Contemporary Fiction Books

Book Synopsis"A woman falls for a K-pop star at a distance in this thoughtful romance for the online age." THE GUARDIAN It’s as if her life only began once Moon appeared in it. The desultory copywriting work, the boyfriend, and the want of anything not-Moon quickly fall away when she beholds the idol in concert, where Moon dances as if his movements are creating their own gravitational field; on live streams, as fans from around the world comment in dozens of languages; even on skincare products endorsed by the wildly popular Korean boy band, of which Moon is the youngest, most luminous member. Seized by ineffable desire, our unnamed narrator begins writing Y/N fanfic—in which you, the reader, insert [Your/Name] and play out an intimate relationship with the unattainable star. Then Moon suddenly retires, vanishing from the public eye. As Y/N flies from Berlin to Seoul to be with Moon, our narrator, too, journeys to Korea in search of the object of her love. There, an escalating series of mistranslations and misidentifications land her at the headquarters of the Kafkaesque entertainment company that manages the boyband until, at a secret location, together with Moon at last, art and real life approach their final convergence. From a conspicuous new talent comes Y/N, a provocative literary debut about the universal longing for transcendence and the tragic struggle to assert one’s singular story amidst the amnesiac effects of globalization. Crackling with the intellectual sensitivity of Elif Batuman and the sinewy absurdism of Thomas Pynchon, Esther Yi’s prose unsettles the boundary between high and mass art, exploding our expectations of a novel about “identity” and offering in its place a sui generis picture of the loneliness that afflicts modern life.Trade Review“In her funny, short, brilliantly oddball debut, the American novelist Esther Yi has found a fresh, electric way of saying “Screw you” to the marriage plot with a furiously clever tale of a female copywriter who becomes infatuated with a member of a Korean boy band…. Unlike the formulaic pop material she animates here, Yi has fashioned a novel that is witty, self-knowing and, extraordinarily, far beyond categorisation.” * The Sunday Times *

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Book Synopsis'This wove a spell on me' – Marian Keyes 'F***ing brilliant' – Daisy May Cooper ___________Meet Gosia.She's a sensitive soul with a filthy mind and problems with intimacy.Between shifts in a well-lit budget supermarket and nights in a badly lit Zone 3 flatshare, she spends hours inside her own head. That is, until a chance encounter snaps her out of her reverie.Propelled into a series of mediocre jobs, lousy dates and even worse sex, the prickly yet warm-hearted Gosia begins her excavation of the 'perfect' life so many dream of.After all, could there be more to it than she imagined?Raw, funny, mean and moving, Odd Hours is a razor-sharp social comedy about human connection, unexpected happiness, and the many forms of love. ___________'A hymn to normality and an absolute joy to read' – Sarah May 'Compelling, surprising, funny' – Kate Sawyer 'Bas writes so well about that state of being young and trying so hard to make connections' – Marianne Levy 'Dark, sharply funny and utterly rewarding ... Reminded me of the brilliant books by Kirsty Capes ... Highly recommended' – Liz HyderTrade Review'Dark, sharply funny and utterly rewarding ... Reminded me of the brilliant books by Kirsty Capes ... Highly recommended' -- Liz Hyder'This enigmatic and idiosyncratic gem is eccentric, quirky and utterly original' -- Kevin O'Sullivan (Irish Examiner Book of 2022)'Bas writes so well about that state of being young and trying so hard to make connections' -- Marianne Levy'Odd Hours is a brilliant satire on the struggles of life in the zero-hours sector ... An auspicious debut' -- Paul Mendez

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Book SynopsisAn Observer 10 BEST DEBUTS OF 2021A hypnotic story of young love on the run''I loved Highway Blue - a dark, glimmering, journey deep into modern America'' Rosie Price, author of What Red Was''Highway Blue holds you captive like a blues song or incantation'' Olivia Sudjic, author of Asylum RoadAnne Marie is adrift San Padua, living a precarious life of shift-work and shared apartments. Her husband Cal left her on their first anniversary and two years later, she can''t move on.When he shows up suddenly on her doorstep, clearly in some kind of trouble, she reluctantly agrees to a drink. But later that night a gun goes off in an alley near the shore and the young couple flee together, crammed into a beat up car with their broken past. Their ill-at-ease odyssey takes them across a shimmering American landscape and through the darker seams of the country, towards a city that may or may not r

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Book SynopsisA profound and genre-defying work of literature about love, death, and illness from one of Portugal’s most celebrated writersTrade Review“Regarded as a contender for the Nobel Prize in literature. . . . The future tense is hopefully prescient, because [Lobo Antunes] is one of the essential writers of our tormented times.”—Alberto Manguel, Times Literary Supplement“At work here in the fields of Joyce, Lobo Antunes uses a rolling, swirling syntax to capture the actual movements of human consciousness. His lightly punctuated sentences run forward and loop on themselves almost without pause, sweeping this reader along through an intense mental journey and leaving him amazed and enlightened. By the Rivers of Babylon is a remarkable literary accomplishment.”—Billy Collins“By the Rivers of Babylon is another stunning achievement by Lobo Antunes, expertly rendered by the multi-gifted Jull Costa. Reading this bold meditation on Eros and Thanatos you are firmly in the presence of permanence, of the great god Literature.”—William Giraldi, author of American AudacityPraise for António Lobo Antunes: “One of the living writers who will matter most.”—Harold Bloom “A novelist of the very first rank.”—George Steiner “A master navigator of the human psyche.”—Los Angeles Times Book Review “Perhaps Portugal’s greatest living author . . . a genius.”—San Francisco Chronicle “One of the most skillful psychological portraitists writing anywhere.”—New Yorker

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Book SynopsisWhen Sam Richardson returns in 1946 from the ''Forgotten War'' in Burma to Wigton in Cumbria, he finds the town little changed. But the war has changed him, broadening his horizons as well as leaving him with traumatic memories. In addition, his six-year-old son now barely remembers him, and his wife has gained a sense of independence from her wartime jobs. As all three strive to adjust, the bonds of loyalty and love are stretched to breaking point in this taut, and profoundly moving novel.Trade ReviewOutstandingly good...Must be one of the best English novels of the last ten years. It rings true; its characters matter...utterly credible, utterly compelling, and very enjoyable * Scotsman *[He] writes with tremendous empathy...One of the tautest and fiercest of Bragg's fictions * Independent *Sympathetic, touching, infinitely believable...a highly accomplished novel * Literary Review *Strong, straightforward, explicit, evocative * Daily Telegraph *A great achievement * Guardian *Reads like Lawrence...Feels like the book Bragg was born to write * Time Out *His study of a relationship between man and wife in difficulties is brilliantly convincing...A passionately moving novel * Financial Times *His masterpiece * Peter Kemp, Books of the Year, Sunday Times *

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Book Synopsis''Extraordinarily inventive, witty, moving and profound.'' Bernardine Evaristo''If you read one novel this year, let it be Top Doll. This is innovative, exquisitely crafted storytelling at its finest.'' Malika Booker When reclusive billionaire Huguette Clark dies age 104, she leaves behind a suite of New York apartments, a meticulously upkept California mansion, at least one Monet and her vast collection of antique dolls. Having barely been outside for 50 years, the elusive Clark spoke to few--in this highly unreliable, semi-fictional miniature epic, the dolls tell all. Theirs is a tale that takes us from their lavish Park Avenue home back in time to the slave plantations of Virginia and the palaces of Imperial Japan via the addictive hedonism of 1930s queer LA. Joyfully irreverent, Top Doll is a story of love, betrayal, Barbies and ultimately, what it means to be human.''An astonishing combination of depth, compassion and beauty. A constant series of delicious surprises.'' Leone Ross ***Praise for An Aviary of Small Birds:''Beautiful, painful, pitch-perfect . . . McCarthy Woolf''s tuning fork always rings true.'' Guardian''I loved Karen McCarthy Woolf''s technically perfect poems of winged heartbreak.'' Maggie Gee, The ObserverPraise for Seasonal Disturbances:''A strange and stunning collection from a true writer. Vulnerable, hilarious and wise.'' Warsan Shire''An unclassifiable book, revolutionary in its engagement with form, stunning in its intersectional politics, and an extraordinary achievement . . . It will break you, in a good way.'' Poetry School Books of the Year 2017Trade ReviewExtraordinarily inventive, witty, moving and profound. -- Bernardine EvaristoIf you read one novel this year let it be Top Doll. This is innovative, exquisitely crafted storytelling at its finest. -- Malika BookerAn astonishing combination of depth, compassion and beauty. A constant series of delicious surprises. -- Leone RossBy turns poetic, subversive and intensely absorbing, Top Doll is doing something unique and wildly imaginative within the form and structures of the novel. With Top Doll, Mccarthy Woolf firmly establishes herself as one of the most intellectually daring writers of our generation. -- Mona ArshiWild, queer and unstoppably inventive . . . McCarthy Woolf possesses a rare, uncanny power in prose and lyric, staging a fantastic line-up of dolls with their personal baggage and societal wounds. This book is poignantly absurd and unsentimentally tender - a one-off. -- Kit Fan, author of THE INK CLOUD READER and DIAMOND HILLAn immersive, playful, multi-voiced time-travelling story . . . Both McCarthy Woolf's father and mine arrived in England from Jamaica on the same boat. This book extends our shared journey through the history of our lineages in ways that are beautiful, surprising, painful and yes, humorous. McCarthy Woolf has written a book that is truly worthy of the term "novel". -- Raymond AntrobusKaren McCarthy Woolf has invented a new species of novel - part prose, part poem, and part memoir. That it's almost all spoken by dolls is astonishing, but she's given each voice her full spectrum of powers as a poet; their voices are acerbic, hilarious, and deliciously alive! Every line is laced with wit, critiquing society and inequality. Top Doll is a virtuoso wonder. -- Pascale PetitA mad, mad, beautiful fiction début . . . The new perspective it gives on the human "flesh" world is its real genius. Poetic, peculiar, prophetic and revelatory - a work of art. -- Nii Parkes, author of TAIL OF THE BLUE BIRDTop Doll is a strange picaresque, with its main players all trapped in one New York apartment . . . I've not read anything quite like it. * The Sunday Telegraph, 4-star review *Undoubtedly smart, relentlessly irreverent and wryly humorous . . . pitch perfect * Sunday Business Post *

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Book SynopsisOne wrong step and you''re in deep water.Sukie has had enough of not putting herself out there. She has had enough of her mother thinking so very little of her timid daughter. On a whim, she accepts an offer to go to a Greek island for the weekend with Jake, a man she has barely begun dating. If that isn''t putting herself out here, she doesn''t know what is.Heather is at the airport when she sees a young woman with an older man - and immediately she understands that the woman is in danger. Because in fifteen years, Heather hasn''t been able to forget what Jake did to her. And the next thing she knows, she''s buying a plane ticket and following them.What should have been a perfectly pleasant weekend away quickly descends into something much darker. As these two women come ever closer to each other - and to Jake - it becomes increasingly unclear who will walk away from the weekend with their life.Trade ReviewThe clear-sighted, confident writing won't disappoint Kent's numerous fans * Daily Mail *Classy suspense as ever * Peterborough Evening Telegraph *A beautifully taut, gorgeously conceived thriller . . . not to be missed -- S J WatsonA slow-burning but relentless thriller with a memorable villain * Daily Mail *A dark tale elegantly written * Irish Independent *A powerful, creepy, engaging piece of work. * Irish Times *Extremely tense, at times rather distressing, this novel comes even so with an underlying uplift - the suggestion that none of us are necessarily quite as alone as we sometimes think we are. * Morning Star *

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Book Synopsis''WOW! If this isn''t a book to brag about I don''t know what is... I started The Favourite late last night. Never did I anticipate I would be closing the book at 3am left in complete shock... This book was insane! It was twisted, it was heart-breaking but it was so darn good! A must-read... I strongly encourage you to pre-order this book!'' Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Her teacher''s pet, or his worst nightmare?Jessica Mooney seems like any other student at her university. She''s talented, driven, and looks set to be this year''s ''favourite'' in charismatic Professor Crane''s Law and Literature class. But unlike the other students competing for his good opinion, Jessica isn''t what she seems. She''s carrying a dark secret.Her sister is dead. Crane''s to blame. And she''s the only one who can bring him to justice.Will Jessica be able to get the answers and justiTrade Review'Juicy and dark... a standout dark academia thriller, with shades of Donna Tartt's modern classic The Secret History and Emerald Fennell's revenge fantasy film Promising Young Woman... Jessica is a firecracker of a protagonist... Thanks to Hennigan's strong voice and full embrace of the bumpy, twisty nature of retribution and revenge, The Favourite positively sings.' * BookPage *[Hennigan] brilliantly weaves an enraging and all too familiar narrative that spotlights the systemic disregard of women and the dismissal of sexual violence * Shondaland *Hennigan's law degree is evident in her eloquent depictions of classroom discussions and her thoughtful meditations on justice. Readers will devour this satisfying tale of vengeance * Publisher's Weekly *[A]n engaging thriller that entertains while it explores toxic relationships and abuse of power in a prestigious academic setting * Booklist *A thoughtful, clever follow-up to Rosemary Hennigan's exceptionally good debut, The Favourite maintains the same high standard. A cat-and-mouse game between a law professor and his student breathes life and passion into moral issues of right, wrong and the limitations of the law. * Jane Casey, bestselling author of The Close *

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Book Synopsis''The Lawton siblings are as charming as ever, and Presley and Shot''s opposites attract dynamic makes for a passionate, unyielding union'' Publishers Weekly, starred review!From the New York Times bestselling author of the Marked Men series comes Jay Crownover''s latest steamy and suspenseful romance. Return to Loveless in this passionate opposites-attract tale where cautious Presley and bad boy Shot have to find a middle ground, risking their hearts in the process...''Crownover delivers the goods'' Lori Wilde, New York Times bestselling author ''Crownover writes cowboys that make you want to pack your bags in search of a small-town ranch!'' Melissa Foster, New York Times bestselling authorAn irresistible romance between a doctor who plays by the rules and the outlaw who breaks them in order to protect her!Dr Presley Baskin has always lived a quiet, calm life. Unfortun

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Book Synopsis''A refreshing romance with a strong sense of setting and a charismatic cast. Readers will fall in love right alongside Grace and Noah'' Publishers WeeklyA frothy, effervescent enemies-to-lovers rom com from sparkling romance author Sophie Sullivan.Readers are loving How to Love Your Neighbour!''I really enjoyed and absolutely tore through How To Love Your Neighbour, what a fab book to start 2022 with''''A great story, loveable characters and a good narrative''''Funny, uplifting, true to life, relatable, and cheerful''.......................................................................................Interior Design School? Check. Cute house to fix up? Check. Sexy nemesis neighbour? Check. Unfortunately. Grace Travis has it all figured out. She''ll finish her degree, geTrade ReviewImpossible to read without smiling - escapist romantic comedy at its heartwarming best -- Lauren LayneI adored this book! Sophie Sullivan has written a fast-paced, sweet romance full of heart and truth. Once you start reading, you won't be able to put it down -- Lyssa Kay AdamsA funny, sweet rom com from a fresh, sparkling new voice. Everly's social anxiety was instantly relatable, and I was rooting for her every inch of the way to her happily-ever-after -- Andie J. ChristopherI loved this sweet, funny story! Fun, refreshing premise that had me wanting to make a few lists of my own and an ending that had me choking up and happy clapping -- Kira Archer

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Book Synopsis'A great read for horse lovers and fans of show jumping' Jilly Cooper'This is a hugely entertaining, riveting, page-turner of a book' Louise Penny'An eye-opening ride through the high-stakes world of equestrian show-jumping . . . Three fearless women connected by blood, competition, and a passion for fast horses.' Carl Hiaasen_____________________________Maggie Atwood and Becky McCabe - mother and daughter, both champion riders - vowed to never, ever, compete against one another.But a dramatic turn of events ahead of the Paris Olympics changes everything.Mother and daughter share a dream: to be the best in the world. Only one rider can fulfil that dream and make history._____________________________Praise for James Patterson'The master storyteller of our times' Hillary Rodham Clinton'James Patterson is the gold standard by which all others are judged.' Steve Berry'No one gets this big without natural storytelling talent.' Lee Child'Nobody does it better.' Jeffrey Deaver'James Patterson is The Boss. End of.' Ian RankinTrade ReviewA great read for horse lovers and fans of show jumping -- Jilly Cooper, bestselling author of the Rutshire ChroniclesPatterson and Lupica manage to get deep into the world of high-level show jumping and also, incredibly for two men, deep into the lives of three generations of strong women. I don't know what's more compelling-the white-knuckle descriptions of the horse shows in the lead-up to the Olympics or the tense, complex relationships among the three women. We grow to care deeply about these horsewomen. This is a hugely entertaining, riveting, page-turner of a book. A thrilling and thoughtful read. -- LOUISE PENNY, No. 1 bestselling author of The Madness of CrowdsThe Horsewoman is more than a thriller - it's an eye-opening ride through the high-stakes world of equestrian show-jumping. Patterson and Lupica make a great team, writing at a full gallop and with faultless timing of the lives of three fearless women connected by blood, competition, and a passion for fast horses. -- Carl Hiaasen, bestselling author of Squeeze MePatterson knows where our deepest fears are buried... there's no stopping his imagination. -- NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEWNo one gets this big without natural storytelling talent - which is what Jim has, in spades. -- LEE CHILD, bestselling author of the Jack Reacher seriesPatterson boils a scene down to a single, telling detail, the element that defines a character or moves a plot along. It's what fires off the movie projector in the reader's mind. -- MICHAEL CONNELLYJames Patterson is the boss. End of. -- IAN RANKIN, bestselling author of the Inspector Rebus seriesJames Patterson is the gold standard by which all others are judged. -- STEVE BERRY, bestselling author of the Colton Malone series

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Book SynopsisIn this haunting tale from the bestselling author of The Storyteller of Casablanca, Beatrice kept a wartime secret to protect the innocent. Now, could telling it set her free? Tuscany, 1943. Stranded in war-ravaged Italy, Beatrice’s dream of an escapist year teaching English is shattered. Granted shelter at the Villa delle Colombe, she seeks refuge in Francesca and Edoardo’s beautiful walled garden, hidden from the outside world, with an elaborate cypress maze at its heart. But Beatrice is not the only one seeking an escape here. Francesca has brought children to the safety of the house, as well as other adults, all of them seeking sanctuary on the estate with its mysterious maze. As the war closes in, the residents are forced to witness—and do—unthinkable things… 2015. Tess arrives at the villa raw from the agonising loss of her husband. Beatrice, now custodian, guides her to the solace of its gardens, where Tess begins to heal. But all hope of peace is shattered by the arrival of Marco, the estate’s absent owner, who wants nothing more than to hand it over to developers. Distraught, Beatrice realises she must finally reveal the villa’s painful past if she wants to save it. As the extraordinary story unfolds, Tess realises that Villa delle Colombe is not just a refuge, but a beacon of hope in the darkest of times. Can she convince Marco to give it a new lease of life—and find a way back to happiness herself?Trade Review“A poignant, luminous tale.” —Woman's Own “Valpy’s writing is beautiful, and she makes this villa, with its spectacular garden and, especially, the cypress maze at the heart of it, come to life.” —Historical Novels Review

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Book SynopsisA shocking insight into the brutalities faced by ordinary soldiers and the atrocities committed in the name of survival.Dispassionately we stared at the bloody scene. It had become an everyday sight. The 27th Penal Regiment care nothing for Hitler's war. They fight only to stay alive. But then they uncover the Soviet Army's biggest secret. A Russian commissar has hidden 30 million dollars of gold somewhere behind enemy lines. In a madcap scheme, Porta brokers a deal with the commissar: free passage for the Russians in return for a share of the gold. To find it, Sven and his comrades must be prepared to lie, steal and go behind the lines of the deadly Russian army...Trade ReviewIn essence this is an expose of the absurdity of war, and a moving plea for peace. As such, it takes its rank with far milder books, such as ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT - NEWSDAYHassel's books of war are the most powerful I have ever readThe story shudders from page to page while the devoted friends live precariously from year to year, until only the one survivor is left to write this book. And a gripping book it is - CHICAGO SUNDAY TRIBUNE

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Book SynopsisHeartwarming and lovable, Charlie will squirm his way into your heart. Perfect for fans of A Streetcat Named Bob and Alfie the Doorstep Cat.But what could I do? I was just a little cat and nobody ever listened to me. I made a promise to myself that I’d do everything I possibly could to save her, whatever the danger to me, and no matter how many lives I lost in the process...Charlie the kitten would do anything for his human. Having just recovered from a debilitating illness, eleven-year-old Caroline isn’t feeling her best, and the arrival of a new baby only makes her feel even more left out.So when Caroline decides to run away, Charlie follows, vowing to protect her at all costs. But for such a little kitten, it’s a big and scary world outside the comfort of the cottage – how far will he go to save his greatest friend?

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Book SynopsisThe complete collection of acclaimed BBC Radio dramas based on John le Carre's bestselling novels, starring Simon Russell Beale as George Smiley. With a star cast including Kenneth Cranham, Eleanor Bron, Brian Cox, Ian MacDiarmid, Anna Chancellor, Hugh Bonneville and Lindsay Duncan, these enthralling dramatisations perfectly capture the atmosphere of le Carre's taut, thrilling spy novels. Call for the Dead is the first Smiley novel, which sees him looking into an apparent suicide only to uncover a murderous conspiracy;A Murder of Quality finds Smiley investigating a murder in a private school; The Spy Who Came in from the Cold introduces Alec Leamas, a British intelligence officer whose East Berlin network is in tatters; The Looking Glass War features former spy Fred Leiser, lured back from retirement to investigate a claim that Soviet missiles are being installed close to the West German border; Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is the first book in the Karla trilogy, and sees Smiley searching for a mole who has infiltrated the Circus; The Honourable Schoolboy sees Smiley determined to destroy his nemesis, Karla, and his spy networks; Smiley's People finds George Smiley called out of retirement to exorcise some Cold War ghosts from his clandestine past; The Secret Pilgrim sees Smiley invited to dine with the eager new recruits at the Circus. He offers them his thoughts on espionage and, in doing so, prompts a former colleague to re-examine his own eventful secret life. 'A radio triumph...Simon Russell Beale's pitch-perfect master spy' - "Financial Times". Duration: 19 hours.Trade ReviewA radio triumph...Simon Russell Beale's pitch-perfect master spy * The Financial Times *

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Book Synopsis'Her gallery of personages is huge, her scene painting superb, her pathos controlled, her humour quiet and civilised' - Anthony Burgess'Glittering characterisation, sharp and eloquent writing' - Sunday Telegraph'Wonderfully entertaining' - ObserverBucharest, 1940. The city is on the brink of invasion and Guy and Harriet Pringle find their position growing ever more dangerous. Harriet longs for safety, while Guy's idealism frustrates his new wife. But when the Germans march in, Guy believes they must separate in a desperate bid to find safety, so Harriet leaves for Athens. The Spoilt City is a dramatic and colourful portrait of a city in turmoil, and of a young couple struggling to make their marriage work in the face of adversity.Trade ReviewMagnificent ... full of wit, sharp insight and vivid description. * The Times *Wonderfully entertaining * Observer *A fantastically tart and readable account of life in eastern Europe at the start of the war -- Sarah WatersSo glittering is the overall parade ... and so entertaining the surface that the trilogy remains excitingly vivid; it amuses, it diverts and it informs, and to do these things so elegantly is no small achievement * Sunday Times *One most salute the brilliance ... the exactness of sights and sounds, the precise touches of light and scent, the gestures and entrances. * Guardian *

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Book Synopsis***SHORTLISTED FOR THE COSTA NOVEL AWARD***'Wickedly funny, deeply touching . . . I confess this was the first of Rachman's novels I'd read but I was so swept away by it that I raced out to buy the other three' PATRICK GALE'Relentlessly entertaining' Daily MailRome, 1955The artists are gathering together for a photograph. In one of Rome's historic villas, a party glitters with socialites and patrons. Bear Bavinsky, creator of vast, masculine, meaty canvases, is their god. He is at the centre of the picture. His wife, Natalie, edges out of the shot.From the side of the room watches little Pinch - their son. At five years old he loves Bear almost as much as he fears him. After Bear abandons their family, Pinch will still worship him, while Natalie faces her own wars with the art world. Trying to live up to his father's name - one of the twentieth century's fiercest and most controversial painters - Pinch never quite succeeds. Yet by the end of a career of twists and compromises, he enacts an unexpected rebellion that will leave forever his mark upon the Bear Bavinsky legacy.What makes an artist? In The Italian Teacher, Tom Rachman displays a nuanced understanding of art and its demons. Moreover, in Pinch he achieves a portrait of vulnerability and frustrated talent that - with his signature humour and humanity ­- challenges the very idea of greatness.Trade ReviewOften wickedly funny - Rachman has an eye for life's cruelty worth of Waugh - but it is also deeply touching in its tender portrayals of life's victims . . . I confess this was the first of Rachman's novels I'd read but I was so swept away by it that I raced out to buy the other three -- Patrick Gale * Daily Telegraph *The Italian Teacher is a marvel - an entertaining, heartbreaking novel about art, family, loyalty, and authenticity. Tom Rachman is an enormously talented writer - this book is alive, from the first page to the last. * Tom Perotta *I loved it. A story of a globally famous overbearing father and how that affects the life of his son set against the backdrop of mid-20th century modern art. A beautiful little gem. * Rick O'Shea, RTE Radio *This rich novel is both an intriguing examination of the nature of authenticity in art and the moving story of misplaced filial love, with an immensely satisfying denouement -- Simon Humphreys * Mail on Sunday *Tom Rachman is a relentlessly entertaining writer, mixing high-wire ideas with effervescent prose . . . Rachman asks interesting questions about the tension between legacy and self-determination. -- Claire Allfree * Daily Mail *Tom Rachman's novel charts the wreckage left in the wake of greatness . . . Despite its breadth, though, the book is intimate, subtly exploring its characters' inner lives . . . [Pinch's] struggle to find meaning amid the rubble becomes a surprisingly suspenseful quest. For all his faults, Pinch is gifted with wisdom, as is the author of this sad, funny and moving novel * Economist *A poignant, touching tale about living in the shadow of brazen artistic genius. Otherwise, reading Rachman is simply de rigueur if you appreciate literary fiction's brightest, newest voices . . . Rachman writes compelling stories of the entangled lives of damaged, endearing characters and their struggles to discover who they are . . . Rachman's narrative is rich with wordplay, clever dialogue and subtle insights. His plot twists blindside you . . . The brilliant finale will leave you surprised, sad and uplifted. -- Don Oldenburg * USA Today *The Italian Teacher confirms Rachman's reputation as a shepherd of lost souls . . . In the trompe l'oeil of Rachman's satire, the pretensions of the art world seem to reach off the page . . . deliciously ironic and deeply affectionate -- Ron Charles * Wall Street Journal *Rachman's new novel may well be his most impressive yet . . . spirited writing . . . In the end, this deceptively subtle novel offers a surprisingly upbeat message: that even a life marked by outward failure can contain many hidden kinds of success * Financial Times *Subtle, tender, profound, beautiful, funny, perfection of a book . . . Rachman, like Saul Bellow, has a gift of instant emotional connectivity, one related to but greater than empathy. We want to know every detail about the people in his novels. And we want to know them, take them into our lives, because they are people, not characters . . . Stay in bed for a day and read Tom Rachman. -- Helen Elliot * Australian *Compelling . . . His eye for the absurdities of the art world is cutting and funny -- Mika Ross-Southall * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book Synopsis**The thrilling new novel by the prize-winning author of Larchfield**'Passionate, remarkable and uplifting novel' Guardian'Grabbed me by the imagination and carried me into the wild' Laline PaullSet across two continents, Tiger is a sweeping story of survival and redeeming love that plunges the reader into one of the world's last wildernesses with blistering authenticity. Frieda is a primatologist, sensitive and solitary, until a violent attack shatters her ordered world. In her new role as a zookeeper, she confronts a very different ward: an injured wild tiger.Deep in the Siberian taiga, Tomas, a Russian conservationist, fears that the natural order has toppled. The king tiger has been killed by poachers and a spectacular tigress now patrols his vast territory as her own.In a winter of treacherous competition, the path of the tigress and her cub crosses with an Udeghe huntress and her daughter. Vengeance must follow, and the fates of both tigers and people are transformed.Learning of her tiger's past offers Frieda the chance of freedom. Faced with the savage forces of nature, she must trust to her instinct and, like the tiger, find a way to live in the world.Trade ReviewFierce, elegant and compelling as the tiger itself, this is less a novel than the very force of nature caught in fiction. Grabbed me by the imagination and carried me into the wilds of animal and human nature. * Laline Paull, author of The Bees *Visceral . . . exotic . . . An impassioned celebration of second chances -- Stephanie Cross * Daily Mail *Unsettling, immersive . . . A startling, gore-splattered, nerve-racking exploration of how human and animal territories - both physical and psychic - collide . . . Combining the propulsiveness of a thriller with the raw yet meditative tone of a memoir, Clark writes with a poet's ear and a naturalist's eye, and has a deep grasp of the profound contract between indigenous peoples and the beasts they revere. She never loses sight of the endangered creature that forms the beating heart of a passionate, remarkable and uplifting novel. -- Liz Jensen * Guardian *Electrifying - one to watch -- Nick Barley * Bookseller *Lyrical and richly imagined, immersing the reader in the Siberian wilderness. Tackling themes of grief, motherhood and empowerment, it questions the price we pay for freedom and for love. -- Hannah Beckerman * Guardian *A gorgeously written and unique novel that plunges the reader right into a vividly described natural world -- Joanne Finney * Good Housekeeping *A captivating walk on the wild side -- Lisa Howells * Heat *Polly Clark's new novel, which is largely set in the vast Siberian taiga, or frozen forest, has some utterly convincing depictions of life there - the privations, the isolation, the magnificent Siberian tigers, the astounding cold. And the reason they convince is that, in late 2017, the poet and author, realising that only first-hand experience would suffice, went out there and saw it all for herself . . . Striking -- Russell Leadbetter * Herald *The pages of in-cage interaction and silent tracking through the snowy taiga really should carry a reminder to breathe. At curtain call, though, the most thunderous ovation would go to the tigers, serene and relentless at nature's extremes, superbly rendered by the author, who to be sure of her material learnt how to track them in the depths of a Siberian winter . . . Don't be surprised if you also find yourself hooked. * Strong Words *Readers with a passion for wildlife conservation will lap up this lovely novel, which moves easily between a zoo in Devon and the frozen wastes of Siberia . . . Clark has based her novel on personal experience and is as adept at looking at the world through the eyes of a tiger as she is at capturing the animal's incomparable physical grace. -- Max Davidson * Mail on Sunday *Clark's tigress is magnificent and terrifying . . . Clark's description of the snowbound wilderness is excellent . . . Clark shows us nature red in tooth and claw and human claws may be as sharp as a tiger's . . . Her evocation of the terrifying wastes of the taiga and the grim horrors of a Siberian winter represents a real and memorable achievement. The book will surely sell well; it deserves to do so. -- Allan Massie * Scotsman *What an achievement! So evocative of the Siberian taiga, so telling about life's imperfections, so beautifully structured to foster faith in new beginnings. Read and revive your optimism in our uncertain times! * Caroline Brothers, author of The Memory Stones *

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Book Synopsis**SHORTLISTED FOR THE CWA IAN FLEMING STEEL DAGGER 2019****LONGLISTED FOR THE GOLDSBORO BOOKS GLASS BELL AWARD 2019**What happens when a man of absolute integrity finds himself trapped in a world of absolute corruption?During a weekend spree in Cape Town a young, rich Afrikaner fatally injures a teenage street girl with his Range Rover but is too drunk to know that he has hit her. His companions – who do know – leave the girl to die. The driver’s mother, a self-made mining magnate called Margot Le Roux, intends to keep her son in ignorance of his crime. Why should his life be ruined for a nameless girl who was already terminally ill? No one will care and the law is cheap. But by chance the case falls to the relentless Warrant Officer Turner of Cape Town homicide. When Turner travels to the remote mining town that Margot owns – including the local police and private security force – he finds her determined to protect her son at any cost. As the battle of wills escalates, and the moral contradictions multiply, Turner won’t be bought and won’t be bullied, and when they try to bury him he rediscovers, during a desperate odyssey to the very brink of death, a long-forgotten truth about himself... By the time Willocks's tale is finished, fourteen men have died. He shows once again that he is the laureate of the violent thriller.Trade ReviewIt’s 24 years since Willocks’s Green River Rising was published. Memo From Turner is even better. It’s a devastating indictment of modern South Africa. -- Mark Sanderson * Evening Standard *Marked out by the elegance of the writing coupled with the brutality of the action... A ferocious read. * Mail on Sunday *A violent thriller that pits integrity against corruption in an arid, pitiless landscape. As the corpses and moral contradictions multiply, Memo from Turner ticks all the boxes for righteous machismo. -- Laura Wilson * Guardian *Delivered with unrelenting impact… there are echoes here of the late American novelist Robert Stone in this picture of endemic corruption. -- Barry Forshaw * Financial Times *A brutal tale that is part modern Western, part Jack Reacher adventure. * The Sun *

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Book SynopsisEliza Miller grew up in Australia as the only daughter of a troubled young mother, but with the constant support of her two watchful godmothers, Olivia and Maxie. Despite her tricky childhood, she always felt loved and secure. Until, just before her eighteenth birthday, a tragic event changed her life.Thirteen years on, Eliza is deliberately living as safely as possible, avoiding close relationships and devoting herself to her job. Out of the blue, an enticing invitation from her godmothers, now both based in the UK, prompts a leap into the unknown.Within a fortnight, Eliza has swapped her predictable routine in Melbourne, for life in the middle of a complicated family in Edinburgh. There's no rush thing as an ordinary day any more. Yet, amidst the chaos, Eliza begins to blossom. She finds herself not only hopeful about the future, but ready to explore her past. Her godmothers have long been waiting for her to ask about her mother's mysterious life – and about the identity of the father she has never known. But even they are taken by surprise with all that Eliza discovers.Trade Review'An absolutely beautiful book ... Intriguing and uplifting' -- Marian Keyes'You think she can't get any better, but she does! The perfect read' -- Patricia Scanlan

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Book SynopsisLondon, 1942Flo Canning’s heart is beyond repair following the news that she has been dreading since the outbreak of war. As Flo throws herself into the role of fabric manager at Liberty’s, old and new friends alike help pull her from a whirl of despair. Between work and home life there’s plenty to keep Flo occupied. Not least new deputy store manager, Henry Masters, whose arrival has consequences that Flo and her workmates could never have foreseen.But there is more tragedy still to come, and Flo and her friends will need each other more than ever if they are to survive the uncertainty ahead.

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Book SynopsisA moving and uplifting festive short story from Marcia Willett, perfect for fans of Katie Fforde and Fern Britton.Nestled in the Devon countryside, the Keep has always been a refuge for the Chadwick family: forever warm and welcoming through the challenges life has thrown at them. And the current occupants have certainly seen their share of challenges...Lulu and her small son, Oliver, are staying at the Keep while they find their feet. Freddie's commission as a naval chaplain has just ended and he too is grateful to have been welcomed at the Keep whilst he decides where to go next. And now Ed, the black sheep of the family, is finally coming home after ten years living in the USA.Ed's strange, secretive behaviour means that he often clashes with his family. But as the autumn draws to a close and a sprinkling of snow dusts the moors, could the promise of a family Christmas at the Keep be enough to ease tensions and soothe the sting of a long-buried secret?The Chadwicks all know one thing for certain - no matter the circumstances, the Keep will always be there to welcome them home.Praise for Marcia Willett:'A warm and engaging read.' Trisha Ashley'A beautifully woven tale of families and their secrets...' Liz Fenwick, bestselling author of The Cornish House'Riveting, moving and utterly feel-good.' Daily Mail'Sweeping powers of description transport her readers to another time and place.' Rosanna Ley

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Book Synopsis'Compelling, disturbing, entertaining, this is a bloody riot from start to finish. In every good sense' Theodore Brun, author of A Burning SeaConflict flares once more in Saxony...March, AD 773. Bjarki Bloodhand is now Fire Born – a legendary berserker inhabited by the ferocious spirit of a bear in battle. Yet he has sworn never again to allow that sacred rage to possess him, lest he for ever lose himself in the madness like his father.Tor Hildarsdottir yearns to save pagan Saxony from the grip of the Christian Franks, who now occupy half the region. But she also has serious problems closer to home with her fast-growing pet bear cub, Garm, and, worse, she seems to be falling in love.Widukind, new lord of the Saxons, is on a mission to reconquer the lands of his fathers from the Franks. He will stop at nothing to win the hearts of the men and women of the North, and bind them to his cause. But will they follow the Saxon Wolf in an unwinnable war? And will Bjarki join them?The epic second novel in the Fire Born saga, perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell, Giles Kristian, and Matthew Harffy.Praise for The Saxon Wolf 'Donald has spun another terrific yarn, skilfully interweaving heart-thumping action sequences with a compelling plot... his writing is original and completely convincing. The Saxon Wolf is another step forward and a step up in the Fire Born series. Compelling, disturbing, entertaining, this is a bloody riot from start to finish. In every good sense' Theodore Brun, author of A Burning SeaPraise for The Last Berserker, Volume One in the Fire Born series‘Donald has taken the legendary berserkers, those frothing-at-the-mouth shield-biters, and made them human, which once again proves that Donald is a writer not only at the top of his game, but of the game ... It is a wonderful, rich and violent brew. I welcome Angus Donald to the shield wall of Viking fiction like a thirsty man welcomes a mead-brother to the feast ... A tale worthy of the skalds’ Giles Kristian, author of the Raven series‘With The Last Berserker, Donald has given us the first cut of some serious Dark Age beef. By turns heart-racing, intriguing, and touching, this is not a book for the faint-hearted – I can’t wait for more’ Theodore Brun, author of A Burning Sea‘The Last Berserker strikes with the thundering power of Thor's hammer... rich with the earthy depth, historical detail, intrigue, violence and adventure that we expect from Donald. But it is Bjarki and Tor that make The Last Berserker stand out... Donald's masterful creations will live on in the imagination long after the final page’ Matthew Harffy, author of the Bernicia Chronicles'A wonderful, blood-soaked tale of redemption and revenge, set amidst the eighth century clash of civilisations between Pagan Vikings and Christian Franks, by a master of the genre’ Saul David, author of Zulu Hart'Loved this tale of a berserker facing up against the tidal wave of Charlemagne’s expansion. Great characters, brilliantly paced and explosive, gritty battle-scenes. Highly recommended' John Gwynne, author of Malice‘Well researched detail and stunning battle scenes make The Last Berserker a white knuckle ride. A thrilling, up-all-night read’ C. R. May, author of The Day of the Wolf'I loved it. Bjarki and Tor are great characters, instantly relatable. The depth of the immersion in their world and their values gives the book authenticity and weight' Cecelia Holland, author of The Soul Thief

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Book SynopsisSome promises should never be broken.AD 1055. With the crisis of 1051 long behind them and finally coming to terms with the death of Sweyn, the Godwin family’s influence across England is growing. Harold enjoys a position of trust with King Edward and the country is at peace, but Edward knows that he needs an heir before it is too late.In Hungary, there is one potential heir with royal blood running through his veins, but before he can be contacted another king, much closer to home, rises to power, and Harold finds himself torn between diplomacy and violence to maintain the peace.With King Edward relying on him more and more, Harold travels to Normandy to find the two hostages still missing after many years. But while there, he uncovers a situation far more dangerous than any threat from the Welsh king...With England now being torn apart by internal politics, can Harold forge unity amongst his fellow nobles before it is too late?The gripping next step along the road to Hastings, perfect for fans of Conn Iggulden.

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Book SynopsisThe king is dead. The fight to replace him begins...1066 dawns on a fractious England. The death of Edward the Confessor has set in motion a chain of events that can no longer be stopped.In London, Harold Godwinson, anointed king by Edward on his deathbed, girds the nation for war.Across the channel in Normandy, Duke William prepares his invasion fleet to sail, supported by Harald’s treacherous brother, Tostig, who has promised to help William strike at the very heart of England.Battle shall be joined in Hastings, and the future of the country decided with sword, lance and bow.K. M. Ashman delivers the epic showpiece finale to the Road to Hastings trilogy, perfect for fans of Conn Iggulden and David Gilman.

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Book SynopsisThere’s more to life than being fabulous… but it’s a startRoz and Jamie have moved to leafy Suffolk from London in search of a quiet life, so it’s a shock to find the village embarking on its riotous annual drag competition. Fuelled by large quantities of alcohol and boisterous community spirit, they are soon caught up in a battle for the identity of the village itself against those who’d prefer to stay stuck in the past.Meanwhile in San Francisco, Drew is facing his own challenge to save his drag club and the livelihoods of his closest friends. When he finds out about a small English village putting on a drag competition, inspiration strikes – and worlds collide.Appearances are not everything and sometimes human connections can surprise us, but will these realisations be too late to save the village and Drew’s club?A gorgeously fun, heartwarming and tender story of unexpected friendships and acceptance.'This is like an edgy Jilly Cooper – lots of eccentric characters and a lot of fun!' Katie Fforde'Truly terrific...I love this book' Judy Astley'High jinks and high heels... Imagine The Archers in drag, with a huge heart and lots of laughs' Veronica Henry

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Book Synopsis‘5/5 Stars – I did not see that ending coming!...it’s a great thriller with some fun twists that will keep readers on their toes’ (e) Book NerdAll families have secrets... some are deadly.When D.I. Matthew Denning is called in to investigate a house fire in a North London street, he never anticipated the horrors that awaited him. As Denning and D.S. Molly Fisher search the wreckage, the bodies of the Galloway family – Brian and Ellie, son Simon, daughter Amber and 9-year-old grandson Caleb – are discovered in the smouldering house.All evidence points to a tragic accident… until Matthew and Molly discover that the family was dead before the fire, murdered in their home by a faceless psychopath. What started as a routine investigation swiftly turns into a murder investigation, with Denning and Fisher hunting a killer who has wiped out three generations with a shotgun.But as the case deepens, Denning and Fisher discover that the Galloways were no ordinary family. Like all families, they harbour secrets - but unlike others, their secrets were so deadly, someone is willing to spill blood to keep them hidden…An utterly gripping detective novel set in London, Blood Family will thrill fans of Angela Marsons, Mark Billingham and Robert Bryndza.Readers are hooked on Blood Family:‘fast paced and utterly gripping, with plenty to keep you guessing from start to finish. Thoroughly entertaining.’ The Bookwormery‘Well-paced, with a few clever twists, I was never quite sure I knew who the killer was. Graeme Hampton’s writing is fabulous.’ Jessica Belmont‘Denning and Fisher are a great team…I look forward to the next book’ (5 stars) Reader Review‘I took to this book very quickly - always a good sign... An excellent plot line with nothing too gory or upsetting which gives a very comfortable read. A truly brilliant, very entertaining read.’ (5 stars) Nicki’s Book Blog ‘full of tension and intrigue. There were lots of twists and turns and it was difficult to know who to trust. It's a well written, fast paced read that keeps you gripped.’ Reader Review‘my first introduction to D.I Denning and D.S Fisher and certainly won’t be my last. A gripping start that is steadily paced, picking up to a very satisfying conclusion. A must read for crime fans’ By The Letter Book Reviews‘This is a really enjoyable and solid read for crime fans and I would recommend it.’ Reader Review‘an interesting police procedural with several twists and a constant stream of developments. It held my attention throughout and I read it in one sitting.’ Reader Review‘lots of satisfying twists and turns…this was an easy and engrossing read.’ Reader ReviewPraise for Graeme Hampton: ‘This story starts with a bang and holds your attention throughout…fast paced and multi layered, each twist and turn drawing us further in.’ Book Bound‘an excellent debut novel, I was drawn in from the start…the twists are clever and I genuinely didn’t guess the ending’ Alex J Book Reviews‘This is a brilliant read…the story twists and turns to an exciting conclusion and leaves you wanting more’ Mac Reviews Books‘Wow, I really enjoyed this book… It is a complex, intriguing, grabbing book that you can sink your teeth into. I was hooked from beginning to end’ Reading Through the Pain‘The solving of the crime had me gripped…we’re never sure what is a red herring until the riveting climax’ Cara Merrol Loves Books

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Book SynopsisPhilip Hart, a fortysomething Norfolk school teacher, has sought solace in drink as he sees his life start to unravel. He suspects, with good reason, he is about to lose out on a promotion to a younger colleague who is assumed to be sleeping with his wife. And one night, driving home drunk from a village pub, he knocks down and kills an old man fleeing from a nearby mental hospital. To avoid blame Hart hides the body in a roadside culvert, but guilt forces him to learn the identity and background of his victim, so he can make some kind of amends. On a visit to the mental hospital he discovers clues to a decades-old mystery somehow involving the inmate, prompting him to sever all ties with his previously cloistered existence. Adopting the role of Percival, the holy fool of legend charged with finding a redeeming relic, Hart’s journey takes him very far from Norfolk, into Sweden’s sub-arctic wilderness and to one of the continent’s forbidden places. And also back to that darkest of times, when the world was at war and aflame. But if the man he killed had been driven mad by his part in creating this mystery, so Hart is in danger of becoming just as deranged. He has gone beyond needing simply to atone for a single death. He is now on a mission to rekindle what in his increasing obsession he believes is nothing less than the light of the world.

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Book SynopsisThis is the story of an ordinary fellow who thinks he''s a loser. When he must deal with property rights, a disruptive family, death, and love, he proves to himself --- and to us - he''s wrong. Dogs are at the heart of what happens. He''s soft-spoken, and his hat usually does the talking for him, but when he finally stands for what''s right, Marvin Dorset becomes eloquent and very much a champion. As all of us are!

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Book SynopsisA delicious, sharp novel about a woman who jets off to France after her perfect marriage collapses, putting the broken pieces of herself back together while rediscovering her own joie de vivre – a lust for life, art, and steamy sex.Sophie Bloom's forty-second birthday promises a night of celebration with Gabe, her devoted husband, and her two besties and their spouses. Dinner is served with a side of delicious gossip: after a secret dating site for married and committed couples was hacked, thirty-two million cheaters worldwide have been exposed... including Sophie's 'perfect' husband.Humiliated and directionless, Sophie flees to Paris, where her teenage daughter is studying abroad and nursing her own heartbreak. Heading further south to the artist enclave of Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Sophie begins to acknowledge her own desires and rediscover her essence with painful honesty and humour, reawakening both her sensuality and ambitions as a sculptor.Surrounded by the postcard beauty of Provence, Sophie Bloom is determined to blossom. As she allows her true self to emerge, Sophie must decide what is broken forever... and what it means to be truly unbreakable.Trade Review'This exquisitely wrought novel will appeal to readers who believe in the redemption of new beginnings' * Publishers Weekly *'Artful, feminist, and emotionally gripping. The Unbreakables is a remarkable tribute to a woman's strength in the face of heartbreak and adversity' -- Helen Hoang, author of The Kiss Quotient'An impossibly sexy read of love, friendship and art' * Booklist *

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Book SynopsisHaving completed a controversial twelve-year military career, Captain Richard Blake finds his subsequent service with the Officer Special Reserve Corps soon significantly eating into his first civilian career as a broker in Lloyd’s of London. Initially, this is no small part due to the passionate, irresponsible side of his nature allowing him to become victim of a dazzling lady with subversive anti-British intensions. What ensues, including the tragic death of his lover, draws him more deeply into secret service involvement. He then falls under the ruthless control of an MI6 martinet of a colonel who eventually persuades his employer to allow Richard to become a full time MI6 operative. Having been almost murdered while operating in New York the new agent is selected to take part in a vital West African mission with another former fellow officer and old friend. Things soon become far more complex and hazardous, and dramatically intensifies when his friend is sadistically slaughtered by their main opponent there. Richard must face further danger in both the Far East and on secondment to the Nigerian army as he continues to fight the enemies of Western civilisation.

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Book SynopsisNeil Powell fuses a critical look at language with an exploration of the political and existential problems facing humankind... The Storyteller is tired of telling stories about Love, God and Beauty. With the invention of Eric Crawford, an English teacher at Davenport College, he explores what is required to tell new stories. As a result, a tantalising world of freedom beckons. This encompasses Eric’s teaching, family and romantic life, the explosive relationship he has with troubled student, David Spurling, a protest movement about the role of Art, and a violent crime on college grounds. The Storyteller’s control of Eric’s life conversely makes the Storyteller realise the power language has over him. Reminding him that language is a public medium, not the exclusive tool of an authority or author. A stylistically innovative novel, at turns both a philosophy and black comedy, The Office of Future Storytelling, examines the relationship of language to individual identity and freedom. It argues that the stories we need are those which demonstrate our unequivocal connection to the world.

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Book SynopsisMeet Delphy Rose: thirty-eight, a SEN teacher, and happily single. After a chance encounter with Ben, she is transported back to more carefree times when both were in a local post-punk band, The Thistles. They can’t help but fall in love, but things are complicated: Ben is married and has changed. Delphy is fragile and has a secret. A young, working class, ambitious Delphy dreamt of Uni. She immersed herself in and escaped through the explosion of eighties’ alternative music. As a mature woman, Delphy recalls first loves, friendships, bust ups, colourful characters, the gigs, the parties. Through the memories of Delphy’s younger days, full of hilarious escapades, Delphy Rose recounts the journey of a woman trying to find her way through and out of a difficult, coercive relationship with issues on both sides. She must realise that while Ben is the key, he is perhaps not the answer to healing past traumas. Can she resolve the pain of her past with her final song?

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Some of the most popular and innovative writers of erotic literature today have contributed to these twelve short novels which explore everything from love and longing to the darker emotions of pain, ecstasy, and total submission of the self to another. Longer and more satisfying than a short story, novellas allow the author to create perfect settings for thrilling and imaginative worlds, with a greater sense of involvement for the reader.Amongst those selected we find:The promiscous escapades of a journalist and photographer in Thailand.The success of an author's first book that ends five years of celibacy with an astonishing series of encounters.The journey an older man takes to New York to meet a young sex slave on the internet.A retelling of the classic tale of a maid's submission to her dominant master.

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Book SynopsisBertie Wooster looks pretty stylish in his new Tyrolean hat - or so he thinks: others, notably Jeeves, disagree. But when Bertie embarks on an errand of mercy to Totleigh Towers, things get quickly out of control and he''s going to need all the help Jeeves can provide. There are good eggs present, such as Gussie Fink-Nottle and the Rev. ''Stinker'' Pinker. But there also is Sir Watkyn Bassett J.P., enemy of all the Woosters hold dear, to say nothing of his daughter Madeline and Roderick Spode, now raised to the peerage. And Major Brabazon Plank, the peppery explorer, who wants to lay Bertie out cold.

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Book SynopsisA Hollywood star and an English aristocrat exchange souls while under ether at the dentist and the result is mayhem. Though his golden curls and sweet expression make him the idol of mothers throughout America, Joey Cooley is a tough nut who wants nothing more than to revenge himself on the agents, directors and producers who make his life a misery, before escaping back to Ohio. When his soul is transplanted into the body of an English earl with a boxing Blue he has the chance to 'poke them all in the snoot'. Lord Havershot, meanwhile, finds himself under the thumb of the fierce Miss Brinkmeyer and terrorized by the boy stars Joey has supplanted. The result is Anglo-American farce with the lightest of touches.

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Book SynopsisAt Deverill Hall, an idyllic Tudor manor in the picture-perfect village of King's Deverill, impostors are in the air. The prime example is man-about-town Bertie Wooster, doing a good turn to Gussie Fink-Nottle by impersonating him while he enjoys fourteen days away from society after being caught taking an unscheduled dip in the fountains of Trafalgar Square. Bertie is of course one of nature's gentlemen, but the stakes are high: if all is revealed, there's a danger that Gussie's simpering fiancée Madeline may turn her wide eyes on Bertie instead. It's a brilliant plan - until Gussie himself turns up, imitating Bertram Wooster. After that, only the massive brain of Jeeves (himself in disguise) can set things right.Trade ReviewIt's dangerous to use the word genius to describe a writer, but I'll risk it with him -- John HumphrysWodehouse always lifts your spirits, no matter how high they happen to be already -- Lynne Truss

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Book SynopsisAnyone who involves himself with Roberta Wickham is asking for trouble, so naturally Bertie Wooster finds himself in just that situation when he goes to stay with his Aunt Dahlia at Brinkley Court. So much is obvious. Why celebrated loony-doctor Sir Roderick Glossop should be there too, masquerading as a butler, is less clear. As for Bertie’s former headmaster, the ghastly Aubrey Upjohn, the dreadful novelist, Mrs Homer Cream and her eccentric son Wilbert, their presence is entirely perplexing. Without Jeeves to help him solve these mysteries, Bertie nearly comes unstuck. It is only when that peerless manservant returns from his holiday that the resulting tangle of problems is sorted out to everyone’s satisfaction – except Bertie’s.

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Book SynopsisIn this comic novel - dedicated to Douglas Fairbanks, who starred in the stage version - Jimmy Pitt, man-about-town and former newspaper hound, takes a bet that he cannot commit burglary. He finds breaking and entering easy enough, but then discovers that he has forced his way into the home of a tough New York policeman. Naturally, Captain McEachern has a beautiful daughter and problems of his own. The complications which ensue from their meeting, involving a rich cast of Wodehousean characters from both sides of the Atlantic, create one of his most amusing and light-hearted early novels.

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Book SynopsisWhen a man needs only two hundred pounds to marry his cook and buy a public house, one would expect his life to be trouble free, but the fifth Earl of Shortlands has to reckon with his haughty daughter, Lady Adela, and Mervyn Spink, his butler, who also happens to be his rival in love. Mike Cardinal offers to sort out the problem by pretending to be Stanwood Cobbold but his way is blocked by Spink and reformed burglar, Augustus Robb. Confused? Let P.G.Wodehouse untangle the complications in this light-hearted comedy which ends happily – for almost everyone.

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Book SynopsisThe only Jeeves story in which Bertie Wooster makes no appearance, involves Jeeves on secondment as butler and general factotum to William Belfry, ninth Earl of Rowcester (pronounced Roaster). Despite his impressive title, Bill Belfry is broke, which may explain why he and Jeeves have been working as Silver Ring bookies, disguised in false moustaches and loud check suits. All goes well until the terrifying Captain Brabazon-Biggar, big-game hunter, two-fisted he-man and saloon-bar bore, lays successful bets on two outsiders, leaving the would-be bookies three thousand pounds down and on the run from their creditor. Ring For Jeeves is the story of their misadventures as they attempt to evade the incandescent Captain, combined with Bill's attempt to sell his crumbling mansion to rich American widow, Rosalinda Spottsworth - who just happens to be Brabazon-Biggar's former flame...Trade Review"Wodehouse's idyllic world can never stale. He will continue to release future generations from captivity that may be more irksome than our own. He has made a world for us to live in and delight in." Evelyn Waugh; "He exhausts superlatives" Stephen Fry; "Pure word music" Douglas Adams; "The Everyman edition promises to be a splendid celebration of the divine Plum" The Independent; "The handsome bindings are only the cherry on top of what is already a cake without compare" Evening Standard; "A handsome, collectable hardback edition" Lynne Truss, The Times"

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Book SynopsisThe Coming of Bill (1920) is the nearest Wodehouse ever came to a serious novel, although the influence of the musical comedies he was writing at the time is never far away. Bill is the child of Ruth, a spoilt heiress, and Kirk, an impecunious artist of perfect physique. Their marriage has been arranged by Ruth's aunt, a believer in eugenics who then takes charge of the baby. The story, set entirely in New York and Connecticut, concerns the young couple's campaign to retrieve their child from the overbearing Mrs Porter and establish a normal family life. They are eventually successful, but only after a series of comic mishaps in a story which features a galaxyof vintage Wodehouse characters, including the bossy aunt, a tetchy millionaire, a good-natured ex-boxer and an orotund English butler.Trade Review"Wodehouse's idyllic world can never stale. He will continue to release future generations from captivity that may be more irksome than our own. He has made a world for us to live in and delight in." -- EVELYN WAUGH"He exhausts superlatives" -- STEPHEN FRY"Pure word music" -- DOUGLAS ADAMS"The Everyman edition promises to be a splendid celebration of the divine Plum" * THE INDEPENDENT *"The handsome bindings are only the cherry on top of what is already a cake without compare" * EVENING STANDARD *

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Book SynopsisThis book features more stories about the incredible Mulliner clan, following on from Meet Mr Mulliner. This volume includes such classic Wodehouse tales as 'The Man Who Gave Up Smoking', 'The Awful Gladness of the Mater', 'Unpleasantness at Bludleigh Court' and 'The Passing of Ambrose'.

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Book SynopsisIn nine of Wodehouse's ripest stories from the 1920s, the characters are united by their worship of golf. From Rodney Spelvin, the sickeningly good-looking romantic poet who comes to his senses when he discovers the game, to Rollo Podmarsh, who finishes his round even when he thinks himself fatally poisoned, and Chester Meredith who discovers eloquence on the eighteenth green, we meet the full range of humanity in fair weather and foul. P.G. Wodehouse is recognised as the greatest English comic writer of the twentieth century. His characters and settings have entered our language and our mythology. Launched on the twenty-fifth anniversary of his death, the Everyman Wodehouse will eventually contain all the novels and stories, edited and reset. Each Everyman volume will be the finest edition of the master ever published.Trade ReviewNothing will ever dim the brilliance of Wodehouse's world or flatten his ever-sprightly and always entertaining prose -- John Mortimer * The Sunday Times *What can one say about Wodehouse? He exhausts superlatives. I am not alone in believing he has come closer than any writer of English to approaching Shakespeare's complete mastery and transcendency of language. * Stephen Fry *Mr Wodehouse's idyllic world can never stale. He will continue to release future generations from captivity that may be more irksome than our own. He has made a world for us to live in and delight in * Evelyn Waugh *

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Book SynopsisAlthough the story of Uncle Dynamite concerns Bill Oakshott's struggle to find ways of getting his girl while financing his inheritance at Ashenden Manor, the real hero of the book is Frederick Altamont Cornwallis, fifth Earl of Ickenham. This noble lord describes himself as 'one of the hottest earls that ever donned a coronet' and he was also one of his creator's favourite characters, featuring in three other novels. Lord Ickenham sees it as his mission to bring a little joy into the lives of others, and on this occasion he surpasses himself.Trade ReviewWodehouse's idyllic world can never stale. He will continue to release future generations from captivity that may be more irksome than our own. He has made a world for us to live in and delight in. * Evelyn Waugh *He exhausts superlatives * Stephen Fry *The Everyman edition promises to be a splendid celebration of the divine Plum * The Independent *The handsome bindings are only the cherry on top of what is already a cake without compare * Evening Standard *A handsome, collectable hardback edition * Lynne Truss, THE TIMES *

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