Whether your passion is The Ancient Greeks, The Wars of The Roses or The Russian Revolution, you'll find stories of life during these eras and every other, often using factual accounts to build a fictional narrative.
Historical Fiction Books
HarperCollins Publishers The Queens Rival The Sunday Times bestselling
Book SynopsisThe forgotten story of Cecily Neville, Duchess of York. A strong woman who claimed the throne for her family in a time of warA compelling story of divided loyalties and family betrayals. Dramatic and highly evocative' Woman & HomeEngland, 1459. One family united by blood. Torn apart by warThe Wars of the Roses storm through the country, and Cecily Neville, Duchess of York, plots to topple the weak-minded King Henry VI from the throne.But when the Yorkists are defeated at the battle of Ludford Bridge, Cecily's family flee and abandon her to face a marauding Lancastrian army on her own.Stripped of her lands and imprisoned in Tonbridge Castle, the Duchess begins to spin a web of deceit. One that will eventually lead to treason, to the fall of King Henry VI, and to her eldest son being crowned King Edward IV.O'Brien manages to reinvent historical fiction' My WeeklyThis thrilling historical novel has it all high politics, drama, emotion, excellent writing It''s a rollercoaster of a read' Trade Review‘A compelling story of divided loyalties and family betrayals. Dramatic and highly evocative’ Woman & Home ‘O'Brien manages to reinvent historical fiction by thrusting an untold story into the spotlight’ My Weekly ‘Dramatic and highly evocative’ Woman’s Weekly ‘This thrilling historical novel has it all – high politics, drama, emotion, excellent writing … It's a rollercoaster of a read’ Carol McGrath ‘Anne O’Brien leads us on a deftly woven journey through the endlessly fascinating life of Cecily Neville, Duchess of York. Impeccable research shines through in the depth of detail to pull the reader into the highs and lows of the House of York’s journeys around Fortune’s Wheel’ Matt Lewis Praise for Anne O’Brien: ‘One of the best writers around … she outdoes even Philippa Gregory’ The Sun ‘O’Brien is a terrific story teller’ Daily Telegraph ‘O’Brien cleverly intertwines the personal and political in this enjoyable, gripping tale’ The Times ‘A gripping story of love, heartache and political intrigue’ Woman & Home ‘The characters are larger than life … and the author a compulsive storyteller’ Sunday Express ‘[A] fast-paced historical novel’ Good Housekeeping ‘This book has everything – royalty, scandal, fascinating historical politics’ Cosmopolitan ‘O’Brien’s page-turner vividly brings to life the restriction of women, and the compassion and strength of this real-life figure from medieval times’ Woman ‘A gripping historical drama’ Bella ‘Historical fiction at its best’ Candis ‘Packed with drama, danger, romance and history … the perfect reading choice for the long winter nights’ The Press Association
£8.54
HarperCollins Publishers Still Life The International Bestseller and BBC
Book SynopsisTHE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERWINNER OF DYMOCKS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2021A GUARDIAN BEST BOOK OF 2021A BBC BETWEEN THE COVERS BOOK CLUB PICKWINNER OF THE INWORDS LITERARY AWARDSheer joy'' Graham NortonUtterly beautiful filled with hope' Joanna Cannon, author of Three Things About ElsieA bear-hug of a book' Rachel Joyce, author of Miss Benson's BeetleFrom the author of When God was a Rabbit and Tin Man, Still Life is a big-hearted story of people brought together by love, war, art and the ghost of E.M. Forster.1944, in the ruined wine cellar of a Tuscan villa, as bombs fall around them, two strangers meet and share an extraordinary evening.Ulysses Temper is a young British soldier, Evelyn Skinner is a sexagenarian art historian and possible spy. She has come to Italy to salvage paintings from the wreckage and relive memories of the time she encountered EM Forster and had her heart stolen by an Italian maid in a particular Florentine room with a view.Evelyn's talk of truth and beauty pTrade Review‘The sheer joy in Sarah Winman’s storytelling is completely infectious. I’ve loved spending time with this unforgettable cast of characters in extraordinary times and places’ Graham Norton ‘Winman’s pages teem with boisterous, exuberant life … The novel has verve, charm and tremendous heart’ Sunday Times ‘Exquisite … There are not enough superlatives to contain the magnitude and beauty of this novel’ Sunday Independent ‘Sentence after sentence, character by character, Still Life becomes poetry’ New York Times Book Review ‘A tonic for wanderlust and a cure for loneliness. It’s that rare, affectionate novel that makes one feel grateful to have been carried along’ The Washington Post ‘Teeming with unforgettable characters and oozing atmosphere, it’s a joyous, summery ode to love, art and poetry’ Hephzibah Anderson, Mail on Sunday ‘Rich, deeply moving and filled with hope. Sarah Winman is one of the greatest storytellers of our time’ Joanna Cannon, author of The Trouble with Goats and Sheep ‘A gorgeous, generous story of kind hearts and kindred spirits … [A] hopeful, happy, intensely humane novel’ Daily Mirror ‘Readers will want to prolong the pleasure of Sarah Winman’s beautiful novel Still Life for as long as possible’ Donal Ryan, author of From a Low and Quiet Sea 'Embodies the full generosity of the human spirit’ Rachel Joyce, author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry ‘Gorgeous … luscious and clever’ The Times ‘In Still Life, [Winman] emerges now as the great narrator of hope’ Helen Cullen, Irish Times
£12.34
HarperCollins Publishers Maclean A Force 10 from Navarone
Book SynopsisThe thrilling sequel to Alistair MacLean's masterpiece of World War II adventure, The Guns of Navarone. Now reissued in a new cover style.The guns of Navarone have been silenced, but the heroic survivors have no time to rest on their laurels. Almost before the last echoes of the famous guns have died away, Keith Mallory, Andrea and Dusty Miller are parachuting into war-torn Yugoslavia to rescue a division of Partisans and to fulfil a secret mission, so deadly that it must be hidden from their own allies.Trade Review‘Compulsively exciting.’Daily Telegraph ‘Cliff-hanging suspense.’Sunday Telegraph ‘Terrific dambusting climax.’Evening Standard ‘A smash hit.’Daily Mirror
£10.44
HarperCollins Publishers Hold the Dream
Book SynopsisFrom the internationally bestselling author of A Woman of Substance comes the continuing story of indomitable heroine, Emma HarteEmma Harte is now eighty years old and ready to hand over the reins of the vast business empire she has created.To her favourite grandchild, Paula McGill Fairley, Emma bequeaths her mighty retailing empire with these heartfelt words: I charge you to hold my dream.'A towering international success, this is the powerfully moving tale of one woman's determination to hold the dream' which was entrusted to her, and in so doing find the happiness and passion which is her legacy.Trade Review Praise for Barbara Taylor Bradford: 'Queen of the genre.' Sunday Times ‘Few novelists are as consummate as Barbara Taylor Bradford at keeping the reader turning the page. She is one of the world’s best at spinning yarns.’ Guardian ‘A classic saga of loyalty, secrets, passion and intrigue…if you’ve been suffering withdrawal symptoms from Downton, this is for you’ Daily Mail ‘As romantic and thrilling as the rest’ Independent on Sunday ‘Another great yarn from the ultimate storyteller’ The Sun ‘The storyteller of substance.’ The Times
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers The Girl from the Island
Book SynopsisA USA Today Bestseller!Wow! What an enthralling and emotional read! I was literally in tears Captivating.' Goodreads reviewer, ?????A world at war. One woman will risk everything. Another will uncover her story.1940:When the island ofGuernseyis invaded by the Nazis, two sisters are determined to rebel in any way they can. But when forced to take in a German soldier, they are shocked to find a familiar face on their doorstep a childhood friend who has now become their enemy.2016:Two generations later, Lucy returns toGuernseyafter the death of a distant cousin. As she prepares the old family house for sale, Lucy discovers a box of handwritten notes, one word standing out:resistance. Lucy's search for the author will uncover the story of a forgotten sister who vanished from the island one night, never to be seen again.A timeless story of love and bravery. Fans of Fiona Valpy and Kate Quinn will be absolutely gripped from the very first page.Readers love The Girl from the Island:I finished this novel last night and I cannot get it out of my head Put the phone off the hook, pour yourself a nice hot chocolate and settle down for a wonderful read' Goodreads reviewer, ?????I was gripped from the beginning and could not put it down. I lost a lot of sleep on this one and do not regret it in the slightest!!' Goodreads reviewer, ?????Unputdownable, passionate, captivating, and magnetic!!' Goodreads reviewer, ?????Absolutely brilliant I had to stay up late to read the next chapter!! I couldn''t put it down' Goodreads reviewer, ?????Gripping and very emotional This book has it all and I loved it' Goodreads reviewer, ?????A heart wrenching story of love, loss and survival' Goodreads reviewer, ?????A beautiful, wonderful, and poignant story' Goodreads reviewer, ?????Utterly beautiful and poignant I was blown away' Goodreads reviewer, ?????Trade Review Praise for The Girl from the Island: ‘With a descriptive backdrop this story offers intrigue and tender romance. Highly recommended’ Glynis Peters, author of The Secret Orphan 'Paints an evocative picture of the bravery, fortitude and heart-breaking decisions of two British sisters living under German occupation on the beautiful island of Guernsey during WWII' Adrienne Chin, author of The English Wife ‘A book to get lost in… Love, suspense and a page-turning story’ Tracy Rees, Richard and Judy bestselling author ‘A heart-rending, devastating, beautiful book that brings Guernsey’s past to life in a fresh and thoroughly readable way’ Louise Douglas, author of The House by the Sea ‘A sweeping tale of love and courage, The Girl from the Island is tender and shocking in equal measure. Get ready for an utterly absorbing, heart-rending read. I loved it’ Emma Rous, author of The Au Pair Praise for Lorna Cook: ‘I was so absorbed I read it in a single day’ Kate Riordan ‘Compelling, dramatic, with a great twist’ Jenny Ashcroft ‘An intriguing mystery’ Gill Paul ‘Kept me turning the pages eagerly’ Tracy Rees ‘Entrancing, evocative and romantic’ Woman’s Weekly ‘Full of twists and turns’ Nikola Scott ‘Hugely likeable characters and a corker of a twist!’ Mandy Robotham
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers The Helsingør Sewing Club
Book SynopsisInspired by the incredible true story of how the people of Denmark saved their Jewish neighbours during WW2Helsingør, Denmark, 1943In the midst of the German occupation during World War Two, Inger Bredahl joins the underground resistance and risks her life to save members of Denmark's Jewish community and help them escape to Sweden.Copenhagen, 2018Inger's granddaughter, Cecilie Lund, is mourning her death when a mysterious discovery while cleaning out Inger's flat leads past and present to intersect. As long-held secrets finally see the light of day, Cecilie learns the story of her grandmother's courage and bravery, and of the power of friendship, love, and standing for what's righteven when you have everything to lose.An inspiring tale of the resilience of the human spirit and the power of community.Readers love Ella Gyland:????? The characters are so well written they come alivehistorical fiction at its best' Abby????? A superb storyteller and I was hooked from the very start' Naomi?
£8.54
HarperCollins Publishers Beyond Black Hilary Mantel Collins modern
Book SynopsisIntroducing the Collins Modern Classics, a series featuring some of the most significant books of recent times, books that shed light on the human experience classics which will endure for generations to come.Alison Hart, a medium by trade, tours the dormitory towns of London's orbital ring road with her flint-hearted sidekick, Colette, passing on messages from beloved dead ancestors. But behind her plump, smiling persona hides a desperate woman: she knows the terrors the next life holds but must conceal them from her wide-eyed clients. At the same time she is plagued by spirits from her own past, who infiltrate her body and home, becoming stronger and nastier the more she resistsShortlisted for the Orange Prize, Hilary Mantel's supremely suspenseful novel is a masterpiece of dark humour and even darker secrets.Trade Review‘Magnificent…It’s one of the greatest ghost stories in the language, but it’s far more than just a ghost story – it’s a novel of desperate truthfulness – a majestic work, truly’ Philip Pullman ‘Sparkling, sinister and supremely original’ Sunday Telegraph ‘As black as a tar barrel and very, very funny’ The Times ‘Laceratingly observant, a masterpiece of wit, heavy with atmosphere. It is also gloriously insolent and slyly funny: full of robust, uncluttered prose and searing moments' Independent ‘Pins elusive Middle England to the page in all its creepiness: a place blank and disconnected, yet fatally self-absorbed’ Rachel Cooke, Observer ‘An elegant, atmospheric tale and a nuanced portrait, full of ironies’ Tatler 'Chilling, creepy and endlessly inventive' Kate Saunders, The Times ‘Hilary Mantel has done something extraordinary. She has taken the ethereal halfway house between heaven and hell, between the living and the dead, and nailed it on the page’ Fay Weldon, Guardian ‘Has the kind of gallows humour that makes you laugh out loud…A real page-turner, a darkly humorous take on the enduring effects of childhood trauma’ Mslexia 'A deep, disturbing, violently amusing and subversive work’ Daily Telegraph
£8.99
HarperCollins The Bronze Horseman
Book SynopsisUSA Today BestsellerCalled “a Russian Thorn Birds,” The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons is a sweeping saga of love and war that has been a monumental bestseller all over the world. The acclaimed author of Tully, Simons has written a stirring tale of devotion, passion, secrets, betray, and sacrifice. “A love story both tender and fierce” (Publishers Weekly ) that “Recalls Dr. Zhivago” (People Magazine), The Bronze Horseman is rich and vivid historical fiction at its finest.The golden skies, the translucent twilight, the white nights, all hold the promise of youth, of love, of eternal renewal. The war has not yet touched this city of fallen grandeur, or the lives of two sisters, Tatiana and Dasha Metanova, who share a single room in a cramped apartment with their brother and parents. Their world is turned upside down when Hitler''s armies attack Russia and begin their unstoppable blitz to Leningrad.Yet there is light in the darkness. Tatiana meets Alexander, a brave young officer in the Red Army. Strong and self-confident, yet guarding a mysterious and troubled past, he is drawn to Tatiana—and she to him. Starvation, desperation, and fear soon grip their city during the terrible winter of the merciless German siege. Tatiana and Alexander''s impossible love threatens to tear the Metanova family apart and expose the dangerous secret Alexander so carefully protects—a secret as devastating as the war itself—as the lovers are swept up in the brutal tides that will change the world and their lives forever.
£16.19
HarperCollins Publishers Inc All the Ever Afters
Book SynopsisIn the vein of Wicked, The Woodcutter, and Boy, Snow, Bird, a luminous reimagining of a classic tale, told from the perspective of Agnes, Cinderella’s "evil" stepmother.We all know the story of Cinderella.Trade Review“[A] charmed debut [....] Teller pulls off the spellbinding trick of turning an easy-to-hate character into a strong and conscientious female lead.” — Publishers Weekly “Teller’s reimagined tale. . .stands out among the best. . . . Fairy-tale aficionados will adore Teller’s complex, touching retelling of this classic story of womanhood, perseverance, and familial love, in which she strikes an ideal balance between familiar and fresh.” — Booklist (starred review) “A fascinating reimagining of the original tale. . . .Readers will feel empathy for Agnes, consider various misunderstandings and think twice before labeling her as wicked.” — Lisa Ko, author of The Leavers “Teller set aside an established medical career as a pulmonary doctor and researcher five years ago to write full time. Nevertheless, she plays surgeon still, extracting the (formerly) villainous stepmother as protagonist and skillfully excising the classic story’s myths, magic and misconceptions.” — San Jose Mercury News “As in the best literary inversions (e.g., Gregory Maguire’s Wicked), Teller demonstrates the flaws and fine points of characters on both sides.” — Washington Post “Teller’s novel is a powerfully written rendition of the Cinderella story… Tells a complex tale of a love that forms through patient nurturing and by just being present.” — Book Club Babble “Teller woos readers into taking a better, more open-eyed look at a character that’s been maligned for centuries, one with strength and who’s worthy of stunned sympathy.” — Guam Daily Post Sometimes you’ve only heard one part of the story. Cinderella’s famously maligned stepmother, Agnes, gets to tell her own side in this clever take on the fairy tale.” — New York Post “A fun, fantastical story with a strong heroine. . . Inspired me and reminded me that how we confront adversity reveals profound truths about who and what we are.” — First for Women
£9.99
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Homecoming
Book Synopsis
£24.00
Vintage Publishing On The Black Hill
Book SynopsisOn the Black Hill is an elegantly written tale of identical twin brothers who grow up on a farm in rural Wales and never leave home. They till the rough soil and sleep in the same bed, touched only occasionally by the advances of the twentieth century. In depicting the lives of Benjamin and Lewis and their interactions with their small local community Chatwin comments movingly on the larger questions of human experience.Trade ReviewHis deepest and best book * Independent *When I think of Bruce Chatwin now, I think of the ultimate storyteller. It’s the resonance of the voice and the depth of his vision that makes him one of the truly great writers of our time -- Werner Herzog, from 'Bruce Chatwin' by Nicholas ShakespeareNearly every writer of my generation in England has wanted, at some point, to be Bruce Chatwin; wanted, like him, to talk of Fez and Firdausi, Nigeria and Nuristan, with equal authority; wanted to be talked about, as he is, with raucous envy; wanted above all to have written his books…(he was) a writer no one who cares for literature can afford not to read. -- Andrew Harvey * New York Times *
£8.49
Penguin Books Ltd A Month in the Country
Book Synopsis''One of the best books I''ve ever read'' Richard Osman''Tender and elegant'' Guardian''Unlike anything else in modern English literature'' D.J. Taylor, SpectatorA damaged survivor of the First World War, Tom Birkin finds refuge in the quiet village church of Oxgodby where he is to spend the summer uncovering a huge medieval wall-painting. Immersed in the peace and beauty of the countryside and the unchanging rhythms of village life he experiences a sense of renewal and belief in the future. Now an old man, Birkin looks back on the idyllic summer of 1920, remembering a vanished place of blissful calm, untouched by change, a precious moment he has carried with him through the disappointments of the years. Adapted into a film starring Colin Firth, Natasha Richardson and Kenneth Branagh, A Month in the Country traces the slow revival of the primeval rhythms of life so cruelly disorientated by the Great War.With an introduction by Penelope FitzgeraldTrade ReviewThe book I keep coming back to, it's one of the best books I've ever read. I've never met anyone who didn't love it. -- Richard OsmanTender and elegant * Guardian *Unlike anything else in modern English Literature -- D.J. Taylor * Spectator *Carr's blessedly small tale of lost love is also a small hymn about art and the compensating joy of the artist, both in giving and receiving. It stays with us, too, and is oddly haunting * New Yorker *Carr has the magic touch to re-enter the imagined past -- Penelope Fitzgerald
£9.49
Penguin Random House India Tomb of Sand
Book SynopsisAn elderly woman in India overcomes depression, challenges conventions, befriends a transgender person, and travels to Pakistan to confront past trauma and redefine her identity. Geetanjali Shree's novel is a playful, funny, and original protest against borders and boundaries.
£20.09
Pan Macmillan Doctor Copernicus
Book SynopsisJohn Banville was born in Wexford, Ireland, in 1945. He is the author of many highly acclaimed novels including The Sea, which won the 2005 Man Booker Prize. He has received a literary award from the Lannan Foundation. He lives in Dublin.Trade ReviewBanville writes novels of complex patterning, with grace, precision and timing. * Guardian *With his fastidious wit and exquisite style, John Banville is the heir to Nabokov. * Daily Telegraph *A tour de force: a fictional evocation of the great astronomer which is exciting, beautifully written and astonishingly redolent of the late medieval world. * The Times *
£9.49
Penguin Putnam Inc We Were the Lucky Ones
Book Synopsis
£15.30
Alfred A. Knopf Night Watch Pulitzer Prize Winner
Book SynopsisPULITZER PRIZEWINNER?LONGLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD IN FICTION ? A NEW YORKER BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR ?From one of our most accomplished novelists, a mesmerizing story about a mother and daughter seeking refuge in the chaotic aftermath of the Civil War?and a brilliant portrait of family endurance against all oddsA tour de force. ?Tayari Jones, author of An American MarriageIn 1874, in the wake of the War, erasure, trauma, and namelessness haunt civilians and veterans, renegades and wanderers, freedmen and runaways. Twelve-year-old ConaLee, the adult in her family for as long as she can remember, finds herself on a buckboard journey with her mother, Eliza, who hasn?t spoken in more than a year. They arrive at the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in West Virginia, delivered to the hospital?s entrance by a war veteran who has forced himself into their world. There, far from family, a beloved neighbor, and the mountain home they knew, they try to reclaim their lives.The omnipresent vagaries of war and race rise to the surface as we learn their story: their flight to the highest mountain ridges of western Virginia; the disappearance of ConaLee?s father, who left for the War and never returned. Meanwhile, in the asylum, they begin to find a new path. ConaLee pretends to be her mother?s maid; Eliza responds slowly to treatment. They get swept up in the life of the facility?the mysterious man they call the Night Watch; the orphan child called Weed; the fearsome woman who runs the kitchen; the remarkable doctor at the head of the institution.Epic, enthralling, and meticulously crafted, Night Watch is a stunning chronicle of surviving war and its aftermath.
£19.47
Penguin Publishing Group Column of Fire a Exp A Novel Kingsbridge
Book Synopsis#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER“Absorbing . . . impossible to resist.” —The Washington PostAs Europe erupts, can one young spy protect his queen? #1 New York Times bestselling author Ken Follett takes us deep into the treacherous world of powerful monarchs, intrigue, murder, and treason with his magnificent new epic, A Column of Fire. A thrilling read that makes the perfect gift for the holidays. In 1558, the ancient stones of Kingsbridge Cathedral look down on a city torn apart by religious conflict. As power in England shifts precariously between Catholics and Protestants, royalty and commoners clash, testing friendship, loyalty, and love. Ned Willard wants nothing more than to marry Margery Fitzgerald. But when the lovers find themselves on opposing sides of the religious conflict dividing the country, Ned goes to work for Princess Elizabeth. When she becom
£8.43
Faber & Faber mynameisred
Book SynopsisThe bestselling murder mystery from Orhan Pamuk, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature.Winner of the Nobel Prize for LiteratureWinner of the International IMPAC Dublin AwardWonderful' The SpectatorMagnificent' ObserverUnforgettable' GuardianMy Name is Red is an unforgettable murder mystery, set amid the splendour of sixteenth century Istanbul, from the Nobel prizewinning authorIn the late 1590s, the Sultan secretly commissions a great book: a celebration of his life and his empire, to be illuminated by the best artists of the day - in the European manner. At a time of violent fundamentalism, however, this is a dangerous proposition. Even the illustrious circle of artists are not allowed to know for whom they are working. But when one of the miniaturists is murdered, their Master has to seek outside help. Did the dead painter fall victim to professional rivalry, romantic jealousy or re
£9.49
Faber & Faber 4 3 2 1
Book SynopsisAuster''s Booker Prize-shortlisted epic from the author of contemporary classic The New York Trilogy: ''a literary voice for the ages'' (Guardian) A masterpiece.' Daily MailAbsorbing and immersive . . . the author's greatest novel.' FTSHORTLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE 2017On March 3rd, 1947, Archibald Isaac Ferguson, the only child of Rose and Stanley Ferguson, is born. From that single beginning, Ferguson's life will take four simultaneous but entirely different paths. Family fortunes diverge. Loves and friendships and passions contrast. Each version of Ferguson's story rushes across the fractured terrain of mid-twentieth century America, in this sweeping story of birthright and possibility, of love and the fullness of life itself.Remarkable . . . A novel that contains multitudes.' New York TimesA vast portrait of the turbulent mid-20th century . . . wo
£10.44
Orion Publishing Co Doomsday Book
Book SynopsisA tour de force - New York Times Book ReviewAmbitious, finely detailed and compulsively readable - LocusIt is a book that feels fundamentally true; it is a book to live in - Washington PostFor Kivrin Engle, preparing an on-site study of one of the deadliest eras in humanity''s history was as simple as receiving inoculations against the diseases of the fourteenth century and inventing a bullet-proof backstory. For her instructors in the twenty-first century, it meant painstaking calculations and careful monitoring of the rendezvous location where Kivrin would be received.But a crisis strangely linking past and future strands Kivrin in a bygone age as her fellows try desperately to rescue her. In a time of superstition and fear, Kivrin finds she has become an unlikely angel of hope during one of history''s darkest hours.Winner of both the 1993 Hugo and Nebula Best Novel awards, this is a science fiction classic.ReTrade ReviewA tour de force * New York Times Book Review *Ambitious, finely detailed and compulsively readable * Locus *It is a book that feels fundamentally true; it is a book to live in * Washington Post *
£12.34
Random House USA Inc Carrie Soto Is Back
Book Synopsis#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER ? ?An epic adventure about a female athlete perhaps past her prime, brought back to the tennis court for one last grand slam? (Elle), from the author of Malibu Rising, Daisy Jones & The Six, and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo?A heart-filled novel about an iconic and persevering father and daughter.??Time?Gorgeous. The kind of sharp, smart, potent book you have to set aside every few pages just to catch your breath. I?ll take a piece of Carrie Soto forward with me in life and be a little better for it.??Emily Henry, author of Book Lovers and Beach ReadONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Time, NPR, PopSugar, Glamour, Reader?s DigestCarrie Soto is fierce, and her determination to win at any cost has not made her popular. But by the time she retires from tennis, she is the best player the world has ever seen. She has shattered every record and claimed twenty Grand Slam titles. And if you ask Carrie, she is entitled to every one. She sacrificed nearly everything to become the best, with her father, Javier, as her coach. A former champion himself, Javier has trained her since the age of two.But six years after her retirement, Carrie finds herself sitting in the stands of the 1994 US Open, watching her record be taken from her by a brutal, stunning player named Nicki Chan.At thirty-seven years old, Carrie makes the monumental decision to come out of retirement and be coached by her father for one last year in an attempt to reclaim her record. Even if the sports media says that they never liked ?the Battle-Axe? anyway. Even if her body doesn?t move as fast as it did. And even if it means swallowing her pride to train with a man she once almost opened her heart to: Bowe Huntley. Like her, he has something to prove before he gives up the game forever.In spite of it all, Carrie Soto is back, for one epic final season. In this riveting and unforgettable novel, Taylor Jenkins Reid tells her most vulnerable, emotional story yet.
£15.30
Penguin Putnam Inc The Heaven Earth Grocery Store
Book Synopsis
£12.34
Random House Publishing Group To the Far Blue MountainsLouis LAmours Lost
Book SynopsisIn To the Far Blue Mountains, Louis L’Amour weaves the unforgettable tale of a man who, after returning to his homeland, discovers that finding his way back to America may be impossible.As part of the Louis L’Amour’s Lost Treasures series, this edition contains exclusive bonus materials!Barnabas Sackett was leaving England to make his fortune in the New World. But as he settled his affairs, he learned that a royal warrant had been sworn out against him and that men were searching for him in every port. At issue were some rare gold coins Sackett had sold to finance his first trip to the Americas—coins believed to be part of a great treasure lost by King John years before.Believing that Sackett possesses the rest of the treasure, Queen Bess will stop at nothing to find him. If he’s caught, not only will his dream of a life in America be lost, but he will be brutally tortured and put to death on the gallows.
£6.39
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Ladies of Grace Adieu
Book SynopsisContains stories from the world of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell and is illustrated by Charles Vess. This book includes the characters of a conceited Regency clergyman, an eighteenth-century Jewish doctor and Mary, Queen of Scots, as well as two characters from Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell: Strange himself and the Raven King.Trade Review'An unholy alliance of Austen and Angela Carter' Daily Mail 'These tales read as if Jane Austen had rewritten the Brothers Grimm ... wonderful' Spectator 'Witty rejoinders and genteel manners to contrast nicely with the darker tones of hauntings, shape-changing and black magic ... Clarke is a natural storyteller' Sunday Telegraph 'It is the poise and lightness of Clarke's prose that draws the reader in' Daily Telegraph
£9.49
Headline Publishing Group The Long Song Shortlisted for the Man Booker
Book SynopsisNow a major BBC TV drama, starring Tamara Lawrance, Lenny Henry and Hayley Atwell.A Sunday Times bestseller (2011), shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, The Long Song by Andrea Levy is a hauntingly beautiful, heartbreaking and unputdownable novel of the last days of slavery in Jamaica, for those who loved Homegoing, The Underground Railroad, or the film 12 Years a Slave.''A marvel of luminous storytelling'' Financial TimesYou do not know me yet. My son Thomas, who is publishing this book, tells me, it is customary at this place in a novel to give the reader a little taste of the story that is held within these pages. As your storyteller, I am to convey that this tale is set in Jamaica during the last turbulent years of slavery and the early years of freedom that followed.July is a slave girl who lives upon a sugar plantation named Amity and it is her life that is the subject of thiTrade Review'THE LONG SONG is is told with irresistible cunning; it is captivating, mischievious and optimistic, generating new stories and plot lines throughout the tale' * Daily Telegraph *'Bittersweet and mischievous, Levy's keenly awaited new novel is worth the wait for all fans of her SMALL ISLAND' * Daily Mail *'Slavery is a grim subject indeed, but the wonder of Levy's writing is that she can confront such things and somehow derive deeply life-affirming entertainment from them... Levy's aim, she says, was to write a book that instilled pride in anyone with slave ancestors and THE LONG SONG, though "its load may prove to be unsettling", is surely that book' * Sunday Telegraph *'This is a terrific book: beautifully written and imagined, and full of surprises' * A. N. Wilson, Reader's Digest *'As well as being beautifully written THE LONG SONG is a thoroughly researched historical novel that is both powerful and heartbreaking' * Daily Express *'Thoroughly captivating' * Guardian *'A novel such as SMALL ISLAND is a hard act to follow, but in her new book Levy has moved into top gear... She dares to write about her subject in an entertaining way without ever trivialising it and THE LONG SONG reads with the sort of ebullient effortlessness that can only be won by hard work' * Observer *Beautifully written, intricately plotted, humorous and earthy... Those who enjoyed SMALL ISLAND will love THE LONG SONG, not just for the insights on the "wretched island", but as a marvel of luminous storytelling' * Financial Times *'Levy brings her distinctive lightness of touch to what is otherwise unrelentingly bleak subject matter... This is a beautifully written and cleverly constructed novel that projects convincing personal relationships on to the feral backdrop of the Jamaican plantations' * The Times *'Levy has a rare ability to channel the maelstrom of history into the most intimate of human dramas' * New Statesman *'[Levy] has painted a vivid and persuasive portrait of Jamaican slave society, a society that succeeded with bravery, style and strategic patience both to outsmart its oppressors and to plant the seeds of what is today a culture celebrated worldwide' * New York Times *'A tumultuous tale, superbly evoked' * Woman & Home *'Levy has slipped through the cracks of history and beautifully animated a subject about which, on a human level, we know depressingly little' * Metro *'A vivid, sometimes brutal and incredibly absorbing story' * Good Housekeeping *
£10.44
Headline Publishing Group The Thread Storytelling at its best from
Book Synopsis''Victoria weaves an effortless tale that draws you in and makes you forget the world outside exists. She has the ability to make you step into the pages, to transport you to Thessaloniki as you live the story yourself. She writes in such a beautiful way and her characters have depth and credibility . . . Exceptional'' Real Reader Review, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐Dimitri Komninos is born as fire devastates Thessaloniki, where Christians, Jews and Muslims live side by side. Five years later, Katerina Sarafoglou loses her mother when their home is destroyed by the Turkish army. She flees across the sea, alone, to Thessaloniki. When she and Dimitri meet, their lives entwine with one another - and the city itself - even as war, fear and persecution divide its people. Ninety years later, a young Anglo-Greek hears his grandparents'' life story for the first time. Should he become the custodian of their legacy and make this city his home, keeping aTrade ReviewA sweeping, magnificently detailed and ambitious saga that wrestles with the turbulence of the period Hislop covers . . . All those who loved The Island, her hugely successful first novel, will fall on it * The Sunday Times *Hislop does her research and is very good at interweaving the lives of individuals into the backcloth of great events, giving the reader a history lesson that doesn't feel like one . . . Recommended * Daily Mail *Hislop's fast-paced narrative and utterly convincing sense of place make her novel a rare treat * Guardian *This is storytelling at its best and just like a tapestry, when each thread is sewn into place, so emerge the layers and history of relationships past and present * Sunday Express *Meticulously researched and compellingly told * Woman & Home *Oh what a tangled web she weaves! Hislop has done well to tell a story as diverse and tempestuous as Thessaloniki's with such lightness of touch * Spectator *It's an evocative exploration of the past's hold on a family, with an exquisite love story at its centre * Good Housekeeping *
£9.49
Pan Macmillan The Women
Book SynopsisKristin Hannah is an award-winning international number one bestselling author with over 25 million copies of her books sold worldwide. Her most recent titles, The Four Winds, The Great Alone and The Nightingale won numerous best fiction awards and her earlier novel, Firefly Lane, is currently a blockbuster series on Netflix. The Nightingale is soon to be a major movie and is described by many as one of the most loved books of our generation. Kristin's writing has taken readers across multiple eras and to many places, but the thing that connects all of her work is the focus on what it's like being a woman in challenging times. Kristin is a lawyer-turned-writer and is the mother of one son. She and her husband live in the Pacific Northwest near Seattle.Trade ReviewHannah’s tale, rich with period detail, is an impassioned tribute to the heroism of the many thousands who did serve, as well as a hymn to female solidarity in the darkest of settings. It’s a surprisingly original take on a well-trodden subject * The Times *Astonishing. Compelling. Powerful -- Delia Owens, author of Where the Crawdads Sing A sweeping, powerful story of courage with a detail-rich setting * Good Housekeeping *An epic story * Woman&Home *Hannah is in top form * New York Times *Moving, exceptionally well researched -- Stephen KingKristin Hannah’s novel shines a light on the sacrifice, commitment and heroism of the incredible women often forgotten about in history books. A truly emotional, realistic and unforgettable book * Culturefly *Wow. I have been left with a bursting heart . . . a story of love, family, unbreakable bonds, bravery and hope -- Christy Lefteri, bestselling author of The Beekeeper of Aleppo on The Four WindsA powerful, stirring, wind-swept tale . . . makes your heart break and soar in equal measure. An escape into the past with timely echoes to the present. Kristin Hannah is a classic storyteller -- Matt Haig, bestselling author of The Midnight Library on The Four WindsA real page-turning read. Best book I’ve read all year -- Martina Cole, author of Close on The Four WindsI didn’t just love this book, I became obsessed with it . . . The characters were flawed and vulnerable, strong and naive, and Hannah has delivered a masterclass in all the different ways love can both save us and destroy us -- Karen Swan, author of The Stolen Hours on The Great AloneEpic . . . By the end, I was surrounded by snow-drifts of tissues damp with my tears -- The Washington Post on The Great AloneGreat characters, great plots, great emotions: who could ask for more in a novel? -- Isabel Allende, author of Violeta on The NightingaleMovingly written and plotted with the skill of Greek tragedy. You’ll keep turning the pages until the last racking sob -- Daily Mail on The NightingaleA rich, compelling novel of love, sacrifice and survival, as epic as the Alaskan landscape it so vividly describes -- Kate Morton, author of Homecoming on The Great Alone
£15.29
Pan Macmillan Mightier than the Sword
Book SynopsisMightier than the Sword is the fifth gripping novel in the epic Clifton Chronicles series from master storyteller Jeffrey Archer.Trade ReviewA rip-roaring read * Mail on Sunday *If there was a Nobel Prize for storytelling, Archer would win * Daily Telegraph *
£9.49
Simon & Schuster Ltd Hotel Portofino
Book SynopsisRomance, intrigue, and dangerous ambitions combine to create the perfect escape: welcome back to the beautiful Hotel Portofino on the magical Italian Riviera. HOTEL PORTOFINO: LOVERS AND LIARS IS OUT NOW! ***NOW A MAJOR ITV DRAMA*** A heady historical drama about a British family who open an upper-class hotel on the magical Italian Riviera during the ‘Roaring 20s’. Hotel Portofino has been open for only a few weeks, but already the problems are mounting for its owner Bella Ainsworth. Her high-class guests are demanding and hard to please. And she’s being targeted by a scheming and corrupt local politician, who threatens to drag her into the red-hot cauldron of Mussolini’s Italy. To make matters worse, her marriage is in trouble, and her children are still struggling to recover from the repercussions of the Great War. All eyes are on the arrival of a potential love match for her
£8.54
Orion Publishing Co Clash of Empires
Book SynopsisHAS ROME FINALLY MET ITS MATCH?''A triumph!'' Harry Sidebottom ''Exceptional'' Anthony Riches''Fans of battle-heavy historical fiction will, justly, adore Clash of Empires'' The Times****************THE MIGHT OF ROMEThe great general Hannibal Barca is on the verge of defeat. Victory will crown Rome the most powerful empire in the world. While the ambitious senator Flamininus plots his path to power...THE GLORY OF GREECEOnly unconquered Greece stands in the way of glory. King Philip V of Macedon''s mighty phalanx is an enemy Rome has long feared, and one that has never known defeat.THE HEROES OF HISTORYDemetrios has dreamed of fighting with the phalanx his whole life, but the young villager will soon learn that, in a clash of empires, you''re only ever one swing of the sword away from death - or entering legend.CLASH OF EMPIRES is the Trade ReviewIt's a broad canvas Kane is painting on, but he does it with vivid colours and, like the Romans themselves, he can show great admiration for a Greek enemy and still kick them in the balls -- Robert Low, author of the Oathsworn seriesExceptional. Kane's excelled once again in capturing the terror and the glory . . . of the ancient battlefield, and this story is one that's been begging for an expert hand for a long time -- Anthony Riches, author of the Empire seriesCarried off with panache and Kane's expansive, engaging, action-packed style. A complex, fraught, moving and passionate slice of history from one of our generation's most ambitious and engaging writers. -- Manda Scott, author of the Boudica seriesGrabs you from the start and never lets go. Thrilling action combines with historical authenticity to summon up a whole world in a sweeping tale of politics and war. A triumph! -- Harry Sidebottom, author of the THE LAST HOURThe word epic is overused to describe books, but with Clash of Empires it fits like a gladius in its scabbard. What Kane does, with such mastery, is place the big story - Rome vs Greece - in the background, while making this a story about ordinary men caught up in world-defining events. Men bonded by friendship and blood. Some seeking acceptance or honour or revenge. A few grasping for power and glory, but most ultimately just trying to stay alive. I for one was fascinated by the differing tactics, fighting styles and weapons, as represented by the Roman cohort and the Greek phalanx. Or, as exhibited close up and personal in the flashing melee of the gladius and pike. These contrasts seemed to speak, with horrific eloquence, of the slaughter of the classical world of Homer and Alexander. In short, I haven't enjoyed a book this much for ages.There aren't many writers today who could take on this story and do it well. There might be none who could do it better than Ben Kane. -- Giles Kristian, author of LANCELOTBen Kane manages to marry broad narrative invention with detailed historical research . . . in taut, authoritative prose . . . his passion for the past, and for the craft of story-telling, shines from every page of Clash of Empires -- Toby Clements, author of the Kingmaker seriesFans of battle-heavy historical fiction will, justly, adore Clash of Empires. With its rounded historical characters and fascinating historical setting, it deserves a wider audience -- Antonia Senior * The Times *This thrilling series opener delivers every cough, spit, curse and gush of blood to set up the mighty clash of the title. Can't really fault this one - pure man joy. -- Jon Wise * WEEKEND SPORT *A powerful and vivid historical novel that moves along at chariot-race speed. -- Helena Gumley-Mason * THE LADY *Ben Kane's new series explores the bloody final clash between ancient Greece and upstart Rome, focusing on soldiers and leaders from both worlds and telling the story of a bloody war with style -- Kate Atherton * Sunday Express S Magazine *A thumping good read. You can feel the earth tremble from the great battle scenes and feel the desperation of those caught up in the conflict. Kane's brilliant research weaves its way lightly throughout -- David Gilman, author of the Master of War series
£8.54
Pan Macmillan Secrets of the Singer Girls
Book SynopsisSecrets of the Singer Girls is Kate Thompson's heartwarming and moving novel about the brave, hardworking women who kept the homefires burning in the East End of London during World War Two.1942. Sixteen-year-old Poppy Percival turns up at the gates of Trout's clothing factory in Bethnal Green with no idea what her new life might have in store. There to start work as a seamstress and struggling to get to grips with the noise, dirt and devastation of East London, Poppy can't help but miss the quiet countryside of home. But Poppy harbours a dark secret - one that wrenched her away from all she knew and from which she is still suffering . . .And Poppy's not the only one with a secret. Each of her new friends at the factory is hiding something painful. Vera Shadwell, the forelady, has had a hard life with scars both visible and concealed; her sister Daisy has romantic notions that could get her in trouble; and Sal Fowler, a hardworking motheTrade ReviewMarvellous, full of gutsy characters I immediately empathised with. -- Margaret PembertonThe way Kate Thompson writes ... made me feel that I was reading about old friends. I just had to keep the pages turning. I am sure that before long her readers will be clamouring for more. -- Pam WeaverAn evocative tale of a time when women battled together to survive and do their bit in the most difficult of circumstances. -- Ellie DeanA riveting and wonderful read. -- Mary WoodA poignant and moving story of the friendship of women during wartime Britain. -- Val Wood
£8.54
Pan Macmillan The Land Beyond the Sea
Book SynopsisFilled with drama and battle, tragedy and romance, Sharon Penman’s The Land Beyond the Sea tells the epic tale of a clash of cultures that will resonate with readers today.1172. The Kingdom of Jerusalem, also known as Outremer - the land beyond the sea.A young realm, Outremer was baptized in blood when the men of the First Crusade captured Jerusalem from the Saracens in 1099. The crusaders who stayed have adapted to an utterly new world: a landscape of blazing heat, exotic customs and enemies who are also neighbours.Seeking retribution for the massacre in 1099, Saladin, leader of the vast Saracen army, launches a campaign to reclaim the sacred land from its current ruler, Baldwin IV. But while the young king proves to be intelligent, courageous and dedicated to the welfare and protection of his people, he lives his life under the terrible affliction of leprosy which has plagued him from an early age.While the scheming of rivTrade ReviewPenman brings the teeming—and scheming—world of the brief, blazing Crusader kingdom to vibrant life, with a cast of characters that includes the royal houses of Europe, the Knights Templar and the Knights Hospitaller, the lords of the Church, Crusader nobility, and the surrounding Saracens. With her shining gift of storytelling, she makes this tapestry a colorful one, one that weaves all the richness of its setting and striving personalities into a stunning and meaningful whole. Elegant, detailed, and panoramic—like the world it describes -- Margaret GeorgePenman has created a saga of epic proportions. She has given us insight into the inner workings of the minds of the great men and women of the time. There is a lot here to savor * Historical Novel Society *From fierce battle maneuvers to the emotional corridors of an unexpected love story, readers will feel intimately drawn into the characters’ dramatic lives in Penman's splendid historical novel * Booklist *A riveting page-turner, and Penman’s well-honed skill for weaving deeply researched details into epic tales is on full display. Fans of medieval historical fiction won’t want to miss this * Publishers Weekly *Penman excels at depicting medieval warfare and the unintended, often disastrous consequences of the best-laid strategies. She is equally adept at depicting the rivalries and internecine strife that roil Baldwin's court—peopled by characters who are mostly related to each other by some degree of kinship—finding credible motives for everyone's grudges * Kirkus *Praise for Time and Chance: Sharon Kay Penman is the strongest historical novelist working the medieval period at present -- George R. R. MartinShe manages to illuminate the alien shadowland of the Middle Ages and populate it with vital characters whose politics and passions are as vivid as our own * San Francisco Chronicle *As one of Ms. Penman's oldest and most ardent fans, I believe The Land Beyond the Sea ranks as one of her three most accomplished and compelling books. Her books should never be gulped, only savored, and readers will be thrilled to both read and reread her latest -- Priscilla Royal
£11.69
Pan Macmillan Sorcerer to the Crown
Book SynopsisZen Cho was born and raised in Malaysia and now lives in London. She was a finalist for the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer for her short fiction and also won the Crawford Award. Sorcerer to the Crown was Zen Cho's debut novel, followed by her standalone set in the same world, The True Queen. Trade ReviewAn enchanting cross between Georgette Heyer and Susanna Clarke, full of delights and surprises -- Naomi NovikZen Cho’s Sorcerer to the Crown is inventive, dangerous, brilliant, unsettling, and adorable, all at the same time. It shatters as many rules as its characters do. Historical Britain will never be the same again, and I can’t wait for the next book -- Courtney MilanA warm, funny debut novel by a brilliant new talent -- Charles StrossCompulsively readable and wickedly funny, this magical marriage of Jane Austen and P. G. Wodehouse delivers love, laughs, and a thoroughly modern sensibility, and will keep you reading long into the night. I loved it -- Lavie TidharFabulous! If you like Austen or Patrick O'Brian, or magic and humor like Susannah Clarke, or simply a very fun read, you will really, really, enjoy this -- Ann LeckieA delightful and enchanting novel that uses sly wit and assured style to subvert expectations while it always, unfailingly, entertains. I loved it -- Kate ElliottSorcerer to the Crown is fast-paced and witty, and should appeal to fans of Mary Robinette Kowal and Gail Carriger -- Elizabeth BearA deliciously true tale of politics and power in a charming, cruel world – it demands and deserves to be read again and again. Cho has humor and flair to match Pratchett and Heyer plus her own marvelous style -- Karen Lord
£8.54
Open Road Media The Physician
Book SynopsisTrade Review“Gordon’s compelling novel recreates the 11th century so powerfully that the reader is propelled through its several hundred pages by a tidal wave of imagination and authentic detail.” —Publishers Weekly“Populated by engaging characters, rich in incident and vivid in historical detail, [The Physician] is a pleasure.” —The New York Times“[The Physician]has the flavor of Ken Follett’s The Pillars of the Earth, but with a deeper character development and story arc . . . . An insightful and unforgettable read.” —Zoltaire’s Blog“An adventurous and inspiring tale of a quest for medical knowledge pursued in a violent world full of superstition and prejudice.” —Library JournalTable of ContentsPart One: Barber's BoyPart Two: The Long JourneyPart Three: IspahanPart Four: The MaristanPart Five: The War SurgeonPart Six: HakimPart Seven: The Returned
£21.56
Simon & Schuster Ltd The Last Tudor
Book SynopsisTHE FINAL COMPELLING TUDOR NOVEL FROM SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER PHILIPPA GREGORY ‘How long do I have?’ I force a laugh.‘Not long,’ he says very quietly. ‘They have confirmed your sentence of death. You are to be beheaded tomorrow. We don’t have long at all.’ Jane Grey was Queen of England for nine days. Using her position as cousin to the deceased king, her father and his conspirators put her on the throne ahead of the king’s half-sister Mary, who quickly mustered an army, claimed her crown and locked Jane in the Tower. When Jane refused to betray her Protestant faith, Mary sent her to the executioner’s block. There Jane turned her father’s greedy, failed grab for power into her own brave and tragic martyrdom. ‘Learn you to die’ is the advice that Jane gives in a letter to her younger sister Katherine, who has n
£9.49
Simon & Schuster Ltd American Rust
Book SynopsisNOW A MAJOR TV SERIES STARRING JEFF DANIELS AND MAURA TIERNEY An American voice reminiscent of Steinbeck – a debut novel on friendship, loyalty, and love, centering on a murder in a dying Pennsylvania steel town, from the bestselling author of THE SON.Isaac is the smartest kid in town, left behind to care for his sick father after his mother dies by suicide and his sister Lee moves away. Now Isaac wants out too. Not even his best friend, Billy Poe, can stand in his way: broad-shouldered Billy, always ready for a fight, still living in his mother's trailer. Then, on the very day of Isaac's leaving, something happens that changes the friends' fates and tests the loyalties of their friendship and those of their lovers, families, and the town itself. Evoking John Steinbeck's novels of restless lives during the Great Depression, American Rust is an extraordinarily moving novel about the bleak realit
£8.54
Simon & Schuster Ltd The Winter Sea
Book SynopsisFrom New York Times bestselling author Susanna Kearsley1707 An ill-fated expedition for the New World left Sophia Paterson an orphan, cared for by her uncle. On his passing, a distant relative offers what Sophia longs for most: a home. Slains Castle, on the rugged Scottish coast, is much more comfortable than she is accustomed to. But danger is right around the corner, as rebels conspire to bring the exiled James Stewart to Scotland to reclaim his crown.Present day Enchanted by the ruins of the castle, Carrie McClelland hopes to turn this all-but-forgotten story into her next novel. Settling in the nearby village, she creates a heroine named after one of her ancestors and starts to write. Discovering her novel contains more than she researched, Carrie wonders if this is ancestral memory – making her the only living person to know what truly happened all those years ago. With each new chapter she
£8.54
Pan Macmillan Big Lies in a Small Town
Book SynopsisA decades-old disappearance, and a quest to find the truth . . . Big Lies in a Small Town, by the bestselling author Diane Chamberlain, is an emotional novel about two women connected by a painting that holds many dark secrets.‘Fans of Jodi Picoult’s style will love how Diane Chamberlain writes’ - CandisNorth Carolina, 2018: Morgan Christopher’s life has been derailed. Taking the fall for a crime she did not commit, she finds herself serving a three-year stint in the North Carolina Women’s Correctional Centre. Her dream of a career in the arts is put on hold – until a mysterious visitor makes her an offer that will see her released immediately. Her assignment: restore an old post office mural in a sleepy southern town. What she finds under the layers of grime is a painting that tells the story of madness, violence and a conspiracy of small-town secrets.North Carolina, 1940: Anna Dale, an artist from New Jersey, wins a national contest to paint a mural for the post office in Edenton, North Carolina. Alone in the world and desperate for work, she accepts. But what she doesn’t expect is to find herself immersed in a town where prejudices run deep, where people are hiding secrets behind closed doors and where the price for being different might just end in murder.What happened to Anna Dale? Are the clues hidden in the decrepit mural? Can Morgan overcome her own demons to discover what exists beneath the layers of lies?From the auhor of The Last House on the Street.Trade ReviewChamberlain puts so much grit, emotion and drama into her books that it’s impossible to stop thinking about the plot * Heat *Totally amazing. I love Diane’s writing -- Cathy KellyDiane Chamberlain’s gift for storytelling never fails * My Weekly *An excellent read that will be loved by her fans and anyone who enjoys reading -- Jodi Picoult
£9.49
Pan Macmillan The Moon Sister
Book SynopsisFrom the Scottish Highlands and Spain, to South America and New York, The Moon Sister is the fifth epic story in the Seven Sisters series by the number one bestseller Lucinda Riley. A spellbinding story of love and loss, inspired by the mythology of the famous star constellation.Tiggy D’Aplièse, in her mid-twenties, learns that her father – Pa Salt, an elusive billionaire who adopted his six daughters from around the globe – has died. Trusting her instincts, Tiggy moves to the remote wilds of Scotland and takes a job doing what she loves: caring for animals. Working on the vast and isolated Kinnaird estate, she is employed by the enigmatic and troubled laird, Charlie Kinnaird.Her decision alters her future irrevocably when she meets Chilly, an elderly gypsy man who has lived for years on the estate. He tells her not only that she possesses a sixth sense, passed down from her ancestors, but that it was foretold long ago that he should send her back home to Granada, Spain . . .In the shadow of the magnificent Alhambra, Tiggy discovers her connection to the fabled gypsy community of Sacromonte, who were forced to flee their homes during the civil war, and to ‘La Candela’ – the greatest flamenco dancer of her generation.Tiggy follows the trail back to her own exciting but complex past. And, under the watchful eye of a gifted gypsy bruja, she begins to embrace her own talent for healing.But when fate takes a hand, Tiggy must decide whether to stay with her new-found family or return to Kinnaird, and Charlie . . . The epic, multi-million selling series continues with The Sun Sister.'Lucinda Riley at the top of her game: a magical storyteller who creates characters we fall in love with and who stay with us long after we finish reading.’ – Lucy Foley, bestselling author of The Hunting PartyPraise for the Seven Sisters:'A masterclass in beautiful writing' – The Sun'A breathtaking adventure' – Lancashire Evening PostFive-Star Reader Reviews:'Absolutely incredible''Totally addictive''Ideal for when you need to escape'Trade ReviewA beautifully written series . . . A magical adventure. -- Woman's World Magazine, USAA breathtaking adventure brimming with cruelty, tragedy, passion, obsession and, most of all, the music, rhythm and spirit of Spain's gitano community... There is a real fire to this exciting new chapter in the captivating Seven Sisters odyssey, an extraordinary sense of drawing inexorably nearer to solving the intriguing conundrum of Pa Salt's death and the tantalizing mystery of the missing sister. -- Lancashire Evening PostA heartfelt, powerful, and spiritual saga. I don't know how she infuses her characters with so much humanity, passion, warmth and love, keeps the plot moving and brings the past alive so profoundly, but she does so beautifully. If you've ever wondered if writers are magicians, just read one of Lucinda Riley's novels and you'll have the answer. -- M.J. Rose, New York Times bestselling authorThis family saga moves between past and present, and is an engrossing read. I've read all of the series so far . . . possibly the best one yet! -- North Norfolk LivingRiley's meticulous research and attention to detail immerse readers in historical background, bringing Tiggy and her Spanish birth family to life. Fans of Kristin Hannah, Kate Morton, and Riley's previous novels will adore this anticipated series continuation. -- Booklist, USAThe tension, sweeping descriptions, and multiple subplots catch the reader early and don't let go. Touches of magical realism and musical culture add to the gorgeous descriptions and historical details. -- Historical Novel Society, USAIn each of her series novels, Riley draws magnetic and strong women, polar opposites in personality but all of them fearless and determined. This entry will delight followers of Riley's series, but also appeal to new readers -- Library Journal, USA
£9.49
Pan Macmillan The Other Bennet Sister
Book Synopsis'Will delight Pride and Prejudice fans' - IndependentA wonderfully warm homage to Jane Austen and a delightful new story in its own right, Janice Hadlow's The Other Bennet Sister is a life-affirming tale of a young woman finding her place in the world. This is Mary Bennet's story . . .'It's difficult not to race through those final pages' – Jo Baker, author of LongbournIn Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Mary is the middle of the five Bennet girls and the plainest of them all, so what hope does she have? Prim and pious, with no redeeming features, she is unloved and seemingly unlovable.The Other Bennet Sister, though, shows another side to Mary. An introvert in a family of extroverts; a constant disappointment to her mother who values beauty above all else; fearful of her father’s sharp tongue; with little in common with her siblings – is it any wonder she turns to books for both company and guidance? And, if she finds her life lonely or lacking, that she determines to try harder at the one thing she can be: right.One by one, her sisters marry – Jane and Lizzy for love; Lydia for some semblance of respectability – but Mary, it seems, is destined to remain single and live out her life at Longbourn, at least until her father dies and the house is bequeathed to the reviled Mr Collins.But when that fateful day finally comes, she slowly discovers that perhaps there is hope for her, after all.Witty and uplifting, The Other Bennet Sister will make you feel – and cheer – for Mary as you never have before.Trade Review[A] novel that will delight Pride and Prejudice fans * Independent *Immersive and engaging * Guardian *Janice Hadlow has dusted down Mary, the ugly Bennet sister, and fashioned her into a heroine that even Miss Austen would approve of. A treat -- Daisy Goodwin, author of Victoria and The Fortune HunterIt’s difficult not to race through those final pages -- Jo Baker, author of LongBourn and The Body LiesThis gorgeous book pays homage to Pride and Prejudice – and follows Mary Bennet, the overlooked middle Bennet sister. It’s a wonderfully warm, comforting read – perfect on a winter’s night * The Sun *I absolutely love this novel – as will any young woman who has felt herself plain, shy, bookish and crushed -- Amanda Craig, author of The Lie of the Land and The Golden RuleFans will need no persuasion . . . Worthy of any Austen heroine * Metro *Jane fans rejoice! I loved this thoroughly estimable, worthy homage to Austen. Exceptional storytelling and a true delight -- Helen Simonson, author of Major Pettigrew's Last Stand and The Summer Before the WarPuts Mary front and centre stage exploring why she was so heartbreakingly sidelined by Mrs Bennet and gives humour and sensitivity to the most overlooked of the sisters * Stylist magazine — best books of 2020 *Impeccably researched, this lifts Mary from obscurity, as she breaks out of her mother's world and follows her own path * Daily Mail *A wonderful, absorbing, accomplished book. I loved it -- Stephanie Butland, author of Lost for Words and The Woman in the PhotographEntertaining and thoroughly engrossing * Kirkus starred review *Vivid and convincing * Sydney Morning Herald *I absolutely love this novel -- Amanda Craig
£10.44
Pan Macmillan Lie Down With Lions
Book SynopsisFrom terrorist conspiracies in Paris to guerrilla warfare in Afghanistan, Lie Down With Lions is the thrilling tale of suspense and deceit from master of the spy story, Ken Follett.A Dangerous RomanceIn Paris, rival spies Ellis and Jean-Pierre both fall in love with Jane, and all three become gripped in a tangled web of lust and deception as they battle terrorist conspiracies. Ultimately Jane can marry only one and chooses Jean-Pierre.A Fight for FreedomIn Afghanistan the Mujahedeen are fighting to free their country of the Soviet invasion and the newlyweds travel to the Valley of the Five Lions to help the cause as doctors. Fierce fighting means they must find a way out of the line of fire.A Perilous EscapeHelp unexpectedly comes in the form of Jean Pierre’s nemesis, Ellis, and knowing both men have dangerous secrets, Jane must once again choose who to trust if she is to make her escape over one of the most remote mountain ranges in the world . . .Trade ReviewSheer suspense * Washington Post *Vintage Follett . . . tense, vivid, exciting * USA Today *A deadly romantic triangle, a clandestine mission with global stakes, an exotic location, a plot as gripping and ingenious as Eye of the Needle . . . engineered to perfection with breathless acceleration . . . I couldn’t put it down * Los Angeles Times *
£9.89
Pan Macmillan A Place Called Freedom: A Vast, Thrilling Work of
Book SynopsisSet in an era of turbulent social changes on both sides of the Atlantic, A Place Called Freedom is a magnificent historical fiction novel from the undisputed master of suspense and drama, Ken Follett.A Life of PovertyScotland, 1767. Mack McAsh is a slave by birth, destined for a cruel and harsh life as a miner. But as a man of principles and courage, he has the strength to stand up for what he believes in, only to be labelled as a rebel and enemy of the state.A Life of Wealth Life feels just as constrained for rebellious Lizzie Hallim, as she struggles with the less cruel circumstances of wealth and privilege. Fiercely independent, she is engaged to a man she doesn’t care for, a landlord’s son and heir to an exploitative business empire.A Search for FreedomLizzie finds herself helping Mack after he becomes a fugitive. Separated by class but bound by their yearning for freedom, they escape to London. True freedom, though, lies further afield, in a new life that awaits across the Atlantic Ocean . . .Trade ReviewGripping . . . a very entertaining tale * Chicago Tribune *Compelling * San Francisco Chronicle *A compulsive, sweeping adventure * Today *
£10.44
Pan Macmillan Code to Zero
Book SynopsisCode to Zero is a fast-paced thriller about the satellite space race in the Cold War, from the master of suspense and author of The Pillars of the Earth, Ken Follett.A Man with No MemoryA man wakes up to find himself lying on the ground in a railway station, his mind stripped bare of all recollection. He has no idea how he got there; he does not even know his own name. Convinced he is a drunken down and out, it isn’t until a newspaper report about a satellite launch catches his eye, that he suspects all is not what it seems . . .A Race for the FutureThe year is 1958, and America is about to launch its first satellite in a desperate attempt to match the Soviet Sputnik and regain the lead in the space race. As Luke Lucas gradually unravels the mystery of his amnesia, he realizes that his fate is bound up with that of the rocket that stands ready on launch pad 26B at Cape Canaveral.A World on the BrinkAs he relearns the story of his life, he uncovers long-kept secrets about his wife, his best friend and the woman he once loved more than life itself. But even more terrifying is the dark secret they tried to make him forget, a secret that threatens America’s survival.Trade ReviewFocused, fast-moving . . . this spy thriller is Follett at his best * People *Follett weaves the threads of his narrative together, tying them into an unexpected and story-resolving knot at the end . . . gripping * New York Times *
£10.44
Random House USA Inc Daisy Jones & The Six: A Novel
Book Synopsis#1NATIONALBESTSELLER? OVER TWO MILLION COPIES SOLD! A gripping novel about the whirlwind rise of an iconic 1970s rock group and their beautiful lead singer, revealing the mystery behind their infamous breakup?from the author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Malibu Rising, and Carrie Soto Is BackREESE?S BOOK CLUB PICK ? NOWANEMMY AWARD?NOMINATEDORIGINAL STREAMING SERIES EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY REESE WITHERSPOON ?An explosive, dynamite, down-and-dirty look at a fictional rock band told in an interview style that gives it irresistible surface energy.??Elin HilderbrandONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: NPR, The Washington Post, Esquire, Glamour, Real Simple, Good Housekeeping, Marie Claire, Parade, Paste, Shelf Awareness, BookRiot Everyone knows DAISY JONES & THE SIX, but nobody knows the reason behind their split at the absolute height of their popularity . . . until now.Daisy is a girl coming of age in L.A. in the late sixties, sneaking into clubs on the Sunset Strip, sleeping with rock stars, and dreaming of singing at the Whisky a Go Go. The sex and drugs are thrilling, but it?s the rock ?n? roll she loves most. By the time she?s twenty, her voice is getting noticed, and she has the kind of heedless beauty that makes people do crazy things. Also getting noticed is The Six, a band led by the brooding Billy Dunne. On the eve of their first tour, his girlfriend Camila finds out she?s pregnant, and with the pressure of impending fatherhood and fame, Billy goes a little wild on the road. Daisy and Billy cross paths when a producer realizes that the key to supercharged success is to put the two together. What happens next will become the stuff of legend. The making of that legend is chronicled in this riveting and unforgettable novel, written as an oral history of one of the biggest bands of the seventies. Taylor Jenkins Reid is a talented writer who takes her work to a new level with Daisy Jones & The Six, brilliantly capturing a place and time in an utterly distinctive voice.
£9.60
Random House USA Inc Malibu Rising: A Novel
Book SynopsisNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER ? Read with Jenna Book Club Pick as Featured on Today ? From theauthor of Daisy Jones & The Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo ... ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The Washington Post, Time, Marie Claire, PopSugar, Parade, Teen Vogue, Self ? ?Irresistible . . . High drama at the beach, starring four sexy, surfing siblings and their deadbeat, famous-crooner dad.??PeopleFour famous siblings throw an epic party to celebrate the end of the summer. But over the course of twenty-four hours, the family drama that ensues will change their lives will change forever.Malibu: August 1983. It?s the day of Nina Riva?s annual end-of-summer party, and anticipation is at a fever pitch. Everyone wants to be around the famous Rivas: Nina, the talented surfer and supermodel; brothers Jay and Hud, one a championship surfer, the other a renowned photographer; and their adored baby sister, Kit. Together the siblings are a source of fascination in Malibu and the world over?especially as the offspring of the legendary singer Mick Riva.The only person not looking forward to the party of the year is Nina herself, who never wanted to be the center of attention, and who has also just been very publicly abandoned by her pro tennis player husband. Oh, and maybe Hud?because it is long past time for him to confess something to the brother from whom he?s been inseparable since birth.Jay, on the other hand, is counting the minutes until nightfall, when the girl he can?t stop thinking about promised she?ll be there.And Kit has a couple secrets of her own?including a guest she invited without consulting anyone.By midnight the party will be completely out of control. By morning, the Riva mansion will have gone up in flames. But before that first spark in the early hours before dawn, the alcohol will flow, the music will play, and the loves and secrets that shaped this family?s generations will all come rising to the surface.Malibu Rising is a story about one unforgettable night in the life of a family: the night they each have to choose what they will keep from the people who made them... and what they will leave behind.This edition includes an interview with the author, book club discussion questions, and more!
£12.00
Quercus Publishing The Bookseller of Inverness: The Waterstones
Book Synopsis A GRIPPING HISTORICAL THRILLER SET IN INVERNESS IN THE WAKE OF THE 1746 BATTLE OF CULLODEN.'This slice of historical fiction takes you on a wild ride' THE TIMESAfter Culloden, Iain MacGillivray was left for dead on Drummossie Moor. Wounded, his face brutally slashed, he survived only by pretending to be dead as the Redcoats patrolled the corpses of his Jacobite comrades.Six years later, with the clan chiefs routed and the Highlands subsumed into the British state, Iain lives a quiet life, working as a bookseller in Inverness. One day, after helping several of his regular customers, he notices a stranger lurking in the upper gallery of his shop, poring over his collection. But the man refuses to say what he's searching for and only leaves when Iain closes for the night.The next morning Iain opens up shop and finds the stranger dead, his throat cut, and the murder weapon laid out in front of him - a sword with a white cockade on its hilt, the emblem of the Jacobites. With no sign of the killer, Iain wonders whether the stranger discovered what he was looking for - and whether he paid for it with his life. He soon finds himself embroiled in a web of deceit and a series of old scores to be settled in the ashes of war.******************PRAISE FOR THE BOOKSELLER OF INVERNESS'Fresh and intriguing . . . Her best yet' ANDREW TAYLOR'Everything you could ask for from a historical thriller' ANTONIA HODGSON'An intricately wrought, compulsively page-turning tale' CRAIG RUSSELL'A first rate historical thriller' 5* READER REVIEW'From the moment I began reading I was hooked' 5* READER REVIEW'Hugely entertaining . . . fast paced, twisting and turning' 5* READER REVIEWTrade ReviewDelivers everything you could possibly want from a historical crime novel, and then gives you a bit more on top. The Jacobites are a perennially fascinating subject, the ultimate forlorn hope of history, and MacLean provides a fresh and intriguing slant on it, clearly based on rock-solid research. She paints a memorable and densely textured picture of post-Culloden Inverness and its surroundings. She's on home ground here, and it shows. Her best yet * Andrew Taylor *The Bookseller of Inverness is everything you could ask for from a historical thriller - gripping, immersive and filled with intriguing characters. S.G. MacLean can make any period sing with life. If you've not read her before, this is the perfect place to start * Antonia Hodgson *S. G. MacLean just goes from strength to strength. The Bookseller of Inverness is an intricately wrought, compulsively page-turning tale of intrigue set in a post-Rebellion Scotland so perfectly conjured and so convincing that you can smell the heather and taste the blood * Craig Russell *Well-written and well-plotted, MacLean is gifted with a writing style that blends literary storytelling with a fast-paced mystery * Scottish Field *This is an expertly plotted crime thriller built around the complexities of Jacobite histories: Walter Scott meets tartan noir * The Times *With its superbly realised scenes and spirited narration, this slice of historical fiction takes you on a wild ride * The Times Audio Book of the Week *An excellent work of historical fiction: rooted in fact ... with the imagined characters and situations seamlessly stitched into recorded reality * Literary Review *A gripping and thought-provoking novel. Highly recommended * Historical Novel Review *A twisting, absorbing plot * Sunday Times *A triumphant return to Scotland for S. G. MacLean * Historia *
£9.49
Casemate Publishers White Sun War: The Campaign for Taiwan
Book SynopsisAfter decades of poising on the brink, the United States and China finally go to war when China invades the island of Taiwan. Deploying their most futuristic technologies in this grand strategic competition of the 21st century, the stakes could not be higher. Not only the future of the Taiwanese people but the fate of the world lies in the balance. In an era when humans no longer just use machines, but partner with them in all aspects of military operations, this fictional account views this future war through the eyes of the American, Chinese, and Taiwanese caught up in the maelstrom, revealing the heartbreak, courage, leadership, and despair of high-tech warfare played out on land, at sea, in space, and in cyberspace. White Sun War asks readers to ponder anew an essential question for the future of security in western Pacific and the entire Indo-Pacific region: is a war for Taiwan winnable?Trade ReviewThe author's professional background equips him well to describe changes in military technology and tactics, and these areas are covered well in the narrative. * Army Rumour Service *A gripping account of future war that is equal parts entertaining and sobering. Mick Ryan writes with a credibility and authority that transforms this techno-thriller into a provocative wartime narrative that belies its fictional roots … An absolute must read. * Steve Leonard, Senior Assistant Dean of the University of Kansas School of Business and co-editor of To Boldly Go: Leadership, Strategy, and Conflict in the 21st Century and Beyond *To be successful, future war fiction requires an author who is militarily expert, has literary skill and an imaginative gift. Mick Ryan has all those qualities in abundance, and the result is a book that is entertaining, thought-provoking and quite possibly prescient. Not just an engaging tale but a warning of things to come. * Eliot A. Cohen, Robert E. Osgood Professor of Strategic Studies, Johns Hopkins SAIS *White Sun War is a first-rate techno-thriller. It is an enjoyable read in and of itself, but its concept-driven narrative is what sets it apart from other books. The characters and their interactions illuminate ongoing debates about the future of war and how a conflict between the United States and China could well play out … While the goal is certainly to avoid war, it is far better to be intellectually prepared for that possibility and its conduct, and Ryan’s entry is a welcome addition to this discussion. * Diplomatic Courier *Table of ContentsAuthor's Introduction Preliminary Operations The Massacre Phase I 1 Flood and Fire 2 Knife in a Space Fight 3 The Successors Dilemma 4 Lethal in the Littoral 5 Stormfront Approaching 6 Grey Wizard 7 Overall Defense Concept 8 The Beetles 9 Tiger of the Land, Dragon of the Sea Phase II 10 What Happens in Nevada… 11 The Butchers Bill 12 Retreat, Hell 13 Adaptation Battle 14 The High Ground 15 Break In 16 Resolve 17 Courage and Wisdom 18 Remote War Phase III 19 Save Our Dream 20 New Strategy, Old Strategy 21 Transition 22 Monsoon 23 The City 24 The Pledge 25 Battle for Taichung 26 Battle for Taichung II 27 Mors Honesta 28 Morakot the Second 29 The Bitter Plain
£16.16
Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC Thousand Autumns: Qian Qiu (Novel) Vol. 2
Book SynopsisShen Qiao is a devout Daoist priest who has spent his life honing his skills and spirit, leading his sect with martial talent, beauty beyond measure, and an earnest heart. His polar opposite, Yan Wushi, leads one of the most powerful demonic sects and is said to be unrivalled in his strength and cunning. Yan Wushi believes in the inherently selfish nature of all people—himself included—and that nobody is above committing dark deeds for their own benefit. When a fight leaves Shen Qiao injured, blind, and with hazy memories, Yan Wushi takes in the defeated sect leader with a dark plan: test the limits of the man’s patience and faith in others to lure him onto the demonic path. Little does he know that he is about to meet the first immovable force of his life, and that two hearts can connect in unexpected ways. With the passing of a thousand autumns, who can stay eternal? This Chinese historical fiction tale about powerful martial artists (wuxia) built around the desire between two men (danmei) inspired a beloved animated series (donghua). The Seven Seas English-language edition will include exclusive, all-new covers and interior illustrations.
£17.09
