Historical Fiction Books

Book Synopsis''The master at his peak'' Daily TelegraphA Russian scientist is defecting to the West, in order to realize his dreams of contacting extra-terrestrial life among the stars. But when an insubordinate British agent and a top CIA operative are sent to the Sahara desert to bring him in, things don''t go to plan. The result is a violent chase stretching across three continents, where loyalties - between spies, partners, nations and lovers - become fatally divided.''Classic, world-ranging, marvellously knowledgeable ... in a word, quality'' The Times''Tightly and complicatedly plotted, so credible in detail'' Financial TimesA PATRICK ARMSTRONG NOVELTrade ReviewThe master at his peak. * Daily Telegraph *Classic, world-ranging, marvellously knowledgeable ... in a word, quality. * The Times *For sheer readability he has no peer. * Evening Standard *

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Book Synopsis''A monumental work ... brilliantly executed'' Daily Telegraph''The pace and tension leave one almost breathless. A frightening yet compelling novel'' Sunday TelegraphPeter and Paul, the two sons of German businessman Harald Winter, are bonded together by a childhood trauma. But as they grow up the brothers also grow apart. When the shadow of the Third Reich falls they become divided by war and their differing ideals - only to meet again years later at the Nuremberg trials. An epic prelude to the Bernard Samson Game, Set and Match trilogy, Winter is a rich, tragic portrait of the fortunes of a family, and a nation, over half a century.Trade ReviewDeighton's research and plotting are as surefooted as ever, while the pace and tension leave one almost breathless. A frightening yet compelling novel. * Sunday Telegraph *A monumental work ... brilliantly executed. * Daily Telegraph *Deighton is a fearless observer of the deceptive human world. -- John Gray * New Statesman *Deighton's most ambitious and subtle book to date, an epic fiction. * Evening Standard *

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Book Synopsis''A stunning spy story ... incomparable'' GuardianIt is the most dangerous secret of the Second World War, one that could destroy Britain''s reputation forever. In 1940, a clandestine meeting took place between Churchill and Adolf Hitler. All records of it have been hidden, and anyone who discovers the truth dies - their file stamped XPD; Expedient Demise. But now what was buried is threatening to come to light, and SIS agent Boyd Stuart must stop it falling into the wrong hands, no matter how high the price.''Deliciously sharp and flawlessly accurate dialogue, breathtakingly clever plotting ... a splendidly strongly told story'' The TimesTrade ReviewA stunning spy story ... Deighton remains the incomparable entertainer. * The Guardian *Exciting and well made. * Daily Telegraph *Deliciously sharp and flawlessly accurate dialogue, breathtakingly clever plotting, confident character drawing ... a splendidly strongly told story. * The Times *The poet of the spy story. * Sunday Times *

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Book Synopsis''Deighton at his best'' Evening StandardSteve Champion - flamboyant businessman, former leader of an anti-Nazi network in the Second World War - is a man surrounded by mysteries. There are rumours he is still in the spying business. And suspicions that his fortune may be built on something nefarious; something he''d rather stayed secret. The Department are nervous, so Champion''s oldest wartime ally is sent to the South of France to investigate. It''s time to re-open the file on yesterday''s spy, whatever the consequences. ''Tough, well-written and extremely readable'' Daily MailA PATRICK ARMSTRONG NOVELTrade ReviewTough, well-written and extremely readable. * Daily Mail *Len Deighton is the Flaubert of the contemporary thriller writers. -- Michael Howard * Times Literary Supplement *Splendid bluffs and lots of pleasing violence. * New Statesman *

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Book SynopsisTransport yourself to mid-century New York in this compelling and evocative story of secrets, jealousy and hidden love''BOOK OF THE MONTH'' WOMAN & HOME''DAZZLING DEBUT'' GOOD HOUSEKEEPING''SUPERLATIVE'' RED''SO VIVIDLY EVOKED'' CLARE CHAMBERS, AUTHOR OF SMALL PLEASURES''I WAS GRIPPED FROM THE FIRST PAGE'' SARA COX ''BROKE ME, PUT ME BACK TOGETHER. JUST BUY THIS. YOU WON''T REGRET IT'' 5* READER REVIEW _________1955In an apartment on the Lower East Side, school teachers Dovie and Gillian live as lodgers. Dancing behind closed curtains, mixing cocktails for two, they guard their private lives fiercely. Until someone guesses the truth . . .1975Twenty years later in the same apartment, Ava Winters is keeping her own secret. Her mother has become erratic, haunted by something Ava doesn''t understand - until one sweltering

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Book SynopsisThe page-turning and evocative novel set in 1950s London from the author of That Green Eyed Girl''Gripping . . . Julie Owen Moylan vividly recreates drab, grey postwar London and her characters are convincing to the end'' THE TIMES, ''BEST NEW HISTORICAL FICTION''''Psychologically astute and emotionally absorbing, this is a heartfelt read'' DAILY MAIL''A wonderfully evocative, immersive novel that brings 50s London to life, from the smog and the nightlife to attitudes towards women . . . a vivid, absorbing and ultimately uplifting read'' SUNDAY EXPRESS''An incredibly vivid rendering of post-war London and the complicated lives of three woman whose fates intersect at a boarding house . . . emotional, immersive and utterly absorbing'' JENNIFER SAINT''The sense of time and place is beautifully evocative. It''s about pride and shame and love and loss and ultimately hope'' LAURA SHEPHERD-ROBITrade ReviewTouching, entertaining, hopeful. A vivid sense of time, place, people's attitudes and fragilities * Sunday Times *Psychologically astute and emotionally absorbing, this is a heartfelt read * Daily Mail *73 Dove Street is a pacy and evocative account of the struggles facing women of that era * Herald *Gripping . . . Julie Owen Moylan vividly recreates drab, grey postwar London and her characters are convincing to the end * The Times, 'Best New Historical Fiction for July 2023 *From the Rivoli Ballroom to the seedy nightlife of Soho, the characters leap off the page in this compelling mystery * Woman & Home *An incredibly vivid rendering of post-war London and the complicated lives of three woman whose fates intersect at a boarding house as they seek to take control of their own destinies. This was an engrossing read; emotional, immersive and utterly absorbing -- Jennifer Saint, Sunday Times bestselling author of AriadneA corker. It's the story of three working class women in 1950's London. It's so evocative, you can *smell* the gas fires, the lard, the perfume, the talc, the gin. It's bleakly honest about women's lot at the time (not so very long ago) and the tale is deftly woven. I loved how the strands came together, very satisfying -- Kate Sawyer, author of The StrandingA wonderfully evocative, immersive novel that brings 50s London to life, from the smog and the nightlife to attitudes towards women. Julie Owen Moylan excels in creating female characters who the reader cares about. As the friendship between these three unlikely women grows, so does their hope for a better future. It's a vivid, absorbing and ultimately uplifting read * Sunday Express *A vivid and propulsive story of three women and three dangerous secrets, 73 Dove Street so brillaintly and evocatively captures Soho in the 50s that I really feel I was there -- Sophie Irwin, bestseslling author of The Lady's Guide to Fortune HuntingI loved it even more than Julie's debut That Green Eyed Girl. Soho in the 50s is brilliantly done, as are the female characters. Brava Julie! -- Georgina Moore, author of The Garnett GirlsPowerful, poignant and so beautifully drawn - every single scene comes alive -- Frances Quinn, author of The Smallest ManOnce again, Julie Owen Moylan has created a mid century world that feels completely real and vivid. I've loved walking the damp postwar London streets with Edie and Tommie, chain-smoking in gin bars and watching these women grow. Julie has such a knack for setting up a story, creating a mystery that pulls you right in. A hugely enjoyable book. -- Jodie Chapman, author of Another LifeSet in my end of 1950s London, the sense of time and place is beautifully evocative, the ghost of the war, and the sense of societal change about to come. It's about pride and shame and love and loss and ultimately hope -- Laura Shepherd-Robinson, author of Blood & SugarStark choices and dangerous secrets disrupt the lives of three damaged but resilient working-class women in this compelling emotional drama * Mail on Sunday *From the Rivoli Ballroom to the seedy nightlife of Soho, the characters leap off the page in this compelling mystery * Woman & Home *Brilliant! Totally immersed in postwar London. I loved every page of this wonderful novel. A mystery that keeps you guessing, difficult women and that seductive 1950s atmosphere - all my favourite things! -- Louise Hare, author of This Lovely CityAnother fabulous read by the brilliant Julie Owen Moylan. A gripping and touching feminist read about three women in one London boarding house in 1958. Julie writes about mid-20th century women like no-one else! -- Laura Price, author of Single Bald FemaleI loved That Green Eyed Girl by Julie Owen Moylan so had high hopes for 73 Dove Street and it did not disappoint. This beautiful postwar story of three working class women is so evocative and moving. Adored it. -- Jennie Godfrey, author of The List of Suspicious ThingsA beautiful story of friendship and new beginnings * Best *Another absolute cracker from Julie Owen Moylan. The compelling and vividly-evoked story of three brave and complex women in 1950s London. -- Anna Mazzola, author of The Clockwork GirlHugely atmospheric, this haunting and thought-provoking read explores the lives of three women whose tales become entwined through a single address. Set in 1958 London, brought to life by immersive, detailed descriptions, it looks at women's roles in a changing society. It's a really tough read at times but written with such heart. A fascinating, bold read. Bravo Julie bravo! -- Liz Hyder, author of The GiftsA brilliant evocation of the seedy side of post-war London, wrapped around a story of the power of female friendship, this is the very best kind of escapism * Bookseller, 'Editor's Choice' *Gripping and atmospheric, this novel will worm its way into your heart * Red *I adored it. It's gripping (I stayed up until 1am on a school night to finish it), moving and so wonderfully evocative of post-war London. Julie's firmly an auto-buy author for me now, and I can't wait to read what she writes next -- Emma Hughes, author of No Such Thing As PerfectBrimming with 1950s detail and atmosphere, pacy and evocative, authentic and well-drawn. An enjoyable read * Independent *Superb * Sun *

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewMysterious, menacing, enthralling and mind-bending ... a masterpiece of compression -- Mohsin HamidPereira Maintains is small only in size. Its themes are great ones?courage, betrayal, fidelity, love, corruption; and its treatment of them is subtle, skillful, and clear. It's so clear, in fact, that you can see a very long way down, into the heart of a flawed but valiant human being, into the sickness of a nation, into the depths of political evil. It's the most impressive novel I've read for years, and one of the very few that feels truly necessary -- Philip PullmanGripping and unexpected * The Times *Brilliant ... you'll go on thinking about the characters for weeks * Guardian *A work in the high aesthetic mode, a historical novel cast in delicately evocative prose and filled with witty references to the great figures of modern European literature. In it Italians could examine their political consciences through an artful image of another country's past. The pleasures to be had from Pereira Maintains are rich and varied, but best of all it's very enjoyable * The New York Times *Tabucchi's prose creates a deep, near-profound and sometimes heart-wrenching nostalgia and constantly evokes the pain of recognizing the speed of life's passing which everyone knows but few have the strength to accept -- Alan Cheuse * NPR *A stunningly good novel, and it goes on getting better in one's head after one has stopped reading it - it works as an experience - something that has happened to one, which is of course the proof of great writing -- Diana AthillA brilliant, profound book that also manages to be a thriller -- Roddy Doyle

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Book SynopsisA TALE OF A TRAGEDY SEEPING THROUGH GENERATIONS, AND A FAMILY FRACTURED BY HISTORY AND DESIRE ''Bad Relations is an amazing achievement and one of the most satisfying books you''re likely to read this year'' The Times''Haunting and beautiful... In recent British fiction I can think only of Tessa Hadley who rivals Connolly in exacting such intricate, compelling drama from close-knit families... I don''t often wish a book were longer, but this one I did'' ObserverOn the battlefields of the Crimea, William Gale cradles the still-warm body of his brother. William''s experience of war will bring about a change in him that will reverberate through his family over the next two centuries.In the 1970s, William''s descendants invite Stephen, a distant relation, to stay in their house in the English countryside - but their golden summer entanglements will end in a shocking fall from grace.Half a century later, a confTrade ReviewA ravishing novel from the great family saga-teller Cressida Connolly and an honourable tribute to the past * The Times, Best Books for the Summer *Connolly's vivid characterisation, supple prose and striking imagery sweep you along, in an absorbing and affecting saga that uses one family's story to anatomise the different stages of grief * Daily Telegraph *In recent British fiction I can think only of Tessa Hadley who rivals Connolly in exacting such intricate, compelling drama from close-knit families . . . I don't often wish a book were longer, but this one I did * Observer *Masterful . . . a joy to see it garnering the ecstatic reviews it deserves -- Polly Samson, author of A Theatre for DreamersMoving [and] powerful . . . Connolly's vividly drawn characters grapple with trauma, unkindness and greed in an intriguing novel where past actions reverberate in the present * Daily Mirror *Connolly, like Anne Tyler and Tessa Hadley, is a master of fluidly shifting perspectives, a sharply witty observer of social class, and a champion of imaginative empathy * Daily Mail *Bad Relations is an amazing achievement and one of the most satisfying books you're likely to read this year * The Times *Elegantly written, this subtle, satisfying, well-observed novel is a delight * Country and Town House, Books of 2022 *Another fascinating, moving story from the author of After the Party * Good Housekeeping *This clever novel set across three timelines tells the story of a family haunted by tragedy. A skilfully written, powerful drama * BEST *The plot is neat, tight and unexpected but the novel's deep satisfaction comes from Connolly's total immersion in historical atmosphere and profound understanding of human pain * Literary Review *A gripping story of love, loss and tragic betrayal * Country and Townhouse *What if you could write a novel whose main plot points are a death in combat, a suicide and the breakdown of family relations, and make it beautiful? What if you dared not to show the grimmest bits, but let them happen off-stage, while using elegant, beautiful prose to paint the spaces around them? Cressida Connolly is that brave writer and Bad Relations is her latest masterpiece . . . ravishing * The Times *Haunting * Observer *The characters in Bad Relations are so brilliantly real, so wonderfully compelling at their best, and at their worst, that I can't get them out of my head. A wonderful novel -- Nina StibbeA writer who seems able to peer directly into the human heart -- John PrestonUncanny, evocative, atmospheric * Sunday Times on 'After the Party' *Connolly is a terrifically subtle writer... [she] slyly sweeps her readers into the period drama as tensions tauten between families and social classes * Daily Telegraph on 'After the Party' *Profound and moving and completely original, with a storyline that is completely satisfying. It'll be one of those novels that stays in my mind forever... it's a work of art -- Craig Brown on 'After the Party'I finished it in two days flat and I've never read anything quite like it -- Hilary Spurling on 'After the Party'A wonderfully subtle and interesting account of the Mosley women, with a compelling voice -- Linda Grant on 'After the Party'Fascinating, moving * Good Housekeeping *A gripping story of love, loss and tragic betrayal * Country & Townhouse *A compelling family saga * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisA TALE OF A TRAGEDY SEEPING THROUGH GENERATIONS, AND A FAMILY FRACTURED BY HISTORY AND DESIRE''Bad Relations is an amazing achievement and one of the most satisfying books you''re likely to read this year'' The Times''Haunting and beautiful... In recent British fiction I can think only of Tessa Hadley who rivals Connolly in exacting such intricate, compelling drama from close-knit families... I don''t often wish a book were longer, but this one I did'' ObserverOn the battlefields of the Crimea, William Gale cradles the still-warm body of his brother. William''s experience of war will bring about a change in him that will reverberate through his family over the next two centuries.In the 1970s, William''s descendants invite Stephen, a distant relation, to stay in their house in the English countryside - but their golden summer entanglements will end in a shocking fall from grace.Half a century later, a confrTrade ReviewA ravishing novel from the great family saga-teller Cressida Connolly and an honourable tribute to the past * The Times, Best Books for the Summer *Connolly's vivid characterisation, supple prose and striking imagery sweep you along, in an absorbing and affecting saga that uses one family's story to anatomise the different stages of grief * Daily Telegraph *In recent British fiction I can think only of Tessa Hadley who rivals Connolly in exacting such intricate, compelling drama from close-knit families . . . I don't often wish a book were longer, but this one I did * Observer *Masterful . . . a joy to see it garnering the ecstatic reviews it deserves -- Polly Samson, author of A Theatre for DreamersMoving [and] powerful . . . Connolly's vividly drawn characters grapple with trauma, unkindness and greed in an intriguing novel where past actions reverberate in the present * Daily Mirror *Connolly, like Anne Tyler and Tessa Hadley, is a master of fluidly shifting perspectives, a sharply witty observer of social class, and a champion of imaginative empathy * Daily Mail *Bad Relations is an amazing achievement and one of the most satisfying books you're likely to read this year * The Times *Elegantly written, this subtle, satisfying, well-observed novel is a delight * Country and Town House, Books of 2022 *Another fascinating, moving story from the author of After the Party * Good Housekeeping *This clever novel set across three timelines tells the story of a family haunted by tragedy. A skilfully written, powerful drama * BEST *The plot is neat, tight and unexpected but the novel's deep satisfaction comes from Connolly's total immersion in historical atmosphere and profound understanding of human pain * Literary Review *A gripping story of love, loss and tragic betrayal * Country and Townhouse *What if you could write a novel whose main plot points are a death in combat, a suicide and the breakdown of family relations, and make it beautiful? What if you dared not to show the grimmest bits, but let them happen off-stage, while using elegant, beautiful prose to paint the spaces around them? Cressida Connolly is that brave writer and Bad Relations is her latest masterpiece . . . ravishing * The Times *Haunting * Observer *The characters in Bad Relations are so brilliantly real, so wonderfully compelling at their best, and at their worst, that I can't get them out of my head. A wonderful novel -- Nina StibbeA writer who seems able to peer directly into the human heart -- John PrestonUncanny, evocative, atmospheric * Sunday Times on 'After the Party' *Connolly is a terrifically subtle writer... [she] slyly sweeps her readers into the period drama as tensions tauten between families and social classes * Daily Telegraph on 'After the Party' *Profound and moving and completely original, with a storyline that is completely satisfying. It'll be one of those novels that stays in my mind forever... it's a work of art -- Craig Brown on 'After the Party'I finished it in two days flat and I've never read anything quite like it -- Hilary Spurling on 'After the Party'A wonderfully subtle and interesting account of the Mosley women, with a compelling voice -- Linda Grant on 'After the Party'

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Book SynopsisE. M. Forster's beloved classic and sharp critique of imperialismA Penguin ClassicWhen Adela and her elderly companion Mrs. Moore arrive in the Indian town of Chandrapore, they quickly feel trapped by its insular and prejudiced British community. Determined to explore the real India, they seek the guidance of the charming and mercurial Dr. Aziz, a cultivated Indian Muslim. But a mysterious incident occurs while they are exploring the Marabar caves with Aziz, and the well-respected doctor soon finds himself at the center of a scandal that rouses violent passions among both the British and their Indian subjects. A masterly portrait of a society in the grip of imperialism, A Passage to India compellingly depicts the fate of individuals caught between the great political and cultural conflicts of the modern world.The Penguin Classics edition reproduces the authoritative Abinger text and also includes four of Forster's finest essays on India, a chronolo

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Book SynopsisThe greatest hero of the Second World War . . . is a girl you''ve never heard ofThe blazing debut novel based on the unsung true story of Hannie Schaft, a young-woman-turned-Dutch-Resistance-fighter in Nazi-occupied Netherlands''Inspiring, empowering, and timely, compellingly detailed and impressively researched, but better still, it''s an immersive story of a terrifying warren of history through which our guide is the sort of hero we all need right now: relatable and resolute and absolutely right'' Laurie Frankel, New York Times bestselling author of THIS IS HOW IT ALWAYS IS''An intriguing story that keeps you captivated till the end. A true hero!'' 5***** READER REVIEW __________1940, Amsterdam.You''re nineteen years old. The war has stolen your future and your country is under siege. The people you love are no longer safe.Will you stand aside Trade ReviewInspiring, empowering, and timely, compellingly detailed and impressively researched, but better still, it's an immersive story of a terrifying warren of history through which our guide is the sort of hero we all need right now: relatable and resolute and absolutely right * Laurie Frankel, New York Times bestselling author of THIS IS HOW IT ALWAYS IS *The Girl with the Red Hair brings Hannie alive and I finished it in almost one gulp! What an amazing, inspiring, true-life hero she was ... An engrossing read. * GWEN STRAUSS, author of THE NINE: THE TRUE STORY OF A BAND OF WOMEN WHO SURVIVED THE WORST OF NAZI GERMANY *

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewStrong and immersive. Well-worth plucking from the pile of chiton-lit * The Times *Vivid with fury, passion and strength, this is a fabulous myth retelling. A powerful, thought-provoking portrayal of a fascinating and complicated woman framed in beautiful prose. I loved it -- JENNIFER SAINT, bestselling author of ARIADNE and ELEKTRAWow! What a powerhouse of a novel. Savage, passionate and absolutely spellbinding. The recreation of Sparta is astonishing - you feel you are with Clytemnestra, completely immersed in the brutal world she inhabits with her siblings, whose complex relationships are drawn with skill and tenderness. Clytemnestra's rage, heartbreak and determination radiate off the page. I was utterly gripped -- Elodie Harper, bestselling author of THE WOLF DEN & THE HOUSE WITH THE GOLDEN DOORA blaze of a novel, fiery and furious - and alight with murderous revenge. Like Madeline Miller and Jennifer Saint, Casati offers the female perspective on the old, patriarchal tropes of the Greek myths * Daily Mail *Rivals House of the Dragon in conspiracies and feminine brutality. Here is a complex and courageous woman, all flesh and blood, simmering with passion. Facing the grimmest of betrayals, Clytemnestra's ruthless desire for revenge powers a thrilling plot. This is an electrifying read that shocks and fascinates in equal measure -- LIZ FREMANTLE, the critically acclaimed author of QUEEN'S GAMBITA heroine of fierce spirit caught in a world ruled by men, finding a way through with a sharp, unquenchable courage. With the fire and spark of Madeline Miller and the depths of Mary Renault, Clytemnestra will keep you reading well into the small hours, and your dreams will be of worlds where women reach for the gods -- MANDA SCOTTA passionate picture of a fiercely patriarchal society and her heroine's refusal to be bound by itsrules * Sunday Times *Clytemnestra, whose name has come to epitomise female wickedness, has found a worthy advocate in Costanza Casati and this fascinating Greek myth retelling . . . Casati brings the blood-soaked world of Greek mythology fully alive in this powerful novel * Woman & Home *Costanza Casati renders a singularly vibrant Ancient Greece, absolutely alive with emotion and suspense. Casati reveals a Clytemnestra we've never met before: fiercely intelligent, passionate, and loving - and willing to do anything to avenge the ones she loves -- Naomi Krupitsky, New York Times bestselling author of THE FAMILYA swift-paced telling of the story of Clytemnestra, the fierce but loving princess of often-brutal Sparta . . . The easy-to-follow storytelling and well-rounded characters in the novel really draw in the reader * i *Ablaze with moments of deep tenderness and visceral ferocity, Casati's Clytemnestra gives the phrase 'fight like a girl' its rightfully heroic and empowering meaning! Beautifully told in a style that pays nimble homage to classic Greek mythology, Clytemnestra is a rich and compelling read, and even more so for every woman who has ever had to fight to reclaim her power. A must-read! -- Buki Papillon, author of AN ORDINARY WONDERBold and elegant, this novel deconstructs Clytemnestra's infamy and then, with tremendous empathy and wisdom, reconstructs her into an enthrallingly complex figure filled with passion and spirit. This fiery tale of revenge and desire really is the stuff of legend -- Sarah Priscus, author of the critically-acclaimed GROUPIESPowerful and sympathetic, Clytemnestra shines a light on Helen of Troy's overshadowed sister. Crafted with page-turning suspense, Casati spins a mesmerizing story of an ambitious warrior queen who must use all her skill to protect herself and those she loves from men who view women not as equals, but as pawns to be sacrificed upon the altars of lust, greed, and fame. An ancient and intriguing tale made fresh for today's 21st century battles -- Liz Michalski, author of DARLING GIRL: A NOVEL OF PETER PANA thrilling reimagining of an infamous Greek figure * RED *A thrilling tale of power and prophecies, and the fierce Queen who fought back at those who wronged her * COSMOPOLITAN, 'The best books to look forward to in 2023' *If magical mythological books call your name, Clytemnestra is the one for you * Glamour UK *Swift-paced, straightforward storytelling, richly imagined characters. Timeless * Scotsman *

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewI loved this fresh take on the gothic genre. Vivid, haunting, surprising -- Stacey Halls, author of Sunday Times bestsellers The Familiars, The Foundling and Mrs EnglandA full-blooded gothic mystery with bite, great characterisation and heaps of atmosphere -- Emma StonexA delicious Gothic mystery with an unexpected final twist * Heat *A brilliantly creepy and utterly compelling read, which put me in mind of Laura Purcell, Stacey Halls and Michelle Paver: it's up there with the most wonderfully engrossing and twisty gothic historical fiction -- Caroline LeaA creepy, captivating gothic mystery * Woman's Weekly *Smart, atmospheric, gripping and full of surprises, this is a Gothic spine-chiller by an absolutely modern writer -- Maggie GeeThis book delivers HUGE Jane Eyre vibes, gothic and mysterious Victoriana. I LOVED it -- Sophie Irwin, author of Sunday Times bestseller A Lady’s Guide to Fortune HuntingAn immersive, atmospheric novel and a true love letter to Gothic fiction * i *With echoes of Jane Eyre but with a heart of its own . . . a suspenseful and beautifully crafted novel filled with atmosphere, rich characters and plenty of layers to keep a reader hooked right to the end -- Susan Stokes-Chapman, the SUNDAY TIMES bestselling author of PANDORAIn her atmospheric debut, The Secrets of Hartwood Hall, Katie Lumsden enthralls us with a quintessential manor-home mystery. Fans of gothic literature will savor the peculiar characters, the abandoned corridors, the deceptions and twists behind every door... Ultimately a story about women and the haunting secrets they keep, Lumsden's debut reminds us never to trust first appearances. A mesmerizing debut! -- Sarah PennerThe Secret of Hartwood Hall is exactly the book you want on a cold, stormy night when the wind is sneaking in the cracks. A thoroughly impressive debut with fantastically timed surprises throughout -- Lyndsay FayeDeeply immersive, atmospheric, and a true love letter to gothic fiction. An impressive, standout debut, sure to leave readers on the edge of their seats * Courier *Incredibly rich prose in this absorbing, deeply atmospheric story of governess, Margaret Lennox. A brilliant love letter to classic Victorian fiction and a standout debut -- Hazel GaynorDark, twisty, gothic and full of surprises ... a deliciously atmospheric page-turner -- Liz Hyder, author of THE GIFTSA real blast...I really enjoyed this haunting, gothic tale -- DINAH JEFFERIES, bestselling author of the SUNDAY TIMES number one bestseller THE TEA-PLANTER'S WIFE

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewI loved this fresh take on the gothic genre. Vivid, haunting, surprising -- Stacey Halls, author of Sunday Times bestsellers The Familiars, The Foundling and Mrs EnglandA full-blooded gothic mystery with bite, great characterisation and heaps of atmosphere -- Emma StonexA delicious Gothic mystery with an unexpected final twist * Heat *A brilliantly creepy and utterly compelling read, which put me in mind of Laura Purcell, Stacey Halls and Michelle Paver: it's up there with the most wonderfully engrossing and twisty gothic historical fiction -- Caroline LeaA creepy, captivating gothic mystery * Woman's Weekly *Smart, atmospheric, gripping and full of surprises, this is a Gothic spine-chiller by an absolutely modern writer -- Maggie GeeThis book delivers HUGE Jane Eyre vibes, gothic and mysterious Victoriana. I LOVED it -- Sophie Irwin, author of Sunday Times bestseller A Lady’s Guide to Fortune HuntingAn immersive, atmospheric novel and a true love letter to Gothic fiction * i *With echoes of Jane Eyre but with a heart of its own . . . a suspenseful and beautifully crafted novel filled with atmosphere, rich characters and plenty of layers to keep a reader hooked right to the end -- Susan Stokes-Chapman, the SUNDAY TIMES bestselling author of PANDORAIn her atmospheric debut, The Secrets of Hartwood Hall, Katie Lumsden enthralls us with a quintessential manor-home mystery. Fans of gothic literature will savor the peculiar characters, the abandoned corridors, the deceptions and twists behind every door... Ultimately a story about women and the haunting secrets they keep, Lumsden's debut reminds us never to trust first appearances. A mesmerizing debut! -- Sarah PennerThe Secret of Hartwood Hall is exactly the book you want on a cold, stormy night when the wind is sneaking in the cracks. A thoroughly impressive debut with fantastically timed surprises throughout -- Lyndsay FayeDeeply immersive, atmospheric, and a true love letter to gothic fiction. An impressive, standout debut, sure to leave readers on the edge of their seats * Courier *Incredibly rich prose in this absorbing, deeply atmospheric story of governess, Margaret Lennox. A brilliant love letter to classic Victorian fiction and a standout debut -- Hazel GaynorDark, twisty, gothic and full of surprises ... a deliciously atmospheric page-turner -- Liz Hyder, author of THE GIFTSA real blast...I really enjoyed this haunting, gothic tale -- DINAH JEFFERIES, bestselling author of the SUNDAY TIMES number one bestseller THE TEA-PLANTER'S WIFE

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Book SynopsisA love letter to Jane Austen and Elizabeth Gaskell, The Trouble with Mrs Montgomery Hurst is a witty novel of manners and gossip, class and family, scandal and romance. ''Romance and scandal abound in this compelling period drama . . . Recommended for all lovers of Regency historical fiction'' LAURA SHEPPERSON, author of The Heroines ''Warm and witty, with a wonderful cast of quirky characters whose company I found irresistible'' JESSICA BULL, author of Miss Austen Investigates --- A single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife . . . But why would he choose her? Summer 1841. It is marriage season in the county of Wickenshire, and Miss Amelia Ashpoint isn't sure she can face yet another ball. But now that she has reached the grand age of three-and-twenty, time is (apparently) running out. Her father is anxious to secure her a husb

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Book SynopsisThe most nostalgic and reflective of Evelyn Waugh''s novels, Brideshead Revisited looks back to the golden age before the Second World War. It tells the story of Charles Ryder''s infatuation with the Marchmains and the rapidly-disappearing world of privilege they inhabit. Enchanted first by Sebastian at Oxford, then by his doomed Catholic family, in particular his remote sister, Julia, Charles comes finally to recognize only his spiritual and social distance from them.

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERWINNER OF THE WATERSTONES DEBUT FICTION PRIZE 2024WINNER OF THE BOLLINGER EVERYMAN WODEHOUSE PRIZE FOR COMIC FICTION 2024SHORTLISTED FOR THE NERO AWARD FOR DEBUT FICTION 2024LONGLISTED FOR THE AUTHORS'' CLUB BEST FIRST NOVEL AWARD 2025A BBC RADIO 4 BOOK AT BEDTIMEA BBC2 BETWEEN THE COVERS PICKPICKED AS A BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE GUARDIAN, THE INDEPENDENT, THE IRISH TIMES, THE FINANCIAL TIMES AND THE TLSOne of the most original and brilliant debuts in years' Irish TimesBold and totally unexpected ... I was hooked from the first page' Douglas Stuart, author of Shuggie BainBrilliant ... Hilarious, moving, and profound' R. F. Kuang, author of Yellowface***Ancient Sicily. Enter GELON: visionary, dreamer, theatre lover. Enter LAMPO: feckless, jobless, in need of a distraction.Imprisoned in the quarries of Syracuse, thousands of defeated Athenians hang on by the thinnest of threads.They're fading in the baking heat, but not everything is lost: they can still recite lines from Greek tragedy when tempted by Lampo and Gelon with goatskins of wine and scraps of food.And so an idea is born. Because, after all, you can hate the invaders but still love their poetry.It's audacious. It might even be dangerous. But like all the best things in life love, friendship, art itself it will reveal the very worst, and the very best, of what humans are capable of.What could possibly go wrong?***Fierce, funny, fast-paced Brings the ancient world roaring to life' Joanna Quinn, author of The Whalebone TheatreLove, war, poetry, reckless ambition, terrible failure, and glorious triumph A delicious treat of a read. I loved it' Jon McGregor, author of Lean Fall StandSunday Times bestseller, August 2024Trade ReviewBold and totally unexpected, I loved this book. A brilliant novel about friendship, the healing power of art, and why we must fight for our dreams. I was hooked from the first page * Douglas Stuart, author of Shuggie Bain *In At Swims-Two-Birds, Flann O'Brien gave us cowboys riding through Dublin. Now, Ferdia Lennon gives us modern-day Dubliners living among the ancient Greeks. This is a very special, very clever, very entertaining novel * Roddy Doyle *As thrilling for me as the first time I picked up a Kevin Barry novel. Glorious Exploits is exuberant, funny, lyrical and profoundly moving. It is, quite simply, a rare beauty * Sarah Winman, author of Still Life *Glorious Exploits stinks of misery, despair, love, war, poetry, reckless ambition, terrible failure, and glorious triumph. It’s a novel thick with the stuff of the Classics, in other words. A delicious treat of a read. I loved it * Jon McGregor *With all the blunt humanity of Roddy Doyle, Glorious Exploits is a vividly conjured vision of the past. Madly ambitious, cathartic like all great tragedy, but shockingly funny too, Ferdia Lennon's outstandingly original début is just glorious * Emma Donoghue, author of Room *What a voice! What a story! A darkly funny double act from Lampo and Gelon, sandwiched in between the transformative experience of theatre and forgiving your enemies. I loved it from the first line * Claire Fuller *Sublime. Pitch-perfect dialogue, a fast-moving story that is both dark and lyrically beautiful, tragic and funny in equal measure. Glorious Exploits is an astonishingly original and gripping story of brotherhood, war and art. Ferdia Lennon is a fierce new talent * Rebecca Stott, author of In the Days of Rain *A glorious thunderbastard, with a unique, stark voice that is expertly drawn. It is cheeky, contemplative and sly with an outrageous sense of humour and a massive heart. Lennon beats you with a club then whispers you poetry. It is harsh and fun in a way that few other books are ... A book like this is long overdue and very welcome. Thank the Gods. * Rory Gleeson, author of Rockadoon Shore *Glorious Exploits is an agonising exploration of the cost of violence, for both its winners and losers. It is also a reminder of how dangerous and radical the making of art can be, as the attempt to stage Medea with prisoners-of-war in 412 BC comes to represent war's opposite. This perfect first novel is a tragicomic masterpiece. Ferdia Lennon has created a story worthy of the Athenians: mortal, maddening, heart-mending * Clare Pollard, author of Delphi *What a truly magnificent novel this is: in turns riotous, brutal and deeply affecting. I am in no doubt that Ferdia Lennon is the real deal. His captivating storytelling resonates with all the beauty of Euripides' plays. * Imogen Hermes Gowar, author of The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock *Contemporary yet classical, vulnerable yet self-assured, a beautiful story about the very power of storytelling * Santanu Bhattacharya, author of One Small Voice *Funny, thoughtful, moving, brilliant * Nick Laird, Irish Sunday Independent *I loved this book. Fierce, funny, fast-paced. Glorious Exploits brings the ancient world roaring to life in a brilliantly non-stuffy way - as if the figures on a Greek vase turned round, offered you wine, and started chatting. Thoroughly enjoyable, occasionally brutal, and shot through with insight, pathos and hope. Reminiscent of Kevin Barry and George Saunders, but wholly original - an unforgettable debut * Joanna Quinn, author of The Whalebone Theatre *Lennon brings ancient Sicily to life with humor and pathos in his stunning debut . . . Lampo’s crackling modern vernacular adds just the right amount of levity . . . Lennon’s vital tale captivates * Publishers Weekly *Lennon’s distinctly modern voice adds levity and wit to this highly recommended narrative about the tragic aftermath of war and the tragic beauty of the human condition * Library Journal *Lennon evokes a time when it was common to relish and revere the art of Homer’s poetry and Euripides’ drama. Those with that appetite today are fortunate to have Madeline Miller, Emily Wilson, Pat Barker, and recently James Hynes’ Sparrow. And Lennon. An entertaining and impressive debut * Kirkus Starred Review *A truly original, blackly comic novel * Sunday Independent *A highly entertaining story from a brilliant new voice * The Gloss *Gorgeous * Guardian *At once charming and convincingly gritty. The logistics are riveting enough but Lennon takes them to a conclusion that will move you profoundly, in several directions all at once * Mail on Sunday *A blinder of a book, narrated by Lampo in a modern Irish vernacular with all the wit to match. In fewer than 300 pages it also manages to pack in a heap of ideas – about war and art, brotherhood and community, love and loss. A true gem * inews, The Best New Books to Read in January 2024 *'The debut novelist to watch ... Remarkable ... This debut is entertaining, vivid, original – and has a huge amount of fun turning the genre on its head ... The premise is irresistible ... Terrific ... A novel to be gulped down' * The i *This larky, spirited caper feels like a blast and a breeze ... A delight, both for the originality of its conception and its willingness to pursue such an eccentric idea to its logical conclusion’ * Sunday Times *Quirkily original ... A tragi-comedy, in homage to Euripides, it is simultaneously shocking, touching, and thought-provoking ... Recounted in a lively Irish brogue, Glorious Exploits has brio and brass neck * The Herald *Immensely likeable ... Raucously funny ... The writing is beautifully controlled * The Observer *Very funny ... Lennon is good on the art of direction. He is good, too, on historical contingency * Times Literary Supplement *Wonderfully odd, riotously funny ... This superb novel builds to a page-turning crescendo that evokes the great tragedy the men stage' * Booklist *Engrossing, surprising ... He writes with a wit and an enchantment that very seldom waver ... Expect to encounter a heartfelt, convincing, poetically rendered world [which Lennon has conjured from] the ocean of his own defiantly original sensibility * Literary Review *

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Book Synopsis*** FOR FANS OF RICHARD OSMAN AND JANICE HALLETT, WE INVITE YOU TO MEET A NEW LITERARY SLEUTH JANE AUSTEN . . . ***''Richly imagined and wonderfully plotted - a great read'' S.J. BENNETT''Sharp and energetic whilst simultaneously warm and heartfelt. This is a delicious treat for fans of Austen''s novels and delightfully compelling mysteries'' B. P . WALTER''Exceptional - the Austen whodunnit I feel like I''ve been waiting my whole life for! I loved it'' SOPHIE IRWINIt is a truth universally acknowledged, that every good mystery is in need of a brilliant sleuth . . .Welcome to Hampshire, 1795, where a young Jane Austen has her sights set on securing a marriage proposal from the dashing Tom Lefroy at a local ball.But when a shocking discovery is made - a milliner''s lifeless body tucked away in a linen closet - Jane finds herself embroiled in an unexpected murder mystery.As she races against the clock to clear her beloved brother Georgy''s name, Jane uses her sharp wits to navigate the treacherous waters of society, unmasking secrets and unearthing hidden motives along the way. With every twist and turn, Jane''s determination to solve the case deepens. And if she fails, her brother will face the ultimate punishment - the hangman''s noose . . .Join Jane on her quest for justice as she faces down danger, deceit, and scandal amidst her own friends and neighbours. Will she uncover the truth in time, or will the real killer go free? One thing''s for certain - in Hampshire, nothing is as it seems . . .*** BETWEEN THE MATCH-MAKING AND MATRIMONY LIES MURDER . . . . ***Why readers LOVE Miss Austen Investigates!''Delightful and entertaining'' 5***** reader review''Jane Austen makes a perfect detective!'' 5***** reader review ''This book is such a joy!'' 5***** reader review''A very clever whodunnit!'' 5***** reader review''Kept me entertained throughout'' 5***** reader reviewTrade ReviewJessica Bull combines genteel Georgian country living with the lively intrigue of a whodunnit to create a very satisfying read * Sunday Express *Richly imagined and wonderfully plotted - a great read -- S.J. BennettSharp and energetic whilst simultaneously warm and heartfelt. This is a delicious treat for fans of Austen's novels and delightfully compelling mysteries -- B P WalterA brilliant debut * Woman & Home *This super-fun read is a total breath of fresh air! * Fabulous, Sun *A note-perfect crime caper that has much of the wit and empathy of an Austen novel * Red *Sparkling...A brilliant debut that does Jane justice * Woman's Weekly *So clever and well done * Good Housekeeping *Delicious * Crime Monthly *I adored this so much. Jane brims with life and wit, the story is packed with delicious details to delight every Austen fan, and the puzzle is constructed as neatly as Emma. Bravo, Jessica Bull -- you are a genius! -- Alex HaySuch a clever idea, pulled off with considerable deftness. The result is a sparkling treat of a read -- Elizabeth BuchanI absolutely adored Miss Austen Investigates! It perfectly captures the world of Jane Austen, and the character of Jane is everything you'd want her to be. Also a wonderfully twisty plot! -- Theresa HowesSuch a delight! Highly recommend -- Stacey ThomasI adored it. Miss Austen Investigates is fresh, fiendish and funny. Much like Jane herself -- Jennie GodfreyJessica Bull has managed to perfectly entwine a classic golden era whodunnit with the life and society of one of our greatest ever writers. -- Kate WellsFrom the first page it sparkles with wit and warmth -- Jane DunnFunny, charming, clever and utterly absorbing. I am enchanted -- Ericka WallerHugely entertaining, this breathlessly paced mystery is given ballast by careful, thorough research, and intriguing insights into Jane Austen’s character. A gripping read -- Helen MoffettMiss Austen Investigates is an absolute joy of a novel that captures the era and Jane Austen herself with such heart, wit and an exquisite amount of detail. Beautifully written and completely immersive, it will keep you guessing until the very end -- Fiona McPhillipsThis book was a joy to read. I felt immersed in Jane Austen's world, and Jessica Bull's witty herione is so much fun to spend time with! Properly twisty, atmospheric, and delightful all at once. When I turned the last page I already missed Jane and can't wait for more -- Kristin PerrinA cosy mystery cloaked in Jane Austen's sparkling powers of observation and wit, Miss Austen Investigates brings a young Jane to life as she tries to solve a village murder that has struck far too close to home. With evocative detail and stunning historical accuracy, author Jessica Bull places the reader firmly within the Steventon terrain of Austen family lore in this remarkably assured and engaging debut. Blending the boisterous energy of Becoming Jane with the intricate plot puzzles of P.D. James, Miss Austen Investigates gives Austenites a wonderful new way to appreciate their favourite author -- Natalie JennerJessica Bull's debut novel is a sheer delight: a gripping murder mystery...it is also an intriguing and deeply moving love story. And it is very, very funny * Jane Austen's Regency World *Jessica Bull's writing is flawless, with a lyrical, subtle wit. It's like being swept along on a glorious wave. Can't wait to see what Jane gets up to next -- Amita MurraySheer delight. A gripping murder mystery. A hugely accomplished storyteller and Bull's writing style pays homage to Austen’s acerbic wit and elegant turn of phrase. I cannot wait for the next volume in the series * Jane Austen's Regency World *

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Book SynopsisBorn a vagabond, Tibb Ingleby has never had a roof of her own. But her mother has taught her that if you''re not too bound by the Big Man''s rules, there are many ways a woman can find shelter in this world. Now her ma is dead in a trick gone wrong and young Tibb is orphaned and alone.As she wends her way across the fields and forests of medieval England, Tibb will discover there are people who will care for her, as well as those who mean her harm. And there are a great many others who are prepared to believe just about anything.And so, when the opportunity presents itself to escape the shackles society has placed on them, Tibb and her new friends conjure an audacious plan: her greatest trickerie yet. But before they know it, their hoax takes on a life of its own, drawing crowds - and vengeful enemies - to their door...

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Book SynopsisMARIE CLAIRE BEST BOOKS OF 2023''Funny, clever and unexpectedly profound - I couldn''t put it down'' Helena Attlee''It is remarkable how much information she can convey about Kitty's life . . . solely using wall labels'' IndependentPrized, collected, critiqued. One Woman Show revolves around the life of Kitty Whitaker as she is defined by her potential for display and moved from collection to collection through multiple marriages. Christine Coulson, who has written hundreds of exhibition wall labels for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, precisely distils each stage of Kitty''s sprawling life into that distinct format, every brief snapshot in time a wry reflection on womanhood, ownership, value and power.Described with wit, poignancy and humour over the course of the twentieth century, Kitty emerges as an eccentric heroine who disrupts her privileged, porcelain life with both major force and minor transgressions. As human foibles propel each delicately crafted text, Coulson playfully asks: who really gets to tell our stories?''Heartbreaking and funny . . . truly masterful and patient and insane, in the best way'' Leanne Shapton''Wry, humorous, poignant'' SpectatorTrade ReviewFunny, clever and unexpectedly profound - I couldn't put it down -- Helena Attlee * author of The Land Where Lemons Grow *Arch and wholly original, this is a pocket rocket of a novel. The economy with which Coulson manages to capture a life with equal amounts of both vigour and heartbreak is a stunning achievement. An irrepressible and timeless reflection on art, self and female objectification. -- Wiz WhartonA wonderfully clever concept, and a book that lends itself to being read in a single sitting, during which you’ll feel the corners of your lips curl upwards again and again . . . Coulson’s wry, often humorous, occasionally poignant commentary are moments of transgression and longing that show there’s more to our neoclassical heroine than her fine finish -- Chloe Ashby * The Spectator *Brilliant. Christine Coulson's tragicomedy of manners is an immense delight. Condensed into its witty format is the story of a life, a life like some I have known and others about which I have read. Coulson captures her character's gentle decline with the precision of Edith Wharton and evokes the eras she traverses with such clarity, even wisdom, describing a woman's changing (or unchanging) role in the world with an acuity that left this reader astonished time and again. -- Andrew Solomon * author of Far From the Tree *Short, clever . . . it is remarkable how much information she can convey about Kitty’s life . . . solely using wall labels -- Ann Levin * Independent *Heartbreaking and funny . . . Coulson's language is perfection . . . I love the pages of voices, like voices in the galleries, and so many moments made me laugh. Truly masterful and patient and insane, in the best way -- Leanne Shapton * author of Swimming Studies *A delight! This novel's formal audacity is an impressive feat of imagination. One Woman Show is a moving story of privilege, womanhood, and the sweep of the twentieth century told through a single American life. I loved this book -- Rumaan Alam * author of Leave the World Behind *Wildly original…[A] tiny but powerful novel… It’s sometimes snarky, sometimes sad, with enough poignant moments to make me wish it could go on and on. … You can sit down and read it in less time than it takes to drive to the art museum, but you’ll be thinking about it for far longer. If you appreciate truly original structure and storytelling, put this modern masterwork on your reading list. * NPR *Strange, biting, tender, and heartbreaking in turns. AND all at once . . . I read it in one fell swoop. It is brilliant -- Maira Kalman * author of Women Holding Things *A funny and clever take on the interchangeability of women and works of arts as possessions -- Philip Hook * author of Breakfast at Sotheby's *Beautiful, beautiful book . . . the cover is absolutely gorgeous, it would make a delicious Christmas gift * Art Juice Podcast *Coulson tells us Kitty Whitaker’s story stylishly and succinctly through label-length entries * Harper's Bazaar *Compulsive and spry -- Hephzibah Anderson * the Observer *Coulson’s formally inventive, witty novel uses gallery captions to capture Kitty’s journey through the 20th century. At once terse and expansive, this is a literary experiment that intrigues -- Francesca Peacock * the Mail on Sunday *A highly original and imaginative work that captivates and intrigues . . . so brief that it can be read straight through in an hour, but that is not to say it is slight . . . Coulson’s unusual command of language rewards multiple readings * The Irish Times *the writing is clever, witty and deftly – and at times poignantly–executed, and that more than earns One Woman Show its coveted red dot (aka sales sticker) from us’ * Marie Claire Best Books of 2023 *Unconventional… non-narrative paragraphs somehow add up to create mounting tension, with wry social commentary, feminist barbs and psychological insight bursting through the lacquered surface * The Lady *

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Book SynopsisEntertaining and movingI came to love these four women as though they were my sisters' TRACY CHEVALIERI ADORED it. What a fantastic read. My book of the year' JILL MANSELL-They knew they were changing history. They didn't know they would change each other. Oxford, 1920. For the first time in its 1000-year history, the world's most famous university has admitted female students. Giddy with dreams of equality, education and emancipation, four young women move into neighbouring rooms on Corridor Eight. They have come here from all walks of life, and they are thrown into an unlikely, life-affirming friendship.Dora was never meant to go to university, but, after losing both her brother and her fiancé on the battlefield, has arrived in their place. Beatrice, politically-minded daughter of a famous suffragette, sees Oxford as a chance to make her own way and her own friends for the first time. Socialite Otto fills her room with extravagant luxuries but fears they won't be enough to distract her from her memories of the war years. And quiet, clever, Marianne, the daughter of a village vicar, arrives bearing a secret she must hide from everyone even The Eights if she is to succeed.But Oxford's dreaming spires cast a dark shadow: in 1920, misogyny is still rife, influenza is still a threat, and the ghosts of the Great War are still very real indeed. And as the group navigate this tumultuous moment in time, their friendship will become more important than ever.The Eights is a captivating debut novel about sisterhood, self-determination, courage, and what it means to come of age in a world that is forever changed.-''Beautifully captures the power of friendship ... A pleasure to read'' PIP WILLIAMS, author of A Dictionary of Lost Words''I so enjoyed The Eights'' CLARE CHAMBERS, author of Small Pleasures

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Book Synopsis'Lucid and assured' The New Yorker, Best Books of 2023'For fans of Celeste Ng and Ann Patchett, this quietly beautiful book will break, then mend, your heart' Amazon, The Best Books of 2023WINNER OF THE 2023 BARNES & NOBLE DISCOVER PRIZEWINNER OF THE 2024 ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN FICTION***One family's deepest pain. Another family's darkest secret. On a hot day in 1960s Maine, six-year-old Joe watches his little sister Ruthie, sitting on her favourite rock at the edge of the blueberry fields, while their family, Mi'kmaq people from Nova Scotia, pick fruit. That afternoon, Ruthie vanishes without a trace. As the last person to see her, Joe will be forever haunted by grief, guilt, and the agony of imagining how his life could have been. In an affluent suburb nearby, Norma is growing up as the only child of unhappy parents. She is smart, precocious, and bursting with questions she isn't allowed to ask questions about her missing baby photos; questions about her dark skTrade ReviewFor fans of Celeste Ng and Ann Patchett, this quietly beautiful book will break, then mend, your heart -- Sarah Gelman * Amazon, The Best Books of 2023 *The ghosts of lost children haunt generations in this lucid and assured début * The New Yorker, Best Books of 2023 *A poignant debut from a writer to watch * Kirkus, Starred Review *Marvellous ... I can’t believe Amanda Peters is just getting started ... She’s going to be the next big thing ... The Berry Pickers is a triumph * Katherena Vermette, author of The Strangers *Enthralling ... Powerfully rendered ... A cogent and heartfelt look at the ineffable pull of family ties * Publishers Weekly *Wonderful ... Indigenous stories like this matter, and while little is easy for Peters’ characters, in the end, for all of them – even those who stole a small child – there is hope * Emily Dziuban, Booklist *Poignant ... Reads like a modern literary classic ... Moving, heartbreaking, and hopeful, The Berry Pickers is a powerful tale of haunting regret, bonds that will never be broken, and unrelenting love * Nick Medina, author of Sisters of the Lost Nation *[Peters] excels in writing characters for whom we can’t help rooting * New York Times *The Berry Pickers is just like a handful of berries ... filled with so much sweet, so much sour, so much juice. Reading this book, I was only ever hungry when it ended * Morgan Talty, author of Night of the Living Rez *Peters brilliantly crafts a multi-layered tale of how one irrational act creates irrevocable harm that ripples through multiple lives ... A fluid and emotional read that is both plainly and beautifully rendered ... An amazing read from an amazing new voice * Michelle Good, author of Five Little Indians *A beautiful novel about family and about the way it makes and breaks and remakes us again ... It contains a cast of characters you will never forget. With this book, Amanda Peters establishes herself as an essential new voice * Alexander MacLeod, author of Animal Person *Peters weaves a persistent thread of hope and resilience through her remarkable debut novel * Allison Zhao, Acta Victoriana *Lyrical ... You cannot help but love these characters from the first chapter, they stay with you long after the last page * Cherie Dimaline, author of The Marrow Thieves *Hauntingly beautiful ... A page-turner that will stay with readers long after they’ve finished reading it * The Suburban *Heartbreaking and genuine, this saga of a family dealing with the disappearance of a beloved child will resonate with readers of historical fiction, Indigenous fiction and anyone who enjoys a solidly written story * Winnipeg Free Press *This emotional debut is a beautifully told story of identity, loss, and the power of love * Chatelaine *Offers a deep exploration into the human spirit and the meaning of connection * Sydney Walsh, Atlantic Books *Written in crystalline clear prose and brilliantly descriptive of a time and place, The Berry Pickers tells a moving story especially relevant to our times, when so much of Canada’s dark past increasingly comes to light' * 2023 Atwood Gibson Writers' Trust Fiction Prize Jury *An unputdownable novel of identity, forgiveness, and insistent hope * The Monitor *A profound study of the love, grief and betrayals of two families * inews, The best new books to read in November 2023 *

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Book SynopsisMURDER MOST FOUL OR VENGEANCE MOST JUST?An electrifying retelling from Elizabeth Fremantle - the fierce and fearless story of Beatrice Cenci: prisoner, rebel, saint or sinner?An evocative tale of misplaced love and lust A gripping read which gallops to a crescendo of an ending' Melanie CantorA sensationally powerful novel with a rollercoaster of a story that has the dark logic of Greek tragedy' Andrew Taylor, bestselling author of The Ashes of LondonFremantle never misses. Sinners is a fierce and searing feminist retelling of Beatrice Cenci's life and murder trial' Flora Carr, author of The Tower'Dark, passionate and atmospheric, we predict another screen adaptation' Woman & Home--In sixteenth-century Rome, Beatrice Cenci youngest daughter of a powerful nobleman is destined for a life of gilded insignificance. Wealth talks within the city's grand palazzos, and women must remain silent. Then her brother is found murdered by a rival family, and Beatice's domineering, tyrannical father insists they flee to La Rocca. But La Rocca, an ancient and forbidding fortified castle perched on a cliff, is no sanctuary. The villagers are suspicious of the newcomers, considering their arrival an ill omen. Mysterious and terrible events begin to occur within the castle walls even as Beatrice's father's paranoia grows. Isolated and afraid, she befriends the castle's keeper, Olimpio. Yet their secret attraction is dangerous. Were their affair to be discovered, neither might survive. And betrayal lurks behind every corner. In desperation Beatrice devises a plan, one that will see her risk everything for an even greater love . . . Inspired by the real life of a sixteenth-century heroine, Sinners is the story of a trapped woman determined to live a free life, no matter the cost. Because for Beatrice Cenci saint, sinner, hunter, prey a woman caged is a terrible thing. --I couldn't put this book down!' 5* Reader ReviewI was on the edge of my seat for this entire book!' 5* Reader ReviewThis was one of the most powerful writing I have read in a historical novel in a while' 5* Reader ReviewPraise for Elizabeth Fremantle:'MAGICAL, THRILLING, WONDERFUL, EXCELLENT. HEARTPOUNDINGLY TENSE AND ABSOLUTELY ENGROSSING. CLEVER, AMAZING AND INSPIRING' DAILY MAILElectric' Good HousekeepingRich in atmosphere and period detail . . . An enticing read' StylistBeautifully written and finely observed' RACHEL HORE, author of A PLACE OF SECRETS'An enthralling tale of power and passion, loyalty and betrayal' ELIZABETH WILHIDE, author of ASHENDEN

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Book SynopsisCOME ONE, COME ALL, STEP INTO THE ENCHANTMENT OF JAZZ AGE CHICAGO AND PARIS IN THE MIDNIGHT CAROUSELThe Night Circus meets Water for Elephants in this enchanting, darkly glittering mystery tale of obsession, revenge, and enduring love.''An atmospheric, evocative adventure across the world. Stunning'' JANICE HALLETT''Took hold of my heart and held me captive'' ANYA BERGMAN''I completely surrendered to its magic'' HESTER MUSSON ''The story spins, flashing with vivid prose, entrancing mystery and knock-you-off-your-feet romance. A magical ride with unforgettable characters at the helm'' CARI THOMAS''Fans of The Miniaturist will enjoy this part mystery, part love story'' RED MAGAZINE- Come children, come children from far and near. Come choose your steed, you galloping knights, to enjoy the fun of the carousel . . .Paris, 1914Detective Laurent Bisset has reluctantly closed a most puzzling case. Fairgoers have been vanishing while riding a dazzling carousel. The only man who could be responsible is behind bars but Laurent cannot explain what happened to those still missing.Chicago, 1920Maisie Marlowe acquires a beautiful, antique carousel, and sets up the Silver Kingdom amusement park. It is a place of delight and wonder until a child goes missing on its most famous ride.When rumours of the Chicago disappearance reach Laurent, he crosses the Atlantic in search of new answers to an old mystery.Together, can he and Maisie uncover the carousel's secret before it claims another?Praise for The Midnight Carousel:''It''s hard to believe this enchanting novel is a debut. A story of loss, love and grief, and of a woman forging her way in the world.'' WOMAN & HOME, EDITOR''S PICK ''What a special story this is. A brilliant, absorbing ride'' AMANDA GEARD ''My favourite book of the year. When I wasn''t reading it, it was all I could think about'' SARAH PENNER''A beguiling mystery and a fabulous love story'' GARETH BROWN''Intricate and enchanting'' FREYA BERRY''I adored it . . . Readers are in for a treat'' MELISSA FU''A lavish tapestry that weaves a compelling mystery into a timeless love story. Breathtaking'' HELEN FIELDS''A truly magical book that kept me reading long into the night'' LOUISE HARE ''Not since The Night Circus have I felt so pulled into a story of the wonders and terrors of which humans are capable. A beautifully constructed ride into a dazzling history that feels utterly real'' KATE HEARTFIELD ''Kept me in delightful suspense about what was real and what was fantastical right till the end. Absolutely magical!'' BUKI PAPILLON ''This is THE author to watch! Wow! Gave me all the vibes that The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern did. I was so utterly immersed in the world that Fiza created . . . An absolute work of art'' - 5* READER REVIEW

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Book SynopsisImmersive, captivating, utterly transporting . . . reading Harriet Evans is like coming home' STACEY HALLSMagnificent. It has that vast sweeping sense of a huge story and such a powerfully compelling world. I enjoyed it so much' MARIAN KEYESA gripping family saga, intertwining two families, two big loves, 60s New York and 50s London. If you love the Cazalets you'll love this' DAISY BUCHANAN*** Every family's story starts somewhere. Alice and Tom's begins here. On the eve of her sixteenth birthday, Alice Jansen collects her treasures the keepsakes, figurines and momentoes that help her make sense of her fragile family. But the next day her heart is broken, and the final treasure, a gift from her father, is lost. Two years later, Alice answers a phone call from a stranger and runs away to New York, and tries to forget her last golden summer at the orchard on the banks of the Hudson. Tom Raven can't understand why he keeps losing so many of the things and people that really matter to him, but he knows for certain that something important is missing from his life. One day, he remembers a forgotten letter and makes a phone call, then leaves Sevenstones, the only place that feels like home, for a strange city . . . An enchanting, unputdownable new novel about two people finding one another and the sweeping family story that follows, from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Wildflowers and The Beloved Girls. ***Summer is the perfect time to curl up with a big family saga and they don't come much bigger and more satisfying than The Treasures . . . a compelling and richly evocative tale' IRISH TIMES'An absorbing, richly imagined tale of one family's beginnings, and the fates and fortunes that ricochet down through generations. Evans' characters are built to love and root for . . . I was gripped and transported by the lives of Alice and Tom' EMMA STONEX Razor sharp . . . an enjoyable family saga with some modern twists . . . quite delicious' THE TIMESFilled with intricate detail, this book will entrance and move you. Harriet Evans is a master storyteller' KATIE FFORDEHarriet Evans is our go-to author for sweeping cross-generational stories' FABULOUSA pure delight from start to finish. You'll be longing for the next book' GOOD HOUSEKEEPINGThe very definition of escape' VERONICA HENRY[Harriet] has such a skill to draw readers in, and any fans of multi-generational stories will love this one' PRIMAAn absolute treat' REDPacked with beautiful characterisation and atmospheric settings' WOMAN & HOME

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Book SynopsisA heartbreaking, enduring and masterfully told story set in the battlefields of the First World War from the international number one bestselling author Lesley PearseWar threatens to take all she has loved and lived for . . .On the outbreak of war, Belle Reilly''s husband Jimmy enlists and heads for the deadly trenches of northern France. But Belle knows she cannot stand idly by when so many are sacrificing their lives.Volunteering to help battlefield wounded, Belle is posted to France as a Red Cross ambulance driver. There, a tragic accident brings her face to face with Etienne - a man from her past she''s never quite forgotten.Torn between forbidden passion, loyalty and love, Belle is caught in an impossible situation.Will she succumb to the dark forces of this most brutal of wars?Or will fate intervene and finally lead her to lasting happiness?_________''Pearse will pull your heartstrings''Trade ReviewFull of love, passion and heartbreak * Best *Glorious, heartwarming * Woman & Home *An emotional and moving epic you won't forget in a hurry * Woman's Weekly *

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Book SynopsisNobel Laureate and two-time Booker prize-winning author of Disgrace and The Life and Times of Michael K, J. M. Coetzee tells the remarkable story of a nation gripped in brutal apartheid in his Sunday Express Book of the Year award-winner Age of Iron. In Cape Town, South Africa, an elderly classics professor writes a letter to her distant daughter, recounting the strange and disturbing events of her dying days. She has been opposed to the lies and the brutality of apartheid all her life, but now she finds herself coming face to face with its true horrors: the hounding by the police of her servant''s son, the burning of a nearby black township, the murder by security forces of a teenage activist who seeks refuge in her house. Through it all, her only companion, the only person to whom she can confess her mounting anger and despair, is a homeless man who one day appears on her doorstep.In Age of Iron, J. M. Coetzee brings his searing iTrade ReviewIt is, quite simply, a magnificent and unforgettable work * Daily Telegraph *A superbly realised novel whose truth cuts to the bone * The New York Times *A fierce pageant of modern South Africa ... A remarkable work by a brilliant writer * Wall Street Journal *Coetzee is one of the greatest writers of our time ... Age of Iron is taut, ironic, grieving and, finally, astonishing * Los Angeles Times *

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Book SynopsisThe poor boy who made his fortune . . . not just once but twice.Little Jeff Pearce grew up in a post-war Liverpool slum. His father lived the life of an affluent gentleman whilst his mother was forced to steal bread to feed her starving children. Life was tough and from the moment Jeff could walk he learned to go door to door, begging rags from the rich, which he sold down the markets. Leaving school at the age of fourteen, he embarked on an extraordinary journey, and found himself, before the age of thirty, a millionaire.Then, after a cruel twist of fate left him penniless, he, his wife and children were forced out of their beautiful home . . .With nothing but holes in his pockets, Jeff had no alternative but to go back down the markets and start all over again. Did he still have what it took? Could he really get back everything he had lost?A Pocketful of Holes and Dreams is the heartwarming true story of a little boy who had

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Book SynopsisJean Rhys was born in Dominica in 1890, the daughter of a Welsh doctor and a white Creole mother, and came to England when she was sixteen. Her first book, a collection of stories called The Left Bank, was published in 1927. This was followed by Quartet (originally Postures, 1928), After Leaving Mr Mackenzie (1930), Voyage in the Dark (1934) and Good Morning, Midnight (1939). None of these books was particularly successful and with the outbreak of war they went out of print. Jean Rhys dropped from sight until nearly twenty years later she was discovered living reclusively in Cornwall. During those years she had accumulated the stories collected in Tigers are Better-Looking. In 1966 she made a sensational reappearance with Wide Sargasso Sea, which won the Royal Society of Literature Award and the W. H. Smith Award. Her final collection of stories, Sleep It Off Lady, appeared in 1976 and Smile Please, her unfinished auTrade ReviewCompelling, painful and exquisite * Guardian *Brilliant. A tale of dislocation and dispossession, which Rhys writes with a kind of romantic cynicism, desperate and pungent * The Times *Rhys turns a menacing cipher into a grieving, plausible young woman, and one whose story says whole worlds about global mixtures, about the misunderstandings between the colonized, the colonizers and the people who can't easily say which they are * Time *

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Book SynopsisA classic novel of post-war Europe, haunting and timelessly beautiful''The greatest writer of our time'' Peter CareyIn 1939, five-year-old Jacques Austerlitz is sent to England on a Kindertransport and placed with foster parents. This childless couple promptly erase from the boy all knowledge of his identity and he grows up ignorant of his past. Later in life, after a career as an architectural historian, Austerlitz - having avoided all clues that might point to his origin - finds the past returning to haunt him and he is forced to explore what happened fifty years before. Austerlitz is W.G. Sebald''s melancholic masterpiece.''Mesmeric, haunting and heartbreakingly tragic. Simply no other writer is writing or thinking on the same level as Sebald'' Eileen Battersby, Irish Times''Greatness in literature is still possible'' John Banville, Irish Times, Books of the Year''A work of obvious genius'' Literary Review''A fusion of the mystical and the solid ... His art is a form of justice - there can be, I think, no higher aim'' Evening Standard''Spellbindingly accomplished; a work of art'' The Times Literary Supplement ''I have never read a book that provides such a powerful account of the devastation wrought by the dispersal of the Jews from Prague and their treatment by the Nazis'' Observer''A great book by a great writer'' Boyd Tonkin, IndependentW . G. Sebald was born in Wertach im Allgäu, Germany, in 1944 and died in December 2001. He studied German language and literature in Freiburg, Switzerland and Manchester. In 1996 he took up a position as an assistant lecturer at the University of Manchester and settled permanently in England in 1970. He was Professor of European Literature at the University of East Anglia and is the author of The Emigrants, The Rings of Saturn, Vertigo, Austerlitz, After Nature, On the Natural History of Destruction, Campo Santo, Unrecounted, A Place in the Country. His selected poetry is published in a volume called Across the Land and the Water.

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Book SynopsisThe beautiful family drama from the international bestselling author of THE MURDERS AT FLEAT HOOUSE and The Seven Sisters series''A beautiful story, brilliantly woven through generations'' 5***** Reader Review''Stunning, enchanting, evocative . . . You can feel the wind in your hair'' 5***** Reader Review''Takes you on a journey . . . Beautifully written'' 5***** Reader Review________How did a secret from 1914 cause a century of heartache? . . .After a devastating loss, Grania Ryan returns home to Ireland and the arms of her loving family.There, she meets young Aurora while walking along the cliffs. Mysteriously drawn to her, Grania discovers that the histories of their families are strangely and deeply entwined.From a bittersweet romance in wartime London, to a troubled relationship in contemporary New York, the two families, past and present, have been entangled for a century.Can Aurora help Grania understand the past, and change her future?Haunting, intriguing and deeply moving, The Girl on the Cliff tells of the triumph of hope over loss.________Praise for Lucinda Riley''Thoroughly addictive storytelling with a moving, emotional heart'' Dinah Jefferies''A brilliant page-turner'' Daily Mail''An absolutely fantastic storyteller'' Katherine Webb''Brilliant escapism'' RedLucinda Riley, Sunday Times bestseller, January 2024Trade ReviewPraise for Lucinda Riley * - *Thoroughly addictive storytelling with a moving, emotional heart -- Dinah JefferiesAbsolutely impossible to put down -- Tracy ReesA brilliant page-turner just soaked in glamour and romance * Daily Mail *An absolutely fantastic storyteller -- Katherine WebbBrilliant escapism * Red *Breathtaking -- Iona GreyAtmospheric, heart-rending and multi-layered * Grazia *One of the strongest authors in this genre . . . excellent historical detail, heart-wrenching romance, and an engaging mystery -- The Historical Novel Society

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Book SynopsisEnter a vanished and unjust world: Jackson, Mississippi, 1962. Where black maids raise white children, but aren''t trusted not to steal the silver... There''s Aibileen, raising her seventeenth white child and nursing the hurt caused by her own son''s tragic death; Minny, whose cooking is nearly as sassy as her tongue; and white Miss Skeeter, home from College, who wants to know why her beloved maid has disappeared. Skeeter, Aibileen and Minny. No one would believe they''d be friends; fewer still would tolerate it. But as each woman finds the courage to cross boundaries, they come to depend and rely upon one another. Each is in a search of a truth. And together they have an extraordinary story to tell...

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Book SynopsisDiscover the heart-warming and uplifting story of a Glasgow tenement urchin finding her way against adversityBorn during the Second World War in Glasgow, Christine Fraser was her mother''s eighth child.Growing up with her siblings in a tiny flat, learning to avoid her hardworking, hard-drinking one-eyed father, making a menace of herself in the streets along with the other urchins, Christine lived an impoverished life but never once cared.Until she was struck down by a terrible illness.Suddenly, her wild days of childhood were over. A long spell in hospital completely changed her life. Now she found herself dependent on others for so many of her needs. And on top of that, her mother and father have died.Yet Christine was always resourceful and never once looked down.She knew that always there, if you looked hard enough, was some blue up above the chimneys . . .Readers are captivated by Blue Above the Chim

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Book SynopsisMuriel Spark was born and educated in Edinburgh. She was active in the field of creative writing since 1950, when she won a short-story writing competition in the Observer, and her many subsequent novels include Memento Mori (1959), The Ballad of Peckham Rye (1960), The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1961), The Girls of Slender Means (1963) and Aiding and Abetting (2000). She also wrote plays, poems, children's books and biographies. She became Dame Commander of the British Empire in 1993, and died in 2006.Trade ReviewSpark's most celebrated novel * Independent *There is no question about the quality and distinctiveness of her writing, with its quirky concern with human nature, and its comedy -- William BoydA brilliant psychological figure * Observer *

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Book SynopsisDiscover the warm, witty and compelling story of a woman trying to get her life back on track, from the No. 1 bestselling author of Grown Ups and Again, Rachel''Searingly insightful, Keyes finds lightness in the darkest and most violent of emotions'' Independent''High quality entertainment'' Marie Claire_________Meet Anna Walsh.Lying in her parents'' Good Front Room, covered in bandages, Anna dreams of leaving Dublin and returning to her beloved New York.To her home. To her job. And most of all to her husband Aidan.Unfortunately, her family have other ideas. She''s staying put. And Aidan? He''s refusing to even take her calls.The last thing Anna wants is to think about how she ended up in this mess. But with nothing else to do, she''s forced to ask herself why she''s thousands of miles from the life she loves.Where did it all go wrong? And can she fix it, before itTrade ReviewSearingly insightful, and Keyes finds lightness in the darkest and most violent of emotions * Independent *PRAISE FOR MARIAN KEYES -- :It will break your heart and nourish your soul...No one can evoke deep feeling with such a light touch as Marian Keyes -- Nigella LawsonFunny, heartbreaking and so wise * Daily Mail *Has all of Keyes's trademark wit, humour and whip-smart dialogue * Observer *Perceptive, hilarious and moving * Daily Record *Funny, heartbreaking and achingly real -- Jane FallonNo author marries heartbreak and hilarity so seamlessly * Mail on Sunday *Funny, tender and completely absorbing -- Graham NortonCharming, funny and poignant. But also profound, heartbreaking -- Nina StibbeKeyes at her best: capturing everyday voices with humour and empathy with writing that you'll devour in a weekend. Just pure and simple joy * Stylist *Searingly insightful, and Keyes finds lightness in the darkest and most violent of emotions * Independent *

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Book SynopsisDiscover the compelling story of courage, friendship and love from the bestselling author of You''ll Never See Me Again, Lesley Pearse''A heart-warming and evocative tale . . . a real delight to read'' SunCoronation Day, 1953.Molly Heywood slips away from the celebrations and makes a shocking discovery: her friend Cassie is dead and her six-year-old daughter Petal has vanished without a trace.The only clue is a letter from London, where Cassie once lived. Now it is up to Molly to head there and uncover the past that her friend kept so well hidden.The closer Molly gets to the truth, the more perilous her journey becomes.She has given up everything - her home, happiness and a chance at love - all to find Petal . . .But is she also risking her life?________''Epic romantic drama set in post-war London'' Heat Magazine''A narrative that gallops along, this is quiTrade ReviewInternational number one bestselling author Lesley Pearse brings a compelling story of courage, friendship and love in her brand new novel Without a Trace. * from the publisher's description *Epic romantic drama set in post-war London * Heat Magazine *A heart-warming and evocative tale that is a real delight to read * Sun *A narrative that gallops along, this is quintessential Pearse that will delight her army of readers * Daily Mail *Must have * Sunday Express *Yet another great Lesley Pearse novel * Woman Magazine *Evocative, compelling, told from the heart * Sunday Express *Utterly riveting, brilliant * Closer *Full of love, passion and heartbreak * Best *Glorious, heartwarming * Woman & Home *

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Book SynopsisTHE ACCLAIMED TRILOGY FROM THE MASTER THRILLER WRITER''[Philip Kerr''s] Bernie Gunther novels are extraordinary'' Ian RankinThe first three in the Bernie Gunther series, March Violets, The Pale Criminal and A German Requiem are true crime classics that transport readers to the rotten heart of Nazi Berlin, and introduce the cynical, wise-cracking private eye who sought justice within it.MARCH VIOLETSBernhard Gunther is a private eye, specializing in missing persons. And in Hitler''s Berlin, he''s never short of work...Winter 1936. A man and his wife shot dead in their bed. The woman''s father, a millionaire industrialist, wants justice - and the priceless diamonds that disappeared along with his daughter''s life.As Bernie follows the trail into the very heart of Nazi Germany, he''s forced to confront a horrifying conspiracy. A trail that ends in the hell that is Dachau...THE PALE CRIMINALIt is 1938 and Bernie Gunther is back on the mean streets of Berlin with his new partner, Bruno Stahlecker, another ex-police officer. But on a seemingly straightforward stakeout, Bruno is killed, and Bernie suddenly finds himself tapped for a much bigger job.A serial sex murderer is killing Aryan teenage girls in Berlin - and what''s worse, he''s making utter fools of the police. Gunther is forced to accept a temporary post in Obergruppenfuehrer Reinhard Heydrich''s state Security Service, with a team of men underneath him tasked purely with hunting the killer.But can he trust his team any more than he can trust his superiors?A GERMAN REQUIEMIn the bitter winter of 1947 the Russian Zone is closing ever more tightly around Berlin.When an enigmatic Russian colonel asks Bernie Gunther to go to Vienna, where his ex-Kripo colleague Emil Becker faces a murder charge, Bernie doesn''t hesitate for long. Gunther is convinced that shooting an American Nazi-hunter is one crime he didn''t commit.But Vienna is not the peaceful haven Bernie expects it to be. Communism is the new enemy, and with the Nuremberg trials over, some strange alliances are being forged against the Red Menace - alignments that make many wartime atrocities look lily-white by comparison.

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