Contemporary fiction titles are those which focus on the present or near past. Stories rooted in the current cultural, social, and political landscape which feature characters we can all recognise.
Contemporary Fiction Books
Little, Brown Book Group Rainbirds
Book SynopsisSet in an imagined town outside Tokyo, Clarissa Goenawan''s dark, spellbinding literary debut follows a young man''s path to self-discovery in the wake of his sister''s murder.Ren Ishida has nearly completed his graduate degree at Keio University when he receives news of his sister''s violent death. Keiko was stabbed one rainy night on her way home, and there are no leads. Ren heads to Akakawa to conclude his sister''s affairs, failing to understand why she chose to turn her back on the family and Tokyo for this desolate place years ago.But then Ren is offered Keiko''s newly vacant teaching position at a prestigious local school and her bizarre former arrangement of free lodging at a wealthy politician''s mansion, in exchange for reading to the man''s ailing wife. He accepts both, abandoning Tokyo and his crumbling relationship there in order to better understand his sister''s life and what took place the night of her death.As Ren comes to know the eccTrade ReviewA transnational literary tour-de-force. Readers will be carried along by its creepy charm - The Japan TimesA murder mystery and a family drama in one, this book is as beautiful as it is understated. The author presents us with a fascinatingly structured look into Japanese society and a depiction of mourning and grief that is universally recognizable. - San Francisco ChronicleMysterious and dark - Daily BeastElegantly [combines] a suspenseful mystery with an eloquent meditation on love and loss. - HuffPostThroughout this novel, numerous moments pleasantly evoke the surrealism of Murakami, the nightmarish descriptions of Abe, the alienated youth of Yoshimoto, and the ill-fated lovers of Kawabata. But Rainbirds, suffice it to say, is a different beast, a contemporary work of noir that draws readers into an eerie landscape that is hard to forget - Los Angeles Review of Books
£8.54
Little, Brown Book Group Daughters of The Labyrinth
Book Synopsis''An immersive novel, steeped in the history and folklore of Crete: transporting, historically informative story-telling'' Sunday Times''A moving, superbly written exploration of a family with dark secrets. Crete itself becomes one of the main characters in the story'' Irish Times, Best Books 2021----------This was my home. This harbour and sea. These golden alleys. But the town I grew up in has disappeared.Ri is a successful international artist who has worked in London all her life. When her English husband dies she turns to her Greek roots on Crete, island of mass tourism and ancient myth, only to discover they are not what she thought. As Brexit looms in the UK, and Greece grapples with austerity and the refugee crisis, she finds under the surface of her home not only proud memories of resisting foreign occupation but a secret, darker history. As an artist, she has lived by seeing and observing. NowTrade Review'Daughters of the Labyrinth is a novel about a daughter's passionate quest for the truth about what happened to her parents in Crete during the German occupation. It is also a sumptuous and sensuous evocation of Crete itself, its landscape and culture. Ruth Padel's brings a poet's eye to this world of great physical beauty and gnarled legacy' * Colm Tóibín *'Ruth Padel brings a poet's ear for internal musical pattern, and deep and loving knowledge of the stones, light and colours of Crete, as she winds us into coils within coils of a family's dark history. She combines dramatic storytelling with moving reflectiveness, asking us to think again about whether it is better to remember or to forget?' * Marina Warner *'Animated by keen imaginative empathy and a strong sense of place, this moving, satisfying, layered novel will transport you to the amethyst Aegean' * Daily Mail *'A moving, superbly written exploration of a family with dark secrets. Crete itself becomes one of the main characters in the story.' * Irish Times, Best Books 2021 *'A thought-provoking novel of identity, history and our times.' * The New European *'A slow-burner of a novel, lyrical and psychologically astute.' * Mail on Sunday * 'An immersive novel, steeped in the history and folklore of Crete: transporting, historically informative story-telling' * Sunday Times *'Entrancing - a wonderfully rich and absorbing novel, delightful in its evocation of Crete and its many-layered history.' * The Scotsman * 'I can't recommend this highly enough. Beautiful, moving, exquisitely layered and compelling. I absolutely loved it' * Christina Patterson (will need to ask her for permission to use) *'Best books to read this Autumn' * Slightly Foxed *Padel deftly sketches the complications of family as she teases away at questions of identity and home. Animated by keen imaginative empathy and a strong sense of place, this moving, satisfying, layered novel will transport you to the amethyst Aegean even as the real thing remains out of reach. -- Stephanie Cross * Daily Mail *Daughters of the Labyrinth [is] a moving and superbly written exploration of a Cretan family with dark secrets. Crete itself becomes one of the main characters in the story. -- Martin Doyle * The Irish Times *It is rare to come across literary fiction as satisfying as Ruth Padel's Daughters of the Labyrinth - and I can't recommend it highly enough...Padel succeeds triumphantly [in addressing the Jewish condition] and the whiff of authenticity seeps from every page. -- Jenni Frazer * Jewish Chronicle *A contemporary story, filled with the light and colours, culture and recent history of Greece. * Choice Magazine *'Both a moving portrait of a daughter's search for the truth, and a sensual vision of sunlit Crete, Ruth Padel's novel is a dramatic and moving read.' * Woman's Own *
£17.09
Little, Brown Book Group When We Were Sisters
Book SynopsisLONGLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR FICTION 2022WINNER OF THE CAROL SHIELDS PRIZE FOR FICTION 2023''[A] captivating, gorgeously written book'' Hala Alyan''A stunning accomplishment'' Safia Elhillo''A grief-soaked and gorgeous debut novel . . . A poet first, Asghar picks up on the themes of her debut collection If They Come for Us - partition and fragmentation, borders and bodies - and plays with space and silence on the page . . . this fragmentary form has the effect of ephemerality - much like life'' Sana Goyal, GuardianIn this heartrending, lyrical debut work of fiction, Fatimah Asghar traces the intense bond of three orphaned siblings who, after their parents die, are left to raise one another. The youngest, Kausar, grapples with the incomprehensible loss of her parents as she also charts out her own understanding of gender; Aisha, the middle sister, spars with her ''crybaby'' younger sibl
£9.49
Little, Brown Book Group Birding
Book Synopsis''A beautiful book full of stark truths... Lyrical and evocative, highly recommended'' Evie King, author of ASHES TO ADMIN''Beautifully written'' Daily Mail''[An] empathetic, emotional reckoning'' Mail on SundayIn a small seaside town, autumn is edging into winter, gulls ride winds over the waves, and two women pass each other on the promenade, as yet unaware of each other''s existence.In the nineties Lydia was a teen pop star, posed half naked on billboards everywhere with a lollipop between her lips and no idea how to live, letting the world happen to her. Now, three decades later, Lydia is less and less sure that what happened to her was in the least bit okay. The news cycle runs hot with #MeToo stories, and a famous former lover has emerged with a self-serving apology, asking her to forgive him. Suddenly, the past is full of trapdoors she is desperately trying not to fall throug
£17.00
Little, Brown Book Group In Search of Ethel Cartwright
Book Synopsis''A warm and uplifting read... a gentle and inspiring, yet vital, reminder that life is there to be lived, and that regrets won''t keep you warm as you age'' Justin Myers''Profound and joyful'' My Weekly''I loved this moving story about secrecy, shame and the healing power of vulnerability'' Daily MailNorman Cartwright, an eighty-six-year-old man living in the small seaside town of Clacton, Essex, has kept his cross-dressing a secret his entire life. A trucker by trade, his lipstick and wigs were donned only in the lonely confines of his lorry, as he sat in lay-bys and drove along empty roads on long trips away from his wife and children. After years of judgement, abuse and fear, Norman no longer knows how to embrace this side of himself, or if anyone would accept him if he did . . . When his teenage granddaughter, Florence, turns up unannounced, it''s obvious that she, too, has secrets she''s not yet willing to shar
£17.00
Headline Publishing Group Meet Me at Beachcomber Bay The feelgood
Book SynopsisThe perfect man; the wrong time - what happens next? When Clemency meets Sam on a flight, the connection between them sizzles. By the time the plane lands, Clemency''s fallen for him, hard. And she thinks it''s mutual. But then Sam can''t seem to get away fast enough. Was it all wishful thinking? Yet it seemed so real.Three years later, Clemency is happily single in sun-soaked Cornwall. She''s stunned to encounter Sam again. He''s as kind and attractive as ever - but now he''s with someone. Someone Clemency knows only too well. He''s strictly out of bounds.Roping in her friend Ronan to help hide her true feelings, Clemency finds herself tangled in secrets and crossed wires. What''s really going on with Sam? Why can''t she get over him - and what''s stopping him speaking out? Surely love will find a way . . . As the sunshine warms the sand and the turquoise sea sparkles, one thing is clear: when it''s Trade Review'A heartwarming treat from one of my favourite writers' -- Katie FfordeCurl up with this hilarious tale that's as heartwarming as they come - escapism at its lovely dovey best * Sunday Mirror *'We galloped through this funny, bouncy, romantic and brilliantly written yarn. A feel-good gem' ***** * Heat *'A breezy, feel-good romance' * Best *Praise for Jill Mansell's novels: 'The sweetest love story of the year' * Fabulous *'Jill Mansell is the queen of witty, heart-warming, feel-good love stories' * Red *A glorious, heartwarming romantic read * Woman & Home *Mansell creates wonderful characters and believable storylines that capture both your heart and imagination from the off * Sun *Jill Mansell keeps on getting better every time... smart and grown-up * Good Housekeeping *A warm, witty and romantic read that you won't be able to put down * Daily Mail *'Bursting with humour, brimming with intrigue and full of characters you'll adore' **** * Heat *
£10.44
Headline Publishing Group Invader
Book SynopsisINVADER is a Sunday Times bestseller from Simon Scarrow (author of the bestsellers BRITANNIA and CENTURION) and T. J. Andrews, co-author of the bestselling INVADER. Featuring the Roman army officer Figulus in first-century Britannia, INVADER is not to be missed by readers of Conn Iggulden and Bernard Cornwell.Roman Britain, AD 44. The land is far from tamed. A puppet king is doing little to calm the hatred of the native tribes.Fighting is in Optio Horatius Figulus'' blood. His Celtic ancestry gives him the toughness essential for survival. That toughness will be tested to the very limit when he is sent on a mission deep in hostile territory. And Figulus knows that, even utterly crushed in battle, their warriors routed and the Druids driven from their hill forts, the tribesmen of Britannia will sooner die than surrender.Figulus fought alongside Macro and Cato in Simon Scarrow''s bestselling Eagles of the Empire series. In INVADER, he sTrade ReviewI really don't need this kind of competition... It's a great read - Bernard CornwellBlends together historical facts and characters to create a book that simply cannot be put down... Highly recommended - Historical Novels ReviewA fast-moving and exceptionally well-paced historical thriller - BBC History MagazineScarrow's rank with the best - IndependentLively, absorbing novel... will not disappoint - Sunday Times
£9.49
Headline Publishing Group The Butterfly Cabinet
Book SynopsisAn unforgettable story of two women linked by their roles in a tragedy at the end of the Victorian era, THE BUTTERFLY CABINET by Bernie McGill will appeal to fans of THE VANISHING ACT OF ESME LENNOX or THE SUSPICIONS OF MR WHICHER, and was singled out by Julian Fellowes as his Book of the Year in the Guardian.On a remote estate in the north of Ireland, a little girl dies, and the community is quick to condemn her mother, Harriet Ormond. Now, after seventy years, Maddie McGlade, a former nanny at the house, knows the time has come to reveal her own role in the events of that day.From Maddie''s reminiscences and Harriet''s long-concealed diaries emerges an unforgettable story of motherhood and betrayal, and of two women, mistress and servant, inextricably connected by an extraordinary secret.Trade Review'Beautifully done and thoroughly absorbing' * Daily Mail *'An absorbing story of marriage, motherhood and murder' * Woman and Home *'An intense exploration of maternal love and guilt' * Financial Times *'Exceptionally accomplished' * Ulster Tatler *'Utterly compelling... a haunted tale, pitch perfect in tone' * Marie Claire *'Assured and very readable, holding plenty of promise for the future' * Irish Independent *'McGill has the ability to enter the brain and heart of her characters and so to make us sympathise with people who commit acts we abhor' * Julian Fellowes, creator of Downton Abbey *
£9.49
Headline Publishing Group More than Riches
Book SynopsisNo.1 bestselling writer, Josephine Cox, is ''one of the country''s best-loved storytellers'' (Prima). More Than Riches is a heartrending novel of love, loss and redemption. A classic that will appear to fans of Catherine Cookson and Rosie Goodwin. ''Cox''s talent as a storyteller never lets you escape'' Daily MailWhen Rosie''s parents were involved in a train accident, her mother was killed and her father left crippled, unable to earn a living and relying on Rosie to keep the wolf from the door.With her mother gone and her sweetheart Adam away in the army, Rosie is lonely. She eagerly awaits the letters from him, but they never come. As she grows more disillusioned, Adam''s best friend Doug goes out of his way to be charming and attentive. Alone and confused, Rosie blossoms under his evil influence. Soon she is carrying Doug''s baby and her father has thrown her out of the house. Realising she has no choice, she agrees to ma
£9.99
Headline Publishing Group Living a Lie
Book SynopsisSunday Times bestselling author Josephine Cox has been ''hailed quite rightly as a gifted writer in the tradition of Catherine Cookson'' Manchester Evening Post. Her classic novels are ''impossible to resist'' Woman''s Realm, perfect for fans of Rosie Goodwin and Lesley Pearse. In 1975 Lucinda Marsh throws herself in front of a speeding train leaving her twelve-year-old daughter Kitty alone, confused and abandoned - save for a selfish aunt, a violent father and her childhood sweetheart Harry Jenkins. When Kitty is sent to an orphanage after the death of her father, she meets Georgie, a lively cockney girl who, through the following difficult years, becomes her loyal friend. Convinced that her feelings for Harry will ruin the brilliant future that lies ahead of him, Kitty turns her back on his love. Together with Georgie, she strives to find fulfilment in other places and other relationships, but when fate throws her back together with Harr
£9.99
Headline Publishing Group Never Be Broken D.I. Marnie Rome 6
Book SynopsisCompulsive, gripping and dark, NEVER BE BROKEN is the stunning new novel in the Marnie Rome series, for fans of Peter James, Mark Billingham, and Val McDermid''Sarah Hilary writes beautifully and unflinchingly'' Peter JamesNoah Jake has seen dead bodies before but when a young woman falls to her death from a London tower block, landing in the bonnet of his car, everything changes for him. Has he witnessed an accident, suicide, or something worse? Whichever, it affects him deeply. London''s young people are being trafficked into gangs, exploited, and killed. Thirteen-year-old Raffa Jordan was shot in the street, an innocent bystander in a gang war, or so it seems. It looks as if Samantha Haile is just the latest victim in the wave of violence sweeping the city. Only Noah feels the need to treat her differently, to chase down the truth of what happened that day.Marnie Rome wants to hTrade Review[A] searing perceptive novel * Observer *Deeply contemporary, painfully real, heartbreakingly good -- Mick HerronNever Be Broken gloriously demonstrates that modern crime fiction really isn't all about the murders -- Val McDermidAddictive, chilling and beautifully written. The timely story pulls you in deep -- Will DeanThe Marnie Rome stories are clever and sharp, but they also have the most incredibly emotional depth and clarity. I adored it -- Joanna CannonSarah Hilary is going to be up there with the likes of Ruth Rendell, PD James and Val McDermid, as a game changer of British crime fiction * Crime Review *Tough, tender, absolutely terrifying -- Erin KellyHeartbreaking, tense, intelligent storytelling from a writer at the top of her game. You won't get better writing than this * Live and Deadly blog *Magnificent -- Alex MarwoodCompulsive and page-turning -- Melanie McGrathA satisfyingly complex mystery * Mail on Sunday *
£11.69
Headline Publishing Group Mister Mister
Book Synopsis''A quicksilver astonishment of a book. Just read it'' Kiran Millwood Hargrave''A rollercoaster coming of age picaresque'' Observer''A provocative powder keg. So compelling'' TimesAn exuberantly imaginative novel of Britishness and unbelonging from the prizewinning author of In Our Mad and Furious City.When Yahya Bas finds himself in a UK detention centre after fleeing the conflict in Syria, he has many questions to face. What was he doing in the desert? Why does he hate this country? Why did he write the incendiary verses which turned him into an online sensation and a media pariah?Mister, his interrogator, wants to keep him locked up. So he decides to tell his life story. On his own terms. Following a child that East Ham made who becomes the unwitting voice of a generation, Mister, Mister is also the story of a quest for a father and the discovery of another way to live in the shadow of war. Brac
£10.44
Headline Publishing Group The Bad Fire Bob Skinner series Book 31
Book Synopsis''Scottish crime-writing at its finest, with a healthy dose of plot twists and turns, bodies and plenty of brutality'' SunThe gritty new mystery in Quintin Jardine''s bestselling Bob Skinner series, set in Edinburgh and the Scottish countryside; not to be missed by readers of Ian Rankin and Peter May. Nine years ago, divorcee Marcia Brown took her own life. A pillar of the community, she had been accused of theft, and it''s assumed that she was unable to live with the shame. Now her former husband wants the case reopened. Marcia was framed, he says, to prevent her exposing a scandal. He wants justice for Marcia. And Alex Skinner, Solicitor Advocate, and daughter of retired Chief Constable Sir Robert Skinner, has taken on the brief, aided by her investigator Carrie McDaniels. When tragedy strikes and his daughter comes under threat, Skinner steps in. His quarry is about to discover that the road to hell is marked by bad intentions . . .Trade Review'Scottish crime-writing at its finest, with a healthy dose of plot twists and turns, bodies and plenty of brutality' * Sun *'Jardine writes like he chews girders, but there's a subtlety too to his hard-edged crime thrillers that are very much in the vanguard of the tough but intelligent tartan noir movement . . . Skinner's lost none of his hard edge when he steps up to the plate after his daughter Alex, a legal eagle, is in trouble when a cold murder case explodes red hot and dangerous. Someone's going to meet his match in Skinner' * Peterborough Evening Telegraph *'Well-constructed... intriguing' * Scotland on Sunday *'The legendary Quintin Jardine . . . such a fine writer' * Denzil Meyrick *
£17.00
Headline Publishing Group The Best Things
Book SynopsisTHE UPLIFTING SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER IS A WARM HUG OF A READ FROM THE BELOVED MEL GIEDROYC''I enjoyed it HUGELY. A real treat'' MARIAN KEYES''A brilliant cast of characters and properly funny!'' GRAHAM NORTON''Funny and fresh. No soggy bottoms here'' CLARE MACKINTOSH__________Sally Parker is struggling to find the hero inside herself.All she wants to do is lie down.Her husband Frank has lost his business, their home and their savings, in one fell swoop. Their bank cards are being declined. The children are running wild. And now the bailiffs are at the door.What does an ordinary woman do when the bottom falls out?Sally Parker is about to surprise everybody. Most of all herself.__________SHORTLISTED FOR THE COMEDY WOMEN IN PRINT PRIZE 2021''A warm contemporary fable bursting with colourful characters and comic energy''
£11.69
Headline Publishing Group Tree Surgery for Beginners
Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of A PLACE CALLED WINTER, TREE SURGERY FOR BEGINNERS is a funny, elegant and eclectic novel of love, lies and the secrets we live with ''A very funny, often sad, erudite eclectic novel writ with style. Terrific'' Time Out''Excellent'' The TimesWhen Lawrence Frost wakes up one morning to discover his wife and child have gone missing, there is gruesome evidence to suggest he may be the main suspect in a murder investigation. Confused, threatened with the loss of everything he loves, Lawrence is sent to the Caribbean on a kill-or-cure cruise. On board and ashore he will discover love, deceit, the truth about his missing family, and the blessings that come with surrendering to destiny.Trade ReviewA very funny, often sad, erudite eclectic novel writ with style. Terrific * Time Out *An elegant romance that manages to be both playful and wise. . . infused with a smiling, Mozartean sensibility, reminding us that we can go so awry, break so utterly apart and still find the strength to continue * New York Times *A carnival of events in which credible characters find themselves in incredible situations * Daily Telegraph *Gale is a master of the deceptively light touch * Mail on Sunday *Excellent * The Times *
£11.69
Headline Publishing Group Do Not Feed the Bear
Book SynopsisA life-affirming novel of love and letting go - for readers of ELEANOR OLIPHANT, THE TROUBLE WITH GOATS AND SHEEP and WHEN GOD WAS A RABBIT
£17.09
Headline Publishing Group Passion on Park Avenue
Book SynopsisFrom the author of the New York Times bestselling Stiletto and Oxford series, Passion on Park Avenue is the first in a charming new series following the unlikely friendship of three Upper East Side women as they struggle to achieve their dreams and find true love and happiness in the city that never sleeps. They vowed to steer clear of Manhattan''s heartbreakers - but when it comes to love, some risks are worth taking...For as long as she can remember, Bronx-born Naomi Powell has had one goal: to prove her worth among the Upper East Side elite. Now, as the strongminded, sassy CEO of one of the biggest jewellery empires in the country, Naomi finally has exactly what she wants - but it''s going to take more than just the right address to make Manhattan''s upper class accept her. The worst offender is her new neighbour, Oliver Cunningham - the grown son of the family Naomi''s mother worked for as a housekeeper. Oliver used to
£9.49
Headline Publishing Group Liverpool Songbird
Book SynopsisLyn Andrews'' touching and nostalgic saga LIVERPOOL SONGBIRD is a must-read for fans of Kate Thompson and Nadine Dorries. Is one young woman''s beautiful singing voice enough to bring the success that will free her from poverty?1925. Alice O''Connor''s poor family lives in the heart of Liverpool''s toughest slum. Her bullying father drinks away what little he earns, whilst Nelly, her careworn mother, works when she can and begs when she can''t. Since she was five young Alice has also begged in the streets around the docks but she has managed to hold on to the hope of something better, a stubborn optimism that keeps her head held high even in her lowest moments. For Alice knows she has a gift that allows her to rise above the fate that made her life so bitterly hard. Alice O''Connor can sing like an angel . . . It''s a gift that will take her far though it is to Liverpool she will always return. But is it enough to bring her the success she needsTrade ReviewPraise for Lyn Andrews: 'An outstanding storyteller - Woman's WeeklyA vivid portrayal of life - BestA compelling read - Woman's OwnThe Catherine Cookson of Liverpool - Northern Echo
£9.49
Headline Publishing Group Glass Houses
Book Synopsis''Through a dewy sheen of teen nostalgia, Reece deftly explores the weight of political events on individual lives. Her supple, visceral prose evokes North Wales in all its complexity, beautifully rendered in water, resin and sky''Jessica Andrews, author of Saltwater and Milk Teeth''Francesca Reece is a devastatingly compelling new voice in literary fiction'' Louise O''Neill, author of Asking For It and Idol_______Somewhere, in a box in Margot Yates'' attic there''s a video of Gethin by the lake at Ty Gwydr. He''s young - nineteen, maybe twenty. It''s late spring and dusk, and a low sun leaks white light into the horizon behind the dark fringe of trees. Olwen is filming. Gethin narrows his eyes at the camera. Her bodiless voice says to him, I love it here. He says, good. This place is ours.Forester Gethin Thomas is struggling to make ends meet in his rural hometown in North Wales. Bright, charming,
£17.00
Headline Publishing Group Secret Lives Discover family secrets in this
Book SynopsisHow far would YOU go to keep your secret safe?A classic gripping read from the Sunday Times bestselling author of a heartwrenching family secret.Eden Riley''s life is far from what it seems. Her marriage is failing, and her career is spiralling out of control. She knows nothing of her late mother and returning to her childhood home in search of answers seems like the perfect way to escape. But as she delves deeper into her mother''s past, Eden discovers truths that are darker than she ever could have imagined.It seems that everyone has a secret. But will Eden ever come to terms with the truth?Unlock the secrets you''ll love to discover with Diane Chamberlain, the storyteller beloved of readers everywhere:''Impossible to stop thinking about'' Heat magazine''An excellent read that will be loved by her fans and anyone who enjoys reading'' Jodi
£10.44
Headline Publishing Group What Eden Did Next
Book SynopsisEden found perfect love with Andy. How it ended was shocking. For the five years since, her little daughter Lila - and Eden's secret letters to Andy - have been all she needed. And Andy's family like it that way. Rafe wants nothing more than to start a new life back home in Ireland. It's time for him to turn the page on his own tragedy. And every woman in the neighborhood is ready to help a single dad settle in. When Eden and Rafe meet, it seems that everyone has a good reason for thinking their tentative relationship is bad idea, despite the distant past that links them. New relationships are rarely easy, especially if you've loved deeply before. And when there's opposition, it can bring you closer - or drive you apart . .
£8.99
Headline Publishing Group The Birdcage Library
Book SynopsisA diary hidden. A crime buried. A secret to be freed...''A delicious page-turning mystery within a mystery'' LIZ HYDER''A twisty treasure hunt of a novel... Utterly beguiling'' LIZZIE POOK''It glistens with a hint of the danger that lurks within'' CHARLOTTE PHILBY''Claustrophobic and clever'' JANE SHEMILT_________Dear Reader, the man I love is trying to kill me...1932. Emily Blackwood, a young adventuress and plant hunter, travels north for a curious new commission. A gentleman has written to request she catalogue his vast collection of taxidermied creatures before sale.On arrival, Emily finds a ruined castle, its owner haunted by the memory of a woman who disappeared five decades before. And when she discovers the ripped pages of an old diary, crammed into the walls, she realises a dark secret lies here, waiting to entrap her too...''Beaut
£9.49
Headline Publishing Group Shadow of Night
Book Synopsis*NOW A MAJOR SKY TV SERIES. Read the novel Season 2 is based on.*Fall deeper under the spell of Diana and Matthew in the captivating second volume of the No.1 internationally bestselling ALL SOULS series, following A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES. Perfect for fans of Neil Gaiman, Diana Gabaldon and J. K. Rowling.---In a world of witches, daemons and vampires the fragile balance of peace is unravelling. Diana and Matthew''s forbidden love has broken the laws dividing creatures. To discover the manuscript which holds their hope for the future, they must now travel back to the past.When Diana Bishop, descended from a line of powerful witches, discovered a significant alchemical manuscript in the Bodleian Library, she sparked a struggle in which she became bound to long-lived vampire Matthew Clairmont. Now the coexistence of witches, daemons, vampires and humans is dangerously threatened.Seeking safTrade ReviewWhat a rich, thrilling and educational tale it is. . . A captivating and romantic ripping yarn.Deborah Harkness has done us proud with her magnificent, enthralling, engrossing sequel. . . Her weaving of time and ancient lore, of modern science and alchemy, of vampires, daemons and all-too-mortal humans is magical, wonderful and utterly additive. You won't be able to put it down.A bubbling cauldron of illicit desire. . . all the ingredients for an assured saga that blends romance with fantasy. * Daily Mail *An inventive addition to the supernatural craze. . . has exciting amounts of spells, kisses and battles, and is recounted with enchanting, page-turning panache. * Marie Claire *
£8.49
Headline Publishing Group I Was Told It Would Get Easier
Book SynopsisWhen a mother-daughter duo set out on a road trip, the last thing they expect to find along the way is each other... The new, heartfelt and hilarious novel from the bestselling author of THE BOOKISH LIFE OF NINA HILL.''GORGEOUS'' Marian Keyes''Charmed by its funny loveliness'' Nina StibbeJessica and her daughter Emily are touring colleges. For Jessica, this is going to be the chance to reconnect with the daughter she seems to have lost. But for Emily, it''s a preview of freedom, and the chance to explore a new and exciting future.Yet before any of this can happen, their perfectly planned trip is derailed into a series of off-roading misadventures: mother-daughter skiving, skipped mandatory meetings, and a scuffle with the FBI...With seatbelts fastened, physical and emotional baggage safely stowed away, this mother-daughter duo might be ready to hit the road, but arTrade ReviewThis sweet treat doesn't require a college-bound child to enjoy, though anyone who has helped their offspring weather the admissions process will definitely appreciate this sharp send-up * Publishers Weekly *Waxman shines at creating characters that feel like best friends * Booklist *
£19.01
Headline Publishing Group Fast by the Horns
Book Synopsis''With the sharp and delectable music of its dialect, the book grabs you by its teeth from the first page and never quite lets go . . . This is an urgent novel of ideas, constantly propelled by the narrator''s wildfire voice'' SAFIYA SINCLAIR, GUARDIANFrom the Hawthornden Prize-winning author of An Olive Grove in Ends, a powerful story of broken dreams and divided loyaltiesBristol, 1980. In the tight-knit neighbourhood of St. Pauls, 14-year-old Jabari is proud of his position as the only son of revered community leader Ras Levi. Raised in a world of sus laws and council neglect, Jabari finds hope in his Rastafari faith, which offers the comforting vision that one day he and his fellow believers will repatriate to the motherland, where they will at last be free from oppression and prejudice.But in St Pauls a local firebrand activist has been arrested, and violence soon overflows, pulling both father and son into its maelstrom
£17.00
Headline Publishing Group The Neil Gaiman Collection
Book Synopsis
£35.96
Headline Publishing Group The Leaving of Liverpool
Book Synopsis At the close of the First World War, two sisters'' battles are only just beginning... The Leaving of Liverpool is a poignant saga about the friendship between sisters, the threat of dangerous men and the promise of true love in post-World War I Liverpool.It is 1919. Liverpool has been devastated by World War I. But at last the war is over. Emily Parkinson goes back into service and enjoys the return to normality. But her sister Phoebe-Anne has ideas beyond her station. Working as a lady''s maid, Phoebe-Ann hopes that one day she will be more than just a friend to her mistress''s shell-shocked brother James Mercer.When Emily is brutally attacked, the sisters'' lives come close to ruin. Phoebe-Ann is forced to leave the Mercer household and falls into the arms of notorious Jake Malone. But as Emily recovers it seems that Phoebe-Anne might just be able to escape the mistakes of her past after all . . . What readers are saying ab
£11.07
Headline Publishing Group Made for Murders a collection of twelve
Book SynopsisA one-off collection of twelve Shakespearean-themed murder mysteries set in Elizabethan London, featuring Master Hardy Drew, Constable of the Bankside Watch, from the acclaimed author of the 7th century Irish Sister Fidelma mysteries.It is the early 1600s and the City of London sees Queen Elizabeth living out her dying days as Scottish King James waits in the wings to take to the throne.Meanwhile, in Southwark, along the south bank of the River Thames, Master Hardy Drew, Constable of the Bankside Watch, maintains law and order amongst the cut-throats and smugglers, in the taverns and brothels, as well as with the gentlefolk, who flock across the river to enjoy the latest plays by Shakespeare and Jonson.In twelve enthralling murder mysteries, brought together in this captivating collection of short stories, Master Hardy Drew confronts mystery and murder most foul and learns that deaths come cheaply on the Bankside Watch . . .Acclaim for P
£18.70
Headline Publishing Group The Last Days of Joy The bestselling novel of a
Book SynopsisEVERY FAMILY HAS SECRETS. SOME ARE JUST BETTER AT HIDING THEIRS...A TOP 5 BESTSELLER IN IRELAND AND NEW ZEALAND. ''You will fall in love with every one of the Tobin family'' Edel Coffey''Authentic, deeply moving and full of hope, this book broke my heart a little'' Jacqueline Bublitz''A page turner, portraying the madness and messiness of family life'' Elaine FeeneyMEET THE TOBIN FAMILY ...Joy, the complicated, troubled motherShe''s spent her life running from her past while trying to raise her children as best she can.Conor, the high-achieving eldest childA high-profile media figure and CEO, he''s walking a fine line between self-promotion and self-detonation.Frances, the ''perfect'' middle childNow a wife and mother, she''s about to make a mistake that could destroy her marriage.Youngest daughter, Sinead, the acclaim
£10.44
Orion Publishing Co The Wars of Gods and Men
Book SynopsisAfter the Coming of the Dark, most immortals in the world have been killed. The religion of the Four Tribes has taken over the world, and any who resist it are crushed. They await the return of their prophesised One, who is both male and female, and neither. They have not been seen for fifteen years, but belief rules all.A few still fight. A handful of surviving immortals, once seen as gods, have hidden away. In each of the four lands of the world, there are mutterings of rebellion. And over the mountains, kept secret from the world, the One has grown into their adulthood. It is time for them to return and see what is being done in their name. And that means going to war.
£17.09
Orion Publishing Co A Desert Torn Asunder
Book SynopsisThis is the sixth and final volume in the acclaimed Song of the Shattered Sands series, in which an orphan girl grows up to avenge her murdered rebel mother and overthrow the ancient, corrupt and magical regime: the twelve kings of Sharakai.
£17.09
Orion Publishing Co The Lightborn
Book SynopsisFreed from his prison cell, the former slave known as Tatters is finally ready to face his past. Now his true nature is known to all, he can use his Lightborn powers freely. But they come at a price, and his loyalties remain conflicted. The renegades about to attack the city used to be his companions, and both sides have treated him badly. He will have to decide which side to choose. Isha had thought Tatters was dead, and is overjoyed to see him return. But her master, one of the most powerful mages, has a past with them both, one which might make their reunion impossible. The mages remain divided, and in order to survive they will need to come together, and put aside past arguments. They too have a choice. And outside the city, the renegades continue to advance. Destruction of the mages is their only goal, and nobody knows if they can be stopped...
£18.70
Orion Publishing Co Among Thieves
Book Synopsis''Fantasy fans won''t want to miss this'' Publishers Weekly A high-stakes heist novel set in a gritty world of magic and malice.WHO NEEDS FRIENDS WHEN YOU HAVE AXES?Ryia ''the Butcher'' Cautella has earned her reputation as the quickest, deadliest blade in the city - not to mention the sharpest tongue. But Ryia Cautella is not her real name. A deadly secret has kept Ryia in hiding, running from city to city, doing whatever it takes to stay one step ahead of the formidable Guildmaster - sovereign ruler of the five kingdoms. But even the most powerful men can be defeated. One last impossible job is all that stands between Ryia and her freedom - but even the Butcher can''t do it alone. She teams up with the Saints, a crew of uniquely skilled miscreants, smugglers and thieves, to carry off a death-defying heist into the most tightly guarded island in the kingdoms - the Guildmaster''s stronghold. Unfortunately fo
£15.29
Hodder & Stoughton A Life Without You a gripping and emotional
Book Synopsis''A heart-clangingly powerful stunner of a novel'' - Isabelle Broom. Perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes, Lucy Dillon and Amanda Prowse. Can you ever outrun the past?It''s Zoe''s wedding day. She''s about to marry Jamie, the love of her life. Then a phone call comes out of the blue, with the news that her mum Gina has been arrested. Zoe must make an impossible decision: should she leave her own wedding to help?Zoe hasn''t seen Gina for years, blaming her for the secret that she''s been running from ever since she was sixteen. Now, Gina is back in her life, but she''s very different to the mum Zoe remembers. Slowly but surely, Gina is losing her memory.As she struggles to cope with Gina''s illness, can Zoe face up to the terrible events of years ago and find her way back to the people she loves?A Life Without You is a stirring and poignant novel about the power of the past - and the possibilities of the future. Trade ReviewA Life Without You is a tender, poignant story of love, loss and long-buried secrets. Katie Marsh's gorgeously heartbreaking, life-affirming tale grabs your heart and won't let go. A truly special book - I adored every twist and turn. -- Miranda DickinsonEmotional and brilliantly written * Fabulous *Another heart-clangingly powerful stunner of a novel from the effortlessly wise, warm and brilliant Katie Marsh. If you're looking for a novel to inspire you, a story to move you and a book to make your heart sing, you've just found it. A Life Without You is a triumph! -- Isabelle BroomA great read - heartwarming and funny in places and poignantly sad in others. A reminder to us all not to take our families or our memories for granted. -- The Unmumsy MumTouching, emotionally charged... A wonderful tale about love and motherhood -- Amanda JenningsA tender, beautiful, heart-tugging book. Totally gorgeous -- Iona Grey, Winner of the Romantic Novel of the Year Award 2016A poignant, heartfelt and refreshing tale about family, secrets, love and forgiveness. A stunner of a novel. Read it! * Heat *A tender, poignant portrayal of a mother/daughter relationship -- Sarah Vaughan, author of The Art of Baking Blind'Impeccably written... a stunning and compassionate story of family, forgiveness and unconditional love. Katie Marsh has such emotive writing, evoking both laughter and tears, ensuring that A Life Without You is a book that will remain forever in my heart. No words will ever do this book justice - you simply must read it for yourself.' -- The Book MagnetPraise for My Everything * : *Absolutely LOVED it! Such a beautiful book . . . Heartwarming and funny in places, and very honest. -- Carrie Hope FletcherIt was hard to put down, the characters are beautifully observed and continue to surprise one, all the way through to the story's unexpected end. -- Jenny AgutterDevastatingly good - wonderfully warm, heartbreakingly real and completely uplifting. I was completely blown away by the story and Katie's beautiful prose drew me right to the heart of Hannah and Tom's world. I will be recommending this book to everyone! -- Miranda DickinsonA moving and thoughtful story about love and second chances * Sunday Mirror *The vivid storytelling doesn't shy away from the emotional realities of Tom & Hannah's situation, which makes for a compelling and disarmingly moving story full of heartbreak and hope... a bittersweet story about love, learning and letting go. This deeply poignant and beautifully written debut is both devastatingly sad and blissfully romantic * Heat *A story that will evoke every emotion that lurks within your heart and pull each string firmly. Devastating is the perfect word, yet it is also beautiful and passionate and exquisitely written. -- Random Things Through My LetterboxThis thought-provoking debut novel is both brilliantly funny and sad * Sun *A moving and realistic portrait of life-changing illness...this skilful debut novel offers an inspiring journey through love, loss and second chances * Sunday Express *
£8.54
Hodder & Stoughton The Cloven
Book SynopsisLose yourself again in the heady, mythical expanse of the Vorrh.Trade ReviewPraise for The Vorrh Trilogy * : *In Brian Catling's phosphorescent masterpiece The Vorrh we have one of the most original and stunningworks of fantasy that has ever been my privilege to read, a brilliant and sustained piece of invention which establishes a benchmark not just for imaginative writing but for the human imagination in itself. After investigating other worlds of fantasy, The Vorrh is like a first experience of the ocean. Read this book, and marvel. * Alan Moore *Brian Catling is simply a genius. His writing is so extraordinary it hurts, it makes me realize how little imagination I have. * Terry Gilliam *I really loved Brian Catling's The Vorrh. It's a hot storm of a novel bursting with art and history, sex and nature. A visionary fantasy epic that is incredibly fun to read. Wildly different, but no less remarkable. * Max Porter *There are not many books that rearrange the molecules of your being, turning your eyes inside out. The Vorrh, this saturnine post-traumatic testament, is one of them. A work of genius. * Iain Sinclair *The English language has given birth to some great works of unbounded vision and imagination, and here is another one... It's a very sophisticated and subtle exploration of the decadent, primitive and the mythical. Many books are said to be like nothing else, and aren't, but Brian Catling's really is. * Philip Pullman *Although comparisons to Michael Moorcock and Mervyn Peake will inevitably be drawn, The Vorrh offers something more...It reminded me of Odilon Redon: a combination of the luminous, the luxurious, monstrous flora and dark wit * TLS *When they write the history of 21st century literature, I am sure that this series of books will be more than prominent. * Scotland on Sunday *
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton The Roanoke Girls the addictive Richard Judy
Book SynopsisThe explosive Richard & Judy book club thriller, perfect for fans of THE GIRLS, GOOD ME BAD ME and Gillian Flynn.Trade ReviewA must-have * Sunday Express *Fans of The Girls will love this sweat-soaked, sultry, small town tale full of shadows and lurking dread. * Red Online *A provocative thriller * Telegraph *'Deeply, darkly twisted. I loved it. A (vastly superior) Flowers in the Attic for a new generation' -- Sarah Hilary (author of Someone Else's Skin )A debt to Daphne du Maurier is evident throughout this remarkably assured adult debut * The Sunday Times *Packed with suspense and danger...this is a book that stays with you * The Lady *Twisted, controversial...SO compelling and beautifully written -- Claire Douglas, Sunday Times bestselling author of Local Girl, Missing Beautifully written and utterly captivating...and so so dark. I loved it! -- Katerina Diamond, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Teacher'One of the best books I've read in a long time...Gripping, twisty, dark - what a page turner. One not to miss!' -- Rebecca Done (author of This Secret We're Keeping )'I was immediately drawn into The Roanoke Girls, a haunting and riveting look at one family's tangled legacy. You won't stop reading until you've unraveled the darkest of Roanoke's shocking secrets' -- Laura McHugh, author of The Weight of Blood'Dark and intense... with a compelling twist which will remain with you long after the book's last sentence' -- L.S. Hilton, author of Maestra'An emotionally compelling page turner, The Roanoke Girls takes you inside the dark world of a twisted family' -- Wendy Walker, author of All Is Not Forgotten'Utterly utterly gripping; at the end I was destroyed' -- Liz Loves Books'Atmospheric. Claustrophobic. Creepy...elicit[s] a slow sense of dread' -- Book by Book'Creepy, twisted, compelling, The Roanoke Girls crawls under your skin and stays there' -- Harriet Reuter Hapgood, author of The Square Root of Summer
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton A Class Act
Book SynopsisThe third and final novel in the delightful Top of the Dales series from bestselling author Gervase Phinn.''A worthy successor to James Herriot, and every bit as endearing.'' - Alan TitchmarshChange is afoot in the usually sleepy village of Risingdale. Gerald Gaunt, headmaster of the primary school for over thirty years, is retiring. It is the end of an era and Gerald hopes that his replacement will work with him to secure a bright, happy future for the school. But Mr Smart has his own ideas about how things should be run, and things start to become fraught very quickly. On top of this, the teachers have plenty of other dramas to contend with. Still dealing with a class of children who seem to understand agriculture better than arithmetic, Tom Dwyer is pining over Janette, his one-that-got-away. Meanwhile, his colleague Joyce Tranter''s new marital bliss is shattered by the arrival of her husband''s avaricious, scheming nephew. And elsewhere inTrade ReviewPRAISE FOR GERVASE PHINN:Good old-fashioned yarn-spinning * The Bookbag *Packed with delightful and authentic characters, juicy gossip, precarious romance and good old-fashioned village drama, this is a warm-hearted and hilarious account of a struggling school in a small community * Good Book Guide *As Yorkshire's favourite school inspector turns to fiction, you can enjoy memorable characters and turns of phrase * Choice *Written with all the humour and warmth one has come to expect from this master storyteller * Countryman *A worthy successor to James Herriot, and every bit as endearing * Alan Titchmarsh *
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton The Language of Birds
Book SynopsisDrawing on the infamous Lord Lucan affair, this compelling novel explores the roots of a shocking murder from a fresh perspective and brings to vivid life an era when women''s voices all too often went unheard. In the summer of 1974, Mandy River arrives in London to make a fresh start and begins working as nanny to the children of one Lady Morven. She quickly finds herself in the midst of a bitter custody battle and the house under siege: Lord Morven is having his wife watched. According to Lady Morven, her estranged husband also has a violent streak, yet she doesn''t seem the most reliable witness. Should Mandy believe her? As Mandy edges towards her tragic fate, her friend Rosemary watches from the wings - an odd girl with her own painful past and a rare gift. This time, though, she misreads the signs.Trade ReviewMandy is a gorgeous creation, a character so warm and vivid you half wish you could take her out for a drink . . . Dawson is good at delineating class, particularly as it manifested itself in the '70s . . . every detail is perfect, from children's toys to mealtimes . . . it's impossible to tire of Mandy, or of Neville, the West Indian man with whom she falls in love -- Rachel Cooke * Observer *In a class of its own . . . A glimmeringly intelligent, vital and compassionate exploration of nature,nurture and female desire, it also taps a deep vein of anger and sorrow at the fate of innumerable abused and murdered women. Timely, devastating and superbly realised. -- Stephanie Cross * Daily Mail *[Dawson has] an extraordinary facility with language and mood . . . her unsettling novel combines the suspense of a thriller and a haunting sense of melancholy with none of the queasy excess of the true crime genre. -- Catherine Taylor * Financial Times *Poignant and heartbreaking. -- Louise Doughty * Cosmopolitan *Gripping . . . This dazzling novel combines the pace of a thriller with moving, poetic writing. -- Joanne Finney * Good Housekeeping Book of the Month *The complex intersections of the mother-baby-nanny triangle and the loneliness of childcare are beautifully depicted . . .The narrative's progress towards the terrifying evening in the dark basement kitchen has the ineluctable pull of tragic myth. We know what must come, but this knowledge never detracts from the memorable beauty and intelligence of the novel. By focussing on the victim, Dawson allows us to completely rethink the original story in a way that honours Sandra Rivett's short life. * Sofka Zinovieff, Guardian *Highly engrossing . . . Dawson gives powerful voice to someone silenced in history . . . She delves unflinchingly into themes of domestic violence, mental illness and murder with sensitivity and skill. Her greatest achievement is to make Mandy live from these pages not only as a victim of murder but as a young woman filled with an energy too cruelly cut short. * Anita Sethi, The i *Lady Morven and Mandy are superbly drawn . . . a sensitive and often beautifully written novel that examines the case thoroughly without making you feel like a rubbernecker. Dawson's greatest achievement is to breathe life into Sandra, emphasising that she would deserve our attention even if she had not met such a tragic end. * Jake Kerridge, Daily Telegraph *Dawson has a great talent for turning real people into fictional characters . . . By viewing the drama through the eyes of two nannies - the watchful Mandy and her more gullible friend Rosemary - Jill Dawson introduces an intriguing new perspective on the well-known tale. The cold, knowing world of upper-class entitlement is captured with fresh eyes. Dawson is particularly sharp on the nanny's conflicting thoughts about her neurotic employer. -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday *Compelling . . . it's a heartbreaking read * Eithne Farry, Sunday Express *Refusing to get distracted by the largely spurious mystery of Lucan's disappearance, this imaginative and often poetic novel keeps itself grounded in the no-nonsense realities of social class and domestic violence. * Phil Baker, Sunday Times *Addictive and moving * Emerald Street *I loved it. It's a brilliant riposte to all the Lucan myth-making that has developed over the years - so moving and so righteously angry. -- Paula Hawkins, author of THE GIRL ON THE TRAINJill Dawson explores the [Lucan] case from the nanny's perspective, bringing her to life as a fictional yet vivid character. And, in the process, she takes on the British class system, misogyny and domestic violence. Even though we know the tragic ending, the novel is curiously uplifting. -- Liz Hoggard * Radio Times *Glorious and exquisitely written. And - for a book that takes one of the most famous murders of the 20th century as its inspiration - astonishingly full of life and joy. -- Emma Flint, author of LITTLE DEATHSJill Dawson has always had a knack for spotting sensational true-life stories and making from them intelligent, thought-provoking and terrifically absorbing page-turners. Her latest is no exception . . . The sights and sounds of vibrant Seventies London pop off the page, and the whole thing crackles with life, ideas and - hurrah - unapologised-for female desire. -- Summer Holiday Reads * Daily Mail *The nanny's-eye view of these posh, emotionally stunted people is entirely effective . . . this beautifully written novel achieves its aim: it gives the victim back her voice. -- Andrew Taylor * Spectator *Atmospheric and genuinely riveting, with a huge feminist heart. -- Alexandra Heminsley * Grazia *Dawson's fictionalised take on the Lord Lucan murder case eschews sensation to explore questions of nature and nurture, and celebrate female friendship and desire. It's fantastic on Seventies London, too. -- Christmas Books * Daily Mail *Imaginative and poetic -- The Pick of the Best Paperbacks * Sunday Times *A vibrant and compelling literary creation . . . Dawson tackles themes of class, culpability, sex and violence in a powerful and affecting novel * Observer *This novel is based closely on the events surrounding the disappearance of Lord Lucan following the murder of the family nanny, Sandra Rivett, in 1974. Focusing as much on the nanny's life as that of her aristocratic employer, it's strangely dreamlike, sometimes surreal and always enthralling. * Sunday Express S Magazine *
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton Privilege
Book SynopsisFrom the author of When You Read This, a smart, sharply observed novel about gender and class on a college campus in the spirit of The Female Persuasion and Prep.
£17.00
John Murray Press Moscow Midnight
Book SynopsisGovernment minister Patrick Macready has been found dead in his flat. The coroner rules it an accident, a sex game gone wrong. Jon Swift is from the old stock of journos - cynical, cantankerous and overweight - and something about his friend''s death doesn''t seem right. Then days after Macready''s flat is apparently burgled, Swift discovers that his friend had been researching a string of Russian government figures who had met similarly ''accidental'' fates. When the police refuse to investigate further, Swift gets in touch with his contacts in Moscow, determined to find out if his hunch is correct. Following the lead, he is soon drawn into a violent underworld, where whispers of conspiracies, assassinations and double-agents start blurring the line between friend and foe.But the truth will come at a price, and it may cost him everything.Trade ReviewAn entertaining, often funny account of the murder of an insignificant MP, the solution to which eventually leads to Moscow. The novel's pleasure lies with its voluble louche narrator, Jon Swift, a down-on-his-luck television presenter who was friends with the dead politician * The Times *A contemporary, topical murder mystery that marks John Simpson's emphatic return to fiction * Radio Times *An engaging yarn with a strong, sometimes mischievous autobiographical element * Sunday Times *This engaging, rip-roaring story about a TV reporter who investigates the death of a government minister friend reveals Simpson's quirkier, more mischievous side . . . told with a wry, tongue-in-cheek style that delights * Daily Mail *Simpson knows his stuff, obviously, and his plotting is strewn with expert analysis of international affairs and insider knowledge of journalistic practice: all very entertaining * Spectator *Very entertaining * The Spectator *
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton Listening Still
Book SynopsisTHE TOP TEN IRISH BESTSELLER''Absorbing and heartwarming'' Irish Times''A wonderfully unexpected tale of life, death and everything in between'' Graham NortonSeventeen years ago, Jeanie Masterson chose duty over love, giving up the chance of a new life in London with her childhood sweetheart to work in the family undertakers in her small Irish town. Now, when Jeanie''s parents suddenly announce their plan to retire and leave the business to her and her husband, it brings long-silenced doubts about her job, her marriage and her future to the surface. Faced once again with a choice between stability and freedom, can Jeanie find the courage to listen to her own voice?''Warm and funny, full of lovely characters and poignant moments.'' Good Housekeeping''Ireland''s long line of magical storytellers is further enriched by Anne Griffin . . . An outstanding read'' Sunday ExpressTrade ReviewA wonderfully unexpected tale of love, death and everything in betweenA wonderfully unexpected tale of love, death and everything in betweenStunning - a book that surpasses all expectations and thoroughly cements Anne Griffin's place on the short but venerable list of writers whose work is always a must-read. A delicately-hewn delight from first sentence to lastStunning - a book that surpasses all expectations and thoroughly cements Anne Griffin's place on the short but venerable list of writers whose work is always a must-read. A delicately-hewn delight from first sentence to lastAbsorbing and heartwarming . . . 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 *Absorbing and heartwarming . . . 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 *Carries many of the winsome Irish signature traits we expect of Griffin * Irish Sunday Times *Carries many of the winsome Irish signature traits we expect of Griffin * Irish Sunday Times *Ireland'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 . . . Griffin explores the tension between instinct and duty in a powerful, moving novel, deftly weaving the strands of the story to create a masterpiece that lingers long in the memory * Sunday Express *Ireland'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 . . . Griffin explores the tension between instinct and duty in a powerful, moving novel, deftly weaving the strands of the story to create a masterpiece that lingers long in the memory * Sunday Express *The setting and its supernatural undertow allow Griffin's humour to sparkle . . . there is a lesson in this quirky account of duty shirked and freedom tasted * Irish Independent *The setting and its supernatural undertow allow Griffin's humour to sparkle . . . there is a lesson in this quirky account of duty shirked and freedom tasted * Irish Independent *Some surprising twists and turns . . . kept me engaged to the end * Sunday Independent *Some surprising twists and turns . . . kept me engaged to the end * Sunday Independent *Listening Still marries rural realism with the supernatural very convincingly and beautifully highlights the small, but important, moments of life and deathListening Still marries rural realism with the supernatural very convincingly and beautifully highlights the small, but important, moments of life and deathA warm and funny read, full of lovely characters and poignant moments. * Good Housekeeping *A warm and funny read, full of lovely characters and poignant moments. * Good Housekeeping *There's bags of charm here * Daily Mail *There's bags of charm here * Daily Mail *Tender, gentle and warm-hearted * Best *Tender, gentle and warm-hearted * Best *An emotional, funny look at human relationships in all their forms. * My Weekly Special *An emotional, funny look at human relationships in all their forms. * My Weekly Special *Listening Still is very good and I would recommend it . . . It's a really exciting story and . . . highly interesting . . . actually quite enthralling, and even though it sounds wild, as you read the book it seems entirely feasible * Athlone Advertiser *Listening Still is very good and I would recommend it . . . It's a really exciting story and . . . highly interesting . . . actually quite enthralling, and even though it sounds wild, as you read the book it seems entirely feasible * Athlone Advertiser *A highly original story about a family-run undertaking business * TheGloss.ie *A highly original story about a family-run undertaking business * TheGloss.ie *Griffin sensitively explores Jeanie's struggle for self-fulfilment in an assured second novel. * Observer *Griffin sensitively explores Jeanie's struggle for self-fulfilment in an assured second novel. * Observer *
£9.49
Orion Publishing Co Jane is Trying
Book SynopsisJane is trying.She''s been trying for a baby, with increasing desperation as her thirties sail by.Now, she''s trying to make a new start back home with her overprotective, charades-obsessed parents - having left her career and cheating fiancé behind in London.And, she''s trying to convince herself she didn''t leave the front door unlocked, or the gas on. (Jane''s not anxious. She just wants to make one hundred percent sure that nothing bad''s going to happen to her. EVER.)With an increasing load on her plate, friends and family who think if she only listens to them she''ll have a perfect life, and a brain which questions every decision she''s ever made, can Jane conquer her demons and step forward on her own?
£15.29
Orion Publishing Co The Danish Girl
Book SynopsisNow a major motion picture starring Eddie Redmayne and Oscar-winning Alicia Vikander''An enthralling read'' THE TIMES''Heartbreaking and unforgettable, it is a complete triumph'' BOSTON GLOBE''Beautifully written. It is absolutely engrossing'' SUNDAY EXPRESSLoosely inspired by a true story, this tender portrait of marriage asks: What do you do when the person you love has to change?It starts with a question, a simple favour asked by a wife of her husband while both are painting in their studio, setting off a transformation neither can anticipate. Uniting fact and fiction into an original romantic vision, The Danish Girl eloquently portrays the unique intimacy that defines every marriage and the remarkable story of Lili Elbe, a pioneer in transgender history, and the woman torn between loyalty to her marriage and her own ambitions and desires. The Danish GirlTrade ReviewThis is a curiously touching tale, told in a lucid and sensitive style * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *An enthralling read * THE TIMES *A beautifully written novel . . . elegant, assured and intelligent * DAILY EXPRESS *The intelligence and tactfulness of his exploration of [love] makes his novel a noteworthy event * NEW YORK TIMES *A first novel of startling refinement and beauty * Chicago Tribune *Heartbreaking and unforgettable, it is a complete triumph * Boston Globe *Beautifully written. It is absolutely engrossing . . . [an] elegant, assured and intelligent tale; as a first novel, it is astounding * SUNDAY EXPRESS *Intriguing and captivating . . . a resonant fable about metamorphosis and the construction of identity. This admirable book deserves to find a wide readership * DAILY TELEGRAPH *Be enchanted by THE DANISH GIRL . . . elegant and sensitive writing * ELLE *[An] affecting and graceful debut * NEW STATESMAN *The book is a sensuous treat, its symbolic visual imagery combining with mesmeric recreations of period and place . . . Einar and his wife are treated with sympathy, and a potentially sensational or bizarre subject is treated with dignity * ART NEWSPAPER *This is a curiously touching take, told in lucid and sensitive style that shows great insight into an extraordinary predicament . . . an engrossing story of true love, suffering and sacrifice * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *
£9.49
Orion Publishing Co Augustown
Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE OCM BOCAS PRIZE FOR CARIBBEAN LITERATURESHORTLISTED FOR THE RSL ONDAATJE PRIZE, THE GREEN CARNATION PRIZE, and the HISTORICAL WRITERS AWARD''Miller''s storytelling is superb'' SUNDAY TIMESOne April day in Augustown, Jamaica. Ma Taffy, old and blind, sits in her usual spot on the veranda. No matter how the world tilts around her, come hurricane or riot, she knows everything that goes on in this small community. Which is why, when her six-year-old nephew returns home from school with his dreadlocks shorn, she realises that trouble won''t be far behind. And so she tells him the story of Alexander Bedward, the flying preacherman. She remembers what happened to the Rastaman and his helper, Bongo Moody; she thinks of Soft-Paw, the leader of the Angola gang, and what lies beneath her house. For trouble is brewing once more among the ramshackle lanes of Augustown, and as Ma Taffy knows, each day contains much more than its own hours, orTrade ReviewDriven by atmosphere more than plot, the language is as clear as spring water * OBSERVER *Richly nuanced and empathetic . . . a vivid modern fable * GUARDIAN *Like a wide-angled lens, Miller's novel fits much into a small frame - Augustown itself, Rastafari, gang and police violence, religious opposition to colonial rule - but still gives an impression of space * DAILY TELEGRAPH *Truly panoramic * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *Miller's storytelling is superb, its power coming from the seamless melding of the magical and the everyday, which gives his novel a significant fabular quality * Sunday Times *
£9.49
Orion Publishing Co The Lightkeepers Daughters
Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE HWA DEBUT CROWN 2018*** A RADIO 2 BOOK CLUB PICK ***Elizabeth grew up in a lighthouse, inseparable from her enigmatic twin sister Emily. Their father, the lightkeeper, kept a journal of his observations and their daily life. When those journals are discovered on a shipwrecked boat, many decades later, Elizabeth is living in a retirement home and her eyesight is failing. She enlists the help of a troubled teenager, Morgan, to read to her, and an unlikely friendship grows between the two. But as Morgan reads on, Elizabeth discovers that the past revealed is not as she remembers it, and that the journal may contain answers to unexplained events that have haunted her all her life . . .''A perfect hammock read for those who love the Brontë sisters and Jodi Picoult in equal measure'' PUBLISHERS WEEKLYTrade ReviewJean Pendziwol's beautifully written novel captured me from the very first page. Its descriptions of the windswept lightkeeper's station of Elizabeth's and Emily's youth are so crisply rendered I felt I was standing on its shores watching the great ships cross the stormy waters of Lake Superior. Even more than its vivid evocation of a unique time and place, THE LIGHTKEEPER'S DAUGHTERS is a sensitive and moving examination of the nature of identity, the importance of family, and the possibility of second chances -- Heather Young, author of THE LOST GIRLSLake Superior may not give up its dead, but it does eventually give up the secret that lies at the heart of this compelling and fascinating novel by Jean Pendziwol. The Lightkeeper's Daughters is a splendid feat of storytelling that held me happily spellbound from the opening pages to the satisfying final sentence -- Nancy Richler, author of THE IMPOSTER BRIDE, shortlisted for the Giller PrizeThe Lightkeeper's Daughters is a new kind of love story, a celebration of unlikely human connections - to each other, to the land, and to a shared history. Jean Pendziwol's storytelling prowess held me fast to the page, and with each surprising revelation, I fell more deeply in love with Elizabeth and Morgan. I delighted in watching these unexpected friends grow together in their combined attempt to answer that most primal question: Who am I? The Lightkeeper's Daughters gets an enthusiastic standing ovation from me. As soon as I turned the last page, I missed the characters who had, in the short space of a novel, already grown to take up real space in my heart. I can't wait to see what Jean Pendziwol does next -- Angie Abdou, author of THE BONE CAGE and CANTERBURY TRAILAn intricately satisfying story about love and deception that manages to be both melancholy and exhilarating. A haunting tale of nostalgia and lost chances that is full of last-minute surprises * Kirkus Reviews *A perfect hammock read for those who love the Brontë sisters and Jodi Picoult in equal measure * Publishers Weekly *Deeply satisfying.... With strong characters and rich in historical details, The Lightkeeper's Daughters looks carefully at love and identity and the things we do to keep them both safe * Booklist *A remarkable achievement . . . a story of commitment, identity, and familial loyalty that will leave one in tears. Five out of five stars * New York Journal of Books *
£8.99
Orion Publishing Co An Unreliable Man
Book Synopsis From the creative genius of Jostein Gaarder, author of modern classic Sophie''s World, comes a novel about loneliness and the power of words Jakop is a lonely man. Divorced from his wife, with no friends apart from his constant companion Pelle, he spends his life attending the funerals of people he doesn''t know, obscuring his identity in a web of improbable lies. As his addiction spirals out of control, he is forced to reconcile his love of language and stories with the ever more urgent need for human connection. An Unreliable Man is a moving and thought-provoking novel about loneliness and truth, about seeking a place in the world, and about how storytelling gives our lives meaning.Decades after his global bestseller Sophie''s World, Jostein Gaarder has written a poignant and funny book for our times - full of life and hope.Praise for Sophie''s World''ATrade ReviewSOPHIE'S WORLD is set to become a unique popular classic: a wonderfully engaging mystery story that also forms a completely accessible and lucid introduction to philosophy and philosophers - The Times on SOPHIE'S WORLDA marvellously rich book - Guardian on SOPHIE'S WORLDAn Alice in Wonderland for the 90s . . . a simply wonderful, irresistible book - Daily Telegraph on SOPHIE'S WORLDA modern fairytale - Heat on THE ORANGE GIRLIt should be read by all - Vogue on THE ORANGE GIRL
£8.54
Orion Publishing Co Northern Spy
Book Synopsis THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERA REESE''S BOOK CLUB PICK - SOON TO BE A MAJOR NETFLIX PRODUCTION''You''ll devour Northern Spy . . . I loved this thrill ride of a book''Reese Witherspoon''A sharp, moving thriller: you lose your breath for adrenalin''Abigail Dean, author of Girl A''A chilling, gorgeously written tale''New York Times''Nerve-shredding suspense''Daily Mail''Thrillingly good... Flynn Berry shows a le Carré-like flair for making you wonder what''s really going on at any given moment''Washington Post A producer at the Belfast bureau of the BBC, Tessa is at work one day when the news of another IRA raid comes on the air: as the anchor requests the public''s help in locating those responsible for this latest attack - a robbery at a gas station - Tessa''s
£15.29
Orion Publishing Co The Red Notebook
Book Synopsis''No other thriller writer can make you break into a sweat and break your heart at the same time'' THE TIMESLeyli Maal is a beautiful Malian woman, mother of three, living in a tiny apartment on the outskirts of Marseille. Her quiet life as a well-integrated immigrant is suddenly shaken when her beautiful eldest daughter, Bamby, becomes the main suspect in two murders linked to a lethal illegal immigration racket.Is Bamby really involved? And why is everyone desperate to get their hands on Leyli''s mysterious red notebook?
£17.00
