Historical Fiction Books

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Book SynopsisAfter his Jewish family fled the Catholic Inquisition in Portugal, Tiago Zarco lives a tranquil existence in colonial India, enjoying secret sojourns with his sister into the heady festivities of the local Hindu culture while evading the ruling Portuguese authorities. But as he comes of age in sixteenth-century Goa, Ti struggles to keep the far-reaching influence of the Inquisition from destroying his family and pulling him apart from the Hindu girl he loves. And when an act of betrayal sees his father imprisoned, he is forced to hunt down the traitor and make an unimaginable choice, triggering a harrowing journey that will show him the depths of human depravity and the poisonous salvation of revenge. At once passionate, furious and hopeful, Guardian of the Dawn is both a saga of horrifying religious persecution and a riveting, tender multicultural love story.Trade Review‘Richard Zimler’s style is so limpid and encompassing that you begin to find your bearings in 16th-century Portuguese-occupied Goa faster than you may have thought possible!’ – The Guardian

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Book SynopsisBERLIN, 1932 Intelligent, artistic and precocious, fourteen-year-old Sophie Riedesel dreams of nothing more than becoming an actress and spending time with her beloved Jewish neighbour, Isaac Zarco. But when her father and boyfriend become Nazi collaborators and Hitler’s meteoric rise to power gathers momentum, she is forced to lead a double life to protect those closest to her. Invited by Isaac into the Ring, a secret circle of underground activists working against the government, Sophie soon learns the ways of espionage and subterfuge. But when a series of sterilisations, murders and disappearances threatens to destroy the group, Sophie must fight to expose the traitor in their midst and save all that she loves about Germany – whatever the price. Thrilling, suspenseful and evocative, The Seventh Gate is at once a love story, a tale of fierce heroism and a horrifying study of the Nazis’ war against the disabled.Trade Review‘Zimler’s character development is electrifying and his plot rolls along ever faster into the depths of fear. The Seventh Gate is unforgettable!’ – New York Journal of Books; ‘The Seventh Gate is not only a superb thriller but an intelligent and moving novel about the heartbreaking human condition.” — Alberto Manguel, author of The Library at Night; ‘Zimler (The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon) surpasses himself with this coming-of-age epic set in Berlin at the start of the Nazi era...The whodunit is captivating enough, but the book’s power lies in its stark and unflinching portrayal of the impact of Hitler’s eugenic policies on the infirm and disabled.’ – Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisA Lot of People Live in This House follows Rachel as she arrives at the house on the hill alone as Job attends a meditation retreat in India for two weeks to unpack his own grief. She's greeted by housemates who smile, bring her cups of tea, and seem happy she's there. She hates it. Not long after, Job is trapped in India by a virus that's grounded just about every plane in the world. As she falls apart, her new housemates rally to find a way to get Job home. Everything Rachel thought she knew about living with others flies out the window and leaves only one remaining truth: Life can be a lot at once, but you don't have to do it alone.Trade Review"A Lot of People Live in This House challenges us to rethink what family means in these stormy times and offers hope that there are many ways to live a fulfilling life.” -Neal Baer, MD, Executive Producer of ER, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Designated Survivor and Co-Director of the Master's Degree Program in Media, Medicine, and Health at Harvard Medical School

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Book SynopsisA classic English novel rediscovered after 85 years With an introduction by Rachel Hore and an afterword by Brad Bigelow. A panoramic view of English life from 1919 to 1936, TWO THOUSAND MILLION MAN-POWER is no wistful, nostalgic account of this time. Instead, Gertrude Trevelyan shows how even the brightest and most able personalities can be ground down by economic highs and lows and a system in which individuals quickly disappear into crowds and statistics. One year, Robert and Katherine are enjoying the consumer comforts of a radio, a car, a house in the suburbs. The next, they are struggling to make ends meet in a tiny, squalid East End flat as Robert trudges hopelessly into London each day in hopes of finding work. The result is a savage portrait equaled only by George Orwell's The Road to Wigan Pier. TWO THOUSAND MILLION MAN-POWER follows Robert, a chemist, and Katherine, a schoolteacher, through two tumultuous decades in English history. From New Year's Eve 1919 to the funeral of King George V in 1936, they experience youthful radicalism, economic boom and bust, comfortable middle-class life in the suburbs and grinding poverty and the debilitating experience of looking for work where there is none to be found. Gertrude Trevelyan sets their story against the backdrop of newspaper headlines, radio broadcasts and advertising slogans, contrasting the promises of progress and technology with the brutal effects of economic upswings and downturns. The result is one of the finest fictional portraits of English life in the 1920s and 1930s--the equivalent for England of John Dos Passos's epic, U.S.A.. Utterly forgotten for over 80 years, Gertrude Trevelyan is finally being rediscovered. The stylistic and imaginative daring of her fiction arguably makes her one of the finest English novelists of the generation that followed Virginia Woolf. Fiction.

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Book SynopsisThe history of Peru unfolds in the lives of the descendants of seven children fathered by a Catholic priest and his longtime secret lover.Renato Cisneros's great-great-grandmother Nicolasa bore seven children by her long-term secret love, who was also her priest, raising them alone in nineteenth century Peru. More than a century later, Renato, the descendent of that clandestine affair, struggles to wring information about his origins out of recalcitrant relatives, whose foibles match the adventures and dalliances of their ancestors. As buried secrets are brought into the light, the story of Nicolasa's progeny unfolds, bound up with key moments in the development of the Republic of Peru since its independence. Trade Review"This thorough account of a powerful family will intrigue fans of Latin American literature." —Publishers Weekly"An absorbing exploration of one family's clandestine roots and inherited lies. (4 stars)" —The Wee Review"A relentless search by a writer to discover his family secrets." —Morning Star"Excellent and thought provoking." —You Shall Leave Your Land**********Praise for Renato Cisneros"An extraordinary family story... Renato Cisneros delivers here the captivating narrative of a strange and disturbing filiation.
 A loving and lucid puzzle." —Le Monde"This is a book to set alongside Philip Roth’s Patrimony, Héctor Abad’s Oblivion, Paul Auster’s The Invention of Solitude, Martin Amis’s Experience, Albert Camus’ The First Man, and of course Kafka’s Letter to His Father." —Le Figaro Littéraire"Cisneros is a phenomenon in Latin America today." —El País"The Distance Between Us goes far and appeals to the reader exactly because there is so little distance between what is written and what was lived."" —Alberto Fuguet , author of BAD VIBES"Just as a father is never prepared to bury his son, a son is never prepared to dig up his father”(...) It is within this tension that this magnificent novel lies, full of drama and suspense from the very first page."" —Edmundo Paz Soldán , author of TURING'S DELIRIUM and NORTE"The Distance Between Us is the story of a villain told from love. It dwells in the humanity hidden behind the themes left by war. It also narrates that other war: the one which all of us wage against our parents to become the persons we are."" —Santiago Roncagliolo , author of RED APRIL"No one that reads this book will be able to look at their family in the same way again."" —Gabriela Wiener , author of SEXOGRAPHIES and NINE MOONS"This is an impressive book. In writing it the author demonstrates great talent, as well as great courage."" —Mario Vargas Llosa , author of THE TIME OF THE HERO and CONVERSATION IN THE CATHEDRAL"People should read this novel to learn more about themselves."" —Jorge Edwards , author of PERSONA NON GRATAGlobetrotting: Your sneak preview of books in translation —New York Times"A book so intelligent and moving, you wish it would never end." —Libération

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Book SynopsisFive hundred miles from mainland Colombia, grassroots resistance, sloppy vacationers, and a muddy history of conquest converge for Verónica, returning after living in Mexico City, ready to understand herself and the place she came from.San Andrés rises gently from the Caribbean, part of Colombia but closer to Nicaragua, the largest island in an archipelago claimed by the Spanish, colonized by the Puritans, worked by slaves, and home to Arab traders, migrants from the mainland, and the descendants of everyone who came before.For Victoria – whose origins on the island go back generations, but whose identity is contested by her accent, her skin colour, her years far away – the sunburnt tourists, sewage blooms, sudden storms, and ‘thinking rundowns’ where liberation is plotted and dinner served from a giant communal pot, bring her into vivid, intimate contact with the island she thought she knew, her own history, and the possibility for a real future for herself and San Andrés.Trade Review"Colombian writer Bendek’s clear-eyed debut….heralds an intriguing new voice." —Publishers Weekly"A brilliant and sensory overload of a novel." —The Crack Magazine

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Book SynopsisEl Caribe es un ombligo, profundo, infinito.... susurro. Me aprietan unos músculos firmes, me hace cosquillas la brisa de un aliento fresco. Tiembla San Andrés extasiada. Y tiemblo yo.A mil doscientas millas de tierra firme, resistencia raizal, turistas descuidados, y una historia embarrada sobre la conquista convergen para Victoria, quien vuelve a su hogar desde la Ciudad de México lista para descifrarse a sí misma y al lugar de donde viene.Regresar a san Andrés hace que Victoria Baruq cuestione su relación con la isla. Una foto inquietante de sus tatarabuelos y el raro encuentro con Maa Josephine, una anciana raizal a quien conoce frente a la First Baptiste Church, son algunos de los detonantes que empiezan a revelar detalles de sus orígenes. Su pasado no solo la pone en contacto con la desconocida historia de la isla, sino también con los movimientos sociales que, entre zouk y calipso, celebran la identidad raizal, hacen thinking rundowns, resisten.Esta obra fue ganadora del Premio de Novela Elisa Mújica 2018 (Colombia).Five hundred miles from mainland Colombia, grassroots resistance, sloppy vacationers, and a muddy history of conquest converge for Verónica, returning after living in Mexico City, ready to understand herself and the place she came from.San Andrés rises gently from the Caribbean, part of Colombia but closer to Nicaragua, the largest island in an archipelago claimed by the Spanish, colonized by the Puritans, worked by slaves, and home to Arab traders, migrants from the mainland, and the descendants of everyone who came before.For Victoria – whose origins on the island go back generations, but whose identity is contested by her accent, her skin colour, her years far away – the sunburnt tourists, sewage blooms, sudden storms, and ‘thinking rundowns’ where liberation is plotted and dinner served from a giant communal pot, bring her into vivid, intimate contact with the island she thought she knew, her own history, and the possibility for a real future for herself and San Andrés.Trade Review"Colombian writer Bendek’s clear-eyed debut….heralds an intriguing new voice." —Publishers Weekly"A brilliant and sensory overload of a novel." —The Crack Magazine

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Book SynopsisBrutal y sobrecogedora, una novela con la dictadura argentina como telón de fondo.Tres historias que forman parte de una misma historia. En 1941, en una ciudad de provincias argentina, una niña confiesa a un sacerdote los primeros y difusos impulsos sexuales que nota en su cuerpo, relacionados con la atracción que siente por un joven apellidado Videla que pasa cada día bajo su ventana. En 1977 un grupo de jóvenes revolucionarios prepara un atentado en un aeródromo para liquidar a un Videla que ya no es joven y es conocido por todos. Y, por último, una anciana –la niña de la primera historia– juega una partida de cartas con su nieto, que ha ido a visitarla a la residencia donde pasa sus días, y entre jugada y jugada le cuenta lo que le sucedió a su hijo, el padre del chico, en lo que resulta una nueva confesión. Tres historias y tres tiempos que se entretejen para forjar una única historia. Tres historias que hablan de dolor, culpa y confesiones.Una novela sobrecogedora y deslumbrante, construida con una brillantísima arquitectura que le permite al autor penetrar hasta la médula de las historias –de la historia– que nos relata.Brutal and overwhelming, Confession wrestles with the legacy of Argentina’s past and the passions of one young girl.There are mysteries in the world of man, just as there are in the Kingdom of God, and that they too, albeit quite differently, are unfathomable.When Mirta López looks out the dining room window, she sees a slim, self-possessed older boy on his way back from school. It’s 1941 in provincial Argentina, and the sight of the Videla’s eldest son has awakened in her the first uncertain, unnerving vibrations of desire. Naturally, she confesses. But she cannot stop herself. Thirty years later, Videla is a general, leading the ruling military junta, and a cell of young revolutionaries plot an ingenious attack on him, and the regime. Writing from the present into the past, Martín Kohan maps the contours of Argentina’s 20th Century, but finds his center in one woman—devout, headstrong, lit up with ideas of right and wrong—not the grand historical figures of her lifetime’s omnipresent, brutalizing history. “There is an art to keeping lives constant, not allowing them to be altered by facts that are merely external.” And there is great beauty in Confession , its decades and landscapes, and the legacy of love and guilt playing out in one family and against the background of dictatorship’s traumas.Trade Review"An expertly structured, morally complicated, and surprisingly timely blend of fact and fiction." —Kirkus"Beguiling." —Publishers Weekly"Hypnotic prose. A writer who owns a literary universe and a style all his own; a writer of unquestionable solidity." —El periódico"A must-read." —Morning Star"A stupendous novel." —El País"One of Argentina’s greatest living writers." —La gaceta literaria"A fantastic writer whose texts question established ideas." —Letras Libres"Kohan works with tradition and with the Borgesian idea of the traitor and the hero. He chooses three situations and explores them minutely." —La Nación"Kohan’s novel understands and helps to understand; it delimits, records, pursues and reaches the most slippery crevices of history." —Letralia"The end result is a fluid, disturbing novel, one that neither resorts to low blows nor commonplaces when it comes to the military regime and the disappeared, but puts its finger on that concept that still causes unease when spoken aloud: civilian complicity." —La primera piedra"Martín Kohan is becoming an obligatory name in Argentinian literature." —Pagina/12************Praise for Martín Kohan"The worthy successor of Borges, Sábato and Bioy Casares." —Le Devoir"An expertly structured, morally complicated, and surprisingly timely blend of fact and fiction." —Kirkus"Beguiling." —Publishers Weekly"The prose of Argentinian writer Martín Kohan, above all in the most recent books, conveys a clinical precision and cool distance. From one novel to another, however, the effects are different. – Edmundo Paz Soldán"" —Edmundo Paz Soldán , author of TURING'S DELIRIUM and NORTE"Hypnotic prose. A writer who owns a literary universe and a style all his own; a writer of unquestionable solidity." —El periódico"Confession delves into Kohan’s poetics in an agile and determined manner, preserving his affectionate distance from the intimate affairs of his characters, as well as his freedom vis-à-vis militant writing" —Latin American Literature Today"A must-read." —Morning Star"A stupendous novel." —El País"One of Argentina’s greatest living writers." —La gaceta literaria"A fantastic writer whose texts question established ideas." —Letras Libres"Kohan works with tradition and with the Borgesian idea of the traitor and the hero. He chooses three situations and explores them minutely." —La Nación"Kohan’s novel understands and helps to understand; it delimits, records, pursues and reaches the most slippery crevices of history." —Letralia"The end result is a fluid, disturbing novel, one that neither resorts to low blows nor commonplaces when it comes to the military regime and the disappeared, but puts its finger on that concept that still causes unease when spoken aloud: civilian complicity." —La primera piedra"Martín Kohan is becoming an obligatory name in Argentinian literature." —Pagina/12"With a gift for totally natural dialogue, Kohan writes with an elegant lightness, paying great attention to rhythm. His specialty is the measured, exact word. Impeccable" —El Mundo************

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Book SynopsisNext Generation Indie Book Awards 2022 Finalist It’s the summer of 1938 and Veronica and her fascist boyfriend Billy attend a pro-German event hosted by the 5th Duke of Wellington. Amid the evening’s glamour and fervour, Veronica meets Sir Oswald Mosley and Diana Mitford, who invite her on a trip to Berlin. All over Europe, evil triumphs as good men do nothing, but for Veronica, doing nothing is no longer an option. As Europe edges towards war and the Nazis prepare to unleash the Kristallnacht pogrom on Germany’s Jews, the British government juggles appeasing Hitler with growing pressure to accept Jewish refugees. Veronica finds herself entering into a high-risk world of deadly intrigue and high-level political conspiracy to place herself at the very heart of darkness: Berlin under the Nazis. “A nail-biting plot set against the dramatic, real-life effort to help Jews escape from Nazi Germany.” – Jane Thynne, author of The Words I Never Wrote “Highly readable.” – Alex Gerlis, author of The Spy Masters “Complex, well-rounded characters, an engaging protagonist and an enthralling storyline make Without Let or Hindrance a must read for fans of historical thrillers.” – Adam Lebor, author of Kossuth Square

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Book SynopsisTwo women, separated by two generations and continents, both trapped in their grief and unable to move forwards. Upon inheriting Stazzana, a crumbling farmhouse in the wilderness of northern Tuscany, Emma flies out to Italy in the hopes that unravelling the truth of the past will heal her present. Local retired farmer Luciano befriends them and finds a new lease of life introducing them to the traditions and wildlife of the mountains, but he has his own secret to harbour, his own need for redemption. His sister, Giuliana, left Italy in 1945, and has spent her life running from the past. The past that Emma now seeks. Can the truth of what happened at Stazzana set them both free?

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Book Synopsis A woman accused of witchcraft and murder will need the help of a sleuthing magistrate's wife is she is to escape the hangman's noose...Lichfield, England, 1723: Hester Albright, the wife of an acting magistrate, is fighting for a cause. Sickened by the hanging of a woman who had been brutalized by her husband, and still deeply affected by her own childhood experiences, Hester now feels compelled to help women who face the death penalty, and seeks justice along with the Lunar Society.When Hester's husband is summoned to the scene of a murder, Hester accompanies him. They discover that the victim, Lady Aston, is clutching a witch's bottle. Lord Aston is convinced that Gwen Foley, a woman in the village, has murdered his wife. Gwen is branded as a witch and is dragged from her cottage to gaol to await trial. But Hester believes Gwen is innocent and promises to help. Is Gwen a witch and a murderer who deserves to hang? With the help of the Lunar Society, Hester is about to find out.

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Book SynopsisPressed back into action by the kidnap of her child, Harriet Farrell must hunt down the only Lincoln conspirator to flee America and escape the noose.

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Book SynopsisHighgate, London, 1824. Samuel Taylor Coleridge is a washed-up opium addict, estranged from his friends and from his neglected wife. His grip on reality is starting to slip; his past and present mingle in laudanum-induced dreams. In a Cambridge college library, Scrivener, a bullied undergraduate, finds a strange annotation in a book of Coleridge's poems. Intrigued by this mystery marginalia and captivated by Romantic poetry, he resolves to become a poet himself, with Coleridge as his guiding light. Across the sea, Samuele, a young Sicilian, discovers that his mother once had a liaison with Coleridge. He sets out for England to learn all he can about the man who may be his father. It isn't long before Samuele and Scrivener cross paths - but will their journeys take them to the real Samuel Taylor Coleridge?Trade Review'In clear, lyrical prose, Dennis Hamley takes the reader on an imaginative journey through Samuel Taylor Coleridge's life, bringing the characters to life with gentleness and insight' —Kathleen Jones, author of 'A Passionate Sisterhood'; 'With no discernible sleight of hand this master storyteller, with effortless assurance and prodigious skill, weaves his mighty spell and conjures before our very eyes all we will ever need to know about the most famous lines of poetry that English ever produced' —Robert Lipscombe, author of 'The Salamander Tree' and 'The English Project'; 'This novel is an interesting take on the life of Coleridge, an unacknowledged son he may have left in Sicily, and a hard-up scholar in 1820s Cambridge. It is fascinating to read about what might have happened as these three people intersect' —Merryn Williams, poet and founding editor of 'The Interpreter's House'; 'A wonderful read that combines literary mystery with a quest for the ideal and leaves us with a richly satisfying resolution' —Jane Spiro

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Book SynopsisIn February 1959, Switzerland held a referendum on women's suffrage. The men voted 'no'. In this powerful novella, Clare O'Dea explores that day through the eyes of four very different Swiss women. Vreni is a busy farmer's wife, longing for a break from family life. Her grown-up daughter Margrit is carving out an independent life in Bern, but finds herself trapped in an alarming situation. Esther, a cleaner, is desperate to recover her son who has been taken into care. Beatrice, a hospital administrator, has been throwing herself into the 'yes' campaign. The four women's paths intersect on a day that will leave its mark on all their lives.Trade Review'An uplifting story of hope and solidarity, as well as a vivid, fascinating snapshot of a recent (almost unbelievably recent!) moment in Swiss history. I devoured it in one sitting' —Jonathan Coe; 'Rich and impactful; clever exploration of the slow pace of social progress' —The Irish Times; 'O'Dea's storytelling is delicate, tender and insightful. The lives of four Swiss women in the 1950s are opened up to us with care and beauty. A work of fine historical fiction not to be missed' —Anne Griffin, author of 'When All is Said'; 'a fascinating piece of history that packs a punch' —Books Ireland Magazine; 'Through deft storytelling skill and narrative imagination, Clare O'Dea's novella shows how a particular moment in history was experienced through the eyes of real women. Subtly and ingeniously, Voting Day points to the many small and big ways in which womens' struggle for equality still prevails' —Sarah Moore Fitzgerald, author of 'The Apple Tart of Hope' and 'All The Money In The World'; 'Clare O'Dea's gripping novel is a valuable testament to a moment in history. In a critical yet caring way, the author movingly portrays the fate of four disenfranchised women who are nevertheless striving to take control of their lives' —Barbara Traber, Swiss author and translator; 'One critical day in the imagined lives of four women might initially seem to us to have taken place several generations ago, at a time when women were literally second-class citizens, but their emotions and humanity resonate to this day with unchanged relevance. A lot has changed for women; little has changed. Clare O'Dea has brilliantly captured this dichotomy in her compelling depiction of a so-called bygone era' —Alison Anderson, author of 'The Summer Guest'; 'O'Dea writes of the experiences of her characters with great empathy and compassion as well as with impeccable historical accuracy' —Historical Novel Society; 'Each tale is beautifully told by first time author, Clare O'Dea, who skilfully depicts the character of each woman and spins the connections between them into a compelling, coherent narrative' —Mechanics Institute Review

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Book SynopsisFlorence, 1584. Rumours are spreading about the virility of a prince marrying into the Medici family. Orphan Giulia, innocent to the part she must play, is chosen to put an end to the gossip. Years later, Giulia has found happiness and freedom. But when a threat arrives from a sinister figure from her youth, she must take control of her own life.

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Book SynopsisIn an atmosphere of abolition and revolution, Queen Charlotte Sophia, Britain's most famous (possibly) mixed-race Princess comes alive in this reimagined story of her life where romance, adventure and politics collide. From a German backwater to the capital city of the most prolific Empire in the world, we journey with Queen Charlotte as she tries to discover the truth of her family's secret heritage, guided by an amulet and wooden chest left to her upon her father's death. Armed with a birthmark and bearing a complexion that reveals her silenced lineage, Queen Charlotte charges through the royal court of London, seeking answers, making allies and guarding secrets.With the weight of the amulet around her neck, Queen Charlotte learns what happens when love and legacy are at odds. On one side, is her secret true love Johann Christian Bach and the passionate life he offers, and on the other, her husband King George III and the impactful life her relationship with him provides.A daughter. A lover. A fighter. A Queen. Tina Andrews's Queen Charlotte Sophia: A Royal Affair, offers a fantastic portrait of a woman, whose life continues to fascinate the world.Trade ReviewIf you enjoyed Bridgerton's take on Queen Charlotte's story, you'll love this reimagining of the life of the first mixed-race Queen of England. * Best Magazine *Queen Charlotte Sophia - A Royal Affair is a beautifully written novel, rich in detail. This sweeping tale bridges kingdoms, countries, and lives. It is full of rumours and secrets that must be hidden at all costs. Tina Andrews takes us on quite a journey as Charlotte travels to England to become George 111's Queen. Andrews adroitly brings alive complicated histories through the eyes of imperfect but resilient characters and leaves us thirsty for more. Queen Charlotte's story of romance and intrigue continues to fascinate us and Andrews has written an important historical novel with an excellent eye for accuracy. This is a novel that must not be ignored. -- Anni Domingo...This novel may very well be telling the truth of the story of England's first black Queen... It's extraordinary and wonderful... -- Whoopi GoldbergAndrews' Charlotte Sophia becomes a wily, cunning woman learning to navigate her arranged marriage to "mad" King George III who had no knowledge of her Moorish roots until their wedding night. I could hardly wait to read what Charlotte did next! -- Charisse JonesA compelling examination of the life of the German princess of color and Knights Templar descendant forced to hide her identity to ensure her power as she ascends to the seat of British queen consort. A thrilling page-turner. -- Sharon D. Johnson, Ph.D.

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Book SynopsisIn 1976, Argentina is governed by a military junta bankrolled by former Nazis. It is the anniversary of a mysterious village fire in the jungle. The lone survivor, a Guarani boy, is now a Jesuit priest. A Jewish journalist, Ariel Guzman, interviews him at his mission. The man claims Adolf Hitler escaped from Berlin with Eva Braun and made a secret camp near the Iguacu Falls. The Fuhrer ordered the village's destruction, but the priest refuses to say why. He mentions the codename Edelweiss and will only reveal the person's identity if he dies. Argentina's most powerful man is billionaire and Waffen-SS veteran Tiago Hecht. He is searching for Edelweiss so that he can establish a Fourth Reich. Hecht now has confirmation Hitler's son is alive. But so does the Mossad and they have sent an agent to eliminate him. The only sanctuary for 'Edelweiss' is at the Vatican, but time is running out. The hunt is on...Trade Review“The author has created a totally plausible, clever plot, with a well-paced story that flows beautifully between the characters, locations and timeframes.” Tig’s Bookcase “This is one for those who enjoy a proper action and adventure style read with conspiracies, secrets, and mysteries that need to be revealed.” Me and My Books “What a great read. There have always been conspiracy theories about whether Hitler really died in the Führerbunker and this book makes the assumption that he did in fact escape. So well written this was one of those book where it was ‘ just one more chapter’ I was totally engrossed from the start. Well written and fast paced with threads that weave themselves together seamlessly to the unexpected conclusion.” Lynda’s Book Reviews “Justin Kerr-Smiley writes this story so well that I could really believe this happened. There are so many theories around and this story is more realistic than most theories that I have heard….Codename Edelweiss is a book that I found a riveting read. It’s based on historical fact, then, brilliantly woven together with fiction, unexpected twists and an ending that fitted perfectly.” Beyond The Books

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Book SynopsisIn 1936, the Duke of York unexpectedly became King George VI, and his ten-year-old daughter, Princess Elizabeth, became heir presumptive. However, she was never heir apparent, because a male sibling would automatically assume her place in the line of succession. So what would have happened upon the late arrival of a baby brother for the grown-up Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret? After King George VI’s death in 1952, the United Kingdom’s next sovereign would have been a very young boy, and one in need of a regent. James the Third tells that boy’s story. How does his reign unfold? He is clever, resourceful and unconventional − but can he alter the course of history, given the limited role of a constitutional monarch? Does he find true love, or must he accept second best? And, with the births of his heirs, what does the House of Windsor look like now? Set against rapidly changing times, there is a parallel tale of two working class sisters from the East End of London. As fans of the royal family, they are closer to the crown than they could ever imagine. Seamlessly blending the twists and turns of fiction with historical fact, this book is sure to please anyone who enjoys a glimpse of life behind palace walls.Trade Review“This book was fascinating. It presents a timeline of life as we know it, with one exception. We have a king. Author Maggie Ballinger looks at the ‘what if’ scenario had a younger son been born… this is a great story and provides a unique perspective of British history.” − Paradise is a Library “Well written, detailed, and highly enjoyable.” − Stacey Hammond “You can tell the author has put al lot of research into this well written book. I loved every page and the writing style was amazing easy to understand.” − Rhianydd Morris “The author knows her stuff and I have to say I have learnt so much reading this book. The historical, legal and political information is woven beautifully into the story” − Series Book Lover “What an absolutely fascinating story mixing fiction with fact… Well researched and great book.” − Lynda’s Book Reviews “A perfect mix of royal fact and royal fiction to make this a surprising yet familiar read. Everything you know to be true remains similar, like a nice snug comfort blanket. Yet James' arrival really stirs things up in the royal household... A must read for fans of the royals, or if not − why not try an alternative Royal version? I dare you.” − Bobs and Books “Ballinger is meticulous with her history and the story is told with excellent attention to detail as we watch James grow and Princess Elizabeth slip into a different role” − Smeets X “The book is well researched with an extensive appendix at the back which includes a wealth of historical context and Royal observation.” − Pondering the Pages “perfect for fans of historical fiction and the history of the royal family.” − Books and Moomins “It blends facts with a little fantasy so well it is hard to see the join, and it is easy to view a royal story with one addition….This is an enthralling and entertaining book which I greatly enjoyed, and I was very pleased to have the opportunity to read and review it.” – Northern Reader “This was right up my street. I love The Crown, and this story captured my imagination very easily. The research was clear to see; the laws around the monarchy all laid out to make this an interesting and lovely read. A really enjoyable read that is not only a twist on history but a surprising mystery, too. All in all, an entertaining and very interesting story from Maggie Ballinger.” – Beyond the Books “This novel takes you on an enjoyable journey through the twentieth century and blends together actual events, historical figures and some deliciously invented fictitious characters. …This was a truly enjoyable read which contained a surprising mystery, alongside a wealth of historical information. In short: An entertaining piece of historical fiction.” − Books Life and Everything “It’s so cleverly written it’s as if the author had a crystal ball to look at an alternative future. This is so brilliantly researched that this doesn’t seem all that unfathomable and the Royals on high become well, human. With quirks, flaws and an incredible amount of warmth and compassion. Perfect for historical fiction fans.” – Chapman’s Chapters And Pages “This book simply fascinated me! The melding of Royal history and speculative fiction was inspired. The way that members of the Royal family, who we are all familiar with, interacted felt genuine. I could almost visualise this young monarch being guided by Princess Elizabeth.” – John’s Bookshelf “This is such a good book. I really enjoyed it. It is such a great reimagining of the British Monarchy. … The fiction is fantastically woven with threads of fact which makes the book feel very real but also quite a comforting read.” – Atomic Books “Character voice in this book was fantastic. I could really hear the voices of everyone speaking in my head as I read it. I felt like a fly on the wall during some intimate and private conversations between members of the Royal family. I loved it! A real up close and personal account.” – Books on a Hill “This was right up my street, I love it when an author absolutely smashes historical fiction with a twist of what if... I absolutely thought the characters were fantastic and they had personality traits that all stood out and were extremely individual to that character. This author is exceptionally talented at switching the style to suit when needed.” – Twilight Reader

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Book SynopsisSt Petersburg, 1825. Imperial Russia still basks in the glory of victory over Napoleon, but in the army and elsewhere resentment is growing against serfdom and autocracy. Vasily, a pleasure loving, privileged young man, returns home from abroad expecting to embark on a glittering career. Having become entangled in an impossible love affair, he joins a conspiracy to overthrow the government. Threatened by exile to Siberia or death, he is forced to flee the Tsar’s vengeance. Vasily hopes to rebuild his life in a distant provincial town. But he cannot forget his lost love, and now finds himself pursued by a rival who aims to destroy him. Can he escape the past, mend his broken relationships and find a better way to change the world?Trade Review‘Jennifer Antill has a remarkable gift for bringing history to life through the stories of engaging characters, and she wears her meticulous research incredibly lightly. A stirring debut’ Simon Edge

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Book SynopsisIt is summer of 1938, in the Czech spa town of Karlovy Vary. Life for the Dusek family – and their six-year-old son Jan – has been stable, unhurried, and full of promise. But times are changing. An idyllic childhood gives way to impending invasion and looming war. Jan’s parents choose to leave everything behind, to face an uncertain future. A following vivid and hazardous journey across Europe is often seen by Jan as an adventure rather than a danger. The family settle in England just two weeks before the start of World War Two, ready to put the past behind them as they build a new life in a new land. It is summer of 2019, as Jan returns to Karlovy for the first time in 80 years. An International Film Festival is in progress. How much more has the world changed? What remains the same? What other timeless and terrible challenges will bring about further immigration, settlement and belonging? Can the only strengthening shield be the power of love?

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Book SynopsisApril, 1944. A man is waiting to assassinate a prominent figure. He is not motivated by revenge or profit but by his belief that this one act of violence will save many lives and secure a greater peace for the whole of Europe. How have circumstances and experiences conspired to lead this apparently ordinary man to believe that what he is about to do is both essential and justified? William Lyus had set out to make his way in the world against the background of the economic and political upheaval of the interwar years. Despite his best intentions, he’s caught up in a major financial swindle, experiences personal tragedy, and his career hopes are dashed. But it is these events that lead him to revisit the idealism of his youth, becoming more active in the political ferment of the 1930s. As the Second World War nears its close and he becomes ever convinced that he, almost alone, sees what must be done to ensure a just outcome to the War, will he be able to fulfil his destiny?

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Book SynopsisIn affluent post Edwardian Melbourne, the lives of two sisters are irrevocably altered as the secrets and misdemeanours of their parents’ generation have a devastating impact on theirs. As the belle-epoch and the age of deference are shattered by a conflict begun in Europe, Agnes and Sarah will be challenged as volunteer nurses in a theatre of war that is like no conflict ever previously experienced. Meanwhile, others back home will be forced to confront the sins of their past…

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Book Synopsis1982. Thirteen-year-old Ewan Fraser is sent to the remote island of Barra, off Scotland’s west coast, to stay with his aunt and uncle. Resigned to a monotonous summer of boredom, he is befriended by local girl Laura Robertson; together they explore the golden beaches and rocky coves of the idyllic island. But a dark secret that connects Laura to the mysterious outcast Mhairi Matheson and her son, Billy, is hidden beneath the tranquil surface… A secret that threatens to tear the small community apart. Forty years later, Ewan returns to confront the truth about the formative summer of his adolescence, and finally learn the truth about Laura and the boy from Barra.

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Book SynopsisA NEW YORK TIMES 2023 SUMMER READ Meet Tony: the first Indian to set foot on American soil. Among the settlers, slaves, and indentured servants that make the treacherous journey across the Atlantic to the New World in the early 1600s — for some, an exciting opportunity, for others, a brutal abduction — there is also Tony. As a child, his homeland on the Coromandel Coast of India becomes a trading outpost for the English; as an orphaned teenager, he finds himself kidnapped from the streets of London and bound to servitude on a Virginia plantation. But Tony is not giving up on his dreams just yet. Under the rule of a sadistic plantation owner, he forms a tender bond with a young boy who will haunt his nightmares; on an exploration inland alongside a trader and Native Americans, he realises the world is vaster and more mysterious than he could have imagined; and in Jamestown, he finally earns himself a position as a physician’s apprentice, an ambition he has long harboured. The East Indian is a Dickensian-style yarn about family, friendship, and finding oneself in the seeds of a new world.Trade Review‘Spins a drama of hardship, dislocation, and love … This sweeping coming-of-age tale is more than a little Dickensian.’ -- James Smart * The Guardian *‘A fascinating novel.’ -- Alida Becker * The New York Times *‘A sweeping coming-of-age story which heads from the jasmine-scented air of the Coromandel Coast in 1635 via the teeming streets of London to arrive in the gruelling tobacco plantations of Jamestown, Virginia, in the charismatic company of orphaned Tony.’ -- Eithne Farry * The Daily Mail *‘Marvellous … Richly imagined characters and keen explorations of identity, place, and the power of imagination drive this luminous achievement.’ * Publisher’s Weekly, starred review *‘Charry’s most remarkable feat with this novel is that she wears her enormous learning and research lightly throughout. Her cinematic worldbuilding ensures spectacle and substance as it sweeps us along the Coromandel coast, London streets, and the Virginian countryside. The characters are detailed with care and attention so that we find humanity even in the worst of them. Tony’s voice, in first-person point of view, is earnest and endearing, especially when he is filled with wonder about human biology, the beauty and curative qualities of various plants and flowers, and the powerful mystery of falling in love … Just over the last four decades, there has been a slew of books about South Asian or East Indian immigrants — both fiction and nonfiction. Several have won awards. Almost all of them have centred on contemporary stories. Charry’s “Tony East Indian” plants his own flag in this literary landscape. Through this fictional first East Indian immigrant story, Brinda Charry has also beautifully pioneered a much-needed path forward into rich, new literary territory.’ -- Jenny Bhatt * NPR *‘History comes alive in this brilliant, highly-imaginative, and vivid novel. Immersive and revelatory — a stellar achievement.’ -- E. C. Osondu, winner of the Caine Prize for African Writing, author of This House is Not for Sale‘Tony, the “East Indian” of the title of Brinda Charry’s utterly enjoyable debut novel, reads like a character straight out of Dickens. Based on an actual historical figure, the first person from India documented in the records of Colonial Virginia, Tony ventures into the entangled richness of a nascent America — a place he calls, “this precarious edge of the world.” It is peopled by “servants” — both white and black, female and male — who find themselves as bound to the New World as they are to the Englishmen who rule it. Picaresque in style, lyrical of voice, gripping and authentic, The East Indian is a real treat.’ -- David Wright Falade, author of Black Cloud Rising‘Filled with memorable characters, The East Indian grapples with the brutal colonialism and indentured labour of the 1600s with warmth and wit. An entertaining novel that adds more heft to Brinda Charry’s already impressive oeuvre.’ -- Shashi Tharoor, author of Inglorious Empire and Why I Am a Hindu‘What a vast and wondrous ocean of a novel this is — throwing up the unexpected and startling, the horrifying and utterly beautiful, moving from shore to shore with spectacularly skilful narrative poise. To journey with The East Indian is to journey through a world shape-shifting into the modern, a world being ravaged and transformed. It is to be reminded that amidst the rough sweep and scour of history, what remains precious are these timeless, enduring things — friendship, kindness, healing.’ -- Janice Pariat, author of The Nine-Chambered Heart and Everything the Light Touches‘A debut novel about the first native of the Indian subcontinent to live in the American colonies, Charry’s stirring coming-of-age tale centres on Tony, whose kidnapping resulted in a voyage to England and later to the new colony of Virginia.’ * The Washington Post *‘[D]azzling … Brinda Charry, a specialist in English Renaissance literature, brings all her tremendous knowledge of colonial history to these pages. Her writing is poised, polished and beautifully crafted. Most outstanding, however, is the joy and wonder she breathes into her eminently loveable characters. Charry provides insight into issues of class, wealth, welfare and racism through the eyes of our bright-eyed, innocent and compelling protagonist.’ -- Cheryl Akle * The Australian *‘The East Indian is a vivid, meticulously detailed novel that benefits from the erudition of a specialist historian.’ -- Cameron Woodhead * The Sydney Morning Herald *‘Epic … special mention must be made of the beauty of the translation … The attention to historical detail is impressive and the characterisation is superb. This is an extraordinary novel.’ -- Bob Moore, Good Reading Magazine, starred review‘A wonderful look at the formative years of the new world through the eyes of Tony, the son of a Tamil courtesan, as we follow his journey into adulthood. Set in the 1600s, a young Tony leaves what would become Madras for London after the death of his mother. There he is press-ganged into becoming an indentured servant in Virginia, then a new colony of the British in America. It’s through Tony’s compassion, curiosity, bonds of friendship, and yearning to become a physician that this story unfolds — a historical sweep across the perhaps familiar literary terrain of early America, but imagined anew through the experiences of an Indian boy. We are all familiar with the NRI dream and modern aspirations of immigrants, but few of us know just how deeply entwined some Indian lives were with the building of America. Brinda Charry does a remarkable job of painting this world with finely observed brush strokes and individual stories to build an evocative global picture.’ -- JCB PrizePraise for Brinda Charry: ‘Brinda Charry is the real thing, a master at the top of her game. Her work engages the human condition and the personal with an intensity and authority that can only be explained by literary grace.’ -- Arthur R. Flowers

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Book SynopsisLONGLISTED FOR THE INTERNATIONAL BOOKER PRIZE A joyful family saga about free will, forgiveness, and how we are all interconnected. In October 1989, triplet babies are born into chaos in a Swedish hospital. Over two decades later, the siblings are scattered around the world, barely speaking. Sebastian is in London working for a mysterious scientific organisation and falling in love. Clara has travelled to Easter Island to join a doomsday cult. And the third triplet, Matilda, is in Sweden, practising being a stepmother. Then something happens that forces them to reunite. Their mother calls with worrying news: their father has gone missing and she has something to tell them, a twenty-five-year secret that will change all their lives … 'Hilarious' CLAIRE LOMBARDO 'Playfully experimental' THE GUARDIAN 'Magnificent' THE TELEGRAPHTrade Review‘A wild 529-page trip … magnificent.’ -- Amber Medland * The Telegraph *‘Playfully experimental … enjoyable … funny.’ -- Suzi Feay * The Guardian *‘This is a prismatic, hilarious, and deeply intelligent novel overflowing with wisdom about the complexities of being alive — I read it ravenously, and with pen in hand.’ -- Claire Lombardo, author of The Most Fun We Ever Had‘With gorgeous prose and a wry wit, Amanda Svensson offers readers at once a novel of family, love affairs, the search for meaning, of grief and of sibling rivalry — of triplets with a twist.’ -- Donna Freitas, author of The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano‘A brilliant vision of family and modern life, both as we know it and as it can only be imagined by one of Sweden’s finest writers — as translated by one of our finest translators, Nichola Smalley. A playful, tender, and funny gem.’ -- Saskia Vogel, author of Permission‘Big, playful, and very strange.’ -- Gayle Lazda * London Review Bookshop *‘In her new novel Amanda Svensson portrays with both sincerity and humour, how there is a system to the madness and a madness in the system. It is a winding work that establishes her among the great storytellers with a totally unique voice.’ -- Jury statement from the Per Olov Enquist Literary Prize‘[W]ith a devoted passion for narration and a steadfast belief in the intrinsic value of fiction, Amanda Svensson portrays triplets Sebastian, Clara, and Matilda. The story of their lives in different corners of the world evolves into a supreme literary work, which expands the reader’s senses in the face of the possibilities of reality, just by being so unabashedly fictitious.’ -- Jury statement from the Tidningen Vi’s Literary Prize‘[A] novel about serious contemporary issues such as climate and fear, but that also makes you smile.’ -- Jury statement from the Svenska Dagbladet Literary Prize‘A verbose, kooky, surrealistic, and simply wonderful novel with major existential questions.’ * Svenska Dagbladet *‘A classic family saga, which recalls Thomas Mann and Zadie Smith, but also has the intricacy and ambition of the intellectual mystery à la Marisha Pessl or Donna Tartt. Svensson pours art and science, literature, and politics into the brew, until she has achieved an entertaining bildungsroman that is far removed from the egocentric autofiction that is said to be dominating contemporary literature … Svensson carries out her almost perilously demanding literary project with a lightness that is impressive.’ * Expressen *‘There is such an enormous amount of energy and vitality in Amanda Svensson’s prose, an energy that is instantly recognisable from her previous books. There is not a single stale sentence, not a single dull repetition or artificial response. She seamlessly moves between the novel’s different moods and she can be insanely funny without losing any of the fundamental sincerity.’ * Östersunds-Posten *‘A System So Magnificent It Is Blinding is composed like a rich kind of symphony, with a diverse set of voices and places that together move from cacophony to harmony. This is a book that, to use the author’s own words, makes you feel alive.’ * Göteborgs-Posten *‘The Freudian term unheimlich appears early in the novel, pre-empting the doubles and doublings, shadows and ghosts, recurring images and disappearing persons that haunt the book. It is oddly comforting that against such an uncanny backdrop the banalities and joys of the world continue — characters still fall in love, quarrel, sit in discomfort and make amends. The beauty of Svensson’s work is in this precise balance: she maintains compelling emotional resonance amid a truly wild and sprawling world. … A truly delightful study of the contours of family, the limits of free will, and the end of the world as we know it, A System So Magnificent It Is Blinding is expansive and expanding.’ -- Leah Jing McIntosh * The Saturday Paper *‘Chaos and the search for order duel in Svensson’s intelligent debut.’ * Publishers Weekly *‘In Amanda Svensson’s novel A System So Magnificent It Is Blinding, a shocking secret forces three siblings to reevaluate their places in their family and the world … A System So Magnificent It Is Blinding is a dynamic novel about methods of coping in a world where nothing is certain.’ * Foreword Reviews *‘[A System So Magnificent] is joyous and funny.’ * ANZ LitLovers *‘Svensson writes beautifully... it's a pleasure simply to follow along.’ * The Complete Review *‘All families are dysfunctional, but some raise it to an art form, as Amanda Svensson so deftly outlines in her admirable novel A System So Magnificent It Is Blinding … While all of her main characters are deeply — really deeply — flawed, Amanda Svensson has you rooting for them through their highs and lows.’ * Book Page *‘At the heart of Svensson’s tumultuous epic lies a perennial query: Are our lives simply random intersections of space and time, or are they part of a grand master plan of the universe, where we are all but cosmic marionettes and nothing is coincidence?’ * The New York Times *‘Brilliant … a sprawling family epic exploring complex questions about the power of one’s mind and the impact of one’s choices … This sharp and expansive novel takes up love, loss, truth, and beauty and will challenge readers to decide if they agree when Matilda asserts: “We're all living in different worlds. It's up to each of us to decide what form that world takes”.’ * Shelf Awareness *‘Amanda Svensson’s raucous, sprawling debut takes on the enigmas of our origins, riddles of human consciousness and animal cognition, doomsday cults, and the most bedevilling of mysteries — the minds and choices of our closest intimates.' -- Jury statement from the International Booker Prize 2023

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Book Synopsis'An epic voyage well worth taking ... Exhilarating' Marianka Swain, TelegraphOne of Britain's outstanding historical writers delivers a romantic and picaresque masterpiece that tells the fascinating story of William Neilson. In 1720, the young William Neilson leaves Edinburgh to make his fortune in Europe, first sailing to Rotterdam and then on foot to Paris, where he meets and is immediately employed by the banker John Law. A day later he is in the Bastille, but not before he has encountered a young woman of surpassing beauty to whom Neilson will be devoted for the rest of his life.Imprisoned in the Bastille, he has no possibility of seeing or communicating with his beloved. When at last he recovers his freedom, he is despatched at once to sea, bound for the Indies. He will be shipwrecked, become an equerry on the Île-de-France, anon command a disorderly legion in Persia, become a linguist able to hold his own in diplomatic and mercantile circles, all the while anticipating a summons from the Stuart king in exile in Rome, until he is sent back to France, and thence to Scotland in the service of the Young Pretender.This is brilliant, irresistibly entertaining fiction. A whole world of adventure and romance comes alive in the hands of one of our most ingenious storytellers, one of our finest writers.Trade ReviewAn epic voyage well worth taking . . . exhilarating * Telegraph *There is nothing quite like a James Buchan novel: even another James Buchan novel . . . by throwing everything he has into this transporting romp, Buchan does what a good fiction writer should: he makes us believe * Financial Times *

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New Year's Eve, 1746. A castle in the depths of France. A thunderstorm. A pair of lovers in a hay-loft. A wounded soldier toppling from his horse.So begins the second instalment of the life of William Neilson, Scottish soldier in French service and Jacobite agent against his will. Around his neck, William carries the most precious jewel on the surface of the earth, but it is not his, and he must carry it to the exiled King of England, Scotland and Ireland in Italy. Before that, he wishes to see for a last time the woman he has loved for more than half his life.The scene shifts from the wastes and marshes of the Sologne, to the disorderly houses and prisons of the Most Serene Republic of Venice and the desolate court-in-exile of James Stuart in Rome. Along the way are sword-fights, love stories, intrigues, assassinations, blasphemies, kidnappings, musical performances, and treacheries.

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Book SynopsisTo a passing stranger, Carrie is just an ordinary woman living an ordinary life... and that's exactly the way she wants to keep it. In a sleepy little seaside town, she occupies herself day-to-day without incidents or drama, until someone comes along who threatens her private world of sorrow and regret.

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Book SynopsisOn the evening of the launch of his debut novel, Matt West and his wife, Jo are knocked down by a car. She is killed and he's left in a wheelchair. After a challenging few months in hospital, Matt begins living independently. The driver of the car, Greg Dymond struggles with anger, mental turmoil and guilt but also organises a crowdfunding appeal to help Matt and his young daughter, Tilly. Community Nurse, Sophie Howlett supports Matt with daily living and emotional adjustment. Emerging from her latest unsatisfactory relationship, and with no one else to turn to, Sophie goes to Matt for support. Thus begins a valuable friendship as they seek to move on from what life has thrown at them - and love grows. A story of grief and joy, conflict and resolution, tears and laughter.

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Book SynopsisThe story commences on the same day as Looking To Move On concludes. We follow newly-weds Sophie and Matt West together with Tilly, the daughter from his first marriage, as thry continue their life in Eastwood Minster. Two other stories are weaved in with that of the Wests. The first is about Liz James (who conducted Matt and Sophie's wedding), as she encounters a range of situations in her work as a vicar. The story also recounts her close friendship with Alice Nichols, a history teacher at the local college (who has her own story from the past), together with encounters with Mrs Conway who was in the original book and now diagnosed with dementia. Liz also meets Nick, the previously unnamed bus driver who witnessed the original accident and is experiencing PTSD. The second interweaved story is that of Jess Wilson, engaged to local troublemaker Steve Archibald. There are many twists and turns in this wonderfully written observation of love, life and death.

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

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Book SynopsisThe estranged grandson of a wealthy collector of human curiosities becomes fascinated with teenaged twin sisters, leading them into a web of dark obsessions. A dazzlingly dark gothic novel from the bestselling author of The Somnambulist. 'Makes skilful use of the tropes of Victorian gothic fiction… a story of society’s outsiders seeking acceptance and redemption' Sunday Times Book of the Month ‘Mysterious, sometimes shocking, full of surprises and twists … brimming with Victorian wonders!’ Sean Lusk ‘A magical, macabre masterpiece’ A.J. West ‘Fascinating and immersive’ Anna Mazzola ________________________________Victorian England. A world of rural fairgrounds and glamorous London theatres. A world of dark secrets and deadly obsessions… Twin sisters Keziah and Tilly Lovell are identical in every way, except that Tilly hasn't grown a single inch since she was five. Coerced into promoting their father's quack elixir as they tour the country fairgrounds, at the age of fifteen the girls are sold to a mysterious Italian known as ‘Captain’. Theo is an orphan, raised by his grandfather, Lord Seabrook, a man who has a dark interest in anatomical freaks and other curiosities … particularly the human kind. Resenting his grandson for his mother’s death in childbirth, when Seabrook remarries and a new heir is produced, Theo is forced to leave home without a penny to his name. Theo finds employment in Dr Summerwell’s Museum of Anatomy in London, and here he meets Captain and his theatrical ‘family’ of performers, freaks and outcasts. But it is Theo’s fascination with Tilly and Keziah that will lead all of them into a web of deceits, exposing the darkest secrets and threatening everything they know… Exploring universal themes of love and loss, the power of redemption and what it means to be unique, The Fascination is an evocative, glittering and bewitching gothic novel that brings alive Victorian London – and darkness and deception that lies beneath… ________________________________ ‘Essie Fox follows in the footsteps of Angela Carter and AS Byatt with an adult fairy tale that delves into the darkest compulsions of human nature … an opium trance of a novel, a vivid fantasmagoria’ Noel O’Reilly ‘Deliciously dark, full of twists and surprises’ Liz Hyder ‘Filled with gothic darkness and glorious hope’ Liz Fenwick ‘Rich, dark and heady … a glorious gothic carnival’ Kate Griffin ‘Truly unexpected and original’ Kate Forsyth ‘Beautifully researched, full of horrors and delights … a chilling, thrilling slice of Victorian gothic’ Bridget Walsh ‘A cast of characters Dickens would be proud of’ Frances Quinn ‘A dizzying potion of a novel’ Polly Crosby ‘A twisty, gothic treat … wild and wonderful cast of characters’ Rebecca John ‘Rich in peril, tempered with strange, theatrical beauty’ Kate Mascarenhas ‘A wonderful, captivating carnival’ Elizabeth Fremantle ‘Haunting and emotive’ Gill Paul ‘A gorgeously gothic slice of Victoriana’ Katherine Clements ‘Beautifully controlled … exceptional storytelling, exquisitely told’ Nydia Hetherington ‘A beautiful, haunting tale peopled by a thrilling set of living, breathing characters … very fine historical fiction’ Emma Carroll ‘So inventive and surprising … beautiful writing, unforgettable characters’ Juliet West ‘A sumptuous, gothic treat that will reel you in and not let you go until the final page. Bravo!’ Caroline Green ‘Essie Fox is the mistress of gothic Victoriana … utterly beguiling and rendered in exquisite detail … a wonderful, captivating carnival of a novel’ Elizabeth Fremantle ‘Wonderfully vivid and touching … extraordinary’ Adele Geras ‘I loved this story of a group of wonderful “others” fighting to find their place and purpose in a glittering, but unforgiving, Victorian England’ Marika Cobbold ‘Atmospheric, gripping and ultimately uplifting’ Karen Coles ‘Richly detailed, beautifully written … a fascinating read’ Michael J Malone ‘The very best kind of gothic’ Lianne Dillsworth ‘Masterful’ Louise Swanson ‘A kaleidoscopic, twisting, devilish novel guaranteed to dazzle and delight. I was utterly beguiled’ Dan Bassett, Bookseller

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Book SynopsisChiltern Publishing creates the most beautiful editions of the World's finest literature. Your favourite classic titles in a way you have never seen them before; the tactile layers, golden edges, fine details and beautiful colours of these remarkable covers make these titles feel extra special and will look striking on any shelf.

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Book SynopsisChiltern Publishing creates the most beautiful editions of the World's finest literature. Your favourite classic titles in a way you have never seen them before; the tactile embossed layers, golden edges, fine details and beautiful colours of these remarkable covers make these titles feel extra special and will look striking on any shelf.

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Book Synopsis

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