Contemporary Fiction Books

Book SynopsisThe Arrest isn't post-apocalypse. It isn't a dystopia. It isn't a utopia. It's just what happens when much of what we take for granted - cars, guns, computers, and airplanes, for starters - stops working... Before the Arrest, Sandy Duplessis had a reasonably good life as a screenwriter in L.A. An old college friend and writing partner, the charismatic and malicious Peter Todbaum, had become one of the most powerful men in Hollywood. That didn't hurt.Now, post-Arrest, nothing is what it was. Sandy, who calls himself Journeyman, has landed in rural Maine. There he assists the butcher and delivers the food grown by his sister, Maddy, at her organic farm. But then Todbaum shows up in an extraordinary vehicle: a retrofitted tunnel-digger powered by a nuclear reactor. Todbaum has spent the Arrest smashing his way across a fragmented and phantasmagorical United States, trailing enmities all the way. Plopping back into the siblings' life with his usual odious panache, his motives are entirely unclear. Can it be that Todbaum wants to produce one more extravaganza? Whatever he's up to, it may fall to Journeyman to stop him. Written with unrepentant joy and shot through with just the right amount of contemporary dread, The Arrest is speculative fiction at its absolute finest.Trade ReviewThe thing about the best Lethem novels - and I'm thinking back to early in his career, to Motherless Brooklyn and The Fortress of Solitude - is that they were such fun. I've read everything he's written since and rarely has a novel approached the sheer pleasure of The Arrest... It is, in short, a blast. * Observer *Exuberantly clever... extremely strange, twistily plotted, fizzingly written, not a little absurd and lingeringly mysterious. * Daily Telegraph *Lethem's pithy chapters - some poetic, some sharp, others both - bring this eerily timely tale to a grim, if wry, conclusion. * Daily Mail *Inventive, entertaining and superbly written * New York Times *A certain goofy charm... Jonathan Lethem's apocalypse is a whimsical one. * The Times *An impeccably executed, moving, and wildly inventive tale of madness and narrative at the end of the world. Lethem is at the top of his game. * Emily St. John Mandel, author of STATION ELEVEN *A pleasingly idiosyncratic take on things falling apart * SFX *If part of the point of The Arrest is that we love our apocalypses neatly packaged, then Lethem deserves credit for refusing to play along: his inimitable imagination never stops delivering curveballs. * Daily Mail *Jonathan Lethem's latest novel, "The Arrest," is a work of literary fiction that associates itself with the science fiction subculture by launching a carefully planned assault on the science fiction pop-culture juggernaut. In doing so, the book provides a quietly lyrical alternative to the uberviolence and cliché blustering of Hollywood plots. * Boston Globe *The Arrest is a novel that defies description in the best possible way, which makes it quintessentially a work of Jonathan Lethem's at his most sublime. It's an organic tale of the apocalypse, a Hollywood parable, and a fable of survival and surrender. The prose crackles, the jokes land hard and fast, and the story's heart is sensationally large. Spectacularly imaginative but grounded in humanity and hope - The Arrest is a perfect novel for this moment and future ones. * Ivy Pochoda, author of These Women *It's a wonderful read, the writing gracefully gonzo, the emotional beats often unexpected yet quite right. * Los Angeles Times *As a writer gifted at playing with genre forms and riffing on popular culture, (Lethem) enjoys tweaking dystopian-novel conventions. * USA TODAY *Sentence by sentence, Lethem is sheer visual delight. * Financial Times *The Arrest is a very wry, very smart novel - every wink and twist is pre-empted. For all the genre shenanigans it has a proper purpose. * Stuart Kelly, Spectator *

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Book Synopsis'The interlinking short stories in this collection are fairy tales in the best Brothers Grimm tradition: naïf, magical and frequently veering into the macabre' Financial Times From the best-selling author of Strange Weather in Tokyo, here is a collection of darkly playful Japanese micro-fiction. In Kawakami's super short 'palm of the hand' stories the world is never quite as it should be: a small child lives under a sheet near his neighbour's house for thirty years; an apartment block leaves its visitors with strange afflictions, from fast-growing beards to an ability to channel the voices of the dead; an old man has two shadows, one docile, the other rebellious; two girls named Yoko are locked in a bitter rivalry to the death. Small but mighty, you'll find strange delight in spending time with the people in this neighbourhood. 'Offers a delicious combination of intrigue, magic and comedy, like an unusual but satisfying snack. Kawakami continues to show off her prowess as a sharp-witted writer with a keen eye for the unexplored mysteries of humanity' Japan TimesTrade ReviewBeguiling, with a strangeness that feels culturally rooted * Sunday Times *Deft and funny prose, in a feather-light translation by Ted Goossen, is the signature of Hiromi Kawakami's latest collection... an intriguing and compelling bitesize read... funny, full of heart * Arts Desk *Tempting as it is, People from My Neighbourhood is not a book to rush... The interlinking short stories in this collection are fairy tales in the best Brothers Grimm tradition: naïf, magical and frequently veering into the macabre... in a world where much is insubstantial... Kawakami's clean narrative style is very much her own * Financial Times *

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Book SynopsisThe new novel from Sunday Times bestselling author Josephine Cox the master storyteller.With her family's fate resting on her shoulders, Evie learns her lessons in life fast. It's going to take a woman's courage to find a new beginningOne night, after her father gambles everything away, Evie and her family are forced to do a moonlight flit. It's a fresh start in the South, where no-one knows their name, and Evie desperately misses all they've left behind. Yet Evie's troubles are just beginning. Her mother, worn down by life, deserts them for a new man, and with her grandmother's sight failing, Evie must carry the burden of earning their keep. Holding the family together becomes harder when tragedy strikes at its heart, but there is hope on the horizon . . .Evie Carter just needs the courage to change the fortunes of her family.Praise for Josephine CoxCox''s talent as storyteller never lets you escape the spell'' Daily MailFamily secrets threaten to ruin everything in this beautiful taTrade ReviewPraise for Blood Brothers: 'Thanks to her near faultless writing, sympathies will lurch from one character to another, and as events reach their dramatic conclusion readers will find it impossible to tear themselves away.' News of the World 'Another hit for Josephine Cox' Sunday Express Praise for Josephine Cox’s previous novels: ‘Cox's talent as storyteller never lets you escape the spell' Daily Mail 'Another masterpiece' Best ‘Another beautifully spun family epic' Scottish Daily Echo 'A born storyteller' Bedfordshire Times ‘A surefire winner' Woman's Weekly

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Book SynopsisFAMILIES. SOMETIMES THEY'RE A BLOODY NIGHTMARE . . . Life with the Radleys: Radio 4, dinner parties with the Bishopthorpe neighbours and self-denial. Loads of self-denial. But all hell is about to break loose. When teenage daughter Clara gets attacked on the way home from a party, she and her brother Rowan finally discover why they can't sleep, can't eat a Thai salad without fear of asphyxiation and can't go outside unless they're smothered in Factor 50.With a visit from their lethally louche Uncle Will and an increasingly suspicious police force, life in Bishopthorpe is about to change. Drastically.Trade ReviewAddictive * * Daily Mail * *Highly recommended * * Observer * *Great fun * * Vogue * *Red-blooded fiction at its most seductive * * Sunday Telegraph * *Haig's very original spin on the [vampire] myth is insightful, frightening and uplifting * * Guardian * *Delightfully eccentric . . . a strangely moving portrait of a marriage * * Financial Times * *Delightfully new and, unusually, rather English . . . An enjoyably twisty and self-aware tale * * Metro * *Haig writes in addictive, bitesize chapters that pump the action along . . . All vampire fiction has a strong sexual element, but in this book, the passion's not just for the pale-faced teens * * Daily Mail * *Beautifully written . . . I just loved The Radleys -- JO BRANDA sharp, bloody tale of abstinence and indulgence (and trying not to eat the neighbours) -- STEVEN HALL

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Book SynopsisFluke is the moving story of a dog with the memories of a human, with the signature twisting plot Master of Horror James Herbert is famed for.A dog wanders the streets, compelled by a ravenous hunger. Hunting a prey he cannot not define, driven by a primal instinct he cannot ignore. He is more than he thinks, more than he can remember and in the depths of his brain the memory of what he once was is clawing for release . . .Trade ReviewThe author has an undeniable knack for thrilling, as few other writers have . . . he sure can tell a devil of a story * Literary Review *The horror master * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisBy the winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize in LiteratureThe elegance and control of Gurnah''s writing, and his understanding of how quietly and slowly and repeatedly a heart can break, make this a deeply rewarding novel' Kamila Shamsie, Guardian ________________________For seven-year-old Salim, the pillars upholding his small universe his indifferent father, his adored uncle, his treasured books, the daily routines of government school and Koran lessons seem unshakeable.But it is the 1970s, and the winds of change are blowing through Zanzibar: suddenly Salim's father is gone, and the island convulses with violence and corruption the wake of a revolution. It will only be years later, making his way through an alien and hostile London, that Salim will begin to understand the shame and exploitation festering at the heart of his family's history. ________________________Riveting The measured elegance of Gurnah'sTrade Review[A] captivating storyteller, with a voice both lyrical and mordant, and an oeuvre haunted by memory and loss. His intricate novels of arrival and departure … reveal, with flashes of acerbic humour, the lingering ties that bind continents, and how competing versions of history collide * Guardian *Gurnah is a master storyteller -- Aminatta Forna * Financial Times *Gurnah writes with wonderful insight about family relationships and he folds in the layers of history with elegance and warmth * The Times *Exile has given Gurnah a perspective on the “balance between things” that is astonishing, superb * Observer *Gurnah etches with biting incisiveness the experiences of immigrants exposed to contempt, hostility or patronising indifference on their arrival in Britain * Spectator *Gurnah writes with quiet humour and great affection about pre-revolutionary Zanzibar and its people … Gurnah writes beautifully, with the satisfying assurance of someone who knows how to achieve his effects without undue fuss but with absolute precision * Daily Telegraph *Gurnah evokes his world in poetic prose which is pure and lucid * Guardian *His prose is elegant and evocative * Mail on Sunday *Gurnah has laid powerful imaginative claim to the eastern seaboard of Africa * Independent *Gravel Heart is one of the beautiful novels that lingers in the mind long after reading. Gurnah writes about the clash of worlds with such pathos and elegance. -- Amanda ForemanGlittering...Each work is different from the last, yet they build into a powerfully evocative oeuvre that keeps coming back to the same questions, in spare, graceful prose, about the ties that bind and the ties that fray -- Judith Woods * Daily Telegraph *Entertainingly intertwines migration and a tale of family drama ... Gurnah has rightly been praised for his masterful storytelling ... An emotive tale about betrayal, families and the East African diaspora -- Theresa Munoz * Sunday Herald *A colourful tale of lie in a Zanzibar village, where passions and politics reshape a family ... Expect echoes of Shakespeare's Measure for Measure -- Jeffery Burke * Mail on Sunday *Throughout, the elegance and control of Gurnah’s writing, and his understanding of how quietly and slowly and repeatedly a heart can break, make this a deeply rewarding novel * Guardian *The measured elegance of Gurnah’s prose renders his protagonist in a manner almost uncannily real … Gurnah’s portrayal of student immigrant life in Britain is pleasingly deliberate and precise, and also riveting … Even the minor characters in this novel have richly imagined histories that inflect their smallest interactions – one of the loveliest pleasures of this book, and a choice that makes its world exceptionally full * New York Times *A poignant, understated and frequently moving novel * Herald *

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Book SynopsisIn the latest entertaining and hilarious Professor Dr Dr Moritz-Maria Von Igelfeld novel, our hopelessly out-of-touch hero is forced to confront uppity librarians, the rector of the university and a possible hostile takeover, all while trying to remain studiously above it all.Professor Dr Dr Moritz-Maria von Igelfeld and his colleagues at the University of Regensburg''s Institute of Romance Philology pride themselves on their unwavering commitment to intellectual excellence. They know it is their job to protect a certain civilized approach to the scholarly arts. So when a new deputy librarian, Dr. Hilda Schreiber-Ziegler, threatens to drag them all down a path of progressive inclusivity, they are determined to stop her in the name of scholarship - even if that requires von Igelfeld to make the noble sacrifice of running for director of the Institute. Alas, politics is never easy, and in order to put his best foot forward, von Igelfeld will be required to take up a visTrade ReviewNo one pricks pomposity and self-importance as hilariously as Alexander McCall Smith . . . he captures absurdities with a gentle lampooning that we laugh at while perhaps also recognising such tendencies in ourselves . . . Your Inner Hedgehog might be just the antidote we need to the constant real-world cacophony of hyperbolic argument and mud-slinging that seems to surround every debate on every issue -- Kirsty McLuckie * Scotsman *

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Book SynopsisThe hair-raising mash-up of feminist X-Men, gothic fairy tale, family saga and biting social criticism that is taking Europe by storm.When Anita Naakka jumps in front of an oncoming train, her daughter, Norma, is left alone with the secret they have spent their lives hiding: Norma has supernatural hair, sensitive to the slightest changes in her mood--and the moods of those around her--moving of its own accord, corkscrewing when danger is near. And so it is her hair that alerts her, while she talks with a strange man at her mother's funeral, that her mother may not have taken her own life. Setting out to reconstruct Anita's final months--sifting through puzzling cell phone records, bank statements, video files--Norma begins to realise that her mother knew more about her hair's powers than she let on: a sinister truth beyond Norma's imagining.Trade ReviewAmazing * Le Figaro *A Toni Morrison from the far North. * Le Monde *Sofi Oksanen is one of the brightest shining stars in Nordic literature. I want to devour Norma whole. * Norrköpings Tidningar (Sweden) *Addictive, lucid, breathtakingly suspenseful, and on top of this it is stunningly observant, eerily well-researched, critical, with feminist overtones and very, very relatable * Affärsmagasinet Forum (Finland) *A phenomenon * The Times on PURGE *Powerful, passionately wrought, emotionally shattering, extraordinary * Independent on PURGE *Purge stands out. Murder, sexual violence and political history combine to place Oksanen in the front rank of crime novelists. * Sunday Times on PURGE *Finland's hottest crime writer will soon be as well-known as Stieg Larsson * The Times on PURGE *Essential reading: Purge is not a book to read last thing at night. * Economist on PURGE *

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Book SynopsisA BBC Radio 2 Book Club Pick'A love letter to Japan and its literature' Rowan Hisayo Buchanan'Ingenious... Touching, surprising and sometimes heartbreaking' Guardian'An ideal tonic for anyone craving far-flung adventure' Mail on Sunday'If you're itching to read a new novel by David Mitchell...try this' The Times_______________In Tokyo - one of the world's largest megacities - a stray cat is wending her way through the back alleys. And, with each detour, she brushes up against the seemingly disparate lives of the city-dwellers, connecting them in unexpected ways.But the city is changing. As it does, it pushes her to the margins where she chances upon a series of apparent strangers - from a homeless man squatting in an abandoned hotel, to a shut-in hermit afraid to leave his house, to a convenience store worker searching for love. The cat orbits Tokyo's denizens, drawing them ever closer.'Masterfully weaves together seemingly disparate threads to conjure up a vivid tapestry of Tokyo; its glory, its shame, its characters, and a calico cat.' David Peace, author of THE TOKYO TRILOGYOne of the Independent's best debutsLonglisted for the DUBLIN LITERARY AWARD, 2021Trade ReviewNick Bradley's ingenious choreography of a constantly moving city, is touching, surprising and sometimes heartbreaking. * Guardian *The key pleasure of reading this book is its sprightly vigour - cool but not hipsterish, ambitious but not pretentious - that evokes a similar liveliness in the reader. It makes you feel young again. * John Self, The Times *Inventive, beguiling. * Sunday Times *An ideal tonic for anyone craving far-flung adventure. * Mail on Sunday *Intriguing...explores the dark underbelly of Japan. * Independent *I wolfed down these interlocking stories of cats, Tokyo, loneliness and redemption. Congratulations to Nick Bradley on this vibrant and accomplished debut. * David Mitchell, via Twitter *The Cat and The City is a love letter to Japan and its literature. Bradley's passion for everything from onigiri to Tanizaki's short stories is woven into this book. Bradley was for a time an ex-pat and his insight into their perching state is particularly intriguing. He is also very clearly a man with a great tenderness for cats. * Rowan Hisayo Buchanan, author of HARMLESS LIKE YOU *In a very impressive, finely observed debut, Nick Bradley masterfully weaves together seemingly disparate threads to conjure up a vivid tapestry of Tokyo; its glory, its shame, its characters, and a calico cat. * David Peace, author of THE TOKYO TRILOGY *An inventive, clever and beguiling read. With Tokyo as the backdrop, this is a beautifully written novel about belonging and loneliness, about escape and destruction, where the enmeshed narratives (and a magical cat) bind the city together. * Elizabeth Macneal, author of THE DOLL FACTORY *Like the street cat that slinks through this, Nick Bradley is endlessly resourceful, full of invention, full of surprises. * Andrew Cowan, author of PIG *Tender, delicate, and surprising, The Cat and The City is a lovely, rare progeny of a meeting between the English and the Japanese imagination. * Amit Chaudhuri, author of THE IMMORTALS *The Cat and The City is fiercely vivid, darkly comic and exquisitely mesmerising. Prepare to be transported across a sprawling metropolis; intercepting lives, as culture, history and identity interweave in a novel that will stay with you indelibly. Utterly brilliant writing. * Ashley Hickson-Lovence, author of THE 392 *Reading The Cat and The City is a rare experience of immersion in a world so complete that you will feel you know Tokyo like a character all its own, and feel homesick for it once you turn the final page. I loved the playfulness of form, the patience and skill of the storytelling and above all, the jolts of delighted and poignant recognition as narratives connected in subtle and powerful ways. * Eleanor Wasserberg, author of FOXLOWE *Bradley has produced a vivid urban map where "lifers" of all nationalities are trapped in a dark place. Hosts of readers will already be looking forward to what he serves up next in the fiction stakes. * Japan Today *Bradley's storytelling is artful and thickly allusive... For those who love tales of cats, cities or both, it makes for a charming wander. * Straits Times *

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Book Synopsis*Buy this heartwarming and feel good cosy novel for a slice of escapism at the turn of a page!*Up there with the best of themA big, fat five stars from me' Sue MoorcroftAn irresistible slice of escapism' Phillipa AshleyIt's time to pack your bags and head to the breathtaking, snow-covered peaks of the Swiss Alps for velvety hot chocolates, delicious cheeses and a gorgeous love storyFood technician Mina has always believed that chocolate will solve everything and it's just what she needs when her latest relationship mishap goes viral!So with her bags packed and a new determination to sort her life out, Minna decides to drown her sorrows with the best hot chocolate in the world at her godmother's cosy Swiss chalet. Chocolate: yes. Romance: no. Until she has a run in on an Alpine train with a mysterious but oh-so-gorgeous strangerTrade Review‘Well, I’m pretty sure I’m going to have to go to Switzerland now!’ Adrienne ‘With COVID 19 putting a halt on travel this book is exactly what I needed! Caplin describes here setting of Switzerland with so much detail that I truly felt like I was right there with Mina. Add on a lovely heartwarming story into this beautiful story and you have the perfect winters night read’ Courtney ‘Julie Caplin does it again…A real page turner (I finished it over 2 evenings) that I would very highly recommend (along with the other 6 books in the series)’ Debbie ‘Exactly the book I needed right now…Highly recommended for a great atmosphere and a fun winter escape in the comfort of your own home’ Brittany ‘The kind of book that you want to curl up in front of a fire with a hot chocolate and lose yourself in’ Julie ‘Loved this book! It was so Christmassy but also perfect for January as it’s all about new beginnings and changing your life!’ Sarah ‘A soul-soothing and heart-warming read…I love that you can immerse yourself in these books, forget the world outside and just cosy up and enjoy’ Jenn ‘Enough chocolate to make you gain five pounds just by reading about it!’ Yvie ‘I don’t often reach for a romance novel because I find them too sickly sweet and oftentimes too raunchy for my liking. However, I took a gamble on this one because I love travelling and trying different foods. This read surpassed my expectations’ Norma ‘Oh my word. I loved every single bit of this book’ Leslie ‘An irresistible page turner and a book I am so glad I read…leaves you wanting more’ Muriel

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Book SynopsisOrkney 1942. Forbidden lovers, divided by war, united by a secret act of creation. Amid the turmoil of the Second World War, a group of Italian prisoners is sent to the remote Orkney island of Lamb Holm. In the freezing conditions, hunger and untold hardships of Camp 60, this ragtag band must work together to survive. Domenico, a talented artist, is among them. He inspires his comrades to create a symbol of peace during these dark days of war, and out of driftwood and scrap they build the Italian chapel: a beacon of hope and beauty in a world ravaged by war. The chapel soon becomes a place of love, too. When Giuseppe, another POW, falls for local woman Fiona, he decides to hide a token of his love there . . . the secret of which is unveiled for the first time in The Italian Chapel. Based on an incredible true story, this heartbreaking and inspiring tale tells of forbidden passion, lifelong friendships and the triumph of the human spirit.Trade Review"An engaging story of hope set against the backdrop of the Second World War." SCOTSMAN MAGAZINE "A straightforward good read bolstered by some solid research which helps make the tale all the more believable." ROSS-SHIRE JOURNAL "If you buy one Orkney related book this year, make sure it is this one." LIVING ORKNEY

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Book SynopsisIt's the last place she wants to be. It's the only place left to go . . .Hugely entertainingan instantly engaging read, what you might get if you mixed Jojo Moyes with Marian Keyes' Sunday IndependentA fabulous readyou're immediately immersed' Sheila O'Flanagan, bestselling author of The Women Who Ran Away'A superb writer the Irish Jojo Moyes' Irish ExaminerCiara Geraghty is a wonderful writer' Hazel Gaynor, author of the Irish Times bestseller, The Bird in the Bamboo CageMarianne left home when she was fifteen following a family tragedy, one that changed all their lives. She never planned to return.But when her carefully controlled life falls apart, she has no choice but to return to Ancaire, the ramshackle house overlooking the Irish Sea, where her mother, Rita, a flamboyant artist and recovering alcoholic still lives.As her mother invites her to pull up a chair and make herself at home, alongside the friends, family and neighbours who wander its rooms. Marianne discovers that sometTrade Review Praise for Make Yourself at Home ‘A fabulous read … [the] characters are so real … you’re immediately immersed in their stories’ Sheila O’Flanagan ‘Written with Geraghty’s trademark humour and keen sense of observation, we go on a rollercoaster journey … A deeply satisfying read’ Patricia Scanlan Acclaim for Ciara Geraghty: ‘Tender, emotional and uplifting…I loved it’ Lucy Diamond ‘Rules of the Road had me laughing and crying on the same page…such a talented writer.’ Patricia Scanlan ‘Very funny, very moving and utterly unsentimental…as Terry discovers what makes life worth living.’ Irish Times ‘A genuine feel-good hit […]Geraghty's tightly wound adventure is as touching as it is entertaining’ Independent ‘A book to be shared, a book to be cherished … an homage to the strength of friendship and a celebration of life in all its colours’ Mairead Hearne, Swirl and Thread ‘Tender, funny, and heartbreaking… Ciara Geraghty is a wonderful writer’ Hazel Gaynor ‘Infused with warmth, humour and human understanding. An homage to life and fantastic friendships, this book will warm the cockles of your heart.’ Justine Carberry, Sunday Independent ‘Funny, gentle, compassionate and wise’ Anne Cunningham, Meath Chronicle ‘A superb writer… the Irish Jojo Moyes. Her books are beautifully written, and infused with warmth, humour and human understanding.’ Irish Examiner ‘A touching, tender, often funny story about love in all its messy, uncertain glory . . . with a hero who will find a place in your heart. Julie Cohen ‘You will feel all the feelings – we can't remember the last time we rooted for two characters quite as much.’ Heat

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Book SynopsisNOW AN APPLE TV+ SERIES STARRING LAKEITH STANDFIELDONE OF TIME'S 100 BEST FANTASY BOOKS OF ALL TIME Winner of an American Book Award, a Locus Award for Best Horror Novel, a British Fantasy Award for Best Horror Novel, a World Fantasy Award for Best NovelNominated for a Shirley Jackson Award, an International Dublin Literary Award and a Mythopeic Award for LiteratureWhen Apollo Kagwa was just a child, his father disappeared, leaving him with recurring nightmares and a box labelled 'Improbabilia'. Now a successful book dealer, Kagwa has a family of his own after meeting and falling in love with Emma, a librarian. The two marry and have a baby: so far so happy-ever-after.However, as the pair settle into their new lives as parents, exhaustion and anxiety start to take their toll. Emma's behaviour becomes increasingly erratic, until one day she commits an unthinkable act, setting Apollo on a wild and fantastical quest through a suddenly otherworldly New York, in search of a wife and child he no longer recognises. An epic novel for our anxiety-ridden times, The Changeling is a tale of parenthood, love - in its most raw and brutal form - and, ultimately, humanity.Trade ReviewA mesmerising, monumental work . . . a dark fairy tale of New York, full of magic and loss, myth and mystery, love and madness -- MARLON JAMES, author of the Dark Star trilogyIf the literary gods mixed together Haruki Murakami and Ralph Ellison . . . the result would be Victor LaValle -- ANTHONY DOERR, author of All the Light We Cannot See[A] genre-defying, achingly literate phantasmagoria of a novel -- PAUL BEATTY, author of The SelloutThis punchy cocktail of modern parenting and ancient magic taps into contemporary unease and age-old fears . . . LaValle hooks the reader deep into his increasingly eldritch thriller * * Guardian * *If monsters are your subject, writing like an angel helps -- Jennifer Senior * * New York Times * *Absolutely compelling, completely thrilling, The Changeling overflows with menace, wonder and beauty -- KELLY LINKI say this without exaggeration: it's a masterpiece -- MAT JOHNSONLaValle's haunting tale weaves a mesmerising web -- Janet Maslin * * New York Times * *LaValle's bewitching masterpiece * * USA Today * *A dark, shape-shifting, unpredictable beast, best enjoyed as a series of surprises . . . The Changeling is dazzling, exciting and rather beautiful * * Big Issue * *

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Book SynopsisIf you thought fiction couldn't get darker than David Peace's extraordinary debut, Nineteen Seventy Four, then think again. Nineteen Seventy Seven, the second instalment of the Red Riding Quartet, is one long nightmare. Its heroes - the half decent copper Bob Fraser and the burnt-out hack Jack Whitehead - would be considered villains in most people's books. Fraser and Whitehead have one thing in common though, they're both desperate men dangerously in love with Chapeltown prostitutes. And as the summer moves remorselessly towards the bonfires of Jubilee Night, the killings accelerate and it seems as if Fraser and Whitehead are the only men who suspect or care that there may be more than one killer at large. Out of the horror of true crime, David Peace has fashioned a work of terrible beauty. Like James Ellroy before him, David Peace tells us the true and fearsome secret history of our times.Trade ReviewBleakly brilliant * Radio Times *Simply superb... Peace is a masterful storyteller, and 1977 is impossible to put down... a must-read * Yorkshire Post *The slow-burning, word-of-mouth success story of British publishing... These four books recreated the pervasive sense of terror and corruption with a hammering, semi-magical style loosely reminiscent of James Ellroy, but steeped in something far more bleak and English... the evil twin of Life On Mars... Peace may have succeeded in creating an enduring literature for a curiously undocumented area of Britain * Guardian *He's in a class of his own in terms of ambition. He's trying to write these alternative histories of events we know quite well in a challenging way. The fact that he's dealing with very English subjects from Japan is very interesting -- Editor of Granta Magazine

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Book SynopsisNineteen Eighty Three's three intertwining storylines see the Quartet's central themes of corruption and the perversion of justice come to a head as BJ, the rent boy from Nineteen Seventy Four, the lawyer Big John Piggott - who's as near as you get to a hero in Peace's world - and Maurice Jobson, the senior cop whose career of corruption and brutality has set all this in motion, find themselves on a collision course that can only end in a terrible vengeance. Nineteen Eighty Three is an epic tale which concluded an extraordinary body of work confirming Peace as the most innovative and remarkable new British crime writer to have emerged for years.Trade ReviewA British crime master work. Required reading ... Compelling, disturbing and uneasy. * Maxim *Compelling * Sunday Times *The slow-burning, word-of-mouth success story of British publishing... These four books recreated the pervasive sense of terror and corruption with a hammering, semi-magical style loosely reminiscent of James Ellroy, but steeped in something far more bleak and English... the evil twin of Life On Mars... Peace may have succeeded in creating an enduring literature for a curiously undocumented area of Britain -- Justin Quirk * Guardian Guide *Bleakly brilliant * Radio Times *He's in a class of his own in terms of ambition. He's trying to write these alternative histories of events we know quite well in a challenging way. The fact that he's dealing with very English subjects from Japan is very interesting -- Alex Clark * editor of Granta Magazine *Original, difficult, brilliant * Observer *Haunting evocations of 70s and 80s Yorkshire - interlinking tales of very fallible coppers, very noir hacks, very human killers -- Euan Ferguson * Observer *Singular and memorable -- Ian Jack * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisA superb legal thrillercrackles with tension' GuardianA topical and gritty story' Observer''A thought-provoking and sparklingly intelligent novel, with the welcome bonus of an unguessable ending' Daily TelegraphRazor-sharpMuch more than a courtroom thriller' Christina Dalcher, Sunday Times bestselling author of VOX* * * * *IT'S TIME TO TAKE YOUR PLACE ON THE JURY.The victim: A sixteen-year-old girl with facial deformities, neglected by an alcoholic mother. Who accuses the boys of something unthinkable.The defendants: Four handsome teenage boys from hardworking immigrant families. All with corroborating stories.WHOSE SIDE WOULD YOU TAKE?* * * * *Readers are giving Take It Back five stars:The perfect book club read . . . will make for lively, thought-provoking discussions' ?????A skilfully written book that offers a big punch' ?????You will feel like you are enveloped in this case and the unseen juror' ?????Brilliant, powerful, moving and intelligent' ?????Just when you think you''ve gueTrade Review Praise for Take It Back ‘A superb legal thriller that fairly crackles with tension’Guardian ‘A topical and gritty story’ Observer 'A thought-provoking and sparklingly intelligent novel, with the welcome bonus of an unguessable ending’Daily Telegraph ‘A fresh and compelling read’Sunday Post ‘An unflinching, riveting novel’S Magazine ‘With razor-sharp insight into the lives of her characters, Kia Abdullah gives readers much more than a courtroom thriller. A timely reminder that the tentacles of scandal are long – and they touch everyone’Christina Dalcher, Sunday Times bestselling author of VOX ‘Taut, gritty and compelling. This book deserves to be HUGE’Louise Jensen, million-copy bestselling author of The Sister ‘Intense, shocking and so real you can literally feel its heartbeat . . . the best book I’ve read this year’Lisa Hall, author of Between You and Me and The Party ‘Kia’s novel is an excellent addition to the court-based criminal dramas we’ve come to love. It’s made even more shocking by its basing itself in one of the most challenging environments; rape and diversity. It’s a great read and draws you in with fast pacing and real characters’Nazir Afzal OBE, Former Chief Crown Prosecutor, CPS ‘I was blown away by Take It Back. From the explosive premise to the shockingly perfect ending, I loved every word’Roz Watkins, author of The Devil’s Dice 'Brave and shocking, a real welcome addition to the crime thriller genre. Kia's is a fresh voice and a thrilling novel'Alex Khan, author of Bollywood Wives

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Book SynopsisDon''t miss the STUNNING new novel from Sunday Times bestselling author, Harriet Evans - THE BELOVED GIRLS is available to buy now!''Spellbinding'' Independent''My top book of 2019'' DINAH JEFFRIES''Her best yet'' i newspaper''Gripping'' Irish Times''Gorgeous'' VERONICA HENRY''A poignant story of love and loss'' Daily Mail MUST READS ''I can''t remember the last time I was so enthralled'' Red''Epic, absorbing . . . full of intrigue and emotion'' Fabulous''A sweeping novel you won''t put down'' Katie Fforde Who would choose to destroy what they love the most? Nightingale House, 1919.Liddy Horner discovers her husband, the world-famous artist Sir Edward Horner, burning his best-known painting The Garden of Lost and Found days before his sudden death.Trade Review'Utterly gorgeous and filled with flowers and paintings, secrets and heartbreak ... and always hope' * Veronica Henry *'A sweeping novel you won't put down' * Katie Ffforde *I can't remember the last time I was so enthralled and affected by a story and its characters * Red *'This sweeping tale is by turns painfully sad and heart-lifting, with characters that stay with you.' * Good Housekeeping *'Evans's storytelling feels both authentic and satisfying. An immersive mystery.' * Woman & Home *'This epic, absorbing novel is full of intrigue, emotion and characters who'll really stay with you.' * Fabulous Magazine *Utterly compelling and well written * Hot Brands Cool Places *This isn't a comfortable read, but ultimately a rewarding one * The Weekly *'Filled with brilliantly believable characters, this is one not to miss' * Woman’s Own *My top book of 2019 * Dinah Jeffries *Evans tells a poignant tale of the Horner family and their magical, mysterious country home * Woman *Evans is the reigning queen of the big house family saga and her latest, an addictive tale of love, art, loss and long-held secrets centring around an artist's inexplicable destruction of his most famous painting, is her best yet. The sort of book that has you ignoring family and friends long into the night * I Newspaper *A spellbinding story, brimming with flowers and paintings, loss and courage * Independent *'No one writes gripping family sagas like Harriet Evans' * Irish Times *Harriet Evans's family saga is a poignant story of love and loss across three generations. * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisRoddy Doyle's Booker Prize-winning novel describes the world of ten-year-old Paddy Clarke, growing up in Barrytown, north Dublin. From fun and adventure on the streets, boredom in the classroom to increasing isolation at home, Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha is the story of a boy who sees everything but understands less and less.Trade ReviewFunny, warm and enriching. -- Alan Davies * Daily Express *Gloriously triumphant...confirms Doyle as the best novelist of his generation -- Nick Hornby * Literary Review *Truthful, hilarious, painfully sad -- Tom Shone * Spectator *A superb recreation of childhood -- Dermot BolgerThis is one of the most compelling novels I've read in ages, a triumph of style and perception -- Joseph O' Connor * Irish Times *

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Book SynopsisFrom San Francisco to Paris, the lives of four talented trauma doctors are changed forever in Turning Point, a heart-pounding and gripping medical drama by the world's favourite storyteller Danielle Steel.Four very different doctors battle disaster on the frontline every day.Bill Browning heads the trauma unit at San Francisco’s busiest emergency room. With his ex-wife and daughters in London, he immerses himself in his work and lives for the little time he can spend with his children.A rising star at her teaching hospital, Stephanie Lawrence is left with no time for her young family.Harvard-educated Wendy Jones is a dedicated trauma doctor, trapped in an affair with a married cardiac surgeon.And Tom Wylie’s popularity with women rivals his superb medical skills, but he refuses to let anyone get too close.This talented group of doctors is chosen for an unusual project: to work with their counterparts in Paris in a mass-casualty training programme. But after an unspeakable act of mass violence brings them closer together, it marks a stark turning point and they are forced to question the way they live their lives.Will they be able to recover from their shared trauma and make real changes for the better?

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Book SynopsisWhat makes us who we are? And why do we lead one life and not another? The year is coming to a close and Asle, an ageing painter and widower who lives alone on the southwest coast of Norway, is reminiscing about his life. His only friends are his neighbour, Åsleik, a traditional fisherman-farmer, and Beyer, a gallerist who lives in the city. There, in Bjørgvin, lives another Asle, also a painter but lonely and consumed by alcohol. Asle and Asle are doppelgängers – two versions of the same person, two versions of the same life, both grappling with existential questions about life, death, love, light and shadow, faith and hopelessness. Written in melodious and hypnotic ‘slow prose’, The Other Name: Septology I-II is an indelible and poignant exploration of the human condition by Jon Fosse, ‘a major European writer’ (Karl Ove Knausgaard), in which everything is always there, and past and present flow together.Trade Review‘Jon Fosse is a major European writer.’ — Karl Ove Knausgaard, author of My Struggle‘Fosse has written a strange mystical moebius strip of a novel, in which an artist struggles with faith and loneliness, and watches himself, or versions of himself, fall away into the lower depths. The social world seems distant and foggy in this profound, existential narrative, which is only the first part of what promises to be a major work of Scandinavian fiction.’ — Hari Kunzru, author of White Tears‘There is, in this book’s rhythmic accumulation of words, something incantatory and self-annihilating — something that feels almost holy.’ — Wall Street Journal‘Over the past two decades, Jon Fosse, a playwright, poet, essayist and children’s author as well as a novelist, has won almost every award going in Norway, while his “slow prose” has gained him a cult following in English translation. He has been compared to Ibsen and Beckett, and his writing has elements of both the former’s severity and the latter’s use of insistent repetition.... The work simply loops and flows. The style is formal, yet with a sense of restlessness. As for plot, there is plenty.... Fosse’s fusing of the commonplace and the existential, together with his dramatic forays into the past, make for a relentlessly consuming work: already Septology feels momentous.’ — Catherine Taylor, Guardian‘Fosse’s portrait of intersecting lives is that rare metaphysical novel that readers will find compulsively readable.’ — Publishers Weekly, starred review‘Deeply enigmatic though never obscure, the novel presents questions [...] But to understand how completely these things elude comprehension, and to clothe their fundamental mystery in such gorgeous raiment, is an achievement no less profound.’ — Dustin Illingworth, The Nation

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award 2019, Diary of a Somebody is a unique mix of poetry and diary by the unofficial Poet Laureate of Twitter, the enigmatic Brian Bilston.'If you like a) laughing or b) words which rhyme with each other, you will love Brian Bilston' - Richard Osman, author of The Thursday Murder Club‘Nobody must find out about this unique gem, because I’m giving it to EVERYONE, and I want to appear clever and discerning.’ – Dawn FrenchIt’s January 1st and Brian Bilston’s life needs to change. His ex-wife has taken up with a new man, a motivational speaker and marketing guru to boot; he seems to constantly disappoint his long-suffering son; and at work he is drowning in a sea of spreadsheets and management jargon.Brian's resolution is to write a poem every day; poetry will be his salvation. But there is an obstacle to his happiness in the form of Toby Salt, his arch nemesis in the Poetry Group and rival suitor to Liz, Brian’s new poetic inspiration. When Toby goes missing, Brian is the number one suspect.Part tender love story, part suburban murder mystery, part scathing description of a wasted life, and interspersed with some of the funniest poems about the mundane and the profound, Diary of a Somebody is a unique, original and hilarious novel.‘Glorious. I will be astonished if I read a more original, more inventive or funnier novel this year.’ – Adam Kay, author of This is Going to Hurt.Trade ReviewNobody must find out about this unique gem, because I’m giving it to EVERYONE -- Dawn FrenchGlorious. I will be astonished if I read a more original, more inventive or funnier novel this year. -- Adam KayAchingly funny. Without doubt it should win next year's Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse prize for the best comic novel, even if my own novel is in contention as well -- Jonathan CoeIf you like a) laughing or b) words which rhyme with each other, you will love Brian Bilston -- Richard OsmanNot since Victoria Wood has a writer squeezed so much hilarity from a biscuit. * The Oldie *How do I laugh at thee? Let me count the ways . . . If you like sub-Carry On puns, clever parodies of famous poems and Wittgensteinian meditations on language, you’ll love it * Mail on Sunday *The midlife answer to Adrian Mole? It's a big comparison to make, in comic novel terms, but Brian Bilston - parodist and 'poet laureate of Twitter'- is worthy . . . Laugh. Cry. Cringe. * Stella Magazine, Sunday Telegraph *He has a knack for playing with language but his poems are accessible, witty and touching . . . In fact I rather regretted reading it over just a couple of days - it would have been better to take longer and saver it. -- Kirsty McLuckie * The Scotsman Magazine *A welcome reminder of the joy to be had when you put yourself in the hands of someone who knows their way round both a joke and a bittersweet narrative . . . Funny and ingenious * The Times *In a similar way to Morrissey and John Cooper Clarke, [Bilston] has the ability to make the mundane both funny and beautiful – whether that's taking out the bins or procrastinating on Twitter . . . A must-read for anyone who is a fan of wordplay, puns, The Smiths and custard creams. -- Dominic Kearney * Irish News *The English comic novel, whose death this year was announced prematurely, is actually alive, well and in the safe hands of Brian Bilston -- Jonathan Coe * The Times *Highly original, genuinely funny and clever, with a gentle humanity in between the lines. Brian Bilston should be Poet Laureate -- John O'FarrellBilston is the greatest English anti-hero of our time. His poems have delighted people on Twitter for several years, and now he's treated us to this brilliant novel . . . This book has everything you want from a comic novel . . . Brian Bilston is real. And I love him * Spectator *The pseudonymous Brian Bilston turns the base metal of comic verse into gold . . . Imagine a mash-up of John Cooper Clarke, Ed Reardon’s Week and James Joyce, and you’re about halfway there . . . Bilston is a magician with words . . . Read this novel in short bursts, pausing to savour its individual brilliancies * Guardian *Brian Bilston is bringing poetry to the masses . . . topical, witty, thoughtful * Irish Times *Brian Bilston is a laureate for our fractured times, a wordsmith who cares deeply about the impact his language makes as it dances before our eyes -- Ian McMillanOne of the funniest novels in years . . . It also has genuine heart - and scores of poems so witty and accomplished that, in the real world, their author would surely be as famous as, well . . . I predict that Brian Bilston will soon be * Reader's Digest *Part John Cooper Clarke, part Frank Sidebottom . . . brilliant * Esquire *Bilston is no stranger to crafting cleverly composed poetry * Huffington Post *Word play, laugh-out-loud poems and the deft skewering of office life are part of the fun in this brilliant comic debut. -- Eithne Farry * Sunday Express *In 1892, George and Weedon Grossmith published The Diary of a Nobody, now a classic of comic writing. In 1978, Christopher Matthew updated the idea. Now Brian Bilston brings us another Diary of a Somebody and it's as fun as its predecessors. -- William Hartston * Daily Express *This fun, charming novel is a fine showcase for Bilston’s irrepressible creativity . . . It’s all done with wit, playfulness and a sense of amused wonder at the possibilities and idiosyncrasies of the English language, with the occasional groanworthy pun seeming like a price well worth paying. -- Alastair Mabbott * Herald *Bilston has perfected his comic voice, which brings to mind a bitter man-child with spades of misanthropic charm and a dash of Alan Partridge-esque pedantry. This is a comic novel of the highest order. * Literary Review *An original, imaginative and funny book. * Daily Mirror *Part murder mystery, mainly great comic novel. * "What We're Reading", i *Charming, funny and touching. -- Ian Rankin * First Printing *The midlife answer to Adrian Mole? It’s a big comparison to make, in comic novel terms, but Brian Bilston is worthy. In Diary of a Somebody, Brian makes a New Year’s Resolution to write a poem a day for a year. Hilarious results ensue, as well as the disappearance of a poetry (and love) rival. Laugh. Cry. Cringe -- Stella Magazine * Sunday Telegraph *Sparkling with wit, intelligence and humanity. -- Jonathan Coe * First Printing *

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Book Synopsis'Charming lessons in life, death and kindness . . . Hugely moving' ObserverThis is the story of Mary, a young girl born in a beautiful city full of rose gardens and fluttering kites. When she is still very small, Mary meets Lanmo, a shining golden snake, who becomes her very best friend.The snake visits Mary many times, he sees her grow and her city change, as bombs drop and war creeps in. Lanmo wonders, can having a friend possibly be worth the pain of knowing you will lose them?Trade ReviewIncredibly moving, yet joyful. It made me cry * * Guardian * *Charming lessons in life, death and kindness . . . This heartwarming fable is a reassuring read for anyone, young or old, coming to terms with mortality . . . Hugely moving * * Observer * *After entering Kennedy's world, it's hard to find a way out . . . In The Little Snake, the swift emotional slippages click along, one after another, sentence after sentence, like an intricate concatenation of rainbow-bright dominoes. Funny, surprising and unexpected . . . Kennedy's prose - like the endlessly unreeling speculations of her most interesting characters - is simultaneously logical and illogical, sad and funny, simple and profound, turning over and over in endless permutations, like an elegant small snake wrestling against the constraints of its own shiny and menacing skin * * New York Times * *Teaches its protagonists lessons about cruelty, mortality and above all, love . . . [An] enchanting modern fairy tale . . . A fable for our time . . . Kennedy's humour and lightness of touch serves to underscore her serious intent: an urgent reminder of the small and great things that actually give life its meaning * * Financial Times * *A miniature fable . . . In this bitter age of broken borders, this timely, timeless story's large helping of sugar is not unwelcome * * Sunday Times * *As for brave, kind heroines, you can't do better than A.L. Kennedy's The Little Snake, about a girl who one day finds a handsome, vain snake wrapped round her ankle. It brings death, but they become friends. A lovely story, and good for readers of any age * * Spectator * *An homage to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince, this fairytale novella is a simple but sumptuous read * * The Telegraph * *A beautiful, deceptively-simple read that delves into the human condition . . . Gorgeous turn of phrase . . . The result is a brief read that is poetic, life-affirming and saddening - and you don't want the end to come * * Herald * *Playful . . . sweet, sad but always a hairsbreadth away from whimsy, it's told in a soothing tone that, for better or worse, makes you feel as if you're sitting cross-legged on a classroom carpet * * Daily Mail * *Kennedy offers a gentle, clear-sighted and deeply moving commentary on what humanity really means * * Scotsman * *

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Book Synopsis'I couldn't put it down' – Sally Rooney, author of Normal PeopleKathy is a writer. Kathy is getting married. It’s the summer of 2017 and the whole world is falling apart.Kathy spends the first summer of her forties trying to adjust to making a lifelong commitment – marriage. But it’s not only Kathy who is changing. Political, social and natural landscapes are all in peril. Fascism is on the rise, truth is dead, the planet is hotting up. Is it really worth learning to love when the end of the world is nigh? And how do you make art, let alone a life, when it could all end at any moment?From a Tuscan hotel for the super-rich to a politically-paralysed UK, Olivia Laing's first novel is a love letter, inspired by the life and work of Kathy Acker. It is a blistering rewire of the form and a brilliant, funny and emphatically raw account of love in the apocalypse.'[Crudo] will blow you away' – Deborah Levy, author of Hot MilkWinner of the James Tait Black Prize for FictionShortlisted for the Goldsmith's Prize and the Gordon Burn PrizeTrade ReviewWritten at a war-mongering time of rising nationalisms, the vitality of Olivia Laing'squestioning love letter to life and to art will blow you away -- Deborah LevyLaing’s prose shimmers and is selfish then, suddenly, full of love. It’s a high-wire act. This is the novel as a love letter to Acker. She gives her a happier ending than the one she had. She asks us what a novel can do when unreality rules. She asks what it is like to be alive when the old order is dying . . . Crudo is a hot, hot book. The fuse is lit. -- Susanne Moore * Observer *The status beach read of the summer * Sunday Times Style *Finally, I don’t think I’ll ever forget the day I spent reading Olivia Laing’s Crudo. I couldn’t put it down, and then it overwhelmed me so much I had to put it down, and then I had to pick it back up again. A beautiful, strange, intelligent novel. -- Sally Rooney, author of Conversations With FriendsIn Crudo her triumph, rather, is rendering on the page the texture of a very contemporary sensibility . . . The novel form famously struggles to represent the intersection in our lives of the personal-parochial and the political-global: here’s a way to try. And the writing is often so fresh and clever and funny. -- Tessa Hadley * Guardian *Beautiful and strange, Olivia Laing’s Crudo is an urgent, compelling, funny and moving tale for our times. -- Paula HawkinsA piece of electrifying writing * Daily Mail *Electric and unputdownable, its 'love in the apocalypse' vibe is deep and light at the same time. * Elle *Laing’s fiction debut is a fizzy and thrilling tale of a woman who may or may not be experimental novelist Kathy Acker, preparing for marriage in the summer of 2017. Beautifully written with a voice that grabs from the off. * Independent *I adored Crudo. I believe it is a great novel. Olivia writes so beautifully about life and nature in both city and country, and always finds some aspect to laugh about, one feels today’s world is worth saving. I also adore Kathy, her whacky, sexy, promiscuous heroine. The story is so funny and touching, I can’t wait to read it again. -- Jilly CooperCrudo is intensely personal and simultaneously global in its concerns. It forces us to consider the two together and bind our own immediate dramas to those of the wider world. It is an important novel that shouts to the vastness and the urgency of what it means to be alive, now. * Spectator *I read it in one go, lost all sense of time, floating on the rhythm, stung by the beats, I bet Kathy Acker would have loved it, I did. -- Viv AlbertineReading Olivia Laing’s short, sleek novel Crudo is like seeing the (very) recent past through a wall of mirrors. Laing adopts fragments of Kathy Acker’s writings and life to arrive at a narrative style that’s readable, shockingly new, and surprisingly tender. I didn’t want it to stop. -- Chris Kraus, author of I Love DickA dazzling, profound and darkly comic inquisition into what it is to be human. To read Crudo is to experience magic on every page. Olivia Laing's writing leaves me breathless with awe -- Elizabeth Day, author of The PartyOlivia Laing is a genius - not a word I throw about lightly. It is raw and breathless and effortlessly radical, and having turned the last page I couldn't even set it down before beginning it again. In a time of political auto-satire and the surreal unravelling of meaning itself, many novelists are left uncertain how they ought to respond. This - Crudo - is how. -- Francesca SegalWe hereby acknowledge the irresistible rise of Olivia Laing, a writer incapable of anything other than full-on, nonstop brilliance. Crudo, her secular creed for crazy times, only proves her magical moment: to be there in it, and to take us along, too. One long electric dream, spinning with intimate energy and the sharpest saddest funniest humour, it's so utterly in-the-moment that you'll forget you aren't reading about yourself. -- Philip Hoare, author of RISINGTIDEFALLINGSTARWitty, hectic, effervescent, and deliciously derailing, Olivia Laing’s first venture into fiction holds up a mirror to our troubled times -- Rupert ThomsonIt is an extraordinary novel of style and savagery: poised, transgressive and transformative. I read it hungrily. It left me licking my lips -- Jon DaySharp, witty, compassionate and totally engaging. Crudo is a brilliant novel. -- Patrick McGrathCrudo has crept up on me. I have just finished it and I am filling up with tears and I am not sure why. It seemed to be speaking from deep within me and also at me, like a mirror that won't leave me alone, that insists I stare into it day after day, talking to me, to my gaze. What a special piece of work. And the rhythm is perfect. -- Lara PawsonCrudo has all the beauty and music and clarity of Olivia Laing's non-fiction, but with something more too. Entrancing, charming, fascinating, I literally couldn’t put it down. -- Jeremy GavronLaing is a mesmerising critic and memoirist, a travel writer in that she connects the inner to the outer world. She is simply one of our most exciting writers, who has explored through her work loneliness, alcoholism and art in The Lonely City and The Trip to Echo Spring. Every tangent is a tributary for Laing that leads somewhere unexpected. She wanders both as insider and outsider, queer, curious, unsettled, erudite, wondering what it is to be an artist. * Observer *Chic, compassionate, crabby, perspicacious, and marvellously playful - Crudo is a huge-hearted novel that conveys the weight of the world with the lightest touch - I loved the mercurial energy that flew off its fast-turning pages. -- Claire-Louise Bennett, author of PondCrudo feels like a perfect response to the nasty, lovely days that we're living in and the contemporary smorgasbord of identities . . . The presence of Kathy Acker was brilliantly handled - I believed so completely, for the duration of the novel, that she had lived through last summer. I love how Laing throws these lines to the past - it feels unique to her writing. And it's weirdly reassuring. -- Sara BaumePerfectly captures our social media madness . . . It’s also a book of really funny lines . . . I particularly enjoyed her extended fantasy about Princess Diana prowling around Kensington Palace talking to Freddy Mercury on her landline. It’s potty. I recommend taking a running jump at it. * Evening Standard *So, who is Kathy? Kathy has serious FOMO, she is genderqueer, Kathy is not the Underground Man; she is the Underground They. She has lost her corporeality; she is having an identity crisis. Kathy is numb. Kathy is full of angst. Kathy is ill. Kathy is the 21st century. * Review 31 *Laing's first novel is a funny and compassionate response to a frightening year of fire, floods, fascism and Trump's Twitter feed. * Tatler *I don’t think I’ll ever forget the day I spent reading Olivia Laing’s Crudo. I couldn’t put it down, and then it overwhelmed me so much I had to put it down, and then I had to pick it back up again. A beautiful, strange, intelligent novel. -- Sally Rooney * Guardian, Best summer books 2018 *Crudo by Olivia Laing is a hot and heavy look at post-Brexit Britain through the eyes of newlywed Kathy as she summers in Italy. It’s Olivia Laing’s fiction debut and is very much a self-assured interrogation of the times we live in. -- Nikesh Shukla * Guardian, Best summer books 2018 *Olivia Laing, known for her chronicles of urban loneliness and writers’ attraction to drink as well as critical writing on art and literature, jumps genres with her first novel, Crudo. It’s a spitfire of a story with a fervent narrator and a twist: The book is written in the voice of punk feminist author Kathy Acker performed in mash-up with Laing’s own, as she considers marriage (with equivocation) and the absurdity of current events circa 2017. * The Millions *The pacing is quick and slick... In there with the dexterousness and sagacity of the sentences are warmth and love, humour and kindness... Sane and searing -- June Caldwell * Irish Times *I absolutely love it. It made me feel carefree. I think Olivia Laing captures a sense of intimacy that is rare. Just so thoroughly enjoyable. -- Nell Dunn

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Book SynopsisIt's Always the Husband unless it's the best friend.The Top 10 Sunday Times bestsellerA page-turning whodunnit that will speak to anyone who''s ever had a frenemy'Ruth WareA gripping, tangled web of a novel it pulls you in and doesn't let you go. I loved it!'Shari LapenaKate, Aubrey and Jenny are inseparable at college friends who promised they'd always be there for each other.But twenty years later, their friendship is about to take a deadly turn.Kate married the gorgeous party boy, Aubrey married up, and Jenny married the boy next door, but when one of the friends dies in shocking circumstances, will everyone assume that it's always the husband? Or could it be the best friend?It's Always The Husband is the gripping debut which will keep you guessing until the very last page.Praise for It's Always the Husband:A gripping page-tunerwill suit fans of Liane Moriarty' HelloA page-turning whodunnit that will speak to anyone who''s ever had a frenemy'Ruth Ware, bestselling author of The WoTrade Review Praise for Michele Campbell: ‘An exceptionally suspenseful thriller’ A J Finn, bestselling author of The Woman in the Window ‘Darkly intriguing’ Woman’s Own ‘After all the twists and turns, you’ll want to start this book all over again, it’s that good!’ Woman’s Weekly ‘Gripping … a genuinely suspenseful thrill ride. It’s a whole lot of fun’ Heat ‘Taut, unpredictable and sensual, Campbell's writing provides the perfect escape’ Newsweek ‘Nonstop action… Fans of The Firm will devour this contemporary high-stakes combination of family pressures, legal machinations, and jaw-dropping twists. I could not turn the pages fast enough!’ Hank Phillippi Ryan, bestselling author of The House Guest

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Book SynopsisThe fifteenth novel in the celebrated Deverry series, an epic fantasy rooted in Celtic mythology that intricately interweaves human and elven history over several hundred years.Spurred on by the priestesses of the false goddess Alshandra, the Horsekin hordes are massing on the northern border of Prince Dar''s holdings. Their leaders believe that the rich grasslands of the prince''s domain belong to them by divine right, no matter whom they must destroy to claim them.But Dar has powerful allies on his side, including the dragon Arzosah, who has hated the Horsekin for hundreds of years. She will vow to take a revenge worse than anything the Horsekin and their priestesses could possibly foresee.The prince''s most powerful ally, however, is the one the Horsekin refuse to understand: the deep magic of the dweomer, as wielded by the band of sorcerers sworn to protect him, and especially by the elven master of magic, Dallandra, the silver mage.Trade ReviewPraise for Katharine Kerr and the Deverry novels: ‘Kerr is an excellent writer, her stories live and breathe – exciting, unpredictable, and engaging in equal measure.’Mark Lawrence ‘A fantastic plot which turns a simple story into something far more original … a cracking read … engrossing’ SFX ‘A criminally under-rated and overlooked epic fantasy sequence [with] a keen sense of history, well drawn characters, and a complex plot’ Kate Elliott, author of the Spiritwalker Trilogy ‘An unusually scholarly writer of fantasy’ TELEGRAPH ‘Much as I dislike comparing anything to The Lord of the Rings, I have to admit that on this occasion it’s justified’ INTERZONE ‘Kerr is a master of her trade…She has created a world that might very well go on for ever, and this one reader sincerely hopes it does’ VECTOR ‘An extensive and complete world, whose endlessly fascinating details grow book by book’ STARLOG

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Book SynopsisOne Hundred Years of Solitude meets The Kite Runner in Saddam Hussein''s Iraq. A contemporary tragedy of epic proportions. No author is better placed than Muhsin Al-Ramli, already a star in the Arabic literary scene, to tell this story. I read it in one sitting. Hassan Blasim, winner of the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize for The Iraqi Christ. On the third day of Ramadan, the village wakes to find the severed heads of nine of its sons stacked in banana crates by the bus stop.One of them belonged to one of the most wanted men in Iraq, known to his friends as Ibrahim the Fated.How did this good and humble man earn the enmity of so many? What did he do to deserve such a death?The answer lies in his lifelong friendship with Abdullah Kafka and Tariq the Befuddled, who each have their own remarkable stories to tell.It lies on the scarred, irradiated battlefields of the Gulf War and in thTrade ReviewThough firmly rooted in its context, The President's Gardens' concerns are universal. It is a profoundly moving investigation of love, death and injustice, and an affirmation of the importance of dignity, friendship and meaning amid oppression. The novel is undoubtedly a tragedy, but its light touch and persistent humour make it an enormous pleasure to read. -- Robin Yassin-Kassab * Guardian. *A story buffeted by the wider tides of history: the bloody churn of dictatorship, invasion and occupation . . . The President's Gardens evokes the fantastical, small town feel of One Hundred Years of Solitude . . . Shocks and enchants. -- Tom Gordon * Financial Times. *A beautiful novel . . . Consistently compelling . . . In writing about ordinary Iraqis who pay the cost of wars waged by autocratic leaders, Al-Ramli touches on deep and timeless themes. -- Alastair Mabbott * Glasgow Herald. *Deeply painful and satirical, The President's Gardens is a contemporary tragedy of epic proportions. No author is better placed than Muhsin Al-Ramli, already a star in the Arabic literary scene, to tell this story. I read it in one sitting. -- Hassan Blasim, winner of the Independent Foreign Fiction PrizeLike Gabriel García Márquez, with whom he is often compared, Al-Ramli has created a specific village that manages to be universal and a story that is rooted in history while reaching forward into the present day. -- Kathy Watson * Tablet. *I took so much pleasure reading a book called The President's Gardens by Muhsin Al-Ramli. It's got that kind of magical feel that something like One Hundred Years of Solitude has, but it's about Iraq . . . And it is epic, it's absolutely epic . . . It's beautifully written . . . It's one of those novels that achieves something which is quite rare. It's absolutely specific in its context - Iraq, the Iraq conflict, the causes and consequences of it - but it's themes are universal: love, death, injustice, the importance of dignity; how do you find friendship and meaning amid oppression? It's a wonderful book. -- John Maytham * The John Maytham Show (South Africa) *A tour de force. -- Rachel Halliburton * Prospect. *A stunning read . . . So atmospheric, superb storytelling . . . I absolutely was taken into another world. -- Susan Cahill * Newstalk (Ireland). *A stunning achievement. -- Ben East * The National. *One of the most important contemporary Iraqi novelists and writers. * El Mundo. *A novel filled with details . . . with passion, homeland, revolution, and grief. It represents a landmark in the progression of Iraqi literature. -- Miral Al-Tahawi.How do you preserve dignity amidst the relentless carnage and mutilation of modern Iraq? Told with a fresh transparency and tender insight, The President's Gardens draws on the unfathomable resilience of the Iraqi people, leaving me speechless and humbled. -- Paul MacAlindin, author of Upbeat: The Story of the National Youth Orchestra of Iraq.Masterful. -- Malu Halasa, co-author and editor of Syria Speaks.

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Book SynopsisLove. Lies. Murder. A lot can happen... COME SUNDOWNBodine Longbow loves to rise with the dawn. As the manager of her family''s resort in Western Montana, there just aren''t enough hours in the day - for life, for work, for loved ones. She certainly doesn''t have time for love, not even in the gorgeous shape of her childhood crush Callen Skinner, all grown up and returned to the ranch. Then again, maybe Callen can change her mind, given time...But when a young woman''s body is discovered on resort land, everything changes. Callen falls under the suspicion of a deputy sheriff with a grudge. And for Bodine''s family, the murder is a shocking reminder of an old loss. Twenty-five years ago, Bodine''s Aunt Alice vanished, never to be heard of again. Could this new tragedy be connected to Alice''s mysterious disappearance? As events take a dramatic and deadly turn, Bodine and Callen must race to uncover the truth - before the sun sets on their future together.

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Book SynopsisRudy Waltz hasn't had it easy. After accidentally committing manslaughter at the age of twelve, the traumas life continued to throw at him seemed almost inconsequential.Trade Review‘The master at his quirky, provocative best.’ Cosmopolitan ‘Vonnegut is George Orwell, Dr. Caligari and Flash Gordon compounded into one writer … a zany but moral mad scientist.’ Time

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Book SynopsisSalvation is the first mesmerising space opera in the legendary Salvation Sequence, by Peter F. Hamilton. For fans of Iain M. Banks and James S. A. Corey.‘A twisty and hugely satisfying SF thriller that opens a portal on a new and exciting series’ – Alastair Reynolds, author of Revelation SpaceKnow your enemy – or be defeated.An alien shipwreck is found on a newly discovered world, and it carries a cargo as strange as it is horrifying. Security Director Feriton Kayne assembles a high-powered squad to assess the threat. But one of the group is hiding something – it will be up to the team to bring back answers, answers that will change everything . . .Back on Earth, humanity can extend lifespans indefinitely, travel to the stars via portal technology and even make deserts bloom. We seem invulnerable. So when the alien Olyix contacted us, years earlier, we welcomed them. They needeTrade ReviewPeter Hamilton knows how to build a world, and he's one of the best in the field at imagining complex societies, as displayed to magnificent effect . . . Salvation is a twisty and hugely satisfying SF thriller that opens a portal on a new and exciting series -- Alastair Reynolds author of Revelation SpaceExplosions! Assassins! Enigmatic aliens, spaceships and jump doors. Conspiracies and ancient mysteries – it’s all here. Accept no substitutes, this is the real deal. You need Salvation, my friend. Everyone needs salvation -- Ian McDonald author of New MoonSalvation is a space-opera intrigue with a cold shock of an ending that makes the sequel a matter of urgency -- Ken MacLeod author of Cosmonaut KeepThe classic Hamilton cocktail of techno-thriller, far-future vision and action adventure shaken to an intoxicating combination. A promising start to an ambitious new series. Science Fiction is in excellent hands -- Justina Robson author of Keeping It RealNo one offers action-packed, meticulous, suspenseful and consistent hi-tech futures better than Peter Hamilton, and Salvation cranks all of that up five notches -- David Brin author of SundiverPeter takes the word 'epic', then retools and turbocharges it. He is the go-to guy for spectacular science fiction -- Michael Cobley author of The Seeds of EarthThe owner of the most powerful imagination in science fiction -- Ken Follett author of The Pillars of the EarthA thoroughly enjoyable read -- Neal Asher author of GridlinkedHamilton handles massive ideas with enviable ease * Guardian *Hugely impressive. We’ve said it before but let’s say it again: nobody does BIG SF quite like Hamilton -- SFX on Peter's booksA startlingly fresh, vigorous and original cosmic saga. Highly enjoyable! -- Stephen Baxter author of TimeExciting, wildly imaginative and quite possibly Hamilton’s best book to date -- SFX Magazine, 5 starsA vast, intricate sci-fi showstopper... the journey grips as hard as the reveal * Daily Mail *How far 'space opera' has gone! * Wall Street Journal *Peter F. Hamilton just keeps getting better and better with each book, more assured and more craftsmanly adroit, and more inventive . . . In short, Hamilton is juggling chainsaws while simultaneously doing needlepoint over a shark tank. It’s a virtuoso treat, and I for one can hardly wait for Salvation Lost * Locus *

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Book SynopsisAn Amazon Charts, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post bestseller. In this gorgeously stunning debut, a mysterious child teaches two strangers how to love and trust again. After the loss of her mother and her own battle with breast cancer, Joanna Teale returns to her graduate research on nesting birds in rural Illinois, determined to prove that her recent hardships have not broken her. She throws herself into her work from dusk to dawn, until her solitary routine is disrupted by the appearance of a mysterious child who shows up at her cabin barefoot and covered in bruises. The girl calls herself Ursa, and she claims to have been sent from the stars to witness five miracles. With concerns about the child’s home situation, Jo reluctantly agrees to let her stay—just until she learns more about Ursa’s past. Jo enlists the help of her reclusive neighbor, Gabriel Nash, to solve the mystery of the charming child. But the more time they spend together, the more questions they have. How does a young girl not only read but understand Shakespeare? Why do good things keep happening in her presence? And why aren’t Jo and Gabe checking the missing children’s website anymore? Though the three have formed an incredible bond, they know difficult choices must be made. As the summer nears an end and Ursa gets closer to her fifth miracle, her dangerous past closes in. When it finally catches up to them, all of their painful secrets will be forced into the open, and their fates will be left to the stars.

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Book SynopsisTHE MULTIMILLION-COPY BESTSELLING ADAM DALGLIESH SERIES FROM THE QUEEN OF ENGLISH CRIME' (Guardian) A legend.' VAL MCDERMIDP. D. James took the classic crime novel and turned up the dial.' MICK HERRONThe murder mystery queen.' SUNPERFECT FOR FANS OF VAL MCDERMID, RUTH RENDELL AND ELLY GRIFFITHS__________________________________________________________________________________Adam Dalgliesh. I''ve heard of him ruthless, unorthodox, and working always against time. When the body of Sally Jupp is discovered in her bedroom the door bolted from the inside the occupants of Martingale House are sure that the blame for this unthinkable crime will fall on an unknown intruder. But each of the household is hiding a secret that could shed light on the murder.And there''s only one man who can sift through the layers of deceit and pretence to unmask the truth: Detective C

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Book SynopsisNOW A MAJOR NETFLIX FILM STARRING ADAM SANDLER AND CAREY MULLIGANSHORTLISTED FOR THE ARTHUR C. CLARKE AWARD FOR SCIENCE FICTION ''An incredible experience . . . unforgettable'' Lisa McInerney, author of The Glorious Heresies''An excellent debut'' The Times''Booming with vitality and originality'' New York TimesSet in the near-distant future, Spaceman follows a Czech astronaut as he launches into space to investigate a mysterious dust cloud covering Venus, a suicide mission sponsored by a proud nation. Suddenly a world celebrity, Jakub''s marriage starts to fail as the weeks go by, and his sanity comes into question. After his mission is derailed he must make a violent decision that will force him to come to terms with his family''s dark political past.An extraordinary vision of the endless human capacity to persist-and risk everything-in the name of love and home, byTrade ReviewA superb debut * Literary Review *A superb debut * Literary Review *Dizzyingly inventive, alternately lyrical, earthy, silly and sad. * TLS *Dizzyingly inventive, alternately lyrical, earthy, silly and sad. * TLS *A frenetically imaginative first effort, booming with vitality and originality . . . Kalfar's voice is distinct enough to leave tread marks . . . He has such a lively mind and so many ideas to explore . . . Kalfar has an exhilarating flair for imagery . . . He writes boisterously and mordantly * New York Times *A frenetically imaginative first effort, booming with vitality and originality . . . Kalfar's voice is distinct enough to leave tread marks . . . He has such a lively mind and so many ideas to explore . . . Kalfar has an exhilarating flair for imagery . . . He writes boisterously and mordantly * New York Times *[An] excellent debut . . . This book could mark the launch of an astronomical career * The Times *[An] excellent debut . . . This book could mark the launch of an astronomical career * The Times *Reading Spaceman of Bohemia reminded me of the thrill of unearthing Everything is Illuminated from the mound of entries to the Guardian First Book Prize * Guardian *Reading Spaceman of Bohemia reminded me of the thrill of unearthing Everything is Illuminated from the mound of entries to the Guardian First Book Prize * Guardian *A joyfully intellectual book; the whole narrative could be read as a dream, as a clever paradigm in ways that resonate with David Mitchell. * Irish Times *A joyfully intellectual book; the whole narrative could be read as a dream, as a clever paradigm in ways that resonate with David Mitchell. * Irish Times *This wonderful debut is a fine addition to the tradition of eastern European émigré writers [Vladimir Nabokov and, more recently, Gary Shteyngart and Aleksandar Hemon] producing dazzling fiction in English, their second language. * Metro *This wonderful debut is a fine addition to the tradition of eastern European émigré writers [Vladimir Nabokov and, more recently, Gary Shteyngart and Aleksandar Hemon] producing dazzling fiction in English, their second language. * Metro *An incredible experience . . . I can honestly say I loved every page. Every sentence. Spaceman of Bohemia is unforgettable: a work of breathtaking scope and heart, and a reflection of humanity that's raw and strange and profound and true. * Lisa McInerney, Baileys-prize-winning author of The Glorious Heresies *An incredible experience . . . I can honestly say I loved every page. Every sentence. Spaceman of Bohemia is unforgettable: a work of breathtaking scope and heart, and a reflection of humanity that's raw and strange and profound and true. * Lisa McInerney, Baileys-prize-winning author of The Glorious Heresies *A hauntingly beautiful story of solitude, hope, family, and love that transcends, uplifts, carries the reader away. * Dinaw Mengestu, author of ALL OUR NAMES *A hauntingly beautiful story of solitude, hope, family, and love that transcends, uplifts, carries the reader away. * Dinaw Mengestu, author of ALL OUR NAMES *Spaceman of Bohemia represents the fiery, funny launch of an exciting new voice. Jaroslav Kalfar, like a good literary astronaut, finds levity in gravity, and vice versa. * Sam Lipsyte, New York Times bestselling author of The Ask *Spaceman of Bohemia represents the fiery, funny launch of an exciting new voice. Jaroslav Kalfar, like a good literary astronaut, finds levity in gravity, and vice versa. * Sam Lipsyte, New York Times bestselling author of The Ask *Spaceman of Bohemia is an out-of-this-world look at all our beautiful smallnesses, from the cells of our biology to the bacterial minutiae of one broken heart. The roar of revolution and governmental injustice is cast against the depths of our emotions and the bottomless, grateful silence of the stars. Jaroslav Kalfar has spun an unforgettable tale, a poignant interplanetary work that collapses the distance between us with the beauty of its language and the unstoppable wonder of this universe he's created. * Samantha Hunt, author of Mr. Splitfoot *Spaceman of Bohemia is an out-of-this-world look at all our beautiful smallnesses, from the cells of our biology to the bacterial minutiae of one broken heart. The roar of revolution and governmental injustice is cast against the depths of our emotions and the bottomless, grateful silence of the stars. Jaroslav Kalfar has spun an unforgettable tale, a poignant interplanetary work that collapses the distance between us with the beauty of its language and the unstoppable wonder of this universe he's created. * Samantha Hunt, author of Mr. Splitfoot *Spaceman of Bohemia is the best, most enjoyably heartbreaking, most fun book you'll read this year. On the surface, you'll see affinities with Gary Shteyngart, with The Martian, with Kelly Link. But Jaroslav Kalfar's voice is entirely his own. I beg you: take this strange, hilarious, profound, life-affirming trip into literary outer space. * Darin Strauss, National Book Critics Circle Award winner for Half a Life *Spaceman of Bohemia is the best, most enjoyably heartbreaking, most fun book you'll read this year. On the surface, you'll see affinities with Gary Shteyngart, with The Martian, with Kelly Link. But Jaroslav Kalfar's voice is entirely his own. I beg you: take this strange, hilarious, profound, life-affirming trip into literary outer space. * Darin Strauss, National Book Critics Circle Award winner for Half a Life *

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewA book with some claim to be the first major set-piece in that carnival of fictional fireworks which mesmerized Latin America throughout the next decade. It offers a rich motherlode of imagery, language and haunting scenes -- Salman RushdieBewitched, baroque, monumental * Newsweek *A novelist of immense power ... uncompromising and original -- Colm Tóibín * Guardian *

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Book Synopsis''Acker gives her work the power to mirror the reader''s soul'' William S. Burroughs''Kathy Acker''s writing is virtuoso, maddening, crazy, so sexy, so painful, and beaten out of a wild heart that nothing can tame. Acker is a landmark writer'' Jeanette WintersonThis is the story of Janey, who lived in a locked room, where she found a scrap of paper and began to write down her life. It''s a story of lust, sex, pain, youth, punk, anarchy, gangs, the city, feminism, America, Jean Genet and the prisons we create for ourselves. A heady, surreal mash-up of coming-of-age tale, prose, poetry, plagiarism and illustration, Kathy Acker''s breakthrough 1984 novel caused huge controversy and made her an avant-garde literary icon.Published to coincide with the 20th anniversary of Kathy Acker''s untimely death, Blood and Guts in High School is published for the first time in Penguin Classics, acknowledging the profound impact she has had on our culture, and alongside the authors her work pulsates with the influence of: William S. Burroughs, Cervantes and Charles Dickens, among others.Trade ReviewAcker is a postmodern Colette with echoes of Cleland's Fanny Hill -- William S. BurroughsA coming-of-age story which examines incest and paedophilia with a profoundly Sadist literary bent ... can be credited with moving mainstream literature into indie territory. -- A Stevens * Guardian *Acker's work, more than that of any other writer I can think of, challenged the traditional lines of demarcation between poetry and novel, between high culture and popular trash and, perhaps most important of all, between literature and art world. -- London Review of Books * Peter Wollen *[Kathy Acker is] part rebel bohemian avant-gardiste, part NYC downtown punk, and part venerable literary grande dame -- Michael BracewellTwenty years after her death and I still miss her -- Neil GaimanAcker gives her work the power to mirror the reader's soul -- William S. BurroughsAcker understands that writing without myth is nothing * Chris Kraus *Kathy Acker's writing is virtuoso, maddening, crazy, so sexy, so painful, and beaten out of a wild heart that nothing can tame. Acker is a landmark writer -- Jeanette WintersonScarified sensibility,subversive intellect, and predatory wit make her a writer like no other * The New York Times Review of Books *An avatar of nomadic urban modern primitive tribes... her novels perform postmodern campfire grill voodoo... She was a magician -- R.U. SiriusReading Kathy Acker is like playing hopscotch with a genius -- Richard Foreman

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Book SynopsisTranslated by Marilyn Booth Shortlisted for the James Tait Black Prize for Fiction 2023 Longlisted for the 2023 Dublin Literary AwardAn extraordinary novel from a Man Booker International Prize-winning author that follows one young Omani woman as she builds a life for herself in Britain and reflects on the relationships that have made her from a “remarkable” writer who has “constructed her own novelistic form” (James Wood, The New Yorker). ‘Alharthi makes lyrical shifts between past and present, memory and folklore, oneiric surrealism and grimy realism.’ Guardian [A] stirring tale of a woman who battles every social and religious constraint. The juxtaposition with the narrator’s reflections on modern life and the speed of change is brilliantly judged in Marilyn Booth’s agile translation from Arabic.’ T

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Book SynopsisCould a holiday romance save Everly''s Christmas? Everly Lancaster has always had big dreams, but her high-flying career has left little time for anything - or anyone - else. When the opportunity arises to take the whole of December off, Everly decides it''s time to go on the holiday she deserves. Little does she know, there''s more than one surprise in store for her this Christmas . . . To escape the massive snowstorm on the way, Everly prepares for a sunny, relaxing cruise - until a mix-up with her booking lands her on a tour of the Amazon rainforest. At first, not even the handsome tour guide Asher can improve her mood, but soon the spectacular sights - and Asher''s charming company - open workaholic Everly''s eyes to all she''s been missing in life. As Christmas approaches and the tour comes to an end, will Everly finally realise there''s more to life than work? And could Asher be the person to help her see it? Trade ReviewCosy up this Christmas with the ultimate feel-good festive bestseller * Docklands & East London Advertiser *

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Book SynopsisA pilot on flight SL502 plans to commit suicide mid-air, taking all passengers with him. An astrologer onboard senses danger through his predictions. Author Priya Kumar weaves a suspenseful tale of life and death on this unforgettable flight from Dubai to New York.

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Book SynopsisTwo men meet for a pint in a Dublin pub...In 2012, Roddy Doyle showed us the world anew: through the back-and-forth of two Dublin pub-dwellers. They chewed the fat, set the world to rights, slagged each other unmercifully. And along the way, they chased the ebb and flow and stupidity of the year right to the bottom of their pints.Today, they're still at it - even over Zoom, if needs be. Collected for the first time, here is almost a decade's worth of elections and referendums, births and deaths, football, financial crashes, pandemics and the philosophical questions of life, as told through the wit and warmth of Roddy Doyle's comic genius.Includes: Two Pints, Two More Pints, Two for the Road - and, for the first time in print, Two Pints: The Play and The Zoom PintsTrade ReviewFunny, provocative and never less than entertaining -- John Boyne * Irish Times *Topical and irreverent... Roddy Doyle's impressive comic skills keep the laughter coming * Observer *Savagely funny, occasionally inspired, and alomst poetic in their rhythm, speed and economy * Guardian *Nothing short of comic genius * Independent *

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Book Synopsis Prepare to fall in love this Christmas with the ultimate festive romance . . .''A perfect Christmas treat'' MIRANDA DICKINSON''Sprinkled with humour, warmth and, of course, Christmas magic'' CATHY BRAMLEY*WINNER OF THE NOVELICIOUS DEBUT OF THE YEAR AWARD*Claudia is thirty and fearing her romance with long-term love Seth has lost its spark. Determined to rediscover the magic they once had, Claudia and Seth go on their first date in a very long time. But when the night ends in disaster, Claudia suddenly finds herself facing life - and Christmas - alone.But being alone doesn''t mean she has to be miserable. Familiarising herself with long-forgotten exercise regimes and ill-advised sexy underwear, Claudia decides to fill up her Christmas with dates. And with best friends Penny and Nick at her side, a surplus of festive markets, mulled wine and Christmas tunTrade ReviewThe Twelve Dates of Christmas is a festive gem. Sassy as Beyonce and warm as toast, it's a perfect Christmas treat. I loved it! * Miranda Dickinson *The Twelve Dates of Christmas is a fun and festive sweet treat of a book * Ali McNamara, author of The Little Flower Shop by the Sea *A very funny and touching tale ***** * Heat *You need to read this romcom! Fun, flirty and funny * Fabulous *Hilarious and uplifting * Bella *Of all the Christmas romances published this year, The Twelve Dates of Christmas is one of the funniest and heart-warming * Red *A must read * Daily Express *Packed with hilarious situations, sparkling dialogue and characters you really root for * Sunday Express *The Twelve Dates of Christmas is a fun, flirty festive read full of Christmas sparkle and romance. As delicious as a box of Christmas chocolates, a real festive feast * Jo Thomas, author of The Oyster Catcher *High jinks and festive romance abound * Metro *A fun, festive gift of a book * Alexandra Brown, author of The Great Christmas Knit Off *Filled with sweet romance, clever and hilarious dialogue and a heroine you'd definitely want to root for. A fabulously written Christmas read you wouldn't want to miss. 10/10 * iheart-chicklit.blogspot.co.uk *I bloody loved it! I laughed so hard that people were staring at me! I cried, I got a little hot under the collar . . . and then I laughed some more . . . The biggest, most sparkly, snow-dusted 5/5! * Tishy Lou, tishylou.blogspot.com *A fun read full of wit and comedic moments that will have you chuckling away as you read. Reading about the journey home on the tube had me in stitches * Shaz's Book Blog, shazsbookboudoir.blogspot.co.uk *Fresh and hilarious . . . I can't remember the last time a book made me laugh like this . . . If you buy one Christmas book this year, it has to be this one. You will laugh, you will cry, you will go awwww and then you'll laugh all over again. 5/5 * Holly Martin, hollymartinwriter.wordpress.com *Sprinkled with humour, warmth and, of course, Christmas magic; I could almost smell that gingerbread latte! The characters sparkled . . . and to top it all, the Christmassy London setting truly made the story come alive for me. * Cathy Bramley, author of Ivy Lane *

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Book SynopsisFrom the acclaimed master of action and suspense. The all time classic.Paul Sherman of Interpol''s Narcotics Bureau flies to Amsterdam on the trail of a dope king.With enormous skill the atmosphere is built up: Amsterdam with its canals and high houses; stolid police; psychopaths; and above all murder.Trade Review'With this book Alistair MacLean will make another killing' Sunday Mirror ‘If you have any red corpuscles in your blood, you will find your heart pumping triple time’New York Times ‘With this book Alistair MacLean will make another killing’Sunday Mirror ‘A magnificent storyteller’Sunday Mirror

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Book Synopsis*** THE NEW FESTIVE TREAT FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER ***​'An absolute joy. Like all of Milly's books it's packed with heart and humour and characters you fall in love with. I didn't want it to end' Jane Fallon, bestselling author of Queen Bee It’s nearly Christmas and it’s snowing, hard. Deep in the Yorkshire Moors nestles a tiny hamlet, with a pub at its heart. As the snow falls, the inn will become an unexpected haven for six people forced to seek shelter there…   Mary has been trying to get her boss Jack to notice her for four years, but he can only see the efficient PA she is at work. Will being holed up with him finally give her the chance she has been waiting for?   Bridge and Luke were meeting for five minutes to set their divorce in motion. But will getting trapped with each other reignite too many fond memories – aTrade Review'You can always rely on Milly Johnson to bring the magic, and she's done it again with this festive treat . . . Packed with her trademark warmth and wit, it’s the perfect holiday read’ * heat *'Pure escapism' * Woman & Home *'A festive smorgasbord of fine food, sparkly decorations, parlour games, presents and more, coupled with Milly Johnson’s trademark warm and witty writing, make this the perfect Christmas read!' * My Weekly *‘Perfect escapism, love, laughter, snow, oodles of festive fun... and best of all, some much-needed hope. The perfect cure for the winter blues' -- Debbie Johnson, author of Maybe One Day‘A new Milly Johnson novel – a festive one at that – is always welcome’ * Woman *‘Heart-warming’ * Choice *‘Guaranteed to put you in the Christmas mood’ * Woman & Home, Christmas Gift Guide *‘For anyone in need of a lift, Milly Johnson’s feel-good read could be just the tonic’ * Yours Fiction Monthly *'The perfect Christmas read, the story is filled with love, laughter and unexpected romances. This really is the feel good treat of the year' * UnderTheChristmasTree, Best Christmas Books *'Funny, insightful and very festive' * The People's Friend *'a festive tale...with a deft sprinkling of magic' * The Christmas Magazine *

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Book Synopsis*Dawn O'Porter's bold and buzzy new novel, HONEYBEE, is available to buy now! **The Sunday Times bestseller and Richard and Judy Book Club pick*A total joy' Matt HaigUnputdownable' Marian KeyesFearless, frank and for anyone who's ever doubted themselves,So Lucky is the straight-talking new novel from the Sunday Times bestseller.IS ANYONE'S LIFE . . .Beth shows that women really can have it all.Ruby lives life by her own rules.And then there's Lauren, living the dream.AS PERFECT AS IT LOOKS?Beth hasn't had sex in a year.Ruby feels like she's failing.Lauren's happiness is fake news.And it just takes one shocking event to make the truth come tumbling outTrade Review‘A total joy . . . Compulsively funny’ Matt Haig ‘The characters in So Lucky are lovely, very likeable. I enjoyed this book a lot, it really was unputdownable ’ Marian Keyes ‘Funny, thought-provoking and filthy’ Red ‘Thought-provoking . . . Beautifully drawn characters espouse the idea that you shouldn’t judge any book by its cover’ Daily Mail 'Couldn't put it down – it's wonderful' Pandora Sykes ‘Perceptive, poignant and proves that no one’s life is as perfect as it looks’ Sunday Express ‘Expect some raw realities of female life, but when these women come together, they go full-blown badass’ Heat ‘A relatable take on the struggle for perfection and a journey to accepting who we truly are’ Woman & Home ‘A binge read, was racing home from my day to cuddle up with it on the couch’ Aisling Bea ‘So Lucky is compulsively gripping and taps into the shame and self-hatred we *all* battle with. It is also very, very funny’ Sara Pascoe ‘Full of relevant issues’ Prima ‘In true Dawn style, she has created layered, interesting characters who rile you up but also make you fall in love with them. If you enjoyed The Cows, you are going to LOVE this book. Timely, funny and very very entertaining’ Emma Gannon ‘Funny and very honest’ Davina McCall ‘It’s an incredible and wonderful thing to read her painfully accurate, heart warming and hilarious analysis of our age of comparison in this wonderful, powerful novel!’ Scarlett Curtis ‘Perceptive, poignant and proves that no one’s life is as perfect as it looks’ Sunday Express ‘What a fabulous book. I read it, no DEVOURED it terribly fast and loved every minute’ Mel Giedroyc ‘A funny and relatable one-sitting read’ Carmel Harrington ‘‘Refreshingly raw . . . This is one to race through’ Sunday Mirror

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