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
Cornerstone The Nonesuch
Book SynopsisAuthor of over fifty books, Georgette Heyer is the best-known and best-loved of all historical novelists, who made the Regency period her own. Her first novel, The Black Moth, published in 1921, was written at the age of fifteen to amuse her convalescent brother; her last was My Lord John. Although most famous for her historical novels, she also wrote eleven detective stories. Georgette Heyer died in 1974 at the age of seventy-one.Trade Review"Sparkling" The Independent "My favourite historical novelist - stylish, romantic, sharp, and witty. Her sense of period is superb, her heroines are enterprising, and her heroes dashing. I owe her many happy hours" -- Margaret Drabble "A writer of great wit and style ... I've read her books to ragged shreds" -- Kate Fenton Daily Telegraph
£9.49
Vintage Publishing Mr Palomar
Book SynopsisItalo Calvino (Author) Italo Calvino was born in Cuba in 1923 and grew up in Italy. He was an essayist and journalist and a member of the editorial staff of Einaudi in Turin. One of the most respected writers of the twentieth century, his best-known works of fiction include Invisible Cities, If on a Winter's Night a Traveller, Marcovaldo and Mr Palomar. In 1973 he won the prestigious Premio Feltrinelli. He died in 1985. A collection of Calvino's posthumous personal writings, The Hermit in Paris, was published in 2003.William Weaver (Translator) William Weaver has translated Umberto Eco, Italo Svevo, Primo Levi, Italo Calvino and Roberto Calasso, among others. He is a professor at Bard College.Trade ReviewHere, Calvino, probably Italy's leading novelist before he died, focuses a probing eye on one man's attempt to name the parts of his universe, almost as though Mr Palomar were trying to define and explain his own existence. Where the Palomar telescope points out into space, Mr Palomar points in: walking the beach, visiting the zoo, strolling in his garden. Each brief chapter reads like an exploded haiku, with Mr Palomar reading an universe into the proverbial grain of sand * Time Out *Beautifully nimble, solitary feats of imaginationCalvino represents a high point of literary evolution; his skill is immense but retains a simian agility. As ever, his gaze is crystal clear and his writing has the easy beauty of clarity. * New Statesman *
£9.49
Pan Macmillan The Sea
Book SynopsisJohn Banville was born in Wexford, Ireland, in 1945. He is the author of many highly acclaimed novels including The Sea (winner of the 2005 Man Booker Prize), The Book of Evidence, The Infinities and The Newton Letter. He has received a literary award from the Lannan Foundation. He lives in Dublin.
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers HAVOC
Book SynopsisThe New York Times'' #1 Thriller of 2024''Highsmithian highly readable, twisty and shrewd'' HANYA YANAGIHARA (on Instagram), author of A Little Life''Atmospheric, diabolical fun'' LUCY FOLEY, author of The Midnight Feast''Disturbingly enjoyable'' EMMA HEALEY, author of Elizabeth is Missing''A taut, wicked masterpiece'' MONA AWAD, author of BunnyEighty-one-year-old Maggie Burkhardt has left it all behind and spent the last five years ping-ponging between the world's luxury hotels.Now she has finally come to rest somewhere she can imagine staying forever: the Royal Karnak Hotel in Luxor, Egypt.Maggie is no sweet old lady. She has a nasty, nosy little habit: she spies on her fellow guests and manipulates situations to ''liberate'' them from what she sees as unhappy relationships.When an eight-year-old boy, Otto, and his well-meaning mother arrive at the hotel, Maggie sees two easy targets. But she is more wrong than she could possibly know, and is soon locked in a death-spiral with Otto has she finally met her match in a child one-tenth her age?Crackling with the perceptive acid wit of The White Lotus and haloed by Shirley Jackson's cruel, dark magic, Christopher Bollen's new novel is a decadent and ghastly delight.Early readers are saying''Absolutely brilliant and insane. I went in knowing very little about the book and I'm glad because it made it even more of a wild ride'' ?????''I loved this book from the first page The conflict between the old and the young in this cat and mouse tussle is brilliant. It's a hard to put down novel and has a great twist at the end'' ?????''I had an absolute blast reading this. Otto and Maggie are wild characters and their behavior is shocking!'' ????
£15.29
Canelo City of Scars
Book SynopsisLife has been good for DCI Jack Logan lately. Happily settled down with the woman of his dreams and a dog he begrudgingly tolerates, things are finally going Jack''s way.All that is about to change.When a murderer on a misguided revenge mission begins picking off victims on the streets of Inverness, Jack's boss decides to bring in some outside help.But the new team member is an old flame from Jack's past who isn't quite ready to let him go, and as the dead bodies rack up, the life Jack has been building for himself may be the next victim to fall.
£9.49
Orion Publishing Co Evolution GOLLANCZ SF
Book SynopsisFrom their beginnings foraging at the feet of the dinosaurs, through the apocalypse of an asteroid strike, through countless years of the day to day life and death dramas of survival of the fittest, to the rise and fall of mankind and the final destruction of earth by the expanding sun, the primates have survived. This is their story. EVOLUTION follows the ebb and flow of the fortunes of one group of creatures as they change and adapt to their world somewhere on the horn of Africa. It turns the story of Darwinian evolution into a constant drama, a daily life and death struggle, a heroic story of lifes endurance. It is a story that transcends generations, species, mankind and, in the end, the Earth itself. In the tradition of Olaf Stapledon and HG Wells.
£12.34
Little, Brown Book Group The Revolving Door of Life 44 Scotland Street A
Book SynopsisFor seven-year-old Bertie Pollock, life in Edinburgh''s most celebrated fictional street has just got immeasurably better. The enforced absence of his endlessly pushy mother Irene - currently consciousness-raising in a Bedouin harem (don''t ask) - has manifold and immediate blessings: no psychotherapy, no Italian lessons and no yoga classes. Bliss.For Scotland Street''s grown-ups, life throws up some new dilemmas. Matthew makes a discovery that could make him even richer but also leaves him worried. Pat makes one that could make her poorer and her father miserable - unless that uber-narcissist, Bruce, can help her out. And the Duke of Johannesburg, we discover, isn''t exactly who he says he is.From what happens behind Edinburgh Airport''s luggage carousel to Machiavellian manoeuvrings at the Association of Scottish Nudists, Alexander McCall Smith guides us through the brighter, lighter and frankly unexpected side of Edinburgh life. As ever with his 44 Scotland Str
£8.09
Hodder & Stoughton The Woman Who Died a Lot Thursday Next Book 7
Book SynopsisThe seventh book in the phenomenally successful Thursday Next series by Number One bestselling author Jasper Fforde. ''Fans of the late Douglas Adams, or, even, Monty Python, will feel at home with Fforde'' - HeraldThe BookWorld''s leading enforcement officer Thursday Next is four months into an enforced semi-retirement following an assassination attempt. She returns home to Swindon for what you''d expect to be a time of recuperation. If only life were that simple. Thursday is faced with an array of family problems - son Friday''s lack of focus since his career in the Chronoguard was relegated to a might-have-been, daughter Tuesday''s difficulty perfecting the Anti-Smote shield needed to thwart an angry Deity''s promise to wipe Swindon off the face of the earth, and Jenny, who doesn''t exist. And that''s not all. With Goliath attempting to replace Thursday at every opportunity with synthetic Thursdays, the prediction thatTrade ReviewPraise for Jasper Fforde * : *'Reading a Fforde novel feels like taking off on a magic carpet, only to be picked up by another and another and taken on new flights of fantasy . . . When the plot is thundering along, peppered with jokes, lively dialogue and silly names . . . you just sit back and enjoy the ride.' * Scotsman *'Jam packed with ingeniously witty ideas' * SFX.co.uk *A riot of puns, in-jokes and literary allusions that Fforde carries off with aplomb * Daily Mail *'Fans of the late Douglas Adams, or, even, Monty Python, will feel at home with Fforde' * Herald *'Forget all the rules of time, space and reality; just sit back and enjoy the adventure.' * Sunday Telegraph *'Any worries that by now the Thursday Next series would have settled into a rut prove groundless here, as Jasper Fforde delivers another swerveball . . . It's the usual mix of fiendishly clever plotting and exquisitely executed comedy setpieces' **** * SFX *As always, Fforde delivers a winner - immensely entertaining and easy to read. The characters are well rounded, and the dialogue snappy, amusing and filled with the usual plays on words and general silliness . . . If you've not experienced Fforde's unique humour before, then check the Thursday Next series out. * The British Fantasy Society *This is truly wacky, laugh-out-loud, literary-laced stuff. He is very clever. * The Bookseller *I love Jasper Fforde's novels but have to admit that reviewing them is hard work - how to explain his complicated alternative universe without revealing too much of the plot and at the same time encouraging readers to plunge in and just enjoy the ride? All I can say is - I hope you enjoy this as much as I did and that it encourages you to read the others - you won't be disappointed * Euro Crime *Hugely funny and gloriously imaginative * Daily Express *
£9.49
Dover Publications Inc. Caprichos Los Dover Fine Art History of Art
Book SynopsisConsidered Goya's most brilliant work, this collection combines corrosive satire and exquisite technique to depict 18th-century Spain as a nation of grotesque monsters sprung up in the absence of reason. 80 plates.
£10.92
Pan Macmillan The Body Artist
Book SynopsisA sad, beautiful novel, The Body Artist is an elliptical meditation on the mysteries of love, life and time.Trade ReviewAmerica's greatest living writer. * Observer *A novel that is both slight and profound, a distilled meditation on perception and loss, and a poised, individual ghost story for the twenty-first century. * Observer *A masterly portrait of the impact of death on those who live. * Evening Standard *
£8.54
Vintage Publishing We Need New Names
Book SynopsisNOVIOLET BULAWAYO grew up in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. When she was eighteen, she moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan. Her first novel, We Need New Names, was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, the Guardian First Book Award and the Barnes & Noble Discover Award, and won a Betty Trask Award, Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award, Hurston-Wright Legacy Award, the Etisalat Prize and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for First Fiction. She has also won the Caine Prize for African Writing and a National Book Award's '5 Under 35'. NoViolet earned her MFA at Cornell University, and was a Stegner Fellow at Stanford University, where she taught fiction. She currently writes full-time, from wherever she finds herself.Trade ReviewWe Need New Names is a "before" and "after" kind of novel, the kind that marks a new beginning, a new shift in the African literary tradition . . . To me, it is a complete novel in terms of aesthetics and politics -- Mukoma Wa Ngugi * The Rise of the African Novel *Bulawayo’s novel is not just a stunning piece of literary craftsmanship but also a novel that helps elucidate today’s world * Daily Telegraph *The challenging rhythm and infectious language of NoViolet Bulawayo's emotionally articulate novel turns a familar tale of immigrant displacement into a heroic ballad. Bulawayo's courage and her literary scope shine out from this outstanding debut * Daily Mail *Darling is 10 when we first meet her, and the voice Ms. Bulawayo has fashioned for her is utterly distinctive — by turns unsparing and lyrical, unsentimental and poetic, spiky and meditative... stunning novel... remarkably talented author * New York Times *Often heartbreaking, but also pulsing with colour and energy * The Times (Saturday Review) *
£9.49
Pan Macmillan Cosmopolis
Book SynopsisDon DeLillo is the acclaimed author of bestselling novels and plays. His work includes White Noise, Libra, Cosmopolis and Underworld. He has won the National Book Award, the Jerusalem Prize and the Irish Times International Fiction Prize.Trade ReviewAmerica's greatest living writer. * Observer *A brilliant excursion into the decadence of contemporary culture. * Sunday Times *A prose-poem about New York . . . DeLillo has always been good at telling us where we're heading . . . we ignore him at our peril. -- Blake Morrison * Guardian *
£8.54
Penguin Books Ltd Kolyma Tales
Book SynopsisIt is estimated that some three million people died in the Soviet forced-labour camps of Kolyma, in the northeastern area of Siberia. Shalamov himself spent seventeen years there, and in these stories he vividly captures the lives of ordinary people caught up in terrible circumstances, whose hopes and plans extended to further than a few hours This new enlarged edition combines two collections previously published in the United States as Kolyma Tales and Graphite.Table of ContentsForewordThrough the SnowOn TickIn the NightCarpentersAn Individual AssignmentA 'Pushover' JobDry RationsThe InjectorThe Apostle PaulBerriesTamara the BitchCherry BrandyA Child's DrawingsCondensed MilkThe Snake CharmerThe Golden TaigaVaska Denisov, Kidnapper of PigsA Day OffDominoesShock TherapyThe Lawyers' PlotTyphoid QuarantineThe Procurator of JudeaThe LepersDescendant of a DecembristCommittees for the PoorMagicA Piece of MeatEsperantoMajor Pugachov's Last BattleThe Used-Book DealerLend-LeaseSententiousThe SeizureAn EpitaphHandwritingThe BusinessmanCaptain Tolly's LoveIn the BathhouseThe Green ProcuratorMy First ToothProsthetic AppliancesThe TrainThe Red CrossWomen in the Criminal WorldQuietGrishka Logun's ThermometerChief of Political ControlThe Life of Engineer KipreevMister Popp's VisitThe TheftThe LetterFire and WaterGraphite
£11.69
HarperCollins Publishers The Little Coffee Shop of Terrors
Book Synopsis''Cozy and thrilling!'' ?????????? NetGalley reviewerOne new owner. One hot barista. And one seriously weird coffee shopAdele is down on her luck. She's just failed her last musical theatre, and it now looks like the bright lights of Broadway are behind her for good. So, when the opportunity comes up to take over a Brooklyn coffee shop, finally it feels like at last things are going her way.The only issue is the coffee shop comes with strings attached in the form of one very grumpy (but roasting hot) barista, Ben. He's worked there for years and he's not about to move on just because there's a new owner in town.But soon it's not only Ben who's smouldering, because strange things are happening with the old coffee roasting machine in the basement, with roaring flames and weird noises that seem to come from nowhere. She'd ask Ben for help, but he never seems to be around when there's a problem to fix. And to add to it all, now some of the regular customers are nowhere to be seenTrouble is
£8.54
HarperCollins Publishers Play It As It Lays
Book SynopsisA ruthless and unflinching examination of American life in the late 1960s, from the author of The Year of Magical Thinking.One thing in my defence, not that it matters: I know what nothing' means, and keep on playingSomewhere out beyond Hollywood, hollowed-out actress Maria Wyeth's life plays out in a numbing routine of perpetual freeway driving. In her early thirties, divorced from her husband, dislocated from friends, anesthetized to pain and pleasure, Wheth is a woman who has run out of both desires and motives the epitome of a generation made ill by too much freedom.More than five decades after its original publication, Play it as it Lays remains a profoundly disturbing novel that ruthlessly dissects American life in the late 1960s, from the author of The White Album and The Year of Magical Thinking.
£9.49
J-Novel Club In Another World With My Smartphone Volume 28
Book SynopsisWhile Touya is enjoying a relaxing vacation at the beach, the wicked devout make their move with a secret weapon in tow! And to complicate matters further, there are whisperings of an old enemy reappearing... With Touya still struggling to forge his sacre
£12.34
Pan Macmillan Christmas at Tiffanys
Book SynopsisKaren Swan began her career in fashion journalism before giving it all up to raise her three children and to pursue her ambition of becoming a writer. She lives in the forest in Sussex, writing her books in a treehouse overlooking the Downs. Her debut novel Players, has since been followed by several further novels including Christmas in the Snow, The Perfect Present, Christmas on Primrose Hill and the sequel to Christmas at Tiffany's Summer at Tiffany's.Her books are known for their evocative locations and Karen sees travel as vital research for each story. She loves to set deep, complicated love stories within twisting plots.
£9.49
Allison & Busby City of Silk
Book SynopsisJustice in sixteenth-century Bologna is like the fine silk which the city produces: something only the rich and powerful can afford.Elena Morandi is a supremely talented seamstress, at home among the bolts of fabric and cutting shears of her trade. However, she is determined that her ambition to be a tailor, a profession barred to her as a woman, will not slip through from her fingers like thread from the eye of a needle. With luck and perseverance, Elena gains a fragile foothold in the workshop of a master tailor, but then a man from her past crosses her path. Antonio della Fontana has every corner of the city in his pocket and, as Elena knows all too well, abused his position of power at the Baraccano orphanage. Driven to fight for justice against a man seemingly above the law, Elena hatches a plan to get retribution for herself, a lost friend and those still prey to Fontana''s abuses.
£18.70
Little, Brown Book Group Divine Evil
Book SynopsisFamed sculptor Clare Kimball has the art world at her feet. But her success can''t help her escape the nightmares that have plagued her since childhood, when her father died in mysterious circumstances. Clare''s tragic history has finally drawn her back home to Maryland, in search of answers. Little has changed in her home town of Emmitsboro - except Cameron Rafferty. Once the local bad boy, he''s landed on the right side of the law and is now the town sheriff. With Clare''s return, their bond is growing stronger every day - fuelled by an attraction that''s been simmering for years.But when the town is rocked by a brutal murder, Clare and Cam will learn that evil can linger anywhere...
£8.99
Vintage Publishing The Accidental Tourist
Book SynopsisDiscover a beautiful story about what it is to be human from Pulitzer prize-winning Sunday Times bestselling Anne TylerHow does a man addicted to routine - a man who flosses his teeth before love-making - cope with the chaos of everyday life?After the loss of his son and the departure of his wife, Macon neatly folds his anguish back into place and adapts the household on to more efficient lines. But with the arrival of Muriel, an eccentric and vulnerable dog trainer from the Meow-Bow dog clinic, his attempts at ordinary life are tragically and comically undone.**ANNE TYLER HAS SOLD OVER 8 MILLION BOOKS WORLDWIDE**''Anne Tyler takes the ordinary, the small, and makes them sing'' Rachel Joyce''She knows all the secrets of the human heart'' Monica Ali ''A masterly author'' Sebastian Faulks''I love Anne Tyler. I''ve read every single book she''s written'' Jacqueline WilsonTrade ReviewHer masterpiece * Daily Mail *Brilliant, funny, sad and sensitive * Independent on Sunday *Anne Tyler gets better with every book, and this one is a triumph – funny, profound, sad and ultimately reassuring * Sunday Telegraph *Warmly entertaining and sharply organised against cuteness or mush * Guardian *The Accidental Tourist is one of Anne Tyler’s best books * New York Times *A beautiful, incandescent, heartbreaking, exhilarating book… The Accidental Tourist cuts so close to the bone that it leaves one aching with pleasure and pain. Words fail me: one cannot reasonably expect fiction to be much better than this * Washington Post *Everything this author writes is shot through with intelligent insight, humour and humanity * Daily Mail *
£9.49
Transworld Publishers Ltd 61 Hours
Book SynopsisGET READY FOR THE MOST EXCITING COUNT-DOWN OF YOUR LIFEHOUR SIXTY-ONE Icy winter in South Dakota. A bus skids and crashes in a gathering storm. On the back seat: Jack Reacher, hitching a ride to nowhere. A life without baggage has many advantages. And disadvantages too, like facing the arctic cold without a coat.HOUR THIRTY-ONEA small town is threatened by sinister forces. One brave woman is standing up for justice.If she''s going to live to testify, she''ll need help from a man like Reacher.Because there''s a killercoming for her.HOUR ZEROHas Reacher finally met his match? He doesn''t want to put the world to rights. He just doesn''t like people who put it to wrongs._________NOW READ THE SEQUEL: Although the Jack Reacher novels can be read in any order, the ending of 61 Hours is directly followed by Worth Dying For.And be sure not to misTrade ReviewChild has somehow forged that magical grail: a new and believable hero. Reacher is strong, tall, principled and a quiet master in unarmed combat. But he's also a wizard at determining likelihoods, at extrapolating miniscule details and thus forming chains of inferred logic... celebrate the achievement of giving us addicts a new and mesmerising fix, when we thought all the heroes had been written -- Euan Ferguson * Observer *It is always a pleasure to read another Jack Reacher novel. A kind of highlight of the year, really. There is only one downside. It's all the other people hanging around your house saying things like, "Oy! Haven't you finished with the Reacher yet? -- Andy Martin * Independent *Reacher is an iconic modern thriller hero: the ultimate loner... won't disappoint the British-born Child's millions of fans... Fast, compelling and with that nugget of poignancy that sets the hero apart * Daily Mail *Explodes into one of the best thrillers I've read for ages. Lee Child is a Brit who has managed to becomes more American than most US authors... 61 Hours is destined to do big things... Superb stuff! * Independent on Sunday *This is the first of Lee Child's popular Jack Reacher novels I've read. I'd assumed they were merely the macho adventures of a boneheaded lone wolf: lots of guns and explosions and little to occupy the mind. Well, I was wrong: there's also an abundance of intelligence and surprise. 61 Hours is a first-class thriller... Child delivers it brilliantly * Mail on Sunday *
£10.44
Pan Macmillan The Darkest Day: A Thrilling Mystery from the
Book SynopsisThe Darkest Day is the first novel in the five part Inspector Barbarotti series from renowned Swedish crime author Håkan Nesser.It’s December in the quiet Swedish town of Kymlinge, and the Hermansson family are gathering to celebrate a big family birthday. But beneath the guise of happy festivities, tensions are running high, and it’s not long before the night takes a dark and unexpected turn . . . Before the weekend is over, two members of the Hermansson family are missing, and it’s up to Inspector Barbarotti to determine exactly what happened on that darkest day, and unravel a web of sinister family secrets in the process . . .Continue the thrilling investigative series with The Root of Evil.'One of the best Nordic Noir writers' – GuardianTrade ReviewBarbarotti has to disentangle years of bad blood and resentment to get to the heart of a thrillingly complex case -- Joan Smith * Sunday Times *Told with wry humour and compassion, Nesser has four more Barbarotti stories to come — cherish them all -- Geoffrey Wansell * Daily Mail *In an exemplary translation by Sarah Death, this tangled tale of guilt and betrayal whets the appetite for translations of the other Barbarotti novels -- Barry Forshaw * Financial Times *A top-notch investigation into some grisly goings-on, courtesy of his latest crime-fighting duo Barbarotti and Backman * Riveting Reads *Fiendishly complex . . . Just the thing for a winter afternoon * Metro *
£10.44
Little, Brown Book Group The Chocolate Lovers Club Chocolate Lovers Club 1
Book SynopsisTHE BESTSELLING SERIES FROM THE MULTI-MILLION-COPY-SELLING AUTHORFor Lucy Lombard, there''s nothing that chocolate can''t cure. From heartache to headache, it''s the one thing she can rely on - and she''s not alone.Fellow chocolate addicts Autumn, Nadia and Chantal share her passion, and together they form a select group known as The Chocolate Lovers'' Club. Whenever there''s a crisis, they meet in their sanctuary: a café called Chocolate Heaven. And with a cheating boyfriend, a flirtatious boss, a gambling husband and a loveless marriage, there''s always plenty to discuss . . .The Chocolate Lovers'' Club is the first novel in Carole Matthews'' much-loved series, promising heart-warming friendships, breath-taking romance, and a whole lot of sweet and delicious treats! Perfect for fans of Milly Johnson, Cathy Bramley and Sarah Morgan. Don''t miss the next book, The Chocolate Lovers'' Diet.YOUR FTrade ReviewA delicious treat from start to finish * Woman's Own *Touching. Feel-good. Funny * Heat *They get better every time * Observer *Simply brilliant * Closer *
£9.49
Simon & Schuster Ltd A Winter Flame
Book SynopsisA heartwarming and hilarious novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author ‘The feeling you get when you read a Milly Johnson book should be bottled and made available on the NHS’ Debbie JohnsonTis the season to be jolly… But can Eve find happiness through the frost? Eve has never liked Christmas. So when her adored elderly aunt dies, the last thing she is expecting is to be left a theme park in her will. A theme park with a Christmas theme … And that's not the only catch. Her aunt's will stipulates that Eve must run the park with a mysterious partner, the exotically named Jacques Glace. Who is this Jacques, and why did Aunt Evelyn name him in her will? But Eve isn't going to back down from a challenge. She's determined to make a success of Winterworld, no matter what. Can she overcome her dislike of Christmas, and can Jacques melt h
£7.59
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Rider
Book SynopsisAt the start of the 137-kilometre Tour de Mont Aigoual, Tim Krabbé glances up from his bike to assess the crowd of spectators. Non-racers,' he writes. The emptiness of those lives shocks me.' Immediate and gripping from the first page, we race with the author as he struggles up the hills and clings on during descents in the unforgiving French mountains.Originally published in 1978, The Rider is a modern-day classic that is recognised as one of the best books ever written about the sport. Brilliantly conceived and best read at a break-neck pace, it is a loving, imaginative and passionate tribute to the art of cycle racing.Trade ReviewA beautiful, quiet piece of work: unusual, plausible, moving and poignant * Daily Telegraph, The Best Sports Books of All Time *A classic. Like all the best sports writing, The Rider manages to convey the excitement, determination and skill of the competitors even to readers who have little or no knowledge of the sport * London Review of Books *He lays bare the athlete's peculiar mixture of arrogance and terror, viciousness and camaraderie, and the result is one of the more convincing love stories of recent memory * New Yorker *The Rider is a beautiful brute, as hard and fast as a thin wheel in a concrete road * Observer *Its 148 pages will flash by in a blur of reckless, high-speed pleasure * Independent *The Rider perfectly captures the grim satisfaction and endorphin-thrill that comes from riding a bike faster than you did the time before. It's also a reminder of the pure pleasure of reading -- Jon McGregor
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton Leaving Time
Book SynopsisRead what everyone''s saying about LEAVING TIME:Jodi Picoult has a new fan. ?????WOW WOW WOW incredible book. ?????Do read it, I don''t think you''ll be disappointed. ????? Ten years ago, Alice Metcalf vanished after a car accident, leaving her daughter Jenna to grow up grappling with the mystery of her disappearance.Jenna has never believed that her mother could have simply left her. Determined to uncover the truth of what happened to Alice, she sets out to retrace the events of that fateful night.But nothing can prepare her for the answers that await. Number One bestselling author Jodi Picoult returns to themes about love and loss, and just how far we would go for the ones we love in this addictive bestseller.Trade ReviewShe is the master of her craft ... and humanity is what Picoult does best * Sunday Telegraph *She is the master of her craft ... and humanity is what Picoult does best * Sunday Telegraph *The best sort of light read: engrossing * Vogue *The best sort of light read: engrossing * Vogue *It's hard to exaggerate how well Picoult writes * Financial Times *
£9.49
Pan Macmillan The Muse
Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times Number One Bestseller and Richard and Judy Book Club Pick.Sweeping from London in the sixties to 1930s rural Spain, The Muse is an unforgettable novel about love, obsession and a mysterious painting. From Jessie Burton, the million-copy bestselling author of The Miniaturist.'Those who loved The Miniaturist will find here all the cliffhangers, twists and heart-stopping revelations they expected, and in two evocative settings' – Daily TelegraphA picture hides a thousand words . . .On a hot July day in 1967, Odelle Bastien climbs the stone steps of the Skelton gallery in London, knowing that her life is about to change forever. Having struggled to find her place in the city since she arrived from Trinidad, she has been offered a job as a typist under the tutelage of the glamorous and enigmatic Marjorie Quick. But though Quick takes Odelle into her confidence, and unlocks a poTrade ReviewBurton's multi-layered story is never less than engaging . . . she has an undoubted gift for seizing the reader's attention and holding it . . . powerful . . . genuinely surprising * Sunday Times *Deftly plotted, a masterclass in pacing, tension and suspense, and richly characterised . . . exquisitely written, evocative and suspenseful * Sunday Express *Those who loved The Miniaturist will find here all the cliffhangers, twists and heart-stopping revelations they expected, and in two evocative settings . . . as a study of female creativity, it triumphs * Daily Telegraph *An exhilarating read, Jessie Burton can expect more awards to soon be coming her way * The Herald *Tremendous vitality . . . her craftsmanship and surefooted prose ensure a satisfying conclusion * Daily Mail *Rich and gripping . . . excellently explores the writing process itself . . . Burton breathes life into her words * Independent *An intricate story of imposture . . . strong on the emotional and sensual . . . who would bet against it selling a million copies like its predecessor? * Guardian *Readers who enjoyed The Miniaturist won't be disappointed * The Times *Richly atmospheric and engrossing . . . you'll turn the pages feverishly * Daily Express *Impressive . . . It takes all the promise of The Miniaturist - the complex female characters, an entrancing mystery, a lush and evocative sense of place - and executes it with wit and style. My book of the summer * Elle *A painterly writer with an eye for the telling detail . . . suspenseful . . . when the postman rang the doorbell bang in the middle of the denoument, I sprinted back up six flights of stairs to know who was going to get out of Arazuelo alive * The Spectator *Burton is also adept at generating atmosphere and a sense of place (both Spain and London are vividly realised) and she brings her characters' lives a degree of commitment, imaginative compassion and detail that brings them palpably and affectingly to life * The National *Clever and complex, with a shocking climax . . . Seductive, exhilarating and suspenseful . . . a masterpiece * Belfast Telegraph *Delves deep into another world . . . the must-read of summer 2016 * Glamour *Jessie Burton's gripping new novel follows a young London art-gallery employee whose discovery of a lost masterpiece draws her into the mystery surrounding its provenance * Harper’s Bazaar *A deeply involving and thought-provoking read * Woman & Home *Another surefire bestseller * Fabulous *I found it to be one of the most powerful and beautiful and original things I have read in a very long time. It is exquisite in every way -- Claire Kendal, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Book of YouA beautifully crafted, simmering love story * Glamour (10 Best Novels of 2016) *Jessie Burton’s The Muse is both elegant and as gripping as a thriller, even better than her first -- SJ Watson * Guardian *
£9.49
Simon & Schuster Ltd The Italian Matchmaker
Book SynopsisFROM THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING AUTHORLose yourself in the sun-drenched hills of the Amalfi coast with bestselling author of Songs of Love and War, Santa Montefiore...Gianluca has to admit his life is empty so, in search of serenity and a deeper purpose to his existence, he flees to Italy, to the magical Palazzo Montelimone, lovingly restored by his parents, to assess his future.But life on the sun-drenched Amalfi coast is not as peaceful as Luca anticipates. The palazzo is filled with his mother's eccentric friends and haunted by the ghosts of its murderous past.He meets a woman whose dark eyes are heavy with sorrow and a solemn little boy with an incredible secret.As he begins to unravel a mystery that has its roots in a long-ago act of violence, Luca is forced to face his greatest fear in exchange for the greatest truth.***PRAISE FOR SANTA MONTEFIORE*** &lsqu
£8.54
Simon & Schuster Ltd Daughters of Castle Deverill
Book SynopsisFall in love with beloved bestselling author Santa Montefiore's epic tale of romance, secrets, family and friendship. It is 1925 and the war is long over. But much has been lost and life will never truly be the same again.Castle Deverill, cherished home to the Deverill family in the west of Ireland for hundreds of years, has burned to the ground. But young and flighty Celia Deverill is determined to restore the sad ruin to its former glory. Celia married well and has the wealth to keep it in the family... and she cannot bear to see her beloved home stand neglected. But dark shadows are gathering once more, as the financial markets start to shake. And everything that felt so certain is thrown once again into doubt. The second novel in the beloved Deverill Chronicles, perfect for everyone who loves Jojo Moyes, Rosamund Pilcher and Victoria Hislop. ***What readers are saying about Santa Montefiore
£9.49
Simon & Schuster Ltd Happy Ever After
Book Synopsis*** THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING AUTHOR *** 'One of Scanlan's great strengths is her gift for writing fully rounded characters, and this is Scanlan at her very best' Irish Independent When the honeymoon is over, real life begins... Newly married Debbie is at her wits' end about her and Bryan's mounting debts, but there's no way he's going to stop living the high life and become a stay-at-home husband. Meanwhile, her dad has just found out his workaholic second wife, Aimee, is pregnant. He couldn't be happier, but she's horrified. Is their marriage going to last? Debbie's mum, Connie, has met a gorgeous new man and is all set to make a life of her own. But her family need her more than ever to sort out all their problems. Will she put her family first as always, or can she walk away and finally make a fresh start? Will anyone be happy ever after? Number 1 bestselling author Patricia Scanlan is sTrade Review'Bestselling writer Patricia Scanlan returns with a dramatic novel that tracks four feisty women as they prepare to meet up for a family reunion... Dramatic and twisty, this novel is a riveting read' * OK! *'A must-read' * Bella *'Explosive' * Best *“There’s something wonderfully enjoyable about Scanlan’s books, which somehow manage to be deliciously escapist and grounded in real, recognisable ordinary life at the same time.” -- The Irish Independent"Fans of character-driven, relationship-based women's fiction will enjoy spending time in sunny Spain. Recommended for fans of Marian Keyes and Cathy Kelly." * Booklist *"A comforting read appealing to fans of Maeve Binchy." -- Sunday Mirror''There can be little doubt that Patricia Scanlan is the prolific queen of contemporary Irish popular fiction.'' * Sunday Times *"A wonderful, wonderful read." * The Sun *"This is a lovely, gentle read, full of emotion and redemption." * Daily Mail *"This touching story of love, family and sacrifice will have you transfixed." * Closer *"This is a good solid family saga, that your mum will enjoy." * Heat *
£8.99
Headline Publishing Group The Ocean at the End of the Lane
Book SynopsisTHE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD ''BOOK OF THE YEAR''AN ACCLAIMED WEST END THEATRE PRODUCTION *****''Neil Gaiman''s entire body of work is a feat of elegant sorcery. He writes with such assurance and originality that the reader has no choice but to surrender to a waking dream'' ARMISTEAD MAUPIN''Some books just swallow you up, heart and soul'' JOANNE HARRIS''Summons both the powerlessness and wonder of childhood, and the complicated landscape of memory and forgetting'' GUARDIAN---''My favourite response to this book is when people say, ''My childhood was nothing like that - and it was as if I was reading about me'' NEIL GAIMAN---This is what he remembers, as he sits by the ocean at the end of the lane:A dead man on the back seat of the car, and warm milk at the farmhouse.An ancient little girl, and an old woman who saw the moon being made.A beautiful housekeTrade ReviewA very fine and imaginative writer * The Times *'Gaiman has a rich imagination...and an ability to tackle large themes' * Philip Pullman *
£8.49
Headline Publishing Group Elizabeth of York The Last White Rose
Book SynopsisThe captivating new Tudor novel from Alison Weir, Sunday Times bestselling author of Six Tudor Queens. ''Alison Weir gives us her most compelling heroine yet... This is where the story of the Tudors begins'' Tracy Borman''History has the best stories and they should all be told like this'' Conn Iggulden''A stunning read, and the perfect piece of historical fiction'' Reader review''This is novel that captured my imagination, educated me and emotionally moved me'' Reader review---A princess born into a war between two families...Firstborn of the royal House of York, Elizabeth dreams of wearing a crown. But in England, queens do not rule.When her beloved father, King Edward, dies suddenly, his brother seizes power. Two young princes disappear into the Tower. Yet another claimant seeks the crown, the upstart heir of the rival House of Lancaster. Marriage to this Henry Tudor would un
£10.44
The New York Review of Books, Inc Notes Of A Crocodile
Book Synopsis
£11.39
Cornerstone Kill Your Friends
Book SynopsisJohn Niven was born in Irvine, Ayrshire. He is the author of ten novels and has written for a wide range of publications, including a weekly column for the Scottish Sunday Mail. He lives in Buckinghamshire.Trade ReviewMagnificently eloquent...A vicious, black-hearted howl of a book... Cripplingly funny * The Times *Brilliant. It made me ill with laughter. The filthiest, blackest, most shocking, most hilarious debut novel I've read in years * India Knight *Might well be the best British novel since Trainspotting * Word Magazine *An all-out assault, a withering, scabrous attack on every part of the filthy machine... Stelfox is a creation of unparalleled awfulness, chronically sexist, racist and everything else-ist. He is funny, too... You laugh though you know you shouldn't * Independent *Niven's insider knowledge, coupled with the kind of headlong, febrile prose that would have Hunter S. Thompson happily emptying both barrels into the sky, results in a novel that is cripplingly funny * The Times *
£9.49
Cornerstone The Second Coming
Book SynopsisGod takes a look at the Earth around the time of the Renaissance and everything looks pretty good – so he takes a holiday. When God returns, he finds all hell has broken loose: world wars, holocausts, famine, capitalism and ‘fucking Christians everywhere’.Trade ReviewBelieve me, this book is going to cause one almighty stink...Deeply, intelligently satirical. In lesser hands it could easily have become a crass rant. Yet Niven provides hilarious, perceptive entertainment...Only the truly ignorant will take offence. But then they usually do -- Henry Sutton * The Mirror, Book of the Week **** *An entertaining novel...In the midst of it all, there is compassion, and insight into the way the impulse for truth can lead to dark acts indeed... Bloody funny * Independent on Sunday *Consistently entertaining...Behind all the curses and the gags, orthodoxy reigns in Niven's MTV-style gospel as Jesus battles oppression, hypocrisy and the satanic forces of Simon Cowell - sorry, "Steven Stelfox". Consistently funny and smart...Trendy vicars might even consider distributing it after their Easter sermons -- Boyd Tonkin * Independent *John Niven tore the music industry apart with his coruscating debut novel and now he's back again, along with Kill Your Friends obscene anti-hero Steven Stelfox, to get stuck into religion and celebrity culture... the story rattles along at a breakneck speed, delivering wonderful abuse at all and sundry * The Big Issue *A humorous, quirky take on what Jesus would do, think and be if he was on Earth today * Bookbag *
£9.49
Little, Brown Book Group Home
Book SynopsisWinner of the Women's Prize for Fiction
£999.99
HarperCollins Publishers e
Book SynopsisAn unforgettable first novel, an author to shout about, a campaign to ensure that everyone knows this is the funniest, sharpest read of the year.Trade ReviewPraise for e‘A brilliantly plotted comic novel about life in an advertising agency, narrated entirely through office emails. It gives me more sense that literature is alive and kicking than anything else I’ve read in these millennial 12 months.’ Humphrey Carpenter, Sunday Times Review of the Year ‘Lively, viciously funny and about as switched on as a novel can be’ Mirror ‘Hilarious’ Cosmopolitan
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd What Alice Forgot
Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author behind the addictive, award-winning HBO sensation BIG LITTLE LIES comes the compelling and thought-provoking story of love, life and memory''Gripping, thought-provoking and funny'' MARIE CLAIRE______________How can ten years of your life just disappear?Alice is twenty-nine.She adores sleep, chocolate, and her ramshackle new house.She''s newly engaged to the wonderful Nick, and is pregnant with her first baby. But there''s just one problem.That was ten years ago . . .Alice slipped in her step-aerobics class, hit her head and lost a decade.Now she''s a grown-up, bossy mother of three in the middle of a nasty divorce and her beloved sister Elisabeth isn''t speaking to her.This is her life, but not as she knows it.Just how many mistakes can you make in a decade?Can she ever get back to the woman she uTrade ReviewA real page-turner that leaves you to wonder, if you met your long-term partner for the first time now, would you still fall in love with them? * Woman's Weekly *A funny, thought-provoking, acutely observed romantic comedy * Marie Claire *Funny and knowing about what we choose to remember, and fight to forget * O Magazine *Funny and captivating * Closer *A bittersweet tale by a gifted writer * Woman's Weekly *Highly addictive * She *An often funny, sometimes heartrending, deeply personal portrait of a woman attempting to unravel her own mystery * Booklist *A call to embrace life * Easy Living *Praise for Liane Moriarty * - *Every single one of her books is a great read * E! Online *Staggeringly brilliant, literally unputdownable -- Sophie HannahKeeps you guessing until the very end - perfect summer read -- Reese WitherspoonMoriarty writes vividly, wittily and wickedly * Sunday Express *The writing is beautiful: sometimes funny, sometimes sad but always compelling * Good Housekeeping *Like drinking a pink cosmo laced with arsenic . . . a fun, engaging and sometimes disturbing read * USA Today *Riveting drama packed with suspense and secrets * Woman & Home *Wise, honest, beautifully observed. One of the few writers I'll drop anything for -- Jojo MoyesStraight-from-life characters, knife-sharp insight and almost unbearable suspense will have you racing through it * Good Housekeeping *Perfect * Hello! *A hell of a good book. Funny and scary -- Stephen KingA cracking story cleverly told * Fabulous *Fascinating and compassionate * Daily Telegraph *A funny, thought-provoking, acutely observed romantic comedy * Marie Claire *A bittersweet tale by a gifted writer * Women's Weekly *The writing is beautiful: sometimes funny, sometimes sad but always compelling * Good Housekeeping *
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers This Isnt the Sort of Thing That Happens to
Book SynopsisTender, sad, funny, and riveting, this is an astonishing collection of work by one of Britain''s finest contemporary writers.A man builds a tree house by a river, in anticipation of the coming flood. A sugar-beet crashes through a young woman''s windscreen. A boy sets fire to a barn. These aren''t the sort of things you imagine happening to someone like you. But sometimes they do.Set in the flat and threatened fenland landscape, where the sky is dominant and the sea lurks just beyond the horizon, these delicate, dangerous, and sometimes deeply funny stories tell of things buried and unearthed, of familiar places made strange, and of lives where much is hidden, much is at risk, and tender moments are hard-won.Trade Review‘Jon McGregor’s stories are strange and lovely masterpieces’ Sarah Hall ‘McGregor is the nearest thing you will ever come across to a literary Beethoven. Words go beyond being tools of his trade and become an orchestrated, inspired and precisely designed tone poem for each creative idea … One of the most perfect pieces of written English I have ever come across’ Sunday Express ‘Jon McGregor writes with frightening intelligence and impeccable technique. Every page is a revelation’ Teju Cole ‘Sharp, dark and hugely entertaining, this collection establishes McGregor as one of the most exciting voices in short fiction’ Observer ‘Set in and around the fens, these wickedly brilliant stories are as black as the local soil … Throughout, omissions and ellipses set the mind racing like a treacherous tide, rushing in to fill the gaps. Not a book for bedtime, then. But very, very good indeed’ Daily Mail ‘To the anxious literary festival audience member – and anyone else feeling downcast about the state of the short story today – I say, read Jon McGregor's new book. Its verve, its inventiveness, its sheer quiet audacity will reassure you that the short story is alive, well and reaching new heights’ Maggie O'Farrell, Guardian ‘Haunting and brilliant’ Independent ‘A writer alive to the lithe life of language … A huge talent’ Sunday Times ‘A striking collection … the prose is picked clean, pellucid’ Sunday Telegraph ‘McGregor's prose is as sparse as the countryside it has alighted on, with barely a simile or metaphor in sight’ Literary Review ‘There is a lot to chew over and a lot that stays in the mind’ Psychologies
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers The Virgin Suicides
Book SynopsisPreviously adapted into a critically acclaimed film by Sofia Coppola starring Kirsten Dunst, this is the story of the five Lisbon sisters beautiful, eccentric, and obsessively watched by the entire neighbourhood.The boys that once loved them from afar are now grown men, determined to understand a tragedy that has always defied explanation. For still, the question remains why did all five of the Lisbon girls take their own lives?This hypnotic and unforgettable novel treats adolescent love and death with haunting sensitivity and dark humour, and creates a coming-of-age story unlike any of our time.Trade Review'A Catcher in the Rye for our time' Observer 'Entire and unstoppable … a sparkling work' The Times 'Wonderfully original' Independent ‘Eugenides is blessed with the storyteller's most magical gift, the ability to transform the mundane into the extraordinary’ New York Times
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers The Motion of the Body Through Space From the
Book SynopsisFrom the Orange Prize-winning author of We Need to Talk About KevinEnjoyably abrasive a compelling read sardonic and elegant' Evening StandardScabrously funny few authors can be as entertainingly problematic as Shriver' GuardianWith laugh-out-loud and sad moments, it's a pinpoint-sharp novel' Woman and HomeA satire on fitness zealotry with a side serving of culture-war intrigue diverting' Financial TimesDarkly funny Shriver is so good at making wry observations about human behaviour and this is particularly witty on the dynamics between couples who have been together a long time' Good HousekeepingShriver is an exuberant novelist, fertile in ideas, robust in argument and disdainful of economy She writes bold and fearless comedy and delights in slaughtering the sacred cows of the stupid times we live in. Few novelists now raise a laugh. Shriver does so time and again' Allan Massie, The ScotsmanMischievous Lionel Shriver takes aim at the narcissistic modern cult of exercise. When SerenataTrade Review‘Enjoyably abrasive… a compelling read… sardonic and elegant’ Evening Standard ‘Scabrously funny… few authors can be as entertainingly problematic as Shriver’ Guardian ‘With laugh-out-loud and sad moments, it’s a pinpoint-sharp novel’ Woman and Home ‘Darkly funny… Shriver is so good at making wry observations about human behaviour and this is particularly witty on the dynamics between couples who have been together a long time’ Good Housekeeping ‘Shriver is an exuberant novelist, fertile in ideas, robust in argument and disdainful of economy… She writes bold and fearless comedy and delights in slaughtering the sacred cows of the stupid times we live in. Few novelists now raise a laugh. Shriver does so time and again’ Allan Massie, The Scotsman ‘A satire on fitness zealotry with a side serving of culture-war intrigue… diverting’ Financial Times ‘Mischievous Lionel Shriver takes aim at the narcissistic modern cult of exercise. When Serenata’s usually sedentary husband, Remington, takes up exercise and engages an attractive personal trainer called Bambi, the couple’s lives are turned upside down.’ The Times Best Books for Summer 2020
£8.54
HarperCollins Publishers The Night Eternal. Guillermo del Toro and Chuck
Book SynopsisThe final instalment in the Strain trilogy by the world-famous director of Pan's Labyrinth and Hellboy. Now a popular Amazon TV show.The night belongs to them, and it will be a night eternalAfter the blasts, it was all over. Nuclear Winter has settled upon the earth. Except for one hour of sunlight a day, the whole world is plunged into darkness. It is a near-perfect environment for vampires. They have won. It is their time.Almost every single man, woman and child has been enslaved in vast camps across the globe. Like animals, they are farmed, harvested for the sick pleasure of the Master Race.Almost, but not all. Somewhere out there, hiding for their lives, is a desperate network of free humans, continuing the seemingly hopeless resistance. Everyday people, with no other options among them Dr Ephraim Goodweather, his son Zack, the veteran exterminator Vassily, and former gangbanger Gus.To be free, they need a miracle, they need divine intervention. But Salvation can be a twisted gameTrade ReviewPraise for THE NIGHT ETERNAL: ‘A devilishly good read, full of satisfying scares’ Stephen King Praise for THE FALL:‘The climax, all fire and brimstone, nicely sets up the third and final volume’ Financial Times ‘Enough blood-curdling action to set up a gory finale’ News of the World ‘Relentlessly paves the way for what promises to be an epic third book’ Kirkus Praise for THE STRAIN:‘A near-flawless thriller’ News of the World ‘A rattling piece of escapism’ The Times ‘The first in a trilogy that soars with spellbinding intrigue. Truly, an unforgettable tale you can’t put down once you read the first page. I can’t wait until the next one.’ Clive Cussler ‘Blood and apocalypse mix in a terrifying story that feels like it was ripped from today's headlines. Vividly wrought and relentlessly paced, THE STRAIN haunts as much as it terrifies. I cannot wait to see where Del Toro and Hogan take us next.’ James Rollins ‘Diverting and never less than expertly crafted’ Guardian
£10.44
Little, Brown Book Group Tea Time For The Traditionally Built
Book SynopsisBOOK 10 IN THE BELOVED NO.1 LADIES'' DETECTIVE AGENCY SERIESThe one where Mma Makutsi has a love rival . . . Mma Makutsi''s engagement to Phuti Radiphuti has progressed smoothly so far, but suddenly there is trouble in the form of her glamorous, empty-headed rival Violet Sephotho. While solving the amorous problems of her neighbours and clients is where Mma Ramotswe excels, the world of football is decidedly less familiar - however, when the owner of the Kalahari Swoopers comes to the No. 1 Ladies'' Detective Agency, she promises to find the traitor among the team''s ranks.''Brims with good humor and compassion'' Entertainment Weekly ''Totally addictive'' Daily Mail''McCall Smith has done it again'' Washington Times''These stories are a balm for readers'' Irish IndependentTrade ReviewIt's time for celebration... McCall Smith has done it again * Washington Times *As wise and lovely as ever * USA Today *There is no end to the pleasure that may be extracted from these books * New York Times Book Review *What a treat to discover... Brims with good humor and compassion * Entertainment Weekly *Alexander McCall Smith is a vivid observer and an elegant writer... Like the best traditions, this series is one we hope will endure * Plain Dealer *McCall Smith is a master... There's beauty and revelation of one kind or another woven expertly into every line * Christian Science Monitor *Totally addictive * Daily Mail *These stories are a balm for readers... McCall Smith's humour is arch and clever but always warm, and it is this gentle kindness that gives these books their charm * Irish Independent *
£9.49
Vintage Publishing Shalimar the Clown
Book SynopsisSalman Rushdie is the author of sixteen novels, including Midnight's Children (for which he won the Booker Prize and the Best of the Booker), The Satanic Verses, and Quichotte (which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize). A former president of PEN American Center, Rushdie was knighted in 2007 for services to literature and was made a Companion of Honour in the Queen's last Birthday Honours list in 2022.Trade ReviewA brilliant symphony... Exceptional... One of Rushdie's best novels yet * Independent *Extraordinary... Worth engaging with at every level; a thrilling story told in thrilling language * The Times *Shalimar the Clown is Rushdie's most engaging book since Midnight's Children. It is a lament. It is a revenge story. it is a love story. And it is a warning * Observer *Deeply disturbing and immensely moving... An exquisite, broken thing of pain and beauty * Independent *Excellent... A characteristically daring walk along the tightrope of fiction * Sunday Telegraph *
£9.49
Vintage Publishing Life
Book SynopsisIn this ingenious book Perec creates an entire microcosm in a Paris apartment block. Serge Valene wants to make an elaborate painting of the building he has made his home for the last sixty years. As he plans his picture, he contemplates the lives of all the people he has ever known there. Chapter by chapter, the narrative moves around the building revealing a marvellously diverse cast of characters in a series of every more unlikely tales, which range from an avenging murderer to an eccentric English millionaire who has devised the ultimate pastime...Trade ReviewA dazzling, crazy-quilt monument to the imagination -- Paul Auster * New York Times *An eccentric, madly ambitious scheme to display life all at once. The product of a hectically ingenious intelligence, like James Joyce's -- Victoria Glendinning * The Times *Amazing, moving and lovable * New Statesman *The finest novel to appear in French since Beckett's trilogy * Times Literary Supplement *Very funny and very sad... A treasure-chest of stories, something to be enjoyed by anyone who has ever responded to works on the same scale and in the same spirit as Rabelais and Chaucer and Sterne * Scotsman *
£10.44
Little, Brown Book Group Want You Gone
Book SynopsisThe eighth book in the Jack Parlabane series, from author Christopher Brookmyre.The award-winning, million-selling author of Black Widow brings a twist-filled story of secrets and lies.What if your deepest secret was revealed?Sam Morpeth is growing up way too fast, left to fend for a younger sister when their mother goes to prison and watching her dreams of university evaporate. But Sam learns what it is to be truly powerless when a stranger begins to blackmail her.Who would you turn to?Meanwhile, reporter Jack Parlabane has finally got his career back on track, but his success has left him indebted to a volatile, criminal source. Now that debt is being called in, and it could cost him everything. What would you be capable of?Thrown together by a vindictive and mysterious mutual enemy, Sam and Jack are about to discover they might be each other''s only hope.Trade ReviewA thriller combining its author's storytelling verve with a bravura display of technical know-how. (Thriller of the Month) * Sunday Times *Chris Brookmyre has scaled new heights of invention. * TLS *One of the most ingenious thrillers I've read in a long time. * Washington Post *Want You Gone is vintage Brookmyre - equal parts adrenaline and empathy, a plot that opens out like a Japanese flower dropped in hot water, and characters so real you want to reach through the page and save them. * Diana Gabaldon *A sharp and funny writer * Carl Hiaasen *Entertaining... nothing is allowed to sap the pace of the action. * Scotsman *This book's a rush. * Peterborough Telegraph *[A] fast-paced, action-packed, twisty thriller . . . expect tension, suspense, impeccable plotting and scary possibilities. * Choice *The most compelling thriller I've read all year * John Gilstrap *Pure literary dynamite * Lorenzo Carcaterra, author of Sleepers and The Wolf *Brookmyre is a master of creating tension... I was up all night reading this book. * Mystery Scene *It storms along with revelations aplenty. Brookmyre takes all the plot strands and twists them one way then the other. * Crime Fiction Lover *Pacey, gripping, absorbing, enthralling and all the other superlatives you can throw its way, Chris Brookmyre's Want You Gone is an absolute treat from beginning to end. * Chris High *
£9.49
Profile Books Ltd lust
Book SynopsisIn a quaint Austrian ski resort, things are not quite what they seem. Hermann, the manager of a paper mill, has decided that sexual gratification begins at home. Which means Gerti - his wife and property. Gerti is not asked how she feels about the use Hermann puts her to. She is a receptacle into which Hermann pours his juices brutally.
£9.49
Random House Publishing Group Between Heaven and Earth
Book Synopsis“Comprehensive, encyclopedic, and lucid, this book is a must for all practitioners of the healing arts who want to broaden their understanding. Readers interested in the role of herbs and foods in healing will also find much to learn here, as I have. . . . A fine work.”—Annemarie Colbin, author of Food and HealingThe promise and mystery of Chinese medicine has intrigued and fascinated Westerners ever since the “Bamboo Curtain” was lifted in the early 1970s. Now, in Between Heaven and Earth, two of the foremost American educators and healers in the Chinese medical profession demystify this centuries-old approach to health. Harriet Beinfeld and Efrem Korngold, pioneers in the practice of acupuncture and herbal medicine in the United States for over eighteen years, explain the philosophy behind Chinese medicine, how it works and what it can do.Combining Eastern traditions with Western sensibilities in a unique blend that is relevant today, Between Heaven and Earth addresses three vital areas of Chinese medicine—theory, therapy, and types—to present a comprehensive, yet understandable guide to this ancient system. Whether you are a patient with an aggravating complaint or a curious intellectual seeker, Between Heaven and Earth opens the door to a vast storehouse of knowledge that bridges the gap between mind and body, theory and practice, professional and self-care, East and West.“Groundbreaking . . . Here at last is a complete and readable guide to Chinese medicine.”—San Francisco Chronicle
£17.09
