Fiction in translation
Norvik Press Barbara
Book SynopsisBarbara, originally written in Danish, was the only novel by the Faroese author Jørgen-Frantz Jacobsen (1900–1938), and yet it quickly achieved international best-seller status and is still one of the best-loved twentieth century classics in Danish and Faroese literature. On the face of it, Barbara is a straightforward historical novel in the mode of many a so-called 'romance'. It contains a story of passion in an exotic setting with overtones of semi-piracy; there is a powerful erotic element, an outsider who breaks up a marriage, and a built-in inevitability resulting from Barbara's own psychological make-up. She stands as one of the most complex female characters in modern Scandinavian literature: beautiful, passionate, innocent, devoted, amoral and uncomprehending of her own tragedy. Jørgen-Frantz Jacobsen portrays her with a fascinated devotion.
£13.25
UEA Publishing Project Something Has To Happen
Book SynopsisThroughout these stories, Maartje Wortel plays an ingenious game with her readers. Small events have major consequences, while the major events fade into the background. Her stories are alienating and completely logical at the same time, chaotic and orderly, funny and loud – all written in her characteristic idiosyncratic prose.
£6.99
Scribe Publications At Dusk
Book SynopsisIn the evening of his life, a wealthy man begins to wonder if he might have missed the point. Park Minwoo is, by every measure, a success story. Born into poverty in a miserable neighbourhood of Seoul, he has ridden the wave of development in a rapidly modernising society. Now the director of a large architectural firm, his hard work and ambition have brought him triumph and satisfaction. But when his company is investigated for corruption, he’s forced to reconsider his role in the transformation of his country. At the same time, he receives an unexpected message from an old friend, Cha Soona, a woman that he had once loved, and then betrayed. As memories return unbidden, Minwoo recalls a world he thought had been left behind — a world he now understands that he has helped to destroy. In At Dusk, one of Korea's most renowned and respected authors continues his gentle yet urgent project of evaluating Korea’s past, and examining the things, and the people, that have been given up in a never-ending quest to move forward.Trade Review‘It’s a regretful, bittersweet exploration of modernisation, which picks away at the country’s past and present, slowly becoming a moving reflection of what we gain and lose as individuals and a society in the name of progress … [Hwang’s] writing is laced with the hard-won wisdom of a man with plenty left to say.’ -- Ben East * The Observer *‘Hwang Sok-yong’s At Dusk is a perfect slice of Koreana … shows the underbelly of a nation through the life of characters inhabiting society's bottom rung … Sok-yong proves once again that fiction can be the best way to tell devastating truths.’ -- Gabino Iglesias * NPR *‘At Dusk is a small but powerful novel from one of South Korea’s most esteemed novelists … The questions At Dusk raises are timeless, and perfect for more serious book-group discussions.’ -- Annie Condon * Readings *‘Quietly probing.’ * The Irish Times *‘A stirring and quietly moving novel … a sharply perceptive account of the struggle to maintain body and soul, roughly speaking, in the decades before Chun dooh-hwan's military coup of 1980.’ FIVE STARS -- Paddy Kehoe * RTÉ *‘The melancholic artistry of his bare prose shines through in At Dusk, with the juxtaposition of the nostalgia of a bygone era and a soulless modernity ... this voice is resounding in At Dusk, with its bittersweet meditation of regret.’ FOUR STARS -- Walter Sim * Straits Times *‘Celebrated author Hwang Sok-yong explores the human toll of South Korea’s rapid modernisation ... Through the lens of Seoul’s urban housing and architecture, he traces the development of South Korean modernisation and highlights the extremes to which its citizens are pushed, challenging readers in the process to reexamine if the nation’s transformation can truly be considered successful.’ * International Examiner *‘Thoughtful and affecting.’ -- Jane Graham * The Big Issue *‘Having been imprisoned for political reasons, Hwang has a restrained, delicate touch, alive to the nuances of memory, the slipperiness of the past, and the difficult choices life forces us to make ... Subtly political, deeply humane, a story about home, loss, and the cost of a country's advancement.’ -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review‘Here [Sok-yong] scrutinises the quiet disconnect of contemporary relationships through the life of a successful, sixty–something Seoul architect … A piercing modern tale about all we can never know about our loved ones and ourselves.’ -- Terry Hong, Booklist, starred review‘Hwang is a master storyteller … his writing is sparse and evocative.’ * Asymptote Journal *‘[A] solid portrait of changing times and society.’ -- M.A. Orthofer * The Complete Review *‘The book is on the verge of something, and despite the gentle care in Hwang’s storytelling, there is an urgency to his words.’ * The Skinny *‘At Dusk is a book steeped in melancholy — for times gone by, for relationships lost or abandoned, for a world that no longer exists. Hwang delves deeply into the psyche of his characters and in doing so tells universal stories of love, ambition and regret … another superb novel from a writer at the top of his craft.’ * psnews.com.au *‘At Dusk has Hwang’s customary blend of fragility and brutality, of tenderness and raw pain … At Dusk is a journey through memory and through the necessary potential and duty of architecture; through human spaces and urban topographies of existence and non-being. For Korea, this is a novel that should mark a turning point in its sense of identity; for non-Korean readers, it is a blueprint of the critical elenchus we need to undertake before it is tragically far too late for all our local traditions, cultures and individual lives.’ -- Mika Provata–Carline * Bookanista *‘What elevates this work, is how the gritty psychological exploration of contemporary Korean society is packaged within a taut and compelling mystery regarding how the two disparate narratives might be connected. At Dusk is another short but impactful novel from Hwang Sok-yong.’ * Booklover Book Reviews *‘These characters illustrate South Korea’s sharp economic divides and explore what is required to improve one’s lot in life — and whether it’s even possible for more than a very few. It captures so much in under 200 pages: economic inequality; gender, class, and educational divides; and the complex relationships individuals and the culture at large have with their own history.’ -- Rebecca Hussey * Bookriot *‘At Dusk provides the reader with an excellent picture of Seoul now and several decades ago, with a mournful, nostalgic feel pervading the novel … Hwang is a masterful storyteller, and the final third of the book skilfully brings the disparate stories together, with a clever, and surprising, twist to round matters off.’ -- Tony Malone * Tony’s Reading List *‘[A] beautifully observed tale … another superb novel from a writer at the top of his craft.’ * Pile by the Bed *
£11.69
Seven Stories Press UK Rock Paper Grenade
Book Synopsis
£13.49
Parthian Books Hana
Book SynopsisIt's 1954 and nine-year-old Mira's life is about to change forever. After a typhoid outbreak rages through her town, robbing her of her parents and siblings, the orphaned child is forced to live with her mysterious, depressive Aunt Hana, a figure both frightening and fragile.Gradually, Mira uncovers the secrets of their troubled family history and begins to understand why her aunt is so incapable of trusting herself and the world around her. Deftly weaving two separate timelines, the harrowing reasons behind Hana's reclusive way of life, the guilt she wears as palpably as a cloak, and the tattoo on her wrist, are revealed to Mira. Alena Mornstajnova's gripping novel, which is based on real events, has won numerous awards and been translated into over a dozen languages across the world.
£10.44
Dedalus Ltd Take Six: Six Spanish Women Writers
Book Synopsis
£9.49
Orenda Books The Guests
Book SynopsisA young couple are entangled in a nightmare spiral of lies when they pretend to be someone else …Exquisitely dark psychological suspense by the international bestselling author of The Bird Tribunal ‘A delightfully insightful and wicked little read … Like the cabin, it's so minimalist and stark and at the same time so compelling’ Elizabeth Haynes ________It started with a lie… Married couple Karin and Kai are looking for a pleasant escape from their busy lives, and reluctantly accept an offer to stay in a luxurious holiday home in the Norwegian fjords. Instead of finding a relaxing retreat, however, their trip becomes a reminder of everything lacking in their own lives, and in a less-than-friendly meeting with their new neighbours, Karin tells a little white lie… Against the backdrop of the glistening water and within the claustrophobic walls of the ultra-modern house, Karin’s insecurities blossom, and her lie grows ever bigger, entangling her and her husband in a nightmare spiral of deceits with absolutely no means of escape… Simmering with suspense and dark humour, The Guests is a gripping psychological drama about envy and aspiration … and something more menacing, hiding just below that glittering surface… _____ Praise for Agnes Ravatn **Shortlisted for the Dublin Literary Award****A BBC Book at Bedtime****Shortlisted for the Petrona Award for Best Scandinavian Crime Fiction****Winner of an English PEN Translation Award** 'A clever, quirky mystery, full of twists and reminiscent of Agatha Christie at her best' The Times 'Ravatn, one of Norway's premier crime writers, manages to conjure up an extra level of chilling atmosphere that will make you want to put the heating on' The Sun 'An unrelenting atmosphere of doom fails to prepare readers for the surprising resolution' Publishers Weekly 'Unfolds in an austere style that perfectly captures the bleakly beautiful landscape of Norway's far north' Irish Times 'Reminiscent of Patricia Highsmith and I can't offer higher praise than that. Agnes Ravatn is an author to watch' Philip Ardagh 'A tense and riveting read' Financial Times 'Crackling, fraught and hugely compulsive slice of Nordic Noir tremendously impressive' Big Issue 'Intriguing … enrapturing' Sarah Hilary ‘A masterclass in suspense and delayed terror' Rod Reynolds
£9.49
Blue Guides Tales from the DUAL MONARCHY
Book Synopsis
£15.52
Skyhorse Publishing The Piano Tuner: A Novel
Book SynopsisThis bestseller and winner of every major literary award in Taiwan is an elegiac novel about love and loss, broken dreams and desolate hearts—and music: "A delightful read."—Ha Jin A widower grieving for his young wife. A piano tuner concealing a lifetime of secrets. An out-of-tune Steinway piano. A journey of self-discovery across time and continents, from a dark apartment in Taipei’s red-light district to snow-clad New York. At the heart of the story is the nameless narrator, the piano tuner. In his forties, he is balding and ugly, a loser by any standard. But he was once a musical prodigy. What betrayal and what heartbreak made him walk away from greatness? Long hailed in Taiwan as a “writer’s writer,” Chiang-Sheng Kuo delivers a stunningly powerful, compact novel in The Piano Tuner. It’s a book of sounds: both of music and of the heart, from Rachmaninoff to Schubert, from Glenn Gould to Sviatoslav Richter, from untapped potential to unrequited love. With a cadence and precision that bring to mind Thomas Mann’s Death in Venice, Kazuo Ishiguro’s Nocturnes, and Yasunari Kawabata’s Snow Country, this short novel may be a portrait of the artist as a “failure,” but it also describes a pursuit of the ultimate beauty in music and in love. Trade Review"An elegant novel, told with restraint and acute perceptions. A delightful read."—Ha Jin"So much is packed into this compact and surprising novel: a complex story of genius, madness, and thwarted desire and, beyond that, a deep exploration of the tension between craft and the pursuit of fame. The Piano Tuner is about more than music—it’s about the choices one makes in becoming an artist."—Shawna Yang Ryan, author of Green Island"The Piano Tuner is as meticulous in its excavation of loneliness as it is in its exploration of music. I was completely pulled into the narrative as it peeled back layer after layer, exposing the interiority and secrets of the beguiling piano tuner. This book is a quiet masterpiece."—Dur e Aziz Amna, author of American Fever“A rare masterpiece . . . Kuo has told a spellbinding story about love, obsession, loss, and the inscrutable power of music.”—David Der-wei Wang, Edward C. Henderson Professor of Chinese Literature, Harvard University"Kuo writes with sharp erudition--about music, history, instruments, geography--creating a multivocal repertoire spotlighting displaced love and unfulfilled opportunity. . . . Lyrically translated by the revered duo Howard Goldblatt and Sylvia Li-chun Lin."—Shelf Awarenesss "Chiang-Sheng Kuo’s novel The Piano Tuner explores the accord and dissonance between sounds and souls through language. . . . The mood of love transcends the language barrier like music, for the emotional atmosphere of the book is infused with hybrid aesthetics that invoke this sentiment."—Asymptote“The Piano Tuner captures subtle and almost inexpressible emotions, calling on the reader to resonate, to hear both the rhythm of the piano and the voice of the heart.”─Jiao Yuanpu , author of Amusement in Black and White and Hearing Chopin“Implicit but tense, this text is like superb fingering interpreting a lonely and poignant love song. . . . It is a transcendence of novel-writing skills.”—OPENBOOK Best Book Prize citation (Taiwan)“[In The Piano Tuner], through the filtering and precipitation of time, love crystallizes yet is restrained. With it comes an equal portion of loneliness, accumulating vastly and released slowly, which is refreshing.”─Zhu Tian-wen, winner of the Newman Prize for Chinese Literature
£17.00
Orient Blackswan Pvt Ltd The Scar
Book Synopsis
£999.99
HarperCollins India On the Banks of the Mayyazhi
Book SynopsisThis is a classic work of fiction, encompassing history and folklore and beautifully written; it belongs on the bookshelves of all literature lovers.
£11.89
The American University in Cairo Press Velvet: A Novel
Book SynopsisHawa is a child of the grinding hardship of a Palestinian refugee camp. She has had to survive the camp itself, as well as the humiliation and destruction of an abusive family life. But now, later in life, something most unexpected has happened: she has fallen in love. Velvet unfolds over a day in Hawa’s life, as she makes plans for a new beginning that may take her out of the camp. She sifts back through her memories of the past: the stories of her family, her childhood, and her beloved mentor, who invited her into the glamorous world of the rich women of Amman. This is a novel of enormous power and great beauty. Rich in detail, it tells of the women of the camp, and the joy and relief that can be captured amid repression and sorrow.Trade ReviewWinner of The Naguib Mahfouz Medal for LiteratureWinner of the 2020 Saif Ghobash Banipal Prize for Arabic Literary Translation"This is a deeply human book. . . . a masterwork."–Omar El Akkad, LitHub“Huzama Habayeb’s novel is an intense and vivid story of one woman’s life in a Palestinian refugee camp, told with sensitivity to the sensuous but tragic world of its heroine but above all to her almost heroic defiance of reality. On one level, the novel is a study of the claustrophobia of poverty and oppression, of daily lives shorn of all tenderness, and of the stranglehold of family and patriarchy. Throughout it all, however, there remain dreams of individual fulfilment and the possibility of love and escape, turning the novel into a celebration of the triumph of the imagination over the mundane. The richness of the Arabic original is captured by Kay Heikkinen in a translation that faithfully adheres to its elegance without undue artifice and without losing the deeply tragic tenor of its events.” —Judges' comments, Saif Ghobash Banipal Prize“As sensuous, smooth, and strong as the fabric that gives the novel its title.” —Humphrey Davies, translator of The Yacoubian Building"Every moment in this book is so fully lived as to be magnetic…the novel should not be missed, in Arabic or in English, for its sentences crammed to the brim with life in a refugee camp, for its sophisticated picking apart of narrative tropes about motherhood and social mobility, and for the rollercoaster-like pleasure of Hawwa’s ups and downs.”—M. Lynx Qualey, Words Without Borders“An original voice who brings vividly to life Palestinian camps with extraordinary beauty and lyricism.”—Tahia Abdel Nasser, The American University in Cairo"Passionate....bursting with sensory detail."—The National"Rich in language and metaphor"—The New Arab“Gives shape to a story of defiance and resilience”—Middle East Monitor“Extraordinarily vivid. . . .This is a tale of women and men broken by refugee life, and the fate of those few who dare to persist in searching for happiness. . . . Human misery permeates the novel, but that doesn’t keep one from frantically turning the pages to follow the compelling story of Hawwa — an extremely memorable character.”—The Jordan Times"Intensely poignant. . . . Depicting the highs and lows of modern womanhood, as well as the special strength that comes from an arduous life, Habayeb weaves a heart-wrenching story that springs from the sorrow of a young girl. Hawwa searches for meaning in the love and grief that surround her. Through the years, we witness Hawwa’s quiet strength persevere as she tries to stitch her family’s life back together. Equal parts touching and tragic, this novel gives an intimate view of love and loss inside of a tumultuous world."—AramcoWorld
£999.99
Penguin Random House India The Black Magic Women Stories from Northeast
Book Synopsis
£11.52
Penguin Random House India Malloban
Book Synopsis
£11.99
Penguin Random House India Acid
Book Synopsis
£13.99
McGill-Queen's University Press Free Women in the Pampas
Book SynopsisA biographical novel depicting Victoria Ocamp’s friendships, debates, and conflicts with poet Rabindranath Tagore, philosopher José Ortega y Gasset, and the writers Pierre Drieu de la Rochelle, Hermann von Keyserling, and Waldo Frank, witnessed by the fictional Carmen Brey, a Galician-Spanish immigrant whose story is skilfully interwoven with that of Ocampo.Trade Review"Free Women in the Pampas will be fundamental to the dissemination of two important Argentine writers, María Rosa Lojo and Victoria Ocampo. A riveting piece of fiction, it also sheds light on a key period in Argentine intellectual history." Odile Cisneros, University of Alberta and co-author of Historical Dictionary of Latin American Literature and Theater“We are fortunate that Lojo’s work as a poet, novelist, and scholar is gaining a greater foothold in the English-speaking world. Free Women in the Pampas explores a pivotal moment connecting the women writers of Mansilla’s day, who considered themselves co-founders of the national literary tradition, with the immense flowering of women writers in the latter half of the 20th century. Above all, however, it is a pleasure to read. Cheadle’s accessible translation is designed to be read without scholarly accoutrements, though it does come equipped with an excellent introduction, incisive endnotes, a glossary of Spanish words, and period photographs of its principle actors. The book should help make both Lojo and Ocampo more familiar, which can only enrich anglophone cultures.” Dalhousie Review
£999.99
Faber & Faber You Will Never Be Found
Book SynopsisHe was locked inside an abandoned house. But he's not the only one . . .When a dead man is found locked in the basement of an abandoned house, deep in the woods, there is no evidence of what happened beyond his name - scratched into the wall before he died. The regional police can't find anyone who knew him. But no-one knows the locals like Detective Eira SjÃdin. When her expert knowledge of her home town is again called in, she knows one of them must have seen something. Then, a shock: before she can uncover the truth, someone close to her disappears.Has he fallen victim to the same criminal they've been chasing? And can Eira put the pieces together in time to save him?**AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER NOW**PRAISE FOR WE KNOW YOU REMEMBER'Intensely gripping.' CHRIS WHITAKER'Strong characters, a great sense of place and plot twists galore.' SUNDAY TIMES CRIME CLUB'A terrific twisting roller
£15.29
Penguin Random House India Rohzin
Book Synopsis
£17.95
Quercus Publishing Holy City
Book SynopsisWelcome to the Holy City, where bent cops are ten a peso, and it is only the degree of corruption that is ever in question.Trade Review'Scintillating' Jake Kerridge, Telegraph. * Telegraph *
£6.74
Quercus Publishing The Longest Night
Book SynopsisA masterpiece of literary craft and concision; sparse, beautiful and hugely affecting - Daily MailSince the liberation of the Netherlands, Emma Verweij has been living in Rotterdam, in a street which became a stronghold of friendships for its inhabitants during the Second World War. She marries Bruno, they have two sons, and she determines to block out the years she spent in Nazi Berlin during the war, with her first husband Carl. But now, ninety-six years old and on the eve of her death, long- forgotten memories crowd again into her consciousness, flashbacks of happier years, and the tragedy of the war, of Carl, of her father, and of the friends she has lost. In The Longest Night, his impressive, reflective new novel after News from Berlin, Otto de Kat deftly distils momentous events of 20th-century history into the lives of his characters. In Emma, the past and the present coincide in limpid fragments of rare, melancholy beauty.<Trade ReviewA masterpiece of literary craft and concision; sparse, beautiful and hugely affecting. -- John Harding * Daily Mail *De Kat mixes great moral issues with historical events. This is his literary art. The Longest Night is melancholic and brilliantly written. -- Marianne Mielke * Radio Berlin. *Otto de Kat has created a small masterpiece. * Nürnberger Zeitung. *The De Kat Express takes you on a journey without borders. * NRC Handelsblad. *An exceedingly beautiful novel that you read breathless till the end. * E.O. Vision. *These are novels of subtle emotional distance . . . as physical as a blow to the heart -- Eileen Battersby * Irish Times *One of the Netherlands' most compelling literary voices * Irish Examiner *[A] powerful novel, exploring the impact of war through the lives of its memorable characters. * The Lady *
£7.19
Quercus Publishing Valse Triste
Book SynopsisWhen Michelangelo, a young autistic child, goes missing, Commissario Sergio Striggio is put in charge of the investigation. Searches turn up nothing, but there is an interesting connection with the mother''s past: when she was a child, her twin brother also went missing, never to be found. However, Striggio is finding it difficult to concentrate on the case. He is waiting for his father, Pietro, to come and stay. The idea of the visit is torturing him. He fears having to reveal that he is gay - most of all he fears that his partner, Leo, will reveal his sexuality to his father. Pietro, however, has other matters on his mind: he has news of a devastating diagnosis to share with his son.And when his life with Leo unexpectedly collides with his investigation into Michelangelo''s disappearance, it seems that in the complicated web of the small town of Bolzano, the truth behind the mystery cannot hide for long.Valse Triste is one of those rare novels in wh
£11.99
Dear Mr M
Book SynopsisThe thrilling, hair-raising new novel from Herman Koch, the New York Times bestselling author of The Dinner and Summer House with Swimming Pool
£11.24
Little, Brown Book Group November
Book Synopsis''Absorbing and moving'' The Tablet1989. Salvadorian society is immersed in the horror of civil war. On a fateful November dawn, a group of armed men entered the Universidad Católica and murder six Jesuits priests and two women in cold blood. Survivor of the massacre Father Tojeira is forced to take the reins of control in the sinister days following the attack, desperate to uncover the truth behind the terrible slaughter. Inspired by the real-life tragic events that shook El Salvador and Latin America, November is a moving and unsettling novel about fear, hate and impunity. It is the first book to cast some light on the crime that was never solved and an attempt to speak out, as the murdered Jesuits attempted to do, in the defence of the disadvantaged.Trade ReviewAbsorbing and moving * The Tablet *Spare and moving * TLS *
£14.24
Little, Brown Book Group November
Book Synopsis1989. Salvadorian society is immersed in the horror of civil war. On a fateful November dawn, a group of armed men entered the Universidad Católica and murder six Jesuits priests and two women in cold blood. Survivor of the massacre Father Tojeira is forced to take the reins of control in the sinister days following the attack, desperate to uncover the truth behind the terrible slaughter. Inspired by the real-life tragic events that shook El Salvador and Latin America, November is a moving and unsettling novel about fear, hate and impunity. It is the first book to cast some light on the crime that was never solved and an attempt to speak out, as the murdered Jesuits attempted to do, in the defence of the disadvantaged.Trade ReviewAbsorbing and moving * The Tablet *Spare and moving * TLS *
£8.09
Pan Macmillan We Had To Remove This Post
Book Synopsis'The dank underside of social media, its cruelty and delusions . . . superbly poised, psychologically astute and subtle' - Ian McEwan, author of Atonement'A glimpse of the foetid underbelly of the internet' - The TimesWe Had To Remove This Post by Hanna Bervoets is a chilling, powerful and gripping story about who or what determines our world view. To be a content moderator is to see humanity at its worst — but Kayleigh needs money. That’s why she takes a job working for a social media platform whose name she isn’t allowed to mention. Her job: reviewing offensive videos and pictures, rants and conspiracy theories, and deciding which need to be removed.Kayleigh and her colleagues spend all day watching horrors and hate on their screens. Yet Kayleigh is good at her job, and in her colleagues she finds a group of friends, even a new girlfriend — and for the first time in her life, Kayleigh’s future seems bright.But soon the job seems to change them all, shifting their worlds in alarming ways. How long before the moderators own morals bend and flex under the weight of what they see?Examining the toxic world of content moderation, the novel forces us to ask: what is right? What is normal? And who gets to decide?Translated from the original Dutch by Emma Rault.'Taut as a thriller, sharp as a slug of ice-cold vodka' - Irish Times'Fast paced and thrilling, violent and nightmarish' - Kristen Arnett, author of Mostly Dead Things'An acid glimpse into a new form of labor existing today' - Ling Ma, author of SeveranceTrade ReviewAcid-dipped novella . . . a glimpse of the foetid underbelly of the internet and a sobering consideration of who is deciding what we see, and at what cost. -- Siobhan Murphy * The Times *A chilling page-turner . . . the unreliable narrator gives it a strong literary heartbeat — and it’s richly suspenseful too. With a few deft strokes [Bervoets] manages to incorporate all of the ills of social media into one concise story . . . utterly haunting. -- Johanna Thomas-Corr * The Sunday Times *The setting alone is compelling and has always been in need of an accomplished novelist’s attention . . . The dreamlike climax of the final pages is beautifully wrought. Men might usefully confront in Bervoets a writerly intelligence at once so tender and so willing to look into the abyss. -- Ian McEwan * The Guardian *Bervoets' neat dissection of morality is as taut as a thriller, sharp as a slug of ice-cold vodka. -- Catherine Taylor * Irish Times *Surprising and enigmatic . . . intriguing and frustrating . . . As we spend more and more time in the trickmirror of the internet, how can we know what or whom to believe? -- Laura van den Berg * The New York Times *A very modern tale about the dark side of the internet. * The Times 'Best Books of Summer' *Hanna Bervoet's slim, compelling novel We Had to Remove This Post addresses the foetid morass of social media . . . Bevoets is often acidly funny, especially when demonstraring the workers' mordant, jockish humour. * TLS *The dank underside of social media, its cruelty and delusions . . . Hanna Bervoets has richly obliged in this superbly poised, psychologically astute and subtle novel of mental unravelling. -- Ian McEwan, author of AtonementExtremely gripping and intense edgy queer novel -- Andrea Lawlor, author of Paul Takes The Form Of A Mortal GirlThis novel gives us an acid glimpse into a new form of labor existing today, a job that extracts an immeasurable psychic toll. Fascinating and disturbing. -- Ling Ma, author of SeveranceAn astonishing and compelling cast of characters, drawn together through circumstance, separated by the same. The novel is fast paced and thrilling, violent and nightmarish and grief-stricken, but also tender and wildly moving. -- Kristen Arnett, author of Mostly Dead Things and With TeethI thought it was incredible and has real cult potential. -- Alice Slater * Tik Tok *Powerful, discussable, and a harbinger of a voice-in-translation to watch. * Booklist Starred Review *Scathing, darkly humorous exploration of the impact of VR, IR . . . Bervoets just gets it. This is, unironically, a novel for our time. * Kirkus Starred Review *Magnetic . . . Bervoets frames the story like a mystery, slowly revealing the fractured relationships and circumstances that drove Kayleigh away from her job. * Publishers Weekly *
£12.99
John Murray Press Almarina
Book Synopsis'One of the most beautiful books published in recent years: an intense, poignant story' Caterina BonviciniCan a prison free those who enter?Nisida, moored like a boat in the Mediterranean, is a small island nestled between Capri and Bagnoli, off the coast of Naples. Each day, through the early morning light, Elisabetta Maiorano travels across the city, passes by the guards on the way into the detention centre, hands over her bag and arrives at her classroom. All thoughts are suspended once inside. Usually Elisabetta hasn't spoken to anyone since the day before; her only reason for living to teach mathematics to the group of young inmates who arrive not long after she does. But one day, Almarina shows up and everything changes. She is Romanian and bears the signs of her personal history on her body. Together, closed up in a small classroom, a true island within an island, Elisabetta and Almarina discover a possible pathway to freedom. Warm and intimate, intense and political, Valeria Parrella touches our emotions, giving voice to a loneliness that is universal. Almarina is about finding love in unexpected places, about atonement, forgetting and starting over. But mostly it is about two women learning how to live again.Translated by Alex ValenteTrade ReviewOne of the most beautiful books published in recent years: an intense, poignant story * Caterina Bonvicini *
£12.34
John Murray Press Almarina
Book Synopsis'One of the most beautiful books published in recent years: an intense, poignant story' Caterina BonviciniCan a prison free those who enter?Nisida, moored like a boat in the Mediterranean, is a small island nestled between Capri and Bagnoli, off the coast of Naples. Each day, through the early morning light, Elisabetta Maiorano travels across the city, passes by the guards on the way into the detention centre, hands over her bag and arrives at her classroom. All thoughts are suspended once inside. Usually Elisabetta hasn't spoken to anyone since the day before; her only reason for living to teach mathematics to the group of young inmates who arrive not long after she does. But one day, Almarina shows up and everything changes. She is Romanian and bears the signs of her personal history on her body. Together, closed up in a small classroom, a true island within an island, Elisabetta and Almarina discover a possible pathway to freedom. Warm and intimate, intense and political, Valeria Parrella touches our emotions, giving voice to a loneliness that is universal. Almarina is about finding love in unexpected places, about atonement, forgetting and starting over. But mostly it is about two women learning how to live again.Translated by Alex ValenteTrade ReviewOne of the most beautiful books published in recent years: an intense, poignant story * Caterina Bonvicini *
£9.49
Quercus Publishing Three: an intricate thriller of deception and
Book SynopsisA dark psychological thriller with a killer twist, that has topped the bestseller charts in its native Israel*TRANSLATED BY MAN BOOKER WINNER JESSICA COHEN*Three tells the stories of three women: Orna, a divorced single-mother looking for a new relationship; Emilia, a Latvian immigrant on a spiritual search; and Ella, married and mother of three, returning to University to write her thesis. All of them will meet the same man. His name is Gil. He won't tell them the whole truth about himself - but they don't tell him everything either. Tense, twisted and surprising, Three is a daring new form of psychological thriller. It is a declaration of war against the normalisation of death and violence. Slowly but surely, you see the danger each woman walks into. What you won't see is the trap being laid - until it snaps shut.Trade ReviewThe architecture of Mishani's new book is meticulously crafted, the tension builds up step by step as a result of the fatal choices the protagonists make. With huge talent Mishani shows the normality of everyday life in Israel as a fertile ground for pure evil . . . A sophisticated literary machine, Three is a work written like a Shakespearean play . . . I believe it'll be remembered as a work that heralded a new-wave in Israeli fiction just as My Michael by Amos Oz did a few decades ago * Haaretz, Israel *Dror Mishani writes with profound originality * Henning Mankell *Dror Mishani has reached the world league of crime fiction * Die Zeit, Germany *Dror Mishani marvellously handles the art of suspense * Les Echos, France *Dror Mishani is one of the greatest new writers in the genre * Politiken, Denmark *A psychological drama that goes far beyond the standard thriller plot * Wprost, Poland *Three is an outstanding thriller. From the first page, Mishani's addictive prose begins its work, drawing you into a devious plot where life, fate and murder intertwine. A steady hand, immersive writing and masterful storytelling. This is suspense at its best -- Olivia Kiernan, author of * Too Close to Breathe *Superb, the way darkness snakes its way into these apparently humdrum lives. A book with killer twists that are impossible to see coming, but utterly convincing.The pay-off for the reader is fantastic -- Willam Shaw, author of * Deadland *In three parts, there are very effectful plot twists just when you expect them least.Psychologically sophisticated suspense and three touching and subtle portraits of women -- Dagmar Kaindl * BuchKultur *I was nailed to this story. In serene, almost transparent prose Mishani leads us into a devilish underworld of other minds, where real and imaginary collide and answers cannot be guessed but we desperately want them, right to the end. Riveting and masterly -- Polly Clark, author of * Larchfield *A masterpiece that - on quiet paws - evokes more insight than some of the many editorials * WDR Radio, BOOK OF THE WEEK *Dror Mishani is the undisputable spiritual heir to George Simenon * Le Monde *The characters and mood of this intriguing page-turner remain with the reader long after the last page. * The Lady *an utterly convincing and utterly compelling exercise in Highsmithian horror * The Times *A Tel-Aviv-set psychological thriller . . . with surprise after surprise stored up its clever sleeve, Dror Mishani's stand-alone serial killer tale . . . with a difference evokes both Patricia Highsmith and the quiet desperation of some of Simenon's non-Maigret novels * Crime Time *
£11.24
Quercus Publishing The Lover: A twisty scandi thriller about a woman
Book Synopsis "An absolutely prime slice of Scandicrime . . . the writer channels her professional expertise into a noteworthy domestic thriller" Barry Forshaw, FT"Having hit a bull's-eye with . . . The Therapist . . . Helene Flood repeats the trick with another twisty tale of domestic goings-on . . . teasing and pleasing the reader till the very last page" Sunday Times Crime Club"The Lover is taut, clever and irresistible" Anna Bailey"A wonderful storyteller" Chris WhitakerIs it worse to deceive to your husband or the police?Rikke is lying to them both.But how many lies can she get away with?When her upstairs neighbour Jørgen is found murdered, she's questioned alongside her husband. How can she admit that she and Jørgen were having an affair? Or explain to the police the complexity of her feelings? The hint of relief that he's dead. And what would they say if they knew she used a spare key to enter his apartment the morning after he was killed?Rikke knows she can't hide the evidence of the affair from the police. And if she's caught in her lie, suspicion will turn to her. With her perfect family life threatening to unravel, Rikke realises that finding the killer is the only way to put herself in the clear. So long as the killer doesn't get to her first.Praise for The Therapist"Creepy, compelling and very well written" Harriet Tyce"Wonderfully creepy, twisty and compelling" Karen Hamilton"Masterfully paced and hauntingly written" Anna Bailey"Gets under your skin" Jo Spain"I couldn't put it down" Sarah Ward"A marvellously assured debut thriller" Irish Times."A striking debut" SpectatorTranslated from the Norwegian by Alison McCulloughTrade ReviewAn absolutely prime slice of Scandicrime . . . the writer channels her professional expertise into a noteworthy domestic thriller -- Barry Forshaw * FT *Having hit a bull's-eye with . . . The Therapist . . . Helene Flood repeats the trick with another twisty tale of domestic goings-on . . . teasing and pleasing the reader till the very last page * Sunday Times Crime Club *The joy of the book is the vivid variety of characters, and the cynicism with which Flood dissects the sad illusions of married life -- A.N. Wilson
£12.74
Quercus Publishing The Wanderer: The Sunday Times Thriller of the
Book Synopsis"A beguiling read . . . A cold-case whodunnit [and] a Shadow of the Wind-style quest" - John Dugdale, Sunday Times"Bestselling writer Luca D'Andrea has concocted a fearsome witches' brew of myth, memory and mayhem" Sunday Times Crime ClubA haunting thriller drawing on myths, legends and fairy tales, set in a mysterious Italian valley - from Italy's bestselling answer to Stephen King."D'Andrea piles on the action and the atmosphere with the panache of a seasoned writer" Marcel Berlins, The TimesIt begins with a slap in the face.Out walking his St Bernard, Tony Carcano is confronted by a girl on a motorbike who shows him a photograph from his past. Of him posing with the body of a young woman. Smiling."Why were you laughing?"It's not the last Tony sees of Sybille Knapp, an orphan whose mother drowned herself in Kreuzwirt lake in 1999. That was the official verdict. Before long, Tony, a bestselling writer, is turning his imagination to working out what really happened.But Kreuzwirt is a sullen, silent community, loyal to the powerful Perkman family, who will stop at nothing to keep the truth buried. And there are other forces at work in this valley. Stories of an ancient evil. Whispers of a figure who stands between this world and the next.The Wanderer sings and his song is the wind.Translated from the Italian by Katherine GregorTrade ReviewD'Andrea piles on the action and the atmosphere with the panache of a seasoned writer. -- Marcel Berlins * The Times *Can be compared (with no fear of hyperbole) to Stephen King and Jo Nesbø. -- Massimo Vincenz * La Repubblica *D'Andrea's a name to add to your Eurocrime list. -- David HewsonA beguiling read . . . A cold-case whodunnit [and] a Shadow of the Wind-style quest -- John Dugdale * Sunday Times *Bestselling writer Luca D'Andrea has concocted a fearsome witches' brew of myth, memory and mayhem * Sunday Times Crime Club *D'Andrea delivers with quite some verve a haunting whodunnit laden with elements of myth and fairy tale * i *A well paced page-turner -- A N Wilson * Tablet *
£17.09
Quercus Publishing The Kreutzer Sonata and other stories (riverrun
Book Synopsis'How truth thickens and deepens when it migrates from didactic fable to the raw experience of a visceral awakening is one of the thrills of Tolstoy's stories'Sharon Cameron in her preface to The Kreutzer Sonata and Other StoriesThis second volume of Tolstoy's shorter fiction, selected by the critic Sharon Cameron, contains 'Family Happiness', 'The Devil' and 'The Kreutzer Sonata', three of Tolstoy's unhappy-marriage stories as well as 'Father Sergius', a story of a loss of identity in ambitious pursuit of holy virtue and 'Master and Man'. Tolstoy's antidotes to delusion, fear, jealousy and even madness have an ethical thread pulled through the fabric of different themes and genres.This riverrun edition reissues the translation of Louise and Aylmer Maude, whose influential versions of Tolstoy first brought his work to a wide readership in English.
£9.49
Quercus Publishing Prey for the Shadow: A Terra Alta Investigation
Book SynopsisThe mayor of Barcelona is being blackmailed.A sex tape from her student days - one she never knew existed. The price: 300,000 euros and her immediate resignation.A political chameleon who swept to power on a populist wave, she has her enemies. Nor can she trust those closest to her. Both her ex-husband and her deputy would profit from her fall.Melchor Marín, living a quiet life in Terra Alta, is tempted back to Barcelona to work the case. But what seemed a simple matter has its roots in far more serious and disturbing crimes.With the mayor on the verge of capitulation, a shock revelation changes everything - not least the course of Melchor's life. At long last, his heart's dark desire is in his grasp. Praise for Even the Darkest Night"A gem of a book, easily the best I've read this year" M W Craven"A wonderful novel. I look forward to many more Melchor stories" A N Wilson"The first in what promises to be an excellent series" GuardianTranslated from the Spanish by Anne McLeanTrade ReviewThis novel is not just good, it's great -- Álvaro Colomer * Diari Ara *Cercas' best. A terrific novel -- José María Pozuelo Yvancos * ABC Cultural *The new Cercas shines brightly -- Jordi Amat * La Vanguardia *A courageous Javier Cercas seeks to give an allegorical dimension to social observation, and succeeds ... a committed moral novel and belligerent tale of denunciation -- Santos Sanz Villanueva * Zenda Libros *
£20.90
Broadview Press Ltd The Essential Tain Bo Cuailnge and Other Stories from the Ulster Cycle
£999.99
The New York Review of Books, Inc Rock Crystal
Book SynopsisSeemingly the simplest of stories—a passing anecdote of village life— Rock Crystal opens up into a tale of almost unendurable suspense. This jewel-like novella by the writer that Thomas Mann praised as 'one of the most extraordinary, the most enigmatic, the most secretly daring and the most strangely gripping narrators in world literature' is among the most unusual, moving, and memorable of Christmas stories. Two children—Conrad and his little sister, Sanna—set out from their village high up in the Alps to visit their grandparents in the neighboring valley. It is the day before Christmas but the weather is mild, though of course night falls early in December and the children are warned not to linger. The grandparents welcome the children with presents and pack them off with kisses. Then snow begins to fall, ever more thickly and steadily. Undaunted, the children press on, only to take a wrong turn. The snow rises higher and higher, time passes: it is deep night when the sky clears and Conrad and Sanna discover themselves out on a glacier, terrifying and beautiful, the heart of the void. Adalbert Stifter''s rapt and enigmatic tale, beautifully translated by Elizabeth Mayer and Marianne Moore, explores what can be found between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day—or on any night of the year.
£12.59
Grove Press / Atlantic Monthly Press Reptile Memoirs: A twisted, cold-blooded thriller
Book SynopsisDark, disturbing and deliciously twisty, Reptile Memoirs is a biting and brilliant exploration of the cold-bloodedness of humanity - perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn, Jo Nesbø and Tana French.What readers are saying about Reptile Memoirs'Truly unusual and terrifying' 'Dark, heart-wrenching and creepy''Graphic''Dark, challenging and unforgettable''Chilling''Not for the faint hearted''Unique, dark and disturbing, gripping and very, very clever'Liv has a lot of secrets. Late one night, in the aftermath of a party in the apartment she shares with two friends in Ålesund, she sees a python on a TV nature show and becomes obsessed with the idea of buying a snake as a pet. Soon Nero, a baby Burmese python, becomes the apartment's fourth roommate. As Liv bonds with Nero, she is struck by a desire that surprises her with its intensity. Finally she is safe.Thirteen years later, in the nearby town of Kristiansund, Mariam Lind goes on a shopping trip with her eleven-year-old daughter, Iben. Following an argument Mariam storms off, expecting her young daughter to make her own way home . . . but she never does. Detective Roe Olsvik, new to the Kristiansund police department, is assigned to the case of Iben's disappearance. As he interrogates Mariam, he instantly suspects her - but there is much more to this case and these characters than their outer appearances would suggest.A biting and constantly shifting tale of family secrets, rebirth and the legacy of trauma, Reptile Memoirs is a brilliant exploration of the cold-bloodedness of humanity.Trade ReviewThe narrative twists make your jaw drop...An astonishing debut. * The Times - Books of the Year *This astonishing debut gradually tightens its grip and leaves you gasping...Silje Ulstein is a daringly original writer. * The Times *A remarkable literary debut offering a twist on the Nordic police procedural * Financial Times, Best books for summer *Original, sharp, tender and chilling, Reptile Memoirs is hugely ambitious and hypnotically readable. -- Chris Whitaker, author of WE BEGIN AT THE ENDA beautifully dark and twisty story with jaw-dropping twists and pin-point plotting. -- Joanna Cannon, author of THE TROUBLE WITH GOATS AND SHEEPNeither Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl), nor Paula Hawkins (Girl on the Train), nor Alex Michaelides (The Silent Patient) - to name some well-known examples from the last decade - can measure up to Ulstein . . . This debut is a great discovery . . . A thriller that really stands out. * Aftenposten *Ulstein has written the best and creepiest Norwegian crime debut in years . . . A novel that stands out due to both its dark, clever and intricate plot as well as the author's solid insight in the human mind. * Adresseavisen *A nerve-wrecking and highly original psychological thriller . . . The book is very hard to put down and if you do the plot will keep playing out in your mind. * Dagbladet *This book is a shapeshifting marvel. I found it compulsively readable, and not just for the unexpected paths by which it unpacks its secrets. Silje Ulstein writes about snakes in ways that made me feel I've never really seen them before: In language that is as seductive as it is prickly, she pries open the boundaries between reptiles and humans, adults and the children they once were, and criminals and victims. An uncanny, unsettling and totally immersive read. -- Emily Fridlund, Booker Prize-shortlisted author of HISTORY OF WOLVESReptile Memoirs is a magnetic ocean tide: a bold, heart-stopping and genre-defying debut which compels us to sink toward the darkest depths of our past. A masterfully shocking and at times wonderfully uncomfortable exploration of obsession, desire and rejection, sexuality and taboo, Ulstein leaves us breathless in her quest to examine which version of the self is capable of love and violence. -- Sarah Schmidt, author of SEE WHAT I HAVE DONEExtraordinary and terrifying, Reptile Memoirs sinks teeth into you from page one. Through relentless and, at times, almost unbearable tension, Ulstein delivers a menacingly layered thriller unlike any you've read before. -- P. J. Vernon, author of BATH HAUS
£14.99
Orion Publishing Co The First Thing You See
Book SynopsisImagine you are a young mechanic living in a small community in France. You own your own home, and lead a simple life. Then, one evening, you open your front door to find a distraught Hollywood starlet standing in front of you. This is what happens to Arthur Dreyfuss in the village of Long, population 687 inhabitants.But although feigning an American accent, this woman is not all that she seems. For her name is Jeanine Foucamprez, and her story is very different from the glamorous life of a star. Arthur is not all he seems, either; a lover of poetry with a darker past than one might imagine, he has learnt to see beauty in the mundane.THE FIRST THING YOU SEE is a warm, witty novel about two fragile souls learning to look beyond the surface - for the first thing you see isn't always what you get!Trade ReviewIt's a powerful message which begins with the novel's title - a meditation on our obsession with beauty, celebrity and the consequences for those lumbered with one or both, delivered in a deceptively simple package stuffed full of filmic references and peppered with poetic quotations. It's a little gem and it's been a long time in the offing in translation. * A Life In Books *This smart romantic comedy is charmingly Gallic and cries out to be filmed as a sentimental comedy. * SUNDAY TIMES *At once tender and harrowing, light-hearted and profound, it is a highly original and affecting read. * THE LADY *
£7.19
Quercus Publishing Conviction: It's a matter of life - and death
Book SynopsisBoth investigations began on the same day. One seemed domestic, almost banal: a newborn is found in a bag outside a hospital and the woman who left it there is captured after a few hours. The second investigation appeared stranger and more intriguing: a Swiss tourist disappeared from a beach-hotel near Tel-Aviv, and a quick inquiry showed he had been using a fake passport and at least two names. Can he be a Mossad agent like his daughter claims? And is he in danger?Inspector Avraham Avraham, wishing to outgrow his usual cases of domestic violence, is indifferent to the one, and seduced by the other. Soon he understands he made a wrong choice, as both investigations spiral into a maze of violence and deception, leading to Israel's darkest secrets - and threatening to put Avraham in conflict with the most powerful men in the country, who technically don't even exist.Conviction is a successful synthesis of the emotionality of the previous Avraham cases and the fast-paced, highly suspenseful standalone novel, Three. Once again, Mishani delivers an almost unbearably tense story, both thrilling and emotionally involving. It is yet another triumph.Trade ReviewA book that unfolds with an eerie, deliberate power; one to savour. -- Martin WalkerAnother jewel in the crown of a brilliant series * Irish Independent *Mishani is the master of the deftly woven, complicated plot . . . Five stars * Tablet *
£17.09
Canongate Books Ordesa
Book SynopsisOrdesa - a small Spanish town in the Pyrenees - is where our narrator was born, a place his father loved dearly, a place suffused with memories. Now, forty-six years later, he returns to the valley with his own children on a summer vacation. His parents are dead, his marriage has ended and he's struggling to piece together the bits of himself.Single and living in an apartment he hates, clinging to snatched moments of quality time with his apathetic children, newly sober and with his career on the wane, the ghosts of the narrator's family besiege him, but also bring him hope. Out of despair, he writes this chronicle, this homage, this memoir of his family: grandparents whose photos were never taken, whose funerals were never attended, parents unable to show their love. Maybe the tragedy of life itself is not death, but truly realising the importance of family only once they've passed. Perhaps this trip to Ordesa can help him fall in love with life - his life - once more.A masterwork of autofiction from Spanish literary icon Manuel Vilas, Ordesa is a deeply moving meditation on identity, nationality, family, loss and the passing of time.Trade ReviewA meditation on yearning, solitude and family . . . A book of deep reckoning - of the meaningful and mundane - but written with an airy, even whimsical touch . . . Radiantly evokes both a golden age and its slow deterioration * * New York Times * *Vilas paints an affecting portrait of a middle-aged man alone - divorced, estranged from his children, his parents deceased - and attempting to chronicle his childhood. A persistent sense of longing for that which is lost pervades the book, making it feel particularly fitting this year * * Vanity Fair * *The narrator of this sober yet elegant autobiographical novel is a middle-aged man reckoning with his past and with his encroaching mortality. Painfully observant and poetically inclined * * New Yorker * *Ordesa is a smack in the chops and a swim in the sea, a desolate memento mori and a warm, consoling hug . . . There is so much love in this book, for life and for language, that it bursts the seams even in translation. If you're remotely responsive to this, it will make a holy mess of you * * Herald * *Vilas has written a book that is soaked through with humanity. An intimate, comforting, painful and deeply beautiful tour de force. He is an enhancer of life -- JAMES RHODES author of INSTRUMENTALOne of Spain's finest modern writers . . . [Ordesa] offers a humane and intimate account of his divorce, family problems, and addictions * * Independent, Books of the Month * *Ordesa is a poet's novel, or maybe a novelist's prose poem. It's both things at once, and also the saddest and most candid autobiography I've read in recent times. I've been through this book twice and I still don't know how Vilas does it. I know, however, that this book is a gift, and maybe that's enough -- JUAN GABRIEL VÁSQUEZ, author of THE SHAPE OF THE RUINSBecomes a way of looking honestly at what mourning really feels like - some of [Vilas'] observations on grief, along with the self-hatred and guilt that can follow a death, will strike a chord with anyone who has experienced a similar rupture -- Lucy Ellmann * * Guardian * *A philosophically brave and emotionally-intelligent novel par excellence. There is rigour in the thought and deep scrutiny in the lyrical musings and reflections, which make it surely a classic which has sought no easy route to the reader's soul * * RTÉ * *This is the album, the archive, the memory without lies or consolation of a life, a time, a family, a social class condemned to so much effort for very little obtained. A lot of precision is needed to tell these things, the acid, the sharpened knife, the exact needle to burst the balloon of vanity. What's left in the end is the clean emotion of truth and the distress of everything lost -- ANTONIO MUÑOZ MOLINA author of the Man Booker International Prize-shortlisted LIKE A FADING SHADOW
£15.29
Transworld Publishers Ltd The Wolf: From the author of the Richard & Judy
Book Synopsis‘Written in Bjork’s habitual cool prose, it’s an absorbing, twisty novel’ Sunday Times'A chilling and ingenious tale of cat and mouse where the hunter doesn't realise that they have become the hunted' Yours Magazine‘Her name is Mia Kruger, and it is she who makes this superb story very special indeed. Genuinely gripping and with a wonderful heroine, it is sensational’ Daily Mail___It was one of Sweden's most notorious unsolved cases: two young boys abducted and murdered, their bodies brutally, artistically arranged.But eight years later, when two other boys are found in similar circumstances, it looks like the killer might be back - this time in neighbouring Norway.Led by veteran detective Holger Munch, the investigating police are baffled. There are no clues, no leads to follow. In desperation, Munch drafts in a trainee from the Police Academy, Mia Kruger, a young woman with an uncanny ability to see beyond the facts. Little does he know that Mia is battling her own demons and will soon find that her life and that of the case are entwined in ways no one could have imagined....From the internationally bestselling author of I'm Travelling Alone, comes another mesmerically chilling psychological tale of cat and mouse where the hunter may not know that they have become the hunted before it's too late...___Readers love Samuel Bjork:'Ingenious''Simply terrific''Intelligent and gripping''Perfect for Scandi-Noir lovers'
£18.99
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Black Ice
Book SynopsisA gripping, suspense-filled thriller from the author of the internationally best-selling Hammarby series. A deadly secret haunts a group of strangers who cross paths in the snow of a Swedish midwinter... 'Plotted with the complexity of a labyrinth' New York Times January in Gotland. The days are short, the air is cold, and all the roads are covered in snow. On a deserted, icy backroad, these wintry conditions bring together a group of strangers with a force devastating enough to change their lives forever. A deadly accident and two separate crimes leave victims in their wake. Four years later, a single phone call is all it takes to bring back the terror of that day and to set in motion a plot for revenge. For Sandra it started as an unremarkable winter's day of shopping followed by a kind gesture from a stranger. For Jeanette it began with the thrill of an illicit rendezvous with her lover. Both women had driven past the same icy ravine. Only one was in the car that caused a deadly crash. Only one left a man to die alone in the snow... Each carried a secret from that day, a secret that, if revealed, could connect them to a larger, more terrible transgression. And there is someone out there who knows the whole picture, and who would rather kill than allow it all to come to light... Reviewers on Carin Gerhardsen: 'The author's mastery of tone imbues a largely tragic tale with touches of humor. By turns touching and terrifying, this nail-biter deserves a wide audience.' Booklist 'Carin Gerhardsen writes so vividly, like she is painting with words, gripping your heart and soul in an ever-tightening tourniquet.' Peter James 'Complex, slow-burning thriller with a final twist that leaves no one unscathed.' Booklist 'The book's greatest strength lies in its messy humanity.' Air Mail 'Readers are kept on their toes due to the never ending twists and turns that dominate the plot.' Tap the Line MagazineTrade ReviewPlotted with the complexity of a 19th-century labyrinth * New York Times *Skillfully plotted... The author's mastery of tone imbues a largely tragic tale with touches of humor. By turns touching and terrifying, this nail-biter deserves a wide audience * Publishers Weekly Starred Review *A very exciting new voice from the North -- Ragnar JónassonGerhardsen was a mathematician before becoming a writer, which might explain the precision with which she's mapped her characters' backstories and trajectories. Black Ice is both an intricate puzzle and a probing psychological study of flawed people as they navigate a series of moral dilemmas, often making the wrong choice or misunderstanding the actions of another. Ultimately, the book's greatest strength lies in its messy humanity * Air Mail *All our speculations and conceptions concerning the plot's reality are bound to fall apart as Gerhardsen enjoys teasing her readership in a masterful manner, while the main characters are drawn in a way that leaves room for various theories regarding their actual role in the story's events * Tap the Line magazine *
£20.00
Alma Books Ltd Dead Men Tell No Tales and Other Stories
Book SynopsisIn contrast with the epic scope of the Rougon-Macquart novels, Zola’s short stories are concerned with the everyday aspects of human existence and the interests of ordinary people. From the cruel irony of ‘Captain Burle’ to the Rabelaisian exuberance of ‘Coqueville on the Spree’, these stories display the broad range of Zola’s imagination, using a variety of tones, from the quietly cynical to the compassionate, from the playful to the tragic. Contains: Dead Men Tell No Tales Coqueville on the Spree Captain Burle Shellfish for Monsieur ChabreTable of ContentsContains: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Captain Burle, Coqueville on the Spree, Shellfish for Monsieur Chabri.
£999.99
Orenda Books The Coral Bride
Book SynopsisIn this beautiful, lyrical sequel to the critically acclaimed We Were the Salt of the Sea, Detective Moralès finds that a seemingly straightforward search for a missing fisherwoman off Quebec's Gaspé Peninsula is anything but… **SHORTLISTED for Crime Writers of Canada: Best French Crime Novel** **LONGLISTED for the CWA International Dagger** **NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER** 'A riveting story of old enmities, jealousies and friendships that come to light after a woman goes missing in a remote fishing village beautifully atmospheric' Gill Paul 'A haunting murder mystery about how human nature is every bit as dangerous and inscrutable as the sea draws out its suspense to the very last moment' Foreword Reviews _________________ It's not just the sea that holds secrets When an abandoned lobster trawler is found adrift off the coast of Quebec's Gaspé Peninsula, DS Joaquin Moralès begins a straightforward search for the boat's missing captain, Angel Roberts a rare female in a male-dominated world. But Moralès finds himself blocked at every turn by his police colleagues, by fisheries bureaucrats, and by his grown-up son, who has turned up at his door with a host of his own personal problems. When Angel's body is finally discovered, it's clear something very sinister is afoot, and Moralès and son are pulled into murky, dangerous waters, where old resentments run deep. Exquisitely written, with Bouchard's trademark lyrical prose, The Coral Bride evokes the power of the sea on the communities who depend on it, the never-ending struggle between the generations, and an extraordinary mystery at the heart of both. For fans of Ann Cleeves, Annie Proulx, Emma Stonex, Louise Penny and Jane Harper _________________ 'A police procedural like no other marvel at the clever plotting' Crime Fiction Lover 'An absolute joy to read, with as much tension as there is poetry' Le Journal de Montréal 'With a cast of characters you'll engage with and love and a mystery that will have you on edge, Bouchard pulls you into her world wonderful' Michael J. Malone 'Roxanne Bouchard is reinventing the crime novel' Quebec TV 'Emotive and tragically beautiful' Jen Med's Book Reviews 'This is a crime novel but it is also a story about fathers and sons, of strangers in a new land and of women in a man's world a work of distinction' Live & Deadly 'The captivating investigation also conjures up the tides and their mysteries, following the rhythm of the region, the icy course of its autumn tide' Le Devoir 'Beautiful, readable, unforgettable' From Belgium with Booklove 'Characters so vivid, you can hear their voices' The Reading Closet Praise for Roxanne Bouchard: 'Lyrical and elegiac, full of quirks and twists' William Ryan 'Asks questions right from page one' Quentin Bates 'An isolated Canadian fishing community, a missing mother, and some lovely prose. Very impressed by this debut so far' Eva Dolan 'A tour de force of both writing and translation' Su Bristow 'The translation from French has retained a dreamily poetic cast to the language, but it's det-fic for all that ' Sunday Times 'Characters are well-drawn, from Moralès, the cop, and his sturdy inspector, Marlène, to the husky fishermen who were Marie's devoted suitors three decades ago ... An exotic curiosity, raw nugget' Shots Mag
£8.54
Parthian Books The Equestrienne
Book SynopsisIt is 1984 and a small town somewhere in the east of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic is in the firm grip of totalitarianism. Unruly and sickly Karolína is growing up in an all-female household including her hot-blooded, knife-wielding grandmother. Repelled by her mum’s serial love affairs Karolína runs away and stumbles upon a riding school on the edge of town. There, she befriends Romana, a girl with one leg shorter than the other and Matilda, a rider and trainer who helps the two girls overcome their physical limitations. Together they found a successful trick-riding team and soon it seems that half flags, mills and scales are not the only tricks flashing like blades up her sequinned sleeve as Karolína explores Pink Floyd and smoking, and discovers her knack for seeing deep into others’ souls. The fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989 and the subsequent arrival of capitalism threatens to destroy the riding school. The team has to turn professional. But in a sport of perfect scores is there still room for Romana and Karolína...? The Equestrienne is a poetic, caustic coming-of-age novel about the desire of one young girl to realise her dreams before and after Velvet Revolution; it is a celebration of friendship between women and also a bitter acknowledgement that greed and the desire for power can destroy any relationship.Trade Review‘This little book – it is only 80 pages long – packs a punch beyond its size [...] Her riotous, funny and painful parable is of a country and a girl in the throes of a revolution, of order turned upside-down.’ - Marta Dziurosz, European Literature Network; ‘Powerful... an enjoyable read.’ - Joseph Surtees, STORGY
£10.99
Text Publishing One Day I'll Tell You Everything
Book SynopsisA startling and powerful French novel translated into English for the first time.
£13.26
Aiora Press Thracian Tales
Book SynopsisGeorgios Vizyenos (1849-1896) is one of Greece's best-loved writers. His stories, written in 1883-4, are set in his native Thrace, a corner of Europe where Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey meet. Each title poses an enigma: Where did Yorgis' grandfather travel on his only journey? What was Yorgis' mother's sin? Who was responsible for his brother's murder? At the end of each story the narrator possesses some knowledge that forces him - and his readers - to revise their earlier assumptions, which were based on incomplete knowledge. Because Vizyenos wants us to experience the difficult transition from ignorance to knowledge, he leaves us in suspense until the very end. Vizyenos' stories evoke a time when individual Greeks and Turks could share each other's joys and pains despite the hostile relations between their governments.Table of ContentsIntroduction; The one and only journey of his life; My mother's sin; Who was my brothers murderer?; Chronological outline.
£11.39
Aleph Book Company THE GREATEST HINDI STORIES EVER TOLD
Book Synopsis
£999.99
HarperCollins India From One Birth to Another: Stories from Jaina
Book Synopsis
£9.38
Orient Blackswan Pvt Ltd Electric Steel: Parallel Stories from Italy,
Book Synopsis
£18.50
