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
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Signature of All Things
Book SynopsisLONGLISTED FOR THE BAILEYS WOMEN''S PRIZE FOR FICTIONSHORTLISTED FOR THE WELLCOME BOOK PRIZEFrom the moment Alma Whittaker steps into the world, everything about life intrigues her. Instilled with an unquenchable sense of wonder by her father, a botanical explorer and the richest man in the New World, Alma is raised in a house of luxury and curiosity. It is not long before she becomes a gifted botanist in her own right. But as she flourishes and her research takes her deeper into the mysteries of evolution, the man she comes to love draws her in the opposite direction into the realm of the spiritual, the divine and the magical. The Signature of All Things soars across the globe of the nineteenth century, from London and Peru, to Philadelphia, Tahiti and beyond. Peopled with extraordinary characters along the way, most of all it has an unforgettable heroine in Alma Whittaker.Trade ReviewUnlike anything else she has ever written ... Its prose has the elegant sheen of a 19th-century epic, but its concerns – the intersection of science and faith, the feminine struggle for fulfilment – are especially modern -- Steve Almond * International Herald Tribune *The story of Alma Whittaker’s journey of discovery has irresistible momentum -- Helen Dunmore * The Times *Ms Gilbert has established herself as a straight-up storyteller who dares us into adventures of worldly discovery, and this novel stands as a winning next act ... A bracing homage to the many natures of genius and the inevitable progress of ideas, in a world that reveals its best truths to the uncommonly patient minds -- Barbara Kingsolver * New York Times *Charming and compelling ... A big novel in all senses – extensively researched, compellingly readable and with a powerful charm that will surely propel it towards the bestseller lists -- Jane Shilling * Daily Telegraph *Gilbert has written the novel of a lifetime * O, The Oprah Magazine *Sumptuous ... Gilbert's prose is by turns flinty, funny, and incandescent * New Yorker *Quite simply one of the best novels I have read in years ... a bejewelled, dazzling novel -- Elizabeth Day * Observer *Readers prepared to enter Gilbert Time will be rewarded: she is an unflaggingly curious writer, prone to delightful touches ... Gilbert's period interests seem boundless - she explores everything from self-sacrifice, to homosexuality, Darwinism and Victorian pornography ... This is a novel to be chewed over, slowly -- Lucy Atkins * Sunday Times *A botanical odyssey through the nineteenth century, global in ambition, revelling in the period's insatiable curiosity about the world ... a tall tale, told with verve and wit * Guardian *Filled with dazzling storytelling -- Susie Boyt * Financial Times *Gilbert writes superbly well -- Wendy Holden * Daily Mail *An intricate, beautifully written historical novel ... A passionate paean to the 19th-century women of science who strove for achievement against the odds -- Anita Sethi * Metro *Gilbert’s observations, of both characters and locations, make this an unexpected joy and in Alma she has created a truly unforgettable heroine -- Anita Chaudhuri * Irish Examiner *Astute and funny ... comes with generous helpings of optimism and romance. Cynics need not apply * Irish Sunday Mirror *Ambitious, boldly imagined and packed with authenticating detail, it engages very boldly with the interaction of art and science * Andrew Motion, Guardian *Gilbert reminds readers she can do, and undo, narratives through impeccably observed and original stories * Independent *Gilbert shows herself to be a writer at the height of her powers * O Magazine *Magnificent ... I was just a few pages into the book when I felt myself relax, aware that I was in the safe hands of a master story-teller -- Anna Carey * The Irish Times *My own 500-pager of choice? Elizabeth Gilbert’s The Signature of All Things ... just read it ... Hugely enjoyable -- Viv Groskop * Observer Books of the Year *I can’t stop thinking about The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert * Hillary Clinton, International New York Times *This is a book to be chewed over, slowly * Lucy Atkins, Sunday Times *Every now and then, a book comes along that completely sweeps us up in the life of its heroine. The Signature of All Things is one of those books … Its unique premise, imaginable characters, witty prose and galloping pace make it the story to immerse yourself in this summer * Stylist *
£8.77
Zaffre A Woman's War: The perfect wartime saga
Book SynopsisThe heartwarming follow on to Keep the Home Fires Burning, from the creator of ITV smash-hit Home Fires - perfect for fans of Rosie Clarke and Annie Groves.In the depths of war, the women of Great Paxford will need all their strength . . .As enemy planes continue to bombard the North West of England, the members of Great Paxford's WI fight harder than ever to persevere.Teresa Lucas has reshaped her life to become the perfect wife - but will the arrival of a new guest throw her world off kilter?Laura Campbell is grieving for her father, but in the midst of tragedy, a new future beckons.Pat Simms plans to escape her difficult life at the end of the war, but when things change at home, she finds herself questioning everything she thought she knew.And for Steph Farrow, it's not the threat of what's to come she fears, but whether she can live with what she has done . . .Trade ReviewI very quickly became embroiled . . . a really enjoyable book. Greatly looking forward to the next one * Rosie Goodwin, on Keep the Home Fires Burning *
£8.54
Cornerstone The Cicero Trilogy
Book Synopsis______________________________'One of the great triumphs of contemporary historical literature.' The Times______________________________WITH A NEW INTRODUCTION BY THE AUTHOR'Laws are silent in times of war.' CiceroOne of the great epics of political and historical fiction, The Cicero Trilogy charts the career of the Roman statesman Marcus Tullius Cicero from his mid-twenties as an ambitious young lawyer to his dramatic death more than thirty years later, pursued by an assassination squad on a cliff-top path.The extraordinary life that unfolds between these two episodes is recounted by Cicero's private secretary, Tiro: the law cases and the speeches that made his master's name; the elections and conspiracies he fought; the rivals who contended for power around him - Pompey, Crassus, Cato, Clodius, Catalina, and, most menacingly, Caesar; and, at the heart of it all, the complex personality of Cicero himself - brilliant, cunning, duplicitous, anxious, brave, and always intensely humane.More than ten years in the writing, and now published in a single volume for the first time, The Cicero Trilogy brings the world of the Roman republic vividly to life. Here is its grandeur, ambition and corruption; and here is its tumultuous collapse into dictatorship and anarchy - a story of the fragility of democratic institutions that holds a warning for our own time.
£28.00
Atria Books The Lavender Garden
Book SynopsisNote to readers: In the UK, this book is published under the title The Light Behind the Window. An aristocratic French family, a legendary château, and buried secrets with the power to destroy two generations torn between duty and desire.La Côte d’Azur, 1998: In the sun-dappled south of France, Emilie de la Martinières, the last of her gilded line, inherits her childhood home, a magnificent château and vineyard. With the property comes a mountain of debt—and almost as many questions... Paris, 1944: A bright, young British office clerk, Constance Carruthers, is sent undercover to Paris to be part of Churchill’s Special Operations Executive during the climax of the Nazi occupation. Separated from her contacts in the Resistance, she soon stumbles into the heart of a prominent family who regularly entertain elite members of the German military even as they plot to liberate France. But in a city
£17.09
HarperCollins Publishers Two Sisters
Book SynopsisDon't miss the new book from Sunday Times bestselling author, Josephine Cox!The pretty Arnold sisters have grown up on their father's farm and yearn for something more out of life than drudgery and toil.Ellen, loyal and honest, is her father's favourite, but Georgina is impulsive and unreliable, and can't please a father who has never shown her love.The big house, Grindle Hall, offers them both a chance of betterment, but while Ellen follows the steady path, Georgina takes a darker road and soon, her actions will have fateful consequences for them all. Only Ellen can help them, but will a sister's love be enough?Trade ReviewPraise for Blood Brothers: 'Thanks to her near faultless writing, sympathies will lurch from one character to another, and as events reach their dramatic conclusion readers will find it impossible to tear themselves away.' News of the World 'Another hit for Josephine Cox' Sunday Express Praise for Josephine Cox’s previous novels: ‘Cox's talent as storyteller never lets you escape the spell' Daily Mail 'Another masterpiece' Best ‘Another beautifully spun family epic' Scottish Daily Echo 'A born storyteller' Bedfordshire Times ‘A surefire winner' Woman's Weekly
£7.59
HarperCollins Publishers The Namesake Jhumpa Lahiri
Book SynopsisThe incredible bestselling first novel from Pulitzer Prize- winning author, Jhumpa Lahiri.The kind of writer who makes you want to grab the next person and say Read this!'' Amy Tan''When her grandmother learned of Ashima''s pregnancy, she was particularly thrilled at the prospect of naming the family''s first sahib. And so Ashima and Ashoke have agreed to put off the decision of what to name the baby until a letter comes''For now, the label on his hospital cot reads simply BABY BOY GANGULI. But as time passes and still no letter arrives from India, American bureaucracy takes over and demands that ''baby boy Ganguli'' be given a name. In a panic, his father decides to nickname him ''Gogol'' after his favourite writer.Brought up as an Indian in suburban America, Gogol Ganguli soon finds himself itching to cast off his awkward name, just as he longs to leave behind the inherited values of his Bengali parents. And so he sets off on his own path through life, a path strewn with conflictingTrade Review'Quietly dazzling… The Namesake is that rare thing: an intimate, closely observed family portrait that effortlessly and discreetly unfolds to disclose a capacious social vision… Jhumpa Lahiri has taken the haunting chamber music of her first collection of stories and reorchestrated its themes of exile and identity to create a symphonic work, a debut novel that is as assured and eloquent as the work of a longtime master of the craft.' Michiko Kakutani, New York Times ‘Extraordinary…a book that spins gold out of the straw of ordinary lives. The calm, pellucid grace of her prose, the sustained stretch of crystal clear writing, its elegant pianissimo tone, pulls the reader from beginning to end in one neat arc. Every detail, every observation, every sentence rings with the clarity of truth. The Namesake is a novel that makes its reader feel privileged to be allowed access to its immensely empathetic world.' The Times ‘The kind of writer who makes you want to grab the next person and say "Read this!"' Amy Tan 'Impeccably written' Daily Mail 'Gracious….in refined, empathetic prose…each of Lahiri's characters patches together their own identity, making this resonant fable neither uniquely Asian nor uniquely American, but tenderly, wryly human.' Hephzibah Anderson, Observer ‘A story for our times.’ Rachel Cusk, Evening Standard ‘A joy to read.’ Sunday Telegraph
£9.49
Penguin Putnam Inc The Empusium
Book Synopsis
£13.20
Pan Macmillan Hornet Flight
Book SynopsisAs the Nazis bring Denmark to its knees, a resistance forms – and make a discovery that could turn the tide of war. From the master storyteller Ken Follett, Hornet Flight is a startling thriller set amidst the Danish Resistance of the Second World War.Europe in Darkness1941. The Nazis have Denmark in their vice-like grip, their malign presence corroding everything its inhabitants hold dear. Even the police betray their countrymen and work with the Gestapo to hunt down spies. A Glimmer of HopeIn this hostile climate the Danish resistance discover a secret that could change the course of the war – proof of an advanced German radar installation that is causing catastrophic losses to Allied planes bringing the fight to Germany. A Dangerous MissionThe resistance must get the information to the British and will have only one chance, using a near-derelict Hornet Moth bi-plane mouldering away in a church. If they succeed the balance of the war will be tipped in the Allies’ favour but failure will see them killed . . .Trade ReviewOne of the great bestselling novelists * Sunday Telegraph *Master storyteller * The Times *
£9.49
Simon & Schuster Ltd The Original
Book SynopsisThere was a painting my family set on fire. It burned to ashes, and then it came back.' Grace grows up on the peripheries of a once-great household, an unwanted guest in her uncle Inderwick's Oxfordshire home. She has unusual skills and unusual predilections: for painting, though faces often elude her; for lurking in the shadows; for other girls. Quietly, Grace waits for something to change. Then a letter arrives, postmarked Saint Helena, causing a sensation. After years missing at sea, Grace's cousin Charles is ready to come home. When Charles returns, unrecognisable and uncanny, a rift emerges between those in the family who claim he is an imposter and Grace's aunt, who insists he is her son. And Grace, whose intimate knowledge of forgeries is her own closely-guarded secret, must finally decide who and what to believe in. Deftly-plotted and shimmering with intelligence, style and wit, The Original is a novel about the value of authenticity in art and in love, and what it mean
£15.29
Pan Macmillan Dead Mans Walk
Book SynopsisLarry McMurtry was the author of more than thirty novels, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning Lonesome Dove. He has also written memoirs and essays, and received an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for his work on Brokeback Mountain.
£10.44
HarperCollins Publishers HMS Surprise
Book SynopsisHow far will a man go in the name of revenge, honour, love or simple survival?Far from familiar seas, Captain Jack Aubrey and his crew must test themselves to the very limits of human endurance.Following a daring rescue, Jack Aubrey accepts a new command and a new commission to a far-flung destination. Ahead of him and his crew are the new sights and smells of the Indian subcontinent, and the terrifying hazards of an archipelago of islands in the East Indies, where their French enemies have near overwhelming superiority.Combines adventure and the art of the novel with an astonishing finesse.'FRANCIS SPUFFORDFew, very few, books have made my heart thump with excitement. HMS Surprise managed it.'HELEN LUCY BURKE, Irish TimesTrade Review‘If O’Brian’s novels have become a cult, this is because they are truly addictive. . . They are, quite magnificently, adventure yarns whose superb authenticity never distracts from the sheer thrill of the action.’Caroline Moore, Sunday Telegraph ‘The Aubrey–Maturin novels, by Patrick O’Brian, are so addictive that after I finish one I have to hide the next from myself for a little while in order to do anything else but read.’Louise Erdrich ‘In Aubrey and Maturin, Patrick O’Brian has created two of the most enjoyable characters in twentieth-century fiction. Their relationship sustains an absorbing and thrilling sequence of naval stories, unrivalled in their complexity, full of impeccable detail and psychological insight. O’Brian switches from the intimate to the epic with equal assurance. One of the greatest authors to sail with.’Michael Palin ‘My hero is Patrick O’Brian. It’s basically impossible to write that well.’David Mamet ‘One of the most compelling and brilliant novelists of his time . . . Beyond his superbly elegant writing, wit and originality, Patrick O’Brian showed an understanding of the nature of a floating world at the mercy of the wind and the sea which has never been surpassed.’Max Hastings, Evening Standard ‘I devoured Patrick O’Brian’s twenty-volume masterpiece as if it had been so many tots of Jamaica grog.’Christopher Hitchens ‘Written with most engaging enthusiasm that can’t fail to give pleasure to anybody who enjoys historical adventure flavoured with more than a dash of realism.’The Sunday Times ‘One of the most brilliantly sustained pieces of historical fictional writing this century.’James Teacher, Spectator ‘Patrick O’Brian brings depth to his sea-stories with outstanding dialogue, characterisation, humour and a golden thread of romance. You don’t have to love books about naval battles to become entranced.’Katie Fforde
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers Conqueror Book 5
Book SynopsisNumber one bestselling author Conn Iggulden takes on the story of the mighty Kublai Khan. An epic tale of a great and heroic mind; his action-packed rule; and how in conquering one-fifth of the world's inhabited land, he changed the course of history forever.A scholar who conquered an empire larger than those of Alexander or Caesar.A warrior who would rule a fifth of the world with strength and wisdom.A man who betrayed a brother to protect a nation.From a young scholar to one of history's most powerful warriors, Conqueror tells the story of Kublai Khan an extraordinary man who should be remembered alongside Julius Caesar, Alexander the Great and Napoleon Bonaparte as one of the greatest conquerors the world has ever known.Kublai dreams of an empire stretching from sea to sea. But to see it built, this scholar must first learn the art of war. He must take his nation's warriors to the ends of the known world. And when he is weary, when he is wounded, he must face his own brothers in a Trade ReviewThe CONQUEROR series: ‘Iggulden is in a class of his own when it comes to epic, historical fiction’ Daily Mirror ‘Iggulden…tells an absolutely cracking story…the pace is nail-biting and the set dressing magnificent’ The Times ‘Iggulden weaves an entertaining tale of this world of men, swords, bows and the call of war and the plains’ Daily Express ‘I felt as if a blockbuster movie was unfolding before me…read the book before Hollywood takes it over’ Daily Express
£9.49
Pan Macmillan The Piano Tuner
Book Synopsis'Engrossing . . . the reader falls under the spell that the author is weaving, surrendering to the story's exotic magic.' - The TimesWhite. Like a clean piece of paper, like uncarved ivory, all is white when the story begins.One misty London afternoon in 1886, piano tuner Edgar Drake receives an unusual request from the War Office: he must leave his quiet life and travel to the jungles of Burma to repair a rare grand piano owned by an enigmatic army surgeon. So begins an extraordinary journey across Europe, the Red Sea, India and onwards, accompanied by an enchanting yet elusive woman. Edgar is at first captivated, then unnerved, as he begins to question the true motive behind his summons and whether he will return home unchanged to the wife who awaits him. . .An instant bestseller, Daniel Mason's The Piano Tuner has been published in twenty-seven countries. Exquisitely told, this classic is a richly sensuous
£8.99
HarperCollins Publishers The Island of Doctor Moreau
Book SynopsisHarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of best-loved, essential classics.That these man-like creatures were in truth only bestial monsters, mere grotesque travesties of men, filled me with a vague uncertainty of their possibilities far worse than any definite fear.Edward Prendick, the sole survivor of a shipwreck in the South Pacific, is set ashore on an island where he meets the mysterious Doctor Moreau. Horrified by the discovery that Moreau is performing vivisection on animals to form monstrous human hybrids, Prendick flees into the jungle. But he soon realises that the island is populated with Moreau's terrible creations, and not all are divested of their savage habits . . .H. G. Wells pioneered ideas of society, science and progress in his works, which are now considered modern classics. Written in 1896, The Island of Doctor Moreau is an imaginative exploration of the nature of cruelty and what it means to be human.Trade Review‘The Island of Doctor Moreau takes us into an abyss of human nature. This book is a superb piece of storytelling’ V. S. Pritchett ‘[Wells’ work is] astonishingly rich in human and historical interest … he foresaw the invention of, among other things, television, tanks, aerial warfare and the atom bomb’ David Lodge ‘I personally consider the greatest of English living writers [to be] H. G. Wells’ Upton Sinclair ‘The father of science fiction’ Guardian
£5.62
Hodder & Stoughton Golden Dreams: Book 2 in the gripping new Jubilee
Book SynopsisThe second book in the gripping and heartwarming new Jubilee Lake series, from multi-million-copy bestselling author Anna JacobsLancashire, 1895. Lillian Hesketh has taken a new name, and a brave step towards a happier life. Suddenly widowed after an unhappy marriage, and pursued by her unscrupulous in-laws, Lillian finds a fresh start in the beautiful Ollindale valley. Thanks to the kindness of her new neighbours, Walter Crossley and his family, she finally has a home to call her own - but the threat of discovery by her husband's family still casts a shadow over her new life.Meanwhile, Edward Ollerton has returned to the valley to rebuild his ancestral home. Hoping to one day to marry and start a family, Edward finds himself drawn to the shy, attractive widow - but not everyone is happy to see him reclaim his estate . . .Will their dreams fade to dust, or can a golden future blossom on the shores of Jubilee Lake?Readers love Anna Jacobs! 'Amazing' - 5 STARS'Thank you, Anna, for the pleasure you give in all your books' - 5 STARS'Another brilliant, hard-to-put-down book' - 5 STARS'Can't wait for the next instalment' - 5 STARS'A real page turner, I can't wait to read the next one' - 5 STARS'Another triumph for Anna Jacobs' - 5 STARS'BRILLIANT READ' - 5 STARSBook 1 in the Jubilee Lake Saga, SILVER WISHES, is out now in hardback, eBook and audio
£7.19
Simon & Schuster Ltd The Taming of the Queen
Book SynopsisTHE COMPELLING NOVEL FROM SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER PHILIPPA GREGORYWhy would a woman marry a serial killer? Because she cannot refuse... Kateryn Parr, a thirty-year-old widow in a secret affair with a new lover, has no choice when a man old enough to be her father who has buried four wives - King Henry VIII - commands her to marry him. Kateryn has no doubt about the danger she faces: the previous queen lasted sixteen months, the one before barely half a year. But Henry adores his new bride and Kateryn's trust in him grows as she unites the royal family, creates a radical study circle at the heart of the court, and rules the kingdom as Regent. But is this enough to keep her safe? A leader of religious reform and the first woman to publish in English, Kateryn stands out as an independent woman with a mind of her own. But she cannot save the Protestants, under threat for their faith, and HenryTrade Review‘A master storyteller…Gregory captures the intrigue and suspense of life at the Tudor court in vivid detail. She skilfully combines painstaking historical research with a gripping fictional narrative and her characters are so lifelike and engaging that they practically leap from the page’ -- Daily Express‘A cleverly wrought political novel. In introducing Parr to a new audience, Gregory has done the first lady of English letters something of a favour’ -- Sunday Telegraph‘Gregory dramatises the story of a reluctant royal wife negotiating the anxious, dangerous years of her marriage… written with her usual authority and capacity for great drama’ -- Sunday Times‘The Taming of the Queen reads like a clever, intimate thriller’ -- The Times‘Gregory brilliantly captures the torn loyalties, treacheries and tragedies that lie beneath the historical detail, to entertaining effect’ -- Good Housekeeping‘The contemporary mistress of historical crime’ -- Kate Mosse‘Popular historical fiction at its finest, immaculately researched and superbly told’ -- The Times‘Gregory creates a world in which all but the most determined women are tools in the hands of powerful men… past-paced, convincing, vivid and engrossing’ -- Daily Express‘Philippa Gregory has another hit on her hands with this gripping page-turner. Her novel simplifies and humanises the complex politics of the period’ -- Sunday Times‘Lady Margaret Beaufort – cold, clever, calculating – will stop at nothing to put her son Henry Tudor on the throne. Gregory is very good at describing the bitchiness of the women in this tale of dynastic rivalry’ -- Daily Telegraph‘Rollicking, page-turning stuff’ -- Metro‘Popular history at its best’ -- Daily Mail‘Meticulously researched…for each novel she immerses herself in dozens of primary and secondary sources, before transforming them into vivid fiction’ -- Sunday Telegraph‘History comes gloriously alive as Elizabeth Woodville seduces and marries Yorkist King Edward IV’ -- Daily Mirror‘Philippa Gregory is truly the mistress of the historical novel. It would be hard to make history more entertaining, lively or engaging’ -- Sunday Express ‘Her novels are filled with strong, determined women who take their fate into their own hands’ -- Financial Times‘Rarely has history been so seductive’ -- Tatler‘Gregory makes history come alive ... riveting’ -- Daily Express
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers Gallows Thief
Book Synopsis1820s Britain: after the wars with France, when unemployment was high and soldiers could be paid off, when the government was desperately afraid of social unrest, any crime was drastically punished and thousands were hung. But one could petition the King and an investigation might ensueThe man in the dark cell in Newgate Prison was due to hang in a week. He had been found guilty of murdering the aristocrat whose portrait he was painting. He claimed to be innocent but then the hangman had never hung a guilty man, he said. But even in 1820, the Home Secretary could occasionally use his powers to grant mercy if his investigator found cause and Rider Sandman, once of the First Foot Guards, is given the job.Rider Sandman, a hero of Waterloo, has family debts to repay but when his first steps in the investigations produce a sizeable bribe to look the other way, this only arouses his smouldering anger over the condition of England, a country which he and others in Wellington''s army had fougTrade Review‘Bernard Cornwell is a literary miracle. Year after year, hail, rain, snow, war and political upheavals fail to prevent him from producing the most entertaining and readable historical novels of his generation…Cornwell at his best is utterly compelling. And this is Cornwell at his best.’ Daily Mail ‘Page for page, sentence for sentence, scene for heart-stopping scene GALLOWS THIEF is the strongest historical novel I have read this year…he tells a cracking yarn and fills it with vivid characters and writes crisp dialogue and gets the period detail right..it is hard to stop reading…it is masterly.’ Sunday Telegraph
£10.44
HarperCollins Publishers Wolf of the Plains
Book SynopsisThe first book in the bestselling Conqueror series featuring Genghis Khan and his descendants.''I am the land and the bones of the hills. I am the winter.''Temujin, the second son of the khan of the Wolves tribe, was only eleven when his father died in an ambush.His family were thrown out of the tribe and left alone, without food or shelter, to starve to death on the harsh Mongolian plains.It was a rough introduction to his life, to a sudden adult world, but Temujin survived, learning to combat natural and human threats. A man, a small family, without a tribe was always at risk but he gathered other outsiders to him, creating a new tribal identity. It was during some of his worst times that the image of uniting the warring tribes and bringing the silver people together came to him. He will become the khan of the sea of grass, Genghis.Trade Review‘Iggulden is in a class of his own when it comes to epic, historical fiction’ Daily Mirror ‘Iggulden…tells an absolutely cracking story…the pace is nail-biting and the set dressing magnificent’ The Times ‘Iggulden weaves an entertaining tale of this world of men, swords, bows and the call of war and the plains’ Daily Express ‘I felt as if a blockbuster movie was unfolding before me…read the book before Hollywood takes it over’ Daily Express
£9.49
Penguin Putnam Inc Daughters of Shandong
Book Synopsis
£15.20
Pan Macmillan Warleggan
Book SynopsisWinston Graham was the author of more than forty novels, including The Walking Stick, Angell, Pearl and Little God, Stephanie and Tremor. His novels have been widely translated and his famous Poldark series has been developed into two television series shown in twenty-four countries. Many of Winston Graham's books have been filmed for the big screen, the most notable being Marnie, directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Winston Graham was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and in 1983 was awarded the OBE. He died in July 2003.Trade ReviewRoss is one of literature's great heroes . . . [with] elements of Darcy, Heathcliff, Rhett Butler and Robin Hood -- Debbie HorsfieldFrom the incomparable Winston Graham . . . who has everything that everyone else has, then a whole lot more. * Guardian *
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers The Cavendon Luck
Book SynopsisAs the clouds of war gather over Cavendon Hall, the next generation must step forwardThe great house of Cavendon Hall has stood on the Yorkshire moors for centuries. Two families, the aristocratic Inghams and the Swanns who serve them, have been bound by loyalty since the first stone was laid.But when war looms, sons, husbands and brothers are called up to fight; trials and tragedies strike the great house itself. The women of every generation and background must rise to meet the terrible threat posed by Hitler.The Cavendon Luck has held for a long time. Can it hold in the face of this greatest threat of all and can it protect the next generation?Trade Review‘The four young women centre stage are a feistier lot than their Downton counterparts…These are likeable, well-drawn characters whose fortunes you follow with keen interest…neatly captures the brittleness of the decade that danced and stumbled towards the Great Depression.’ Daily Mail ‘Sweeping, fascinating and dramatic… there’s even a nod to Emma Harte. The power and emotion come through on every page’ Romantic Times Book Reviews Acclaim for Cavendon Hall:‘A classic saga of loyalty, secrets, passion and intrigue…if you’ve been suffering withdrawal symptoms from Downton, this is for you’ Daily Mail ‘A stately home, a dangerous secret and two families whose fates have been intertwined for generations…a gripping period piece set on the brink of the Great War. Exquisite escapism of the highest order.’ The Lady ‘A glorious family saga for Downton Abbey fans…This is Barbara Taylor Bradford in her element, full of drama, passion, romance and danger.’ Sarah Broadhurst, lovereading.co.uk
£10.44
Pan Macmillan Strangers in Time
Book SynopsisDavid Baldacci is one of the world's bestselling and favourite thriller writers. A former trial lawyer with a keen interest in world politics, he has specialist knowledge in the US political system and intelligence services. His first book, Absolute Power, became an instant international bestseller, with the movie starring Clint Eastwood a major box office hit. He has since written more than fifty bestsellers featuring, most recently, Travis Devine, Amos Decker, Aloysius Archer and Mickey Gibson. David is also the co-founder, along with his wife, of the Wish You Well Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting literacy efforts across the US.Killer twists. Heroes to believe in. Trust Baldacci.
£18.70
HarperCollins Publishers Post Captain
Book SynopsisWhether on land or at sea, can Jack Aubrey stay one step ahead of his enemies?With the Treaty of Amiens, England is at peace. At least for now. . .Accompanied by his friend, ship's surgeon and spy Stephen Maturin, Captain Jack Aubrey has returned home to England and the life of a country gentleman. But their comfortable experience is cut short when Jack is made a pauper overnight. He flees to the continent, narrowly escaping debtor's prison, only to find himself a hunted fugitive from Napoleon's regime as, yet again, war looms.Outstanding dialogue, characterisation, humour and a golden thread of romance.'KATIE FFORDEThe AubreyMaturin novels, by Patrick O'Brian, are so addictive that after I finish one I have to hide the next from myself for a little while in order to do anything else but read.'LOUISE ERDRICHTrade Review‘If O’Brian’s novels have become a cult, this is because they are truly addictive. . . They are, quite magnificently, adventure yarns whose superb authenticity never distracts from the sheer thrill of the action.’Caroline Moore, Sunday Telegraph ‘The Aubrey–Maturin novels, by Patrick O’Brian, are so addictive that after I finish one I have to hide the next from myself for a little while in order to do anything else but read.’Louise Erdrich ‘In Aubrey and Maturin, Patrick O’Brian has created two of the most enjoyable characters in twentieth-century fiction. Their relationship sustains an absorbing and thrilling sequence of naval stories, unrivalled in their complexity, full of impeccable detail and psychological insight. O’Brian switches from the intimate to the epic with equal assurance. One of the greatest authors to sail with.’Michael Palin ‘My hero is Patrick O’Brian. It’s basically impossible to write that well.’David Mamet ‘One of the most compelling and brilliant novelists of his time . . . Beyond his superbly elegant writing, wit and originality, Patrick O’Brian showed an understanding of the nature of a floating world at the mercy of the wind and the sea which has never been surpassed.’Max Hastings, Evening Standard ‘I devoured Patrick O’Brian’s twenty-volume masterpiece as if it had been so many tots of Jamaica grog.’Christopher Hitchens ‘Written with most engaging enthusiasm that can’t fail to give pleasure to anybody who enjoys historical adventure flavoured with more than a dash of realism.’The Sunday Times ‘One of the most brilliantly sustained pieces of historical fictional writing this century.’James Teacher, Spectator ‘Patrick O’Brian brings depth to his sea-stories with outstanding dialogue, characterisation, humour and a golden thread of romance. You don’t have to love books about naval battles to become entranced.’Katie Fforde
£9.49
Headline Publishing Group When We Meet Again
Book SynopsisA sweeping and heart-breaking WW2 novel that takes the reader from Munich to POW camps in 1940s Florida. A revised and updated edition from a New York Times bestselling author.
£9.49
Headline Publishing Group Dead of Night
Book Synopsis''A compelling, atmospheric page-turner'' Steve Cavanagh''Gripping and compelling . . . balances immersive historical scene-setting with masterful plotting'' Dan Jones''A seriously gripping story - an outsider hero in jeopardy, a world of brooding danger, and an entirely, terrifyingly believable denouement'' Owen MatthewsBERLIN, JANUARY 1940Germany has conquered Poland. The world is praying for peace. At home, the Nazi Party''s hold on power is absolute. One freezing night, an SS doctor and his wife return home from an evening out. By sunrise, the doctor will be lifeless in a pool of blood. There is pressure to record the incident as a suicide, but the first evidence uncovered by Criminal Inspector Horst Schenke points to a chillingly staged murder. The investigation is swiftly blocked by Schenke''s superiors, but he can''t let it go. When he uncovers links to the mysterious death of a child, a terriTrade ReviewA compelling, atmospheric page-turner * Steve Cavanagh *Gripping and compelling . . . balances immersive historical scene-setting with masterful plotting * Dan Jones *A superb thriller with all the elements that make for a seriously gripping story - an outsider hero in jeopardy, a world of brooding danger, and an entirely, terrifyingly believable denouement * Owen Matthews *A chilling and accomplished historical thriller * Vaseem Khan *An absolute stone-cold page-turner * S. G. MacLean *'Scarrow's second World War Two thriller is a tense and fast-paced tale rich in period atmosphere' -- Bill Todd * The Sun *The moral ambiguity gives it a very especial edge. It is a tense, fast-moving story with plenty of action, culminating in a vividly described shoot-out -- Edward James * Historical Novel Review *Scarrow has alighted on an aspect of Nazi policy that certainly deserves to be better known -- James Owen * The Times *
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers Year of Wonders
Book SynopsisFrom the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of ‘March’ and ‘People of the Book’. A young woman’s struggle to save her family and her soul during the extraordinary year of 1666, when plague suddenly struck a small Derbyshire village. In 1666, plague swept through London, driving the King and his court to Oxford, and Samuel Pepys to Greenwich, in an attempt to escape contagion. The north of England remained untouched until, in a small community of leadminers and hill farmers, a bolt of cloth arrived from the capital. The tailor who cut the cloth had no way of knowing that the damp fabric carried with it bubonic infection. So begins the Year of Wonders, in which a Pennine village of 350 souls confronts a scourge beyond remedy or understanding. Desperate, the villagers turn to sorcery, herb lore, and murderous witch-hunting. Then, led by a young and charismatic preacher, they elect to isolate themselves in a fatal quarantine. The story is told through the eyes of Anna Frith who, at only 18, must contend with the death of her family, the disintegration of her society, and the lure of a dangerous and illicit attraction. Geraldine Brooks’s novel explores love and learning, fear and fanaticism, and the struggle of 17th century science and religion to deal with a seemingly diabolical pestilence. ‘Year of Wonders’ is also an eloquent memorial to the real-life Derbyshire villagers who chose to suffer alone during England’s last great plague.Trade Review‘One of the best novels I’ve ever clapped eyes on’ Jenni Murray, Woman’s Hour ‘Geraldine Brooks’s impressive novel goes well beyond chronicling the devastation of a plague-ridden village. It leaves us with the memory of vivid characters struggling in timeless human ways with the hardships confronting them – and the memory, too, of an elegant and engaging story.’ Arthur Golden, author of ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’ ‘Geraldine Brooks's ‘Year of Wonders’ is a wonder indeed. The novel gives the reader a remarkable glimpse into a 17th century horror, but does so with both compassion and exuberance. Read it for the inventiveness of the language alone – a genuine treat.’ Anita Shreve, author of ‘The Pilot’s Wife’ and ‘The Last TIme They Met’ 'More than a mountain of corpses, more than a sensual evocation of the Sapphic bond between two women, more than a pulse-quickening tale, ‘Year of Wonders’ is a staggering fictional debut.' Guardian ‘’Year of Wonders’ carries absolute conviction as an evocation of place and mood. It has a vivid imaginative truth, and is beautifully written.’ Hilary Mantel
£9.49
Pan Macmillan The Angry Tide
Book SynopsisWinston Graham is the author of more than forty novels, which include Cordelia, Marnie, The Walking Stick and Stephanie as well as the highly successful Poldark series. His novels have been translated into seventeen languages. Many of Winston Graham's books have been filmed for the big screen, the most notable being Marnie directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The BBC television series of the Poldark novels was broadcast in twenty-two countries and starred Aidan Turner and Eleanor Tomlinson. Winston Graham was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and in 1983 was awarded the OBE. He died in July 2003
£9.49
Random House USA Inc The Underground Railroad
Book Synopsis#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • PULITZER PRIZE WINNER • NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER • An American masterpiece (NPR) that chronicles a young slave''s adventures as she makes a desperate bid for freedom in the antebellum South. • The basis for the acclaimed original Amazon Prime Video series directed by Barry Jenkins.Cora is a slave on a cotton plantation in Georgia. An outcast even among her fellow Africans, she is on the cusp of womanhood—where greater pain awaits. And so when Caesar, a slave who has recently arrived from Virginia, urges her to join him on the Underground Railroad, she seizes the opportunity and escapes with him.In Colson Whitehead''s ingenious conception, the Underground Railroad is no mere metaphor: engineers and conductors operate a secret network of actual tracks and tunnels beneath the Southern soil. Cora embarks on a harrowing flight from one state to the next, encountering, like Gulliver, strange yet familiar iterations of her own world at each stop. As Whitehead brilliantly re-creates the terrors of the antebellum era, he weaves in the saga of our nation, from the brutal abduction of Africans to the unfulfilled promises of the present day. The Underground Railroad is both the gripping tale of one woman''s will to escape the horrors of bondage—and a powerful meditation on the history we all share.Look for Colson Whitehead’s new novel, Crook Manifesto, coming soon!
£9.90
Allen & Unwin The Turn of Midnight: A deadly plague is
Book SynopsisA deadly plague is spreading across the land...__________________As the year 1349 approaches, the Black Death continues its devastating course across England. In Dorseteshire, the quarantined people of Develish question whether they are the only survivors. Guided by their beloved young mistress, Lady Anne, they wait, knowing that when their dwindling stores are finally gone they will have no choice but to leave. But where will they find safety in the desolate wasteland outside? One man has the courage to find out. Thaddeus Thurkell, a free-thinking, educated serf, strikes out in search of supplies and news. A compelling leader, he and his companions quickly throw off the shackles of serfdom and set their minds to ensuring Develish's future - and freedom for its people.But what use is freedom that cannot be gained lawfully? When Lady Anne and Thaddeus conceive an audacious plan to secure her people's independence, neither foresees the life-threatening struggle over power, money and religion that follows...'Wonderful and sweeping, with a fabulous sense of place and history.' Kate Mosse on The Last HoursTrade ReviewWonderful and sweeping, with a fabulous sense of place and history * Kate Mosse on The Last Hours *An enthralling account of a calamitous time, and above all a wonderful testimony to the strength of the human spirit. I was caught from the first page. * Julian Fellowes on The Last Hours *Atmosphere, imagination and narrative power of which few other writers are capable * The Times *A vividly-wrought and powerful story. With The Last Hours, Minette Walters has brought her impressive skill as a writer of psychological crime to create a dark and gripping depiction of Medieval England in the jaws of the Black Death. * Elizabeth Fremantle on The Last Hours *Walters's skill and subtlety in portraying the suffering and disarray of a feudal society in which disease rampages and God has seemingly gone mad is masterly. And, as with her bestselling suspense novels, the psychological drama is gripping. * Elizabeth Buchan, Daily Mail, praise for The Last Hours *Stunning * Daily Express *A must-read... eloquent, absorbing, absolutely fascinating and thoroughly enjoyable. * LoveReading *a mammoth tale * BBC History Magazine *
£8.24
Pan Macmillan A Marvellous Light: a dazzling, queer romantic
Book SynopsisSet in an alternative Edwardian England, this is a comedy of manners, manor houses, and hedge mazes – including a magic-infused murder mystery and a delightful queer romance.‘Lush historical fantasy . . . A delightful book, with richly developed characters’ – New York Times‘Mystery! Magic! Murder! . . . This book is a confection, both marvellous and light’ – Alix E. Harrow, author of The Ten Thousand Doors of JanuaryFor fans of Georgette Heyer or Julia Quinn's Bridgerton, who'd like to welcome magic into their lives . . .Young baronet Robin Blyth thought he was taking up a minor governmental post. However, he's actually been appointed parliamentary liaison to a secret magical society. If it weren’t for this administrative error, he’d never have discovered the incredible magic underlying his world.Cursed by mysterious attackers and plagued by visions, Robin becomes determined to drag answers from his missing predecessor – but he’ll need the help of Edwin Courcey, his hostile magical-society counterpart. Unwillingly thrown together, Robin and Edwin will discover a plot that threatens every magician in the British Isles.The Binding meets Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell in debut author Freya Marske’s A Marvellous Light. Continue the thrilling series with A Restless Truth.‘A dazzling debut’ – Shelley Parker-Chan, author of She Who Became the Sun‘Prepare to fall in love with the gorgeous Edwardian setting, the sizzling character dynamics, and the murderous enchanted hedge maze’ – Emily Tesh, author of Silver in the Wood‘An absolute delight . . . If you ever wished Downton Abbey was sharper-edged and full of magic, this is the book for you’ – Kat Howard, author of An Unkindness of MagiciansTrade ReviewMystery! Magic! Murder! Long looks full of yearning! This book is a confection, both marvellous and light -- Alix E. HarrowThat sublime prose! Her astonishing gift for imagery! And, of course, her bountiful and endless talent for writing some extremely sexy scenes. A Marvellous Light is all that and more. Perfect -- Jenn LyonsA magical world of exquisite refinement, where peril skims beneath manners, interiors bespeak both faultless taste and deadly secrets, and the sexual tension crescendos until it literally makes sparks fly. A dazzling debut -- Shelley Parker-ChanRomantic in the best way, funny, sharp, sexy, fantastical. Prepare to fall in love with the gorgeous Edwardian setting, the sizzling character dynamics, and the murderous enchanted hedge maze -- Emily TeshFreya Marske's A Marvellous Light is an absolute delight. I was caught from the very beginning by the compellingly realized characters, the gorgeous and deadly magical world, and the fascinating mystery. If you ever wished Downton Abbey was sharper-edged and full of magic, this is the book for you -- Kat HowardFreya's prose is so splendid that merely reading it makes me feel like I've been filled to the brim with champagne bubbles. A Marvellous Light has everything you could ever want from a book – beautiful descriptions, expertly woven world-building, queer kissing, sexual tension in a library, quite a lot of William Morris wallpaper . . . This book is brilliant on every level. It is wondrous. It is, if you will excuse a small joke, marvellous -- Alexandra RowlandA charming, lovingly crafted adventure full of peril, romance and wit, illuminated by sparkling turns of phrase and a pervasive sense of humour -- A. K. LarkwoodEqual parts fantasy, mystery and romance – with bonus murderous garden features – A Marvellous Light heralds a strong new voice in science fiction and fantasy -- Sam HawkeThis romantic fantasy is full of fascinating world-building, layers upon layers of delicious magic, and characters I adored. I want to spend so much more time in this alternate England's enchanted libraries and sinister hedge mazes! The whole experience was a delight -- Stephanie BurgisA gripping story, told in precise and sensual language, with the kind of characters that make you want a spin-off book for even the ones you've barely met. Magic, romance and mayhem in a beautifully decorated – and occasionally actively dangerous – Edwardian setting -- Malka OlderA completely enchanting story that sweeps you into a world of art and romance. Marske is an extraordinary talent who writes compelling characters, entertainingly awful families, and love stories like nobody else -- Everina MaxwellA breathtaking queer romantic fantasy . . . Sensual erotic scenes, an intriguing magic system, and a puzzling mystery combine to make this novel a wonder -- Publishers Weekly, starred reviewAn enchanting, gripping and dazzling debut -- Daily MailCompelling, sumptuously written, clever and brimming with intrigue and sexual tension (and its release) . . . The definition of reading for pure pleasure; we are ready for the next instalment, immediately -- Attitude MagazineLush historical fantasy . . . a delightful book, with richly developed characters -- New York Times
£9.49
Daphne Press The Art of Prophecy
Book Synopsis'In this superb fantasy saga of tough, old martial-arts masters and inexperienced young heroes, Wesley Chu has given us a richly inventive page-turner that delights on every page.' — Helene Wecker, author of The Golem and the JinniAn epic fantasy ode to martial arts and magic about what happens when a prophesied hero is not the chosen one after all, from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lives of Tao.So many stories begin the same way: With a prophecy. A Chosen One. And the inevitable quest to slay a villain, save the kingdom, and fulfil a grand destiny. But this is not that kind of story.It does begin with a prophecy: A child will rise to defeat the Eternal Khan, a cruel immortal god-king, and save the kingdom. And that prophecy did anoint a hero, Jian, raised since birth in luxury and splendour, and celebrated before he has won a single battle.But that's when the story hits its first twist: The prophecy was wrong.What follows is a story more wondrous than any prophecy can foresee, and with many unexpected heroes: Taishi, an older woman who is the greatest grandmaster of magical martial arts in the kingdom but who thought her adventuring days were all behind her; Sali, a straitlaced warrior who learns the rules may no longer apply when the leader she pledged her life to is gone; and Qisami, a chaotic assassin who takes a little too much pleasure in the kill.And Jian himself, who has to find a way to become what he no longer believes he can be — a hero after all.
£8.54
Random House The Warm Hands of Ghosts
Book SynopsisThe sweeping new novel from New York Times bestselling author Katherine Arden.''A wonderful clash of fire and ice ... A book you won''t want to let go of.'' Diana Gabaldon''A spectacular tour de force ... I love this book so much and want everyone to read it!'' Naomi Novik''Well-researched and beautifully written, this is a compelling, memorable novel.' The Guardian''Darkly beautiful and deeply humane ... The Warm Hands of Ghosts will stir your heart, and settle into your bones.'' Ava Reid''Visionary, imaginative and brilliantly written.'' Anthony HorowitzThis exquisite novel took me over like a haunting ... One of the best historical fantasies I''ve ever read' Emma TörzsA historical fantasy that will touch the hearts of many readers' Fantasy Hive______________World War One, and as shells fall in Fl
£17.09
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
£17.05
Orion Publishing Co Treason of Sparta
Book SynopsisBook 7 in The Long War series from the master of historical fiction, Christian Cameron When the dust settled and the blood dried after the Battle of Plataea, Greeks might have thought that their freedom was secured. But before the corpse of the Great King's general was cold, Athens and Sparta began to bicker over dividing up the spoils. After an autumn of victory, it's a long cold winter among the burned cities and destroyed shrines of Greece, and a hungry spring. And when Arimnestos goes to sea to cruise the Persian-held coasts, he finds that Persia is still not beaten... and that old alliances are now fraying. Is the impossible true? Would the Spartans rather see Athens destroyed than Persia defeated? And who will save the cities of Ionia from the Great King's wrath?It's the spring of 478BCE, and the Long War isn't over yet. ______________PRAISE FOR CHRISTIAN CAMERON
£9.49
Viz Media, Subs. of Shogakukan Inc Golden Kamuy Vol. 31
Book SynopsisA tale of high adventure and survival!In the early twentieth century, Russo-Japanese War veteran Saichi Sugimoto searches the wilderness of Hokkaido for a hoard of hidden gold. With only a cryptic map and a native Ainu girl to help him, Saichi must also deal with every murderous cutthroat, bandit and rogue who knows about the treasure!After escaping the battle with Lieutenant Tsurumi’s forces at Goryokaku, Sugimoto, Asirpa, Hijikata, and their comrades board a train headed for Hakodate—but the train is loaded with Tsurumi’s 7th Division troops! The quest for the gold has become a bloody struggle for the Ainu deed and the fate of Hokkaido and the Ainu people. As the train hurtles toward the end of the line, Sugimoto and Asirpa face Tsurumi for the last time. This epic story of survival, death, betrayal, madness, redemption, family, love, and honor comes to a close in the final volume of Golden Kamuy!
£10.44
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!
£10.20
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.
£10.20
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Paris Dancer
Book SynopsisA heart-wrenching and unforgettable story of courage, friendship and resistance, inspired by the incredible true story of a Jewish ballroom dancer in Paris during WWII, perfect for fans of The Paris Library.Paris, 1938. Annie Mayer arrives in France with dreams of becoming a ballerina. But when the war reaches Paris, she''s forced to keep her Jewish heritage a secret. Then a fellow dancer offers her a lifeline: a ballroom partnership that gives her a new identity. Together, Annie and her partner captivate audiences across occupied Europe, using her newfound fame and alias to aid the Resistance.New York, 2012. Miriam, haunted by her past, travels from London to New York to settle her great-aunt Esther's estate. Among Esther's belongings, she discovers notebooks detailing a secret family history and the story of a brave dancer who risked everything to help Jewish families during the war.As Miriam uncovers Esther's life in Europe, she realises the story has been left for her to finish. Grappling with loss and the possibility of new love, Miriam must find the strength to reconcile her past and embrace her future.
£9.49
Pan Macmillan Comanche Moon
Book SynopsisThe second book in the Lonesome Dove quartet, set in the American West.
£10.44
HarperCollins Publishers The Invitation Escape with this epic pageturning
Book SynopsisThe perfect summer read Gorgeously compelling' Good HousekeepingFull of mystery and long-reaching shadows of the past . . . richly drawn and compelling' Rosanna LeyIt's 1951. In Europe's post-war wreckage, the glittering Italian Riviera draws an eclectic cast of characters; lured by the glamour but seeking an escape.Amongst them, two outcasts: Hal, an English journalist who's living on his charm; and Stella, an enigmatic society beauty, bound to a profiteering husband. When Hal receives a mysterious invitation from a wealthy Contessa, he finds himself aboard a yacht headed for Cannes film festival.Scratch the beautiful surface, and the post-war scars of his new companions are quick to show. Then there's Stella, whose secrets run deeper than anyone's stretching back into the violence of Franco's Spain. And as Hal gets drawn closer, a love affair begins that will endanger everyoneThe Invitation is an epic love story that will transport you from the glamour of the Italian Riviera, to theTrade Review‘A seductive love tale’ Sunday Times Style ‘Such a tense, intriguing, beautiful, heart-rending story . . . The characters are so real, the research flawless, the setting sublime. Read it!’ Clare Mackintosh ‘Glamour, secrets and danger makes this a gorgeous summer read’ Woman & Home ‘Sultry escapist fiction at its best – 5*’ HEAT ‘The perfect summer read… Gorgeously compelling’ Good Housekeeping ‘Oozes glamour… Lush, romantic and cleverly crafted – a brainy beach read to relish’ Sunday Mirror ‘I loved THE INVITATION . . . I could dive into this book. A beautifully complex and vivid story, full of repressed longing and secrets. An absolutely enchanting tale’ Lucinda Riley ‘A seductive love tale’ Sunday Times Style ‘So powerfully evoked . . . with dark, sensuous undercurrents that lingered on in my mind, long after I'd reluctantly left Stella and Hal behind’ Kate Riordan ‘Film crew, Italian Riviera, 1950s. What part of that does not appeal?’ Red ‘Full of mystery and long-reaching shadows of the past . . . richly drawn and compelling’ Rosanna Ley ‘This epic love story is an unputdownable summer read’ Essentials ‘If you like Victoria Hislop you’ll love the seductive and heady The Invitation’ Lovereading ‘An utterly seductive story depicting forbidden love and loss in 1950s Italy. The perfect beach read this summer' Louise O’Neill ‘I loved every page – it's vividly written and utterly absorbing’ Iona Grey ‘Foley weaves a very satisfying love story . . . readers will be taken by the luxurious Mediterranean setting’ Publishers Weekly ‘Glamorous and romantic and bittersweet all at once . . . a fabulous story’ Beatriz Williams, New York Times bestselling author of A Hundred Summers ‘It's a beautiful, compulsive and glamorous read – perfect for long summer days’ Lucy Clarke, author of the Richard & Judy bestseller, The Sea Sisters
£9.49
Three Rivers Press Pope Joan A Novel
Book Synopsis“Pope Joan has all the elements one wants in a historical drama—love, sex, violence, duplicity, and long-buried secrets. Cross has written an engaging book.”—Los Angeles Times Book ReviewIn this international bestseller and basis for the 2009 movie of the same name, Donna Woolfolk Cross brings the Dark Ages to life in all their brutal splendor and shares the dramatic story of a woman whose strength of vision led her to defy the social restrictions of her day.For a thousand years her existence has been denied. She is the legend that will not die—Pope Joan, the ninth-century woman who disguised herself as a man and rose to become the only female ever to sit on the throne of St. Peter. Now in this riveting novel, Cross paints a sweeping portrait of an unforgettable heroine who struggles against restrictions her soul cannot accept. Brilliant and talented, young Joan rebels against medieval social
£14.62
Pan Macmillan The Secret Countess
Book SynopsisEva Ibbotson was born in Vienna in 1925 and fled to England with her family when the Nazis came to power. She became a writer while bringing up her four children in Newcastle. Her bestselling novels have been published and loved by readers around the world.Her novels for adults, all rich historical romances, convey her deep love of the arts, the Austrian countryside, and the importance of belonging.In 2001, her children's novel Journey to the River Sea won the Nestle Gold Award and was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal, the Whitbread Children's Book of the Year and the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize.Eva passed away peacefully in October 2010 at the age of eighty-five.
£9.49
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 The Axeman's Jazz
Book SynopsisInspired by a true story, set against the heady backdrop of jazz-filled, mob-ruled New Orleans, The Axeman’s Jazz by Ray Celestin is a gripping thriller announcing a major talent in historical crime fiction.Winner of the CWA New Blood Dagger for Best Debut Crime Novel of the YearRecommended on the Radio 2 Arts Show with Claudia WinklemanShortlisted for Theakston's Crime Novel of the Year AwardNew Orleans, 1919. As a dark serial killer – the Axeman – stalks the city, three individuals set out to unmask him:Detective Lieutenant Michael Talbot – heading up the official investigation, but struggling to find leads, and harbouring a grave secret of his own.Former detective Luca d’Andrea – now working for the mafia, his need to solve the mystery of the Axeman is every bit as urgent as that of the authorities.And Ida – a secretary at the Pinkerton Detective Agency. Obsessed with Sherlock Holmes and dreaming of a better life, she stumbles across a clue which lures her and her musician friend, Louis Armstrong, into the case – and into terrible danger . . .As Michael, Luca and Ida each draw closer to discovering the killer’s identity, the Axeman himself will issue a challenge to the people of New Orleans: play jazz, or risk becoming the next victim.'A fascinating portrait of a vibrant and volatile city and a riveting read' – GuardianThe Axeman's Jazz is the first book in Ray Celestin's prize-winning City Blues quartet. It is followed by the second installment, Dead Man's Blues.Trade ReviewA rewarding crime novel, swinging its way to a terrifying denouement with all the panache of a New Orleans marching band * The Times *A fascinating portrait of a vibrant and volatile city and a riveting read * Guardian *Gripping . . . Celestin smartly evokes the atmosphere of 1919 New Orleans, and a city dominated by music and the mob * Sunday Times *Based on a true story . . . this thriller blends voodoo, gangsters and jazz into an intoxicating mix * Sunday Mirror *The evocative prose brings the jazz-filled, mob-ruled ‘Big Easy’ of pre-prohibition America to life in glorious effect with a story full of suspense and intrigue. Stunning * Sunday Express *Outstanding * Daily Telegraph *A clever and utterly believable procedural with a suitably grisly killer, set in a brilliant and vibrant historical background * Crime Review *The best debut I’ve read this year * Scotsman, Crime Books of the Year *Celestin has skilfully woven around the facts a clever story of three detectives who, in different ways and for different motives, set out to find the murderer. He brilliantly portrays the mood of a city under a siege of fear. Fictional musicians mix with the real jazz artists of the period, not least Louis Armstrong. * The Times, Crime Books of the Year *An absolute must for true crime fanatics * Refinery29 *
£9.49
Kodansha America, Inc Musashi New Edition
Book SynopsisMiyamoto Musashi was the child of an era when Japan was emerging from decades of civil strife. Lured to the great Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 by the hope of becoming a samurai--without really knowing what it meant--he regains consciousness after the battle to find himself lying defeated, dazed and wounded among thousands of the dead and dying. On his way home, he commits a rash act, becomes a fugitive and brings life in his own village to a standstill--until he is captured by a weaponless Zen monk. The lovely Otsu, seeing in Musashi her ideal of manliness, frees him from his tortuous punishment, but he is recaptured and imprisoned. During three years of solitary confinement, he delves into the classics of Japan and China. When he is set free again, he rejects the position of samurai and for the next several years pursues his goal relentlessly, looking neither to left nor to right. Ever so slowly it dawns on him that following the Way of the Sword is not simply a matter of finding a target for his brute strength. Continually striving to perfect his technique, which leads him to a unique style of fighting with two swords simultaneously, he travels far and wide, challenging fighters of many disciplines, taking nature to be his ultimate and severest teacher and undergoing the rigorous training of those who follow the Way. He is supremely successful in his encounters, but in the Art of War he perceives the way of peaceful and prosperous governance and disciplines himself to be a real human being He becomes a reluctant hero to a host of people whose lives he has touched and been touched by. And, inevitably, he has to pit his skill against the naked blade of his greatest rival. Musashi is a novel in the best tradition of Japanese story telling. It is a living story, subtle and imaginative, teeming with memorable characters, many of them historical. Interweaving themes of unrequited love, misguided revenge, filial piety and absolute dedication to the Way of the Samurai, it depicts vividly a world Westerners know only vaguely. Full of gusto and humor, it has an epic quality and universal appeal. The novel was made into a three-part movie by Director Hiroshi Inagai.
£30.39
Zaffre The New Kingdom: The Sunday Times bestselling
Book SynopsisBOOK 1 IN A THRILLING NEW ANCIENT EGYPTIAN SERIES, FROM INTERNATIONAL SENSATION WILBUR SMITH'Best historical novelist' - Stephen King 'A master storyteller' - Sunday Times 'Wilbur Smith is one of those benchmarks against whom others are compared' - The Times 'No one does adventure quite like Smith' - Daily Mirror IN THE HEART OF EGYPTUNDER THE WATCHFUL EYE OF THE GODSA NEW POWER IS RISING In the city of Lahun, Hui lives an enchanted life. The favoured son of a doting father, and ruler-in-waiting of the great city, his fate is set. But behind the beautiful façades a sinister evil is plotting. Craving power and embittered by jealousy, Hui's stepmother, the great sorceress Isetnofret, and Hui's own brother Qen, orchestrate the downfall of Hui's father, condemning Hui and seizing power in the city. Cast out and alone, Hui finds himself a captive of a skilled and powerful army of outlaws, the Hyksos. Determined to seek vengeance for the death of his father and rescue his sister, Ipwet, Hui swears his allegiance to these enemies of Egypt. Through them he learns the art of war, learning how to fight and becoming an envied charioteer. But soon Hui finds himself in an even greater battle - one for the very heart of Egypt itself. As the pieces fall into place and the Gods themselves join the fray, Hui finds himself fighting alongside the Egyptian General Tanus and renowned mage, Taita. Now Hui must choose his path - will he be a hero in the old world, or a master in a new kingdom?Book 1 in The New Kingdom Sequence and book 7 in the Ancient Egyptian series from the master historical adventure writer, Wilbur Smith. Don't miss the rest of the epic Ancient Egyptian Series, available now.'The New Kingdom' was a Sunday Times bestseller w/e 05-09-2021.
£17.00
Simon & Schuster The Fortnight in September
Book Synopsis
£16.20
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.
£21.03
