Fiction Books

Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE 2017A STORY OF LOVE AFTER DEATHA masterpiece' Zadie SmithExtraordinary' Daily MailBreathtaking' ObserverA tour de force' Sunday TimesThe extraordinary first novel by the bestselling, Folio Prize-winning, National Book Award-shortlisted George Saunders, about Abraham Lincoln and the death of his eleven year old son, Willie, at the dawn of the Civil WarThe American Civil War rages while President Lincoln''s beloved eleven-year-old son lies gravely ill. In a matter of days, Willie dies and is laid to rest in a Georgetown cemetery. Newspapers report that a grief-stricken Lincoln returns to the crypt several times alone to hold his boy''s body.From this seed of historical truth, George Saunders spins an unforgettable story of familial love and loss that breaks free of realism, entering a thrilling, supernatural domain both hilarious and terrifying. Willie Lincoln finds himself Trade ReviewA masterpiece -- Zadie Smith * New York Times *Must be one of my favourite novels. What a warm, kindhearted and radical piece of writing. Such delicacy, such serious wit. I love it -- Max PorterAn early contender for 2017's Man Booker, a highly affecting novel about Abraham Lincoln's grief at the loss of his young son * Sunday Times *The much anticipated long-form debut from the US short-story maestro does not dissapoint * Guardian *The debut novel by the short-story supremo George Saunders. Set in 1862 in a cemetery in Washington, it has drawn high praise * New Statesman *A cacophonous, genre-busting book inspired by the death of Abraham Lincoln's young son * Metro *Filled with wit and sadness … It is an immensely powerful work. In the hands of the right imagination, the horror of individual loss can become an extraordinarily humane exploration of the beauty and the value of life, however painful * Guardian *An original father-son tale that expertly blends history and fiction (and even the supernatural), Lincoln in the Bardo explores grief, loss, life, death * Buzzfeed Year Ahead in Books *George Saunders makes you feel as though you are reading fiction for the first time * Khaled Hosseini *A morally passionate, serious writer ... He will be read long after these times have passed * Zadie Smith *He makes the all-but-impossible look effortless. We're lucky to have him * Jonathan Franzen *An astoundingly tuned voice – graceful, dark, authentic and funny * Thomas Pynchon *Saunders is a writer of arresting brilliance and originality, with a sure sense of his material and apparently inexhaustible resources of voice ... Scary, hilarious and unforgettable * Tobias Wolff *There is no one better, no one more essential * Dave Eggers *Few people cut as hard or deep as Saunders does * Junot Diaz *Saunders is a true original - restlessly inventive, yet deeply humane * Jennifer Egan *Reading George Saunders is, it's safe to say, like no other literary experience * Observer *No one writes more powerfully than George Saunders about the lost, the unlucky, the disenfranchised -- Michiko Kakutani * New York Times *Surreal and puncturing -- Margaret AtwoodFunny, poignant – in flashes, deeply moving – light as a feather and consistently weird -- Hari KunzruThere is really no one like him. He is an original – but everyone knows that -- Lorrie MoorePart of the reason it’s so hard to talk about him is the shared acknowledgment among writers that Saunders is somehow a little more than just a writer. . . . [He] writes like something of a saint. He seems in touch with some better being -- Joshua FerrisStunning ... Lincoln in the Bardo is a triumph ... In Lincoln in the Bardo Saunders has reinvented the form * Bookseller *A strange but brilliant study of grief and bereavement * Mail on Sunday, ‘Sizzling summer reads’ *

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Book SynopsisWhen the inhabitants of a peaceful world are conquered by the bloodthirsty yumens, their existence is irrevocably altered. Forced into servitude, the Athsheans find themselves at the mercy of their brutal masters.Desperation causes the Athsheans, led by Selver, to retaliate against their captors, abandoning their strictures against violence. But in defending their lives, they have endangered the very foundations of their society. For every blow against the invaders is a blow to the humanity of the Athsheans. And once the killing starts, there is no turning back.Trade ReviewThe slender book is fairly simplistic, but it's still compelling and thought-provoking. * SFX *It's a compact tale, a masterclass by a powerful writer who fashions a lean narrative where others might have produced a much larger, bloated tome, and yet for all the brevity Le Guin delivers not just a narrative but a believable alien world and society in short yet compelling scenes. * FORBIDDEN PLANET *

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Book SynopsisAN INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERA richly imagined, intricate tale of magic and intrigue' DEBORAH HARKNESS, #1 bestselling author of A Discovery of WitchesRiveting Leigh Bardugo's characters are so three dimensional you want to reach through the page' DIANA GABALDON, #1 bestselling author of OutlanderA wonderful, transporting ride through history a deeply romantic novel' KATHERINE ARDEN, bestselling author of The Bear and The Nightingale-----FATE CAN BE CHANGED. CURSES CAN BE BROKEN. In a shabby house in the new capital of Madrid, Luzia Cotado uses scraps of magic to get through her days of endless toil. But when her scheming mistress discovers her scullion is hiding a talent for little miracles, she demands Luzia use those gifts to win over the royal court. Determined to seize this chance to better her fortunes, Luzia plunges into a world of power-hungry nobility, desperate kings, holy men and seers, where the lines between magic, science and fraud blur. With the pyres of the Inquisition burning, she must use every bit of her wit and resilience to win fame and hide the truth of her ancestry even if that means enlisting the help of an embittered immortal familiar, whose own secrets could cost her everything. From the Sunday Times bestselling author comes a bewitching novel, brimming with peril in a world where a woman's ambition can prove deadly. -----PRAISE FOR LEIGH BARDUGO'S BOOKSReading Bardugo is an immersive, sensual experience... One can't help sinking into Luzia and Santángel's world and wishing never to leave' THE NEW YORK TIMESA compelling, well-researched and vividly written tale of magic and desire'THE GUARDIANThe Familiar feels distinct from similar tales ? including Bardugo's own ? because it explores a brutal and shameful real-life history... Bardugo brilliantly explores the wavy line between the supernatural and the divine'WASHINGTON POST'A pacy read with electric prose' INDEPENDENT on Six of Crows'Impossible to put down'STEPHEN KING, on Ninth House

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Book SynopsisJohn Boyes (ed.) has written for television, radio and several British, American and Canadian periodicals. His most recent titles are Character Parts, a study of characters in Canadian literature, and a children's book on Canada. He is the editor of six previous literary anthologies.This collection includes a number of celebrated poets, including William Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe, Emily Dickinson, William Blake, Walt Whitman, and Charlotte Perkins Gilman.

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Book SynopsisDISCOVER the BESTSELLING GRAPHIC MEMOIR behind the Olivier Award nominated musical.'A sapphic graphic treat' The TimesA moving and darkly humorous family tale, pitch-perfectly illustrated with Alison Bechdel's gothic drawings. If you liked Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis you'll love this.Meet Alison's father, a historic preservation expert and obsessive restorer of the family's Victorian home, a third-generation funeral home director, a high-school English teacher, an icily distant parent, and a closeted homosexual who, as it turns out, is involved with his male students and the family babysitter. When Alison comes out as homosexual herself in late adolescence, the denouement is swift, graphic, and redemptive.Interweaving between childhood memories, college life and present day, and through narrative that is equally heartbreaking and fiercely funny, Alison looks back on her complex relationship with her father and finds they had more in common than she ever knew.'A groundbreaking masterpiece' The Independent'A finely woven blend of yearning and euphoric fantasy' Evening Standard**ONE OF THE GUARDIAN'S 100 BEST BOOKS OF THE 21st CENTURY**Trade ReviewA work of passion... It's perhaps one of the best books I've read that explores sexuality and identity * Writing Magazine *

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Book SynopsisA beautiful deluxe gift edition of Mary Shelley's gothic masterpiece with foiled covers, marbled endpapers, sprayed edges, beautiful paper and finished with a silk ribbon. Navigating the Arctic, the captain of a ship rescues a man wandering near death across the ice caps. How the man got there reveals itself in a story of ambition, murder and revenge. As a young scientist, Victor Frankenstein pushed moral boundaries in order to cross the final frontier and create life. But his creation is a monster stitched together from grave-plundered body parts who has no place in the world, and his existence can only lead to tragedy. This hardback is part of VINTAGE COLLECTOR'S CLASSICS, a series of luxurious books especially crafted for collectors and fans of beautiful special editions. Sumptuous design meets the highest quality production. Discover timeless classics beautifully bound for every bookshelf.

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Book SynopsisA BBC TWO BETWEEN THE COVERS BOOK CLUB PICKAN INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLERSHORTLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER PRIZEWINNER OF THE MAN ASIAN LITERARY PRIZE AND THE WALTER SCOTT PRIZETeoh Yun Ling was seventeen years old when she first heard about Aritomo and the garden. But a war would come to Malaya, and a decade pass before she would travel to see him. A man of extraordinary skill and reputation, Aritomo was once the gardener for the Emperor of Japan, and now Yun Ling needs him. She needs him to help her build a memorial to her beloved sister, killed at the hands of the Japanese. She wants to learn everything Aritomo can teach her, and do her sister proud, but to do so she must also begin a journey into her own past, a past inextricably linked with the secrets of her troubled country.A story of art, war, love and memory, The Garden of Evening Mists captures a dark moment in history with richness, power and incredible beauty.Trade ReviewComplex and powerful . . . sophisticated and satisfying * * Sunday Times * *It is impossible to resist the opening sentence of this sumptuously produced novel . . . It showcases Tan Twan Eng as a master of cultural complexities * * Guardian * *Elegant and atmospheric * * The Times * *An elegant and haunting novel of war, art and memory . . . its beauty never comes to rest * * Independent * *Tantalisingly evocative . . . Suffused with a satisfying richness of colour and character, it still abounds in hidden passageways and occult corners. Mysteries and secrets persist. Tan dwells often on the borderline states, the in between areas, of Japanese art: the archer's hiatus before the arrow speeds from the bow; the patch of skin that a master of the horimono tattoo will leave bare; or the "beautiful and sorrowful" moment "just as the last leaf is about to drop" . . . An elegant and haunting novel of war, art and memory * * Independent * *A beautiful, dark and wistful exploration of loss and remembrance, that will stay with you long after reading * * Daily Telegraph * *War, art and memory join in a subtle story, notable for its ravishing prose, glorious sense of place, and mature alertness to the deceptive vistas of history -- Boyd Tonkin * * Independent * *With ravishing sensuousness, it conjures up the lush landscapes and tea estates of Malaya during the 1950s Emergency, as reflections on Japanese aesthetic refinements in gardening and art intersect with recollections of Japanese wartime atrocities in a haunting novel about memory -- Peter Kemp * * The Sunday Times * *This beautifully written book is full of arresting images . . . Achieved with the seemingly effortless poise of a remarkable fictional artistry, Tan Twan Eng's winning novel will be prized by all those who cannot resist the mastery of language * * Good Book Guide * *This book is to be kept and re-read and revered for its elegant, lyrical prose * * Red * *

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Book SynopsisA Japanese scientist thwarts an international plot to release a deadly virus by mutating it to make people kinder, but something goes horribly wrong A darkly funny, mind-blowing speculative thriller from the most original writer in Britain' (Daily Express)Utterly believable, dark and disturbing one of my books of the year' Trevor Wood Brilliantly original an alternative reality of the pandemic that's both terrifyingly plausible, relevant and timely' Sam Holland Clever, compelling, funny and it really makes you think: could it yet happen? Or did it happen already?' Daily MailIdealism clashes with political cynicism in a scathingly pointed satire that serves as a reminder of how the pandemic brought out the best in people but also, in some instances, the very worst' Financial Times  _________ Compassion may be humanity's deadliest weaponThe threat of nuclear war is no longer scary. This is much worse. It's invisible. It works quickly. And it's comingThe scourge has already infected and killed half the population in China and it is heading towards the UK. There is no time to escape. The British government sees no way out other than to distribute Dignity Pills' to its citizens: One last night with family or loved ones before going to sleep forever together. Because the contagion will kill you and the horrifying news footage shows that it will be better to go quietly.Dr Haruto Ikeda, a Japanese scientist working at a Chinese research facility, wants to save the world. He has discovered a way to mutate a virus. Instead of making people sick, instead of causing death, it's going to make them... nice. Instead of attacking the lungs, it will work into the brain and increase the host's ability to feel and show compassion. It will make people kind.Ikeda's quest is thoughtful and noble, and it just might work. Maybe humanity can be saved. Maybe it doesn't have to be the end.But kindness may also be the biggest killer of all  _______ One of the best things I've ever read incredibly moving and hugely entertaining' Chris McDonald It's the author's black humour and thought-provoking observations on human nature and our society that take over your brain to the extent that you'll be thinking about it for weeks after'' CultureFlyWhen Carver switches into full sci-fi, everything that comes before is injected with even deeper and darker themes, adding new layers that make the unpacking of the novel's final conclusion all the more satisfying' SciFi NowHis best yet. Carver just gets better and better' S.J. WatsonFirst and foremost a scathing takedown of government responses to the coronavirus outbreak'' SFXThe final chapters will have you racing through the pages to find out what happens Carver manages to get the right balance of dark humour, touching moments and razor-sharp social commentary' Crime Fiction LoverArguably the most original writer in Britain' Daily Express Insightful, sharp-minded, and fascinating a brilliant twist on a pandemic' Sarah Moorhead Thoughtful, challenging and unafraid to examine the impact huge events can have on the human condition his most important novel to date' The Madrid Review Unflinching, smart and entertaining as thought-provoking as it is brilliant' Isabelle Broom One of the most compelling and original voices in crime fiction' Alex North

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Book SynopsisPainstakingly restored from Tolkien's manuscripts and presented for the first time as a fully continuous and standalone story, the epic tale of The Children of Húrin will reunite fans of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings with Elves and Men, dragons and Dwarves, eagles and Orcs, and the rich landscape and characters unique to Tolkien.There are tales of Middle-earth from times long before The Lord of the Rings, and the story told in this book is set in the great country that lay beyond the Grey Havens in the West: lands where Treebeard once walked, but which were drowned in the great cataclysm that ended the First Age of the World.In that remote time Morgoth, the first Dark Lord, dwelt in the vast fortress of Angband, the Hells of Iron, in the North; and the tragedy of Túrin and his sister Nienor unfolded within the shadow of the fear of Angband and the war waged by Morgoth against the lands and secret cities of the Elves.Their brief and passionate lives were dominated by the elemental hatred that Morgoth bore them as the children of Húrin, the man who had dared to defy and to scorn him to his face. Against them he sent his most formidable servant, Glaurung, a powerful spirit in the form of a huge wingless dragon of fire. Into this story of brutal conquest and flight, of forest hiding-places and pursuit, of resistance with lessening hope, the Dark Lord and the Dragon enter in direly articulate form. Sardonic and mocking, Glaurung manipulated the fates of Túrin and Nienor by lies of diabolic cunning and guile, and the curse of Morgoth was fulfilled.The earliest versions of this story by J.R.R. Tolkien go back to the end of the First World War and the years that followed; but long afterwards, when The Lord of the Rings was finished, he wrote it anew and greatly enlarged it in complexities of motive and character: it became the dominant story in his later work on Middle-earth. But he could not bring it to a final and finished form. In this book Christopher Tolkien has constructed, after long study of the manuscripts, a coherent narrative without any editorial invention.Trade Review‘I hope that its universality and power will grant it a place in English mythology’Independent on Sunday ‘The darkest of all Tolkien’s tales. Alan Lee’s illustrations complement the writing splendidly’Times Literary Supplement

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Book SynopsisDiscover the late Ursula Le Guin''s passionate and enthralling story of a young boy sent to a school of wizardry to learn the ways of magic in the opening quartet of the Earthsea story.''One of the literary greats'' Margaret Atwood''The deepest and smartest of writers. Her words are always with us. Some of them are written on my soul'' Neil GaimanA Wizard of Earthsea * The Tombs of Atuan * The Farthest Shore * TehanuGed is but a goatherd on the island of Gont when he comes by his strange powers over nature. Sent to the School of Wizards on Roke, he learns the true way of magic and proves himself a powerful magician. And it is as the Archmage Sparrowhawk that he helps the High Priestess Tenar escape the labyrinth of darkness. But over the years, Ged witnesses true magic and the ancient ways submit to the forces of evil and death. Will he too succumb, or can he hold them back?''Superb. One of literature''s best-written fantasy worlds. I adored A Wizard of Earthsea, which I read and reread until my ratty old paperback copy required emergency surgery. Le Guin''s words are magical. Drink this magic up. Drown in it. Dream it'' David Mitchell''One of the greats. A literary icon'' Stephen King''A colossus of literature, a trailblazer'' China MievillePreviously titled The Earthsea Quartet.Trade ReviewRowling can type, but Le Guin can write * Guardian *Composed sparely, shaped by narratives so basic they must be inscribed upon our cells, they read as if they were not written but found, dug out like jewels from rock * Village Voice *A writer of phenomenal power * Observer *

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Book SynopsisReturning to St Petersburg from a Swiss sanatorium, the gentle and naive epileptic Prince Myshkin - pays a visit to his distant relative General Yepanchin and proceeds to charm the General, his wife, and his three daughters. But his life is thrown into turmoil when he chances on a photograph of the beautiful Nastasya Filippovna.Trade Review“A book that manages like no other to plunge fearlessly into suffering while at the same time illuminating the enduring, almost unspeakable beauty of the human.” —Laurie Sheck, The Atlantic “One of the most excoriating, compelling, and remarkable books ever written: and without question one of the greatest.” —A. C. Grayling “A masterpiece . . . a fact of world literature just as important as the densely dramatic Brothers Karamazov or the brilliantly subtle and terrifying Devils. . . . [an] excellent new translation.” —The Guardian “McDuff's language is rich and alive.” —The New York Times Book Review “[The Idiot's] narrative is so compelling.” —Rowan Williams, Archbishop of CanterburyTable of ContentsThe IdiotChronologyIntroductionFurther ReadingA Note on the TranslationThe IdiotNotes

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Book SynopsisA native Iowan, Nathan Hill lives with his wife in Naples, Florida. Wellness is his second novel, following his acclaimed debut, The Nix, which won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for first fiction and was a New York Times bestseller.

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Book Synopsis*Kazuo Ishiguro's new novel Klara and the Sun is now available*Kazuo Ishiguro's highly acclaimed debut, first published in 1982, tells the story of Etsuko, a Japanese woman now living alone in England, dwelling on the recent suicide of her daughter.Retreating into the past, she finds herself reliving one particular hot summer in Nagasaki, when she and her friends struggled to rebuild their lives after the war. But as she recalls her strange friendship with Sachiko a wealthy woman reduced to vagrancy the memories start to take on a disturbing cast.A macabre and faultlessly worked enigma.' Sunday TimesOne of the outstanding fictional debuts of recent years.' ObserverA delicate, ironic, elliptical novel Its characters are remarkably convincing but what one remembers is its balance, halfway between elegy and irony.' New York Times Book ReviewAn extraordinarily

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Book SynopsisInspired by faery myth and folklore, the haunting, heart wrenching tale of a girl called Nettle in a dark, foreboding faery kingdom. A wild misfit in the human world, Nettle is enthralled by the glamour of the faery realm, with its two moons and scarlet stars. She grows close to Conor, a human stolen centuries before, and she also falls under the spell of mysterious Ellion, a Shadow Faery. To try to help her beloved grandmother who is fading in her world, Nettle makes a pact with the faery king. He'll heal her grandmother in exchange for Nettle completing three tasks. She agrees, not realising that deception lurks in this enchanted place, and that she has been trickedIn this dangerous fantasy kingdom Nettle discovers, too late, her part in an age-old love story and the price she will pay.

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Book SynopsisThe gripping Sunday Times bestseller that will have you on the edge of your seat until the very last page''Bravo! How to Disappear is undoubtedly her best yet. Gripping and emotional - a cracking read'' Clare Mackintosh ''A relentless drumroll of suspense . . . ranks among the best psychological-suspense thrillers of recent years'' A. J. Finn You can run, you can hide, but can you disappear for good?Lauren''s daughter Zara witnessed a terrible crime. But speaking up comes with a price, and when Zara''s identity is revealed online, it puts a target on her back.The only choice is to disappear.To keep Zara safe, Lauren will give up everything and everyone she loves, even her husband.There will be no goodbyes. Their pasts will be rewritten. New names, new home, new lives.The rules are strict for a reason. They are being hunted. One mistake - a text, an Instagram like - could Trade ReviewBravo! How to Disappear is undoubtedly her best yet. Gripping and emotional - a cracking read. -- Clare MackintoshA clever and original thriller with a brilliant ending. Beautifully written and emotional as well as tense and unpredictable, I couldn't put it down. -- Claire DouglasTotally addictive: clever, convincing and ingeniously plotted with twists that repeatedly pulled the rug from under my feet. But more than that, How to Disappear is peopled with characters so real and relatable you feel you could reach out and touch them. Any crime writer can keep you turning the pages - but few can make you care this much. -- Erin KellySome thrillers stage a few moments of high anxiety (at best); more thrillers simply sprinkle jitters here and there, like piano ditties peppered lightly with minor chords. But How to Disappear is a relentless drumroll of suspense, a knife-edge novel in which - at any moment, with any word, in the spaces between words - the characters can drop into danger as though falling through a trapdoor. They aren't safe for even an instant . . . and neither is the reader who cares about them (and who couldn't?). Gillian McAllister's rattling, deeply satisfying book ranks among the best psychological-suspense thrillers of recent years, but you'll be reminded too of Jodi Picoult, Liane Moriarty, Celeste Ng's Little Fires Everywhere. Bloody hell, this is a good one. -- A. J. FinnIf Jodi Picoult wrote psychological thrillers, they would look like this. A compulsive read with a jaw-dropping twist, I read it in a day -- Rosamund LuptonTense, twisty and perfectly paced, How To Disappear is a compelling portrait of a family under unbearable pressure - where one false step invites disaster into all their lives -- T. M. LoganGillian McAllister has done it again. How to Disappear is a captivating story with unforgettable characters. This is one you can't put down and you won't soon forget -- Samantha DowningI couldn't look away from this intricate and spellbinding exploration of the devastating ripples that spread from a terrible crime. The desperate and dangerous slippery slope that one family finds themselves on is as gut punching as it is believable. Whip smart and wonderfully written. -- Holly SeddonThis intricately plotted drama is a masterclass in taut, twisty but beautiful writing * Sun *A clever, compulsive, cat-and-mouse family thriller that made my heart race. Never ever, would I want to go into a witness protection programme after this. Absolutely brilliant -- Jane CorryHigh tension, believable characters and a terrific plot. A truly riveting read -- Lesley KaraA totally gripping and heart-wrenching story that leaves you breathless. Her best book yet, and that's saying something -- Jane FallonAt its core, this tense page-turner is a deeply original love story, and its characters are so warm and real that they stole my heart. I was absolutely gripped by Lauren, Aidan and Zara's story - rarely have I read a novel so fast. -- Beth O'LearyTense and brilliant. If anyone's found expired with a copy of it lying next to them, it'll be because they flat-out forgot to breathe. This is her best book yet -- Jill MansellMy goodness, it's brilliant. The ending blew me away! A superb, tense and thrilling ride. I admit I stayed up far too late to finish it, but it was so worth it -- Melanie GoldingIf you read one book this year, make it this one -- Adam CroftI read How to Disappear with my heart in my mouth. Beautiful, layered, suffocating, with an impossible love story at its heart. -- Lia LouisAnother brilliant psychological thriller from Gillian McAllister * Hello! *Utterly compelling, addictive and gripping; the best psychological thriller I've read this year -- Lucy ClarkeI was blown away. Being forced to consider the reality of life under witness protection, of family members having to make impossible, brutal choices, was heartbreaking. I think it will resonate with many people. It's an outstanding and utterly gripping novel that deserves to be a bestseller -- Emma CurtisA highly original novel about witness protection that is tense and compelling with a great ending. Her best yet! -- Mark EdwardsIntense, utterly believable and at times shocking, it will make you see the world - even one in confinement - through new eyes * WI Life *This book explores just how brutal witness protection can be, and the choices people involved must make * Woman's Own *This intricately plotted drama is a masterclass in taut, twisty but beautiful writing * Fabulous *A rollercoaster that will leave you gasping and turning the pages for more * Refinery29 *The author's best book yet * Prima *Included in 'The Hottest Summer Reads' * Cosmopolitan *Included in 'Book Club' * Woman's Weekly *Praise for Gillian McAllister * - *I read it in a breathless day and a half. I loved every pageAs tense as a piano string * Sunday Times *An exceptional debutAn exceptional thriller with a thumping, emotional heart * Heat *Addictive, clever, twisty * Sun *I loved this gripping and thought-provoking readIngeniously constructed, with real flesh-and-blood characters and cliff-hanging suspenseTense, compelling, with a clever grand reveal * Daily Mail *One of the best courtroom dramas I've ever readKept me glued to every page * Good Housekeeping *Gripping, cleverly-constructed, and heart-wrenching. Truly originalIntelligent. Compulsive. Heart-wrenching. UnforgettableBrilliantly writtenA thrilling mystery with a strong emotional heart * Woman & Home *McAllister ratchets up the tension to excellent effect in this addictive page-turner * Connaught Telegraph *

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Book Synopsis**AS SEEN ON BBC BETWEEN THE COVERS**AS HEARD ON BBC RADIO 4**THE NUMBER ONE IRISH BESTSELLER**When the Nazis take Rome, thousands go into hiding. One priest will risk everything to save them.September 1943: German forces occupy Rome. SS officer Paul Hauptmann rules with terror.An Irish priest, Hugh O'Flaherty, dedicates himself to helping those escaping from the Nazis. His home is Vatican City, a neutral, independent country within Rome where the occupiers hold no sway. He gathers a team to set up an Escape Line.But Hauptmann's net begins closing in and the need for a terrifyingly audacious mission grows critical. By Christmas, it's too late to turn back.Based on a true story, My Father's House is a powerful thriller from a master of historical fiction. It is an unforgettable novel of love, sacrifice and what it means to be human in the most extreme circumstances.'A spectacular, thrilling novel...suspense crackles...celebrates triumphant against-the-odds camaraderie' Sunday Times'A masterwork... so urgent, so incredibly alive... A searing and beautiful example of storytelling's infinite importance' Donal Ryan'Impressive and pleasurable...the diverse ventriloquism of O'Connor's novel evokes a city in peril with wonderful vitality' Financial TimesLONGLISTED FOR THE DUBLIN LITERARY AWARD 2024Trade ReviewA spectacular, thrilling novel...suspense crackles...celebrates triumphant against-the-odds camaraderie. * Sunday Times *O'Connor is on stellar form with this ensemble thriller ...while the story's inbuilt tension urges you on, it's the sheer vigour of O'Connor's beautifully turned phrases that really makes the book sing...an expert storyteller * Daily Mail *A literary thriller of the highest order. The incarnation of O'Flaherty, the Irish Oskar Schindler, is sublime. What often elevates a writer is compassion, and O'Connor has it in spades... Beautifully crafted, his razor-sharp dialogue is to be savoured, and he employs dark humour to great effect. The plot twists keep on coming * Observer *Breathtakingly good writing - O'Connor puts you right there, centre stage in the story and never lets you goThe novel's evocative scene-setting, its propulsive narration and its powerful depiction of bravery and unity in extremis, all make for an engrossing read. * Telegraph *Thrilling... Based on true events, this tense, gripping narrative is rendered in beautifully evocative prose * Mail on Sunday *Impressive and pleasurable...the diverse ventriloquism of O'Connor's novel evokes a city in peril with wonderful vitality * Financial Times *A tale worth re-telling, adorned as it is by the brilliants of O'Connor's impressionistic writing * The Times *A powerful portrait of extraordinary courage * Irish Independent *Precisely choreographed... We eagerly follow the characters through uncertainty and disappointment as well as high-stakes jeopardy. O'Connor is playing with the possibilities of multiple narrators, and thinking also about plurality, reliability and the historical record * Guardian, Book of the Day *Gripping...a hugely satisfying book, from its explosive opening to its bittersweet end * Washington Post *So beautifully written, a masterclass in 'voices' and an extremely tense thriller. It's magnificent.A masterwork... so urgent, so incredibly alive... A searing and beautiful example of storytelling's infinite importanceFor all its thrills...primarily-and triumphantly-an intimate drama that illuminates both the fragility and the wonder of unlikely human connections forged in adversity and, in some cases, enduring for a lifetime * Wall Street Journal *I cannot say enough good things about this World War II thriller... Told from different perspectives of people in the movement, as well as the Gestapo villain, readers will hold their breath if the Choir will fulfill their critical mission. It's the first of a trilogy and a must read * BookRiot *O'Connor's work is hugely impressive and utterly haunting * Sunday Mirror *Riveting, immersive, synesthetic, linguistically dazzling, funny and dark, this novel is blessed with a kind of magical grace. Sprezzatura springs from every page * SMF Bookclub *O'Connor's writing is always intensely atmospheric...O'Connor succeeds in integrating into the suspenseful plot numerous narrative voices that intersect class, gender, nationality and religion * Literary Review *Gripping, compelling and utterly brilliant. O'Connor's gift for exquisite language shines throughA thriller of engrossing urgency * Irish Independent *Joseph O'Connor is a very great artist and storyteller

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Book Synopsis''Incandescent'' Natasha Badhwar, author of My Daughters'' Mum The Lights of Shantinagar is a warm and lively portrait of family life set in modern India where new philosophies are reshaping old traditions and one woman's astute observations can change everything. Aspiring quantum physicist Sumi is newly married and has moved into her husband's family home. Here she observes that the beguilingly tranquil middle-class town of Shantinagar is not very different from her beloved quantum world: the happenings in one house are cryptically entangled with things next door, objects mysteriously disappear and unexpected interactions reveal surprising truths. As the line between right and wrong begins to blur, new discoveries force the residents of Shantinagar to reflect on what they truly know about themselves and the ones they love. Meanwhile, Sumi must blend logic with love to make sense of her new circumstances. ''Storytelling at its most novel'' Saurabh Sharma, queer writer and cultural critic ''Vivid, engaging and truthful'' Shelley Weiner, acclaimed novelist and journalist ''Illuminates the lives of women on the cusp of change'' Sara Lippmann, author of Jerks ''An eloquent new voice'' Zahra Barri, author of Daughters of the Nile

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Book SynopsisBRAND NEW from Number 1 Bestselling author Beth Moran!Sophie Potter’s job is helping people deal with the worst, because Sophie Potter knows what the worst feels like.An expert at keeping moving, with her trusty motorhome and faithful dog Muffin, Sophie has built her life around keeping her loves and loyalties to a minimum.Fabulous fifty-something Hattie Langford has kept her heart and past safely stored away too. But for reasons she’s only willing to share with a stranger, Hattie needs to tell the story her family has been hiding at Riverbend, their home in Sherwood Forest. There is a history of heartbreak and hurt that Hattie is now ready to face.As Sophie helps Hattie uncover the secrets of generations of women who have lived at Riverbend, along with the stories of the men they have loved and lost, they start to see echoes in their own pasts. And as Riverbend shares its biggest secret of all, can Hattie and Sophie finally embrace the lives they’ve put on hold for so long, and risk giving their hearts to men who just might break the Riverbend curse?Reading Beth Moran’s fabulous novels makes every day better. Heart-warming, soul-nourishing, with smart characters and irresistible romances, it’s impossible not to fall in love with a Beth Moran story. Perfect for all fans of Jill Mansell, Julie Houston, and Jenny Colgan.Praise for Beth Moran:'Beth Moran's heartwarming books never fail to leave me feeling uplifted' Jessica Redland'Let it Snow is so uplifting. It's cleverly written, witty and smart. A winner!' USA Today Bestseller, Judy Leigh‘Life-affirming, joyful and tender.’ Zoe Folbigg'Every day is a perfect day to read this.’ Shari LowReaders love Beth Moran’s books:‘I have read all of Beth's books and I do believe they just get better and better if that is possible. I adored this book’‘As always with Beth Moran, this story is full of everything you could ever want – lovely characters that you can’t help rooting for, twists and turns of joy, sadness and hilarity, and an ending that makes you feel like all is well in the world! She has such a knack for creating a setting that feels like home, and somewhere you just really want to actually live in! I already can’t wait for the next one!’‘I felt a lot of emotions while reading this book. It made me tearful (happy and sad tears), it made me hopeful and most of all it made laugh and smile, before leaving me with a lovely warm heart full of happy. Just gorgeous! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️’

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisWhen a ghost ship is discovered, its crew presumed dead after trying to reach the storm-shrouded island of Akinah, Navani Kholin must send an expedition to make sure the island hasn't fallen into enemy hands. Knights who fly too near find their magic suddenly drained, so the voyage must be by sea. Years ago, shipowner Rysn Ftori lost the use of her legs but gained the companionship of Chiri-Chiri, a stormlight-ingesting larkin, a species once thought extinct. Now Rysn's pet is ill, and any hope for Chiri-Chiri's recovery can be found only at the ancestral home of the larkin: Akinah. With the help of Lopen, the formerly one-armed windrunner, Rysn must accept Navani's quest and sail into the perilous storm from which no one has returned alive. If the crew cannot uncover the secrets of the hidden island city before the wrath of its ancient guardians falls upon them, the fate of Roshar and the entire Cosmere hangs in the balance.

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Book SynopsisThe Hunger Games meets the X-Men in this internationally bestselling YA fantasy series soon to be a major TV show from the producers of Divergent directed by and starring Elizabeth Banks . . .__________________Set in a far-future post-apocalyptic America brimming with romance and revolution, Red Queen is a ferocious ode to the power and promise of resistance against the relentless fires of oppression - perfect for fans of Fourth Wing and The Bone Season.''All hail Victoria Aveyard - the new Queen of dystopian fiction'' GUARDIAN''Exhilarating. Compelling. Action-packed. Unputdownable'' USA TODAY''A whirlwind of betrayal and plot twists'' SCI-FI NOW''It''s slick, it''s interesting, it''s gripping'' SFX''A volatile world with a dynamic heroine'' BOOKLIST''Breakneck pace'' SCHOOLTrade ReviewA whirlwind of betrayal and plot twists * SCI-FI NOW *It's slick, it's interesting and ... gripping * SFX *All hail Victoria Aveyard - the new Queen of dystopian fiction. * THE GUARDIAN CHILDRENS BOOKS *Red Queen is a clever blend of The Hunger Games, The Selection, Graceling and Divergent * STARBURST *Unique and amazing . . . filled with twists and turns throughout. I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone as it is a great read and I can't wait for the sequel to be released. * THEGUARDIAN.COM *In Red Queen Victoria Aveyard has delivered a clever, slick and compelling debut. The dystopian novel will please fans of The Hunger Games but uses a supernatural twist to explore the theme of social injustice * We Love This Book *Red Queen... Where do I start? As I sit here after closing the book just this second, with a shocked, enthralled, amazed brooding look on my face I think its safe to say that this book has royally floored me... If you're having hangovers over the Divergent series, or having withdrawal symptoms from the Hunger Games then this is the book that will get you out of that funk * DARK READERS *Trust us when we say that it will have you up late at night trying to finish the next chapter, next page, next line - or maybe the whole thing because this book is impossible to put down. * MAXIMUM POP! *Aveyard weaves a compelling new world, and Mare and the two men in her life evolve intriguingly as class tension rises. Revolution supersedes romance, setting the stage for action-packed surprises. An inventive, character-driven twist breathes new life into tired fantasy trends. * KIRKUS *A wonderful mash up of Ancient Rome and Marie Antoinette with a dash of Catherine Fisher's Incarceron and Ridley Scott's Gladiator, not to mention some of Marvel Comic's box of tricks . . . Exciting and original * Sam Hawksmoor, author of the Repossession Trilogy *Victoria Aveyard is a genuinely good writer... a dark gripping book that grips and surprises the reader * THE BOOKBAG *This is the first book I read in 2015 and I'm glad I began the year with a book outside my comfort zone because I truly, truly enjoyed. * EMMALOUBOOKBLOG *I enjoyed this book immensely... the plot of the book was well executed, the twists creeped up on me slowly but surely. The atmosphere Aveyard created was perfect * BOOKSFORBIRDS *Red Queen simply blew me away... an exquisite debut from Aveyard, usually it takes a few books for an author to become a favourite, but Aveyard has managed to become a favourite with just one book * The Readers Den *Red Queen is a debut bursting with betrayal, jealousy, love and rebellion and it's fantastic. YA fantasy is really on the up at the moment and Victoria Aveyard is going to be one of the leaders of the pack * SO LITTLE TIME FOR BOOKS *A fantastic debut, with a perfect balance of epic, action filled scenes, cunning characters, mystery and a creative plot, RED QUEEN is a definite favourite and I cannot wait for more from this author * WHAT DANIELLE DID NEXT *

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Book Synopsis'Lynette Noni is a marvelous and inventive storyteller, whose books are absolutely impossible to put down' Sarah J Maas, #1 New York Times bestselling authorThe magical and exciting sequel to The Prison Healer from Australia's #1 YA author Lynette Noni.Kiva Meridan is a survivor.She survived not only Zalindov prison, but also the deadly Trial by Ordeal. Now Kiva's purpose goes beyond survival to vengeance. For the past ten years, her only goal has been to reunite with her family and destroy the people responsible for ruining their lives. But now that she has escaped Zalindov, her mission has become more complicated than ever.As Kiva settles into her new life in the capital, she discovers she wasn't the only one who suffered while she was in Zalindov-her siblings and their beliefs have changed too. Soon it's not just her enemies she's keeping secrets from, but her own family as well.Outside the city walls, tensions are brewing from the rebels, along with whispers of a growing threat from the northern kingdoms. Kiva's allegiances are more important than ever, but she's beginning to question where they truly lie. To survive this time, she'll have to navigate a complicated web of lies before both sides of the battle turn against her and she loses everything.*** PRAISE FOR LYNETTE NONI ***'Lynette Noni is a master at her craft' James Dashner, author of The Maze Runner'A very talented writer' Terry Brooks, author of The Sword of Shannara'Lynette Noni's compelling stories keep readers turning pages to the very end' Juliet Marillier, author of the Sevenwaters series'A masterful storyteller' Maria V. Snyder, author of the Poison Study series'When Lynette Noni opens the door to another world, don't hesitate: jump in and enjoy' Trudi Canavan, author of The Black Magician trilogyTrade Review*** PRAISE FOR LYNETTE NONI ***Lynette Noni is a marvelous and inventive storyteller, whose books are absolutely impossible to put down. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next! * Sarah J Maas, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author *Lynette Noni is a master at her craft. The Medoran Chronicles have richly developed characters, superb world-building that makes you feel like you're actually there, and stories that pack a punch, full of emotion and thrills. Highly recommended! * James Dashner, author of The Maze Runner *Lynette Noni is a very talented writer. Her books tell stories that draw you in and refuse to let go. Her characters are memorable and quick to surprise. I cannot wait to see what she will do next * Terry Brooks, author of The Sword of Shannara *Lynette Noni's compelling stories keep readers turning pages to the very end * Juliet Marillier, author, the Sevenwaters series *Lynette Noni is a masterful storyteller. Her characters steal into your heart and won't let go! * Maria V. Snyder, author, the Poison Study series *When Lynette Noni opens the door to another world, don't hesitate: jump in and enjoy * Trudi Canavan, author, The Black Magician trilogy *

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Book Synopsis''The color is hideous enough, and unreliable enough, and infuriating enough, but the pattern is torturing.''Written with barely controlled fury after she was confined to her room for ''nerves'' and forbidden to write, Gilman''s pioneering feminist horror story scandalized nineteenth-century readers with its portrayal of a woman who loses her mind because she has literally nothing to do.Introducing Little Black Classics: 80 books for Penguin''s 80th birthday. Little Black Classics celebrate the huge range and diversity of Penguin Classics, with books from around the world and across many centuries. They take us from a balloon ride over Victorian London to a garden of blossom in Japan, from Tierra del Fuego to 16th-century California and the Russian steppe. Here are stories lyrical and savage; poems epic and intimate; essays satirical and inspirational; and ideas that have shaped the lives of millions.Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1860-1935). Gilman''s work is available in Penguin Classics in The Yellow Wall-Paper, Herland and Selected Writings.

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Book SynopsisJames Baldwin''s electrifying first novel.''I had to deal with what hurt me most. I had to deal with my father.''Drawing on James Baldwin''s own boyhood in a religious community in 1930s Harlem, his first novel tells the story of young Johnny Grimes. Johnny is destined to become a preacher like his father, Gabriel, at the Temple of the Fire Baptized, where the church swells with song and it is as if ''the Holy Ghost were riding on the air''. But he feels only scalding hatred for Gabriel, whose fear and fanaticism lead him to abuse his family. Johnny vows that, for him, things will be different. This blazing tale is full of passion and guilt, of secret sinners and prayers singing on the wind. ''His prose hit me, almost winding me with its intensity. I''d never read a novel that described loneliness and desire with such burning eloquence'' Douglas Field, Guardian''A beautiful, enduring, spirtual song of a novel'' Andrew O''HaganTrade ReviewIt broke my heart and made me want to jump up and down... It captures an essential aspect of life in America, its contradictions and seductions, that bittersweet mix of love and hate that so many feel towards the country -- Azar Nafisi * Independent *His prose hit me, almost winding me with its intensity. I'd never read a novel that described loneliness and desire with such burning eloquence -- Douglas Field * Guardian *Vivid imagery, with lavish attention to details * The New York Times *A beautiful, enduring, spiritual song of a novel -- Andrew O'HaganOne of the few essential novelists of our time * New Statesman *

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Book SynopsisEllen Curtis is about to have her own life thrown into chaos in this third light-hearted decluttering mystery!Brett layers the old-fashioned puzzle with deep psychological insights . . . Not to be missed Booklist Starred ReviewDeclutterer Ellen Curtis has been working to bring order into the life of Cedric Waites, a recluse in his eighties who hasn''t left his house or let anyone inside it since his wife died. On one of her regular visits, Ellen finds the old man dead.Sad but, given his age, perhaps not unexpected. Nothing to get worked up about . . . until the police raise the suspicion that Cedric might have been poisoned! The cause seems be something he ate, and as Ellen cleared away the old man''s food containers, she is under suspicion. As is Dodge, who works for Ellen and has unhelpfully done a runner . . .Meanwhile, a rival declutterer is out to sabotage Ellen''s reputable business, her two grown-up children are back home and in crisis, and she has a potential love interest. Ellen''s life has taken on a chaotic turn of its own! Can she uncover the killer and bring order back to her own life?

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Book SynopsisA restless tomboy with a wild imagination, Jo March bridles against societal conventions. She has no interest in becoming a lady; she will become a writer. Fortunately for Jo, her family supports her ambitions and understands her eccentricities.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisRachel Kushner is the author of The Hard Crowd, her acclaimed essay collection, and the internationally bestselling novels The Mars Room, The Flamethrowers, and Telex from Cuba, as well as a book of short stories, The Strange Case of Rachel K. She has won the Prix Médicis and been shortlisted for the Booker Prize, the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Folio Prize, and was twice a finalist for the National Book Award in Fiction. She is a Guggenheim Foundation Fellow and the recipient of the Harold D. Vursell Memorial Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Her books are translated into twenty-seven languages.

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