Historical Fiction Books

Book SynopsisA decade after their wild boat ride adventure on the Thames river, J, Harris, and George reunite for another vacation. Older, richer, and fatter, but not wiser, the three men stumble through mishaps and surprises as they journey to Germany. First saying their goodbyes, J and Harris seek the approval of their wives, worried about leaving their kids. Their wives are supportive, secretly considering their husbands’ trip from home as a vacation for themselves as well. Still a bachelor, George tells his aunt about the trip before they depart. First arriving in a boat, the men journey through Germany, stopping in Hamburg, Hanover, and Berlin. When they are able, they stay in hotels and inns, and when they are desperate, the sleep in the barns of kind farmers. After a long journey, the men finally arrive at their destination. Planning on completing a cycling tour through the German Black Forest, the men take a single rider and a tandem bicycle, making a solemn compromise to take turns being the solo rider. As they set out on their bike ride, the friends are amazed by the beauty and serenity of the forest, until they start to realize that everything looks familiar. Lost in the woods and going in circles, the three men must find a way home from their adventure before they get caught in the impending rain storm. Through sketches and detailed observations, Jerome K. Jerome’s Three Men on the Bummel provides a fascinating perspective on the landscape and culture of 20th century Germany. With drunken adventures, sword fights, and misfortunate weather, Three Men on the Bummel is an exciting and charming travelogue, humorous and enjoyable even for modern audiences. This edition of Three Men on the Bumel by Jerome K. Jerome is presented in an easy-to-read font and features an eye-catching new cover design. With these accommodations, this edition is accessible and appealing to contemporary audiences, restoring Jerome K Jerome’s work to modern standards while preserving the original wit and charm of Three Men on the Bummel.

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Book SynopsisNinety-Three (1874) is the final novel of Victor Hugo. As a work of historical fiction, the story is set during the period of conflict between the newly formed French Republic and the Royalists who sought to reverse the gains of the revolution. Praised for its morality and honest depiction of the horrors of war, Ninety-Three influenced such wide-ranging political thinkers as Joseph Stalin and Ayn Rand. “The soldiers forced cautiously. Everything was in full bloom; they were surrounded by a quivering wall of branches, whose leaves diffused a delicious freshness. Here and there sunbeams pierced these green shades.” Advancing through the countryside, a band of Republican soldiers discovers a family of refugees, a mother and two children who fled for their lives during the insurrection of Royalists in Brittany. Taken in, they are swept up in an attack by the merciless Marquis de Lantenac, a counterrevolutionary leader who has just landed with a unit of Royalist troops. Separated from her children, Michelle is protected by a local beggar who hides her from Lantenac and his men. Meanwhile, Robespierre, Marat, and Danton have sent Commander Gauvain from Paris to stamp out the Royalist threat in Brittany, knowing all too well that Lantenac is his distant relative. As families are torn apart in the name of political struggle, as mercy gives way to death and betrayal, Hugo examines the human cost of war without losing sight of the gravity of the historical moment. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Victor Hugo’s Ninety-Three is a classic work of French literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisThe third volume in the Nobel Prize–winning writer’s epic story of medieval Norway, finely capturing Undset’s fluid, natural style in the first English translation in nearly a century In the early fourteenth century, Norway is a kingdom in political turmoil, struggling with opposing forces within its own borders and drawn into strife with neighboring Sweden and Denmark. Bloody family vendettas and conflicting loyalties sparked by the irrepressible passion of a boy and his foster sister (also his betrothed) have now set in motion a series of terrible consequences—with a legacy of betrayal, murder, and disgrace that will echo down through the generations. Crossroads, the third of Olav Audunssøn’s four volumes, finds Olav heartbroken by loss and further estranged from his son. To escape his grief, Olav leaves his home estate of Hestviken and agrees to serve as captain on a small merchant ship headed to London. There, separated from everything familiar to him, Olav begins a visionary journey that will send him far into the forest and deep into his soul. Questioning past decisions and future plans, Olav must grapple with his own perceptions of love and guilt, sin and penitence, vengeance and forgiveness. Set in a time and place where royalty and religion vie for power, and bloodlines and loyalties are law, Crossroads summons a powerful picture of Northern life in medieval times, as the Swedish Academy noted in awarding Sigrid Undset the Nobel Prize in 1928. Conveying both the intimate drama and epic sweep of Olav’s story as grief and guilt drive him to ever more desperate action, Crossroads is a moving and masterly re-creation of a vanished world tainted by bloodshed and haunted by sin and retribution. As with Kristin Lavransdatter, her earlier medieval epic, Undset immersed herself in the legal, religious, and historical documents of the time while writing Olav Audunssøn to create astoundingly authentic and compelling portraits of Norwegian life in the Middle Ages. And as in her translation of Kristin Lavransdatter, Tiina Nunnally does full justice to Undset’s natural, fluid prose, in a style that delicately and lyrically conveys the natural world, the complex culture, and the fraught emotional territory against which Olav’s story inexorably unfolds.Trade Review "Engrossing... Fans of well-researched historical epics ought to check this out."—Publishers Weekly "[Undset] is also a master of evoking a vanished way of life and, above all, of nature’s vitality, of weather, of land- and seascapes, exhilarating images that freshen a story that is deeply tinctured with anguish and uncertainty. "—Star Tribune "These books are so well written and so beautifully translated that the reader is pulled into the story and brought along on the journey. We don’t feel like observers, but participants."—Looking for a Good Book "Undset describes the harsh life in the far north—its formidable sea, bone-chilling winters, and breathtaking landscape—in poetic evocative language, splendidly translated."—Historical Novel Society

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Book SynopsisThe glamour and danger of 1950s New York and the wild scene at the iconic Chelsea Hotel come together in this dazzling new novel.

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Book SynopsisDiscover the highly acclaimed historical fiction series set within the glittering and ruthless House of Romanov. ‘Gripping … Who would not want to spend more time in the mad, bad world of the Romanovs?’ The Times ‘A delicious hotbed of greed, lust and envy’ Heat ----------- When they took everything from her, they didn't count on her fighting to get it back... Born into the House of Romanov to the all-powerful Peter the Great and Catherine I, beautiful Tsarevna Elizabeth is the world’s loveliest Princess and the envy of the Russian empire. Insulated by luxury and as a woman free from the burden of statecraft, Elizabeth is seemingly born to pursue her passions. However, a dark prophecy predicts her fate as inexorably twined with Russia. When her mother dies, Russia is torn, masks fall, and friends become foes. Elizabeth’s idyllic world is upended. By her twenties she is penniless and powerless, living under constant threat. As times change like quicksand, an all-consuming passion emboldens Elizabeth: she must decide whether to take up her role as Russia’s ruler, and what she’s willing to do for her country – and for love. ----------- Praise for Tsarina ‘It makes Game of Thrones look like a nursery rhyme’ Daisy Goodwin ‘A vivid page-turner of a debut’ The Times ‘Tsarina should come with a health warning – once you start reading, it’s impossible to stop’ Hannah Rothschild Trade ReviewPraise for Tsarina: A vivid page-turner of a debut * The Times *Makes Game of Thrones look like a nursery rhyme -- Daisy GoodwinWith its sprawling canvas and huge cast ... it’s an entertaining romp through the endless intrigue, violence and debauchery of court life * Mail on Sunday *The extraordinary life and career of Catherine I of Russia is brought to life in Alpsten’s colourful novel * Sunday Times, Summer Reading Picks 2020 *As detailed as the jewels and enamel inlay on the creations of Faberge -- Adriana Trigiani, bestselling author of The Shoemaker's WifeAlpsten recounts this remarkable woman’s colourful life and times -- Count Nikolai TolstoyLuscious and brilliant -- Natasha Pulley, author of the international bestseller The Watchmaker of Filigree StreetTsarina should come with a health warning – once you start reading, it’s impossible to stop -- Hannah Rothschild, bestselling author of House of Trelawney

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE 2020 JHALAK PRIZE 1964. Ceylon is on the brink of change. But Kairo is at a loose end. School is closed, the government is in disarray, the press is under threat and the religious right are flexing their muscles. Kairo’s hard-working mother blows off steam at her cha-cha-cha classes; his Trotskyite father grumbles over the state of the nation between his secret flutters on horseraces in faraway England. All Kairo wants to do is hide in his room and flick over second-hand westerns and superhero comics, or escape on his bicycle and daydream. Then he meets the magnetic teenage Jay, and his whole world is turned inside out. A budding naturalist and a born rebel, Jay keeps fish and traps birds for an aviary he is building in the garden of his grand home. The adults in Jay's life have no say in what he does or where he goes: he holds his beautiful, fragile mother in contempt, and his wealthy father seems fuelled by anger. But his Uncle Elvin, suave and worldly, is his encourager. As Jay guides him from the realm of make believe into one of hunting-guns and fast cars and introduces him to a girl — Niromi — Kairo begins to understand the price of privilege and embarks on a journey of devastating consequence. Taut and luminous, graceful and wild, Suncatcher is a poignant coming-of-age novel about difficult friendships and sudden awakenings. Mesmerizingly it charts the loss of innocence and our recurring search for love — or consolation — bringing these extraordinary lives into our own.Trade ReviewWonderful ... A poignant coming-of-age novel * Mail on Sunday *Intoxicating … A lyrical and soulful voice -- Barney Norris * Guardian *Suncatcher is a dreamy, mesmerising story on the displeasures of growing up, as Jay and Kairo both long to reach a state of being that captures both the uncorrupted nature of childhood and the cool maturity of adulthood. It may be rare to find that mix in real life, but it is in full abundance in Gunesekera’s novel -- Rebecca Liu * Prospect *Vivid ... A period piece suffused with foreboding ... Gunesekera captures the first rumblings of the cataclysm that would ruinously engulf his nation and that has always compulsively engaged him * Sunday Times *A dreamy, mesmerising story on the displeasures of growing up * Prospect *Beautifully captures the excitement and confusion of teenage friendship ... A magical evocation of a world where it seems that everything should remain as it is, while you know, sadly, that it can't and won't -- Allan Massie * Scotsman *Sumptuous * Spectator *Brilliant … A wise and poignant portrait of a country caught in the moment before it loses its innocence * Financial Times *Brilliant … Pervaded by a sense of threatened beauty: the flash of fish, the flight of birds, the slant of sun on trees, a yearning for innocence * Times Literary Supplement *Gunesekera artfully renders the unequal relationship between the two boys, and the fractures within their families * New York Times *A dreamy, mesmerising story on the displeasures of growing up * Prospect *A joyous narrative of relationships across the fence … but even when it tugs at the heartstrings, Gunesekera’s elegaic prose has a curiously healing quality * The Hindu *A book … that will keep you awake at night thinking, reliving its experiences, and actually re-examining your own * Deccan Herald *For sheer pleasure and good writing, little matched Suncatcher, Romesh Gunesekera’s recovery of lost time and an intense teenage friendship in Sri Lanka when it was still Ceylon in the early years of Independence * Scotsman, Books of the Year *A haunting and poetic foray into a newly independent Sri Lanka and its social fissures * Dawn *Gunesekera’s prose is lush yet luminously clear, and Kairo — as he deciphers the world around him and his place in that world — is the perfect guide to the book’s turbulent setting * Boston Globe *Gunesekera’s gift is to foreground a story of adolescent love and rivalry against the brewing discontent of a society * Mint *A delightful book, beautifully written … Romesh Gunesekera beautifully captures Kairo’s imaginative responses to life * Newtown Review of Books *

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Book SynopsisThe latest atmospheric mystery from the author of the Richard and the Judy Book Club choice, The House on Half Moon Street. 'Exceptional – you hear and smell and taste Victorian London' Sarah Hilary The headlines scream warnings about the ‘Butcher of Berner Street!’ and the journalist behind them – Leo Stanhope – is secretly thrilled to see the effect his words are having. Leo is used to covering more mundane issues, but when an anonymous letter summons him to a club in East London, only for the owner of the club to be found murdered shortly afterwards, Leo sees a story worth pursuing. Not to mention an opportunity to make a name for himself. Yet the more Leo digs, the stranger the story becomes, taking him from the club to a nearby convent, and into the past of a very unusual woman. But he is not the only one hunting for a killer. And it seems Leo’s newspaper reports may have put someone else in grave danger… The Butcher of Berner Street is a brilliantly atmospheric, characterful Victorian mystery, perfect for fans of Antonia Hodgson, Abir Mukherjee and Andrew Taylor. ____________________ The latest Leo Stanhope case, The Blood Flower, is available to pre-order now - out July 2022! ____________________Trade ReviewThe atmosphere is exceptional – you hear and smell and taste Victorian London – while the themes are thoroughly up to date. Alex has combined painstaking historical research with a deep and compassionate understanding of what matters most to us, right now -- Sarah HilaryThe writing sings with gorgeous description but, more than that, achieves poignancy through Leo's keen sense of how it feels to be misunderstood. Here is an investigator with an open heart. Immaculately researched, sensitively written and, as ever, highly exciting -- John McCulloughThis series goes from strength to strength, and the relationships between the characters elevate it from any standard mystery. I’m already longing for the next Leo Stanhope instalment -- Sarah FranklinReeve has not only crafted a brilliant crime novel, but has created a character who has made me see the world with new eyes -- Praise for the Leo Stanhope series * i *Wonderfully atmospheric, each page carries the whiff of sulphur and gaslight -- Praise for the Leo Stanhope series * Red *A deeply atmospheric thriller with more twists and turns than the grubby streets of London, and a central character we really care about -- Praise for the Leo Stanhope series * Heat *

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Book Synopsis'Exceptional' Sarah Hilary ‘Don’t be ordinary, Leo. Passion has its price.’ 1883. Two young people have been killed near Portsmouth’s docks. When journalist and amateur detective Leo Stanhope arrives, the police have already dismissed the victims as a ‘molly-lad’ and a misfit. As Leo begins to investigate, what he uncovers will lead him to the dangers of the Navy shipyard, the temptations of Portsmouth’s underground nightlife – and even the family of his wife, Rosie. But can he risk the people he loves for the sake of justice? PRAISE FOR ALEX REEVE 'Highly original' Guardian 'Enthralling, exciting, extraordinary, and utterly convincing' Sarah Hilary 'An entertaining and ingenious psychological drama of gender identity enfolded within a dexterously plotted and deeply satisfying Victorian murder' Rachel Holmes 'Leo is a brilliant hero: clever and flawed, infuriating and at the same time someone I root for at every turn' Stephanie Butland 'One of the most inventive series out there' iTrade ReviewOne of the most inventive series out there * i *Leo Stanhope is a wonderful creation -- Sam BlakeYou hear and smell and taste Victorian London -- Sarah Hilary

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE AUTHORS' CLUB BEST FIRST NOVEL AWARD 'What a ride!' India Knight, Sunday Times Summer reads ‘Thrilling… a sumptuous feast of plotting and intrigue’ Mail on Sunday ‘A complete joy’ Bettany Hughes ‘Gloriously immersive’ Guardian ------------------------------------------------- Frances Howard has beauty and a powerful family – and is the most unhappy creature in the world. Anne Turner has wit and talent – but no stage on which to display them. Little stands between her and the abyss of destitution. When these two very different women meet in strange circumstances, a powerful friendship is sparked. Frankie sweeps Anne into a world of splendour that exceeds all she imagined: a Court whose foreign king is a stranger to his own subjects; where ancient families fight for power, and where the sovereign’s favourite may rise and rise – so long as he remains in favour. Anne and Frankie dare to seek a little happiness for themselves in this extravagant, savage hunting ground. But as they gain notice, they also gain enemies; what began as a search for love and safety leads to desperate acts that could cost them everything. Based on the true scandal that rocked the court of James I, A Net for Small Fishes is the most gripping novel you'll read this year: an exhilarating dive into the pitch-dark waters of the Jacobean court.Trade ReviewA superb exploration of female agency, sexuality and class … Anne thrums with life all the way through to her tragic, gruesome end, while Frankie is calculating and alluring … A scintillating novel that plunges you head-first into a darkly compelling chapter of British history * Observer *A powerful take on a fascinating piece of history * The Times *Sumptuous … If you’re feeling bereft after finishing The Mirror and the Light, let Jago transport you back to the Jacobean court -- Lucy Scholes * Daily Telegraph *Rich in intrigue and incident, with a cast of vividly drawn characters and a wealth of detail on every atmospheric page, this is a fabulously engaging read * Daily Mail *Bravura historical debut … Gloriously immersive ... Jago makes her a brilliantly engaging narrator … Jago is excellent on clothes … Throughout the novel, surface detail is deftly handled to convey deeper anxieties and shifts in attitude ... Jago keenly conveys the peril of being a woman of any class in the 17th century … Like all the best historical fiction, A Net for Small Fishes is a gloriously immersive escape from present times, but it’s not escapism * Guardian *Riveting … In a narrative that brims over with colour and invention, Jago summons up Jacobean London with enormous persuasiveness * Sunday Times, Book of the Month *Perfect for those looking for a gripping historical title * i paper *Jago’s thrilling debut is a sumptuous feast of plotting and intrigue at the court of King James, with a feminist slant … A classic historical novel, classily executed * Mail on Sunday *A sensuous evocation of 17th-century noble shenanigans. Jago offers a timely lens through which to reconsider power dynamics in Jacobean England … Seamless and stylish … Set in 1609, 69 years after the Mantel trilogy concludes, so those mourning Cromwell may find much to scintillate here * Irish Times *Will bring wit, wisdom, joy and comfort to your reading pile … There’s no messing about in Lucy Jago’s A Net For Small Fishes. From the first chapter you’re plunged into the dark intrigues, violence, vying for position and cruelty of the 17th century Jacobean court as society beauty Frances Howard meets Anne Turner, whose way with bodices, stockings and eyelashes is unequalled * Stylist *What a tale! Rich in intrigue and incident … A Net For Small Fishes is wonderfully dramatic and movingly tragic. With a wealth of detail on every atmospheric page, as the charismatic, flawed figures of Anne and Frankie try to live and love in the “cesspit” of a royal court, this is historical fiction at its immersive, intriguing best * Sunday Express *Hike up your Jacobean skirts for a romp through the corridors of courtly power … A perfect winter’s tale * Sainsbury's Magazine *A historical gem * independent.co.uk *A magnificent reimagining of a scandal in the Jacobean court … Masques, machinations and murder ensue, as well as affairs, gorgeously described clothes and a dangerous friendship * Tatler, 8 best books of the year so far *Dazzling * Sunday Independent *A terrific first novel, rich in colour, character, place and time. If you like your history spiced with sex, scandal and the sweet sensibilities of female friendship, then this is for you -- Sarah DunantA fabulous book. Frankie and Anne's world is not just brilliantly evoked but brilliantly sustained. Lucy Jago doesn't make a single false step. And it's exciting! -- Andrew MillerThe Thelma and Louise of the seventeenth century: two mis-matched heroines, two grittily textured lives, an outrageous plot (true!), sex, politics, and a gut-wrenching ending -- Lawrence NorfolkFull of colour, intrigue and historical characters we can relate to ... Jago has a great flair for the sensuous image and evokes the heady mix of gaudy glamour and grime that characterises the era with a distinctive, dense poetry. Historical fiction at its scintillating best and most filmic -- Susan ElderkinBrings the early seventeenth century brilliantly to life … Riven with colour and detail * Living Magazine *The attention to detail is wonderful. A really, really great book so early in 2021 * Woman's Way *Unflinching … She lays bare the corruption of the Jacobean court, her sharp prose illuminating its dark corners and the complexities of her subject matter * Lunate.co.uk *We’ve had so much Tudor fiction of the years from authors including Hilary Mantel and Philippa Gregory, that it’s great to escape to a different era as Lucy Jago takes us to the court of James I * Scotsman *An extraordinary story … The court case of the century … Amazing * talkRADIO *

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Book Synopsis‘I would compare her to writers like Helen Dunmore, Elizabeth Strout, Jon McGregor’ BBC Radio 4 ‘Harding achieves a weighty sense of silence and things not said in this unsettling book about the aftershocks of trauma and the burdens of bearing witness’ Sunday Times 'A masterly achievement, illuminating with wisdom and compassion the darkest corners of the human heart' Guardian A farm in Norfolk in the 1970s. A Japanese girl comes to visit her English lover in the house where he was born. She arrives on a day of perfect summer, stands with his mother in a garden filled with roses, watches as his brother walks fields of ripening wheat. But between the two brothers lies the shadow of their father’s violent death almost twenty years before, the unresolved narrative of their childhood – a story that has gone untold, a story that began in the last war. In the presence of the girl, the old trauma begins to surface as the work of the harvest begins. ‘Taut and unsettling ... A fine meditation on war’s long reach’ Mail on SundayTrade ReviewLuminescent … Organic and vital … Remarkable … Harvest is a work of delicate, devastating beauty, proof that Harding is a writer of rare insight who deserves to be read more widely * Financial Times *Harding moves fluently between each character … The payoff is devastating * Daily Mail *Harding’s cycle of books stand as a masterly achievement, illuminating with wisdom and compassion the darkest corners of the human heart * Guardian *Harding achieves a weighty sense of silence and things not said in this unsettling book about the aftershocks of trauma and the burdens of bearing witness * The Times *So deeply engaging, so threatening, so mild, so controlled — at every stage it seems as if desperate damage is about to be done, and then bit by excruciating bit you realise it was done long, long ago, and nobody you’re looking at now can do anything about it. What a writer! -- Louisa Young, author of My Dear I Wanted to Tell YouHarvest is an old-fashioned novel in the best possible sense ... The rewards are many. The heartbeat of the book continues to echo long after the last page has been turned’ * Times Literary Supplement *Taut and unsettling, this fine meditation on war’s long reach follows on from Land Of The Living but more than satisfies as a stand-alone * Mail on Sunday *An absolutely exceptional novel … She has a deeply humane and developed sense of what it means to be a woman, and also what it means to belong -- Clover StroudStaggering … An unparalleled masterpiece * Lunate.co.uk *

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Book SynopsisAn unforgettable novel of mothers and daughters, wives and muses, secrets and outright lies ‘Freud is a modern literary rarity: a born storyteller’ THE TIMES 'Such a powerful book' RICHARD CURTIS 'Delivers an emotional punch that left me in tears' RACHEL JOYCE 'Utterly compelling' HANNAH ROTHSCHILD 'I couldn't love it more' POLLY SAMSON 'I loved this book' AMANDA CRAIG 'Completely, inspiringly wonderful' BARBARA TRAPIDO 'Breathtakingly beautiful' JULIET NICOLSON AN EVENING STANDARD BOOK OF 2021 Rosaleen is still a teenager, in the early Sixties, when she meets the famous sculptor Felix Lichtman. Felix is dangerous, bohemian, everything she dreamed of in the cold nights at her Catholic boarding school. And at first their life together is glitteringly romantic – drinking in Soho, journeying to Marseilles. But it’s not long before Rosaleen finds herself fearfully, unexpectedly alone. Desperate, she seeks help from the only source she knows, the local priest, and is directed across the sea to Ireland on a journey that will seal her fate. Kate lives in Nineties London, stumbling through her unhappy marriage. But something has begun to stir in her. Close to breaking point, she sets off on a journey of her own, not knowing what she hopes to find. Aoife sits at her husband’s bedside as he lies dying, and tells him the story of their marriage. But there is a crucial part of the story missing and time is running out. Aoife needs to know: what became of Rosaleen? Spanning three generations of women, I Couldn’t Love You More is an unforgettable novel about love, motherhood, secrets and betrayal – and how only the truth can set us free. Trade ReviewFreud’s book unpicks the promise of liberation - who enjoys it, who pays the price ...The sharp intimacy of the writing is ... full of compassion and a profound decency * SUNDAY TIMES *I devoured it in two sittings, hungrily and impatient for more ... A loving tale of motherhood through the ages while taking in how badly women have been treated simply for being women. You will weep with happiness and sadness -- EMMA BARNETTHits that tricky sweet spot between commercial and literary fiction … Freud’s darting, impressionistic prose is full of riches * THE TIMES *Heart-breaking … Shrewd yet tender, stirring as well as harrowing, it’s a tragic saga that nonetheless keeps the door ajar for redemption * DAILY MAIL *A tender portrait of three women carrying trauma, pain and the emotional weight of their respective relationships … Freud’s prose is bridled and poignant … Devastating * IRISH EXAMINER *I Couldn't Love You More is completely, inspiringly wonderful. I read it non-stop through the night, finding myself simultaneously uplifted and wrung out by the emotional power of the story and by its ambitious social and historical range. It couldn't be better -- BARBARA TRAPIDOThis is such a powerful book - it unravels a deep tragedy in three miraculously entwined stories, in three different times, mothers and daughters linked by sorrow and love. It’s a gently told story of harsh, harsh events - a mystery story of separation and sorrow that is finally resolved with truth and warmth, but with no punches pulled. It’s a book about shame and the evil men do, but also about strength and the possibility of salvation in the face of one of the great scandals of the last century -- RICHARD CURTISThis exquisite family saga reads as a love letter between four generations of women. Everything is here; family ghosts, the bond between mothers and daughters, cruelty, endurance, the difficulty of love, and a faith in the possibility of healing - even after years of separation. This tender, elegant book delivers an emotional punch that left me in tears -- RACHEL JOYCEA new Esther Freud novel is always such a treat and I couldn’t love this one more -- POLLY SAMSONBeautiful, moving, wonderful ... Let me be the first (but not the last) to say I couldn’t love it more -- SAM BAKERA memorable read with some lessons to be learned * SUNDAY INDEPENDENT *A beautiful and quietly powerful novel of cruelty, humanity and love * BUSINESS POST *In this fascinating novel, Freud interweaves the stories of a daughter, mother and grandmother to show how past hurts and dreams drip down through generations. The women's characters and circumstances are beautifully evoked as are their struggles not to be defined by men or convention. Freud knits their plights together to create an utterly readable and compelling narrative -- HANNAH ROTHSCHILDFreud is a consummate novelist. Her research is always thorough (in this one intensely imagined and vividly observed), her characters alive … her story page-turning, complex and emotionally satisfying * SPECTATOR *I love this book. It feels like the novel Esther Freud has been waiting to write her whole life. The tenderness of the mother-daughter bond, the cruelties and prejudice of old Ireland, the vitality of 1960s London all beautifully realised -- AMANDA CRAIGI hugely enjoyed it. She is such a compelling writer, so good at evoking atmosphere -- LYNN BARBERA breathtakingly beautiful book, a story of absolutely vivid originality but also one that addresses those fundamental complexities that ripple through human life, transcendent of time and of place and repeated through generations at whatever age -- JULIET NICOLSONI loved it. I loved its ambition and the dexterity with which it was done, it’s poignancy and truth. I hope it does brilliantly -- ELIZABETH BUCHANFreud is a modern literary rarity: a born storyteller, poetic but never overwrought; thoughtful but never showy * THE TIMES *As close to a perfect novel as anything I've read in a long time -- ANN PATCHETTFull of pitch-perfect observation, spiced with wry humour * OBSERVER *You know how it is when a writer draws into a place and you begin to feel it is more substantial than the one around you? That is how this book was for me. I truly loved it -- RACHEL JOYCEIn a culture which dins with brashness and self-advertisement, attending to Esther Freud's still, truthful voice becomes not only a pleasure but a necessity -- JONATHAN COEA highly talented writer * INDEPENDENT *A superbly gifted writer ... Freud creates relationships so fraught and delicate that at times the characters can hardly bear to examine them ... She explores them with a dazzling clarity that reveals her true, writer's calling * NEW YORK TIMES *A consummate novelist ... Intensely imagined and vividly observed ... Page-turning, complex and emotionally satisfying * SPECTATOR *Every bit as much as a whodunnit or a thriller, but with no genre clichés or conventions to obey, just the emotional logic of the book. Which is heart-rending and devastating and wonderful and uniquely gripping. And on the micro level, the quality of the writing - the words, the sentences - is flawlessly good -- HARRY RITCHIEA powerful meditation on love and betrayal, motherhood, human vulnerability and resilience, secrets, disappointment and loss * LADY *Freud takes a kaleidoscopic approach to storytelling, shifting time frames and points of view ... Freud brings empathy to the story, her own mother having escaped this fate -- Bridie Pritchard * The i *

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Book Synopsis''Living with him was like living at the centre of the universe. It was electrifying and humbling, blissful and destructive, all at the same time.''Paris, 1936. When Dora Maar, a talented French photographer, painter and poet, is introduced to Pablo Picasso, she is mesmerized by his dark and intense stare. Drawn to his volcanic creativity, it isn''t long before she embarks on a passionate relationship with the Spanish artist that sometimes includes sadism and masochism, and ultimately pushes her to the edge.The Paris Muse is the fictionalized retelling of this disturbing love story, as we follow Dora on her journey of self-discovery and expression. Set in Paris and the French Riviera, where Dora and Pablo spent their holidays with their glamorous artist friends, it provides a fascinating insight into how Picasso was a genius who side-stepped the rules in his human relationships as he did in his art. Much to Dora''s torment, he refused to divorce his wife and conducted affairs with Dora''s friends. The Spanish Civil War made him depressed and violent, an angst that culminated in his acclaimed painting ''Guernica'', which Dora documented as he painted.As the encroaching darkness suffocates their relationship - a darkness that escalates once the Second World War begins and the Nazis invade the country - Dora has a nervous breakdown and is hospitalized. Atmospheric, intense and moving, The Paris Muse is an astonishing read that ensures that this talented, often overlooked woman who gave her life to Picasso is no longer a footnote.Praise for The Paris Muse:''An accomplished literary novel, and also an absolute page turner. Raw sexual charisma and its descent into toxic cruelty which is set and artfully echoed in times of peace and war.' Essie Fox, author of the Sunday Times bestseller The FascinationDora Maar, The Weeping Woman of Picasso''s famous paintings, steps out of the canvas in Louisa Treger''s unforgettable new novel. Dora''s passionate, obsessive relationship with the artist came close to destroying her, and Treger''s beautifully written first-person narrative takes us deep inside her grief and torment. Picasso emerges as a controlling, sadistic man, who is single-minded in pursuit of his art first, his pleasure second. This is a powerful, absorbing read about a woman who was a talented artist in her own right, and it illustrates very graphically who was responsible for making the ''Weeping Woman'' weep.' Gill Paul, internationally bestselling author of A Beautiful Rival''Gifted photographer and painter - and muse of Picasso - Dora Marr comes vibrantly to life in Treger''s new novel, THE PARIS MUSE. A fascinating and heartfelt portrait of a female artist striving to succeed in the male-dominated Parisian art world, readers won''t be able to resist rooting for Dora, or relishing every page until The End. A compelling and absorbing read!'' Heather Webb, USA Today and International bestselling author of Queens of London

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE GOLDSBORO GLASS BELL AWARD 2024LONGLISTED FOR THE CWA HISTORICAL DAGGER 2024Power. History. Love. Hate. Vengeance.She will be Queen. Whatever it takes...Daughter of an ousted king. Descendant of powerful druids. Destined to take her place in history.As a child, Gruoch''s grandmother prophesies that she will one day be Queen of Alba and reclaim the lands of her Pictish kin. When, many years later, she is betrothed to Duncan, the heir-elect, the prophecy appears to come true. Determined to never to be as powerless as her parents, Gruoch leaves behind her home, her family and her friend MacBethad, and travels to the royal seat at Scone to seal her fate.But when a deadly turn of events forces Gruoch to flee Duncan and the capital, Gruoch finds herself at the mercy of an old enemy.Her hope of becoming Queen all but lost, Gruoch does what she must to survive, until she is given a choice

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Book SynopsisTHE NEW NOVEL FROM BESTSELLING AUTHOR ISABEL ALLENDE, THE WIND KNOWS MY NAME, IS OUT NOW _______________ 'Epic, beautifully crafted . . . Gripping from start to finish' DAILY TELEGRAPH 'A must for historical fiction lovers' COUNTRY AND TOWNHOUSE 'A new novel by Isabel Allende is always a treat' DAILY MAIL _______________ One extraordinary woman. One hundred years of history. One unforgettable story. Violeta comes into the world on a stormy day in 1920, the first daughter in a family of five boisterous sons. From the start, her life is marked by extraordinary events. The ripples of the Great War are still being felt, even as the Spanish flu arrives on the shores of her South American homeland almost at the moment of her birth. Told in the form of a letter to someone Violeta loves above all others, this is the story of a hundred-year life – of devastating heartbreak and passionate affairs, poverty and wealth, terrible loss and immense joy. Bearing witness to a century of history, it is a life shaped by the fight for women's rights, the rise and fall of tyrants and, ultimately, not one but two pandemics. Through the eyes of a woman whose unforgettable passion, determination and sense of humour will carry her through a lifetime of upheaval, Isabel Allende once more brings us an epic that is both fiercely inspiring and deeply emotional. READERS LOVE VIOLETA 'Allende is truly a master of storytelling ... I didn’t want to reach the end' ***** 'A tour de force ... Stunning' ***** 'Beautifully written and intensely dramatic ... I loved every word' ***** 'Spellbinding, captivating and absorbing' ***** 'One of my favourite authors … I always find myself completely drawn into her richly detailed narratives' *****Trade ReviewGripping, moving and convincing, by a master storyteller, about a long life, well lived * Country & Townhouse *For the past 40 years the Chilean-American novelist Isabel Allende has drawn readers into her richly imagined narratives, often inspired by her own history or that of South America . . . With her customary vibrant and compelling prose, Allende’s Violeta is a moving exploration of both the pain and the freedom of being an outsider * New Statesman *Violeta is full of life, a great sweeping story like a river in spate. It makes for enjoyable and undemanding reading . . . I can’t imagine readers turning it aside because they are bored * Scotsman *There’s extreme drama at nearly every turn, with the continent itself lurching murderously between communism and fascism in the background … This breakneck novel is loosely about the extent to which a life is at the mercy of history * Daily Mail *[Allende] is terrific on old age, and shows how adventure doesn’t have to stop once you start stooping * i paper *[Allende's] breakneck recital of events . . . has pace and verve, captured in Frances Riddle’s enjoyably fast-flowing translation * Financial Times *This epic, beautifully crafted novel spans the entire twentieth century and tells the story of Violeta . . . Gripping from start to finish, it will also make you yearn to visit Chile * Sunday Telegraph *A new Isabel Allende for a new year is most welcome and here Violeta, who is 100 years old, tells her extraordinary story * Irish Independent *Covering two pandemics, passionate affairs, and poverty, Violeta is a must for historical fiction lovers * Country & Townhouse *A cast of magical characters is thrown together by circumstance and desire, their fates shaped by political upheavals . . . Storytelling at its best * Woman & Home *

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Book Synopsis* Winner of the American Book Award * Longlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2015 * A Finalist for the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction * 'An absorbing story' SALMAN RUSHDIE 'Rich, vivid and gripping' GUARDIAN 'Feels at once historical and contemporary' NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW In 1527, hundreds of settlers arrived on the coast of modern-day Florida and claimed the region for Spain. Within a year of navigational errors, disease, starvation and fierce resistance from indigenous tribes, only four survivors remained. Three were nobleman, whose stories found their way into the official record. The fourth was known only as Estebanico, a vibrant merchant from Barbary forced into slavery and a new name, reborn as the first African explorer of the Americas. This is his story: a journey across the great swathes of the New World, where would-be conquerors are transformed into humble servants, fearful outcasts into healers, and the silenced into storytellers.Trade ReviewAn absorbing story . . . brilliantly imagined . . . feels very like the truth -- Salman RushdieThe Moor’s Account is more than a good story, it’s a great one: rich, vivid and gripping * Guardian *

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Book Synopsis** NOW WITH BONUS MATERIAL EXCLUSIVE TO THIS EDITION **BOOK OF THE YEAR - EVENING STANDARD, THE OBSERVER and THE TIMES Fiction that''s larger than life and twice as much fun' Guardian''Rich and evocating; the kind of story you get lost in'' Independent ''Osman brings the underworld of Elizabethan London to life'' Sandra Newman, author of JuliaOn a rooftop in Elizabethan London two worlds collide. Shay is a messenger-girl and trainer of hawks who sees the future in the patterns of birds. Nonesuch is the dark star of the city''s fabled child theatre scene, as famous as royalty yet lowly as a beggar.Together they create The Ghost Theatre: a troupe staging magical plays in London''s hidden corners. As their hallucinatory performances incite rebellion among the city''s outcasts, the pair''s relationship sparks and burns against a backdrop of the plague and a London in flames. Their gr

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Book Synopsis* AN OPRAH''S BOOK CLUB PICK *A spectacular achievement' ANTHONY DOERRExtravagantly beautiful' DAILY MAILOne of the greatest writers of all time' JACQUELINE WOODSONExtraordinary' GUARDIANThe best book I've read in years' LOUISE KENNEDY-----------------------The first weapon I ever held was my mother''s hand.On a slave plantation in the Carolinas, Annis has survived in the light of her mother's resilience, comforted by stories of her African warrior grandmother. Everything she knows, she learned from her mother how to fight, how to be strong, how to grow up in a world shrouded in darkness.When she is sold south by the white enslaver who fathered her, Annis must venture onward through the rich but unforgiving landscapes of the American South alone: from the rice fields of the Carolinas to the slave markets of New Orleans, and into the fearsome heart of

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Book SynopsisOne morning in 1890, a painting wrapped in brown paper appears on the steps of the National Gallery and causes a sensation. It's clearly by Timothy Ponden-Hall, an artist whose paintings were celebrated and debated, not just for their beauty, but for the rumours behind them: his masterpieces were believed to immortalise the souls of their subjects.But the shadowy explorer and artist has been thought dead for the last 50 years so what does this new portrait mean? The gallery brings in renowned art historian Solomon Oak to investigate the painting as rumours swirl through the streets of London town.In a bid to uncover the truth, Oak is assisted by an unlikely aid: his daughter Alice. A passionate but sheltered student, Alice has worldly desires which eclipse the life she's expected to lead. Together they discover that exposing Ponden-Hall's legacy will prove more controversial than they could ever have imagined for their family and Victorian society.Set between London and Oxford, The Portrait Artist is a twisting historical debut exploring race, fame and long-kept secrets.

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

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Book Synopsis''Stunning'' Rebecca Netley''Compulsive'' Martin MacInnes''Mesmerising'' Theresa HowesWhat the years have buried, is about to be exposed...The gloomy fortress of Gallondean lies on the Scottish coast. Local legend has it that if the heirs to the house hear the howling of a spectral hound nearby, their death will quickly follow. The current owner of the house is Jacob Beresford who, up until the unexpected death of his father, had never set foot within its crumbling walls. Jacob, already haunted by his own demons, has no need of more ghosts, but as the First World War staggers through its last terrible months and he uncovers unsettling details of his new home's past, the shadows seem to be growing around him. Then he meets Esther, a young volunteer nurse serving at nearby Roddinglaw, an elegant country house requisitioned for use as a temporary hospital ward. Esther, widowed in the early months of the war, dreams of being a poet as she assists the men around her, some of whom are struggling to come to terms with permanent, life changing injuries. But is it one of the soldiers who appears to have only a minor injury, whose life comes to intersect with both Esther and Jacob in horrifying and unexpected ways. Danger stalks the woods and coast around them, but it soon becomes clear that the gravest threats are within. Both unsettling and evocative, deeply atmospheric and brilliantly engaging The Unrecovered is an unforgettable historical debut inspired by a real life legend and marks the arrival of an outstanding new talent.

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Book SynopsisAn unforgettable historical debut set in Second World War Brussels: exploring love, resistance and courage in all their formsI adored it It finds courage and love amidst the ruins, and I read with my heart in my mouth' Rachel Joyce'A beautiful and deeply engaging novel' Ann Patchett A compelling and beautiful read' Abraham Verghese___________________________________Charlotte Sauvin has always seen the world differently. At home on 33 Place Brugmann, in the heart of Brussels, her father and her closest friends and neighbours the Raphaëls from the fourth floor, and Masha from the fifth have ensured her secret is safe. But when the Nazis invade Belgium, and Masha and the Raphaëls disappear, Charlotte must navigate her new world alone. Over the border and across the sea, in occupied Paris and battered Blitz London, Masha and the Raphaels are reinventing themselves as refugees, nurses, soldiers, heroes. Though scattered far and wide, they dream of only one place, one home: 33 Place Brugmann. But back at Place Brugmann, Charlotte feels impending danger closing in. Who can she trust in this world - where everyone is watching, and everyone is harbouring their own secrets? As the months pass, and the shadow of war darkens, Charlotte and her neighbours must face what and who truly matters to them most and summon the courage to fight for more than just survival. With soaring imagination and profound intimacy, 33 Place Brugmann is a captivating and devastating celebration of the power of love, courage and art in times of great threat.

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Book SynopsisFrom the multi-award-winning author - a beautiful, stunningly ambitious novel telling the story of a young girl's battle for survival and search for the truth in occupied Vienna Adelheid Brunner does not speak. She writes and draws instead and her ambition is to own one thousand matchboxes. Her grandmother cannot make sense of this, but Adelheid will stop at nothing to achieve her dream. She makes herself invisible, hiding in cupboards with her pet rat, Franz Joseph, listening in on conversations she can't fully comprehend.Then she meets Dr Asperger, a man who lets children play all day and who recognises the importance of matchboxes. He invites Adelheid to come and live at the Vienna paediatric clinic, where she and other children like herself will live under observation.But the date is 1938 and the place is Vienna a city of political instability, a place of increasing fear and violence. When the Nazis march into the city, a new world is created and difficult choices must be made.Why are the clinic''s children disappearing, and where do they go? Adelheid starts to suspect that some of Dr Asperger's games are played for the highest stakes. In order to survive, she must play a game whose rules she cannot yet understand.Triumphant and tragic, soulful and spirited, The Matchbox Girl is a burningly brilliant book that brings the stories of a generation of lost children into the light.

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Book SynopsisThis is a fascinating exploration of how the history of Europe, and indeed the world, might have been different if the Western Roman Empire had survived the crises that pulled it apart in the 4th and 5th centuries. Dr Timothy Venning starts by showing how that survival and recovery might plausibly have happened if several relatively minor things had been different. He then moves on to discuss a series of scenarios which might have altered the course of subsequent history dramatically. Would the survival of a strong Western Empire have assisted the Eastern (Byzantine) Empire in halting the expansion of Islam in the Middle East and North Africa? How would the Western Roman Empire have handled the Viking threat? Could they even have exploited the Viking discovery of America and established successful colonies there? While necessarily speculative, all the scenarios are discussed within the framework of a deep understanding of the major driving forces, tensions and trends that shaped European history and help to shed light upon them. In so doing they help the reader to understand why things panned out as they did, as well as what might have been.

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Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times bestseller – Now a major TV series with Paramount+Elizabeth Macneal's The Doll Factory is a gothic suspense story of art, obsession and delusion, set in Victorian London.'Astounding . . . I recommend it wholeheartedly' – Jo Whiley, BBC Radio 2 Book ClubLondon. 1850. On a crowded street, the dollmaker Iris Whittle meets the artist Louis Frost. Louis is a painter who is desperate for Iris to be his model. Iris agrees, on the condition that he teaches her to paint.Dreaming of freedom, Iris throws herself into a new life of art and love, unaware that she has caught the eye of a second man. Silas Reed is a curiosity collector, enchanted by the strange and beautiful. After seeing Iris at the site of the Great Exhibition he finds he cannot forget her.As Iris's world expands, Silas's obsession grows. And it is only a matter of time before they meet again . . .'A sharp, scary tale of love, art and obsession' – Paula Hawkins, author of The Girl on the TrainBBC Radio 2 Book Club PickBBC Radio 4 Book At BedtimeFive Star Reader Reviews:'Breathtaking''I couldn't put it down''Spellbinding''I never wanted it to end''A plot to stop your heart'The Burial Plot, Elizabeth's latest cat-and-mouse thriller, is available to pre-order now!Trade ReviewA remarkable example of historical fiction . . . full of life, colour and intelligence * Sunday Times *Stunningly confident . . . thoroughly engrossing -- Ian RankinA must read . . . Elizabeth Macneal's compelling debut is a darkly brilliant tale of Gothic suspense * Daily Mail *Fantastic - vivid, poignant, colourful, and elegantly horrifying -- Bridget Collins, author of The BindingMacneal is excellent on the tension between idealised women and the reality . . . The Doll Factory is a remarkably strong debut; clever and readable with flashes of wonderful, descriptive prose -- Book of the Month * The Times *Astounding . . . I recommend it wholeheartedly -- Jo Whiley, BBC Radio 2 Book ClubThis is a dark delight and fans of The Miniaturist and The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock will love it * Red Magazine *A deliciously gothic concoction that abounds with energy and imagination, conjuring up 1850s London life in all its Dickensian glory. Macneal marries art, obsession and possession in a plot that gains momentum and leaves the reader breathless * Daily Mail *I loved The Doll Factory from the very first page . . . an exquisite novel of obsession, delusion, resilience and love . . . breathtaking -- AJ Pearce, author of Dear Mrs BirdAstonishingly good . . . with and a plot that rattles like a speeding carriage to its thrilling conclusion. I couldn’t put it down. You won’t be able to either -- Elizabeth Day, author of The PartyMagnificent . . . features an extraordinary, unforgettable cast of characters . . . you can't help but be entranced by this uniquely evocative and arresting story . . . the tension ramps up to a breathtaking climax . . . if you love books like The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock, Tulip Fever and Perfume then add The Doll Factory to your reading list * Daily Express *Vividly rendered . . . captivating . . . engrossing * Evening Standard *This brilliant literary thriller gripped me from the opening page . . . a beautifully researched historical novel with a plot to stop your heart -- Hannah Kent, author of Burial Rites and The Good PeopleBrilliant . . . refreshingly original . . . beautifully orchestrated . . . fascinating -- Andrew Taylor, No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling author of The Ashes of London and The American BoyThe summer's hottest author . . . at once a love story and a thriller . . . Iris is a fierce creation. She chafes against the Victorian constraints on her freedom, carves out her own space in the male art world * Sunday Times *Stunning . . . with an unbearably tense and chilling denouement that had me totally gripped -- Sophie Mackintosh, Man Booker Prize longlisted author of The Water CureElegantly plotted . . . compelling and chilling * The i *Exquisitely executed, well-researched and richly evocative . . . a fast-paced, inventive ride through the dirt and squalor of Victorian London * Mail on Sunday *Exquisite . . . authentic and suspenseful * Woman & Home *Pretty much everything you could want from a book set in Victorian London . . . terrific storytelling . . . Ever since the success of The Essex Serpent, there's been no shortage of good modern gothic novels. The Doll Factory might just be the best yet -- James Walton * Reader's Digest *One of the best books I’ve read in ages – heartbreaking and evocative . . . a perfectly structured and page-turning story of love and passion; crime and obsession . . . wonderful -- Jenny Quintana, author of The Missing GirlRemarkably assured and beautifully written . . . truly captivating -- E C Fremantle, author of The Poison BedThis dark, enchanting tale is beautifully written. We couldn't put it down * Take a Break *A brilliant literary thriller that you won't want to put down * Surrey Life *[A] gripping historical thriller . . . Macneal paints a masterpiece with her vivid descriptions, and the conclusion will have you racing to the end -- Book of the Week * Woman's Weekly *A vivid depiction of a morally dubious world, and a page-turning psychological thriller, with a truly compelling villain -- Essie Fox, author of The SomnambulistGripping, artfully written . . . part love story, part gothic novel and leading up to a truly breathless conclusion, this book is destined to be one of the biggest titles of 2019 -- Sharlene Teo, author of PontiDarkly brilliant - The Collector meets Possession with added female power -- Anna Mazzola, author of The Unseeing and The Story KeeperEngrossing and atmospheric . . . I can practically see the TV version! -- Adele Geras, author of The Ballet ClassA sharp, scary, gorgeously evocative tale of love, art and obsession -- Paula Hawkins, author of The Girl on the TrainIn its evocation of the seething energy of 1850s London, its immersion in the detail of the 19th-century city’s everyday life and in its fascination with the macabre and the eccentric, Elizabeth Macneal’s debut novel does feel genuinely Dickensian. * Sunday Times *The sort of book you want to read curled up by a fire while your fingers twitch to find out what happens next -- Rowan Hisayo Buchanan, author of Harmless Like YouMacneal has a magpie's eye for whatever is bright and glittering, and she writes vividly * Scotsman *Memorable * Herald *Gripping -- India Knight, Sunday TimesElizabeth Macneal’s debut is a stunner . . . both a page-turning thriller and a thoughtful, moving exploration of what it meant to be a woman and an artist in the 19th century. * Irish Times *Gothically good -- Eithne Farry * Daily Mirror *

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Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times bestseller from the bestselling author of The Doll Factory, Elizabeth Macneal.Set in a spectacular circus in the pleasure gardens of Victorian London, Circus of Wonders is an addictive novel about power, fame, and a love that is threatened by a terrible secret.'Glitters and gleams . . . utterly beguiling' – Daily Mail1866. In a coastal village in southern England, Nell lives set apart by her community because of the birthmarks that speckle her skin.But when Jasper Jupiter’s Circus of Wonders arrives in the village, Nell is kidnapped. Her father has sold her, promising Jasper Jupiter his very own leopard girl. It is the greatest betrayal of Nell's life, but as her fame grows, and she finds friendship with the other performers and Jasper’s gentle brother Toby, she begins to wonder if joining the show is the best thing that has ever happened to her.In London, newspapers describe Nell as the eighth wonder of the world. Figurines are cast in her image, and crowds rush to watch her soar through the air. But what happens when her fame eclipses Jasper's own? And as she falls in love with Toby, can he detach himself from his past and the terrible secret that binds him to his brother?Trade ReviewA glittering follow-up to The Doll Factory . . . a mark of Macneal's subtlety and originality * Guardian *Elizabeth Macneal’s marvellous debut, The Doll Factory, was a bestselling success. This second book, beautifully written and filled with character and life, cements her reputation as a new talent * The Times *Elizabeth Macneal has done it again . . . Entrancing, tender, captivating. A marvel. I couldn’t put it down. -- Sara Collins, author of Costa First Novel Award winner The Confessions of Frannie LangtonWonderful . . . Glitters and gleams with the grimy stories of a travelling circus . . . Utterly beguiling * Daily Mail *An absolute triumph. Exquisitely written, intensely satisfying -- Stacey Halls, author of The FamiliarsSpectacular . . . A brilliantly involving story, vivid with the sights and sounds of Victorian England. A fantastic read * Daily Express *Dark but tender, evocative and compelling. I loved it -- Laura Shepherd-Robinson, author of Blood & SugarAn equally satisfying exploration of some of the odder corners of Victorian life . . . a novel that again highlights Macneal’s rich imagination and vivid prose * Sunday Times Ireland, Historical Fiction Book of the Month *A fantastical, absolutely immersive gem of a read * Red *Macneal’s complex characters allow her to question how society treats difference, the price of power and vanity, and the pursuit of self-determination. At turns dark, joyous, frightening and heartbreaking, Circus Of Wonders makes for an absorbing read * Independent *A tremendous read. Richly imagined, vividly rendered, each scene is like an old painting in which light gleams off the detail . . . The story is full-bodied and addictive from the outset, told with pace and verve but never compromising style . . . Circus of Wonders displays in abundance everything readers loved about The Doll Factory . . . an ambitious, enlightening novel -- Emma Stonex, author of The LamplightersDeliciously vivid . . . every bit as atmospheric as you’d expect . . . A hopeful story of a girl taking charge of her destiny * Woman & Home *Set in the same Victorian London as her stunning debut, The Doll Factory, Macneal's second novel is both thrilling and humane, bringing to life the brutal world of the freak show * Mail on Sunday *You can’t help but be drawn into the exciting and sometimes macabre world of the circus, with its colourful cast of characters * Good Housekeeping *Another seductive slice of Victorian noir * Sunday Times Scotland *Circus of Wonders is confident and beautifully written -- Sarah Vaughan, author of Anatomy of a ScandalA glittering, begrimed tale of love and self-determination flush with richly detailed prose. Sumptuous, macabre, enthralling; a perfect slice of Victoriana. -- Jane Healey, author of The Animals at Lockwood ManorElizabeth Macneal's novel is spectacular - a book of wonders! -- Alix Nathan, author of The Warlow ExperimentA beautifully told and immersive look at a complex dance between exploitation and empowerment, and the question of what it really means to have control over your own life. I adored its characters, I was utterly gripped throughout, and I loved having my eyes opened to the troubling yet fascinating world of Victorian circuses -- Naomi Ishiguro, author of Escape RoutesCircus of Wonders is a soaring, tumbling, whip-cracking book. Elizabeth Macneal has brought an extraordinary group of characters together in these pages; the result is a glittering world, a story as moving as it is deeply entertaining -- Daniel Mason, author of The Piano TunerExpansive and tender . . . it really pulls you into this fascinating world. -- Beth Underdown, author of The Witchfinder's SisterI loved The Doll Factory and I loved Circus Of Wonders just as much . . .An intriguing and beautifully written love story as well as an exploration of the journey from rejection to adoration . . . Elizabeth Macneal explores the nature of exploitation, pride and vanity through her vibrant and believable characters -- Jenny Quintana, author of The Missing GirlAt turns dark, joyous, frightening and heartbreaking, Circus of Wonders is an absorbing read * Sunday Life *A glittering, soaring, magical exploration of showmanship, voyeurism and storytelling, Circus of Wonders is also a wonderful, sumptuously-written love story. Visceral & cerebral. I loved it. -- Caroline Lea, author of The Glass WomanEngaging and enjoyable * Scotsman *I loved it. Circus of Wonders is a terrific successor to The Doll Factory. I adored the vibrant cast of characters - they are tenderly drawn yet dazzle off the page -- Rachel Hore, author of Last Letter HomeI was dazzled by it from beginning to end. What a fabulous, riveting, engrossing story! There's such a creepy undercurrent of dread and violence running just beneath the surface of everything she writes, yet there's humanity and kindness, a palpable love for Nell and the other circus performers that makes all the characters come to life -- Whitney Scharer, author of The Age of LightAn enjoyable and engrossing novel, which captivates from beginning to end * Historical Novel Society *The gritty glamour of the circus and the horrors of war. Macneal’s characters are finely drawn, their entwined stories playing out against the backdrop of the big top * Daily Mirror *Wonderful * Woman's Weekly *The author of The Doll Factory returns with more high Gothic Victoriana * i newspaper *Deliciously vivid . . . every bit as atmospheric as you'd expect * Woman's Own *The kaleidoscopic world of the Victorian circus, at once enchanting and grotesque, is vividly brought to life . . . a gripping tale * Northern Echo *Fantastic * Psychologies *Packed with atmosphere * Prima *Wonderful * My Weekly *I loved this story for its plot, its characters and its beautiful writing. The author engages all our senses to explore illusion versus reality, keeps us on a tightrope of emotions and presents us with a truly dazzling show * NFOP Magazine *A gripping exploration of fame, love, hope, friendship and whether we can ever own our own stories * New European *[Macneal's] great strength is in imagining vivid inner lives and narratives for people usually sidelined, who in the historical great-man theory merely provide delicacies and amusements for the rich * Catholic Herald *

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Winner of the Schlegel-Tieck Prize for German Translation'Both a great anti-war novel and a love story, full of tenderness – as around it the world shatters.' – Der Spiegel, 'Novel of the Year'The year is 1944 and Veit Kolbe, a young German soldier, injured fighting in Russia, is recovering at Mondsee, a village and a lake below Drachenwand mountain, close to Salzburg in Austria. Here he meets Margot and Margarete, two young women who share his hope that sometime, sooner or later, life will begin again.The war is lost but how long will it take before it finally comes to its end? In Hinterland, Arno Geiger tells of Veit’s nightmares and the strangely normal life of the small village, of the Brazilian who dreams of returning to Rio de Janeiro, of the landlady and her rallying calls, of Margarete the teacher with whom Veit falls in love, but who doesn't return his affection.But when Veit’s wounds are healed his next call-up orders arrive. The military outlook for Germany and Austria looks increasingly grim and Veit’s luck has run out . . .Translated from the German by Jamie Bulloch

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Schlegel-Tieck Prize for German Translation'Both a great anti-war novel and a love story, full of tenderness – as around it the world shatters.' – Der Spiegel, 'Novel of the Year'The year is 1944 and Veit Kolbe, a young German soldier, injured fighting in Russia, is recovering in a small village below Drachenwand mountain in Austria. Here he meets Margot and Margarete, two young women who share his hope that sometime, sooner or later, life will begin again.The war is lost but how long will it take before it finally comes to its end? Arno Geiger’s Hinterland, translated from the German by Jamie Bulloch, tells of Veit’s nightmares and the strangely normal life of the village, of the Brazilian who dreams of returning to Rio de Janeiro, of the landlady and her rallying calls, of Margarete the teacher with whom Veit falls in love, but who doesn’t return his affection.But when Veit’s wounds are healed his next call-up orders arrive. The military outlook for Germany and Austria looks increasingly grim and Veit’s luck has run out . . .Translated from the German by Jamie BullochTrade ReviewA great anti-war novel, in the middle of which a love story . . . develops, full of tenderness - as around it the world shatters . . . This impressive, subtle book * Der Spiegel *A profound, distinctive and timeless investigation into what concerns everyone of us: aging and illness, home and family. A meditation on the things we find hard to deal with. A great work of literature about what makes life worth living no matter what * Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung *A book about the search for a lost world, a lost home and a character presumed lost, as well as about a rediscovered relationship. A powerful, grown-up, curious, and touchingly delightful book -- Die Welt

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Book SynopsisSet in an era of superstition and hysteria, and inspired by the true events of a doomed summer, The Dance Tree is a story of family secrets, forbidden love, and women pushed to the edge. The gripping, historical novel from Kiran Millwood Hargrave, as seen on BBC Two's Between the Covers.‘Brilliant’ – Marian Keyes‘I absolutely loved this book’ – Elodie Harper, author of The Wolf Den Strasbourg, 1518. In the midst of a blisteringly hot summer, a lone woman begins to dance in the city square. She dances for days without pause, and as she is joined by hundreds of others, the authorities declare an emergency: musicians will be brought in to play the Devil out of these women.Beyond the city, pregnant Lisbet tends the bees that are her livelihood. And then, as the dancing plague gathers momentum, Lisbet’s sister-in-law Nethe returns from seven years’ penance in the mountains for a crime no one will name.As the city buckles under the beat of a thousand feet, Lisbet finds herself thrust into a dangerous web of deceit and clandestine passion, but she is dancing to a dangerous tune . . .Shortlisted for the HWA Gold Crown‘Intriguing, haunting, beautiful’ – Jennifer Saint, author of Ariadne‘Extraordinary, enthralling’ – Sunday TimesTrade ReviewExtraordinary . . . enthralling . . . An exceptionally atmospheric, original story * Sunday Times, Historical Fiction Book of the Month *Unusual and beautifully written, and the questions it raises about faith and love linger * The Times *Exceptionally brilliant. Immersive, sensual, compelling and totally convincing. Accessible, ambitious, The Dance Tree deserves to win prizes -- Marian KeyesAn intriguing, haunting novel pulsing with raw, beautiful emotion . . . a novel in which female courage and resilience shines brightly against a brilliantly evoked backdrop of claustrophobic horror -- Jennifer Saint, author of AriadneI absolutely loved this book . . . an exceptionally beautiful portrait of women from the past, told in the most spellbinding prose -- Elodie Harper, author of The Wolf DenMillwood Hargrave has a masterly ability to summon the past to the page. The Dance Tree vibrates with urgency; [a] vivid, compassionate evocation of women and their desires in a time of patriarchal control -- Hannah Kent, bestselling author of Burial RitesStunning . . . There is so much pain and grief and loss in it, yet in the end, it all comes back to the redemptive power of love. Sensual, gripping, moving -- Louise O'Neill, bestselling author of IdolIf some prose sings, Kiran Millwood Hargrave’s truly dances . . . the book’s wisdom, compassion, and beauty transcend historical boundaries: this is a timeless novel -- Hernan Diaz, author of TRUST>Amazing . . . incredible . . . I was drawn in right away -- Sara Cox, BBC Between the CoversExploring themes of motherhood, misogyny, the patriarchy and forbidden love, the author utilises this moment in history as a great catalyst for examining issues that are still central to our contemporary concerns. * Irish Times *The Dance Tree hums with intrigue, grief and rebellion, oozes tenderness and love. Fierce as Lisbet’s bees, delicious as honey. A raw, intoxicating novel -- Joanne Burn, author of The Hemlock CureI just loved it . . . I was hooked from the start -- Sarah Keyworth, BBC Between the CoversHugely tender, heartbreaking and warm. Millwood Hargrave embroiders the world of the book so beautifully, it is an immersive rich experience that plays on in your head even after you put it down -- Sarvat Hasin, author of The Giant DarkMillwood Hargrave takes an intriguing, female-focused moment of real history and weaves a heartbreaking story into it * Woman & Home *Beautifully written, full of tenderness and hope, The Dance Tree explores grief and courage and the tragic consequences of forbidden love. -- Jenny Quintana, author of The Missing Girl[A] tenderly written story . . . Good characters, good plot and lots to think about in a solid piece of historical fiction * Times of Tunbridge Wells *

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Book Synopsis'Exceptionally brilliant. Immersive, sensual, compelling' - Marian Keyes'Intriguing, haunting . . . raw, beautiful' - Jennifer Saint, author of AriadneThe gripping, historical novel from Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Mercies. Set in an era of superstition, hysteria, and extraordinary change, and inspired by the true events of a doomed summer, The Dance Tree is an impassioned story of family secrets, forbidden love, and women pushed to the edge.Strasbourg, 1518. In the midst of a blisteringly hot summer, a lone woman begins to dance in the city square. She dances for days without pause or rest, and as she is joined by hundreds of others, the authorities declare an emergency. Musicians will be brought in to play the Devil out of these women.Just beyond the city’s limits, pregnant Lisbet lives with her mother-in-law and husband, tending the bees that are their livelihood. And then, as the dancing plague gathers momentum, Lisbet’s sister-in-law Nethe returns from seven years’ penance in the mountains for a crime no one will name.It is a secret that Lisbet is determined to uncover. As the city buckles under the beat of a thousand feet, she finds herself thrust into a dangerous web of deceit and clandestine passion, but she is dancing to a dangerous tune . . .'Extraordinary . . . An exceptionally atmospheric, original story' - The Sunday Times'Spellbinding' - Elodie Harper, author of The Wolf DenTrade ReviewExtraordinary . . . enthralling . . . An exceptionally atmospheric, original story * Sunday Times, Historical Fiction Book of the Month *The Dance Tree is unusual and beautifully written, and the questions it raises about faith and love linger. The vignettes of the lives of the dancing women are a joy, each a perfect little short story dropped into the main narrative * The Times *Exceptionally brilliant. Immersive, sensual, compelling and totally convincing. Accessible, ambitious, The Dance Tree deserves to win prizes -- Marian KeyesAn intriguing, haunting novel pulsing with raw, beautiful emotion. Kiran Millwood-Hargrave effortlessly intertwines the stories of women tenderly and sympathetically, creating a novel in which female courage and resilience shines brightly against a brilliantly evoked backdrop of claustrophobic horror. -- Jennifer Saint, author of AriadneSome historical novels don't just describe the past, they transport you there . . . I absolutely loved this book . . . an exceptionally beautiful portrait of women from the past, told in the most spellbinding prose -- Elodie Harper, author of The Wolf DenKiran Millwood Hargrave has a masterly ability to summon the past to the page. The Dance Tree vibrates with urgency; its vivid, compassionate evocation of women and their desires in a time of patriarchal control and mass hysteria is a timely reminder of how far we have come, and how far we have to go -- Hannah Kent, bestselling author of Burial RitesThe Dance Tree is, simply put, a stunning piece of writing. There is so much pain and grief and loss in it, yet in the end, it all comes back to the redemptive power of love. Sensual, gripping, moving. -- Louise O'Neill, bestselling author of IdolExploring themes of motherhood, misogyny, the patriarchy and forbidden love, the author utilises this moment in history as a great catalyst for examining issues that are still central to our contemporary concerns. This interweaving of the past with the present is deftly done with the author’s incredible capacity for empathy illuminating the sensitive topics that the story incorporates. * Irish Times *If some prose sings, Kiran Millwood Hargrave’s truly dances . . . Addresses issues of the utmost importance today—the subjection of women, class inequality, the dangers of religious fundamentalism. Ultimately, however, the book’s wisdom, compassion, and beauty transcend historical boundaries: this is a timeless novel -- Hernan Diaz, author of TRUST>The Dance Tree hums with intrigue, grief and rebellion, oozes tenderness and love. Fierce as Lisbet’s bees, delicious as honey. A raw, intoxicating novel. -- Joanne Burn, author of The Hemlock CureHugely tender, heartbreaking and warm. Millwood Hargrave embroiders the world of the book so beautifully, it is an immersive rich experience that plays on in your head even after you put it down. -- Sarvat Hasin, author of The Giant DarkMillwood Hargrave takes an intriguing, female-focused moment of real history and weaves a heartbreaking story into it * Woman & Home *Beautifully written, full of tenderness and hope, The Dance Tree explores grief and courage and the tragic consequences of forbidden love. -- Jenny Quintana, author of The Missing Girl[A] tenderly written story . . . Good characters, good plot and lots to think about in a solid piece of historical fiction * Times of Tunbridge Wells *

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Book Synopsis‘This book's power lies in its depiction of civilians trying to lead ordinary lives during the horror of war . . . It is shattering stuff, but Rothmann is tender towards his characters and this book is as memorable as his last.’ The Times, ‘Historical Fiction Book of the Month’As the Second World War enters its final stages, millions in Germany are forced from their homes by bombing, compelled to seek shelter in the countryside where there are barely the resources to feed them.Twelve-year-old Luisa, her mother, and her older sister Billie have escaped the devastation of the city for the relative safety of a dairy farm. But even here the power struggles of the war play out: the family depend on the goodwill of Luisa’s brother-in-law, an SS officer, who in expectation of payment turns his attention away from his wife and towards Billie. Luisa immerses herself in books, but even she notices the Allied bombers flying east above them, the gauntness of the prisoners at the camp nearby, the disappearance of fresh-faced boys from the milk shed – hastily shipped off to a war that’s already lost.Living on the farm teaches Luisa about life and death, but it’s man’s capacity for violence that provides the ultimate lesson, that robs her of her innocent ignorance. When, at a birthday celebration, her worst fears are realized, Luisa collapses under the weight of the inexplicable.Ralf Rothmann’s previous novel, To Die in Spring, described the horror of war and the damage done on the battlefield. The God of that Summer tells the devastating story of civilians caught up in the chaos of defeat, of events that might lead a twelve-year-old child to justifiably say: ‘I have experienced everything.’Trade Review‘This book's power lies in its depiction of civilians trying to lead ordinary lives during the horror of war . . . It is shattering stuff, but Rothmann is tender towards his characters and this book is as memorable as his last.’ * The Times *

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Book Synopsis‘This book’s power lies in its depiction of civilians trying to lead ordinary lives during the horror of war . . . It is shattering stuff, but Rothmann is tender towards his characters and this book is as memorable as his last.’ - The Times, ‘Historical Fiction Book of the Month’As the Second World War enters its final stages, millions in Germany are forced from their homes by bombing, compelled to seek shelter in the countryside where there are barely the resources to feed them.Twelve-year-old Luisa, her mother, and her older sister Billie have escaped the devastation of the city for the relative safety of a dairy farm. But even here the power struggles of the war play out: the family depend on the goodwill of Luisa’s brother-in-law, an SS officer, who in expectation of payment turns his attention away from his wife and towards Billie. Luisa immerses herself in books, but even she notices the Allied bombers flying east above them, the gauntness of the prisoners at the camp nearby, the disappearance of fresh-faced boys from the milk shed – hastily shipped off to a war that’s already lost.Living on the farm teaches Luisa about life and death, but it’s man’s capacity for violence that provides the ultimate lesson, that robs her of her innocent ignorance. When, at a birthday celebration, her worst fears are realized, Luisa collapses under the weight of the inexplicable.Ralf Rothmann’s previous novel, To Die in Spring, described the horror of war and the damage done on the battlefield. The God of that Summer tells the devastating story of civilians caught up in the chaos of defeat, of events that might lead a twelve-year-old child to justifiably say: ‘I have experienced everything.’Trade Review‘This book's power lies in its depiction of civilians trying to lead ordinary lives during the horror of war... It is shattering stuff, but Rothmann is tender towards his characters and this book is as memorable as his last.’ * The Times *

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Book Synopsis1940 - Small Heath, in the heart of Birmingham, is facing the darkest days of the war. Two very different girls from this tight-knit community join up as ARP wardens to do their bit for the Home Front. Violet Simms lives with her controlling, widowed mother who runs the local pawn shop. At just twenty-years-old, Violet longs for friendship, love and escape. It seems her dreams might come true until tragedy strikes on one of the very worst nights of the Birmingham Blitz. Grace Templeton is the eldest in her family of ten children. Spirited Grace is determined never to become burdened by child bearing and drudgery like her mother. Adored by childhood sweetheart, Jimmy Oval, Grace believes she can do better. Volunteering as an ARP warden feels like a chance for adventure – until she sees the horror and reality of war first hand. In this blacked out city, where not everyone is quite what they seem, she comes to realize she is less in control of events than she had thought.The war will have long-lasting effects on every family… Long buried secrets come to light, and their stories are woven together amid the intense bombing of Birmingham.The girls’ lives will be changed forever by friendship and love, by tragedy and joy. Girls in Tin Hats is the heart-wrenching generational saga by Sunday Times top ten bestselling author Annie Murray.Trade ReviewThis heart-warming story is a gripping read, full of drama, love and compassion (Soldier Girl) * Take a Break *This epic saga will have you gripped from start to finish (Chocolate Girls) * Birmingham Evening Mail *An exceptional first novel (Birmingham Rose) * Chronicle *Just the right mix of mystery and nostalgia (Birmingham Friends) * Parents' Magazine *A tale of passion and empathy which will keep you hooked (Birmingham Blitz) * Woman's Own *

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Book SynopsisBlack Country Orphan is a moving story of the courage and strength of women, by the Sunday Times bestselling author Annie Murray.The early 1900s: Cradley Heath, a town in the Black Country near Birmingham and centre of the world’s chain-making trade. Lucy Butler, a young girl crippled by a cruel accident, lives with her two brothers and widowed mother, a chain-maker barely making ends meet. When tragedy strikes, the Butler family is separated and Lucy is taken in by Bertha Hipkiss, another impoverished chain maker, struggling to look after her own family.Lucy, while feeling the loss of her own family, relies on the company of Bertha’s two sons, charming Clem and straight-laced John. Though clever at school, Lucy knows she must leave and earn her keep, working many hours in the backyard forge. The five women toiling side by side, inevitably have their own friendships and squabbles. But they’re united in their hatred of loathsome middleman Seth Dawson, who treats the women with contempt, and keeps their pay punishingly low. But by the 1910s, there is a movement stirring, as across the country workers begin unionising for their rights. For Lucy, Bertha and the women of Cradley Heath, the promise of a better life seems almost too much to hope for - and the fight may end up costing them everything . . .

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Book SynopsisBlack Country Orphan is a moving story of the courage and strength of women, by the Sunday Times bestselling author Annie Murray.The early 1900s: Cradley Heath, a town in the Black Country near Birmingham and centre of the world’s chain-making trade. Lucy Butler, a young girl crippled by a cruel accident, lives with her two brothers and widowed mother, a chain-maker barely making ends meet. When tragedy strikes, the Butler family is separated and Lucy is taken in by Bertha Hipkiss, another impoverished chain maker, struggling to look after her own family.Lucy, while feeling the loss of her own family, relies on the company of Bertha’s two sons, charming Clem and straight-laced John. Though clever at school, Lucy knows she must leave and earn her keep, working many hours in the backyard forge. The five women toiling side by side, inevitably have their own friendships and squabbles. But they’re united in their hatred of loathsome middleman Seth Dawson, who treats the women with contempt, and keeps their pay punishingly low. But by the 1910s, there is a movement stirring, as across the country workers begin unionising for their rights. For Lucy, Bertha and the women of Cradley Heath, the promise of a better life seems almost too much to hope for – and the fight may end up costing them everything . . .Trade ReviewThis heart-warming story is a gripping read, full of drama, love and compassion (Soldier Girl) * Take a Break *This epic saga will have you gripped from start to finish (Chocolate Girls) * Birmingham Evening Mail *Just the right mix of mystery and nostalgia (Birmingham Friends) * Parents' Magazine *A tale of passion and empathy which will keep you hooked (Birmingham Blitz) * Woman's Own *

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Book SynopsisDeeply gripping and darkly atmospheric, The Animals at Lockwood Manor is a tale of long-buried secrets and hidden desires by Jane Healey.Winner of the HWA Debut Crown Award 2020Some secrets are unspoken. Others are unspeakable . . .August 1939. As the Second World War looms, thirty-year-old Hetty Cartwright is tasked with the evacuation and safekeeping of the natural history museum’s famous collection of mammals. But once she and her exhibits arrive at Lockwood Manor, Hetty soon realizes that she’s taken on more than she’d bargained for . . .Protecting her priceless animals from the irascible Lord Lockwood and resentful servants is hard enough, but when a series of mysterious events occur, Hetty begins to suspect someone – or something – is stalking her through the darkened corridors of the gothic mansion.As her fears build, Hetty finds herself falling under the spell of Lucy, Lord Lockwood’s beautiful but haunted daughter. But why is Lucy so traumatized? Does she know something she’s not telling? And is there any truth to local rumours of ghosts and curses?'Atmospheric and disquieting . . . an ideal book club read' – A J Pearce, author of Dear Mrs BirdTrade ReviewJane Healey’s excellent debut novel is a rich story full of tension and darkness. The star of the novel is the claustrophobic Manor itself, which casts a shadow over every page and hides a truly horrible secret. Atmospheric and disquieting, The Animals at Lockwood Manor is an ideal book club read -- A J Pearce, author of Dear Mrs BirdAn eerie puzzle box of a book . . . a deeply consuming read and a fantastic novel to get lost in -- Erika SwylerSuch a vivid, beautiful but haunting story, with a thread of darkness running through it . . . I was thoroughly engrossed -- Cressida McLaughlinThis story will keep you captivated * Women's Weekly *Hypnotic . . . Will keep you emotionally invested to the end * Woman & Home *Absorbing, atmospheric * The Herald *In this modern gothic, animals disappear, chilling screams pierce the night, and tales of abuse and madness abound. An appropriately horrific conclusion is worthy of the genre's best storytellers * Audiofile *

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