novel' - Beth O'Leary'A keenly observed and warm-hearted tale of how people cope with loss and keep their dreams alive against the odds . . . a delightful read' - Ruth HoganStill reeling from the sudden death of her mother, Jess is about to do the hardest thing she's ever done: empty her childhood home so that it can be sold.But when in the process Jess stumbles across the mysterious Alex, together they become custodians of a strange archive of letters, photographs, curios and collections known as The Museum of Ordinary People.As they begin to delve into the history of the objects in their care, Alex and Jess not only unravel heartbreaking stories that span generations and continents, but also unearth long buried secrets that lie much closer to home.Inspired by a box of mementos found abandoned in a skip following a house clearance, The Museum of Ordinary People is a thought-provoking and poignant story of memory, grief, loss and the things we leave behind.'This author's books just get better and better' Good Housekeeping'Mike Gayle is the king of touching, human stories' HeatTrade ReviewThe Museum of Ordinary People is a timely treasure of a read. Spilling over with Mike Gayle's trademark warmth and tenderness, it's so insightful and thought-provoking on loss and grief, as well as the meaning of possessions and how we might take a fresh look at the things we once took for granted. It's the kind of book you'll want to re-read as soon as you've finished it. Just beautiful -- Holly Miller, author of The Sight of YouMike has an uncanny ability to create characters that are immediately familiar and relatable and to draw the reader into their world, ever eager to follow where they lead. The Museum of Ordinary People is a keenly observed and warm-hearted tale of how people cope with loss and keep their dreams alive against the odds. It is a delightful read -- Ruth HoganOne of my favourite writers, and this is his best yet...a relatable and yet brilliantly original story - this is a novel I could recommend to so many people -- Clare MackintoshMike gets better every year and every book. He's becoming a real chronicler of our times -- Jenny ColganA new Mike Gayle novel is always a treat. The Museum of Ordinary People is filled with warmth, tenderness and character. It really made me think, too - I love that it encourages us to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. A gorgeous novel -- Beth O'LearyUplifting and poignant * My Weekly *A joyful celebration of life, it's also a study in grief, second chances, and what can happen when you truly believe in yourself. * Heat *This is a beautifully written read that's full of heart * Fabulous *A powerful read * Bella *This is a tale of loss and friendship by an author who has a way of making the ordinary things in life seem extraordinary * Candis *This will resonate with anyone who has lost someone they love * The Sunday Post *A real gem of a book * Yours *A poignant look at grief and the things we leave behind * Huffington Post *This thought-provoking, tender and brilliantly observed story shows Mike Gayle at his very best * Sunday Express, S Magazine *'A poignant novel about memory, loss and new beginnings.' * Woman Magazine *This novel is pure, unadulterated feel-good, and Gayle is a master puller of heartstrings. It radiates an unforced kind of goodwill, which makes up for some of the overly expository dialogue and unabashed sentimentality . . . Fans of uplifting-lit authors like Fredrik Backman will likely be suitably charmed * Kirkus *Moving and heartwarming, this is a story about love and loss and holding onto the memories thatmake us who we are. Fans of character-driven relationship fiction by Clare Pooley, RachelJoyce, and Freya Sampson will want to pick this one up * Booklist *

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Book SynopsisFrom the #1 internationally bestselling author of The Tenant and The Butterfly House, comes an unputdownable and darkly original new thriller featuring Detectives Jeppe Kørner and Anette Werner. A boy is missing. A web of lies will be uncovered... When fifteen-year-old Oscar Dreyer-Hoff disappears, it's assumed he's another teenage runaway - an overlooked middle child who will turn up within 24 hours. But as the hours, and then days, tick by and the family become more frantic, Detectives Jeppe Kørner and Anette Werner begin to dig deeper into Oscar's life. Who has been sending the family malicious notes? What secrets is Oscar's best friend keeping? And what's really going on down at the harbour? With every passing hour and little evidence, the odds of finding a missing person grow dimmer and dimmer in Kørner and Werner's toughest case yet. Combining pin-sharp storytelling and a rollercoaster investigation, The Harbour is an absorbing mystery thriller for fans of Jo Nesbo and Tana French.

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Book SynopsisA TLS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023'Marvellously unpredictable . . . by the end of the book you wish it was twice as long' (Daily Telegraph)'Beautifully translated . . . The perfect way into [Ferdinand von Schirach's] oeuvre' TLSHow does the legacy of a family past shape who we are?Ferdinand von Schirach is one of Germany's most eminent criminal defence lawyers and an internationally bestselling crime writer. He is also the grandson of Baldur von Schirach, leader of the Hitler Youth movement.In Coffee and Cigarettes, his most personal book, von Schirach confronts his family history, through autobiographical vignettes and short stories drawn from his life and career. From conversations with imprisoned clients, great writers and supreme court judges; meditations on art, film, writing and smoking; to reflections on Germany's heavy history, Coffee and Cigarettes is a portrait of the author, and our modern world, depicted in von Schirach's signature cool and incisive prose. Revealing, revelatory and thought-provoking, these essays confirm von Schirach as one of the most inimitable writers in Europe today.Trade ReviewVeering between the insightful and the oblique, some of these jottings sear themselves onto your mind instantly [. . .] one quickly develops a taste for von Schirach's unpredictable musings, a taste which has become such a full-blown addiction by the end of the book that you wish it was twice as long -- Jake Kerridge * Telegraph *Beautifully translated . . . the volume thrives on the tension between von Schirach's deceptively simple prose and his profoundly humane view of the ethical calamities of our age. Combining moving character studies with essayistic contemplations of the nature of justice, human dignity and our collective human frailty, von Schirach reflects both on our capacity for cruelty and on our ability to experience healing moments of connection * TLS *

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Book SynopsisBestselling sensation Nicola May is back with a brand new series!'Delightful and witty with a heroine you'll be rooting for . . . joyful escapism' Milly Johnson'Spirited, adventurous and full of heart!' Heidi SwainAlthough thirty-three-year-old Kara Moon loves her hometown of Hartmouth in Cornwall, she has always wondered if she should have followed her dream of going off to study floristry. But she couldn't bring herself to abandon her emotionally delicate single father, and has worked on Ferry Lane Market's flower stall ever since leaving school.When her good-for-nothing boyfriend cheats on her and steals her life savings, she finally dumps him and rents out her spare room as an Airbnb. Gossip flies around the town as Kara welcomes a series of foreign guests to her flat overlooking the estuary.Then an anonymous postcard arrives, along with a plane ticket to New York. And there begins the first of three trips of a lifetime, during which she will learn important lessons about herself, her life and what she wants from it - and perhaps find love along the way.*** Discover the rest of the series! Starry Skies in Ferry Lane Market and Rainbows End at Ferry Lane Market are available now, and A Holiday Romance in Ferry Lane Market is coming soon! ***More praise for Nicola May!'This book will twang your funny bone & your heartstrings' - Milly Johnson'A fun and flighty read' - Sun'A funny and fast-paced romp - thoroughly enjoyable!' WOMAN Magazine'One of those books that I can't stop thinking about way after I've read it! - Kim The Bookworm'This book is so addictive that you will literally lose 3 hours of your life, and you won't care!' - Cara's Book BoudoirReaders love Nicola May, too!'A FABULOUS must-read' - 5 STARS'An excellent book of friendship - with a little wickedness!' - 5 STARS'Good for the soul' - 5 STARS'I loved it and devoured it in a matter of days' - 5 STARS'A wonderful, feel-good novel with some grit thrown in' - 5 STARS'Marvellous, beautiful and heart-warming' - 5 STARS'Sea, sand and sex - a soppy delight' - 5 STARS'A truly lovely book' - 5 STARS'Fun and whimsy, plus a dog!' - 5 STARS'Nicola May is a brilliant, relevant writer for today, exposing today's issues with tenderness, and always demonstrating a warm, human, heartfelt response' - 5 STARSTrade ReviewPRAISE FOR WELCOME TO FERRY LANE MARKET:Delightful and witty with a heroine you'll be rooting for . . . joyful escapism - just what we all need . . . A warm, wonderful and witty treat! * Milly Johnson *Spirited, adventurous and full of heart! * Heidi Swain, Sunday Times bestselling author of Sleigh Rides and Silver Bells at the Christmas Fair *Emotional, heartwarming and great fun! * Julie Houston, author of A Village Affair *Full of heart, hope, friendship, family and laughter, and a plot with a mystery gagging to be solved. WELCOME TO FERRY LANE MARKET is a brilliant start to a wonderful new series. I absolutely adored it. * Kim Nash, author of Sunshine and Second Chances *My goodness me, what a read! A page-turning story full of love, family, and humour * Katie Ginger, author of Winter Wishes at Swallowtail Bay *I now want to go and live in Ferry Lane market! This book held me captive * Sue Moorcroft *Warm and wonderful. I fell in love with Ferry Lane Market and didn't want to leave. -- Alex BrownNicola May brings the sights, sounds and characters of Cornwall to life . . . Larger than life characters and a whole lot of seaside . . . Sweeter than a 99 ice cream * Mandy Baggot *A beautiful Cornish setting full of lively characters * Rachel Dove *This tale is full of sparkle and wit * Woman's Own *

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Book Two in bestselling sensation Nicola May's gorgeous new series - catch up with Book One, WELCOME TO FERRY LANE MARKET, now!'Full of heart, hope, friendship, family and laughter, and a plot with a mystery gagging to be solved' Kim Nash on Welcome to Ferry Lane MarketWhen Star Bligh got pregnant at the age of sixteen, she thought her life was over. Now thirty-three, mother to Skye and owner of the successful jewellery stall in Ferry Lane Market in Hartmouth, Cornwall, she wouldn't change a thing about it.Well, maybe one. A few months ago she fell hard for American visitor Jack, but then he left without even saying goodbye and ever since she has struggled to get him out of her head. Until the handsome, roguish Conor turns up and sweeps her off her feet. But then one day, Star is shocked to bump into Jack. He's back in Hartmouth to tell her why he left - but is she ready to listen? As things get more complicated with her love life, another revelation threatens to turn the lovely world she has built for her and Skye upside down. But could this be the one thing that will make it complete?Praise for Nicola May!'This book will twang your funny bone & your heartstrings' - Milly Johnson'A fun and flighty read' - Sun'A funny and fast-paced romp - thoroughly enjoyable!' WOMAN Magazine'One of those books that I can't stop thinking about way after I've read it! - Kim The Bookworm'This book is so addictive that you will literally lose 3 hours of your life, and you won't care!' - Cara's Book BoudoirReaders love Nicola May, too!'A FABULOUS must-read' - 5 STARS'An excellent book of friendship - with a little wickedness!' - 5 STARS'Good for the soul' - 5 STARS'I loved it and devoured it in a matter of days' - 5 STARS'A wonderful, feel-good novel with some grit thrown in' - 5 STARS'Marvellous, beautiful and heart-warming' - 5 STARS'Sea, sand and sex - a soppy delight' - 5 STARS'A truly lovely book' - 5 STARS'Fun and whimsy, plus a dog!' - 5 STARS

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Book SynopsisThe wedding is tomorrow. If they can only get through today...Long-time couple Megan Givens and Tom Prescott are preparing for what should be the happiest weekend of their lives. But their plans for a perfect wedding are ruined when a huge fight causes them to call it all off on the night of their rehearsal dinner.Megan and Tom think the worst is over - until they wake up the next morning and find themselves stuck in a time loop. Somehow they are being forced to relive the worst day of their lives - with its painful secrets, age-old grievances, and family dramas - again and again. We've all had regrets and what ifs; The Rehearsals imagines what you might do with the chance to finally get it right.Trade ReviewRomantic escapism with an irresistible Groundhog Day twist. You will be charmed by Megan and Tom as they relive the worst day of their lives . . . until they get it right. Annette Christie has written a fun, yet thought-provoking, rom-com * Elin Hilderbrand *A funny, clever, enchanting story about finding our way back to ourselves and to those we truly love. It had me spellbound from the first page . . . The Rehearsals is refreshingly honest about the ups and downs of long-term relationships, whether romantic or family, handling its themes with wit and zest. Terrific fun from beginning to end * Sarah Haywood *A fabulously fun read * Prima *A wonderful romantic story about do-overs, second chances, and finding your happily ever after. In the spirit of the story, no sooner had I finished this book than I wanted to read it again -- Dani AtkinsAn enchanting and compelling look at life's what-ifs. Christie writes with honesty, heart, and a great deal of charm -- Helen Hoang, bestselling author of The Kiss QuotientClever, funny and relatable with wonderful characters. I finished it with a lump in my throat -- Cressida McLaughlinUtterly captivating, charming, and brilliant. With a compelling plot and relatable characters, The Rehearsals explores the raw emotions behind the question of what if and the true meaning of second chances -- Sonia Hartl, author of Heartbreak for Hire, Not Your #LoveStory, and Have a Little Faith in MeA compelling, clever look at the hard work of growing up in our relationships - with friends, family, lovers, and ourselves - woven through with humour and tremendous heart -- Rosie Danan, author of The RoommateA compelling story about the power of second chances and forgiveness that's sure to spark conversation. * Kirkus *Delightful . . . This charming story delivers equal amounts of honesty and hope and is bound to win the hearts of rom-com fans * Publishers Weekly *Fans of Christina Lauren and Meg Cabot will savor this charming relationship comedy * Booklist *A perfect beach book * Teleadvisor *A clever concept and a brilliant read * Fabulous *This is light-hearted and funny while still covering serious topics in a way that makes you not want to put the book down * Press Association *This delightful romantic comedy delivers an engaging time-loop of possibilities * Love Reading *It's difficult to see this as a debut as it's confidently written, funny and warm, and perceptive of relationships and how we act to please others * Belfast Telegraph *Light hearted and funny while still covering serious topics in a way that makes you not want to put the book down * My London *Wonderfully fun and touching novel * Woman *

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Book SynopsisKatharine Lawrence remembers the vicious burglars who shot her best friend, the terror she felt the night she nearly died.But there are things she doesn't remember at all. Like her lover's voice on the phone. Like her clothes in her luxurious Washington townhouse. Like the face in her mirror. Everything in her life feels utterly wrong, as if the trauma has given her some kind of amnesia.What she does know is that she is the special assistant to the head of the CIA, and she's lucky to be alive. She also knows that she can trust no one.Because the killers are back.'Top-notch ... Suspense mixed with heart-pounding sensual tension' Kirkus ReviewTrade ReviewA top-notch romantic suspense writer. * Booklist *One of the most popular voices in women's fiction. * Newsweek *Top-notch ... Suspense mixed with heart-pounding sensual tension. * Kirkus Reviews *

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Book SynopsisTHREE GENERATIONS. TWO CHICKEN SHACKS. ONE RECIPE FOR DISASTER.A REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK'A charming, hilarious, feel-good story about the kind of bonds and rivalries only sisters can share'Reese WitherspoonIn tiny Merinac, Kansas, Chicken Mimi's and Chicken Frannie's have spent a century vying to serve up the best fried chicken in the state - and the legendary feud between their respective owners, the Moores and the Pogociellos, has lasted just as long. No one feels the impact more than thirty-five-year-old widow Amanda Moore, who grew up working for her mom at Mimi's before scandalously marrying Frank Pogociello and changing sides to work at Frannie's. Tired of being caught in the middle, Amanda sends an SOS to Food Wars, the reality TV restaurant competition that promises $100,000 to the winner. But in doing so, she launches both families out of the frying pan and directly into the fire.The last thing Brooklyn-based organisational guru Mae Moore, Amanda's sister, wants is to go home to Kansas. But when her career implodes, Food Wars becomes her chance to step back into the limelight. Mae is certain she can make the fading Mimi's look good - even if that pits her against Amanda and Frannie's. With a greedy producer stoking the flames, their friendly rivalry quickly turns into a game of chicken. Yet when family secrets become public knowledge, the sisters must choose: will they fight with each other, or for their heritage? After all, all's fair in love, and war, and chicken . . .'Three generations, two chicken shacks, and some big family secrets revealed.... The December Reese's Book Club pick, The Chicken Sisters by KJ Dell'Antonia is a charming, hilarious, feel-good story about the kind of bonds and rivalries only sisters can share. Also, a great present for your sister!' Reese Witherspoon'It's like the comfort food of novels: warm, memorable and wholly original. I loved it' Laura Zigman, author of SEPARATION ANXIETYTrade ReviewNobody knows the humour and pathos of complicated family relationships better than K.J. Dell'Antonia, which is why this story about sisters and fried chicken and reality TV is such a satisfying read. It's like the comfort-food of novels: warm, memorable, and wholly original. I loved it * Laura Zigman, author of SEPARATION ANXIETY *Dell'Antonia writes convincingly and sympathetically about complicated family relationships, giving Mae and Amanda each relatable flaws. The Food Wars scenes are a fun peek behind the curtain of the reality TV world, and the small-town warmth of Merinac is comfortingly quirky. A charming and satisfying story about family bonds that will make meat eaters everywhere crave fried chicken. * Kirkus *A really funny, touching, sweet book... if you have family dynamics that remind you of this you're probably going to love this book. A charming, hilarious, feel-good story about the kind of bonds & rivalries only sisters can share. * Reese Witherspoon *

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Book Synopsis'Cristina Alger's debut novel offers a fresh and modern glimpse into New York's high society. I was hooked from page one' Lauren Weisberger, author of The Devil Wears PradaFrom the author of The Banker's Wife and Girls Like Us comes an explosive drama about family, greed and high society scandal.The Darlings of New York are untouchable. But no one is safe from a scandal this big.When Carter Darling's business partner commits suicide, it triggers a huge financial investigation. The allegations are serious. The danger of it exposing their private lives is equally threatening. In times of crisis, the Darlings have always stuck together. But with the stakes so high, how long will their loyalty last?Praise for The Darlings:'Forget Gossip Girl: If you really want a peek into the scandalous lives of New York City's elite upper class, Alger's debut novel . . . gets you pretty close' Entertainment Weekly'A suspenseful, twisty story' Wall Street Journal'Penned by a former banker, this is a dishy yet thoughtful portrait of greed gone too far . . . A page-turner' Good HousekeepingTrade ReviewTwo parts Too Big to Fail, one part The Devil Wears Prada, Alger's debut is taut and compelling. * Publishers Weekly *Fits somewhere between the novels of Dominick Dunne . . . and Tom Wolfe's The Bonfire of the Vanities * Library Journal *For those who have only gazed up at the palatial residences of Manhattan, this is a glimpse from the penthouse down -- Tom Rachman, New York Times bestselling authorCristina Alger is so good, you just know she's an inside trader - as intimately familiar with the inner workings of Wall Street investment banks as she is with haute Manhattan social life. She's also a gifted storyteller. The Darlings is an utterly compelling novel, as knowing about family as it is about money and social status -- Jay McInerney, New York Times bestselling author

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Book SynopsisWhen you can't get out, let kindness in.In a non-descript building in a gentrifying corner of London, Penny is doing daily battle with her mind. She is convinced that the world beyond her door is too dangerous for her, though her heart knows it isn't. Penny's neighbour, Carla, an American expat and single mother of two teens, has lived in a coercive relationship for many years, too worn down by her controlling husband to escape her situation. Mable, Penny's upstairs neighbour, an elderly Jamaican pensioner and devout Jehovah's Witness, has sacrificed everything for her faith, including her relationship with her family. And Woman, the housekeeper and nanny on the second floor, has been trafficked. When she is not cleaning and cooking, she works in the laundrette the landlord owns on the ground floor, a hidden slave in full view of the public. Through grocery deliveries, glimpses through windows, and overheard conversations in the stairwell, the women come to know each other. Their small acts of compassion help them each find a way to mend the broken paths in their lives.Trade ReviewA powerful and compassionately told story of loss, grief, love and motherhood * Daily Mail, on When I Ran Away *Incredibly raw and unflinching . . . it will stop you in your tracks * Heat, on When I Ran Away *

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Book Synopsis'The perfect holiday read' Irish ExaminerSummer has arrived in Derrybeggs and the biggest event of the year, the annual film festival, is less than a month away. But as the days pass, it becomes clear that nothing will go as planned...Dot came to the seaside town for a fresh start and so far her B&B is proving popular. But fitting in isn't quite as easy. Dot thought joining the troubled festival committee would help, but she's really starting to wonder if moving to Derrybeggs was a mistake.Marine biologist Merry spends her days working at her parents' café and trying not to think about the happiness she could have had. Everyone whispers about the tragic accident that destroyed her dream life in Florida. But Merry is the only one who knows the truth.When an intriguing American visitor arrives at the café with no memory of who he is or why he's in Derrybeggs, Dot and Merry set aside their own problems and rally the community to help him find his way home. As the search gets underway and the countdown to the festival begins in earnest, everyone is about to discover what it really means to belong.

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Book Synopsis'ANDREW MILLER'S WRITING IS A SOURCE OF WONDER AND DELIGHT' Hilary Mantel 'ONE OF OUR MOST SKILFUL CHRONICLERS OF THE HUMAN HEART AND MIND' Sunday Times'Sublime' Independent 'Masterful' Sunday Times 'Beautiful' Spectator A profound and tender tale of guilt, the search for atonement and the hard, uncertain work of loving from the critically acclaimed author of PureAn ex-soldier and recovering alcoholic living quietly in Somerset, Stephen Rose has just begun to form a bond with Maggie, the daughter he barely knows, when he receives a summons - to an inquiry in Belfast about an incident during the Troubles, which he hoped he had long outdistanced. Now, to testify about it could wreck his fragile relationship with Maggie. And if he loses her, he loses everything. He decides instead to write her an account of his life - a confession, a defence, a love letter. Also a means of buying time. But as time runs out, the day comes when he must face again what happened in that distant summer of 1982. PRAISE FOR ANDREW MILLER 'Unique, visionary, a master at unmasking humanity' Sarah Hall 'A writer of very rare and outstanding gifts' Independent on Sunday 'A highly intelligent writer, both exciting and contemplative' The Times 'A wonderful storyteller' SpectatorTrade ReviewThe theme is handled in a way that is bolder and more exquisitely menacing than anything he's done before . . . It's all real, and all fictional, gorgeously so. You read what might have been a perfectly commonplace story of failure and redemption with your pulse racing, all your senses awake . . . restrained, beautifully written -- Elizabeth Lowry * Guardian *I spent the first half of The Slowworm's Song in a sort of ecstasy, marvelling at Miller's masterful characterisation; his confident evocation of army life and sensitive depiction of the Troubles; the nuanced exploration of alcoholism; the clean, well-made prose style studded with moments of descriptive beauty . . . Stephen is an unforgettable character, and Miller has pulled off the miraculous feat of sketching a full human life in a few hundred pages -- Claire Lowdon * Sunday Times *A beautiful, lambent, timely novel that admits our worst capacities while insisting on accountability and our ability to improve. Andrew Miller is among those brave male writers steering a progressive course. Yet he remains, as ever, unique, visionary, a master at unmasking humanity * Sarah Hall *Gorgeously written . . . it approaches the Troubles from a unique angle . . . Since his debut, Ingenious Pain, Miller has shown a knack for historical immersion, and he continues to excel in it here -- Ethan Croft * Literary Review *The focused interiority of Stephen's narration, together with the slowburning fuse of a plot, make for a quiet intensity that stretches the nerves . . . this empathic and artful novel is about both the mysteries we are to ourselves, and the power of speech -- Stephanie Cross * Daily Mail *A painful yet beautiful novel . . . Miller is a wonderful storyteller, as comfortable writing about the Napoleonic wars as the Troubles . . . In this novel, Stephen's reckoning may be extreme but his message is universal -- Susie Mesure * Spectator *The multiple award-winning author of Pure returns with a tender, compelling and exquisitely written novel of extraordinary power . . . Exploring a brutal chapter in the unhappy and sometimes shameful history of Northern Ireland, this wonderful novel is also a story of atonement and redemption -- Edward Argyle * Daily Express *Miller tackles big themes and weaves a profound and poignant tale about shame, trauma and the possibility of redemption -- Lucy Popescu, Summer Reading * Tablet *Andrew Miller's gentle, beautifully crafted sentences belie the often brutal truths behind the narrative. The image of the slowworm, silent and sinister, finding its way into the precious earth, is set against a song of light and life that won't be silenced -- Victoria Barry * Scotsman *Andrew Miller is one of our finest writers. Few can match his sensitivity of touch, eye for telling detail and acute feel for setting . . . The passages describing Rose's military duty are impeccably researched and viscerally real -- Peter Carty * i *The sections detailing Stephen's army life, and particularly those covering his tour of duty in Belfast, are excellent: immersive in their detail and atmosphere . . . [Miller] has sufficient decorum, talent and sensitivity to do justice to his delicate subject matter -- Rob Doyle * Observer *His evocation of squaddie life rings absolutely true . . . It's deeply moving to see how this self-torturing individual gradually learns that he's surrounded by helpers, often in the unlikeliest of guises, while tiny flowers of grace spring up in stony places -- Suzi Feay * Tablet *There is no easy resolution, and that is why The Slowworm's Song . . . is so affecting. It is about truth, objective or otherwise, and about the attempts of flawed human beings to live with it -- Nicholas Clee * Times Literary Supplement *A poignant and profound tale of a man seeking atonement -- Joanne Finney * Good Housekeeping *A stunning work of fiction, a beautifully written tale of conflict and family fracture . . . The Slowworm's Song is a sublime reminder of how a great novel can have such a deep impact -- Martin Chilton * Independent *Moving and compassionate * Reader's Digest *It's difficult not to be moved by Stephen's heartfelt words as he comes face to face with what happened in that 1982 summer * Belfast Telegraph *It reads truer than memoir . . . A state-of-the-nation novel, in elegiac prose * New York Times Book Review *Expertly paced . . . as taut as a thriller . . . Miller, with his acute eye for detail and his practiced sense of timing, describes these Belfast streets and this soldier's experience so plainly and yet so evocatively that both become new again * Wall Street Journal *

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Book SynopsisNew York Times bestselling authors Roshani Chokshi, Evelyn Skye, and Sandhya Menon craft a spellbinding novel about discovering the magic of true love on one fateful, magical night.The town of Moon Ridge was founded 400 years ago and everyone born and raised there knows the legend of the young woman who perished at the stroke of twelve that very same night, losing the life she was set to embark on with her dearest love. Every century since, one day a year, the Lady of Moon Ridge descends from the stars to walk among the townsfolk, conjuring an aura upon those willing to follow their hearts' desires."To summon joy and love in another's soulFor a connection that makes two people wholeFor laughter and a smile that one can never missSealed before midnight with a truehearted kiss."This year at Moon Ridge High, a group of friends known as The Coven will weave art, science, and magic during a masquerade ball unlike any other. Onny, True, and Ash believe everything is in alignment to bring them the affection, acceptance, and healing that can only come from romance?with a little help from Onny's grandmother's love potion.But nothing is as simple as it first seems. And as midnight approaches, The Coven learn that it will take more than a spell to recognize those who offer their love and to embrace all the magic that follows.

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Book Synopsis'One of the smartest writers of popular fiction around' Irish IndependentNumber 24 Ulysses Crescent is an elegant three-storey mansion overlooking the beautiful Dublin Bay. Converted into luxurious seaview apartments, it's now home to a close-knit group of tenants.There's former style icon Evelyn; enigmatic sculptor Mike; hopeless romantic and café-owner Nessa; and Bruce and Stella, recently separated and now co-parenting their toddler from separate flats.Then there's Morah, the caretaker, who keeps a watchful eye on everyone - especially, for reasons only known to herself, the irrepressible Evelyn.When Evelyn's granddaughter Truth, a high-flying London lawyer, arrives for the summer, the residents are eager to get to know her - some more than others. But as the summer progresses, it turns out that Truth is hiding a secret and she's not the only one . . .

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Book SynopsisTHROUGH THE DARK TIMES, THEY WILL HELP YOU FIND THE LIGHT . . .***'Dazzling, chilling, moving and original . . . I loved it' CHRIS WHITAKER'A captivating novel of love and loss and the lengths we will go to start again' SOPHIE WARD'A beautifully crafted mystery that asks if we ever truly get a second chance' CATRIONA SILVEY'Unique and utterly unforgettable' LOUISE BEECH'Full of mystery and tension, with clever twists and reveals, all building to a surprising yet satisfying ending' PHILIPPA EASTWelcome to Atlas. What would you do for a second chance?Summer 1982. Deep in the Adirondack Mountains, over three hundred people live off-grid in a secret community. Atlas is a refuge for broken souls who long for a different life. Founded by the enigmatic Sol, the group now prepares for their final ceremony: the opening of the Golden Door. They believe they will cross to another world, to a new life where their past decisions never ended in tragedy.James Morrow is a rookie New York City reporter intent on making his name with an exposé of the crazy cult in the woods. He secures an invitation to the camp on the condition he tell the world of its wonders, but James is a sceptic. He's sure there must be more to the mysterious leader and his endgame than his followers have signed up for.James soon finds there is a darker side to the cult beyond the prayers and yellow robes. A group of children are treated like gods, there are iron strips embedded in the earth, and nobody talks about what's behind the gates of Sol's private sanctuary. As James learns the stories of the members and how they came to be there, he begins to understand the desperate nature of their beliefs - a desperation he knows all too well.As the final ceremony draws near, James must ask himself: what will it cost them to reach this other life? And is that a price he's willing to pay?WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:'I would give this book ten stars if I could . . . Incredibly clever . . . Heartbreakingly perfect''This was an incredible read . . . I loved it''Beth Lewis never fails to grab my attention and hold it for every single bit of every single page of her books. This one was no different''A really interesting, gripping read'Trade ReviewA cult novel with a difference . . . An intriguing mystery with a wholly unexpected ending, and a moving exploration of loss, trauma, belief and unintended consequences. -- GuardianLewis does an excellent job of ratcheting up the tension: her portrayal of the cult gradually evolves from comic to sinister. -- Daily TelegraphCompelling and chilling -- Pick of the Week * Sun *If you loved Stranger Things, read: Children of the Sun * Stylist *Gripping * Heat *One of the hottest holiday reads for cool seasonal nights * Belfast Telegraph *Dazzling * Crime Monthly *Dazzling, chilling, moving and original. CHILDREN OF THE SUN defies genre in a way that is both fresh, and now to be expected from the brilliant Beth Lewis. I loved it -- Chris WhitakerBeth Lewis excels at turning her characters' best intentions into a destructive force that ultimately threatens their very lives. Vividly painted and laced with Americana, this haunting, unpredictable story leaves the reader racing through the pages to find the truth. A riveting, eerie and impossibly captivating novel -- Inga VesperA captivating depiction of love and loss and the lengths we will go to start again -- Sophie WardA beautifully crafted mystery that asks if we ever truly get a second chance, CHILDREN OF THE SUN plays brilliantly with the reader's assumptions, building in atmosphere and emotion towards an ending that changes everything -- Catriona SilveyChildren of the Sun is that rare thing - an utterly propulsive, heart-pounding, pacy narrative, with the kind of depth and resonance that makes it linger in the mind long after you've finished reading . . . A beautifully wrought and haunting tale. -- Cailean SteedA really original and captivating book, with atmospheric writing that immediately drew me in. Full of mystery and tension, with clever twists and reveals, all building to a surprising yet satisfying ending -- Philippa EastA brilliant, clever and addictive story with characters you really root for. I couldn't put it down. -- Carly ReagonBeautifully written, unique, and utterly unforgettable -- Louise BeechA literary thriller with a speculative twist, complex and finely crafted * Image Magazine *Clever and chilling. Engaging characters and setting. And a scary cult. What more could you ask for? -- Michael J Malone

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Book SynopsisPreviously published at The OctopusWe believed he had died from an overdose. There was no reason to suspect otherwise . . .When Elspeth is invited to her ex-husband Richard's fiftieth birthday party, she's expecting a star-studded event for the famous British film director, full of A-listers and hangers-on. But she arrives to find just seven other carefully selected guests in attendance.A surreal evening ensues, orchestrated by the charming yet manipulative host, culminating in what will surely become a night to remember . . .Because by morning, Richard will be dead, and every guest a suspect.Praise for The Ninth Guest:'Very intriguing' Heat, Book of the Week'Tess Little is a modern Agatha Christie, setting up her nine suspects, locking them in a sprawling Los Angeles mansion, and knocking them down one by one' Tanen Jones, author of The Better Liar'A unique locked-room mystery . . . Perfect for fans of Lucy Foley' Wendy Walker, bestselling author of Don't Look for MeTrade ReviewDark, compelling Hollywood intrigue and a diverse cast of well-drawn characters make The Ninth Guest a unique locked-room mystery that readers will simply devour! It's perfect for fans of Lucy Foley -- Wendy Walker, bestselling author of DON'T LOOK FOR METess Little is a modern Agatha Christie, setting up her nine suspects, locking them in a sprawling Los Angeles mansion, and knocking them down one by one over the course of a decadent, stomach-turning dinner party. The Ninth Guest kept me guessing until the very last -- Tanen Jones, author of THE BETTER LIARWith a knowing satirical eye, Tess Little skillfully weaves a page-turner full of satisfying twists and turns -- Kyle McCarthy, author of EVERYONE KNOWS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOUWith skewering intensity and taut, unsettling prose, Tess Little plunges us into the kaleidoscopic glamour of Hollywood, where the eccentric birthday party of a brilliant, sadistic director forces the eruption of long-buried pain. Timely, smart and satisfying -- Paula McLain, bestselling author of THE PARIS WIFEElspeth's emotional journey both grips and gratifies. Little is a writer to watch * Publisher's Weekly *A novel you will easily devour in just a few sittings, it's unexpected and immensely gripping, leaving you with lots to consider. * Selcouth *

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Book Synopsis'Epic . . . Rambunctious . . . Highly entertaining' New York Times'All we do, mija, is love. Love is the answer. Nothing stops it. Not borders. Not death.'In his final days, beloved and ailing patriarch Miguel Angel de La Cruz, affectionately called Big Angel, has summoned his entire clan for one last legendary birthday party. But as the party approaches, his mother, nearly one hundred, dies, transforming the weekend into a farewell doubleheader. Among the guests is Big Angel's half brother, known as Little Angel, who must reckon with the truth that although he shares a father with his siblings, he has not, as a half gringo, shared a life.Across two bittersweet days in their San Diego neighbourhood, the revellers mingle among the palm trees and cacti, celebrating the lives of Big Angel and his mother, and recounting the many inspiring tales that have passed into family lore, the acts both ordinary and heroic that brought these citizens to a fraught and sublime country and allowed them to flourish in the land they have come to call home.Teeming with brilliance and humor, authentic at every turn, The House of Broken Angels is Luis Alberto Urrea at his best, and cements his reputation as a storyteller of the first rank.Trade ReviewEpic . . . Rambunctious . . . Highly entertaining - New York TimesA raucous, moving, and necessary book . . . There's deep heart and tenderness in this novel - San Francisco ChronicleAn immensely charming and moving tale . . . a big, epic story about how hard it is to love with all of your heart - Boston GlobeHumane and often laugh-out-loud hilarious - O, The Oprah Magazine

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Book Synopsis'Nobody's ever really given us such a revealing look at New York's Dominican population before . . . Cruz, in this determinedly real yet often magical novel, offers canny insights into family life' LA TimesAt eighteen, Soledad couldn't get away fast enough from her contentious family with their endless tragedies and petty fights. Two years later, she's an art student at Cooper Union with a gallery job and a hip East Village walk-up. But when Tía Gorda calls with the news that Soledad's mother has lapsed into an emotional coma, she insists that Soledad's return is the only cure. Fighting the memories of open hydrants, leering men, and slick-skinned teen girls with raunchy mouths and snapping gum, Soledad moves home to West 164th Street. As she tries to tame her cousin Flaca's raucous behaviour and to resist falling for Richie - a soulful, intense man from the neighbourhood - she also faces the greatest challenge of her life: confronting the ghosts from her mother's past and salvaging their damaged relationship.Evocative and wise, Soledad is a wondrous story of culture and chaos, family and integrity, myth and mysticism, from a Latina literary light.Trade ReviewA vivid, breathing cityscape teeming with raw beauty, danger, and magic * San Francisco Chronicle *Nobody's ever really given us such a revealing look at New York's Dominican population before . . . Cruz, in this determinedly real yet often magical novel, offers canny insights into family life * LA Times *Tinted with the magical realism of Gabriel García Márquez, Cruz's first novel is that of man and woman, selective amnesia and persistent memories, redemption and survival * Boston Globe *

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Book SynopsisEsperanza risked her life fleeing the Dominican Republic for the glittering dream she saw on television but years later she is still stuck in a cramped tenement with her husband, Santo, and their two children, Bobby and Dallas. She works as a home help and, at night, hides unopened bills from the credit card company where Santo won't find them when he returns from driving his minicab. When Santo's mother dies and his father, Don Chan, comes to Nueva York to live out his twilight years with the Colóns, nothing will ever be the same. Don Chan remembers fighting together with Santo in the revolution against Trujillo's cruel regime, the promise of who his son might have been, had he not fallen under Esperanza's spell. Let it Rain Coffee is a sweeping novel about love, loss, family, and the elusive nature of memory and desire.Trade ReviewA stunning sweep of history, memory, and fantasy that demonstrates a talent unmatched by any other young writer * El Paso Times *A writer of grace and true grit, an uncommon and laudable combination of gifts * St Louis Dispatch *

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Book SynopsisLonglisted for the Center for Fiction's 2021 First Novel Prize'A striking first novel . . . unusual and surprisingly witty' Sunday Times Culture'Inspired by a real man, this modern-day Call of the Wild is funny, moving and ceaselessly compelling' People MagazineIn 1916, Sven Ormson leaves Stockholm to seek adventure in Svalbard, an Arctic archipelago where darkness reigns four months of the year, and where he might witness the splendour of the Northern Lights one night or be attacked by a polar bear the next. After a devastating accident while digging for coal, Sven heads north again and ends up on an uninhabited fjord living in a hut he builds, alone except for the company of a loyal dog, testing himself against the elements. Years into his routine isolation, the arrival of an unlikely visitor sparks a chain of events that brings Sven into a family of fellow outsiders and determines the course of the rest of his life. Inspired by a real person and written with wry humour, in prose as beautiful as the stark landscape it evokes, The Memoirs of Stockholm Sven is a testament to the strength of human bonds, reminding us that even in the most inhospitable conditions, we are not beyond the reach of love.Trade ReviewA striking first novel . . . an unusual, surprisingly witty tale, with a memorable central character * Sunday Times Culture *Picaresque, gentle and slyly humorous; the glacial beauty of the northern landscape is the backdrop to arresting horrors, concealed passions, and a lifetime of kindnesses - all superbly rendered by Miller: a joy to read * Oisin Fagan, author of Nobber *A kind of Odyssey, complete with dogs worthy of Argos and a few precious human companions, this spare and unusual novel plumbs the dark side of polar narratives * Andrea Barrett, National Book Award–winning author of The Voyage of the Narwhal and Ship Fever *Both a polar adventure and a consideration of what makes our lives worth living * Caitlin Horrocks, author of The Vexations *The magic of The Memoirs of Stockholm Sven is in its defiance of dark expectations . . . some of the most convincing portrayals I've seen of human beings creating connection and kindnesses despite their brutal circumstances and unhealed wounds * David James Duncan, author of the national bestsellers The River Why and The Brothers K *In attempting to inhabit the uninhabitable, one man shows us that no place is inhospitable to the human heart, and in delivering this searing portrait, Nathaniel Ian Miller ascends to the firmament of today's most exciting young novelists * Adam Johnson, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Orphan Master’s Son *This novel's hard-won wisdom, droll humor, and offhanded insights about human nature will pierce you to the core * Christina Baker Kline, New York Times bestselling author of Orphan Train and The Exiles *Miller's prose is lit by sparks of Sven's somber humor and descriptive elegance . . . Miller's characterization is exceptional and thoroughly engaging . . . vividly portrayed * Booklist, starred review *Captivating ... Miller offers a marvelously detailed look at a way of life and a profession practiced in an extreme environment, and though purportedly based on a historical figure, the character's colorfully rendered experiences are the stuff of powerful dramatic fiction * Publishers Weekly, starred review *Readers will love the beauty and depth of his story... A Swedish trapper relates his unique life with insights about friendship, hardship, and solitude * Kirkus, starred review *Transporting and wholly original . . . Inspired by a real man, this modern-day Call of the Wild is funny, moving and ceaselessly compelling * People Magazine *

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Book Synopsis*** THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER ***'A brilliant historical crime read' Bella'This thrilling and twisty crime novel is perfect for fans of Martina Cole' My Weekly'A rollercoaster of crime, revenge and murder' The SunBEHIND EVERY STRONG WOMAN IS AN EPIC STORY...In the early years of the last century, a desperate young girl changes her name and flees the confines of her brutal, dominating gangland family in London. Now calling herself 'Diamond Dupree', she goes to Paris to become an artist's model but the world there is different to what she had supposed it would be and she soon falls on hard times. When she manages to escape at the end of the First World War, she leaves behind her a mystery - and a dead man.Back home in London, she reluctantly re-joins the Soho family 'firm' she'd once been glad to leave behind. Having grown tougher during her time in Paris, she soon becomes a force to be reckoned with, a feared and respected gangland queen. But then she meets Richard Beaumont, the youngest son of a wealthy aristocratic family, and sparks fly. But can she escape the long arm of the law and the hangman's noose, when the crimes of her past finally catch up with her?For fans of Martina Cole and Kimberley Chambers, as well as viewers of Peaky Blinders, this is historical crime fiction at its most compelling.'No one delves into the underworld like Keane!' Woman's Weekly'A gritty and enlightening read' Yours'Authentically gritty' Crime MonthlyTrade ReviewA brilliant historical crime read * Bella *An epic drama starring an unforgettable heroine. Keane...has a wicked eye for the ruthless, fiercely factional criminal underworld and her books never fail to pack a powerful punch... Every story that Keane writes transports her readers into the heart of a terrifying but addictive underworld, and into the lives of people of every shade... And this cracking page-turner is certainly packed with Keane's trademark cast of larger-than-life characters - each superbly fleshed out and each inhabiting a world so palpably real that we can feel the menace... Brimming with drama, suspense, cruelty and the kind of gobsmacking violence that has made Keane one of the most powerful writers in contemporary crime fiction, this is full-on, eye-watering (of every kind!) entertainment from start to finish * Lancashire Evening Post *This thrilling and twisty crime novel is perfect for fans of Martina Cole * My Weekly *Mills & Boon meets Peaky Blinders in a mix of heaving bosoms and cut-throat razors * The Sun *A gritty and enlightening read * Yours *No one delves into the underworld like Keane! * Woman's Weekly *Authentically gritty * Crime Monthly *

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Book Synopsis*** THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER ***'A brilliant historical crime read' Bella'This thrilling and twisty crime novel is perfect for fans of Martina Cole' My Weekly'A rollercoaster of crime, revenge and murder' The SunBEHIND EVERY STRONG WOMAN IS AN EPIC STORY...In the early years of the last century, a desperate young girl changes her name and flees the confines of her brutal, dominating gangland family in London. Now calling herself 'Diamond Dupree', she goes to Paris to become an artist's model but the world there is different to what she had supposed it would be and she soon falls on hard times. When she manages to escape at the end of the First World War, she leaves behind her a mystery - and a dead man.Back home in London, she reluctantly re-joins the Soho family 'firm' she'd once been glad to leave behind. Having grown tougher during her time in Paris, she soon becomes a force to be reckoned with, a feared and respected gangland queen. But then she meets Richard Beaumont, the youngest son of a wealthy aristocratic family, and sparks fly. But can she escape the long arm of the law and the hangman's noose, when the crimes of her past finally catch up with her?For fans of Martina Cole and Kimberley Chambers, as well as viewers of Peaky Blinders, this is historical crime fiction at its most compelling.'No one delves into the underworld like Keane!' Woman's Weekly'A gritty and enlightening read' Yours'Authentically gritty' Crime MonthlyTrade ReviewA brilliant historical crime read * Bella *An epic drama starring an unforgettable heroine. Keane...has a wicked eye for the ruthless, fiercely factional criminal underworld and her books never fail to pack a powerful punch... Every story that Keane writes transports her readers into the heart of a terrifying but addictive underworld, and into the lives of people of every shade... And this cracking page-turner is certainly packed with Keane's trademark cast of larger-than-life characters - each superbly fleshed out and each inhabiting a world so palpably real that we can feel the menace... Brimming with drama, suspense, cruelty and the kind of gobsmacking violence that has made Keane one of the most powerful writers in contemporary crime fiction, this is full-on, eye-watering (of every kind!) entertainment from start to finish * Lancashire Evening Post *This thrilling and twisty crime novel is perfect for fans of Martina Cole * My Weekly *Mills & Boon meets Peaky Blinders in a mix of heaving bosoms and cut-throat razors * The Sun *A gritty and enlightening read * Yours *No one delves into the underworld like Keane! * Woman's Weekly *Authentically gritty * Crime Monthly *

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Book SynopsisTHE CARTER WOMEN DON'T FOLLOW THE RULES: THEY MAKE THEM.The brilliant new gangland thriller from the Sunday Times bestselling author of DIAMOND.Gangster Max Carter and his ex-wife Annie Carter are leading separate lives in separate countries: past hurts and broken promises cannot be resolved. But then a summons to Majorca and a tragic death makes Max question all that has happened to him over many years.He had two brothers - both are now dead. His closest friend has been found hanging from a London bridge. As the police wrestle with a seemingly unsolvable case, Max is forced to revisit his painful past to find answers to a mystery that seems to make no sense at all. Who is targeting his family and why?Annie Carter is at a crossroads in life. She has a luxurious lifestyle but no one to share it with, and Max clearly thinks she is in danger too. Her daughter, Layla, has left her mafia lover Alberto Barolli and is back in London, stumbling into the police investigation and making waves. You should never go back, so the old saying goes. But then, the Carter women don't follow the rules, they make them.And when the truth of what's been happening is finally revealed, will the Carter family stand together - or will it finish them for good?'We love a gangland thriller - and no one writes them better than Jessie Keane' CLOSER'If you enjoy gangster flicks such as Legend you'll love Never Go Back' YOURS* PRE-ORDER JESSIE'S NEXT NOVEL, DEAD HEAT, NOW! *

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Book Synopsis***** 'I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!' Amazon reviewer***** 'Outrageously funny!' Amazon reviewer***** 'Extremely touching' Amazon reviewer***** 'An absolute delight' Netgalley reviewerThe PERFECT Christmas gift!A ninety-year-old woman with Alzheimer's and a heartbroken young man share a ride to Brussels that ends up changing their lives forever.When Alex pulls up to meet "Max", he expects everything but a ninety-year-old lady who has her heart set on getting to Brussels by carpool.As for 'Max', who is actually called Maxine, she could not be more ill at ease when settling into the seat next to this young man with bloodshot eyes. God help her if he turned out to be a drug addict who hasn't slept in days!When it becomes clear that Maxine is suffering from Alzheimer's and wants to take matters into her own hands while she still can, and that Alex battles severe depression, a wonderful friendship starts to form between the unlikely pair. Before long, their travel plans take an unexpected turn...Translated from the French by Kelly Lardin.

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Book SynopsisTHE WORD-OF-MOUTH PHENOMENON THAT EVERYONE HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT:'Intelligent, moving and darkly comic . . . taking us deftly from serious explorations of trauma to riotously funny scenes of modern life' The Sunday Times'Haunting and hilarious' Daily Mail'A brilliant debut' Cariad Lloyd'Full of heart, wit and feeling' Caroline O'Donoghue'I loved it!' Lauren Bravo'Heartfelt, sharp-but-tender' Erin Kelly'I couldn't stop reading' Angela Scanlon'A glorious new talent has arrived' Emma Gannon'Raw and utterly brilliant' Otegha Uwagba'Absorbing and clever . . . I fell in love with Mathilda' Cathy Rentzenbrink'Will be read for years by any and all young women looking for a friend' Scarlett Curtis__________________________________ There is something wrong with Mathilda.She's still reeling from the blow of a gut-punch break up and grieving the death of a loved one. But that's not it. She's cried all her tears, mastered her crow pose and thrown out every last reminder of him. But that's not helping.Concerned that she isn't moving on, Mathilda's friends push her towards a series of increasingly unorthodox remedies. Until the seams of herself begin to come undone. Tender, unflinching and blisteringly funny, What a Shame glitters with rage and heartbreak, perfect for fans of Emma Jane Unsworth, Dolly Alderton and Holly Bourne.__________________________________'Ever-so-relatable' Cosmopolitan'Delightfully frank' The Skinny'A modern story of grief and loss' Refinery29'Dazzling . . . By turns funny, sharp, raw and overwhelming' Heat'Fizzes with energy, rage and love' Jessica Moor'A book that beautifully balances the light and the dark' Chloe Ashby'Dark, nuanced and provocative' Laura Jane Williams'An extraordinary novel that will stay with me for a long time' Laura KayTrade ReviewAn intelligent, moving and darkly comic debut, taking us deftly from serious explorations of trauma and consent to riotously funny scenes of modern life - it's like Fleabag with a sprinkling of the occult. * The Sunday Times *Tipped to be THE hit book of 2022 * Daily Mail *Affecting, clever and blisteringly humorous... a riveting read about heartbreak, female shame and self-acceptance -- Sarra Manning * Red Magazine *Hits the nail on the head . . . above all it's a really beautiful portrayal of female friendship. -- Laura Hackett * Times Radio *Dazzling . . . By turns funny, sharp, raw and overwhelming, this is one of those novels where you think you are exploring someone else's pain, only to realise you are actually exploring your own -- Read of the Week * Heat *Alternately haunting and hilarious . . . an original and zeitgeisty story about grief, friendship, secrets, shame and self-acceptance. * Daily Mail *It's LOL, ever-so-relatable and will also have you weeping into a snotty tissue. Love, love, love * Cosmopolitan *A modern story of grief and loss * Refinery29 *Bergstrom's prose, and especially the core dynamic of Mathilda and her friends (a coven of voice notes and anxious love) has a sweet verisimilitude that is delightfully frank, (re)inscribing warmth and intimacy for warmth and intimacy's sakes. And if it all seems a bit familiar - the millennial hodgepodge of tarot, bad dates, housemates and female trauma - well, maybe this is also the point. Maybe these stories are more common than we want to believe. * The Skinny *Absorbing and clever . . . I fell in love with Mathilda -- Cathy RentzenbrinkRaw and unexpected and weird and utterly brilliant -- Otegha UwagbaAs soon as I finished the final page of What a Shame a deep ache set in. Written by one of the cleverest and boldest writers I've ever read, it is a powerful, beautiful, fascinating novel that will be read for years by any and all young women looking for a friend. I already miss Mathilda. -- Scarlett CurtisComparisons to Sally Rooney are inevitable, but this heartfelt, sharp-yet-tender novel earns its own place in the spotlight -- Erin KellyWhat A Shame weaves eternal themes of grief and heartbreak against a modern canvas that is clear and recognisable. There's a piercing sense of what happens when your tragedy becomes your anecdote, and your anecdote becomes tiring to the people around you. Full of heart, wit and feeling, Bergstrom is a new voice but sure to be an enduring one. -- Caroline O'DonoghueA brilliant debut -- Cariad LloydRaw, poignant, haunting (and hilarious!)... In Mathilda, Bergstrom has created a clear-eyed heroine for a new generation. -- Sam BakerTruly captivating, blisteringly funny, so clever and perceptive and beautifully written. It made me want to voicenote all my friends immediately. I loved it! -- Lauren BravoA book that simultaneously punches you in the gut and makes you snort with laughter. It's beautifully raw in its delivery. A glorious new talent has arrived -- Emma GannonDark, nuanced and provocative, this is a sterling debut that fans of Caroline O'Donoghue, Holly Bourne and Emma Jane Unsworth are sure to love. Mathilda's chilling - but ultimately redemptive - story will stay with me. -- Laura Jane WilliamsRazor-sharp, compelling and darkly funny. An extraordinary novel that will stay with me for a long time. -- Laura KayWhat a Shame fizzes with energy, rage and love, burrowing deep into those experiences that define us at our core. Bergstrom writes with wit and wisdom, and Mathilda's voice is ever-incisive, fresh and compelling. -- Jessica MoorI fell hard for Mathilda and her tale of heartache, grief and acceptance. Like most of us, she's a bit weird and a bit wild, and you'll be so glad you met her. -- Laura PearsonA wry and zeitgeisty look at grief, heartbreak and the fix-you industry, What a Shame asks whether we can ever expect closure from our worst and most secret pain and fear. A must-read for anyone who has ever felt defined by a break-up. -- Harriet WalkerCrackles with wit and emotional insight . . . so good on tangled webs of feeling, the power of female friendships, and hope -- Emma HughesDark, complex and very funny. A dazzling debut about the power of self-belief, sisterhood and letting go -- Hannah ToveyA book that beautifully balances the light and the dark. I loved spending time with Mathilda, a heroine who's funny, wise, wonderfully weird and brave, and who feels like a friend. -- Chloë AshbyTender, searingly honest and widely vulnerable. I couldn't stop reading -- Angela ScanlonAn absolute corker - tender, sexy and weird. I can't wait to see what she writes next -- Michelle ThomasMy favourite kind of book: the kind that you can't help but race through, leaves you immediately devastated when you finish it and envious of everyone who has yet to read it. -- Dr SophA painfully exquisite book, by a unique talent that has single handedly rewritten the narrative of female shame -- Camilla PangAbigail Bergstrom's assured debut is a forensic excavation of the female psyche - on friendship, grief, and the secrets we keep to survive. -- Laura BaileyA beautiful, raw story of self-acceptance and shame that haunted me until I finished the last page. Reading Abigail's debut captured the pain and release that comes with laughing at a funeral. I swallowed the story in big gulps and will push it towards my friends. An ambitious, beautifully balanced novel that manages to strike laughter and heartache in equal measure. -- Abigail Mann[A] wry, poignant meditation on female shame, healing and friendship * Culture Whisperer *What a Shame is an absorbing experience; the story is strange yet brilliant . . . it's dark and raw and funny, with a woman on an emotionally engulfing journey at its centre . . . like Sorrow and Bliss on acid . . . A real gem. * Well Read with Anna Bonet *Abigail Bergstrom's darkly funny debut is a sharply observed account of a group of young women finding their way and discovering that they are more powerful than they imagined * Daily Mail *

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Book Synopsis'Intelligent, moving and darkly comic . . . taking us deftly from serious explorations of trauma and consent to riotously funny scenes of modern life'The Sunday Times'Tipped to be THE hit book of 2022'Daily Mail'A riveting read about heartbreak, shame and self-acceptance' Red Magazine, Rising Stars of 2022'Dazzling . . . one of those novels where you think you're exploring someone else's pain, only to realise you're exploring your own'Heat, Read of the Week'A really beautiful portrayal of female friendship'Times Radio'Absorbing and clever . . . I fell in love with Mathilda'Cathy Rentzenbrink, author of The Last Act of Love'Full of heart, wit and feeling'Caroline O'Donoghue, author of Promising Young Women'Utterly brilliant'Otegha Uwagba, author of We Need to Talk About Money'A glorious new talent has arrived'Emma Gannon, author of Olive'Poignant, haunting (and hilarious!) . . . A clear-eyed heroine for a new generation'Sam Baker, author of The Shift'Fizzes with energy, rage and love, burrowing deep into those experiences that define us at our core'Jessica Moor, author of Keeper'Will be read for years by any and all young women looking for a friend'Scarlett Curtis, author of Feminists Don't Wear Pink (and other lies) There is something wrong with Mathilda.She's still reeling from the blow of a gut-punch break up and grieving the death of a loved one. But that's not it. She's cried all her tears, mastered her crow pose and thrown out every last reminder of him. But that's not helping.Concerned that she isn't moving on, Mathilda's friends push her towards a series of increasingly unorthodox remedies. Until the seams of herself begin to come undone. Tender, unflinching and blisteringly funny, What a Shame glitters with rage and heartbreak, perfect for fans of Emma Jane Unsworth, Dolly Alderton and Holly Bourne. Trade ReviewAn intelligent, moving and darkly comic debut, taking us deftly from serious explorations of trauma and consent to riotously funny scenes of modern life - it's like Fleabag with a sprinkling of the occult. * The Sunday Times *Tipped to be THE hit book of 2022 * Daily Mail *Affecting, clever and blisteringly humorous... a riveting read about heartbreak, female shame and self-acceptance -- Sarra Manning * Red Magazine *Hits the nail on the head . . . above all it's a really beautiful portrayal of female friendship. -- Laura Hackett * Times Radio *Dazzling . . . By turns funny, sharp, raw and overwhelming, this is one of those novels where you think you are exploring someone else's pain, only to realise you are actually exploring your own -- Read of the Week * Heat *Alternately haunting and hilarious . . . an original and zeitgeisty story about grief, friendship, secrets, shame and self-acceptance. * Daily Mail *It's LOL, ever-so-relatable and will also have you weeping into a snotty tissue. Love, love, love * Cosmopolitan *A modern story of grief and loss * Refinery29 *Bergstrom's prose, and especially the core dynamic of Mathilda and her friends (a coven of voice notes and anxious love) has a sweet verisimilitude that is delightfully frank, (re)inscribing warmth and intimacy for warmth and intimacy's sakes. And if it all seems a bit familiar - the millennial hodgepodge of tarot, bad dates, housemates and female trauma - well, maybe this is also the point. Maybe these stories are more common than we want to believe. * The Skinny *Absorbing and clever . . . I fell in love with Mathilda -- Cathy RentzenbrinkRaw and unexpected and weird and utterly brilliant -- Otegha UwagbaAs soon as I finished the final page of What a Shame a deep ache set in. Written by one of the cleverest and boldest writers I've ever read, it is a powerful, beautiful, fascinating novel that will be read for years by any and all young women looking for a friend. I already miss Mathilda. -- Scarlett CurtisComparisons to Sally Rooney are inevitable, but this heartfelt, sharp-yet-tender novel earns its own place in the spotlight -- Erin KellyWhat A Shame weaves eternal themes of grief and heartbreak against a modern canvas that is clear and recognisable. There's a piercing sense of what happens when your tragedy becomes your anecdote, and your anecdote becomes tiring to the people around you. Full of heart, wit and feeling, Bergstrom is a new voice but sure to be an enduring one. -- Caroline O'DonoghueA brilliant debut -- Cariad LloydRaw, poignant, haunting (and hilarious!)... In Mathilda, Bergstrom has created a clear-eyed heroine for a new generation. -- Sam BakerTruly captivating, blisteringly funny, so clever and perceptive and beautifully written. It made me want to voicenote all my friends immediately. I loved it! -- Lauren BravoA book that simultaneously punches you in the gut and makes you snort with laughter. It's beautifully raw in its delivery. A glorious new talent has arrived -- Emma GannonDark, nuanced and provocative, this is a sterling debut that fans of Caroline O'Donoghue, Holly Bourne and Emma Jane Unsworth are sure to love. Mathilda's chilling - but ultimately redemptive - story will stay with me. -- Laura Jane WilliamsRazor-sharp, compelling and darkly funny. An extraordinary novel that will stay with me for a long time. -- Laura KayWhat a Shame fizzes with energy, rage and love, burrowing deep into those experiences that define us at our core. Bergstrom writes with wit and wisdom, and Mathilda's voice is ever-incisive, fresh and compelling. -- Jessica MoorI fell hard for Mathilda and her tale of heartache, grief and acceptance. Like most of us, she's a bit weird and a bit wild, and you'll be so glad you met her. -- Laura PearsonA wry and zeitgeisty look at grief, heartbreak and the fix-you industry, What a Shame asks whether we can ever expect closure from our worst and most secret pain and fear. A must-read for anyone who has ever felt defined by a break-up. -- Harriet WalkerCrackles with wit and emotional insight . . . so good on tangled webs of feeling, the power of female friendships, and hope -- Emma HughesDark, complex and very funny. A dazzling debut about the power of self-belief, sisterhood and letting go -- Hannah ToveyA book that beautifully balances the light and the dark. I loved spending time with Mathilda, a heroine who's funny, wise, wonderfully weird and brave, and who feels like a friend. -- Chloë AshbyTender, searingly honest and widely vulnerable. I couldn't stop reading -- Angela ScanlonAn absolute corker - tender, sexy and weird. I can't wait to see what she writes next -- Michelle ThomasMy favourite kind of book: the kind that you can't help but race through, leaves you immediately devastated when you finish it and envious of everyone who has yet to read it. -- Dr SophA painfully exquisite book, by a unique talent that has single handedly rewritten the narrative of female shame -- Camilla PangAbigail Bergstrom's assured debut is a forensic excavation of the female psyche - on friendship, grief, and the secrets we keep to survive. -- Laura BaileyA beautiful, raw story of self-acceptance and shame that haunted me until I finished the last page. Reading Abigail's debut captured the pain and release that comes with laughing at a funeral. I swallowed the story in big gulps and will push it towards my friends. An ambitious, beautifully balanced novel that manages to strike laughter and heartache in equal measure. -- Abigail Mann[A] wry, poignant meditation on female shame, healing and friendship * Culture Whisperer *What a Shame is an absorbing experience; the story is strange yet brilliant . . . it's dark and raw and funny, with a woman on an emotionally engulfing journey at its centre . . . like Sorrow and Bliss on acid . . . A real gem. * Well Read with Anna Bonet *Abigail Bergstrom's darkly funny debut is a sharply observed account of a group of young women finding their way and discovering that they are more powerful than they imagined * Daily Mail *

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Book Synopsis'A high quality, sharply written thriller whose motley cast of deviants and misfits delivers some breathtaking twists on the way to a bleak but very satisfying conclusion. This is the reality of motherhood - red in tooth and claw' Sarah J Naughton, bestselling author of The Festival'An achingly raw, emotional story that was beautifully written. From the heartbreaking beginning to the shocking conclusion, it was a journey so powerful that it'll stay with me for a long time to come' Alice Hunter, bestselling author of The Serial Killer's Wife'Raw, powerful, beautiful - devastatingly good' TM Logan, bestselling author of The Holiday'Beautiful and harrowing and everything in between' Chris Whitaker, award-winning author of We Begin at the EndSometimes it's better not to ask questions. Sometimes it's better not to know.Eve Taggert's life has been spent steadily climbing away from her roots. Her mother, a hard and cruel woman who dragged her up in a rundown trailer park, was not who she wanted to be to her own daughter, Junie.But 12-year old Junie is now dead. Found next to the body of her best friend in the park of their small, broken town. Eve has nothing left but who she used to be.Despite the corrupt police force that patrol her dirt-poor town deep in the Missouri Ozarks, Eve is going to find what happened to her daughter. Even if it means using her own mother's cruel brand of strength to unearth secrets that don't want to be discovered and face truths it might be better not to know.Everyone is a suspect.Everyone has something to hide.And someone will answer for her daughter's murder.From the bestselling author of The Roanoke Girls, The Familiar Dark is a spellbinding story about the bonds of family as well as a story about how even the darkest and most terrifying of places can provide the comfort of home. The Familiar Dark will blow you away.PRAISE FOR THE FAMILIAR DARK'Dark and beautifully written. Spellbinding' Catherine Steadman, bestselling author of Something in the Water'Absolutely bloody brilliant. It's so well-written I felt like I was living her pain' Fiona Cummins, award-winning author of The Neighbour'Dark, moving, intriguing. Truly inspiring' Susan Lewis, bestselling author of One Minute Later'Powerful, gripping, heart-stopping' Laura McHugh, award-winning author of The Wolf Wants In'From its gripping beginning to its sobering finale, Amy Engel's The Familiar Dark never fails to enthral with surprising twists' Daily Mail'This is fierce and brilliant' The ObserverTrade ReviewA dark and beautifully written thriller with a haunting ending that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page. Engel's ability to conjure the harsh beauty of the Ozarks is spellbinding. An emotional & powerful read -- Catherine Steadman, bestselling author of * Something in the Water *Absolutely bloody brilliant. A down-at-heel mother burns with a need to exact her own brand of justice after the murder of her 12-year-old daughter. It's so well-written I felt like I was living her pain. Very highly recommended. -- Fiona Cummins, bestselling author of * The Neighbour *I was completely enthralled from start to finish. Very dark, moving, intriguing and such compelling characters. What a fantastic writer Amy is. Truly inspiring; a real talent at work and I hope this book receives all the success it deserves -- Susan Lewis, bestselling author of * One Minute Later *I'm such a HUGE Roanoke fan so my hopes were sky high and it delivered in every possible way. As visceral as it is gripping, the story packs the kind of haunting gut-punch that Amy is so good at. It's just beautiful and harrowing and everything in between. * Chris Whitaker, award winning author of All The Wicked Girls *The Familiar Dark is full of very bad people who occasionally do the right thing and seemingly good people who hide their own demons, every nuance of human nature is here wrapped up in a hugely addictive piece of storytelling. The end, when it comes, is extraordinarily horrific in its reality and leaves you melancholy and full of feeling. This was brilliant. All the way. Don't miss it in 2020. * Liz Loves Books *A harrowing thriller . . . This rural noir stakes Engel's claim to that dystopian terrain somewhere between Gillian Flynn's Sharp Objects and Daniel Woodrell's Winter's Bone * Publishers Weekly *This is fierce and brilliant * The Observer *From its gripping beginning to its sobering finale, Amy Engel's The Familiar Dark never fails to enthral with surprising twists . . . a perceptive story about women surviving against odds, a mother´s unconditional love, as well as grief, poverty and classism . . . Engel´s characters would have much in common with those in Gillian Flynn´s Sharp Objects * Daily Mail *Raw, powerful, beautiful - devastatingly good * TM Logan, bestselling author of The Holiday *Powerful, gripping, heart-stopping * Laura McHugh, award-winning author of The Wolf Wants In *This rural noir is full of twists and turns . . . Gripping and hard to put down * Hello Magazine *A story about grief, pretence and family, written by a former criminal defence lawyer, it tugs at the heartstrings with its raw emotional truth * Daily Mail *icily heartbreaking * The Metro *Engel's prose is sharp and often brutal, and result is a seriously impressive thriller * Spectator *I enjoyed it so much. A high quality, sharply written thriller whose motley cast of deviants and misfits delivers some breathtaking twists on the way to a bleak but very satisfying conclusion. This is the reality of motherhood - red in tooth and claw. -- Sarah J Naughton, bestselling author of * The Festival *An achingly raw, emotional story that was beautifully written. From the heartbreaking beginning to the shocking conclusion, it was a journey so powerful that it'll stay with me for a long time to come -- Alice Hunter, author of * The Serial Killer's Wife *

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Book SynopsisThe remarkable debut novel from critically acclaimed writer Huma Qureshi: an engrossing story of art and sisterhood, family, marriage and betrayal'Poignant and impressionistic . . . highly readable and relatable' Guardian'A gem of a novel' i'A beautifully written debut' RedHana has a perfect job, a perfect home, a perfect marriage. It is her younger sister Mira who is a mess. But Hana wants children and her husband is hesitating, and perhaps her control is slipping.Mira dreams of a creative life but she's stuck working at a local café. She hates her flatmate and Hana's dismissal of her writing but she can't find the right inspiration.One night, a fight between Hana and her husband sparks something in Mira: the words ring in her head and she starts typing. But what can you borrow from your sister? And what can be forgiven?'Warm and moving . . . Playing Games thoughtfully and elegantly considers what it means to be a sister, a mother and a writer' Chloë Ashby, author of Wet Paint'A riveting and evocative tale of two sisters navigating love, loss and desires' Zeba Talkhani, author of My Past is a Foreign Country'Reading Qureshi's crystal prose is a rare pleasure. I found Playing Games unputdownable' Molly Aitken, author of The Island ChildTrade ReviewPoignant and impressionistic . . . highly readable and relatable . . . It is filled with hard decisions and harsh truths, but also the softer and more tender moments of life and familial love. Above all, sisterhood is front and centre. -- Sana Goyal * Guardian *This beautifully written novel dives into the complex dynamic between two very different sisters . . . This is brilliant on siblings, secrets and the art of storytelling. I loved it. -- Sara Lawrence, Books of the Year * Daily Mail *With jeopardy that keeps you turning the pages, as well as both the acuity and tenderness for examining familyand forgiveness, this is a gem of a novel * The i *Conflict, misunderstandings and a rueful acceptance of their sisterly differences fuel an emotionally engaging plot, but it's Qureshi's lambent prose that makes her novel such a radiantly honest read -- Eithne Farry * Mail on Sunday *In beautifully light and charming prose, [Qureshi] gives the reader some deeply engaging romantic drama in the form of Hana's marriage and Mira's romantic encounters, which provide a deeply emotional and enjoyable backdrop for the philosophical musings. -- Edel Coffey * Irish Times *Observant, bluesy . . . an emotive meditation on the ethics of art and the resilience of family bonds -- Hephzibah Anderson * Observer *Huma Qureshi writes with wisdom and heart about two sisters in a fraught relationship * Pandora Sykes *Qureshi skilfully explores the dynamics of family bonds in this beautifully written novel -- Jacqueline Ling * The i *Qureshi brilliantly captures the complexities of sisterhood in this intimate novel -- Joanna Finney * Good Housekeeping *A beautifully written debut * Red Magazine *A warm and moving portrait of two women's desires, equally overwhelming, to create art and to become a parent. Playing Games thoughtfully and elegantly considers what it means to be a sister, a mother and a writer, as well as the fine line between truth and fiction and what happens when one brushes up against the other. -- Chloë Ashby, author of Wet PaintA riveting and evocative tale of two sisters navigating love, loss and desires -- Zeba Talkhani, author of My Past is a Foreign CountryA heartwarming tale of two sisters, and a bittersweet reckoning with what it means to make art; what we ask of and what we take from those we're closest to. Huma Qureshi is a writer with a beautiful lightness of touch -- Lucy Caldwell, author of These DaysPlaying Games is a tender, beautifully nuanced portrayal of sisterhood, of family, love and loss. Huma Qureshi has a rare ability to perfectly capture the details that make up a life, full of raw and real emotion. I adored it. -- Sara Nisha Adams, author of The Reading ListA book full of raw emotion, tension and, ultimately, sibling love -- Kirstyn Smith * My Weekly *Compassionate, thoughtful and thought-provoking -- Haleh Agar, author of Out of TouchPlaying Games is a poignant story about the complexities and beauty of the bond between sisters. Huma Qureshi lucidly examines the curdled emotions of family and illuminates the inner process of the writer. Reading Qureshi's crystal prose is a rare pleasure. I found Playing Games unputdownable. * Molly Aitken, author of The Island Child *A poignant tale of two sisters that illuminates the complexities of family ties * Harper's Bazaar *Reading Huma Qureshi's Playing Games is a comfort. Familiar and tender, the characters are both relatable and infuriating, as only sisters are. It discusses art, love, family, and the large non-negotiable life decisions we all eventually face. For everyone who is a sister, has a sister, or wish they had a sister. -- Jenny Mustard, author of Okay DaysI loved Playing Games. Huma Qureshi writes about relationships, whether it is sisterhood or marriage, with such tenderness that it will break your heart. She steers us through Hana and Mira's chaos with compassion and kindness. There were many instances when I wanted to give the sisters a huge hug, but at the same time, I wanted to shake them because they frustrated me so much. And you only do that with characters you deeply care about. -- Sairish Hussain, author of The Family TreeA moving, sensitive portrait of siblings caught between art, ambition and loyalty * The Bookseller *One of the best writers exploring family connections today -- Jen Campbell * TOAST Magazine *Well-crafted . . . Playing Games is all about sisterhood, in all its gnarly glory -- Alexandra Peake-Tomkinson * Financial Times *

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Book SynopsisWOULD YOU EVER GIVE UP ON FINDING YOUR CHILD, IF THEY VANISHED WITHOUT A TRACE?Number One Irish bestselling author of When All is Said Anne Griffin returns with this beautiful, emotional novel about love, loss, family and hope that will break your heart . . . but also put it back together again.THE IRISH BESTSELLER THAT EVERYONE IS RAVING ABOUT:'Stunning . . . I loved it' LIZ NUGENT'Elegant and moving' JOHN BOYNE'A storyteller of rate gifts' JOSEPH O'CONNOR'A beautiful, emotive mystery' CHRIS WHITAKER'Gently heartbreaking, but also hopeful and uplifting. An insight into the fragility of the human condition and what holds us together when we break' IRISH TIMESOne unremarkable afternoon, Rosie watched her daughter Saoirse cycle into town, expecting to hear the slam of the door when she returned a few hours later. But the slam never came.Eight years on, after an extensive investigation into her disappearance, Rosie is the only person who stubbornly believes that her child might still be alive. When Rosie receives a call from her father, asking her to return home for the summer, she is forced out of her limbo. Life on the island of Roaring Bay revives old rivalries, but it also brings new friendships and unexpected solace.Yet, when a sudden glimmer of hope appears, Rosie is forced to face an impossible question: is she right to think that Saoirse is still alive? Or will her belief that her daughter will one day return to her come at the cost of everything she has left?'This book consumed me' DISHA BOSE'A hauntingly beautiful tale' SUNDAY POST'Tender and wise and life-affirming' KATHLEEN MACMAHON'A compelling novel about the healing power of community' SARAH GILMARTIN'Griffin's writing is as engaging and compassionate as ever: The Island of Longing is a superb novel that tussles with the hope and heartbreak of being alive' DANIELLE MCLAUGHLIN'This beautiful novel about maternal love is especially moving on the back and forth between hope and acceptance' GOOD HOUSEKEEPING'One of Griffin's great gifts is how she draws small-town communities and the personalities that make them what they are' IRISH SUNDAY TIMESTrade ReviewHer most emotionally complex book yet . . . Gently heartbreaking, but also hopeful and uplifting. An insight into the fragility of the human condition and what holds us together when we break -- Edel Coffey * Irish Times *One of Griffin's great gifts is how she draws small-town communities and the personalities that make them what they are * Irish Sunday Times Culture *Exquisite -- Woman's OwnThis beautiful novel about maternal love is especially moving on the back and forth between hope and acceptance. -- Good HousekeepingAn agonising but hauntingly beautiful tale * Sunday Post *An elegant and moving account of family loss and reconnection, this is Anne Griffin's best novel yet. -- John BoyneAn immensely powerful novel by a storyteller of rare gifts -- Joseph O'ConnorAnne takes a deep dive into the soul of the mother of a missing child and the result is a story that is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Beautifully written and sensitive without ever being sentimental, this is a stunning portrait by a master craftswoman. I loved it. -- Liz NugentA beautiful, emotive, heartbreaking mystery. The Island of Longing takes a quietly powerful, yet deeply hopeful, humorous and compassionate look at loss, and belonging, and the absolute agony of the unknown. -- Chris WhitakerAnne Griffin is a lovely writer, and this is a lovely book . . . Oiled by the sturdy little ferry that ploughs the sea between the novel's West Cork island setting and the mainland, Griffin's story is tender and wise and ultimately life-affirming. -- Kathleen MacMahonAnne Griffin's central character Rosie Driscoll will pitch your heart into a stormy sea. You'll feel as if you're right beside her in the waves of love and loss as she strikes out for safe harbour. A beautiful story, steeped in Irish brine -- Tish DelaneyGripping, heart-wrenching and acutely human novel that offers a deeply empathetic view of suffering and resilience - and the many shapes that survival can take. Read this book! -- Alice RyanA powerful novel that is full of grace, this latest work of beauty proves once again that Griffin is a gorgeous storyteller full of empathy and wisdom -- Helen CullenGriffin's writing is as engaging and compassionate as ever: The Island of Longing is a superb novel that tussles with the hope and heartbreak of being alive. -- Danielle McLaughlinA compelling, cleverly structured novel about loss, legacy and the healing power of community -- Sarah GilmartinWith a great ear for dialogue and eye for setting, Griffin builds a real sense of what loss can do to a family. * The Style List *A beautiful novel, heartbreaking, thoroughly moving and impossible to put down, The Island of Longing further enhances Anne Griffin's standing as one of our very best writers. A sheer joy to read, and a book that deserves to hit every height -- Billy O'CallaghanWhat do you think when the unthinkable happens? The Island of Longing transported me to West Cork to ask that very question in a moving story of family, loss and hope. It's the little details-dialogue, street names and details on the ferryboat-that made me feel at home with heroine, Rosie . . . Griffin perfectly captures the stifling isolation of grief, how claustrophobic tragedy can feel and how, sometimes, only the sea can offer relief. -- Freya BromleyI sympathised with Rosie on every page . . . a suspenseful and deeply satisfying novel -- Margot LiveseyI absolutely loved this novel. Incredibly moving, beautifully observed, with characters so well-drawn that I felt I'd known them my whole life. Although the subject matter is achingly sad, the warmth and humanity that shines through Anne's writing makes it a total joy to read. A bittersweet story of love and loss, deftly and sensitively told, that will stick with me for a long time to come. -- Rebecca PertThe Island of Longing is a moving unforgettable novel, about the burden of loss and grieving, told through Griffin's vivid prose and characteristic gentle humour. This book consumed me -- Disha BoseA beautifully written tale of love, loss and human endurance, with an emotional depth that rings true. -- Madeleine D'ArcyPRAISE FOR ANNE GRIFFIN:There are deep thoughts sown beneath the light and charming surfaces of Griffin's novels. Her books are fable-like, deep musings on life, mortality, and what makes a life worth living, philosophy for everyday readers, cleverly disguised as a good old-fashioned story * Irish Times *The next big name to emerge from the Irish writing scene. -- John BoyneIreland's long line of magical storytellers is further enriched by Anne Griffin, who follows her poignant debut When All is Said with another outstanding read * Sunday Express *

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE BUTLER LITERARY AWARD 2022'Powerful' Irish Times'Darkly beautiful' Irish Sunday Independent'Captivating' Jan Carson'Dazzling' Danielle McLaughlin'Utterly absorbing' Kit de Waal'Brilliantly observed' Elaine Feeney'A huge achievement' Niamh BoyceIn 1982, Nuala Malin struggles to stay connected, to her husband, to motherhood, to the smallness of her life in the belly of a place that is built on hate and stagnation. Her daughter Sam and baby son PJ keep her tethered to this life she doesn't want. She finds unexpected refuge with a seventeen-year-old boy, but this relationship is only temporary, a sticking plaster on a festering wound. It cannot last and when her chance to leave Northern Ireland comes, Nuala takes it.In 1994, Sam Malin plans escape. She longs for a life outside her dysfunctional family, far away from the North and all its troubles, free from her quiet brooding father Patsy, who never talks about her mother, Nuala; a woman Sam barely knew, who abandoned them twelve years ago. She finds solace in music, drugs and her best friend Becca, but most of all in an illicit relationship with a jagged, magnetic older man.She is drawn to him, and he to her, in a way she can't yet comprehend.Sam is more like her mother than she knows.Trade ReviewThe narrative pings along - as compulsive as it is shocking . . . a brilliant debut - the best Irish one in a strong year -- Sue Leonard * Irish Examiner, Books of the Year *A gorgeous coming of age story, exploring the mother-daughter relationship with generosity and nuance -- Louise O'NeillA brave, essential book . . . beautiful -- Luke CassidySearing . . . with a sharp humour and a highly original voice . . . This is not a 'coming of age' story, a love story, or a dissection of marriage; it's all of these things at once, and somehow more nakedly raw than those genres, alone, could possibly capture. * Totally Dublin *Lyrical and explosive in equal measure, this book pulses with love and loss -- Sheila Armstrong

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Book SynopsisAN IRISH EXAMINER BOOK OF THE YEARSHORTLISTED FOR THE BUTLER LITERARY AWARDSHORTLISTED FOR THE KATE O'BRIEN AWARD'Touching and darkly beautiful' Irish Sunday Independent'Powerful, uncompromising' Irish Times'Utterly absorbing, a novel that keeps you guessing right to the end' Kit de Waal1982. Northern Ireland. Nuala Malin is tied to a life she doesn't want by her daughter Sam and baby son PJ. An affair with a seventeen-year-old boy reminds her of a future she hasn't given up on, but it can't last, and when her chance to leave comes, she takes it.1994. If Sam Malin has a god then it is Kurt Cobain. Music is the only thing that brings her peace. She wants a life away from the North and its troubles, away from her da who can't talk about the past but seems stuck there, waiting for Sam's mother to return. A mother Sam barely knew.Escape seems out of reach until Sam meets a jagged, magnetic older man, drawn to him in a way she can't yet comprehend.She falls for him, unable to say no.Sam is more like her mother than she knows.Trade ReviewThe narrative pings along - as compulsive as it is shocking . . . a brilliant debut - the best Irish one in a strong year -- Sue Leonard * Irish Examiner, Books of the Year *An exceptional debut . . . Fitzsimons is an incredibly skilful writer who infuses every scene with depth of feeling and authenticity . . . Warm, funny and sad, this is a touching and darkly beautiful book -- Estelle Birdy * Irish Sunday Independent *[A] powerful, uncompromising debut * Irish Times *Dazzling. The delight Fitzsimons takes in language, and the skill with which she wields it, is evident on every page. A writer of immense talent * Danielle McLaughlin *Captivating characters and stunning storytelling . . . This is going to be a huge book * Jan Carson *A gorgeous coming of age story, exploring the mother-daughter relationship with generosity and nuance -- Louise O'NeillA brave, essential book . . . beautiful -- Luke CassidyUtterly absorbing, a novel that keeps you on the page and keeps you guessing right to the end. Taut and clever prose and a cast of characters that feel totally real. A great debut and a writer to watch * Kit de Waal *It is hard to believe that The Quiet Whispers Never Stop is a debut. Brilliantly observed, smart, bold, funny mad and devastating, Olivia Fitzsimons is such a talent * Elaine Feeney *A beautifully structured, compulsive, sensual, and sometimes raw read . . . a huge achievement * Niamh Boyce *Striking . . . an urgent story of love, loss and escape * Michelle Gallen *A courageous and openhearted testimony to an unsung generation . . . a very fine debut * Alan McMonagle *A stunning debut * Sue Divin *A vividly realised book that held me in its grip, and will command your attention * Stephen Walsh *Olivia Fitzsimons writes about things that most of us are not able to think about. It is almost as if she has excavated this story from one of the most inaccessible parts of the Irish psyche * Louise Nealon *Searing . . . with a sharp humour and a highly original voice . . . This is not a 'coming of age' story, a love story, or a dissection of marriage; it's all of these things at once, and somehow more nakedly raw than those genres, alone, could possibly capture. * Totally Dublin *Lyrical and explosive in equal measure, this book pulses with love and loss -- Sheila Armstrong

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Book SynopsisA HOUSE FULL OF DEADLY SECRETS. A MOTHER WHO'LL RISK EVERYTHING TO BRING THEM TO LIGHT.'This tense and beautifully written thriller gripped me from the first page and didn't let go. Intriguing and eerie, climaxing in an edge-of-the-seat finale that had me furiously turning the pages. A must read!' Sarah Pearse, bestselling author of THE SANATORIUMTHE BONES COME FIRST... When single mother Alex arrives at her new home with her two children, she can finally breathe easy. Pine Ridge, a rural community near the Australian coast, is beautiful, peaceful and most importantly, far away from the trauma she left behind. NEXT, A DOLL... Then unexplained boxes start arriving at the house, and Alex's teenage son begins to retreat into himself more than ever. As rumours and legends swirl through the community, Alex realises that Pine Ridge is guarding long-held secrets of its own. AND THEN THE BLOOD. Something is lurking in the shadows, and Alex and her family are in grave danger. She must protect her children from the darkness at all costs - before it engulfs them whole... A tense and haunting tale of one mother's fight for her family, in a place where no one can hear you scream. Authors love ANNA DOWNES'It's such a rare thing - a claustrophobic, addictive thriller that lets you actually feel for all of the characters involved' Gytha Lodge, bestselling author of She Lies in Wait on The Safe Place'A brilliantly atmospheric novel that keeps you equally gripped and unsettled from page one. Starkly original and with an alarmingly plausible premise, this is destined to be a bestseller' J.P. Pomare, bestselling author of In the Clearing on The Safe Place'A dark and wonderful debut that lulls you in with beautiful prose and complex, believable characters, then beats you over the head with a killer plot and a thrilling climax' Christian White, author of The Nowhere Child on The Safe Place Trade ReviewPraise for THE SAFE PLACE * : *It's such a rare thing - a claustrophobic, addictive thriller that lets you actually feel for all of the characters involved. Anna has such skill in combining the heart-in-mouth feeling that everything is building to a disaster with genuine emotion * Gytha Lodge, bestselling author of, She Lies in Wait *A brilliantly atmospheric novel that keeps you equally gripped and unsettled from page one. Starkly original and with an alarmingly plausible premise, this is destined to be a bestseller * J.P. Pomare, bestselling author of, Call Me Evie *The Safe Place is a dark and wonderful debut that lulls you in with beautiful prose and complex, believable characters, then beats you over the head with a killer plot and a thrilling climax. It's the kind of book you race through as quickly as you can so you can start it again. Everyone will be talking about this book! * Christian White, author of The Nowhere Child and The Wife and the Widow *

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Book Synopsis'Warm ... uplifting -- Roisin Meaney is a gifted storyteller' Sheila O'Flanagan, bestselling author It's the day before the wedding ... Three strangers arrive home to Ireland to the house that gave each of them refuge when they needed it most. They are there to celebrate the winter wedding of their beloved Annie, the woman who fostered them in their childhoods. Now Julia is a world-famous singer living in luxury in Paris and Eddie is a chef in London, while Steph spends her days on a remote Greek island, running a writers' retreat with her older lover. All three have moved on from the past, but as the wedding celebrations get underway, certain truths come to light. It turns out that some hurts last longer than others ... As Annie says 'I do', with an unexpected twist for her wedding party, will Julia, Eddie and Steph discover their own happy-ever-afters in time for the big day? A spellbinding, warm-hearted novel from one of Ireland's best-loved writers.

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Book Synopsis*Dive into this summer's most dazzling romance from the queen of heartbreaking love stories*From the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Memory Book, an unforgettable, beautiful novel about what it means to live to the fullest and to love forever, for fans of The Time Traveler's Wife, Me Before You and Outlander.'A time-travelling delight' Eve Chase'A delightful dream of a book' Lisa Jewell'An incredible story of love and hope' Katie Fforde'Gloriously romantic and deeply moving' Lucy Diamond'A book you will carry with you long after the last page' Milly Johnson'Up there alongside The Time Traveler's Wife' Carole MatthewsHe's running out of time.Ben Church has never done anything extraordinary in his life - until now. Now, he needs to fulfil as many of his dreams as possible while he still can.Time is all she has.Vita Ambrose's life of parties and fabulous clothes looks wildly glamorous but in reality it has no meaning. She's seen too much, lived too much and lost too much.Together, can they make time stand still? Ben and Vita's connection is immediate, spontaneous and passionate. But the clock is ticking. Can they find a way to make their love live forever? Because every moment matters when it might be your last . . .'Have your hankie ready' WOMANTrade ReviewA time-travelling delight of a novel, beautifully written, with a huge heart. -- Eve ChaseAn incredible story of love and hope -- Katie FfordeA delightful dream of a book -- Lisa JewellA wonderful read . . . Beautifully written, it is both emotional and utterly captivating. Next time I visit an art exhibition I shall be taking a lot more notice of the other attendees! -- Jill MansellSensitively told and beautifully written, FROM NOW UNTIL FOREVER is an exceptional read, a powerful punch of a book that you will carry with you long after the last page. -- Milly JohnsonUp there alongside The Time Traveler's Wife. Excellent. -- Carole MatthewsThis cIever romance is mind-blowingly good. * Fabulous *Rich in historical detail and sprinkled with magic, this love story is both touching and unique * Heat *An incredibly moving read * Closer *Gloriously romantic and deeply moving, this is a centuries-spanning story of love and hope that dazzles with its ambition and originality. -- Lucy DiamondCaptivating, compelling and completely unforgettable, Ben and Vita's love story made me believe the impossible might not be so far out of reach . . . -- Julietta HendersonA stunning book about the deathless power of love and art, and what it takes to be truly alive. -- Julie CohenA fabulous, heart-breaking, uplifting love story . . . An absolute gem of an era-spanning romance that just goes to show time might not always be on our side, but love always wins out. -- David BarnettLife-affirming and joyful, Coleman has created a seductive world where humanity a blessing -- Sara SheridanRowan Coleman is the queen of heart-breaking love stories and she's outdone herself with this gorgeous, epic novel which plunges you into the complex and mysterious lives of Vita and Ben. From Now Until Forever deserves to be read over and over - once to appreciate the compelling love story, and again to savour the deep understanding of humanity and time the author shows. -- Eva CarterThis beautiful book is about time, magic and love - so make the time because it's magic and you'll love it. -- Louise BeechA beautiful read * That's Life Magazine *Dazzling, captivating and captures the healing power of love * S Magazine *An incredibly moving story * Bella Magazine *Have your hanky ready * Woman & Home *

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Book SynopsisTHE TV TIE-IN TO THE MAJOR NEW AMAZON PRIME SERIES Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a poor town of twelve thousand people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do.Heather never thought she would compete in panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She'd never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought.Dodge has never been afraid of panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game; he's sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he's not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for.For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them-and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most.In this gritty, spellbinding novel, bestselling author Lauren Oliver delivers a gripping narrative of friendship, courage, survival, and hope.

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Book Synopsis'A complete rollercoaster romp of a story... Kit has a created cast of heroes and villains whose escapades leave the reader crying with laughter and gasping with horror... But the story also has an emotional depth and poignancy which resonates long after the final page has been turned.' - Ruth HoganNow if you were a poor Gypsy mush, who'd had a run of bad luck and whose ever-loving was done with managing on thin air, and someone was to offer you a lucrative run of work, what would you do? Okay, so it's not legit, but sometimes it's got to be worth the risk. You could buy your lovely Zilla all that her heart desires, you could stand your rounds at the kitchema without counting the money in your pocket, update your van, put a deposit on a bit of ground to call your own.So you do it, you take the work and you take the risk, but then it all blows up in your face and you've pulled your loved ones into danger. Well worse than danger. And now you're going to have to take yourself away, disappear from sight. Be the undead playing at being dead. By the author of Thursday Nights at the Bluebell Inn, this Own Voices novel reveals, with compassion and humour, the precarious lives of its characters in a story where, sometimes, the mystical and the everyday worlds converge.

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Book SynopsisTHE NUMBER ONE IRISH BESTSELLERInspired by true events, the lives of three remarkable women interweave across time and tides in an unforgettable journey of the heart.When journalist Jessie Daly loses everything she holds dear, she travels home to Ireland's west coast, and helps an old friend researching life during the famine. Jessie becomes drawn into the heartbreaking story of a brave young mother, Bridget Moloney, and her daughter, Norah.On the other side of the ocean, in Boston, Kaitlin Wilson is researching her family tree. She unearths a fascinating story, but her research forces her to confront uncomfortable truths about the past, as she uncovers an unexpected connection to Ireland in famine times.Generations before, in the small town of Clooneven, a young mother faced a heart-wrenching choice: to watchher baby girl perish with hunger, or to start out for a new life in America, alone, in order to protect the one sheloves most, leaving behind only a letter...

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Book Synopsis'Obligatory reading for all parents of teenagers!' NIGELLA LAWSON'Bloody marvellous. Horribly familiar, funny, touching, sad, brutally honest...clutch this book to your stained T-shirt and never let it go.' JO BRAND'Terrific. A remarkable blend of hilarity and heartbreak with a really satisfying plot. Being childless never felt so good.' GRAHAM NORTON'Warm and witty... The competitive mothering, the hell that is other people's children, the fights and accusations of Homeland inquisition all rang deliciously true... a most entertaining read.' KATHY LETTE'Very poignant... A moving read as well as a funny one.' JANE GARVEY 'Honest, hilarious and painful' WOMAN & HOMEWarning!! This novel may lead you to make rash and life-changing decisions!**Probably don't read if you fear you may be ripe for liberation. Or if you sometimes wee when you laugh...First there was Having It All, then there was Bridget Jones' s Diary and I Don't Know How She Does It. Now there is Teenage Punchbag.I'm Just A Teenage Punchbag is a laugh-out-loud, sob-on-the bus journey through the so-called life of a middle-aged woman.Ciara is mother to three ungrateful, entitled teenagers, is married to steady Martin, a man with hairy udders, and is grieving for her mum who now lives in the wardrobe in a cardboard box from the crematorium. She finds solace in her anonymous blog, and in the daily chats she has with her mum's ashes (often the best conversations she has all day.)Despite the menopause, the invisibility of middle age and the daily self-esteem bashings, courtesy of her kids, Ciara manages to navigate the stormy waters of grief and family life - until her mask slips and she is cast out from the family bosom. She embarks on a mission to fulfil her mum's dying wishes to have her remains sprinkled from the top of the Empire State Building, finding company, distraction and - ultimately - herself in the process.If motherhood is a job - who says you can't resign?

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Book SynopsisA phenomenal, heartwarming tale by the much-loved Rosamunde Pilcher.Laura, newly married and ever conscious she may be living in the shadow of her husband Alec's first wife, decides to take a holiday with his family in Cornwall. Through the long hot summer days she is slowly charmed by the beautiful old house and the people she learns to know and love. In time her uneasy spirit is soothed by the sparkling, brilliant sea, and her restless heart finally calmed.But is this new-found tranquillity too good to be true? For with the arrival of an anonymous letter, one accusing her of having an affair, Laura's world is thrown into turmoil . . .Trade ReviewHer genius is to create characters you really care about * Daily Express *Pilcher's storytelling skills are serene and beguiling * The Times *Pilcher's strength is knowing what she can do well and writing about what she knows. She has a way of tapping into the emotional life of her readers and making them care about characters not unlike themselves * Daily Telegraph *Rosamunde Pilcher's warm spell is charming and utterly convincing * Daily Mail *Rosamunde Pilcher gets so cleverly to the heart of the matter in her stories; she is truly the Queen of Emotion. -- Rosanna Ley, author of From Venice with LoveIf you love Harriet Evans or Lucinda Riley's books, you're sure to love Rosamunde Pilcher too. -- Sarra Manning * Red Magazine *One of the best storytellers of our time. * Woman's Way *

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Book Synopsis'Enthralling' - The Sunday Times'Compelling' - The TimesA thrilling story of the secret services, their enemies and the society they operate in, building with unrelenting suspense to a superb climax, The Crocodile Hunter is Gerald Seymour writing at the top of his powers.In the office at MI5 where he works, they call Jonas Merrick 'the eternal flame'. It isn't a compliment. It's because he never goes out. He never goes undercover, never does surveillance, never goes with the teams that kick down the doors or seize the suspects off the street. He commutes into work and sits at his desk and then he goes home.But Jonas has qualities the hot-shots fail to notice: a steely concentration, a ruthless ability to focus and find the enemy hiding in plain sight.Hearing of a British Jihadi returning from Syria with murderous plans, Jonas sends out for a telling photograph: a crocodile, almost submerged, just its eyes above water as it waits for unsuspecting prey to drink at the riverbank.Coming ashore near Dover, Cameron Jilkes is a young man from a broken home and a failed education, trained in the harshest theatre of war, driven to rage by loss and pain.And this time, 'the eternal flame' must go out - to hunt the crocodile himself.'A novel displaying all the author's many strengths, from his John le Carré-like ability to portray the intelligence world from top to bottom, to its line up of memorable supporting characters' The Sunday Times on BEYOND RECALLReaders love THE CROCODILE HUNTER:'Another winner from Gerald Seymour' 5*'An outstanding book and thoroughly recommended' 5*'Every year without fail . . . Gerald Seymour comes up with a masterful thriller . . . A wonderful read from a master of his craft' 5*Trade ReviewHe has never lost his journalist's eye for the stories behind the news * The Sunday Times *Compelling novel . . . Seymour's feel for the Kent landscape and his realisation of minor characters, such as Cameron's heart-hardened mother, are almost Dickensian * The Times *Another fine spy story with an offbeat protagonist. * Peterborough Telegraph *The three British masters of suspense, Graham Greene, Eric Ambler, and John le Carre, have been joined by a fourth - Gerald Seymour * The New York Times *

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Book Synopsis'The perfect pick for those missing their dose of Derry Girls' Irish Examiner'Entertaining, touching and savagely funny' Sunday Times'Vital, bang-on, and seriously funny' Roddy Doyle It's the summer of 1994, and all Maeve Murray wants is some money and good exam results so she can escape her shitty wee town in Northern Ireland.Over the holidays, Maeve bags herself a job at the local shirt factory with her best friends Caroline and Aoife. It's set to be the summer of their lives, but first she's got to survive a tit-for-tat paramilitary campaign as brutal as her relationship with her mam, iron 800 shirts a day to keep her job and dodge the attentions of Handy Andy Strawbridge, her slimy English boss. And when she starts to notice things aren't adding up at the factory, it seems like revealing the truth may just be her one-way ticket out of town.Trade ReviewHighly entertaining . . . crackles with good one-liners . . . yet this earthy comedy also has telling things to say about violence and division -- Martin Chilton * Independent, Books of the Month *A cracking follow-up - at times savagely funny, but with a loamy undertow of complex feeling . . . Fans of the contemporary Irish authors Lisa McInerney and Louise Kennedy should enjoy it too. -- Patricia Nicol * Sunday Times, best popular fiction books of 2022 *This brash and lively novel is a black comedy of great skill and wit . . . Raucous, in your face, sexually frank and (often hilariously) politically incorrect . . . it's intoxicating, defiant, bitter laughter in the dark, knowing comedy at its blackest pitch * Irish Examiner *Full of the stuff that we're starting to expect of Michelle Gallen; wild, hilariously angry characters, and language that is vital, bang-on, and seriously funny * Roddy Doyle *A wee novel with an enormous, furious heart . . . Honest, hilarious and such a recognisable portrait of 90s Northern Ireland, Factory Girls is an essential read * Jan Carson *Majella O'Neill was no flash-in-the-pan - Factory Girls is a powerful second novel. It has all of Gallen's flair for character, her ear for dialogue and her unparalleled sense of comic timing. And this novel cuts deeper, throbs with pent-up fury, a palpable sense of real and urgent despair. Viciously funny * Lucy Caldwell *Brilliantly observed and full of heart, Factory Girls will be up there on my list of best books for this year * Sheila O'Flanagan *A gorgeous, gritty and hilarious love letter to working class Northern Ireland in the 1990s. Gallen's protagonist, Maeve Murray . . . is a compelling creation who crackles brilliantly from the first pages * Maeve Galvin *A riot of a read. A masterclass in voice, the North and the 90s * Sue Divin *One of the most moving and hilarious novels I have ever read . . . Factory Girls is one of the best books ever written about the Troubles, and one of the best books I've read in a very long time * Silas House *Provocative in more ways than one! * Melatu-Uche Okorie *A much-awaited second triumph of dark humour - fabulous, dirty dancing words, that lift the soul. Gallen knows how to move us and make us roar at the same time. Jumping out with hysteria, Maeve is the hilarious queen of truth we all want to be -- Helen LedererSome writers make you think; some writers make you laugh till you cry. Michelle Gallen belongs to that rare, rare group of writers who make you think even as the tears are tripping you. Factory Girls is a seriously funny novel - that manages at the same time to be deadly serious - about work, about friendship, about Northern Ireland in the months leading up to the 1994 ceasefire, and about being a teenager, any time, anywhere -- Glenn PattersonThe perfect pick for those missing their dose of Derry Girls * Irish Examiner *Gallen writes with such verve and vivacity, her pacing pitch perfect and her dialogue sharp, true and laugh out loud funny. . . In Maeve, the factory and the town, we feel the heat of the 90s in Northern Ireland, the strength and weakness of teenage friendships against a simmering backdrop of turmoil and change - everything moving forward despite the hold the past has on the place. Gallen's evocation of community and place is extraordinary, a masterclass in dark humour. -- Olivia Fitzsimons, author of The Quiet Whispers Never StopMichelle Gallen's Factory Girls pulses with dark, irreverent humor. Set in a place where dreams are laughable at best, dangerous at worst, it's a big F you to the only world these characters know. And yet, there's vulnerability here. Hope, too. I loved it. -- Mary Beth Keane, NYT bestselling author of Ask Again, YesImpossible to put down, and packed with more humour and poignancy than a Catholic funeral, Factory Girls is a bold and brilliant snapshot of working-class lives during the North's most tumultuous period * Sunday Business Post *Gallen manages to take a dark and violent period in history and turn it into one of the most moving and hilarious novels I have ever read. The rich cast of characters will break your heart and make you laugh out loud, sometimes within the same paragraph. I found it difficult to put this book down; while reading it the rest of the world fell away and I was transported to Northern Ireland via an unforgettable voice and a steadily boiling story of friendship, grief, and determination. Factory Girls is one of the best books ever written about The Troubles, and one of the best books I've read in a very long time -- Silas House, author of Southernmost and Lark AscendingOriginal and compelling . . . Gallen's comic, insightful novel . . . shares brilliantly the tangled stories of young women in a struggling provincial town. . . . Factory Girls brings a hidden generation of young women to the literary stage, and does so in a flurry of 'thons' and 'skitters'. -- Nicholas Allen * Irish Times *If the cast of Derry Girls worked in a shirtmaking factory . . . There's a lot of laugh-out-loud humour . . . but at its heart it's an emotional read * Belfast Telegraph *Gallen's pen draws blood with the sharpness of her observations, rendering a fresh and acutely more complex portrait of Northern Ireland through Maeve's eyes . . . Brilliantly, wickedly funny and soul-crushingly sad, Gallen has written the Vienetta of books this summer -- Fiona Murphy * Irish Independent *Funny, poignant and provocative * Daily Mirror (Ulster) *This novel is a wonder; the heroine is cheeky, the humour dark, the dialect thick, the sorrow palpable. Fans of Kenneth Branagh's Belfast and television's Derry Girls will find much to love * Library Journal, starred review *Darkly comic -- Patricia Nicol * Daily Mail *One of the most entertaining, engagingly written summer reads you will lay your hands on * Sunday Life Magazine *Hilariously funny and heartbreakingly sad. Don't read this book in public if you don't like howling with laughter, or weeping, in front of strangers -- Penny Wincer * That's Not My Age *

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Book Synopsis'Wonderful . . . a vivid and endearing pictures of family life' The Times'Heartbreaking and heartwarming in equal measure, this is an esquisite, compelling study of survival and emotional resilience' Daily MailSeptember 1939. The Soviets advance into Poland. Young officer's wife Lena has one chance to flee the country with her daughter. Instead she chooses to return to her childhood home. When the Russian army reach their village, Lena and her family are denounced as enemies of the state and exiled to the freezing hell of Siberia.Amid the hunger and back-breaking work in deep snow, she discovers something remarkable: even while you're fighting to survive, it is possible to fall in love. What she can't imagine are the consequences of love. And the choice that must be made.Trade Review'Wonderful . . . a vivid and endearing picture of family life' * The Times *Written in richly impressive prose, The Snow Hare celebrates the human ability to survive in even the worst circumstances * Sunday Times *Heartbreaking and heartwarming in equal measure, this is an exquisite, compelling study of survival and emotional resilience * Daily Mail *Paula Lichtarowicz's profound and beautifully written third novel brings her back to her roots . . . [she] mesmerises us with the honesty of her characterisations and the light-handedness with which she treats the expression of those characters' feelings * Sunday Independent Review *The Snow Hare is a well-written, compelling account of a devastating period of history, and one which provides a different perspective to the usual Nazi-focused World War II novel of survival * Business Post *I loved this book, though it left a huge crack in my heart. A beautifully written, enthralling story of an unforgettable family caught up in a conflict that takes them all the way to a Siberian work camp. The main character, Lena, is determined and compelling, and the novel a brilliant study of what it means to survive both the best and worst of times -- JOANNA QUINN, author of The Whalebone TheatreLove and loss, and courage and compassion, collide in this brilliantly told story of survival against the odds. Based on the true story of her grandmother, Paula Lichtarowicz's exquisite novel takes readers on a family journey full of passion, longing, regret, and eventual acceptance of choices made a lifetime ago. In these riveting, heartfelt, and brutally honest pages, Lena keeps a lifetime of secrets and dreams from her loved ones, but never allows them to stop her from loving in return -- Heather Morris, New York Times bestselling author of The Tattooist of AuschwitzLichtarowicz is a writer of great talent, with the ability to portray hardship and grief shot through with humour and hope. The gorgeous prose, compelling storyline, and emotional depth ensure that The Snow Hare remains in the reader's mind long after the last page -- Frances Liardet, New York Times bestselling author of We Must Be BraveThe Snow Hare by Paula Lichtarowicz is an extraordinary novel of fate, hope, love and determination. Lichtarowicz' beautifully drawn story, set against a backdrop of real historical events, is every bit as heart-wrenching as it is inspiring. The Snow Hare brings the past to life in a vivid, evocative way - reminding us that history echoes through time, and hope can sustain us even through the most difficult of circumstances. This is one of the finest historical fiction novels I've read in years -- Kelly Rimmer, New York Times bestselling author of The Warsaw Orphan

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Book Synopsis1871. When Fergus Deagan's wife dies in childbirth, she makes him promise to take their family from Ireland to Western Australia to join his brother Bram, and also to marry again to make sure their children don't miss out on a mother's love.Disowned by her father for becoming pregnant, Cara Payton bears a stillborn baby. She struggles on in deep despair, until a plea to wet-nurse a motherless baby gives her life new purpose. When Fergus proposes marriage, she accepts. She respects him and is happy to stay with the baby she now loves. During the voyage to Australia, she and Fergus draw closer, until her past rears its ugly head and they face a terrible crisis . . .When they finally get to Fremantle, Fergus and Bram, always rivals, struggle to get along. To make matters worse, Bram has financial problems and there is no railway where Fergus can find engineering work. Can the two brothers solve their problems? And will the newcomers find a way to build a new life?**************What readers are saying about THE TRADER'S REWARD'An excellent book, and series, that I couldn't put down. Definitely worth reading' - 5 stars'A great end to a wonderful series' - 5 stars'Fantastic reading' - 5 stars'Brilliant as always' - 5 stars'I loved this one as much as the rest of the Trader Saga' - 5 stars

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Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times bestseller from Graham Norton'A magnificent novelist.' STUART HERITAGE for THE GUARDIAN'Blend[s] dark humour and emotional weight with ease.' RADIO TIMES'His best yet.' THE SUNDAY POST 'Full of Graham's trademark warmth and wit. It's also a complex mystery that ties its characters together in ways they'd least expect.' SUNDAY EXPRESS'Dark, funny, full of emotional intelligence and gripping from the start. ..beautifully written... Wonderful.' DAILY MAIL'Beautifully constructed with a twisty plot ... the perfect mix of levity and melancholy. A cracking read.' JO BRAND'A winning mix of family drama and comedy crime caper ... you may well find yourself reading it in one sitting.' HEAT'Oh my GOD Forever Home is FABULOUS... His skill at gimlet-eyed observation and nuanced characterisation is *chef's kiss* but this book is SO FUNNY... It's a DELIGHT.' MARIAN KEYESCarol is a divorced teacher living in a small town in Ireland, her only son now grown. A second chance at love brings her unexpected connection and belonging. The new relationship sparks local speculation: what does a woman like her see in a man like that? What happened to his wife who abandoned them all those years ago? But the gossip only serves to bring the couple closer.When Declan becomes ill, things start to fall apart. His children are untrusting and cruel, and Carol is forced to leave their beloved home with its worn oak floors and elegant features and move back in with her parents.Carol's mother is determined to get to the bottom of things, she won't see her daughter suffer in this way. It seems there are secrets in Declan's past, strange rumours that were never confronted and suddenly the house they shared takes on a more sinister significance. In his tense and darkly comic new novel Norton casts a light on the relationship between mothers and daughters, and truth and self-preservation with unnerving effect.'Effortlessly readable, possessed of a super twist and full of rounded characters to keep close to your heart.' THE OBSERVER'What a fabulous read... Forever Home is his best so far. It's a complex and compelling story - truly unputdownable - but most importantly for me, it has real heart.' MARY LAWSON'The latest comedy noir by Graham Norton features fractured families at their worst. I loved it!' LIZ NUGENT 'A tale of new beginnings and old secrets. Norton is the king of the Irish small town mystery.' ANNE GRIFFIN

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