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 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.
Book SynopsisLONGLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZEIRISH TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLERSHORTLISTED FOR NOVEL OF THE YEAR AT THE IRISH BOOK AWARDS, THE DALKEY LITERARY AWARDS AND THE KERRY GROUP AWARDSA BOOK OF THE YEAR IN THE NEW YORK TIMES, NEW STATESMAN, TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT, BIG ISSUE, i, THE ATLANTIC and LITERARY HUB'A true wonder' Max Porter'Beautifully written' GuardianIt's late one night at the Spanish port of Algeciras and two fading Irish gangsters are waiting on the boat from Tangier. A lover has been lost, a daughter has gone missing, their world has come asunder - can it be put together again?Trade ReviewA blackly comic journey into the abyss . . . Beautifully written . . . Barry is a clarvoyant narrator of the male psyche and a consistent lyrical visionary . . . What distinguishes this book beyond its humour, terror and beauty of description is its moral perception . . . It is a plunging spiritual immersion into the parlous souls of wrongful men -- Alan Warner * * Guardian * *I devoured Night Boat to Tangier. I loved the potent truth of it all, drenched in damage and romance. The Barry turn of phrase is a true wonder of this world -- MAX PORTERIt's a Kevin Barry novel, so the brilliance is expected; everything else is a brilliant surprise -- RODDY DOYLEThe novel 2019 has been waiting for - a masterpiece delivered by a glittering talent at the peak of his powers. It leaves the rest of the class looking somewhat underpowered and unambitious, perhaps even a bit shop-worn . . . If Beatlebone was his breakout work, Night Boat to Tangier should cement the Irishman's place among the literary elite * * Big Issue * *If prose were gold and diamonds there'd be thousands of hell-bent prospectors heading for the Black Hills of Kevin Barry's glistening, sparkling novel -- SEBASTIAN BARRYBarry is riding the waves with Night Boat to Tangier . . . Reminiscent of Waiting for Godot * * The Times * *I had to quit reading this book the first day I had it in my hands, just so I could have it to read the next day. It's that good -- RICHARD FORDExtremely talented creator, Kevin Barry, has a fine instinct for the sweet spot where the comforting familiarities of genre blend into the surprises and provocations of art . . . Powerfully evoked * * New York Times Book Review * *Brilliantly funny and terrifying at once, I was completely lost inside its dark craziness. Barry blends glorious voluptuous prose with entrancing storytelling -- TESSA HADLEYCaptures male friendship with rare brilliance . . . The pair's vaudevillian patter, dancing back and forth with an irrepressibly buoyant Irish rhythm, reminds you of Didi and Gogo in Beckett's Waiting for Godot, while their gleefully ominous threats of violence bristle off the page in a way that recalls Harold Pinter or Martin McDonagh . . . Startlingly good * * Independent * *Two ageing Irish drug smugglers sit in a Spanish ferry terminal trading absurd jokes and quasi-philosophical banter in this tautly written novel * * New Yorker * *A rogue gem of a novel . . . The seedy underbelly of a Spanish port and a stony Irish town are the backdrop for a story of misdeeds, madness and loss that swells with poetry and pathos -- BOOKER PRIZE JUDGES 2019Loved this! Made me nostalgic for people I've never met, places I've never been. Life distilled -- GRAHAM NORTONKevin Barry is still young, but in this novel he has found a deep and aged maturity; all the recognisable Barry phraseology and wit is still there, but there's also now a lovely melancholic kindness. Perhaps even a sentimentality, in the best sense of that word. Kevin Barry loves you; the least you can do is read this wonder of a novel -- JON McGREGORIn this latest novel, the Irish writer has almost invented a new genre, a fascinating hybrid of poetry, prose and drama . . . Mesmeric, exquisite . . . Night Boat to Tangier draws on the terrific vernacular energy in Irish English that is animating the best of Irish writing at present . . . This is a remarkably achieved novel which shows a writer in full command of the possibilities of the form * * Irish Times * *Lyrical, elegiac, taut and strange -- IAN RANKINBarry tells his grim story in Beckettian flashes of poetry . . . The relationship between Maurice and Charlie drives this often hilarious novel -- Kate Saunders * * The Times * *Lines that make me want to punch the air like I'm singing the final song from an 80s power ballad . . . Night Boat to Tangier suggests the past comes in waves, relentlessly, always different and yet always the same, and all we can put against it are the shifting sands of our present self * * Herald * *Infused with a uniquely Irish mixture of melancholy and myth, and written in a prose rich with the cadences of poetry, Barry's fifth work of fiction is witty, gritty and wise; it offers a sense of what it means to be fallible, to be human and to love. Sublime * * Irish Mail on Sunday * *Kevin Barry is one of the most original, daring, and seriously funny writers ever to come out of Ireland. I'd walk a hundred miles for a new Barry book and I would make the happy journey home, laughing -- COLUM McCANNStunning. One of the most affecting love stories I have ever come across -- MIKE McCORMACKA bloody mighty novel. It's audacious, but also it's Kevin Barry at his most tender. The novel carries a beautiful, mournful undertow to it, which is particularly affecting in a book so heavy with old myth and new poetry. May he keep twisting literature forever -- LISA McINERNEYBarry writes with real exuberance * * Sunday Times * *Barry's prose, which melds violence, profane comedy and tender lyricism, will be warmly embraced by those who read and loved the dystopian nightmare that was City of Bohane, his breakthrough book. Newcomers will, I'm sure, relish getting swept up in Barry's twisted universe for the first time * * Spectator, best summer reads for 2019 * *There's plenty of sex, drugs, death and magic in Night Boat to Tangier, but above all it is a biting, black comedy of manners, driven by the profane dance of gangster etiquette -- COLIN BARRETTBarry's ear for dialogue remains tip-top * * Daily Mail * *Thrilling * * Daily Telegraph * *Haunting . . . A sharply comic meditation on male friendship and the true cost of crime on the soul * * i, best books of 2019 * *The gods of literature, who have so much love for Ireland, are sweet on Kevin Barry -- RICHARD BEARDKevin Barry is one of the best. The essence of humanity and its many facets is buried deep in his bones, ready to be unearthed and exhibited in signature Barry style * * Irish Examiner * *One of the most abundantly talented novelists writing today * * Daily Telegraph * *Buoyant . . . Barry is such a deft and generous writer * * New York Times * *Utterly compelling . . . Reading him, I am given the feeling that I've achieved something, done something good and am being justly remunerated. The brain lights up and grins -- Niall Griffiths * * Spectator * *Kevin Barry's way with language is unique. The spring and bounce of it. The dark poetry. The cheek. And then there's the sheer joyful recklessness of his imagination. There's really no one to rival him -- RUPERT THOMSONExcellent -- DAVID NICHOLLSA desolate ferry terminal on the Spanish coast isn't a place where you'd expect to encounter sharp-edged lyricism or rueful philosophy, but thanks to the two Irish gangster antiheroes of Barry's novel, there's plenty of both on display . . . Their banter is a shield against the dark, a witty new take on Waiting for Godot * * New York Times, Books of the Year * *Heir to Beckett and O'Brien . . . Barry is a truly astonishing writer . . . Although the sheer bravado of the prose is a marvel, page after page, it is the emotive core behind it all which makes it remarkable -- Stuart Kelly * * Scotland on Sunday * *Barry, arch-divil of Irish literature and a feverishly unique mangler of the English language, is back with a third novel . . . The Barry brew of mayhem, violence and tenderness is still undeniably potent. He is out on his own in the broad scheme of things, and so much here reminds you of why this is so and what he can do when airborne * * Irish Independent * *Briskly told, in short paragraphs, with a dark wit and deftly managed suspense * * Literary Review * *Vivid * * New Statesman * *Heartfelt yet darkly hilarious and simmering with menace, written with the kind of earthy lyricism only Kevin Barry can pull off - I loved it -- PAUL HOWARTHIt is an understatement to say that nobody writes quite like Kevin Barry; in truth, there's nobody else in the same phylum. In Night Boat to Tangier you'll find all the Barry hallmarks - that inimitable style of his, both riotous and lyrical, the sly humour, and his seemingly effortless ability to create characters who spring to glorious life within a few short pages. I imagine you'll love this book just as I did, and wish, if anything, that you could spend just a little more time in the world Barry conjures -- CRAIG DAVIDSONAmong the next generation of writers - Zadie Smith, Michael Chabon, Jonathan Safran Foer and so on - the one that stands above the rest for ambition, language and sheer verve is Barry . . . If you haven't heard of him yet, you soon will. I'd wager he'll wind up with the Nobel Prize for Literature before he's done * * Evening Standard * *It's Barry's voice that propels us through the work, through paragraphs punctuated by turns of phrase that deliver little jolts of pleasure . . . Maurice and Charlie aren't just career criminals; they're comedians, philosophers, poets, and social critics. Their conversation has rhythm and snap; it's funny, lyrical, obscene, metaphysical, unflaggingly alive * * New York Review of Books * *Entertaining . . . Kevin Barry channels the music in every voice, from lowlife philosopher to slow-footed thug, ponderous wit to fluting child - and the comic genius in everyone, whether unfunny fool or God's own comedian * * Washington Post * *The work of a genuine artist: a writer who surprises and enlightens with everything he does * * Sunday Business Post * *The male codependents in his latest novel, Night Boat to Tangier, are proudly reptilian. As they announce with indecent pride, they wear excellent fucking shoes. Barry specialises in character pairings - death-driven, addicted to each other - in a way reminiscent of Beckett -- Nicole Flattery * * London Review of Books * *Deeply satisfying . . . Magical . . .Barry's narrative pacing creates and then brilliantly settles the tensions between his characters. For all readers of literary fiction * * Library Journal * *A darkly incantatory tragicomedy of love and betrayal, haunted lineage and squandered chances . . . Beautifully paced, emotionally wise. Spare in its prose, capacious in its understanding, it's as eerily attuned as his last one, Beatlebone * * Boston Globe * *Full of foreboding and of ghosts, not least that of Samuel Beckett, and is continuing proof of this writer's ability to pack more personality and mordant wit into a single sentence than most writers can manage in a novel * * Literary Hub * *You read this, and you can tell Barry doesn't take his sentences lightly. It'd kill him to mess one up. And he doesn't waste them. So what you get is his style's flawless, and yet it isn't soft. There isn't anything nice about the story, just that it's told beautifully -- NICO WALKER, author of CHERRYA meditation on love and crime, in which two elderly Irish gangsters await their reckoning in Algeciras * * i, Best Books of the Year * *One of the most gifted fiction writers to emerge from the English-speaking world in the new century * * Paris Review * *Impishly funny, shrewdly affecting, and pays elegant homage to a long literary line. Barry grows in stature with every book * * Big Issue, Books of the Year * *Arguably his finest novel to date, Kevin Barry's violent, elemental Night Boat to Tangier is set between Ireland and an atmospherically rendered Spain * * Irish Independent * *Inventive -- BENJAMIN MYERS * * Big Issue, Books of the Year * *A raw demonstration of the devastating consequences of alienation, regret and destruction that stem from a life in the world of organised crime . . . Beautifully written, in Barry's very specific lyrical style, the reader becomes heavily invested in their story and the story of all of those that they loved -- Rory Geraghty, First Secretary (Madrid) * * Irish Times * *Triumphant . . . Violent and tender, it escaped the long shadow of Beckett to create its own unforgettable dark shape -- Lee Langley * * Spectator * *The story of two Irish criminal biding their time in the Spanish port city of Algeciras, is full of foreboding and of ghosts, not least that of Samuel Beckett, and is continuing proof of this writer's ability to pack more personality and mordant wit into a single sentence than most writers can manage in a novel . . . By far one of my favorite novels of the year * * Literary Hub, Books of the Year * *Barry has a knack for dialogue . . . Night Boat to Tangier is remarkable, a novel that's both grim and compassionate, and it features gorgeous writing on every page. Barry never asks the reader to pity his characters; rather, he makes it nearly impossible not to relate to them, which is a remarkable trick -- NPRA writer of inspired prose, a funny and perceptive artist who can imbue a small story with tremendous depth . . . Night Boat to Tangier is a sad, lyrical beauty of a novel about regret, from a dependably entertaining and perceptive writer * * Star Tribune * *The pleasure to be found in this relatively short book is in the telling, plus the author's clear evocative prose that often deploys lines and paragraphs that suggest music but it's not the speedy pace of step dancing. Rather it is the sad, slow, and beautiful music of time * * Washington Times * *A bone fide Kevin Barry - it's very funny and very beautifully composed. . It's social realism, psychological realism, but with Barry's pointed wit, stupendous dialogue, and unerring tenderness -- BookmunchBarry is a writer of the first rate, and his prose is at turns lean and lyrical, but always precise * * Publishers Weekly * *Booze-soaked and lovelorn . . . with beat-perfect dialogue and the diamond-grade schlock of an HBO script . . . [with] a thousand wicked turns of phrase . . . Night Boat to Tangier is a darkly heady mood, thick enough and sweet enough to drink * * The List * *Beautifully written . . . Skilful * * Forbes * *
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Book SynopsisA modern fable, a post-apocalyptic romance, a gothic horror story; Angela Carter''s genre-defying fantasia Heroes and Villains includes an introduction by Robert Coover in Penguin Modern Classics.Sharp-eyed Marianne lives in a white tower made of steel and concrete with her father and the other Professors. Outside, where the land is thickly wooded and wild beasts roam, live the Barbarians, who raid and pillage in order to survive. Marianne is strictly forbidden to leave her civilized world but, fascinated by these savage outsiders, decides to escape. There, beyond the wire fences, she will discover a decaying paradise, encounter the tattooed Barbarian boy Jewel and go beyond the darkest limits of her imagination. Playful, sensuous, violent and gripping, Heroes and Villains is an ambiguous and deliriously rich blend of post-apocalyptic fiction, gothic fantasy, literary allusion and twisted romance.Angela Carter (1940-92) was born in Eastbourne and later Trade Review'An unashamed fantasist, a fabulist of daemonic energy' * The Times *'Angela Carter is a genius' -- Victoria Glendinning
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Book SynopsisThis is the exciting final volume in the glorious fantasy series The Dreamers. From the masters of modern fantasy, a magical, action packed, totally engaging and characterful story of mythical proportions featuring gods, people and other creatures.Trade ReviewPraise for David Eddings: ‘My ideal summer read… Having enjoyed the entire ten-book serial, I was delighted to be able to read this latest addition as it not only provides fantastic escapism in itself, but, being a prequel, will make my re-reading of the other books all the more fascinating.’The Irish Times ‘All the verve and pace we’ve come to expect.’The Dark Side ‘Offers an absorbing storyline and some memorable characters as, once again, the author touches all the right fantasy bases, with warring gods, political intrigues, supernatural creatures and appealingly human magicians involved in a titanic war over the course of seven millennia. Eddings fans will no doubt snatch this novel off the shelves while readers new to the authors’ world won’t find a more appropriate place to begin exploring it.’Publishers Weekly ‘There’s no denying Eddings’ offerings do entertain. This novel is for fantasy fans fed up with more fusty fare, or for anyone who likes mischief and merriment.’West Australian
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Book SynopsisThe conflict between the old world and the new...between responsibility and freedom...between duty and love...Princess Christianna, happier in jeans and a sweatshirt than in the formal life of European royalty, leaves university to travel to East Africa as a volunteer for the Red Cross. Determined to make a difference, she plunges into the dusty, bustling life of an international relief camp, and is anxious to keep her identity a secret from her fellow aid workers. Dr Parker Williams, who works alongside Christianna and shares her dedication to healing, has no idea who she is - but as violence approaches and invades the camp, and the pressures of her royal life beckon her home, her struggle for freedom takes an extraordinary turn.By a simple twist of fate, in one shocking moment, Christianna''s life is changed for ever - in ways she could never have foreseen.
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Book Synopsis''An exceptional novel ... a cause for celebration'' Washington Post''The most accomplished Native American writer of her generation'' The New York Times Book Review Tayo, a young Second World War veteran of mixed ancestry, is coming home. But, returning to the Laguna Pueblo Reservation, he finds himself scarred by his experiences as a prisoner of war, and further wounded by the rejection he finds among his own people. Only by rediscovering the traditions, stories and ceremonies of his ancestors can he start to heal, and find peace.''Ceremony is the greatest novel in Native American literature. It is one of the greatest novels of any time and place'' Sherman Alexie
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Book Synopsis''A beautifully written novel. Its characters are brought to life so eloquently, and the blossoming of Miss Prim is so complete: she learns the value in life and love that has been lost in our modern-day hustle. An exquisite book and a joy to read'' Deborah Rodriguez, New York Times bestselling author of The Little Coffee Shop of KabulIn this #1 international bestseller, a young woman leaves everything behind to work as a librarian in a remote French village: a delightful tale of love, literature, philosophy and the search for happiness. Prudencia Prim is a young woman of intelligence and achievement, with a deep knowledge of literature and several letters after her name. But when she accepts the post of private librarian in the village of San Ireneo de Arnois, she is unprepared for what she encounters there. Her employer, a book-loving intellectual, is dashing yet contrarian, always ready with a critique of her cherished Jane Austen and Louisa May Alcott. The neighbours, too, are capable of charm and eccentricity in equal measure, determined as they are to preserve their singular little community from the modern world outside. Prudencia hoped for friendship in San Ireneo but she didn''t suspect that she might find love - nor that the course of her new life would run quite so rocky, would offer challenge and heartache as well as joy, discovery and fireside debate. The Awakening of Miss Prim is a distinctive and delightfully entertaining tale of literature, philosophy and the search for happiness.Trade ReviewA heart-warming and sweet story of small-town life and self-discovery * Vanessa Greene, author of The Vintage Teacup Club *An exquisitely delicate, distinctive and inspiring story that will leave your heart undone, open to the beauty of the little things in life * Elle Spain *Readers who loved Joanne Harris's Chocolat, Jessica Brockmole's Letters from Skye or Gabrielle Zevin's The Collected Works of AJ Fikry will be charmed by the blossoming of Miss Prim. Already a bestseller in Europe, this charming and intelligent debut novel is certain to be a hit with book groups. Highly recommended * US Library Journal *A book that gives you a warm glow and lets you escape . . . a thought-provoking read full of beauty and the simplicity of everyday life * Lady *A beautifully written novel. Its characters are brought to life so eloquently, and the blossoming of Miss Prim is so complete: she learns the value in life and love that has been lost in our modern-day hustle. An exquisite book and a joy to read -- Deborah Rodriguez, top-ten bestselling author of The Coffee Shop of KabulA heartwarming, sweet story of small-town life and self-discovery -- Vanessa Greene, author of The Vintage Teacup ClubAn exquisitely delicate, distinctive and inspiring story that will leave your heart undone, open to the beauty of the little things in life * Elle magazine Spain *Readers who loved Joanne Harris's Chocolat will be charmed by the blossoming of Miss Prim. Already a bestseller in Europe, this charming and intelligent debut novel is certain to be a hit with book groups. Highly recommended * Library Journal *
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Book SynopsisNow a major BBC TV drama, starring Tamara Lawrance, Lenny Henry and Hayley Atwell.A Sunday Times bestseller (2011), shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, The Long Song by Andrea Levy is a hauntingly beautiful, heartbreaking and unputdownable novel of the last days of slavery in Jamaica, for those who loved Homegoing, The Underground Railroad, or the film 12 Years a Slave.''A marvel of luminous storytelling'' Financial TimesYou do not know me yet. My son Thomas, who is publishing this book, tells me, it is customary at this place in a novel to give the reader a little taste of the story that is held within these pages. As your storyteller, I am to convey that this tale is set in Jamaica during the last turbulent years of slavery and the early years of freedom that followed.July is a slave girl who lives upon a sugar plantation named Amity and it is her life that is the subject of thiTrade Review'THE LONG SONG is is told with irresistible cunning; it is captivating, mischievious and optimistic, generating new stories and plot lines throughout the tale' * Daily Telegraph *'Bittersweet and mischievous, Levy's keenly awaited new novel is worth the wait for all fans of her SMALL ISLAND' * Daily Mail *'Slavery is a grim subject indeed, but the wonder of Levy's writing is that she can confront such things and somehow derive deeply life-affirming entertainment from them... Levy's aim, she says, was to write a book that instilled pride in anyone with slave ancestors and THE LONG SONG, though "its load may prove to be unsettling", is surely that book' * Sunday Telegraph *'This is a terrific book: beautifully written and imagined, and full of surprises' * A. N. Wilson, Reader's Digest *'As well as being beautifully written THE LONG SONG is a thoroughly researched historical novel that is both powerful and heartbreaking' * Daily Express *'Thoroughly captivating' * Guardian *'A novel such as SMALL ISLAND is a hard act to follow, but in her new book Levy has moved into top gear... She dares to write about her subject in an entertaining way without ever trivialising it and THE LONG SONG reads with the sort of ebullient effortlessness that can only be won by hard work' * Observer *Beautifully written, intricately plotted, humorous and earthy... Those who enjoyed SMALL ISLAND will love THE LONG SONG, not just for the insights on the "wretched island", but as a marvel of luminous storytelling' * Financial Times *'Levy brings her distinctive lightness of touch to what is otherwise unrelentingly bleak subject matter... This is a beautifully written and cleverly constructed novel that projects convincing personal relationships on to the feral backdrop of the Jamaican plantations' * The Times *'Levy has a rare ability to channel the maelstrom of history into the most intimate of human dramas' * New Statesman *'[Levy] has painted a vivid and persuasive portrait of Jamaican slave society, a society that succeeded with bravery, style and strategic patience both to outsmart its oppressors and to plant the seeds of what is today a culture celebrated worldwide' * New York Times *'A tumultuous tale, superbly evoked' * Woman & Home *'Levy has slipped through the cracks of history and beautifully animated a subject about which, on a human level, we know depressingly little' * Metro *'A vivid, sometimes brutal and incredibly absorbing story' * Good Housekeeping *
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Book SynopsisA guide to surviving your camping experience at the horror-filled Goat Valley Campground, from camp manager Kate. Based on the popular reddit r/nosleep series.
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Book SynopsisFrom the internationally bestselling author of A Woman of Substance comes the continuing story of indomitable heroine, Emma HarteEmma Harte is now eighty years old and ready to hand over the reins of the vast business empire she has created.To her favourite grandchild, Paula McGill Fairley, Emma bequeaths her mighty retailing empire with these heartfelt words: I charge you to hold my dream.'A towering international success, this is the powerfully moving tale of one woman's determination to hold the dream' which was entrusted to her, and in so doing find the happiness and passion which is her legacy.Trade Review Praise for Barbara Taylor Bradford: 'Queen of the genre.' Sunday Times ‘Few novelists are as consummate as Barbara Taylor Bradford at keeping the reader turning the page. She is one of the world’s best at spinning yarns.’ Guardian ‘A classic saga of loyalty, secrets, passion and intrigue…if you’ve been suffering withdrawal symptoms from Downton, this is for you’ Daily Mail ‘As romantic and thrilling as the rest’ Independent on Sunday ‘Another great yarn from the ultimate storyteller’ The Sun ‘The storyteller of substance.’ The Times
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Book SynopsisTHE HIDDEN YEARS, the captivating new novel from million-copy bestselling author Rachel Hore, is out now in paperback. Loyalty and betrayal, hope and despair, One Moonlit Night tells the captivating story of a husband and wife separated by secrets as well as by war.‘So complex and moving, with a sense of mystery as powerful as the sense of love and betrayal’ Cathy Kelly Forced to leave their family home in London after it is bombed in the Blitz, Maddie and her two young daughters take refuge at Knyghton, the beautiful country house in Norfolk where Maddie’s husband Philip spent the summers of his childhood. But Philip is gone, believed to have been killed in action in northern France. Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, Maddie refuses to give up hope that she and Philip will some day be reunited. Arriving at Knyghton, Maddie feels closer to her missing husb
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Book SynopsisThe Booker Shortlisted Modern Classic from the author of Last Orders, Mothering Sunday and Here We Are One summer morning in 1943, lock-keeper Henry Crick finds the drowned body of a sixteen-year-old boy. Nearly forty years later, his son Tom, a history teacher, is driven by a bizarre marital crisis and the provocation of one of his students to forsake the formal teaching of history—and tell stories . . .Waterland is a classic of modern fiction: a vision of England seen through its mysterious, amphibious Fen country; a sinuous meditation on the workings of time; a tale of two families, startling in its twists and turns and universal in its reach. Compulsively readable, it is a novel of resonant depth and encyclopaedic richness, mixing human and natural history and exploring the tragic forces that take us both forwards and back. It is also a book about beer, eels, the French Revolution, the end of the world, windmills, will-o’-the-wisps,
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Book Synopsis
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Book SynopsisNumber one bestseller Long Road to Mercy is the heart-pounding first novel in the FBI Special Agent Atlee Pine series by bestselling author David Baldacci.FBI Special Agent Atlee Pine has learnt three lessons in life:Some wounds never heal.Atlee’s twin sister, Mercy, was abducted from their bedroom over thirty years ago, and Atlee has spent every day since wondering what happened to her.Time doesn’t lessen your pain.The prime suspect, notorious serial killer Daniel James Tor, is in a high-security prison, but with no confession, Atlee continues to search for her sister, even as Tor taunts her from jail.But she can always make a difference. Wracked by survivor’s guilt, Atlee joined the FBI to hunt down killers like Tor. Assigned to the remote wilds of the Western United States, she has spent years honing her skills and building her endurance, always with one eye on the ultimate goal.Now, Atlee Pine is tasked with an investigation which begins with a missing person in the Grand Canyon. And ends with a discovery much more sinister and far-reaching.Continue the gripping series with A Minute to Midnight.Trade ReviewIf you're wondering why David Baldacci is considered the best, look no further than Long Road to Mercy -- Gregg Hurwitz, New York Times bestselling author of Orphan XLong Road to Mercy is David Baldacci at his best, introducing an engrossing new heroine, FBI Agent Atlee Pine. -- Scott Turow, Number one New York Times bestselling authorA fabulous new character from a master storyteller. Readers will love Atlee Pine. -- Jane Harper, New York Times bestselling author of The DryDavid Baldacci is one of the all-time best thriller authors. Long Road to Mercy is all action and attitude, and makes no apologies. Love it! -- Lisa Gardner, New York Times bestselling authorFBI Agent Atlee Pine is a heroine I'll never forget. -- Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling authorA multi-layered protagonist; a plot as deep and twisty as the setting -- Kathy Reichs, Number one New York Times bestselling authorThe best things here are the Hitchcock-like scenes in the Grand Canyon, and the heroine's spunky elderly sidekick, Carol * Sunday Times *Baldacci excels as a storyteller when it comes to FBI agents with baggage. He also knows how to craft a complex and compelling case for his stellar heroes to solve * Daily Mail *A stunning debut to what promises to be a great series. Agent Pine is a character for the ages -- Douglas Preston, Number one New York Times bestselling authorDavid Baldacci's best yet. He keeps the pages flying and the plot twisting in this ingenious and riveting thriller -- Lisa Scottoline, Number one bestselling authorLong Road to Mercy strikes all the right chords: a perfect blend of action, secrets, and conspiracies – all combined with Baldacci's trademark sizzle -- Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling authorLong Road to Mercy is a spectacular series debut. I can't wait to see what's next for her -- Joseph Finder, New York Times bestselling author
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Book SynopsisAn immersive and really satisfying mystery' Faith MartinAs an iced drink in a heatwave These characters and their families feel like old friends. A fantastic addition to the series.' Fiona LeitchRetired schoolteachers and amateur sleuths Liz, Pat and Thelma have a brand-new mystery to solve in this wonderfully witty cosy mystery.Retired schoolteachers Pat, Liz and Thelma don't know what to think. The death of Neville Hilton is not a crime. Just your standard, if tragic, heart attack. At least that's what the autopsy shows.But his ex-wife isn't convinced. She's sure the current Mrs Hilton is involved maybe she wasn't at some horse event, as she told police.And so the three friends step away from their slices of cake to investigate.As the trio delve into the village's secrets, they uncover more than they bargained for angry residents with old grudges and the echoes of a damning report that ruined lives all those years agoCan these unlikely sleuths untangle the web of lies and uncover the truth before anybody else dies?The brand-new totally addictive and page-turning cosy mystery featuring these very unlikely sleuths. Fans of Agatha Christie and Midsomer Murders will be hooked from the very first page.Praise for J.M. HallJ.M. Hall has mastered the warmth of a perfect modern cosy crime with all the twists and turns that go with it.'' Hannah Hendy, author of The Dinner Lady DetectivesThree strong women, lots of hot tea, and a devilish clever plot. You'll love it.' Suk Pannu, author of Mrs Sidhu''s Dead and SconeThe ingredients for the perfect modern cosy crime: intrigue, characters you care about and a good dollop of humour.'' Ian Moore, author of Death and CroissantsThe perfect page turning, guess-who cosy crime.' Northern Life MagazineThis fun crime novel will have you hooked from the very first page.' Woman's Own
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Book SynopsisThe hunter has become the hunted.Ten years ago, DCI Jack Logan caught the twisted child killer known as Mister Whisper.Two days ago, Mister Whisper escaped.Now, Jack must track down the most ruthless enemy he has ever faced before he can strike again. But, after ten years behind bars, it isn''t just murder that Mister Whisper has in mind.It''s revenge.A dark edge-of-your-seat Scottish crime thriller perfect for fans of Marion Todd, L.J. Ross and Val McDermid.
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Book SynopsisFrom the author of the word-of-mouth phenomenon The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August comes a mesmerising tale of a mystical gambling house whose deadly games of chance and skill control the fate of empiresTrade ReviewVery difficult to put down . . . The Gameshouse works beautifully as a highly entertaining thriller . . . intoxicating -- SCIFINOWA twisty tale of intrigue and games played for the highest possible stakes . . . An unusual, intriguing novel that's both a paranoid fantasy about a world where anyone can be bought and a broody tale about what really matters when anything can be gambled away -- KIRKUSI just loved this book . . . Strongly recommended. VERY strongly -- BLUE BOOK BALLOONNorth expertly melds the personal with the far-reaching. Action never lets up, and at times it even blends with philosophical questions of order and chaos -- LIBRARY JOURNAL
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Book SynopsisA dark, funny, deliciously different literary thriller about a jaded hitman, set in the criminal underworld of SeoulKill Bill meets Murakami' D. B. John, author of Star of the NorthA work of literary genius' Karen Dionne, internationally bestselling author of HomeI loved it!' M. W. Craven, author of The Puppet ShowYou'll be laughing out loud every five minutes' You-jeong Jeong, author of The Good SonA mash-up of Tarantino and Camus set in contemporary Seoul' Louisa Luna, author of Two Girls DownAn incredible cast of characters' Le mondeSmart but lightning fast' Brian Evenson, author of Last DaysPlotters are just pawns like us. A request comes in and they draw up the plans. There's someone above them who tells them what to do. And above that person is another plotter telling them what to do. You think that if you go up there with a knife and stab the person at the very top, that'll fix everything. But no-one's there. It's just an empty chair.Reseng was raised by cantankerous Old Raccoon in the Library of Dogs. To anyone asking, it's just an ordinary library. To anyone in the know, it's a hub for Seoul's organised crime, and a place where contract killings are plotted and planned. So it's no surprise that Reseng has grown up to become one of the best hitmen in Seoul. He takes orders from the plotters, carries out his grim duties, and comforts himself afterwards with copious quantities of beer and his two cats, Desk and Lampshade.But after he takes pity on a target and lets her die how she chooses, he finds his every move is being watched. Is he finally about to fall victim to his own game? And why does that new female librarian at the library act so strangely? Is he looking for his enemies in all the wrong places? Could he be at the centre of a plot bigger than anything he's ever known?Trade Review‘This modern-day tale of Korean gangsters beguiles with its sly wit and quirky erudition. Fresh and original’ The Times ‘A seductive, Tarantino-like blend of fight scenes and bizarre social comedy’ Sunday Times ‘Wild, intriguing, a lot of fun’ Los Angeles Review of Books ‘Pleasingly deadpan, The Plotters manages to be both humorous and violent, and sometimes even wise’ Observer ‘Kim conjures a gloriously dreamlike alternative Korea, with vibrant settings, heightened reality and choreographed ultra-violence’ Guardian ‘A raucous extravaganza of assassins and lunatics’ New York Times ‘Kim conjures a gloriously dreamlike alternative Korea, with vibrant settings, heightened reality and choreographed ultra-violence’ Guardian ‘Vivid, mesmerising, gripping … in The Plotters, Kim has mixed bookishness, crackpots and commissioned murder into a rich and unsettling blend’ Washington Post ‘A work of literary genius; a quirky, compelling, intelligent, darkly funny, highly original and thought-provoking thriller like nothing I've read’ Karen Dionne, internationally bestselling author of Home ‘A truly incredible and unique thriller, unlike anything I have read before’ Khurrum Rahman 'Kill Bill meets Murakami. Twisted and surreal, The Plotters is one of those rare books that will haunt you long after you've finished it. The writing is smooth, unhurried and often profound, even as it draws you deeper into the gruesome underworld of skilled contract killers. Chillingly, the violence is almost exquisite, a bloody art form’ D. B. John, author of Star of the North ‘In a terrifying, not unimaginable dystopian Seoul, guilds, plotters and assassins jostle for supremacy . . . Violent, clever and funny, I loved it!’ M. W. Craven, author of The Puppet Show ‘You’ll be laughing out loud every five minutes, and contemplating the meaning of life, death and desire’ You-jeong Jeong, author of The Good Son
£10.44
Book SynopsisFrom the author of Neon Gods and the Dark Olympus series comes this must-read dark romance, perfect for fans of Ana Huang. Pre-order now! 'I devoured it in no time. The chemistry is off the charts' Reader review ?????
£9.49
Book SynopsisI would give this book ten stars if I could. I read it within two days and just could not put it down A real page turner Heart-wrenching and just fabulous. I can usually guess the ending of most books, but not this one' Goodreads review ?????1943: The world is at war, and the villagers of Tyneham are being asked to make one more sacrifice: to give their homes over to the British army. But on the eve of their departure, a terrible act will cause three of them to disappear forever.2018: Melissa had hoped a break on the coast of Dorset would rekindle her stagnant relationship, but despite the idyllic scenery, it's pushing her and Liam to the brink. When Melissa discovers a strange photograph of a woman who once lived in the forgotten local village of Tyneham, she becomes determined to find out more about her story.But Tyneham hides a terrible secret, and Melissa's search for the truth will change her life in ways she never imagined possibleAn absolutely gripping and heartbreaking tale of Trade Review'I was so absorbed that I read it in a single day' Kate Riordan, author of The Girl in the Photograph ‘A highly captivating, dramatic and emotional read, I literally could not turn the pages fast enough’ Mixing Reality with Fiction ‘Utterly brilliant… a fabulous work of intrigue that keeps you captivated ‘til the very last page. Worth more stars than I can give’ Reader review ‘Compelling, rich in detail and vividly told… Perfect for readers of Rachel Hore and Kate Morton’ Nikola Scott, author of My Mother’s Shadow ‘An unforgettable and emotional read, The Forgotten Village had me gripped from the beginning… a beautifully written highly captivating dual timeline story that is so easy to be swept up in’ Stina the Bookaholic ‘A fantastic book… the characters are engaging and heartwarming and honest, the scenery was beautiful and the story heart-wrenching and wonderful all at the same time’ Reader review ‘This is a perfect debut from a talented new author’ Reader review ‘An intriguing mystery that will keep you wanting to read more’ Gill Paul, bestselling author of The Lost Daughter ‘A gripping tale of secrets and love… I loved it’ Liz Fenwick, author of The Cornish House ‘I was utterly sucked in and swept away by the story, the vivid scenery, the characters, the secrets… I can't wait to read whatever Lorna writes next!’ Jenny Ashcroft, author of Island in the East ‘An extremely well-written story, plotted perfectly to keep the reader guessing . . . I loved it’ Nudge Books
£8.54
Book SynopsisWhat if someone wanted your family dead?-------- ''I was hooked from beginning to end'' Claire Douglas''Confirms her place in the front rank of British crime writers'' Sunday Times It''s one of the most disturbing cases DI Fawley has ever worked. The Christmas holidays, and two children have just been pulled from the wreckage of their burning home in North Oxford. The toddler is dead, and his brother is soon fighting for his life. Why were they left in the house alone? Where is their mother, and why is their father not answering his phone? Then new evidence is discovered, and DI Fawley''s worst nightmare comes true. Because this fire wasn''t an accident. It was murder. And the killer is still out there... Sunday Times best 100 novels since 1945 Sunday Times Best Crime Fiction of 2019The third twisty, up-all-night thriller from the SundaTrade ReviewSwitch off your phone and settle down on the sofa. You won't be able to put this book down until you've found out what happened - and who's responsible * Independent *Compulsive, with an ending you will not see coming -- Emma KavanaghA genuine stroke of genius ... sets the bar for new crime writers -- John Marrs
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Book Synopsis'Riveting, twisty, page-turning stuff' GuardianA 'best books of 2020' pick for BBC Radio 4 Open Book, the Guardian, the Telegraph and Good Housekeeping'The page turner you've been looking for. Sly, witty and gripping . . . I devoured it' Naomi Alderman'An utter joy . . . wonderfully skilled' Sarah Perry'Beguiling, brilliantly creepy, and an utterly compelling read' Claire Fuller'Tender, creepy and gripping' Sunday Times'Spellbinding and spooky . . . a dazzling high wire act, superbly absorbing' Sunday MirrorWhen the eight-year-old daughter of an Oxford College Master vanishes in the middle of the night, police turn to the Scottish nanny, Dee, for answers.As Dee looks back over her time in the Master's Lodging - an eerie and ancient house - a picture of a high achieving but dysfunctional family emerges: Nick, the fiercely intelligent and powerful father; his beautiful Danish wife Mariah, pregnant with their child; and the lost little girl, Felicity, almost mute, seeing ghosts, grieving her dead mother.But is Dee telling the whole story? Is her growing friendship with the eccentric house historian, Linklater, any cause for concern? And most of all, why is Felicity silent?Roaming Oxford's secret passages and hidden graveyards, Magpie Lane explores the true meaning of family - and what it is to be denied one.'Enthralling . . . creepy and compelling' The Times'Deliciously dark' Alexandra Shulman'A gorgeously satisfying triumph' Lucy Mangan'A rare thing . . . simply stunning' Daily Express'I was gripped . . . highly original' Alex Clark'Creepy, suspenseful' Independent'One of the most intriguing narrators since Notes on a Scandal' Sara Collins'Grown-up and cleverly written . . . a dizzying sense of uncertainty' Literary Review'Keeps you guessing . . . a real sense of menace' Good Housekeeping'Wholly beguiling' Mick Herron'Dazzlingly good' Diane Setterfield'Beautiful writing' Polly Samson'Clever, tense and twisty' Amanda Craig'Highly intelligent' Sarah Vaughan'Simply brilliant!' JP Delaney'Darkly atmospheric' Jane Fallon'Clever and creepy' Erin Kelly'Highly recommended' Louise CandlishTrade ReviewIt is a long time since I have enjoyed a book as thoroughly as I enjoyed Magpie Lane, which reminded me variously of Iris Murdoch, Ruth Rendell, Donna Tartt and Daphne du Maurier. I adored the narrator, and it was an utter joy to relish Atkins's wonderfully skilled and unobtrusive writing and lose myself in the mystery * Sarah Perry *The page turner you've been looking for. Sly, witty and gripping . . . I loved it * Naomi Alderman *The word-of-mouth success of lockdown, this riveting exploration of emotional damage is set against the dysfunctional world of Oxford academia . . . It is twisty, page-turning stuff, but Atkins also excels at characterisation: the deliciously horrid master and his new wife, the eccentric scholar writing a history of their creepy house, the closed-off nanny with her own secrets and the girl at the centre of it all. * Guardian *Tender, creepy and gripping * Sunday Times *With graceful writing, sharply observed characters including the city itself, and a withering look at the hidebound ways of dusty-gowned academia, this wonderfully atmospheric tale is, at its core, about the true meaning of family * Guardian *A creepy, suspenseful thriller set against the dreaming spires of Oxford * Independent *Deliciously enjoyable * Sunday Mirror *I fell hard for the beautiful writing and ghostly mood of Magpie Lane. Dee, a riveting Russian doll of a character, had me in her thrall from start to finish. Highly recommended * Louise Candlish *Clever and creepy, twisty yet tender: Magpie Lane will have you hearing footsteps overhead in an empty house. I loved it * Erin Kelly *'Full of hidden chambers, and some of them are haunted . . . part thriller, part love story, wholly beguiling. I was glued to every page' * Mick Herron *'Lucy Atkins excels at creating highly intelligent, slightly eccentric outsiders. I was completely immersed . . . and preoccupied, and appalled, by such credible characters. I loved it!' * Sarah Vaughan *'The most sublime book I've read since Apple Tree Yard . . . masterful writing from an experienced hand. I'll be gushing about this for a while' * Jo Spain *One of the most intriguing narrators since Notes on a Scandal - I loved it! * Sara Collins *Darkly atmospheric, Magpie Lane will grip you from the first page and refuse to let you go * Jane Fallon, author of QUEEN BEE *'So clever and different. I raced through for the reveal but also the spookiness, the characters and the wonderful love story' * Sabine Durrant *'A brilliant feat - a creepy, chilling, page-turning tale that also made me laugh out loud. I can think of no other writer who pulls that off' * Kate Hamer *'Intricate, intelligent, and immensely satisfying, and with a deliciously spooky edge. It really is first-class Oxford intrigue' * Cara Hunter *'That rare thing: a thriller that warms your heart even as it chills your spine. I adored it on so many levels - the page-turning tension, the emotional depth of the central relationship. Simply brilliant!' * JP Delaney *Beguiling, brilliantly creepy, and an utterly compelling read. Lucy Atkins has created such a complex character in Dee: I rooted for her, and yet was suspicious of her; swept along by her love story, but worried for her. A wonderful story * Claire Fuller *A sinewy, supple and gorgeously satisfying triumph * Lucy Mangan *'Dark, twisted, and gloriously rich, and I loved every word' * Amanda Jennings *'The most deliciously unreliable narrator, dysfunctional relationships, spooky goings-on, and a missing child - all set against the rarefied world of Oxford academia. So clever and compelling' * Hannah Beckerman *Spellbindingly brilliant. I was engrossed from start to finish, and fell in love with the wonderful cast. Lucy Atkins is an extraordinary writer, who draws us into her world and keeps us there; I shall be thinking about this story for a long time. A contender for my Book of the Year * Sarah Hilary *Magpie Lane is stunning, with an unforgettable narrative voice, brilliant evocation of the setting and a chilling, totally gripping story. It is everything I love in a novel and utterly compelling - you will not want to put it down * Jane Casey *Immersive, unsettling and hugely addictive. I loved all the Oxford detail. Superb * Will Dean *The investigation at the heart of Lucy Atkins's clever thriller is 'what makes a family unhappy?' The suspense builds inexorably until Magpie Lane has you by your throat * Susie Steiner *As nuanced a study of loneliness and longing as you could hope to meet in contemporary fiction * Sarah Franklin *I couldn't have loved this book more. Creepy, dark, compelling so clever. Every time you scratch off one layer to get to the truth, there is another one underneath. Lucy Atkins is a quiet genius * Tammy Cohen *Wow. I put my life on hold whilst I read this novel. An eerie and compelling story, beautifully crafted and darkly atmospheric with characters who infiltrate your every thought. I couldn't put it down and I'm buying it for everyone I know * Freya North *Magpie Lane is deliciously dark and keeps flipping your certainties on their head from start to finish * Alexandra Shulman *It's taken many false starts to find a book to properly carry me away during this lockdown and this was it. Gripping as well as beautifully written. Thank you, Lucy Atkins, it was such a relief to be lost in your pages * Polly Samson *It's been a while since I've been as sucked in by a thriller as I was with this one * Good Housekeeping *Lucy Atkins brilliantly ratchets up the tension, leaving a few red herrings in her wake * Sussex Express *Clever, tense and as twisty as an Oxford backstreet * Amanda Craig, author of THE LIE OF THE LAND *This chilling and twisty tale will have you hooked * Living North *
£8.79
Book SynopsisThe moving and life-affirming bestseller, perfect for anyone who loves unforgettable storiesLONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN''S PRIZE FOR FICTION AND A RICHARD & JUDY BOOK CLUB PICK''I absolutely loved Because of You. Fantastic, passionate, compassionate, so much wisdom, a lot of humour, very real and credible'' BERNARDINE EVARISTO, Booker Prize-winning author of Girl, Woman, Other''Gorgeous . . . wise and full of love'' MARIAN KEYES__________Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock . . . midnight.As the old millennium turns into the new, two very different women give birth to two very similar daughters.Hope leaves with a beautiful baby girl.Anna leaves with empty arms.Seventeen years later, the truth of that night starts rolling, terrible and deep, toward them all.A reckoning is coming. Lives will collide.And mother-love will be tested . . .Trade ReviewI absolutely loved Because of You. Fantastic, passionate, compassionate, so much wisdom, a lot of humour, very real and credible -- BERNARDINE EVARISTO, Booker Prize-winning author of Girl, Woman, OtherGorgeous . . . wise and sad and full of love * Marian Keyes *An extraordinary book - sad, heartening, gripping and reassuringly human -- Jo BrandIncredible * Russell Brand *Dawn tackles the big ones - love, death, grief, childhood, motherhood, parenthood - head on * Guardian *Harrowing but uplifting . . . It is a book about mistakes, regret, forgiveness and unconditional love * Daily Mirror *Fans who have waited five long years for French's fourth novel won't be disappointed: Because Of You is a book with a beating heart, a story told with warmth and verve * Daily Express *Moving . . . French's best yet * Good Housekeeping *The final scenes are so perfectly executed they almost broke my heart. Because of You is a story to cherish * Sunday Express *Told with French's unfailing wit and warmth, Because Of You is the tale of family bonds and the mother-daughter relationships that ultimately make us who we are * Independent *Brilliant . . . a moving read that will stay with you long after you've finished the last page * Closer *A fantastic page-turner * Mail on Sunday *Beautifully observed * The Times *Wise and poignant, Because of You is a story about mothers and daughter, love and loss, mistakes and regrets, and family bonds * Eastern Daily Press *A must-read story told with compassion and heart * Sunday Express *French always writes so melodically about the truth of human nature . . . French manages to pick your heart up with the nib of her pen and slowly pull it apart, heart-wrenchingly, page by page . . . A true writing talent * My Weekly *An emotionally charged story - and a heartbreaking twist at the end * Hello! *A warmly told story about the bond between mothers and daughters * Evening Standard *Warm, witty and wise . . . I raced through * Daily Mail *A powerful and emotional book * Good Housekeeping *A bright, brilliant and heartbreaking tale of two mothers, two babies and the far-reaching consequences of one fateful day * Yahoo! Style *A beautifully powerful story about mothers, family and sacrifice * Sun *An uplifting story about mothers and daughters and familial relationships, in which two very different women give birth to two very similar daughters on the same night * Woman & Home *Arresting page-turner * Best *A novel her fans are sure to love * Woman's Weekly *A story of love, identity and belonging * i *Heartbreaking and humorous in equal measures * Boundless *A bouncy, comedy drama. Funny, poignant and bursting with joie de vivre * Daily Mail *A thought-provoking read . . . shows the true extent of motherly love * Publishers Association *Dawn French moves between the aftermath of that fateful night and 18 years later, when the explosive impact of Hope's actions is finally felt * Daily Express *A heartfelt story, handled so carefully and empathetically -- Aisling BeaBecause Of You is a tale told with warmth by a storyteller who never takes herself too seriously * Sunday Express *Heartbreaking but redemptive, and lightened by French's trademark humour, this is a compelling read that will keep you poised between laughter and tears * Daily Mail *A tantalising story of motherhood told with Dawn French's signature warmth * Sainsbury's Magazine *As ever, even in the darkest of times, Dawn has found humour to inject into her novel * Best *A brilliant book * Good Housekeeping *The life-affirming and unmissable new novel * Eastern Daily Press *A tale told with warmth * Daily Record *While Dawn French's latest novel contains a dash of humour, it's also heart-wrenching * The Hunsbury Handbook *A fabulous emotional tearjerker of a novel * Silversurfers *Praise for Dawn French * - *Hilarious and brilliant * Woman & Home *I adored According to YES. It's so different to anything I've read in forever, so charming, wise, brilliantly written. I loved it allWitty and wise, it'll have you burning the midnight oil. A cracker * Woman's Weekly *Very funny and packs an emotional clout. Brilliant! * Heat *An enlightening and feel-good read offering a fresh look at life and how to embrace it. Funny and enjoyable to the end * We Love This Book *There is lots of fun to be had reading this book. It's impossible not to warm to Rosie, a funny and open-hearted woman who acts as a salve and comfort blanket for this unhappy, inhibited family. There's something quite joyous about the way she unashamedly romps her way through the novel, changing the lives of those around her for the better * Express *Another hilarious novel! * Bella *French can spin a yarn . . . which sets According to YES apart. Think the vicar of Dibley, without the dog collar. YES YES YES indeed * Independent *Wise and poignant * Beyond the Joke *Heart-warming * Choice Magazine *
£8.49
Book Synopsis***THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER***'A touching celebration of the beauty and endurance of female friendship. There is nothing mightier. Fact.' DAWN FRENCHThe new novel from Ruth Jones, co-creator of Gavin & Stacey and author of the smash-hit, number one bestselling debut, Never Greener.Friends forever is a difficult promise to keep...Meet Lana, Judith and Catrin. Best friends since primary school when they swore an oath on a Curly Wurly wrapper that they would always be there for each other, come what may.After the trip of a lifetime, the three girls are closer than ever. But an unexpected turn of events shakes the foundation of their friendship to its core, leaving their future in doubt - there's simply too much to forgive, let alone forget. An innocent childhood promise they once made now seems impossible to keep . . .Packed with all the heart and empathy that made Ruth's name as a screenwriter and now author, Us Three is a funny, moving and uplifting novel about life's complications, the power of friendship and how it defines us all.Prepare to meet characters you'll feel you've known all your life - prepare to meet Us Three.*****Praise for Us Three:'A warm, smart, uplifting tale of true friendship.' BETH O'LEARY'This novel oozes warmth and honesty. A big-hearted book that provides a cast of characters you'll lose your heart to.' ADELE PARKS'I loved this brilliantly gripping depiction of the complexities of female friendship over the years. Love, betrayal, comedy and loss - Us Three has it all.' FIONA NEILL*****Readers love Us Three:'I love the way Ruth Jones writes. The relationship between the 3 friends is perfect and a wonderful book to read about friendship''I absolutely loved this so much. There were moments that made me cry and other moments that made me laugh.''Best book of the year so far. To sum it up I'd say "it was bloody lush"'****RUTH'S BRILLIANT NEW NOVEL LOVE UNTOLD IS OUT NOW****Trade ReviewJones's trademark warmth and humour suffuse the novel with comedy and pathos, making for a heart-warming, entertaining and, at times, deeply moving story * The Observer *A poignant novel about friendship and forgiveness . . . with fantastic characterisation, as you'd expect from the co-creator of Gavin & Stacey, it's an epic journey * Woman & Home *Us Three is a warm, smart, uplifting tale of true friendship. I loved Lana, Catrin and Judith - I was genuinely sad to leave them when I turned the final page. * Beth O'Leary, bestselling author of THE FLATSHARE *A touching celebration of the beauty and endurance of female friendship. There is nothing mightier. Fact. * Dawn French *This novel oozes warmth and honesty. A big-hearted book that provides a cast of characters you'll lose your heart to. * Adele Parks *
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Book SynopsisDyslexia-Friendly Edition of the multi-million copy selling bestseller.
£14.39
Book SynopsisA SPECIAL, LIMITED CLOTHBOUND EDITION TO CELEBRATE THE MULTI-MILLION COPY BESTSELLER. The perfect gift for fans of the iconic novel and the Netflix series adaptation.A beautiful new twist on the iconic original design, with high-end finishes including:✔ Real cloth✔ Unmissable sprayed edges featuring a quote from the book✔ Orange ribbon marker✔ Matching endpapers''A wonderful, wonderful book'' THE TIMES ''Perfect'' NEW YORK TIMES ''You''d be hard pressed to find a sharper, sweeter romantic comedy'' INDEPENDENTTWENTY YEARS, TWO PEOPLE, ONE DAY15th July 1988. Emma and Dexter meet for the first time on the night of their graduation. Tomorrow they must go their separate ways. So where will they be on this one day next year? And the year after that? And every year that follows?ONE O
£21.25
Book SynopsisLucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers join forces on a deadly maritime case like no other . . . An off-duty Coast Guardsman is fishing with his family when he calls in some suspicious behaviour from a nearby boat. The slick craft has stopped to pick up a surfaced diver, who was apparently alone, without his own boat, in the middle of the ocean. None of it makes sense, and his hunch is proved right when all three Guardsmen who come out to investigate are shot and killed. They're federal officers killed on the job, which means the case is the FBI's turf. And when the FBI's investigation stalls out, they call in Lucas Davenport. But when the case turns lethal, Davenport will need to bring in every asset he can claim, including a detective with a fundamentally criminal mind: Virgil Flowers.With sinister motives running deep, Flowers and Davenport will need to work together to catch the killers – before they bec
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Book SynopsisFlaubert’s Parrot, shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1984, concerns the attempts of an increasingly bemused researcher to establish certain facts about a famous French novelist and the stuffed bird which used to sit on his desk.A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters blends fact and fiction in a virtuoso kaleidoscope of vignettes from Noah’s time to the present. One of the author’s most inventive works, it was praised by Salman Rushdie as ‘frequently brilliant, funny, thoughtful, iconoclastic and a delight to read’.
£12.34
Book Synopsis He had three perfect wivesUntil one of them killed him. ''Oh, my, can this author write women!'' NEW YORK TIMES''Atmospheric and addictive'' THE SUN''I could not put it down... I loved it!'' MARIAN KEYES*****Blake''s dead. His wife killed him.The question is... which one? Blake Nelson moved onto a hidden stretch of land - a raw paradise in the wilds of Utah - where he lived with his three wives:Rachel, the chief wife, obedient and doting to a fault.Tina, the other wife, who is everything Rachel isn''t.And Emily, the youngest wife, who knows little else.Rachel, Tina and Emily have nothing in common - except that they share a husband and a homestead.When their beloved Blake is found dead under the desert sun, the questions pile up. But none of the widows know who would want to kill a good man like theiTrade ReviewBlack Widows is a brilliant joyride in the company of three unforgettable women, sister-wives with nothing in common except their dead husband. Completely compelling and vividly told, the story plays with your loyalties and makes you question what counts as moral behaviour. This is a hugely enjoyable and original mystery with real heart, and I loved it * Jane Casey *It's unusual to read a story that reveals a completely different life, but that's exactly what Black Widows does. A thrilling tale which twists and turns along an immersive desert landscape, with a surprising Thelma & Louise style ending that makes you feel proud of the sisterhood * Araminta Hall *Oh my God, THIS BOOK! Mormon man - three wives, living survivalist lives - is murdered. Each wife is a suspect. I could NOT put it down!!! Utterly compelling, nuanced characterisation, such atmosphere. I LOVED it! * Marian Keyes *Quinn gives her readers an exquisite murder mystery, taking us through uncharted territory of off-the-grid, modern-day intentional communities. Black Widows is a steady, slow boil you'll be happy to immerse yourself in * Christina Dalcher *I loved this book. It's both a fascinating glimpse into a hidden world and brilliantly twisty crime novel. Three wives, three motives, three utterly compelling stories * Elly Griffiths *The marriage thriller given a wicked new twist. Claustrophobic, intense and absolutely gripping Black Widows announces the arrival of a major new talent into the halls of domestic noir * Eva Dolan *Everything about this book - the plot, the characters, the telling - is strikingly original. And highly recommended. Brilliantly imagined, compellingly told, a tale of survival against the odds, told with insight and compassion. The voices of the three wives will stay with the reader long after the book is finished * Chris Hammer *It's a great hook and a tremendous read - I thoroughly enjoyed this. The tension ramps up all the way to the end and I loved the relationship between the wives * Harriet Tyce *Intense, gripping, superb * Will Dean *Black Widows is an absolutely thrilling novel. I devoured it over a weekend, unable to put it down. It's a clever and completely original take on a domestic thriller ... Manages to be more than the sum of its parts: at once a fast-paced thriller and also a fascinating examination of Mormon culture and an extremely complicated and deadly marriage. Highly recommended * Alex Michaelides *Part page-turning whodunit, part desert domestic noir, Black Widows is a sly, contemporary crime masterpiece. I loved it * Adrian McKinty *Black Widows is also a riveting murder plot, and a delicate analysis of the relationship between 'sister' wives who have to live together, despite all attendant jealousies and privations. An amazing achievement. * woman&home *An atmospheric and addictive thriller. * The Sun *A gripping read * Bella *Written with great panache, it superbly evokes the lives of all three women and the secrets they hide. This story lingers in the memory. * Daily Mail *This is a compelling read with a very dark heart -- Alison Flood * Observer *What's fascinating about this well-researched mystery is the window it offers on the extraordinary and disturbing world of people who believe they have found the true faith -- Laura Wilson * Guardian *Hugely entertaining * The i *
£7.19
Book SynopsisThe new novel from the award-winning translator of Sweet Bean Paste Winner of the Naoki Prize Winner of the Society of Authors Sasakawa Foundation Prize Perfect for fans of The Guest Cat and Before the Coffee Gets Cold 'It’s no wonder the author won the prestigious Naoki Prize for this novel, which is at times heartwarming and suspenseful, detailing true resilience and survival.' Belfast Telegraph 'Everyone, please read this English translation and keep a handkerchief nearby.’ Nozomi Abe, Sasakawa Prize judgeOne dog changes the life of everyone who takes him in on his journey to reunite with his first owner in this inspiring tribute to the bond between humans and dogs and the life-affirming power of connection. Following a devastating earthquake and tsunami, a young man in Ja
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Book SynopsisA sparklingly delicious confection to satisfy the mystery reader's appetite' Helena Dixon, bestselling author of the Miss Underhay MysteriesJodie Nosey' Parker is back!When popular TV baking contest and national institution The Best of British Baking Roadshow' rolls into town and sets up camp in the grounds of Boskern House, a historic stately home near Penstowan, former police officer Jodie Nosey' Parker finds herself competing to represent Cornwall in the grand final.But with a fellow contestant who will stop at nothing to win and a drag queen host with secrets of their own, Jodie discovers that the roadshow doesn't just have the ingredients for the perfect showstopper cake, but also for the perfect murderAnd when a body is found in the grounds of the house, Jodie is drawn into another high-stakes case along with local DCI Nathan Withers.Can Jodie expose the culprit? Or will the murderer become the real showstopper?What readers are saying:Come for the sleuthing, stay for the fun! Can
£9.49
Book SynopsisIn the new official Minecraft novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Minecraft: The Island, a stranded hero stumbles upon another castaway-and discovers that teamwork might just be the secret to survival. Wandering a vast, icy tundra, the explorer has never felt more alone. Is there anything out here? Did I do the right thing by leaving the safety of my island? Should I give up and go back? So many questions, and no time to ponder-not when dark is falling and dangerous mobs are on the horizon.Gurgling zombies and snarling wolves lurk in the night, and they're closing in. With nowhere to hide, the lone traveler flees up a mountain, trapped and out of options . . . until a mysterious figure arrives, fighting off the horde singlehandedly. The unexpected savior is Summer, a fellow castaway and master of survival in these frozen wastes.Excited to find another person in this strange, blocky world, the explorer teams up with Summer, whose impressive mountain fortress as a safe haven . . . for now. But teamwork is a new skill for two people used to working alone. If they want to make it home, they will have to learn to work together-or risk losing everything.Trade ReviewBrooks was both an obvious and an unusual choice for a novelization...Reads less like narratives than like introductory texts on problem-solving theory, albeit lively ones with zombie attacks... * New Yorker *A wonderfully entertaining and uplifting read and particularly great for gaming enthusiastic kids and reluctant readers. * ni4kids *
£8.54
Book SynopsisEager to flee the parochialism of her French upbringing, and a painful family past, the young and beautiful Marina falls in love with a seductive Greek sea-captain she meets at the port of Rouen. She follows him to the Aegean island of Syros to begin a new life as a married woman in the home of her formidable mother-in-law. Enchanted by the beauty of her surroundings, and fascinated by her husband's erudite younger brother, she aspires to learn all she can about contemporary Greek culture and live up to the ideals of her classical education. But when disaster upends her husband's shipping business and the comfortable stability of their life together, Marina's world slides into a vicious circle of love, passion, and death. Set in the early decades of the twentieth century, this is an exquisite account of the inner life of the heroine, and the collisions of different cultures and ways of being. In prose that ranges from the lyrical to the tersely realist, Karagatsis weaves a classic tale that is wide-ranging in its literary references, and devastating in its psychological nuance. This modern Greek tragedy has been made into a TV series and a highly acclaimed stage play, enjoying three sold-out seasons in Athens, and an international tour.
£12.34
Book SynopsisOne of the BBC''s ''100 Novels That Shaped Our World''HarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of best-loved, essential classics.Big Brother is Watching You.'Winston Smith rewrites history. It's his job. Hidden away in the Record Department of the sprawling Ministry of Truth, he helps the Party, and the omnipresent Big Brother, control the people of Oceania. But the notebook he's begun to write in is against the rules in fact, the Thought Police could arrest him simply for having it. Despite the danger, a seed of rebellion has begun to grow in Winston's heart one that could have devastating consequences.In George Orwell's final novel, he explores a dystopian future in which a totalitarian government controls the actions, thoughts and even emotions of its citizens. Its lasting popularity is testament to Orwell's powerful prose, and is a passionate warning for today.Trade Review‘His final masterpiece … enthralling and indispensable for understanding modern history’ New York Review of Books ‘A profound, terrifying and wholly fascinating book … Orwell’s theory of power is developed brilliantly’ The New Yorker ‘A prophet who thought the unthinkable and spoke the unspeakable, even when it offended conventional thought’ Daily Express ‘Brilliantly constructed and told’ Guardian ‘There is not a smile or a jest that does not add bitterness to Orwell’s utterly depressing vision of what the world may be in 35 years’ time’ TIME
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Book SynopsisGrab a copy and a box of tissues ASAP simply beautiful' Reader Review ?????Summer read of the year! Absolute perfection' Reader Review ?????Wowthere are still tears in my eyes!' Reader Review ?????Will walking in her mother's footsteps help Sophie discover who she was meant to be all along?Devastated by her mother's death, Sophie longs to get away from an empty house full of memories and a life that hasn't quite turned out as she had imagined.So when a chance discovery among her mother's belongings hints at a past Sophie knows nothing of, she jumps at the opportunity for escape and a chance to heal. The magical, idyllic Greek town of Methoni awaitsBut Sophie determined to uncover her mother's secrets is about to discover so much more. Among the tranquil waters and cosy tavernas, Methoni's locals offer Sophie the answers she craves, along with unexpected romance and, if she'll take it, a chance at her own happinessThe breathtaking, escapist debut novel from Emma Cowell, perfect for fTrade ReviewPraise for One Last Letter from Greece: ‘A compelling and tender story, beautifully told by an exciting new voice’ – Santa Montefiore ‘An emotional rollercoaster. I fell in love with Theo and with Methoni which sounds so beautiful. Such an emotive tale of love and loss’ – Rosanna Ley ‘Emma Cowell tells an emotional, gripping tale about family secrets, love and loss.’ – Adriana Trigiani ‘Emma’s written a beauty’ – Peter Andre ‘Beautifully written. Emma Cowell writes with warm assurance and brings the Greek setting to life’ – Sue Moorcroft ‘A delicious slice of Greek life. A beautiful love story. A lovely tribute to a mother's love’ – Jo Thomas ‘What a debut from a gorgeous new voice in romantic fiction. The descriptions of Greece make you long to jump on a plane, the writing is so beautiful, and above all, it has such warmth and emotion’ – Phillipa Ashley ‘Breath taking world building, stunning imagery and genuine emotion cooked into every page. I adored it’ – Helen Fields ‘A sweeping epic Grecian romance about grief, healing, and the unpredictable ways they can drive our stories, One Last Letter From Greece is a Jojo Moyes-esque saga that I inhaled. Five stars from me!’ – Laura Jane Williams ‘This unputdownable mystery, wrapped up in a heart-wrenching tale of love and loss, transported me to Greece. A great read for the beach as well as a grey day’ – Tessa Harris ‘When you look up from your train seat/sofa/garden sunbed this summer you’ll be genuinely confused you’re not in a taverna knocking back an ouzo’ – Caroline Corcoran ‘Vivid descriptions of beautiful Greece transport you to a world of idyllic blue seas, olive trees and sunshine. A fantastic debut’ My Weekly ‘A compelling read’ Be Phenomenal
£999.99
Book SynopsisEscape to the French chateau in this gripping, sweeping tale of love, lies and divided loyalties. Perfect for fans of Santa Montefiore and Lucinda Riley._________________________________________________________________ONE FAMILYGENERATIONS OF SECRETSIT'S TIME TO ESCAPE TO THE CHATEAU . . .Elise is a true daughter of the chateau. She'd die before anything happened to Sainte Madeleine even if it means betraying her own family.Alexandre, Elise's brother, is destined to inherit yet a dangerous rift with their father puts his future, and the chateau, in jeopardy.And for distant cousin Laurent, his life-long love for Elise will always call him back to Sainte Madeleine.But the peace of Europe rests on a knife-edge, and history has bigger plans than them all. Through love and war, danger and deceit, can the chateau and the Salignac family weather the storm?Readers are getting swept away by Sainte Madeleine:It is perfect escapism' Netgalley reviewerA beautiful love story that captures your Trade Review‘Fabulous escapism, full of secrets & scandalous behaviour. Big and sweeping, it transported me to France, Greece, California… A pacy riot of a saga’ Tracy Rees More praise for Tilly Bagshawe’s escapist and glamorous novels: ‘A cut above the rest… Pure, unadulterated escapism’ Fabulous ‘Fast-paced, fun and thoroughly entertaining’ Daily Mail ‘If you like your fiction with a large helping of glamour and scandal, this is a gem’ Prima
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Book SynopsisAs twisty-turny as a Cornish lane in high summer'J.M. Hall, author of A Spoonful of MurderA sparklingly delicious confection to satisfy the mystery reader's appetite'Helena Dixon, bestselling author of the Miss Underhay MysteriesA Siren's call to murderFormer Met police officer Jodie Nosey' Parker is working a trial period as an auxiliary Detective Sergeant with the Penstowan police force. But living and working alongside DCI Nathan Withers while still trying to grow her catering company brings its own challenges, especially when Jodie's attention is quickly taken up by the suspicious drowning of a local fisherman.While tourists and locals alike are falling under the spell of the annual mermaid festival with its captivating legends of Sirens luring fishermen to their deaths, Jodie and Nathan fear they may have found themselves in the middle of a very real and very dangerous turf war. As the casualties start to stack up, they must face the likelihood that something sinister has been
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Book SynopsisAn inter-connected romantasy perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Stephanie GarberThe Summer Court princess has never failed to end the curse that ravages Faerie every hundred years, until now. The responsibility has fallen on me, Aribella, the Fall princess, to stop the poison destroying my realm. I must go to Ethereum to fetch the heart of one of its dark lords, or my people will perish.Everything unravels the moment I step foot in Ethereum. Thrown into my target's dungeon and in fear for my life, I can see no way to save myself, let alone my kingdom. The scarred Ethereum lord who holds me is brutal, unforgiving, and only keeping me alive as long as I'm useful to him. Yet I have a secret, harboured my entire life, and if I can use it to my advantage, there is a chance I and my people might come through unscathedThe unputdownable follow up to Cold-Hearted in the Cursed Fae series.Perfect for fans of:Enemies to Lovers ??Only One Bed ???Forbidden Love ??Readers LOVE the Cursed Fae series:''Richly imaginedan absolute must-read'' Reader review ?????''was oh so satisfying on so many levels'' Reader review ????''I simply cannot wait for book 2'' Reader review ?????''Fights, magic, fae and a curse, a truly amazing combination. I would definitely recommend it to romantasy, fantasy and fae lovers. Is a must-read'' ????''I loved the romance and I finished the book obsessed with Zander (and his handcuffs). If you know you know'' ?????
£9.49
Book SynopsisAn inter-connected romantasy perfect for fans of Sarah J. MaasTo save my kingdom, someone must dieEvery hundred years, a curse descends on Faerie. For the last two millennia, the Summer Court princess has ended it. She has travelled to the mirror realm, found an Ethereum Lord, and returned with his magical heart.Now it's my turn.I have trained to become the perfect assassin so I can retrieve my prize. But when I step through the portal, I'm immediately taken captive by Zander, a handsome royal guard.To reach my target, I'm forced to play by his rules. Fail my task and everyone I've ever known and loved perishes. But Zander has secrets, and they call into question everything I have been taught my entire life***Perfect for fans of:Enemies to Lovers ??Only One Bed ???Forbidden Love ??Readers LOVE Cold Hearted''Richly imaginedan absolute must-read'' NetGalley reviewer ?????''I simply cannot wait for book 2'' NetGalley reviewer ?????
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Book Synopsis''A must for Tudor fans everywhere'' Tracy Borman''Thrilling, captivating... unforgettable'' Kate WilliamsSunday Times bestselling novelist Alison Weir returns with the spellbinding story of Mary I.A DESTINY REWRITTEN. A ROYAL HEART DIVIDED.Adored only child of Henry VIII and his Queen, Katherine of Aragon, Princess Mary is raised in the golden splendour of her father''s court. But the King wants a son and heir.With her parents'' marriage, and England, in crisis, Mary''s perfect world begins to fall apart. Exiled from the court and her beloved mother, she seeks solace in her faith, praying for her father to bring her home. But when the King does promise to restore her to favour, his love comes with a condition.The choice Mary faces will haunt her for years to come - in her allegiances, her marriage and her own fight for the crown. Can she become the queen she was born to be?MARY I. HER STORY.Alison Weir''s new Tudor novel is the tale, full of drama and tragedy, of how a princess with such promise, loved by all who knew her, became the infamous Bloody Mary.---PRAISE FOR ALISON WEIR''S TUDOR FICTION''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''As always, Alison Weir is ahead of the curve - and at the top of her game'' Sarah Gristwood''Weir is excellent on the little details that bring a world to life'' Guardian''Profoundly moving... lingers long after the last page'' Elizabeth Fremantle
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Book Synopsis‘[Kincaid] is able to do something that is almost never done in garden writing, and do it very well . . .’ - The New York TimesJamaica Kincaid's first garden in Vermont was a plot in the middle of her front lawn. There, to the consternation of more experienced friends, she planted only seeds of the flowers she liked best. In My Garden (Book) Kincaid gathers all she loves about gardening and plants, and examines it generously, passionately, and with sharp, idiosyncratic discrimination. This is an intimate, playful book on gardens, the plants that fill them, and the people who tend to them.Now in the Picador Collection.
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Book SynopsisJames Falconer returns in the third House of Falconer historical novel from multi-million copy bestseller Barbara Taylor Bradford.The Somme, 1916. James Falconer, once a barrow boy on a London market, stands in the trenches, awaiting the command to go over the top. Away from his business empire in London, he is simply a soldier, war the great leveller.But, unlike his men, and unknown to them, deep down, Falconer doesn't care if he lives or dies.When a face from the past offers James the chance to repair his fractured relationship with his estranged daughter, Leonie, he must decide if he can hold different things dear and make space in his life for love.But the war has left terrible scars, both personal and professional, and swept huge changes through the glittering world he once inhabited. James must weather myriad storms as he attempts to right past wrongs and build a new life.''Bradford's tale is enriched by dynamic characters, especially James, who heroically persists in his effort
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Book SynopsisThe truth of what happened that night lies with a secret witness.Quarter to Midnight is the first thrilling novel in a brand new series by Sunday Times bestselling author Karen Rose, set in New Orleans. Rocky Hebert walks into his death at quarter to midnight one New Orleans night.His son Gabe cannot accept the official verdict of suicide and enlists the help of the Burke Broussard Private Investigation Agency to discover the real cause of death.PI Molly Sutton knows what it''s like to lose a father in tragic circumstances and will go to any lengths to crack the investigation, as she tries to fight off her growing feelings for Gabe.They soon realise Rocky was working on an investigation of his own; one that threatened to expose the deep corruption going all the way to the top of the police department. And that the key to the puzzle lies with a young witness to a murder that happened years earlier: Xavier Morrow. Trade ReviewA riveting story * Daily Mail *The tension sizzles * Peterborough Telegraph *
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Book SynopsisLondon, 1944. The air raid sirens are blaring, the bombers are hovering. England has been at war with Germany for four years, and there''s no sign of peace coming. Dot Gallagher, newly arrived from Liverpool to offer her services as a nurse, hurries from her Red Cross hostel to the tube station to join the crowds of people taking shelter. A group of GIs have started dancing around a wind-up gramophone, and it doesn''t take long for Dot to join them. As she jives along with one of the American soldiers, he tells her about Rainbow Corner, a social club in Piccadilly for US troops. There is always a demand for dance hostesses there, women who know how to jitterbug and rock''n''roll, to dance with the soldiers. Would Dot like to apply?As Dot discovers, Rainbow Corner is like no other place, an oasis in London where, once inside, the constraints of wartime Britain disappear. There is no rationing, all luxuries are available, including a constant stream of donuts, chewing gum and
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Book SynopsisJohn Irving, one of the world’s greatest novelists, returns with his first novel in seven years — a ghost story, a love story, and a lifetime of sexual politics. In Aspen, Colorado, in 1941, Rachel Brewster is a slalom skier at the National Downhill and Slalom Championships. Little Ray, as she is called, finishes nowhere near the podium, but she manages to get pregnant. Back home, in New England, Little Ray becomes a ski instructor. Her son, Adam, grows up in a family that defies conventions and evades questions concerning the eventful past. Years later, looking for answers, Adam will go to Aspen. In the Hotel Jerome, where he was conceived, Adam will meet some ghosts; in The Last Chairlift, they aren’t the first or the last ghosts he sees. John Irving has written some of the most acclaimed books of our time — among them, The World According to Garp and The Cider House Rules. A visionary voice on th
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Book SynopsisThree men go out fishing, returning to a favourite spot on the river despite their memories of a terrible accident there years earlier. As a long, sultry day passes, they drink and cook and talk and dance, and try to overcome the ghosts of their past. But they are outsiders, and this intimate, peculiar moment also puts them at odds with the inhabitants of this watery universe, both human and otherwise. The forest presses close, and violence seems inevitable, but can another tragedy be avoided?Rippling across time like the river that runs through it, Selva Almada’s latest novel is the finest expression yet of her compelling style and singular vision of rural Argentina.This masterful novel reveals once again Selva Almada's unique voice and extraordinary sensitivity, allowing its characters to shine and express in action what the depths of their souls harbour.One of the Best Books of 2020 in Clarín and La NaciónShortlisted for the Mario Vargas Llosa Novel PrizeTrade Review"A virtuoso literary work. […] Flashbacks and side scenes deepen the story which curls and twines like a thrusting tropical vine through the past, roping in sisters, wives, old lovers, boyhood adventures, and jealousies."" —Annie Proulx , author of THE SHIPPING NEWS"Told with the hallucinatory atmosphere of a dream, this astonishing, stark novel doesn’t turn away from the hypnotic and disturbing effects of violence. Not a River plunges us straight into the depths of its silences, bracingly so—the longer the quiet goes, the more terrible the rupture."" —Manuel Muñoz , author of WHAT YOU SEE IN THE DARK"Selva Almada constructs a lyric of roughness, of few words, a lyric in which the strong, calloused hands of her characters hardly need to be described to make themselves felt. They touch you. "" —Gabriela Cabezón Cámara , author of THE ADVENTURES OF CHINA IRON"Whether we are on an island or not, water is displacement, and reading this novel gently carries us through characters and places. " —Agencia Paco Urondo"Selva Almada’s voice has made its own mark on contemporary Argentinean literature, to such an extent that situating her as a writer by referring to the Southern Gothic of authors such as Faulkner, O’Connor or McCullers are superfluous. With Not a River, she establishes her own way of looking at things in order to create literature. " —Pagina/12"Almada is not a folkloric writer, but even so, she knows how to capture the idiosyncrasy of a region. Her characters reveal, in their parsimony, a dense inner life, plagued by existential concerns. Perhaps silence and the voices of nature take the place of possible answers. " —La Nación"This is a narrative of great depth in which the settings (the river, fishing, the island) emerge from a very powerful poetic narration that keeps quiet more than it says aloud, that omits more than it recounts, a dreamlike voice marked by an infinite and familiar wound anchored in a dialectic between dreams and an indestructible future. " —El periódico"In some passages of the novel, Almada seems to whisper what she is recounting rather than saying it out loud: her asymptomatic, almost invisible writing, punctuates the breathing of the sentences to create brief, beautiful images. " —El Tiempo"It is worth asking ourselves whether, as has often been said, Selva Almada’s literature has reinvented the rural imaginary of a region of our country, or whether her task is rather to point out the contrasts and contradictions of the dominant culture, in order to indirectly confront it. " —Revista Otra Parte************Praise for Selva Almada"I always read Selva Almada with devotion but NOT A RIVER is something else. I had to stand up and read it out loud in my living room. It is that good." —Samanta Schweblin."A major Latin American literary force." —Shelf Awareness"Almada is forceful in her depictions of sex, violence, and rage. I feel her prose in my body: a punch in the gut, the sharpness of glass." —Chicago Review of Books"There is a tremendous carnality to Almada’s writing, vividly captured in McDermott’s translation" —LA Review of Books"Almada combines reportage, fiction, and autobiography to explore femicide in Argentina in her acute, unflinching latest." —Publishers Weekly, starred review"An unassuming yet intensely felt narrative. (4 stars)" —The Arts Desk"Not an easy book, but it feels like an important one – a work of investigative writing about how easily women’s lives are obscured." —The Scotsman"Part journalism, part history, part autobiography, part relentless nightmare." —Shelf Awareness, starred review"This is a powerful read...[Almada's] effective use of fiction ensures a deep empathy in her readers which strict reportage sometimes fails to evoke." —The Big Issue"Almada’s prose is sparse, but the details count. Her ear for dialogue and especially gossip is pitch perfect. Her eye for detail is hawkish." —LA Review of Books"A tense, precise chronicle that treats seriously a still serious subject." —El Cultural"You’ll walk away from this book with a vivid memory of where you were, how you were feeling, and what the weather was like on the day that you read Dead Girls." —Books and Bao"This is not a book that will make you feel at peace with the world, but that is precisely where its strength and persuasion lie." —Translating Women"The literary quality of the text shines." —Sound and Vision"The prose strikes a perfect tone – clinical and punchy when necessary, angry and lyrical, brutal yet humanistic." —TN2"Challenge[s] the true crime obsession in an indirect way. " —Pendora Magazine"A powerful read, shedding a stark light on the horrors of gender violence." —The Big Issue"What makes the book compelling is how the author explores issues of domestic violence, state complicity, machismo and family negligence, along with class and social inequalities, in a non-sentimental prose which is all the more effective as result." —Morning Star"Genre-defying, with beautifully crafted and reflective prose." —The F Word"The devastating conclusion of the narrator is that the women who survive are unlikely to have made it unscathed but they are lucky ones – lucky to be alive." —NB Magazine"It is a profound novel and call to action still relevant as activists continue to take to the streets throughout Latin America to decry, ‘ni una más’ (not one more)." —The Skinny"It’s crisp, bracing, and beautiful." —White Review"Part coming-of-age, part detective work, partly a web of rumors, Almada’s story fuses a variety of genres to create a work that splits the seams of personal narrative, journalism, and fiction." —NACLA"Exquisite prose that vibrates with a deep, melodious rage." —The Monthly Booking"Recounted with a lyrical simplicity that is almost brutal." —The Oxonian Review"Painstakingly investigated ... imbued with personal connection" —The Oxonian Review"Fate has in Dead Girls the perfume of a Greek tragedy: immutable, irreversible, lethal." —El País"Far from the detective story, this is an intimate tale, a certain negative of the autobiography of a young woman looking at other young women and how all of them are perceived by a society where misogyny and violence against them is still an everyday affair." —Pagina/12"Selva Almada reinvents the imaginative rural world of a country. She is an author gifted with a very uncommon power and sensitivity." —Rolling Stone (Argentina)"Gripping, shocking and sad." —The Book Satchel"Dead Girls is a brutal, necessary story in which Almada describes the crimes, states the facts and lays bare the horror of these femicides." —Tony's Reading List**********Edinburgh International Book Festival First book Award (Winner)Book Cover of the Year (Saltire Awards) (Winner)"Like Flannery O’Connor and Juan Rulfo, Almada fills her taut, eerie novel with an understanding of rural life, loneliness, temptation and faith." —BBC Culture"Billed as a ‘promising voice’ in Latin American literature, this tale delivers readily on that promise." —Booklist"The drama of this refreshingly unpredictable debut . . . smolders like a lit fuse waiting to touch off its well-orchestrated events. . . . A stimulating, heady story." —Publishers Weekly"The story packs a punch in its portraits of a man who exalts heaven and another who protests." —Kirkus"A dynamic introduction to a major Latin American literary force." —Shelf Awareness, starred review"[The Wind That Lays Waste] delivers exactly that compressed pressurised electricity of a gathering thunderstorm: it sparks and sputters with live-wire tension." —TANK Magazine"The Wind That Lays Waste is elegant and stark, a kind of emblem or vision fetched from the far edges of things, arrested and stripped to its essence, as beautiful as it is unnerving. "" —Paul Harding , author of TINKERS"The Wind That Lays Waste is a mesmerizing novel, at once strange and compelling."" —Bonnie Jo Campbell , author of MOTHERS, TELL YOUR DAUGHTERS"The quality and resolve of her prose produce a power of suggestion that is unique to Selva Almada." —El País"The best novel written in Argentina in the last few years? Don’t know, and don’t care, but you must read Selva Almada." —El País"Almada’s prose has a touch of the Faulkner of As I Lay Dying but passed through the filters of the dirty light of the cotton fields and the clean clothes worn by country people to Sunday mass."" —Germán Machado"A distinctive debut: atmospheric, tension-packed, and written in vivid, poetic language." —Books from Scotland"Perhaps most powerful in the book is Almada’s focus on detail―she skillfully renders the story of a day in brief chapters that reveal the thoughts and fleeting encounters of characters, who are largely living inside themselves." —Ploughshares"Almada’s nuanced approach leaves room to explore her characters’ pasts in some detail, but, crucially, these individuals . . . are not defined by their mistakes." —ZYZZYVA"What seems fantastical soon turns hyper-realistic, in a style that is reminiscent of Juan Rulfo or Sara Gallardo." —La Nación**********"A successful riff on a classic Shakespearean tale." —Publishers Weekly"Such is Almada’s command of shape and pace, and the clean-edged vigour of the style McDermott voices with such skill, that we take Brickmakers on its own uncompromising terms – as pulp, tragedy and epic all at once." —The Arts Desk"Almada is forceful in her depictions of sex, violence, and rage. I feel her prose in my body: a punch in the gut, the sharpness of glass. McDermott’s translation captures the bite of Almada’s sentences, which render both tenderness and violence with devastating clarity." —Chicago Review of Books"Almada's breathtaking multigenerational tragedy is a haunting, unforgettable examination of the lasting consequences of careless inhumanity." —Shelf Awareness, starred review"Best books of 2021" —The Financial Times"There is a tremendous carnality to Almada’s writing, vividly captured in McDermott’s translation" —LA Review of Books"A rich, confident and urgent read." —Lunate"Brickmakers is one of the best books I've read this year ... It’s a brilliant, sizzling, unmissable treat" —Translating Women**********
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Book SynopsisThis new mini hardback edition completes the series of collectable Miss Marple hardbacks the first time all 14 Marple books have had their own uniform hardback series.A weekly dinner partyTen amateur sleuthsThe Tuesday Club murdersOn a quiet Tuesday in St Mary Mead, a group of friends gather for dinner.A policeman, a clergyman, a solicitor, an author, an artist, and an unassuming lady with a shrewd gaze Miss Jane Marple. Conversation naturally turns to crime.Each recounts a seemingly unsolvable mystery. Each thinks they know the answer.But it's the one they least expect who understands the true nature of each wicked actNever underestimate Miss MarpleBillions of readers can't be wrong.'Dreda Say MitchellThe plots are so good that one marvels . . . most of them would have made a full-length thriller.'Daily MirrorTrade Review‘Without a doubt, the greatest mystery writer of all time’ – Ragnar Jonasson ‘A hundred years after her first novel, and we are all still standing in her shadow’ – Andrew Taylor ‘She gives us an insight into human nature that few, if any, have surpassed’ – Susan Lewis ‘Dame Agatha has sold more books than all besides Shakespeare and the Bible’ – David Baldacci ‘All crime fiction writers around the globe owe Agatha Christie a massive debt’ – Peter James ‘Reading a perfectly plotted Agatha Christie is like crunching into a perfect apple: that pure, crisp, absolute satisfaction.’ – Tana French
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Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times Bestseller''A full-spectrum triumph'' GuardianA sensational new novel from the bestselling author of Less Than Zero and American Psycho that tracks a group of privileged Los Angeles high school friends as a serial killer strikes across the city. His first novel in 13 years, The Shards is Bret Easton Ellis at his inimitable best.LA, 1981. Buckley College in heat. 17-year-old Bret is a senior at the exclusive Buckley prep school when a new student arrives with a mysterious past. Robert Mallory is bright, handsome, charismatic, and shielding a secret from Bret and his friends, even as he becomes a part of their tightly knit circle. Bret's obsession with Mallory is equalled only by his increasingly unsettling preoccupation with The Trawler, a serial killer on the loose who seems to be drawing ever closer to Bret and his friends, taunting them with grotesque threats and horrific, sharply local acts of violence.Can he trust his friends or his own mind to make sense of the danger they appear to be in? Thwarted by the world and by his own innate desires, buffeted by unhealthy fixations, Bret spirals into paranoia and isolation as the relationship between The Trawler and Robert Mallory hurtles inexorably toward a collision.Gripping, sly, suspenseful, deeply haunting and often darkly funny, The Shards is a mesmerizing fusing of fact and fiction that brilliantly explores the emotional fabric of Bret's life at 17 sex and jealousy, obsession and murderous rage.
£10.44