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
Double 9 Booksllp The Circular Staircase
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£13.59
Pegasus Elliot Mackenzie Publishers Benjamin and the Time Machine
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£9.71
Double 9 Books The Black Tulip
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£12.74
Double 9 Booksllp Arms and the Man
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£9.99
Pegasus Elliot Mackenzie Publishers The Wings of the Spectrum
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£13.49
Double 9 Booksllp God'S Country-And The Woman
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£11.89
Pegasus Elliot Mackenzie Publishers A Boy Named Vincent
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£7.59
Double 9 Booksllp Babbitt
Book SynopsisSinclair Lewis' satirical book Babbitt, published in 1922, is about American culture and society and criticizes the superficiality of middle-class life and the temptation to fit in. Babbitt's disagreement had a big impact on the decision to give Lewis the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1930. The book has been adapted into two motion pictures: a silent version in 1924 and a talkie version in 1934. Babbitt's life is chronicled in the first seven chapters over the course of a single day. Babbitt coos over his ten-year-old daughter Tinka during breakfast, tries to talk his 22-year-old daughter Verona out of her recent socialist tendencies and exhorts his 17-year-old son Ted to work more in school. He dictates letters while at work and has conversations with his staff on real estate advertising. Babbitt hurries home and abandons all disobedience when his wife develops acute appendicitis. They reestablish their intimacy during her prolonged recovery, and Babbitt returns to his emotionless conformity. In the climactic scene, Babbitt learns that his son Ted secretly wed Eunice, his neighbor's daughter. Though he doesn't agree, he declares that he is in favor of the union and commends Ted for leading an independent life.
£16.79
EduCart The Emerald City of Oz
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£12.34
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Grace
Book SynopsisThe gripping and heartbreaking second novel by the author of BA Book of the Month and LoveReading Debut of the Month Patience. She gave you her baby. Now she wants her back. When nineteen-year-old Michelle gets pregnant she’s convinced she’ll be a terrible mother. Having grown up in care, she cannot subject her child to the same fate. Instead, she puts her up for adoption. Amelia has always dreamed of being a mum, but gave up hope after a devastating loss. When she’s offered the chance to adopt baby Grace, it feels like all her dreams have come true. But then Michelle decides she wants her daughter back, and it’s up to the courts to decide. What is better for Grace – a mother’s love, or a stable home? Praise for Grace: 'Beautiful... Heart-wrenching. A wonderful gem of a book' Eve Ainsworth, author of Duckling 'Warm and real and heart-breaking all at the same time. I loved it' Clare SwatmanTrade ReviewSensitively written, with complex characters, the story covers hard-hitting themes as the reader is taken on an emotional rollercoaster ride with an ending that makes it all worthwhile! * Candis *PRAISE FOR PATIENCE: 'Inspired by truth, Patience and her family come alive on the pages. I felt every single emotion with them' Alice Peterson, author of Monday to Friday Man. 'An extraordinary novel about love and hope and family and what happens in the space between the words. I adored it' Kirsten Hesketh, author of Another Us. 'An eye-opening, sincere and beautiful debut. A really special novel that I suspect will have a tangible effect on readers' NB Magazine. 'Absorbing, poignant story of a family's emotional rollercoaster in the aftermath of participating in a risky medical trial' * LoveReading *
£9.49
Double 9 Booksllp The Rustlers Of Pecos County
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£14.39
Double 9 Booksllp The Picture Of Dorian Gray
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£14.39
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Lemon
Book SynopsisThis is not a murder story. It is the story of those left behind. Parasite meets The Good Son in this piercing psychological portrait of three women haunted by a brutal, unsolved crime. In the summer of 2002, Kim Hae-on was killed in what became known as the High School Beauty Murder. There were two suspects: Shin Jeongjun, who had a rock-solid alibi, and Han Manu, to whom no evidence could be pinned. The case went cold. Seventeen years pass without justice, and the grief and uncertainty take a cruel toll on her younger sister, Da-on, in particular. Unable to move on with her life, Da-on tries in her own twisted way to recover some of what she's lost, ultimately setting out to find the truth of what happened. Shifting between the perspectives of Da-on and two of Hae-on's classmates, Lemon ostensibly takes the shape of a crime novel. But identifying the perpetrator is not the main objective here: Kwon Yeo-sun uses this well-worn form to craft a searing, timely exploration of privilege, jealousy, trauma, and how we live with the wrongs we have endured and inflicted in turn. Praise for Lemon: 'Discovering whodunnit isn't really the point here; Lemon is a subtle, often intense meditation on the after-effects of violence' Guardian 'Chilling, suspenseful and disconcerting... I couldn't put it down and read deep into the night until I finished it, with my heart hammering' Frances Cha, author of If I Had Your FaceTrade ReviewA haunting literary crime story... Razor-sharp observations of class, gender and privilege in contemporary Korea, this page turner is one for fans of Diary of a Murderer: And Other Stories' * Cosmopolitan *With taut, steely prose, Kwon burrows into the details surrounding the shocking murder of a beautiful girl. Though Lemon takes the form of a mystery and there's psychological suspense that will grip you all the way to the end, it isn't just a whodunnit. Hidden on every page are explorations of grief and guilt, how one should go on after a tragedy. It jolts with its brilliance and tartness. It's simply electric -- Kyung-sook Shin, author of Please Look After Mother and I'll Be Right ThereWith taut, crisp writing, Kwon Yeo-sun deftly walks the tightrope of psychological suspense, and at the same time transcends the well-known framework of the crime novel to explore the emotional depths of grief, guilt, privilege, and trauma. A smart, well-crafted page-turner -- Tami Hoag, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The BoyKwon Yeo-sun's Lemon is a gripping mystery with an eccentric and thought-provoking edge. It's quite the unputdownable read! -- June Hur, author of The Silence of Bones and The Forest of Stolen GirlsLemon is a deliciously rewarding novel that delves into assumptions about power, wealth, beauty, love, ability, and right to compensation. How well do we know each other? How do we move on from violent loss? I'm in awe of Kwon's gorgeous prose and intricately crafted mystery at the heart of this elegant thriller -- Jimin Han, author of A Small RevolutionThough the narrative takes the form of a detective novel, it becomes a meditation on envy, grief and, this being South Korea, plastic surgery. Understated yet lingeringly eerie * Guardian *Chilling, suspenseful and disconcerting. A story of taking things into one's own hands, when driven to despair by injustice and grief. I couldn't put it down and read deep into the night until I finished it, with my heart hammering -- Frances Cha, author of If I Had Your FaceKwon Yeo-sun quickly cracks open the secret rivalries between teenage girls to reveal an unending silent scream of loneliness, cruelty, and nihilism that goes on to permeate their adult lives. What a jet-black switchblade of a book! -- Sandi Tan, director of Shirkers and author of LurkersA chilling yet deeply moving story about grief, trauma, life, death, and the shattered pieces left behind by those who are gone. The humanity of Kwon's characters will break your heart on every page -- An Yu, author of Braised PorkCharming, beguiling, and unique. At the heart of this 'mystery' is a poetic meditation on grief, guilt, and the meaning of life. In the end, Lemon, like a great painting, makes you see the world differently -- Patrick Hoffman, author of Clean Hands and Every Man a MenaceA confounding masterpiece, Lemon is a meditation on grief, death, beauty, God, and art, wrapped in the mourning clothes of a murder mystery. One of the most profound page-turners you will ever encounter, and the first English translation of a major Korean author who should be on everyone's radar -- Matthew Salesses, author of Craft in the Real WorldIt's a sly, subtle piece of literary crime, carefully playing on its shifting perspectives to unsettling effect. An intriguing read * Wiltshire Living *Had me gripped from the start... The author's skill is to drop a hint as to who did the deed, but then retain our interest through deft portrait-painting of the different characters in the story (narrators and otherwise), presenting us with motivations and suspicions that conflict with our provisional view' * London Korean Links *A darkly thriller-ish tale... With no motive and no culprit, the crime remains a mystery, and Yeo-sun teasingly leaves her reader to join these and other dots. However, it is the (apparently) incidental details that linger longest, and most unsettlingly, in the mind' * Daily Mail *Strangely absorbing... Where Lemon really shines is in its portrayal of grief and guilt, which feels so raw and complicated – as it is in real life. It doesn't offer up any real closure or resolution either, but perhaps that's just like life too' * Culture Fly *Some beautiful prose, and interesting statements to make about grief, guilt and tragedy... In fact, in a book where the catalyst is a mysterious unsolved murder, the murder is actually the least interesting thing about the whole story' * Cultured Vultures *Parasite meets The Good Son. Lemon is not just about finding the culprit but it also explores privilege, trauma and loss * Tatler *A piercing psychological portrait that takes the shape of a crime novel and is a must-read novel of 2021 * London Korean Links *Discovering whodunnit isn't really the point here; Lemon is a subtle, often intense meditation on the after-effects of violence * Guardian *From award-winning Korean author Kwon Yeo-sun, Lemon is an atmospheric crime novel that addresses wealth, privilege, grief, and the power to take matters into one's own hands... A disconcerting yet powerful narrative unfolds' * Happy Mag *A multilayered whodunit that's so much more – and that's the genius of this well-crafted short work by Korean author Kwon Yeo-sun... Kwon is not so intent on ferreting out the killer as she is examining gender, social status, advantage, jealousy, religion, and revenge in the High School Beauty Murder, a cold case from 2002' * The Woven Tale Press *A masterfully crafted novel of grief's maddening proportions * Asymptote Journal *A compelling read which exposure class gender and privilege in contemporary Korea * Arbutarian *Tension galore in this Korean-set crime drama... Award-winning author Kwon Yeo-Sun's first English-language novel, this is exactly the sort of wintry noir to curl up by the fire with as the nights start drawing in. Just the thing for the true-crime lover in your life' Stylist. * Stylist *A headscratcher, ideal for those who like to emerge from a book full of doubts as to what just happened * Strong Words *
£8.54
Double 9 Booksllp Dreams
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£9.86
Double 9 Books Castle Richmond
Book SynopsisCastle Richmond is a novel by British author Anthony Trollope. The story is set in Ireland and follows the lives of two families, the Desmonds and the Fitzgeralds, who are bound together by a tragic event. The novel begins with the death of Herbert Fitzgerald, the heir to Castle Richmond, the ancestral home of the Fitzgerald family. The Desmonds, who are close friends of the Fitzgeralds, are also affected by this event as their daughter, Clara, was engaged to Herbert. As the story unfolds, it is revealed that Herbert's death was caused by his own father, who had mistakenly thought that his son was having an affair with Clara. This event leads to a series of tragedies and conflicts between the two families, as they struggle to come to terms with their loss and deal with the fallout from this event. The novel provides a poignant portrayal of the social and political climate of Ireland during the 19th century, as well as exploring themes of family, love, and betrayal. It is considered one of Trollope's finest works and a classic of Victorian literature.
£17.84
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC At the Breakfast Table
Book SynopsisTold from four different perspectives, At the Breakfast Table is a story of hidden histories and family secrets, from the author of The Silence of Scheherazade. Buyukada, Turkey, 2017. In the glow of a late summer morning, family gather for the 100th birthday of the famous artist Shirin Saka. It ought to be a time of fond reminiscence, looking back on a long and fruitful artistic career, on memories spanning almost a century. But the deep past is something Shirin has spent a lifetime trying to conceal. Her grandchildren, Nur and Fikret, and great-grandchild, Celine, do not know what she's hiding, though they are intimately aware of the secret's psychological consequences. The siblings invite family friend and investigative journalist Burak along to interview Shirin – in celebration of her centenary, and also in the hope of persuading her to open up. Eventually Shirin begins to express her pain the only way she knows how. She paints a story onto her dining room wall, revealing a history wiped from public consciousness and generations of her family's history. 'Fiercely intelligent, finely textured and achingly beautiful.' Elif ShafakTrade ReviewIn At the Breakfast Table, Defne Suman, one of Turkey's most popular writers, writes about family secrets, people's inner problems, love and the losses through life. Suman builds on Eastern philosophy and yoga, among other things, when she is to shed light on the book's great secret -- Anne Buset Vassbotn (Norway)It is very easy for Greek readers to love Suman, to identify with her heroes, to look for their own ancestral memories among the memories of her heroes. But the most important thing about a novel is that it hides a beautiful story, and the author knows how to tell it -- Erika Athanasiou (Greece)The image of the Prinkipo island with its carriages, bicycles, the blue sea that surrounds it, its blooming flowers and purple bougainvillea, give a brilliant tone to the novel. The historical touch offers realism and mystery * Lefki Sarantinou (Greece) *At the Breakfast Table is an excellent novel in the footsteps of modern Turkish literature as defined by Livaneli and Pamuk. It is a well-written book which reminds us that history is not necessarily what we learn in school -- Angelos Koutsoukis (Greece)Suman listens and understands a wounded geography with an open heart – a trait that is rarely found among Turkish intellectuals. She challenges the common belief and narrates beautifully -- Derya Beyatli, Yeni Düzen Newspaper (Turkey)In At the Breakfast Table Suman continues to explore the themes and tropes that prevail in her previous novels, presenting them to the reader in new dimensions... Altogether, these premises establish a narrative network of signification, through which the philosophical core of Suman's work can be discerned' -- Ülker Gökberk, Reed CollegeDefne Suman brings lightness to the hearts of her readers as the characters of At the Breakfast Table reclaim their identity and freedom from the burden of family secrets and the false pretense of living as if no sin has been committed in this land -- Yaprak Çetinkaya, Pozitif Magazine (Turkey)Captivates readers with its plot but engages them on a deeper level with its historic and psychological detail * Asymtote Journal *A nuanced, beautifully paced novel, featuring an attentively drawn cast of characters and an immersive sense of place * The Age *Cleverly done... The story is set on a beautiful holiday island whose ambience is expertly conveyed * Historical Novel Society *
£9.49
Double 9 Books Old People And The Things That Pass
Book SynopsisOld People and the Things That Pass is a book by the superb Dutch writer Louis Couperus, who lived in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The story is ready the lives of antique humans and appears at issues like nostalgia, the passing of time, and how matters always trade. The radical takes location in The Hague and weaves together a wealthy tapestry of the characters' pasts, reminiscences, and the things that keep emotional price for them. Couperus delves into the complex international of human interactions and offers his characters a keen psychological understanding. The tale goes on because the older important characters address the modifications of their lives and think about how society has changed over time. The creator's writing is lovely and deeply personal, displaying the subtleties of all of us's feelings and thoughts. Couperus tells a transferring story that makes readers think about the not unusual issues of having older, losing a person close to you, and the effective electricity of memories. Old People and the Things That Pass is a timeless study what it means to be human, taking readers on a moving and notion-scary adventure through the lives of its characters. People nevertheless love Couperus's works due to the fact they make deep observations about lifestyles and how time movements forward without stopping.
£13.49
Canelo Legion
Book SynopsisBattle, plunder, and glory awaitThe eagerly anticipated prequel series to Blood Forest (Ambush) and Siege.AD 6: The greatest army assembled in a generation prepares to march.But not Legionary Corvus. He and half his legion are to be left behind to garrison the province of Pannonia: a wild place where the mountains are as deadly as any foe.Corvus despairs as he watches his closest friend Marcus march to war, not knowing that his own eager thirst for battle is about to be quenched. A huge rebel army has revolted against the Empire, and Corvus and his few comrades are all that stand against them…A gritty historical adventure, perfect for fans of Ben Kane and Simon Scarrow.Praise for Geraint Jones‘Outstanding… Geraint’s own military service has helped create a realistic and gritty vision of what it was like to be a soldier in Roman times. Bold, violent, but also deeply introspective, this book offers insight not only into history, but also the mind of the soldier. I couldn’t put it down’ Steven Pressfield, author of Gates of Fire‘Blood and guts, but also a clever exploration of the moral ambiguity of war and loyalty to a flag’ Mail on Sunday‘Brutal, audacious, and fast paced’ Anthony Riches, author of the Empire series.‘Historical fiction written by a real war veteran who knows all there is to know about blood and bonding in battle’ Weekend Sport
£9.49
Double 9 Books The Girl On The Boat Edition2023
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£12.59
Double 9 Books Gobseck
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£10.44
Canelo Death in Kabul: A thrilling Afghan adventure
Book Synopsis‘Tense, taut and totally authentic’ D. V. Bishop, author of City of Vengeance‘Fresh and fascinating’ Susi Holliday, author of The Last ResortA murdered man. A stolen artefact. A search for justice in a city where violence and corruption rule…2003. Kabul has become a frontier city, Afghanistan’s fledgling democracy struggling with crime and corruption as NATO coalition troops, gangs and warlords jostle for control. A city where justice is an ideal and security means carrying a gun.When the body of a British serviceman is discovered in the city’s infamous tank graveyard, the Kabul Police reach out for support in their investigation. Alasdair ‘Mac’ MacKenzie, formerly of the Metropolitan Police, is seconded to the team.Baz Khan, an Afghan-American investigative journalist, is in Kabul researching a story. Precious antiquities, priceless artefacts of the country’s rich history, are disappearing amid the chaos, never to be seen again. Baz is determined to uncover whoever is spiriting them away, to prevent her war-torn country being further denuded for profit. And she has a lead…The soldier’s death was no accident. Why was he so far from the British base in the middle of the night? And alone? As Baz and Mac investigate, they quickly realise they have each stumbled on something far bigger than they reckoned with, and are tossed into the Kabul underworld, where violence and corruption rule.A fast-paced, compelling adventure through the streets of Kabul, perfect for Jack Reacher fans. Praise for Death in Kabul ‘A tense, taut and totally authentic thriller that grips from the first page and doesn’t let go. Death in Kabul immerses you in 2003 Kabul, riven by corruption where danger lurks in every alley. Be careful who you trust’ D. V. Bishop, author of City of Vengeance‘A vividly portrayed murder mystery in a fresh and fascinating setting. With wonderful characters and a great plot, I hope this is the first of many from this duo’ Susi Holliday, author of The Last Resort‘Authentic, thrilling and brilliantly plotted, Death in Kabul is a cracking action thriller that brings the city vividly to life – just read it!’ Marion Todd, author of See Them Run‘Rich and atmospheric, Death in Kabul plunges us directly into the grubby, noisy streets of the capital and to a murder investigation that kept me in its thrall to the end’ Louisa Scarr, author of Under a Dark Cloud‘It’s a first class police thriller with a big difference. The investigation whips through shady characters and locales at breakneck pace but the setting removes all the familiar procedural techniques, keeping you on the edge of your seat right to the stunning finale. Explosive stuff!’ D. L. Marshall, author of Black Run‘One of the most authentic thrillers I’ve read for ages. Drags you headfirst into the colourful Kabul underworld, and sends you barrelling down its backstreets at a frenetic pace that just doesn’t let up’ Robert Scragg, author of End of the Line
£9.49
Double 9 Books An Eye for an Eye
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£12.59
Double 9 Books Tartarin Of Tarascon
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£10.79
Boldwood Books Ltd In Just One Day: An unforgettable novel from Saturday Kitchen's Helen McGinn
Book SynopsisEverything can change – In Just One DayFlora has always adored her brother Billy. Born just eighteen months apart, their childhood was spent like two peas in a pod – no one could separate them. Now, as adults, they remain the best of friends. And as Flora is immersed in family life, Billy is always there to lend a hand. But, in just one day, everything changes.In just one day, Flora’s life falls apart.In just one day, Flora has to learn how to live again.From the nostalgia of seaside Britain to the breath-taking beauty of Venice, in tears and laughter, join Helen McGinn for this emotional, uplifting and joyful story about love in all its guises. But above all, this is an unforgettable story of one little girl and the brother she adored. Helen McGinn has written a novel to recommend to all your friends, perfect for fans of Elizabeth Noble, Cathy Kelly and JoJo Moyes.Praise for Helen McGinn:'Escapist, warm, witty and wise' Daily Mail'This is a lovely uplifting book that transported me away, firstly to the beautiful city of Rome and then to gorgeous Cornwall. It’s a moving and emotional story of families in all their messy wonderfulness, of people losing one another, and then coming together again - sometimes in unexpected ways. A hugely enjoyable family tale,it was exactly what I wanted to read at this time.' Louise Douglas‘This Changes Everything is the perfect tonic. An uplifting, forget-about-everything-else read that I couldn’t put down. Romantic, emotional and page-turning, Helen McGinn’s debut novel can’t fail to cheer you up!' Zoe Folbigg'I loved reading this book. I needed escapism - don't we all need escapism right now - and it gave me Rome, Cornwall and a family who immediately felt like old friends. I took it to the bath, to bed and had finished it within 24 hours. It was the perfect antidote to tough times.' Victoria Moore The Daily Telegraph
£8.99
Double 9 Books Lifted Masks Stories
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£11.69
Double 9 Books LLP Is Shakespeare Dead
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£10.44
Headline Publishing Group Lady Life
Book SynopsisA magnificent coming-of-age story about freedom and desire by the acclaimed author of I Will Never See the World Again. Winner of the Prix Femina Étranger.Istanbul is changing, its society decomposing. When his father dies, Fazil learns that one's entire world can change in an instant. Lost are the security and privileges of his family, replaced now by the precarity of poverty. And yet, despite this dramatic change in circumstance, Fazil pursues his desire to study literature at university.As he attempts to navigate this new, darker world, he begins a romance with Sila, a striking young student who shares his love of Virginia Woolf and who understands his current predicament. But it is the exuberant Madame Hayat, passionate, carefree and with a vivacious lust for life, who captivates Fazil. He attempts to create a new freedom through her person, but around them, the dangers of their changed society grow and increasingly surround them.Written from his prison cell, Ahmet Altan's latest novel offers an insightful view of modern Turkey and shows how, even in the darkest times, light can be found.Trade Review'A beautiful novel and a hymn to liberty' -- Marc Semo, Le Monde'To read Altan's novel is to observe, from a remove, the shifting moods of a young man undergoing a spiritual crisis. Lady Life's unfussy prose reminded me of Herman Hesse's Steppenwolf' -- Kaya Genç, Los Angeles Review of Books
£10.44
Chronicle Books Pride and Prejudice Collectors Edition
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£48.75
Olympia Publishers Miscellaneous Stories
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£6.99
Atlantic Books Talk Data To Me
Book SynopsisRose McGee is a California-based author who writes romcoms full of sugar, spice, and statistics. She holds a degree in English from Stanford University and lives in the Bay Area with a dog and several succulents.
£9.49
Troubador Publishing Windows
Book SynopsisInspired by the author's own beloved hometown in Scotland, this is a colourful, amusing, poignant and suspenseful celebration of small-town life, the people who live and work in it, their families, livelihoods, histories and relationships. This apparently idyllic location and way of life is, however, under threat.
£9.49
Olympia Publishers Tales of Terror from Torment Tower
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£8.54
Troubador Publishing Ltd Price of Compassion
Book SynopsisA novel which explores how a long forgotten and innocent act of compassion suddenly returns to bring trauma and the threat of prison. A combination of romance and suspense which will keep the reader guessing right to the end.
£10.44
Softwood Self-Publishing On the Edge
Book SynopsisFor two years, Ebony Wick has survived alone as an outlaw and highwaywoman in Rundlewood Forest. She doesn't need people. She only needs to survive. But when Hunter Sparrow breaks into her camp and invites her to join his gang, the Bounty Hunters, she finds herself facing a difficult choice. With a burning desire for revenge against a powerful enemy, Ebony must choose between reason and instinct. But in doing so, she discovers a long-hidden secret that will change her world forever.
£10.39
Olympia Publishers John Ryder and The Incredible Golden Pond
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£8.54
Scribe Publications Mayra
Book SynopsisA haunting exploration of female friendship, desire, and memory set against the sultry backdrop of Florida's swamplands. It's been years since Ingrid has heard from her childhood best friend, Mayra, a fearless rebel who fled their hometown of Hialeah, a Cuban neighbourhood just west of Miami, for college in the Northeast. But when Mayra calls out of the blue to invite Ingrid to a weekend getaway at a house in the Everglades, she impulsively accepts. From the moment Ingrid sets out for the house, danger looms: The directions are difficult, she's out of reach of cell service, and as she drives deeper into the Everglades, the wet maw of the swamp threatens to swallow her whole. But once Ingrid arrives, Mayra is, in many ways, just as she remembers with her sharp tongue and effortless, seductive beauty, still thumbing her nose at the world. Before they can fully settle into the familiar intimacy of each other's company, their reunion is spoiled by the reemergence of past disagreements and the unexpected presence of Mayra's new boyfriend, Benji. The trio spend their hours eating lavish meals and exploring the labyrinthine house, which holds as much mystery and danger as the swamp itself. Indoors and on the grounds, time itself seems to expand, and Ingrid begins to lose a sense of the outside world, and herself. Against this disquieting setting, where lizards dart in and out of porches and alligators peek up from dark waters, Gonzalez weaves a propulsive, unforgettable story about the dizzying power of early friendship and the lengths we'll go to earn love and acceptance even at the risk of losing ourselves entirely.
£13.49
Orion Publishing Co Lucid
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£17.00
Swift Press The House Next to the Factory: As heard on BBC
Book SynopsisThe House Next to the Factoryshows a changing India over three decades through the lens of one family and the house that they live in.Life in the house is humdrum and confining, but on a rare evening out, Kavya sets off in search of a nun;a beloved teacher is caught in the aftermath of the anti-Sikh riots;a loyal servant worries over his relationship with a low caste woman; whilein England, an aunt reads William Trevor and pines for all that she has left behind. Over the years, the family''s steel utensil business blossoms, and amid the clanging of metal and the churning of machines, the household transitions from bourgeois to elite. Yet at thirty, Kavya finds herself in Paris, hoping to get past the sorrows of her young lifeDelicate and finely textured, Sonal Kohli''s extraordinary debut lays bare the complexities of class and culture and the difficulties as well as excitements of change, even as it evokes loves and triumphs, the pull of incongruous desires and the tragedies of everyday life.
£9.49
Vintage Publishing Open Wide
Book SynopsisJessica Gross is the author of the novels Hysteria and Open Wide, which is her UK debut. Hysteria has been optioned for TV development, and Open Wide for film development. Gross's non-fiction has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Lilith, and The Los Angeles Review of Books, among other places. She has taught writing at The New School and Texas Tech University and currently lives in West Texas.
£15.29
Swift Press Redwood Court
Book SynopsisREESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK A ''nuanced, brilliant'' (Essence) debut about one unforgettable Southern Black family and its youngest daughter's coming of age in the 1990s.?''A triumph . . .Redwood Courtis storytelling at its best: tender, vivid, and richly complicated'' - Jacqueline Woodson,New York Timesbestselling author ofRed at the Bone''Mika, you sit at our feet all these hours and days, hearing us tell our tales. You have all these stories inside you: all the stories everyone in our family knows and all the stories everyone in our family tells. You write 'em in your books and show everyone who we are''So begins award-winning poet DéLana R. A. Dameron's debut novel, Redwood Court. The baby of the family, Mika Tabor spends much of her time in the care of loved ones, listening to their stories and witnessing their struggles. On Redwood Court, the cul-de-sac in the all-Black wo
£9.49
Transworld Publishers Ltd Plaything
Book Synopsis'I just loved it it truly wedged itself into my brain. Absolutely vile and brilliant. Plaything is an unhinged melody, and it will serenade fans of the darkest narratives.' ALICE SLATER, author of Death of a BooksellerAnna is smart. Smarter than you, probably. But when she falls for the beautiful, enigmatic Caden, her need to get under his skin, to truly know him becomes overpowering. Anna's new life in Cambridge is full of promise she's the top student in her PhD cohort, she has great friends and she has met an exhaustingly attractive man but something is a little off. Perhaps it's the routine violence of her lab work with animals, or maybe it's something to do with her boyfriend's icy reserve but it seems there is a kind of menace hiding beneath the Cambridge dream. When Anna and Caden's lives become tightly entangled, her obsession with Caden's seemingly ever-present ex-girlfriend reaches a dangerous pitch Just how far will she go to satiate her curiosity?-------------------FROM THE REVIEWS FOR BEA SETTON'S BERLIN'Terrific . . . [an] unsettling and compelling read' Observer'I was completely absorbed' FRANCESCA REECE, author of Voyeur'Compelling, raw and thrillingly strange' MONA AWAD, author of Bunny'Cinematically vivid, and refreshingly honest' LISA HALLIDAY, author of Asymmetry
£9.49
Transworld Publishers Ltd High Season
Book SynopsisWhen Nina was just five years old, her family's whole world was torn apart when her seventeen-year-old sister Tamara was found dead in the pool of their Cote d'Azur property. Nina's evidence led to the conviction of their housekeeper's daughter and occasional babysitter seventeen-year-old Josie for Tamara's murder. But when new evidence emerges to suggest that Josie was innocent, Nina is forced to question the accuracy of her memories, her role in one of the most notorious cases of the past twenty years, and what actually happened to her sister on that hot summer day.
£15.29
Profile Books Ltd Is This Love?: Longlisted for the 2023 Polari
Book Synopsis'This is a book about the untidy, complicated underbelly of love and love's end. Funny and true, wise and utterly authentic, you will recognise yourself over and over. I loved it.' Kit de Waal Did you mean to marry me? Did you understand the vows that we took? J's wife has left, and J is trying to understand why. How could someone you loved so much, who claimed to love you once, just walk away? How could they send divorce papers accusing you of terrible things, when all you've ever done is tried to make them happy? Narrated by J in the days, weeks and months after the marriage collapses, and interspersed with the departed wife's diary entries, Is This Love? is an addictive, deeply unsettling, and provocative novel of deception and betrayal, and passion turned to pain. As the story unfolds, and each character's version of events undermines the other, all our assumptions about victimhood, agency, love and control are challenged - for we never know J's gender. If we did, would it change our minds about who was telling the truth?Trade ReviewA deeply unsettling, but unputdownable account of a marriage unravelling. This book held me captivated with its wit, ambiguity and complexity -- Abi MorganA brilliant book about a difficult subject, compelling and disturbing in equal measure. It is dark and timely. It is needed - and very well done -- Stella DuffyA very honest story, showing the sensitivity and hurt that sit behind anger, and how misinterpreted desires can shape who we think we are and what we think we need -- La RouxUnsettling, furious & challenging ... raw - but brilliantly so * Observer *C. E. Riley creates a world and a scenario at once horrifying and all too familiar. When love and a marriage shatter, where do the pieces fall? - and how do we apportion blame and responsibility? This book traces just such an unravelling, to electrifying effect -- Neil HegartyA ferocious piece of writing which, like its characters, feels ready to detonate at any moment -- Thurston MooreThis is a book about the untidy, complicated underbelly of love and love's end. Funny and true, wise and utterly authentic, you will recognise yourself over and over. I loved it. -- Kit de WaalExplores uncomfortable truths about life, love and self ... perfect for fans of unreliable narrators ... addictive ... an unforgettable read like no other * Diva *
£8.54
Swift Press 1983
Book Synopsis
£9.49
Transworld Happy Endings
Book SynopsisMelanie Cantor worked for many years in PR and as a celebrity talent agent. She has dabbled in interior renovations, which led to her hosting the TV series Making Space on Channel 4, in which she tidied up people's messy houses. She now concentrates on writing; Happy Endings is her first novel. Her second novel is The F**k It! List. She has two adult sons and lives between Dorset and London with her dog, Mabel.
£9.49
Profile Books Ltd Chorus
Book Synopsis'You don't have to go back. You will stay here at home, with me. This is where you belong.' One afternoon, in a little farmhouse in rural Virginia, the ailing Marie Shaw dies in ambiguous circumstances and nothing is ever the same again for the seven young children she left behind. Spanning from the Great Depression to the burgeoning of US counterculture in 1959, Chorus sensitively traces the divergent paths taken by the grieving Shaw siblings as they grow together and apart over the decades. Henry, Jack, Maeve, Lane, Sam, Wendy and Bette get married and divorced, go to war and give birth to children of their own, break down and pick themselves up again. Chorus is a hopeful story of family, of loss and recovery, of complicated relationships forged between brothers and sisters as they move through life together, and of the unlikely forces that first drive them away and then ultimately back home. A PRIMA BOOK OF THE YEAR 2022Trade ReviewAs vast, clear, and iconic as only timeless stories are, Kauffman's Chorus is a key: meet the Shaw family and discover, in its infinite and invisible complexity, the universal core of your own. -- Rebecca Dinerstein Knight, author of HexElegantly charts the nuanced connections and fractures between family members ... always illuminating the sweetness and sorrow that exists in even the smallest detail. -- David Connerley Nahm, author of Ancient Oceans of Central KentuckyA profoundly beautiful and wise novel. ... A pure and true portrait of the lifespan of a family, I'm in awe of Kauffman's skill as a writer and her elegance in the use of it. -- Kathleen MacMahon, author of Nothing But Blue SkySometimes I open a book and fall in love within the first page - this is one of those times ... the author writes beautifully about family and relationships. One for fans of Elizabeth Strout and one of my favourite books, Shotgun Lovesongs by Nickolas Butler. I recommend curling up in a chair and absorbing it in one go. -- Nina Pottell * Prima Books of the Month *A novel of great subtlety and wisdom, skilfully illuminating the lives of a family in 20th Century America. Chorus wields a quiet, cumulative power to transcendent effect. Each chapter gradually unfolds as a story of goodness, hope and longing emerges, drawing the reader in. -- James Clarke, author of Hollow in the LandRebecca Kauffman's compact and ingeniously-arranged Chorus depicts the Shaw family and its long-held secrets with admirable clarity ... makes us freshly aware of how the people most dear to us, like the organs of the body, are hidden simply by virtue of being so vital and so close. -- Martin Seay, author of The Mirror ThiefChorus is an intimate, affecting, and exquisite portrait of an American family that feels as real as any I've ever known ... I loved it. -- Eleanor Henderson, author of Ten Thousand SaintsA story about love and its resilience, how much we really know about our own family and what binds them together even against seemingly insurmountable odds. * Good Housekeeping March 2022 Book Club pick *Chorus reveals the layers of self and its varied constructions, ultimately creating an honest, multi-layered portrait of a family... speaks to the hopefulness that can reside within families, the unique ability we have as siblings and sons and daughters to at least attempt a return to simpler times of loving and forgiveness * Chicago Review of Books *A beautiful portrait of a family and the stories that echoed through their lives. Spanning over 30 years, Rebecca Kauffman brings drama, pain, and joy to life in every moment. An account of the scars that bind an unforgettable family. -- Luisa Smith, Book Passage, Corte Madera, CA * Bookweb March 2022 Indie Next List *Each story-like chapter is so poignant - many with the feel of an Alice Munro story - it's easy to fall under Kauffman's spell ... Chorus is indeed a near-perfect novel, reminding us that even as our losses magnify our flaws, recovery is possible when we have people who love us. * Southern Review of Books *Kauffman's luminous latest showcases her knack for delving into the hearts of her characters . . . Adds up to a superbly executed saga.. * Publisher’s Weekly, starred review *Lovely . . Kauffman's writing style renders complex dynamics in simple, impactful language and scenes. * Booklist *Kauffman has written a deceptively light tale about the heart of a family healing around a defining loss and siblings sustaining each other through adulthood, with lovely phrases and prose throughout ... a satisfying story of complicated relationships * Kirkus *Wonderful ... A novel that is a delight to read, the writing pitch-perfect and the story more than satisfying * Metroland Media *The history of the Shaw family over several decades is told in a series of beautifully written connected stories. Each chapter is from the perspective of one of the seven siblings and builds a kaleidoscope picture of a family tied together through secrets and loss. * Good Housekeeping UK *
£13.49
Bookouture The Bookseller of Dachau
Book Synopsis
£9.49
Troubador Publishing Return to Styria
Book SynopsisWhen Frank Stratham, retired after an unsuccessful end to his career, is suddenly asked to become chairman for his former best client, troubling disclosures emerge about the company's founder, Prince Heinrich von Wallen, and his past in the war.
£13.49
