Contemporary Fiction Books

Book SynopsisThe Lady in the Van meets The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry in this uplifting, funny and moving debut novel about a 79-year-old hoarder who is convinced the world is against her.79-year-old Gloria Frensham is a hoarder. She lives amongst piles of magazines, cardboard boxes and endless knick-knacks that are stacked into every room of her home, and teeter in piles along the landing and up the stairs.She hasn't left the house in years, but when a sudden smell of burning signifies real danger, she is forced to make a sudden departure and leave behind her beloved possessions.Determined she's not ready for a care home, Gloria sets out to discover what life still has to offer her. It's time to navigate the outside world on her own, one step at a time, with just one very small suitcase in towHeart-warming and poignant in equal measure, this is a story about the loneliness of life, the struggles of growing old, the power of kindness, and the bravery it takes to leave our comfort zones.** PrTrade Review ** Praise from NetGalley reviewers ** ‘It is a feel good hug of a book with wonderful relatable characters and a storyline that will make you smile from ear to ear. Absolutely delightful.’ ‘I loved this book. It’s an easy read, and the characters are relatable, but the message – essentially carpe diem – is deep. Highly recommended.’ ‘Such a beautifully written novel’ ‘If you enjoyed reading A Man Called Ove and The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, you will definitely like this book. It touches on a huge spectrum of topics, not just focusing on what you would imagine by its title.’ ‘An endearing "coming out of hibernation" story – as opposed to a coming-of-age story!’ ‘I grew to love the characters like they were real people and I’ll miss reading about them.’

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewHis work reaches the highest level of creative originality and stylistic perfection * Daily Telegraph *Böll combines a mammoth intelligence with a literary outlook that is masterful and unique -- Joseph Heller, author of Catch-22My most-admired contemporary novelist -- John AshberyWe must be grateful to the Penguin European Writers series, a precious venture in these dark times -- John BanvilleFrom the moment I stepped on board the troop train with Private Andreas, concerns pertaining to my own world fell away completely. Holding this impelling book is tantamount to holding the young soldier's fate in one's hands. It is impossible to let go. -- Claire-Louise Bennett, author of 'Pond'Böll's novel blows a stent in the human heart, and shows us the terror there. It feels more necessary than ever -- Anna Funder, from the introductionThis is the best book I have read this year; not by miles, but by whole astronomical units; I am stunned by it as if by a blow. It is *astonishing* to the extent that I cannot convey to you its power - how gradually one lies clutching the book wrenched into pieces by the imagery and by the extravagant profundity with which the soldier's fear and desire and unhappiness is felt... -- Sarah Perry, bestselling author of The Essex Serpent and Melmoth

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Book SynopsisNastily good fun' MetroSET TO BECOME A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING ELIZABETH MOSSShirley Jackson meets Ottessa Moshfegh meets My Sister the Serial Killer in a brilliantly unsettling and darkly funny debut novel full of suspense and paranoiaGeorge March's latest novel is a smash hit. None could be prouder than Mrs. March, his dutiful wife, who revels in his accolades and relishes the lifestyle and status his success brings.A creature of routine and decorum, Mrs. March lives an exquisitely controlled existence on the Upper East Side. Every morning begins the same way, with a visit to her favourite patisserie to buy a loaf ofolive bread, but her latest trip proves to be her last when she suffers an indignity from which she may never recover: an assumption by the shopkeeper that the protagonist in George March's new book a pathetic sex worker, more a figure of derision than desire is based on Mrs. March.One casual remark robs Mrs. March not only of her beloved olive bread but of the belTrade Review‘I read Mrs March in one sitting and was so captured by it … As a character, [Mrs March] is fascinating, complex, and deeply human’ Elisabeth Moss ‘Feito nods deftly to her forebears – there are shades of Hitchcock and Highsmith here … while the opening chapter puts one in mind of Woolf’s Mrs Dalloway … Nastily good fun’ Claire Allfree, Metro ‘Virginia Feito’s noirish debut novel left me rapt, gleefully ambivalent about her eponymous protagonist: did I like her? Did I find her funny? Did I want to hug her? Was I bit a scared of her? Did I relate to her? To all of the above: yes … an elegant, claustrophobic psychological thriller that feels incredibly original’ Evening Standard ‘What a rancid little book, I absolutely loved it’ Alice Slater ‘The atmosphere of queasy foreboding is compelling, as is the portrayal of a flawed, troubled and complex individual trying to keep it together while coming apart at the seams’ Economist ‘A brilliantly tense psychological study from a writer who keeps pace with the grandees she invokes – Du Maurier, for one … Feito has done that most horrible, wonderful and truly novelistic of things: she has seen right through Mrs March and into the shameful, petty, maggoty secrets that everybody carries’ Guardian 'A delicious, disorienting study of suspicion, societal pressure and shifting identities, brilliantly rendered. I swallowed this tale down as greedily as if it were Mrs. March's beloved olive bread' Rachel Edwards, author of Darling ‘Gloriously grotesque: tormented by the desire for glossy magazine perfection; cruelly judgemental; frantic to believe the world revolves around her. And yet Feito makes her guilt-inducingly relatable…The gothic awfulness of her predicament reminds you of Ottessa Moshfegh’s grand guignol creations and lurid descriptive talents; Shirley Jackson’s claustrophobic horror’ The Times

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Book SynopsisSelected for ITV's Zoe Ball Book Club and shortlisted for the Guardian's Not the Booker prize A Daily Telegraph Book of the Year ‘Will Dean’s atmospheric crime thriller marks him out as a talent to watch. Dark Pines is stylish, compelling and as chilling as a Swedish winter.’ Fiona Cummins, author of Rattle ‘Atmospheric, creepy and tense. Loved the Twin Peaks vibe. Loved Tuva. More please!’ C.J. Tudor, author of The Chalk Man For fans of Gillian Flynn’s Sharp Objects and Peter Høeg’s Miss Smilla’s Feeling for Snow, a brand new debut crime writer introduces a Scandi-noir Tuva Moodyson Mystery SEE NO EVIL Eyes missing, two bodies lie deep in the forest near a remote Swedish town. HEAR NO EVIL Tuva Moodyson, a deaf reporter on a small-time local paper, is looking for the story that could make her career. SPEAK NO EVIL A web of secrets. And an unsolved murder from twenty years ago. Can Tuva outwit the killer before she becomes the final victim? She'd like to think so. But first she must face her demons and venture far into the deep, dark woods if she wants to stand any chance of getting the hell out of small-time Gavrik.Trade Review'I LOVED Dark Pines. Loaded with atmosphere, brilliant on setting, and Tuva Moodyson just rocks. A fantastic debut.' * Mark Billingham, author of the Tom Thorne Novels *‘The tension is unrelenting, and I can’t wait for Tuva’s next outing.’ * Val McDermid, author of Splinter the Silence *'The best thriller I've read in ages.' * Marian Keyes, author of Anybody Out There *‘Memorably atmospheric, with a dogged and engaging protagonist, this is a compelling start to what promises to be an excellent series.’ * Guardian *'New author challenges the Scandi crime giants on their home soil with this strong contender set in wintry Swedish countryside.' * The Times and the Sunday Times Crime Club *‘Will Dean’s impressive debut shows that Nordic noir can be mastered by a Brit.’ * The Times *'[Dark Pines] crackles along at a roaring pace... This is the first in a series, and Moodyson, whose deafness is handled sensitively by Dean, is a character whose progress is worth following.' * Observer Thriller of the Month *‘A refreshingly different approach to Nordic Noir with a soupcon of Twin Peaks.’ * Sunday Express *‘[A] brilliantly written debut.’ * HEAT *‘A dark and gripping debut…an intriguing and distinctive addition to the Scandinavian Noir landscape…Dean is definitely an author to look out for in the future.’ * Big Issue *‘A murder mystery and a compelling one…a gripping read that will have you guessing to the end.’ * Press Association *‘Bravo! I was so completely immersed in Dark Pines and Tuva is a brilliant protagonist. This HAS to be a TV series!’ * Nina Pottell, books editor for Prima Magazine *‘This reads like a classic murder mystery, a nod to old school style books and I thought the pacing was spot on... I was totally caught up in this one, it had a quiet ferocity that reminded me of Ragnar Jonasson and fans of his work should definitely give this a try!’ * Novelgossip *‘Quite simply this is a brilliant novel and one that gripped me from page one.' * Crimenovelreader *‘Evoke[s] the sinister atmosphere of the elk-haunted pines.’ * Country Life Magazine *'An elegant and tautly written story, with a great sense of place, a likeable protagonist and a thrilling climax. I hope we hear a lot more of Tuva Moodyson in future.’ * Bluebookballoon *‘A haunting and visceral read. It is a book that oozes atmosphere and I loved it… I could almost smell the pine trees.’ * Irish Mail on Sunday *‘Will Dean brings the woods alive to the point that they're almost like another character in the book…This has to be the book you start 2018 waiting for, it's everything you want from Nordic Noir... Get Will Dean on your list of authors to watch out for, this is a name you don't want to forget!!' * Tattoo Stars *‘Dark Pines is a gripping, tantalising, beautifully written thrill ride that heralds an extremely talented writer. Can’t wait to read his next book just doesn’t seem to cover it! Loved this wonderful book!’ * Ronnie Turner *'A haunting example of stylish storytelling set in the northern wilds of rural Sweden... The heroine is Tuva Moodyson, a deaf young female reporter on the small town’s local paper, who is as superbly evoked as the forest she is forced to investigate when a man is found shot dead in its midst... Dean never lets the tension drop as his story grows ever more sinister.' * Daily Mail *'Will Dean is a British author who now lives in a forest in rural Sweden so he’s perfectly placed to write an atmospheric Scandi thriller – and, boy, does he deliver... Dark Pines is a 'just one more chapter' page-turner with bags of atmosphere, and a brilliant protagonist that I hope to see more of in the future.' -- Lisa Gray * Daily Record *'A dark, compelling and character-driven thriller set in the wilds of Sweden - Dark Pines goes above and beyond the standard crime book, inviting the reader to a small Swedish town with brilliantly drawn characters and an intriguing mystery at the heart of events.' * The Bookbag *'This has to be made into a TV series.' * Prima Magazine *‘Moodyson is one of the most relatable and smart protagonists in crime novels in recent years.’ * The Skinny Mag *'A brilliant, gripping read! Beautifully written and atmospheric. Highly recommended.’ * Claire Douglas, author of Local Girl Missing *‘Will Dean’s atmospheric crime thriller marks him out as a talent to watch. Dark Pines is stylish, compelling and as chilling as a Swedish winter.’ * Fiona Cummins, author of Rattle *‘I loved Dark Pines and highly recommend this gorgeous slice of Nordic noir.’ * Holly Seddon, author of Try Not To Breathe *‘Terrific thriller, vivid imagery and characters. My heart was pounding at the end – really great read!’ * Mary Torjussen, author of Gone Without A Trace *‘I think this is an astounding and confident debut. Superbly plotted and beautifully written. The characters jump from the page in perfect 3D. The tension builds exquisitely all the way through to the dramatic end. From the first page you know you’re in the hands of a major new talent.' * Imran Mahmood, author of You Don’t Know Me *‘Dark Pines is the kind of thriller I’ve been waiting to read for a long time. Claustrophobic, creepy and completely compelling, it feels both classic and fresh at once. I adore Tuva – a gorgeously drawn character I want to see more adventures with. I loved it!’ * Miranda Dickinson, author of Fairytale of New York *‘Haunting, immersive and beautifully written, I loved every page of Dark Pines. Will Dean is a major talent.’ * Chris Whitaker, author of Tall Oaks *‘Atmospheric, creepy and tense. Loved the Twin Peaks vibe. Loved Tuva. More please!’ * C.J.Tudor, author of The Chalk Man *‘Ace! Tuva is a fascinating character in a sinister world. Highly recommended.’ * Adam Hamdy, author of Pendulum *‘Intended on an early night but couldn't put #DarkPines down. Hurrah @willrdean – smart, modern writing, atmospheric, cracking plot, loved it.’ * Holly Cave, author of The Memory Chamber *‘Claustrophobically atmospheric and spine-tingly tense, Dark Pines kept me enthralled to the very last page. A stunning debut from a major new talent.’ * Steph Broadribb, author of Deep Down Dead *‘Astonishingly good.’ * Peterborough Telegraph *‘Dark Pines, with its abundant atmosphere and compelling protagonist, is a taut, gripping debut.’ * Kate Mayfield, author of The Parentations *'A remarkably assured debut, Dark Pines is in turn, tense, gripping and breathtaking, and marks out Will Dean as a true talent. Definitely one to watch.’ * Abir Mukherjee, author of A Rising Man *‘It’s incredible. Exceptionally well written, thought provoking and deeply unsettling. Bravo.’ * Rebecca Tinnelly, author of Never Go There *‘Loved this atmospheric book. A dark, tense, and vivid piece of Nordic noir. Bravo. Can’t wait to read more of Tuva!’ * Amanda Jennings, author of In Her Wake *‘I read Dark Pines last night. It’s spectacular. The writing’s classy, the character’s full, the plot gripping. It will pull you in.’ * Hayley Webster, author of Jar Baby *‘Great work. Creepy cast, terrifying trolls, sinister setting… Those pines are dark!’ * S.R. Masters, author of The Killer You Know *‘Compulsive Scandi Noir! Highly recommended.’ * Syd Moore, author of Strange Magic *‘Beautiful, beautiful writing, totally immersive from the very first page with a main protagonist that you just fall in love with and an atmospheric, haunting sense of things that will linger for a long time. This is DEFINITELY one to watch…Highly HIGHLY recommended.’ * Liz Barnsley, book reviewer at Liz Loves Books *'This is going to be a biggy! Great protagonist. *pre order alert*' * Nina Pottell, writer for the Guardian, Prima and Waterstones *‘I read his wondrous Nordic thriller #DarkPines on an inflatable flamingo in Lanzarote and STILL felt chilly, that’s how good it is. Wish I could raise a glass this evening.’ * Erin Kelly, author of The Poison Tree via Twitter *‘Atmospheric and original with an engaging heroine…and trolls. Ugh, those trolls! Thanks for the nightmares, Will.’ * Mark Edwards, author of Follow You Home via Twitter *‘Atmospheric and tense Nordic thriller – grotesque, creepy and dark.’ * Julie Cohen, author of Dear Thing via Twitter *‘Dark Pines is deliciously menacing, with a gutsy and intelligent heroine in Tuva. I can’t wait to meet her again. Never has beautiful countryside felt quite so hostile!’ * Elizabeth Haynes, author of Into the Darkest Corner via Twitter *‘#DarkPines is definitely dark, but it’s also terrifyingly beautiful, and I LOVED it.’ * Joanna Cannon, author of The Trouble with Goats and Sheep via Twitter *‘Engaging Scandi-noir with more interest in characters than body-count, and an oppressively atmospheric sense of place. Recommended!’ * Francesca Haig, author of The Fire Sermon *‘Brilliant! Atmospheric and addictive. Love Tuva as a character too.’ * Irenosen Okojie, author of Speak Gigantular *‘Such a fabulous thriller – add this one to your TBR pile.' * Isabel Ashdown, author of Glasshopper *‘The end of this was terrifying. Atmospheric, no nonsense female protagonist and two brilliant troll making sisters.’ * The Writes of Women blog *‘This is Nordic noir for everyman. It seizes the core concepts of Scandinavian crime fiction and amps them up with a quarter-million volts of electric energy.’ * Murder Mayhem &More blog *‘Will Dean has crafted an excellent dark and compelling thriller. The books oozes with atmosphere; I swear that at times I could actually smell the woods and feel those pesky mosquito bites *scratches*.’ * The Beardy Book Blogger *‘The writing is stunning, with the depth of detail enhancing the story without detracting from it. Not only does the small cast of characters give the book a claustrophobic vibe, but vivid descriptions of the dark pine forests, and also the climate, create a chilling setting.’ * Off The Shelf Books *‘Dark Pines is a haunting, atmospheric, and beautiful book that I could taste and smell as well as phyiscally see. And what a protagonist Tuva Moodyson is... This was everything I look for in a crime novel’ * Louise Beech, author of Maria in the Moon *‘CLAUSTROPHOBIC. TENSE. ENTHRALLING.’ * Crime Thriller Girl, aka Stephanie Marland, author of My Little Moon *‘I was instantly engrossed in the mossy, rotting, claustrophobic Swedish forest. All this plus a deaf, bisexual protagonist – I loved it.’ * Kirsty Logan, author of The Gracekeepers *‘Tuva is a great new character.’ * James Stansfield, author of Anaconda Vice *‘Such a fabulous thriller.’ * Isabel Ashdown, author of Beautiful Liars *‘Sleek, immersive and atmospheric.’ * The Skinny *'A gritty, thrilling and worthwhile read.' * Liam, National Deaf Children’s Society’s Families magazine *'Atmospheric and original with an engaging heroine...and trolls. Ugh, those trolls! Thanks for the nightmares, Will.' * Mark Edwards, author of Follow You Home *‘Different, fresh and worth pushing, particularly with the great jacket which Point Blank has come up with.’ * Bookseller Editor's Choice *‘So atmospheric. Deaf Swedish reporter Tuva faces personal demons while investigating ghastly crimes connected to her local town.’ * Essie Fox, author of The Somnambulist via Twitter *'Dean ramps up the gothic horror in a thrillingly frightening novel, peopled by misfits and elks and soundtracked by the ominous patter of pine needles dripping with rain.' * Metro *

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Book Synopsis''Girl on a Train meets The Talented Mr Ripley under the Moroccan sun. Unputdownable'' The TimesThe perfect read for fans of Daphne du Maurier and Patricia Highsmith, set in 1950s Morocco, Tangerine is a gripping psychological literary thriller.The last person Alice Shipley expected to see since arriving in Tangier with her new husband was Lucy Mason. After the horrific accident at Bennington, the two friends - once inseparable roommates - haven''t spoken in over a year. But Lucy is standing there, trying to make things right. Perhaps Alice should be happy. She has not adjusted to life in Morocco, too afraid to venture out into the bustling medinas and oppressive heat. Lucy, always fearless and independent, helps Alice emerge from her flat and explore the country. But soon a familiar feeling starts to overtake Alice - she feels controlled and stifled by Lucy at every turn. Then Alice''s husband, John, goes misTrade ReviewAs if Donna Tartt, Gillian Flynn and Patricia Highsmith had collaborated in a screenplay to be filmed by Hitchcock - suspenseful and atmospheric -- Joyce Carol OatesAtmospheric . . . If The Talented Mr Ripley was recast with female leads and transplanted to Tangier, it might read a lot like Tangerine * Vogue *The shade of Patricia Highsmith hangs over this sinister and serpentine thriller that really got me by the throat . . . a riveting tale of obsessive love -- Fanny Blake * Woman & Home *Riveting . . . unputdownable -- Melissa Katsoulis * The Times *A plot as twisty as the streets of its dazzling Tangier setting * Daily Mail *Assured and atmospheric * Guardian *Like Highsmith, Tartt and Flynn, the author excels in portraying the troubled boundaries between selves through themes of obsession, stalking and otherwise crossing the line in close relationships . . . engages the reader to the bitter end -- Anita Sethi * Independent i *A taut, brilliant thriller set in 50s Morocco; perfect escapism * Emerald Street *It is an accomplished, ominous, evocative tale of spiralling obsession, skilfully pulled off -- Alison Flood * Observer *An assured and atmospheric debut * Guardian *A helluva tense read . . . Tangerine by Christine Mangan doesn't disappoint * Sunday Telegraph *Atmospheric . . . echoes of other writers, most notably Patricia Highsmith, are ever present * Sunday Times *The plot unfolds as a cross between The Talented Mr Ripley and The Girl on the Train * Telegraph *A satisfying, juicy thriller . . . knows all the notes to hit to create lush, sinister atmosphere and to prolong suspense * New York Times *A tightly wound debut that will leave you breathless * Evening Standard *An eerie filmic debut that reminded me of Patricia Highsmith -- India Knight * Sunday Times *A sultry, Ripley-esque tale of manipulation and obsession. * Tatler *

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Book SynopsisFun, festive and fabulous. A story that sparkles like Christmas snow.' MILLY JOHNSONA page-turner' Woman's WeeklyWhen Sky Terran returns to the village of Middledip after losing the job she loves, she anticipates a quiet Christmas getting used to her new life. However, the annual street decoration competition is coming up and this year, the residents of Winter Street are determined to win.As she is pulled into the preparations, Sky quickly grows to love the quirky, tight-knit community she is now part of. Including the extremely handsome Daz, who soon becomes more than just a friendly neighbour.But when Daz's ex turns up determined to win him back and it seems he might not be the man Sky thought he was, she remembers how much allowing people into her life and heart can hurt. As the snow falls, will she and Daz find a way through and help win a Christmas victory for Winter Street?A gorgeously festive novel about love, family and the power of forgiveness from Sunday Times bestseller Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR SUE MOORCROFT: ‘Fun, festive and fabulous. A story that sparkles like Christmas snow.’ Milly Johnson ‘Evocative, engaging and gloriously romantic.’ Cathy Bramley ‘A glorious adventure… perfect escapism to brighten the greyest of days.’ Fiona Gibson ‘Full of sunshine and secrets.’ Heidi Swain ‘It whisked me off to sun-drenched Italy…I could feel the heat on my face and taste the wine!' Phillipa Ashley ‘Sue’s novels are the perfect escape. You’re guaranteed a warm and cosy read whatever the weather.’ Bella Osborne ‘A magical escape with all the ingredients of a perfect romance.’ Helen Rolfe ’An absolute gem – I just couldn’t put it down!’ Christina Courtenay

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Book SynopsisAcknowledged as Rebecca West''s fictional masterpiece, The Fountain Overflows introduces the crisis-ridden Aubrey family. This Real Night continues their remarkable story.It is the early 1900s. With the disappearance of Piers, her feckless and gambling husband, and the sale of some valuable paintings, Clare Aubrey has a firmer grip on the purse strings. Rose and Mary are at music college, struggling for artistic perfection, while the self-assured Cordelia has fallen into the role of art dealer''s assistant. Richard Quin, beloved younger brother, is contemplating Oxford. The children''s coming of age, with its gradual acceptance of love and loss, becomes all the more poignant as the events of the First World War gather pace...Trade ReviewA lastingly important English writer * Marghanita Laski *To finish the book is to suffer a bereavement * MAIL on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisDON'T MISS THE NEW TOM ROB SMITH NOVEL, COLD PEOPLE, OUT NOW!OVER 2 MILLION COPIES SOLD MOSCOW, 1953. Under Stalin’s terrifying regime, families live in fear. When the all-powerful State claims there is no such thing as crime, who dares disagree?AN INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER IN OVER 30 LANGUAGES An ambitious secret police officer, Leo Demidov believes he’s helping to build the perfect society. But when he uncovers evidence of a killer at large – a threat the state won’t admit exists – Demidov must risk everything, including the lives of those he loves, in order to expose the truth.A THRILLER UNLIKE ANY YOU HAVE EVER READ But what if the danger isn’t from the killer he is trying to catch, but from the country he is fighting to protect?Nominated for seventeen international awards and inspired by a real-life investigati

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Book SynopsisThe gripping, heartwrenching story of a girl gone missing and an innocent, accused woman who holds the key to a family secret, from the bestselling author of THE GIRL IN THE LETTER.'Spellbindingly good! Heartbreak, intrigue, mystery *****' Real reader'One of the best books I've read this year! I adored every single page *****' Real reader'I really loved it! Tense, emotionally charged' *****' Jenny Ashcroft'A gripping, heart-wrenching story of love, loyalty and family secrets. Reminded me ofKate Morton and Eve Chase *****' Fictionophile __________It all began with a midwife's secret, long buried but if uncovered could save two families from the bitter tragedy that binds them. And prove the key that will free them all...1969 On New Year's Eve, while the Hiltons of Yew Tree Manor prepare to host the party Trade ReviewPraise for Emily Gunnis's bestselling novels: 'Compelling, twisty, heart-wrenching and thought-provoking. A novel that stays with you. I was gripped -- Sophie KinsellaUtterly gripping, taut and powerful. An emotionally charged, compulsive, moving novel ***** -- Adele ParksA great book, truly hard to put down. Fast paced, brilliantly plotted and desperately sad at times - all hallmarks of a bestseller -- Lesley PearseA truly brilliant and moving read. I loved it -- Karen HamiltonCaptivating and suspenseful -- Jessica FellowesLoss, betrayal and a decades-old secret... BRILLIANT * Heat magazine *

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Book SynopsisLONGLISTED FOR THE 2022 BOOKER PRIZE SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2022 GORDON BURN PRIZE 'A page-turning blast.' Times 'Genuinely affecting … a very funny book.' Guardian 'Burstingly alive and engaging.' Telegraph FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE BOOKER PRIZE-SHORTLISTED HIS BLOODY PROJECT. 'I have decided to write down everything that happens, because I feel, I suppose, I may be putting myself in danger.' London, 1965. An unworldly young woman suspects charismatic psychotherapist Collins Braithwaite of involvement in a death in her family. Determined to find out more, she becomes a client of his under a false identity. But she soon finds herself drawn into a world in which she can no longer be certain of anything. In Case Study, Graeme Macrae Burnet presents both sides: the woman’s notes and the life of Collins Braithwaite. The result is a dazzling, page-turning and wickedly humorous meditation on the nature of sanity, identity and truth itself, by one of the most inventive novelists writing today.Trade Review'Enormous fun … a mystery and a psychological drama wrapped up in one. Case Study is a triumph.' -- Alex Preston * Observer *'Brilliant, bamboozling … Burnet captures his characters’ voices so brilliantly that what might have been just an intellectual game feels burstingly alive and engaging.' -- Jake Kerridge * Telegraph *“Sinister and cleverly done … punctures the myth-making of the period.” -- Anthony Cummins * Daily Mail *“What’s real and what’s not is beside the point in this skilful portrait of a disturbed woman and her encounters with an experimental 1960s psychotherapist … Both strands quickly become compelling … I was hooked like a fish.” -- Leyla Sanai * Spectator *'A thrilling investigation into the nature of sanity and identity' -- Alice O'Keefe * Bookseller *“Poses questions about the nature of the self and the authenticity of identity … fine comic passages … shed[s] light on the dark places of the mind … He is an uncommonly interesting and satisfying novelist.” -- Allan Massie * Scotsman *“Undoubtedly one of the best books of the year.” -- Alistair Braidwood * Scots Whay Hae *'A masterclass of diversion … blurring the lines of fiction and reality … serious and witty at once … an enthralling read.' -- Heather McDaid * The Skinny *'A novel of mind-bending brilliance. Graeme Macrae Burnet is a master of muddying the waters, of troubling ideas of truth and identity, fiction and documentary, and Case Study shows him at the height of his powers' * Hannah Kent *

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Book SynopsisA genuine masterpiece' ObserverSpectacular' Maggie O'Farrell'Beautiful' Hilary MantelFascinating bold and masterful' Max PorterThe highly anticipated new novel from the Costa-award winning, three-times Booker-longlisted author of Reservoir 13.Doc Wright could be two steps or two miles from his team. In an ice storm, distance loses meaning. No one can see. No one answers their radio. All he can do is keep going, but something has gone wrong inside his head.Back home, he is the only one who can explain what happened to them in Antarctica. But after what changed on the ice, everything has lost its meaning. Now his wife, Anna, must become his carer. Now he must find a new way to be in the world. All he can do is try to tell his story even if words fail him.The most gripping piece of writing I've read in a long time: Sit. Read. Applaud' Jarvis CockerExtraordinarily tense and atmospheric' TelegraphExceptional I absolutely loved it' David Nicholls, author of Sweet SorrowGripping, moving, magTrade Review‘Gripping, moving, magnificent’ Kamila Shamsie, author of Home Fire ‘Jon McGregor has crafted a unique narrative, encompassing frozen wastes & altered interior landscapes. The most gripping piece of writing I’ve read in a long time: Sit. Read. Applaud’ Jarvis Cocker ‘Utterly original. Jaw-dropping. The sort of book you’ll think about for ages’ Paula Hawkins, author of Girl on the Train ‘Another McGregor novel that, beneath its serene surface, takes huge risks … Fortunately, it’s also another McGregor novel that triumphantly gets away with it’ The Times 'Lean Fall Stand is a beautiful piece of work and should win a roomful of prizes. Jon McGregor writes plainly and exactly, like a poet, and the precision of his writing makes every heartbeat register' Hilary Mantel, author of The Mirror and the Light ‘A spectacular book … It does what Jon McGregor does so well: examine the widening ripples of a single event. I read it again, as soon as I'd finished’Maggie O’Farrell, author of Hamnet ‘Opens as excitingly as any work of fiction I’ve recently read … It’s extraordinarily tense and atmospheric – and McGregor’s prose is tight as a wire’ Telegraph ‘Exceptional. … So moving, and the use of language is remarkable. I absolutely loved it’ David Nicholls, author of Sweet Sorrow ‘A genuinely fascinating book and a troubling, riveting reading experience. A bold and masterful investigation into the weather system of the human mind’ Max Porter, author of The Death of Francis Bacon ‘A genuine masterpiece: poised, multilayered and full of the most astonishingly beautiful prose’ Alex Preston, Observer ‘McGregor’s precise, well-judged prose attests to both the power of language and to the havoc created by its loss’ Financial Times

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Book SynopsisThe classic collection of five deeply resonant, interconnected stories from No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling author Stephen King, now with a new cover look.''Although it''s difficult to believe, the sixties are not fictional; they actually happened'' (Author''s Afterword)Stephen King, whose first novel, Carrie, was published in 1974, the year before the last US troops withdrew from Vietnam, is the first hugely popular writer of the TV generation. Images from that war - and the protests against it - had flooded America''s living rooms for a decade.Hearts in Atlantis is composed of five linked stories set in the years from 1960 to 1999. Each story is deeply rooted in the sixties, and each is haunted by the Vietnam War.Full of danger, full of suspense, most of all full of heart, Hearts in Atlantis will take some readers to a place they have never been...and others to a place they have never been able to completely leave.Trade ReviewA writer of excellence . . . King is one of the most fertile story-tellers of the modern novel . . . brilliantly done * Marcel Berlins The Sunday Times *An incredibly gifted writer * Guardian *Astonishingly good * Independent *

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Book SynopsisThe perfect festive treat: a beautifully illustrated book of Christmas stories and recipes from the Booker prize long-listed author.'Packed with charm and beautifully illustrated, it's a book that will solve your gift dilemmas and let you escape the less salubrious aspects of Christmas for a literary wonderland' StylistEverybody loves a Christmas story. The tradition of the Twelve Days of Christmas is a tradition of celebration, sharing and giving. And what better way to do that than with a story?Read these stories by the fire, in the snow, travelling home for the holidays. Give them to friends, wrap them up for someone you love, read them aloud, read them alone, read them together. Enjoy the season of peace and goodwill, mystery, and a little bit of magic.There are ghosts here and jovial spirits. Chances at love and tricks with time.There is frost and icicles, mistletoe and sledges. There's a cat and a dog and a solid silver frog. There's a Christmas cracker with a surprising gift inside.There's a haunted house and a SnowMama. There are Yuletides and holly wreaths. Three Kings. And a merry little Christmas time.And for the icing on the Christmas cake, there are twelve festive recipes from Yuletides past and present. Red cabbage, gravlax, turkey biryani, sherry trifle, Mrs Winterson's mince pies and more.Trade ReviewPacked with charm and beautifully illustrated, it's a book that will solve your gift dilemmas and let you escape the less salubrious aspects of Christmas for a literary wonderland. * Stylist *Winterson’s winter tales unfailingly succeed in their endeavour to leave you aglow. * Guardian *Winterson's prose is often witty and sometimes lyrical . . . The recipes come with intriguing glimpses of the writer, her friends, and their Christmas rituals. Spooky, inventive, funny . . . Winterson's mixed bag of fictional treats has a 19th-century charm much needed in the grim 21st. * Kirkus *Starred Review* *A pretty cloth-bound book containing an enchanting collection of recipes and short stories… suitably festive with icicles and plenty of mistletoe. -- Laura Powell * Sunday Telegraph, Book of the Year *A wonderful mix of festive stories and recipes. * Good Housekeeping *

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Book SynopsisWinner of the National Book Award and a New York Times bestsellerTrade Review'An astonishing balancing act by a great writer prepared to take risks. A book to treasure' Daily Mail 'A blockbuster, groundbreaking, heartbreaking, symphony of a novel ... No novelist writing of New York has climbed higher, dived deeper' Frank McCourt 'McCann has reinvented the city of New York in all its breathing, fighting, whining, joyous clamour' Peter Carey, Observer Books of the Year 'A wow of a novel - rich, humane, brilliantly written and as deep as it is wide' The Times

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Book SynopsisWith an introduction by the writer and critic Viv Groskop.In this imaginative extravaganza the devil, disguised as a magician, descends upon Moscow, along with a talking cat and an expert assassin. This riotous band succeed in fooling an entire population of people who persistently deny the devil’s existence, even as they are confronted with the diabolic results of a magic act gone wrong. The devil’s project soon becomes involved with The Master, a man who has turned his back on his former life and sought sanctuary in a lunatic asylum, and his former lover, Margarita.A literary sensation from its first publication, The Master and Margarita has been translated into more than twentylanguages. Mikhail Bulgakov’s novel is now considered one of the seminal works of twentieth-century Russian literature. By turns acidly satiric, fantastic and ironically philosophical, this story constantly surprises and entertains.Trade ReviewFunny and frightening * London Review of Books *Incandescent . . . one of those novels that, even in translation, make you feel that not one word could have been written differently . . . it has too many achievements to list, but the way it keeps faith in love and art even in moments of unspeakable humiliation and cruelty must be the greatest * New York Times *

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Book Synopsis‘He did kill. Kill and kill and kill.’  Tess’s number one priority has always been her three-year-old daughter Poppy. But splitting up with Poppy’s father Jason means that she cannot always be there to keep her daughter safe.   When she finds a disturbing drawing, dark and menacing, among her daughter’s brightly coloured paintings, Tess is convinced that Poppy has witnessed something terrible. Something that her young mind is struggling to put into words.   But no one will listen. It’s only a child’s drawing, isn’t it?  Tess will protect Poppy, whatever the price. But when she doesn’t know what, or who, she is protecting her from, how can she possibly know who to trust . . . ?   ‘An intense, brilliantly crafted thriller that hums with menace from start to finish' TM Logan, Trade Review'I love Nicci French’s books, and with The Unheard they are right at the top of their game. Few crime writers can match their psychological acuity, of their ability to lead a reader through dizzying plot twists without ever losing pace. It’s an absolute masterclass of crime writing' -- Kate Rhodes, author of the Locked-Island Mystery series‘What an intriguing, compelling page-turner. I ate it up in two days’ -- Liz Nugent, author of Our Little Cruelties

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Book SynopsisTHE BESTSELLING SERIES FROM THE MULTI-MILLION-COPY-SELLING AUTHORSurvival tips for times of stress:1. Take deep breaths2. Count to ten3. Eat chocolateLucy thought she had got her happily ever after with the gorgeous Aidan, but things aren''t turning out the way she had hoped they would. But she''s not the only one with problems . . .Autumn''s new boyfriend has yet to meet her parents, Nadia''s husband has sworn he''s given up gambling - but she''s finding that hard to believe - and Chantal is doing all she can to save her marriage. It''s clear that the four members of The Chocolate Lovers'' Club are going to need each other to get through their problems - a whole lot of chocolate . . .The Chocolate Lovers'' Diet is the second novel in Carole Matthews'' much-loved series, promising heart-warming friendships, breath-taking romance, and a whole lot of sweet and deliciTrade ReviewChocolate and chick-lit - the ultimate combination . . . a delicious treat * Heat *Touching and funny * Bella *It makes you laugh one minute and cry the next * Prima *A classy chick-lit read * Woman *

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Book SynopsisNIGHT IN THE LONESOME OCTOBER It''s been a long summer for Ed, without Holly. But in September Holly doesn''t return to campus. Ed receives a letter from her - she has fallen in love with someone else and won''t be coming back. Heartbroken, he leaves his apartment and takes a walk. But he''s not the only one out on this October night. There are others - roaming the streets, lurking under bridges, seeking prey...NO SANCTUARY Rick would do anything for his girlfriend. He''d even spent his vacation walking the trails around Fern Lake - though after what happened last time, it''s the one place in the world he''d prefer not to go. But Rick and Bert are not the only ones heading to there. Gillian likes breaking into people''s homes while they are away and living there. But this time she chances on the home of a serial killer...

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Book SynopsisA panoramic narrative of human and animal life on Maryland''s Eastern Shore focuses on a ten-square-mile area at the mouth of the Choptank River and the families that settle there, from the early seventeenth century to the present day. Reprint. 20,000 first printing.

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Book SynopsisA tale of feverish love set against the backdrop of downtown New York amid the AIDS epidemic.

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Book SynopsisPaulo's writing is a visionary blend of spirituality, magical realism and folklore. His stories are simple and direct, yet they have the power to change lives and inspire you with the courage to follow your dreamsHis fifth novel, The Fifth Mountain, is set in the 9th century BC. Elijah is a young man struggling to maintain his sanity amidst a chaotic world of tyranny and war. Forced to flee his home, then choose between his new found love and security and his overwhelming sense of duty, this is a moving and inspiring story about how we can transcend even the most terrible ordeals by keeping faith and love alive.Trade Review‘His books have and a life-enhancing impact on millions of people’The Times ‘His writing is like a path of energy that inadvertently leads readers to themselves, toward their mysterious and faraway souls.’Figaro Litteraire, France ‘Paulo Coelho represents the legend of the wise storyteller.’Corriere della Sera, Italy

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Book SynopsisAt a small gallery in Florence, a Peruvian writer comes across a photograph of a tribal storyteller deep in the Amazon jungle. As he stares at the photograph, it dawns on him that he knows this man. The storyteller is not an Indian at all but his university classmate, Saul Zuratas, who was thought to have disappeared in Israel. As recollections of Zuratas flow through his mind, the writer begins to imagine Zuratas'' transformation into a member of the Machiguenga tribe.In The Storyteller, Mario Vargas Llosa has created a spellbinding tale of one man''s journey from the modern world to our origins.

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Book SynopsisConversation in the Cathedral takes place in 1950s Peru during the dictatorship of General Ordia. Suspicion, paranoia and blackmail have become part of life. The conversation flows between two individuals, Santiago and Ambrosia, who talk of their tormented lives and of the degradation and frustration that has taken over their town.In this groundbreaking novel, Mario Vargas Llosa explores the mental and moral mechanisms that govern power and the people behind it. It is about identity, the role of a citizen and how a lack of personal freedom can forever scar a nation and its people.

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Book SynopsisThe inhabitants of a Greek village, ruled by the Turks, plan to enact the life of Christ in a mystery play but are overwhelmed by their task. A group of refugees, fleeing from the ruins of their plundered homes, arrive asking for protection - and suddenly the drama of the Passion becomes reality.

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Book SynopsisThe bestselling debut novel by Barbara Kingsolver, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and twice winner of the Women''s Prize for FictionPlucky Taylor Greer grows up poor in rural Kentucky with two goals: to avoid pregnancy and to get away. She succeeds on both counts when she buys an old car and heads west. But midway across the country, motherhood catches up with her when she becomes guardian of an abandoned baby girl she calls Turtle. In Tucson they encounter an extraordinary array of people, and with their help Taylor builds herself an her sweet, stunned child a life. ''Compelling and very funny'' Daily Telegraph''Remarkable'' New York Times''An astonishing literary debut'' Cosmopolitan ''The work of a visionary... It leaves you open-mouthed and smiling'' Los Angeles TimesTrade ReviewThis is the story of a lovable, resourceful 'instant mother,' one who speaks, acts and learns for herself, becoming an inspiration to us all * Glamour *As clear as air. It is the southern novel taken west, its colors as translucent and polished as one of those slices of rose agate from a desert shop * New York Times Book Review *The work of a visionary. . . . It leaves you open-mouthed and smiling * Los Angeles Times *An astonishing literary debut....For a deep breath of fresh air, spend some time in the neighborhood of The Bean Tree * Cosmopolitan *Compelling and very funny * DAILY TELEGRAPH *A remarkable, enjoyable book ... I'd definitely urge you to read it * New York TIMES *An astonishing literary debut * COSMOPOLITAN *

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'One of the most vivid, memorable and menacing characters I've ever read' C.L. Taylor, author of The Fear As high-flying TV presenter and historian Olivia Sweetman stands before an adoring crowd at the launch of her new bestseller she can barely pretend to smile. Her life has spiralled into lies and if the truth comes out she'll lose everything.Only one person knows what Olivia has done. Vivian Tester is the socially awkward housekeeper of a Sussex manor who has become Olivia's unofficial research assistant. But Vivian has secrets too, and as the relationship between the women grows more and more tangled, a bizarre act of violence changes everything . . .Perfect for fans of Little Fires Everywhere and He Said She Said.PRAISE FOR THE NIGHT VISITOR:'WONDERFUL' - Clare Mackintosh, author of Let Me Lie'INSIDIOUS' - Guardian 'BRILLIANT' - Fiona Barton, author of The Child'PROPULSIVE' - Metro'INGENIOUS' - Sabine Durrant, author of Lie With Me'SINISTER' - Red'MENACING' - C.L. Taylor, author of The Fear 'FANTASTIC' - Sunday Mirror'ELEGANT' - Joanna Cannon, author of Three Things about Elsie'GRIPPING' - The Literary Review'UNRELENTING' - Mick Herron, author of Spook Street 'ENTHRALLING' - Heat'FASCINATING' - Linda Green, author of When My Eyes Were Closed'INTELLIGENT' - Good Housekeeping

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Book SynopsisFor decades the painting was believed to be lost. But, just as mysteriously as it disappeared, it reappears, an anonymous donation to a gallery in Sydney. The art world is stunned but so are the three men who loved the woman in the painting, the woman on the stairs. One by one they track her down to an isolated cottage in Australia. Here they must try to untangle the lies and betrayals of their shared past - but time is running out. The Woman on the Stairs is an intricately-crafted, poignant and beguiling novel about creativity and love, about the effects of time passing and the regrets that haunt us all.Trade ReviewFans of Bernhard Schlink will recognise in his latest novel the themes of an unconventional love affair played out in the shadow of recent German history * DAILY MAIL *an ingenious set-up * THE TIMES *

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Book SynopsisThis festive season get ready to be whisked off your feet by the Sunday Times bestseller that''s stolen a million hearts around the world''The sweetest love story . . . you''re going to LOVE it'' Marian Keyes, Grown Ups''You''ll fall head over heels for this book'' Reese Witherspoon-----Laurie is pretty sure love at first sight doesn''t exist. After all, life isn''t a scene from the movies, is it? But then, through a misted-up bus window one freezing day, she sees a man she knows instantly is the one. Their eyes meet, there''s a moment of pure magic... and then her bus drives away.Laurie thinks she''ll never see the boy from the bus again. But at a party later that year, her best friend Sarah introduces her to the new love of her life. Who is, of course, the boy from the bus.Determined to let him go, Laurie gets on with her life. But what if fate has other plans?Following Laurie, Sarah and JackTrade ReviewGorgeous...readers are going to love it! -- Marian KeyesSucked me in and didn't let go. It made me laugh, cry, ache and shout at the characters. Utterly captivating...one of my favourite books -- Holly MartinA feel-good, heart-wrenching tribute to the female friends we cannot do without, as well as the men that we fall for. Josie Silver is one to watch -- Stephanie ButlandThe love story you've been waiting for ... I loved it! -- Miranda Dickinson, author of 'Fairytale of New York'The number one feel-good read of Christmas 2018 -- Dinah Jefferies, author of 'The Tea Planter's Wife'

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Book SynopsisAuster''s Booker Prize-shortlisted epic from the author of contemporary classic The New York Trilogy: ''a literary voice for the ages'' (Guardian) A masterpiece.' Daily MailAbsorbing and immersive . . . the author's greatest novel.' FTSHORTLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE 2017On March 3rd, 1947, Archibald Isaac Ferguson, the only child of Rose and Stanley Ferguson, is born. From that single beginning, Ferguson's life will take four simultaneous but entirely different paths. Family fortunes diverge. Loves and friendships and passions contrast. Each version of Ferguson's story rushes across the fractured terrain of mid-twentieth century America, in this sweeping story of birthright and possibility, of love and the fullness of life itself.Remarkable . . . A novel that contains multitudes.' New York TimesA vast portrait of the turbulent mid-20th century . . . wo

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Book SynopsisHarry Price has worked for years as a railway signalman in the Welsh border village of Glynmawr. Now he has had a stroke, and his son, Matthew, a lecturer at Oxford, returns to the close-knit community that he left. As Harry lies in silent pain in his cramped bedroom, Matthew experiences the jarring familiarity of the childhood world which, alienated, he can no longer re-enter. Struggling with the unspoken tensions and losses that returning home has provoked, he recalls what has made him who he is. Upstairs his deeply thoughtful father recalls his own arrival in the village, the relationships between men during the General Strike, and the social and personal changes that followed, and he struggles to articulate all that has been left unsaid. A beautiful and moving portrait of the love between a father and son, and of the strength and resilience of a small community, Border Countryis Raymond Williams' finest novelTrade Review'I do not think that I have ever been so moved by a modern novel as I was by this tremendously exciting and beautifully written work... I know that it has made me take stock of my own position, and cannot doubt that it is a great novel.' Dennis Potter

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Book SynopsisMarcovaldo is an enchanting collection of twenty stories that are both melancholy and funny, farce and fantasy. Calvino charts the struggles of an Italian peasant to reconcile country habits with urban life, combining comical disasters with a surrealistic view of city life through the eyes of an outsider. As always with Calvino, nothing is quite as it seems.''Delightful and rewarding as always'' Observer''The most magically ingenious of the contemporary Italian novelists'' The TimesTrade ReviewCalvino is surely among the handful of living writers that can be called, without hesitation, great. Each book by Calvino is a completely original conception. Marcovaldo is one of the best works of fiction published * Spectator *The greatest Italian writer of the twentieth century * Guardian *It is the refinement, the oddness and the humour of the thoughts he gets which make Calvino a rare pleasure to read; he is a match for Borges as he stealthily patrols the limits of the unthinkable * New Review *He will continue to glitter, this strange, lonely prospector in the universe of words, well into the next millennium and after, a master in the empire of the imagination * Independent *What is so much admired by the readers of Mr. Calvino's later Invisible Cities was already at work in Marcovaldo and with a more cogent narrative drive... Marcovaldo conveys the sensuous, tangible qualities of life * New York Times *

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Book SynopsisTed Wallace is a sour, old, cantankerous beast, a womanising and whisky-sodden bounder of a failed poet and drama critic, but he has his faults too. Fired from his newspaper, months behind on his alimony payments and disgusted with a world that undervalues him, Ted seeks a few months'' repose and free drink at Swafford Hall, the country mansion of his old friend Lord Logan. But strange things have been going on at Swafford. Miracles. Healings. Phenomena beyond the comprehension of a mud-caked hippopotamus like Ted. ''Clever...witty...not what it seems'' The Times ''My goodness what fruity language Fry uses! You can feel his enjoyment, and also the huge force of his desire to please you, as you read this'' Daily MailTrade ReviewMy goodness what fruity language Fry uses! You can feel his enjoyment, and also the huge force of his desire to please you, as you read this * Mail on Sunday *Fresh, filthy, funny and fizzing with ideas * Evening Standard *One of the funniest people writing on either side of the Atlantic ... like a combination of Evelyn Waugh and Kingsley Amis but funnier than either * Publishers Weekly *Deliciously wicked * New York Times *

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Book SynopsisMalcolm, Peter and Charlie and their Soave-sodden wives have one main ambition left in life: to drink Wales dry. But their routine is both shaken and stirred when they are joined by professional Welshman Alun Weaver (CBE) and his wife, Rhiannon.Trade ReviewA copy should be given out with every bus pass. -- John Sutherland * The Times *A brilliant novel. It is sadly comic and comically sad -- Anthony BurgessHe was a genuine comic writer, probably the best after P. G. Wodehouse ... He had a lasting influence and was a very good novelist -- John MortimerA bloody funny lovely bloody book... A genius at full throttle * Financial Times *In these explicit days, Mr Amis is the laureate of the unsayable, the literary it man * Sunday Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisA chilling novel that pays twisted homage to Defoe's Robinson Crusoe'. Newly reissued with an introduction from Neil Gaiman.Robert Maitland, a 35 year-old architect, is driving home from his London offices when a blow-out sends his speeding Jaguar hurtling out of control. Smashing through a temporary barrier he finds himself, dazed and disorientated, on a traffic island below three converging motorways. But when he tries to climb the embankment or flag-down a passing car for help it proves impossible and he finds himself imprisoned on the concrete island. Maitland must survive using only what he can find in his crashed car.As in all Ballard's best work Concrete Island' provides an unnerving study of our modern lives and world. With his alienating, Ballardian' view of normal events, this is a unique novel from one of the twentieth century's finest writers.This edition is part of a new commemorative series of Ballard's works, featuring introductions from a number of his admirers (includTrade Review'This allegory of modern life is both compelling and profound' Daily Telegraph 'Ballard's violent exact prose carries you along irresistibly. You believe him, you accept his vision, and it is a fearful one' Sunday Telegraph ‘A tour de force … a nightmare we can all share’ Daily Mail 'Ballard writes with taut and precise economy, and the moral of his brilliantly original fable is plain: the interstices of our concrete jungle are filled with neglected people, and one day those people could be ourselves' Sunday Times ‘Perfectly enjoyable within the horror comic tradition … exceptionally skilful’ Auberon Waugh, Evening Standard

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Book Synopsis'One of her funniest novels . . . Spark at her sharpest, her purest and her most merciful' ALI SMITHIn The Finishing School Muriel Spark is once again at her biting, satirical best. On the edge of Lake Geneva in Switzerland, a struggling would-be novelist and his wife run a finishing school of questionable reputation to keep the funds flowing. When a seventeen-year-old student's writing career begins to show great promise, tensions run high. A keen portrait of devouring regret, psychological unravelling and the glittering promise of youth, The Finishing School is the perfect natural partner to Muriel Spark's most famous novel The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.Trade ReviewAn eloquent, subtle, poetic exploration of what words are and what they do to us. Enchanting, devastating, genius -- Helen Dunmore * * The Times * *Has one of the funniest opening pages Spark has ever written and it's full of her incomparable humour * * Evening Standard * *Delightful, laced with wry and witty observations. A rich satire * * Daily Mail * *My admiration for Spark's contribution to world literature knows no bounds. She was peerless, sparkling, inventive and intelligent - the crème de la crème -- IAN RANKINThis is a work, as usual, of glittering Sparkian ice, whose thinly frozen surface tempts you to jump up and down jovially above something deeper and darker . . . One wonders at the simplicity and the intricacy of the plot, blowaway as gossamer . . . One marvels too at the under-surface play of spiritual light and dark . . . One of her funniest novels . . . Spark at her sharpest, her purest and her most merciful -- Ali SmithMuriel Spark's novels linger in the mind as brilliant shards, decisive as a smashed glass is decisive -- JOHN UPDIKE * * New Yorker * *The care with which she uses words is matched by a gloriously carefree attitude. It's all part of her sanity, her breezy authorial self-confidence; and because of this I think that reading a blast of her prose every morning is a far more restorative way to start a day than a shot of espresso * * Daily Telegraph * *A wholly original presence in modern literature -- ANDREW MOTIONA profoundly serious comic writer whose wit advances, never undermines or diminishes, her ideas * * New York Times Book Review * *Spark is a natural, a paradigm of that rare sort of artist from whom work of the highest quality flows as elementally as current through a circuit * * New Yorker * *She has a receptive and wholly distinctive genius -- A N WILSON * * Spectator * *

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Book SynopsisThe North Star Bakery has been in Hope's family for generations, the secret recipes passed down from mother to daughter. But at thirty-six and recently divorced, with rebellious daughter Annie and elderly grandmother Rose to care for, Hope is less than enthusiastic about carrying on the family legacy. When the bakery runs into financial trouble and Rose takes a turn for the worse, Hope's delicate balancing act is in danger of crumbling entirely. Then Rose reveals a shocking truth about her past and everything Hope thought she knew about her family and the bakery is turned upside down. At her grandmother's request, Hope travels to Paris, armed only with a mysterious list of names. What she uncovers there could be the key to saving the bakery and the fulfilment of a star-crossed romance, seventy years in the making.Trade Review'Such insight and heart - the characters will stay with you' Emily Giffin, author of Something Borrowed. * Emily Giffin *'One of the best books of the summer' Marie Claire US. * Marie Claire US *'An immersive and evocative tale ... Recipes allow readers to experience first-hand the sweetness of Hope's journey' Publisher's Weekly. * Publisher's Weekly *'The kind of book that stays with you ... Incredibly moving moments serve as beautiful relief [to the darker subplot]. The ending will no doubt bring tears to your eyes' Romantic Times. * Romantic Times *

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Book SynopsisIs it possible to die a happy death?This is the central question of Camus''s astonishing early novel, published posthumously and greeted as a major literary event. It tells the story of a young Algerian, Mersault, who defies society''s rules by committing a murder and escaping punishment, then experimenting with different ways of life and finally dying a happy man. In many ways A Happy Death is a fascinating first sketch for The Outsider, but it can also be seen as a candid self-portrait, drawing on Camus''s memories of his youth, travels and early relationships. It is infused with lyrical descriptions of the sun-drenched Algiers of his childhood - the place where, eventually, Mersault is able to find peace and die ''without anger, without hatred, without regret''.

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Book SynopsisThe Inheritance of Loss is Kiran Desai''s extraordinary Man Booker Prize winning novel.High in the Himalayas sits a dilapidated mansion, home to three people, each dreaming of another time. The judge, broken by a world too messy for justice, is haunted by his past. His orphan granddaughter has fallen in love with her handsome tutor, despite their different backgrounds and ideals. The cook''s heart is with his son, who is working in a New York restaurant, mingling with an underclass from all over the globe as he seeks somewhere to call home. Around the house swirl the forces of revolution and change. Civil unrest is making itself felt, stirring up inner conflicts as powerful as those dividing the community, pitting the past against the present, nationalism against love, a small place against the troubles of a big world. ''A Magnificent novel of humane breadth and wisdom, comic tenderness and political acuteness'' Hermione LeTrade Review'hasodfa' - agbod;ahusd, afo;dgua;

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Book SynopsisThe first book in the Darkwar series, from world-wide bestselling author of Magician, Raymond E. Feist.The Conclave of Shadows, the undercover organisation charged with the protection of Midkemia, have problems: the evil magician Leso Varen is still at large and thousands of portals to a parallel dimension inhabited by the cruel and fiendish Dasati, have been discovered in Novindus.Leso Varen, a powerful and malign magician with the power to possess and transport himself from body to body, and his Nighthawk assassins are plotting chaos and annihilation in the royal house of Kesh. The Nameless One is awakening and needs Varen to help him re-emerge completely and tip the balance of good and evil in the world, plunging Midkemia into darkness and ruin.But when the Conclave attempt to warn the Emperor, it becomes clear that many of the truebloods nobles related by birth to the Emperor are already Varen''s slaves, both willing and unwitting, and the Conclave are forced into a race against Trade Review‘File under guilty pleasure.’Guardian ‘Get in at the start of a master’s new series.’Daily Sport

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Book Synopsis`For the first time, perhaps, since that land emerged from the waters of geologic ages, a human face was set toward it with love and yearning. It seemed beautiful to her, rich and strong and glorious.'' Willa Cather''s second novel, O Pioneers! (1913) tells the story of Alexandra Bergson and her determination to save her immigrant family''s Nebraska farm. Clear-headed and fiercely independent, Alexandra''s passionate faith in the prairie makes her a wealthy landowner. By placing a strong, self-reliant woman at the centre of her tale, Cather gives the quintessentially American novel of the soil a radical cast. Yet, although influenced by the democratic utopianism of Walt Whitman and the serene regionalism of Sarah Orne Jewett, O Pioneers! is more than merely an elegy for the lost glories of America''s pioneer past. In its rage for order and efficiency, the novel testifies to the cultural politics of the Progressive Era, the period of massive social and economic transformations that help

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Book SynopsisIsaac Marion grew up in the mossy depths of the Pacific Northwest, USA, where he worked as a heating installer, a security guard, and a visitation supervisor for foster children before publishing his debut novel in 2010 - Warm Bodies became a New York Times bestseller and inspired a major Hollywood film adaptation. It has been translated into twenty-five languages worldwide. Isaac lives in Seattle with his cat and a beloved cactus, writing fiction and music and taking pictures of everything.Trade ReviewI never thought I could care so passionately for a zombie. Isaac Marion has created the most unexpected romantic lead I've ever encountered, and rewritten the entire concept of what it means to be a zombie in the process. This story stayed with me long after I finished reading it. I eagerly await the next book by Isaac Marion -- STEPHENIE MEYERA mesmerising evolution of a classic contemporary myth -- Simon PeggWarm Bodies is a strange and unexpected treat. R is the thinking woman's zombie - though somewhat grey-skinned and monosyllabic, he could be the perfect boyfriend, if he could manage to refrain from eating you. This is a wonderful book, elegantly written, touching and fun, as delightful as a mouthful of fresh brains -- AUDREY NIFFENEGGERA disarming writer, ruefully humorous, knowingly cinematic in scope. This is a slacker-zombie novel with a heart * Guardian *Warm Bodies is a terrific book - a compelling literary fantasy which is also a strange and affecting pop-culture parable -- Nick Harkaway, author of The Gone-Away World

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Book SynopsisNo library's complete without the classics! This new, enhanced leather-bound edition collects some of the most influential stories and poems of Edgar Allan Poe.Edgar Allan Poe was a master of tales of the mysterious and macabre. From the eerie incantations of “The Raven” to the persistent fright of “The Tell-Tale Heart,” his stories and poems are unforgettable explorations of the darker side of life that still offer lessons and insight into human behavior today. This Canterbury Classics edition of Edgar Allan Poe collects some of his best-known work—from “Annabel Lee” to “The Fall of the House of Usher,” “Lenore” to “The Pit and the Pendulum,” and many more. With an impressive leather cover, specially designed endpapers, and an essay by a Poe scholar, Edgar Allan Poe is the perfect introduction for new readers and the perfect resource for devoted fans.Poe's writings were t

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Book SynopsisThis book was so emotional and had me feeling all the feels. It was romantic and heartwarming and such a lovely story and I couldn't get enough of it' Reader review?????This story is full of love, passion and romance' Reader review ?????Wonderful, funny, love story' Reader review ?????Just LOVE the Snow Crystal books! Those O'' Neil brothers must really be something!! I was completely hooked' Reader review ?????A fabulous read. I couldn''t put it down. Sarah Morgan has a flair for painting a great picture in your mind' Reader review ?????* * *There are some summers you'll remember foreverFiery chef Élise is determined to make this summer one of them but with the grand opening of her chic French café falling apart it looks like it might for all the wrong reasons.Until Sean O'Neill comes back to town.Last Summer Élise and Sean shared one hazy whirlwind night together and Elise is looking forward to repeating their last encounter.As long as she can stick to her one-night-only rule and Trade Review'Sarah Morgan continues to hang out on my autobuy list and each book of her that I discover is a treat' – Smart Bitches, Trashy Books 'Full of romance and sparkle' Lovereading 'Morgan's brilliant talent never ceases to amaze' – RT Book Reviews 'Dear Ms Morgan, I'm always on the lookout for a new book by you…' – Dear Author 'Morgan is a magician with words' – RT Book Reviews 'Definitely looking forward to more from Sarah Morgan' – –Smexy Books Full of romance and sparkle – Lovereading Full of romance and sparkle –Lovereading

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Book SynopsisThe Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh is a moving story of hope and forgiveness, and an international bestseller.The Victorians used flowers to express emotions: honeysuckle for devotion, azaleas for passion, and red roses for love. For Victoria Jones, flowers and their meanings are her only connection to the world - although for her, they are most useful in expressing feelings such as grief, mistrust and solitude. After a childhood in the foster care system, Victoria - now eighteen - has nowhere to go, and sleeps in a public park, where she plants a small garden of her own. When her talent is discovered by a local florist, she discovers her gift for helping others through the flowers she chooses for them. But it takes a meeting with a mysterious vendor at the flower market for her to realize what's been missing in her own life. As she starts to fall for him, though, she must confront a painful secret from her past - and decide whether itTrade ReviewMarvellous * Sunday Times *A unique and fascinating debut * Good Housekeeping *Captivating * Woman and Home *Moving and beautifully written * Sunday Telegraph *Instantly entrancing * Elle *

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