Narrative theme: death, grief, loss

Book SynopsisThe No. 1 New York Times BestsellerJess Walter''s Beautiful Ruins is a gorgeous, glamorous novel set in 1960s Italy and a modern Hollywood studio.The story begins in 1962. Somewhere on a rocky patch of the sun-drenched Italian coastline a young innkeeper, chest-deep in daydreams, looks out over the incandescent waters of the Ligurian Sea and views an apparition: a beautiful woman, a vision in white, approaching him on a boat. She is an American starlet, he soon learns, and she is dying.And the story begins again today, half a world away in Hollywood, when an elderly Italian man shows up on a movie studio''s back lot searching for the woman he last saw at his hotel fifty years before.Gloriously inventive, funny, tender and constantly surprising, Beautiful Ruins is a novel full of fabulous and yet very flawed people, all of them striving towards another sort of life, a future that is both delightful and yet, tantalizingly, seTrade ReviewJust about the perfect summer read. It is intelligent and thought-provoking, but also a lot of fun. Reading hours fly by and reaching the final page feels like a genuine wrench * Sunday Times *Ambitious, large-hearted, exhilarating novel that leaves you wanting more . . . Very, very funny * The Times *Beautiful Ruins is a novel unlike any other you're likely to read this year -- Nick HornbyRomantic, very funny...Turbo-charged satire meets a Garcia Marquezesque love story. What's not to like? * Daily Mail *Walter creates an epic here - one that took him 15 years to write. The end result, however, is well worth the wait * Observer *A sparkling summer read * Telegraph *Thoroughly enjoyable, a tender, funny, ridiculous tale which has love at its core and a keen satirical edge to cut through the lovely, lush romanticism * Sunday Express *You're going to love this book * New York Times Book Review *A brilliant, madcap meditation on fate * Kirkus Reviews *A novel shot in sparkly Technicolor * Booklist *The beach read of the summer * Vogue *Hilarious and compelling * Esquire *Magic. Walter is a believer in capricious destiny with a fine, freewheeling sense of humour . . . A monument to crazy love with a deeply romantic heart * New York Times *Poignant, comical and marvellous * San Francisco Chronicle *Larger-than-life characters, billowy romance and crafty satire ... Any book that includes Richard Burton as a character is fine by us * Esquire *Cinematic and utterly romantic . . . the big beach read for summer * Sunday Times *My absolute favourite read this year -- Nick Curtis * Evening Standard 'Books of the Year' *A bravura feat -- Peter Kemp * Sunday Times 'Books of the Year' *The beach read of 2013 * Grazia 'Books of the Year' *Think Il Postino with a walk-on part for a comically drunk Richard Burton -- Peter Brookes * The Times 'Books of the Year' *Walter's account of the filming of the Burton/Taylor classic Cleopatra is a playful imagining of emotional history and hidden lives just out of view. Be warned, this is a novel that may make any festive guests somewhat anti-social as I read it in two days flat -- Olivia Cole * GQ 'Books of the Year' *

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Book SynopsisA compelling and thought-provoking novel from the world’s favourite storyteller. Set around a New York talent agency, a group of accomplished women discover the high price of success.Jane Addison is smart, young and ambitious. She’s delighted to have landed a job with a prestigious talent agency, Fletcher and Benson. Hailey West, her boss, is dedicated to her authors, but her home life is chaotic and challenging as a single mother following her husband’s tragic death. Francine Rivers, the stern and bitter head of department, is also raising children on her own after an acrimonious divorce, and she has had to overcome financial hardship by paying the very highest price.Meanwhile, Allie Moore seems to have it all: she relishes success and loves working with the talented actors she represents. But then a passionate relationship with one of her star clients risks derailing her career. And Merriwether Jones, the CFO of the agency, appears to have the perfect marriage until her husband’s jealousy over her career threatens her happiness.Jane quickly realizes that there are damaging secrets behind the doors of the agency. She has the least power, but she is also the least willing to accept things as they are. And when she tries to put things right, the consequences will leave no one unscathed.In this riveting novel, five women at the top of their game navigate the challenges of career and ambition, family and personal lives in a world where it’s necessary to fight for what is right.

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Book Synopsis‘A sublime gift’ MEG MASONA taut, ground-breaking new novel about a writer's relationship with her larger-than-life mother - and about the very nature of writing.Ten months after her mother’s death, the narrator of The Hero of This Book walks across London on a quiet Sunday. The city was a favourite of her mother’s, and as the narrator wanders the streets, she finds herself recalling all that made her complicated mother extraordinary. Even though the woman, a writer, wants to respect her mother’s nearly pathological sense of privacy, she must decide whether making a chronicle of this remarkable life constitutes an act of love or betrayal.* A New Yorker, Time, Washington Post, Oprah Daily and NPR Book of the Year *‘I absolutely loved it. A moving portrayal of daughterhood…suffused with warmth and love’ MEGAN HUNTER, author of The Harpy‘Confirms McCracken as among the finest contemporary chroniclers of everyday life… wonderful’ GUARDIAN‘Tender, funny, heartbreaking… a writer who always delights’ RUMAAN ALAM, author of Leave the World BehindTrade ReviewInto a single, most singular novel, McCracken fits everything we adult daughters know and feel and love and fear about our beautiful, complicated mothers, and could never say. A sublime gift. -- Meg Mason, author of Sorrow and BlissWhat could be better value than a book set over one day that you can read in one day, but that will stay in your heart and refuse to go... One of the greatest memoirs of a parent. * The Times *Confirms McCracken as among the finest contemporary chroniclers of everyday life. Like Elizabeth Strout and Ann Patchett, she combines a blistering intelligence with deep humanity. * Guardian *Easily one of the best novels (or is it actually a memoir?) that will be published this year... It is touching and funny, and full of sharp-eyed observations about family life and parents and how your childhood forms you. * The Times *A more loving and moving tribute to its subject is hard to imagine. * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisIn the first of a new mystery series, we meet Nora Best as she flees her old life - cheating husband and all - and takes to the road with an Airstream trailer. Nora Best is the envy of her friends. She''s just turned fifty and has traded in her home with The Perfect-Ass Husband for an Airstream trailer and an adventure of a lifetime across the US. But during their leaving party, Nora finds her husband in a compromising position with a friend. Storming out of the party she jumps into her truck with no idea how to tow the Airstream or where she''s going. Nora ends up in a campground in the mountains of Wyoming, drowning her sorrows with its managers, Brad and Miranda. When she is woken by a frantic Miranda after Brad has disappeared and bloodstains have been found around the campsite, Nora finds herself caught up in an adventure she could never have expected . . . facing a charge of murder.

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Book Synopsis'A book of deep reckoning' New York Times'Becomes a way of looking honestly at what mourning really feels like' GuardianA man in tumult returns to Ordesa, the small mountain town where he was born, and where his parents have recently died. He sits down to write. Newly sober, his career on the wane, his relationship with his own children strained, what he produces is a dizzying chronicle of his childhood and an unsparing account of his life's trials, failures and triumphs. He reckons with the ghosts of his parents, the pain of loss and, as the pages fill with words, he tries to piece together the bits of himself. What is a person without a family? What is a person when faced with memories alone?An autobiographical novel by a Spanish literary icon, written with the intimacy of a diary, Ordesa is a beautiful, redemptive meditation on identity, grief and the passing of time.Trade ReviewA meditation on yearning, solitude and family . . . A book of deep reckoning - of the meaningful and mundane - but written with an airy, even whimsical touch . . . Radiantly evokes both a golden age and its slow deterioration * * New York Times * *Vilas paints an affecting portrait of a middle-aged man alone - divorced, estranged from his children, his parents deceased - and attempting to chronicle his childhood. A persistent sense of longing for that which is lost pervades the book, making it feel particularly fitting this year * * Vanity Fair * *The narrator of this sober yet elegant autobiographical novel is a middle-aged man reckoning with his past and with his encroaching mortality. Painfully observant and poetically inclined * * New Yorker * *Ordesa is a smack in the chops and a swim in the sea, a desolate memento mori and a warm, consoling hug . . . There is so much love in this book, for life and for language, that it bursts the seams even in translation. If you're remotely responsive to this, it will make a holy mess of you * * Herald * *Vilas has written a book that is soaked through with humanity. An intimate, comforting, painful and deeply beautiful tour de force. He is an enhancer of life -- JAMES RHODES author of INSTRUMENTALOne of Spain's finest modern writers . . . [Ordesa] offers a humane and intimate account of his divorce, family problems, and addictions * * Independent, Books of the Month * *Ordesa is a poet's novel, or maybe a novelist's prose poem. It's both things at once, and also the saddest and most candid autobiography I've read in recent times. I've been through this book twice and I still don't know how Vilas does it. I know, however, that this book is a gift, and maybe that's enough -- JUAN GABRIEL VÁSQUEZ, author of THE SHAPE OF THE RUINSBecomes a way of looking honestly at what mourning really feels like - some of [Vilas'] observations on grief, along with the self-hatred and guilt that can follow a death, will strike a chord with anyone who has experienced a similar rupture -- Lucy Ellmann * * Guardian * *A philosophically brave and emotionally-intelligent novel par excellence. There is rigour in the thought and deep scrutiny in the lyrical musings and reflections, which make it surely a classic which has sought no easy route to the reader's soul * * RTÉ * *This is the album, the archive, the memory without lies or consolation of a life, a time, a family, a social class condemned to so much effort for very little obtained. A lot of precision is needed to tell these things, the acid, the sharpened knife, the exact needle to burst the balloon of vanity. What's left in the end is the clean emotion of truth and the distress of everything lost -- ANTONIO MUÑOZ MOLINA author of the Man Booker International Prize-shortlisted LIKE A FADING SHADOW

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Book SynopsisAN OBSERVER BEST DEBUT NOVELIST OF 2021'Seductive . . . Gorgeous' The Times'Gives voice to one of fiction's most conspicuously absent women' iWord has come. King Lear is dead. His three daughters too, broken in battle. But someone has survived: Lear's queen.Though her grief and rage threaten to crack the earth open, she knows she must seek answers. Why was she exiled? What has happened to Kent, her oldest friend? And what will become of her now? To find peace she must reckon with her past and make a terrible choice - one upon which her destiny rests.Trade ReviewPoetic . . . Distinctive and compelling . . . Thorp's poignant and surprising narrative allows a character absent from the original play to obtain her long overdue agency * * Observer * *Seductive . . . Gorgeous * * The Times * *Gorgeously written . . . artful and moving . . . a beautiful triumph * * New York Times * *Thorp's vivid debut novel gives voice to one of fiction's most conspicuously absent women . . . Lyrical . . . Thorp's distinctive style is heady and evocative . . . Learwife slots into a strong alternative canon of feminist retellings of classic stories * * i * *Original, intriguing . . . Thorp's novel is beautifully written in rich, imaginative prose * * Sunday Times, Best New Historical Fiction * *The wife of King Lear is given a powerful voice in this haunting narrative of her life . . . The writing in this novel is pitch-perfect: lyrical, imaginative and there to savour . . . Fascinating and heart-wrenching * * Daily Mail * *This vivid reimagining of King Lear's wife shows Shakespearean scholars what they are missing . . . An original and highly accomplished debut that reimagines the life of a woman written out of literary history . . . A fresh perspective on an age-old tale . . . With Learwife, Thorp also joins the ranks of authors such as Pat Barker, Natalie Haynes and Madeline Miller, who have in recent times successfully depicted female characters omitted from myth and literary history . . . Thorp is a stylish writer, who blends old and new worlds in prose that is elegant, rhythmic and innovative * * Irish Times * *Thorp's prose is sweepingly lyrical; studded with jewels, wrapped in rich fabrics, blooming with resonant images: light of all sorts - sun, moon, torches, conflagration; the changing face of water. She finds mystery in the everyday, locates the poison that lurks within * * Spectator * *Tells the story of King Lear's wife in a blistering reimagination . . . A must for fans of Margaret Atwood, Sarah Waters, Pat Barker and Natalie Haynes * * Irish Independent * *The chronicle of love, rage and grief that Shakespeare never wrote * * Daily Mail * *

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Book SynopsisMany cultures identify mourning as the very source of poetry and music, what Elizabeth Bishop calls the art of losing. That might well be the title of this collection. Not every poem is cornered with death, but all are about loss. The poems chosen traverse a surprisingly wide range of emotions from despair to joy, resignation to anger, all articulated in language of the greatest power and beauty . All the major verse forms of mourning are represented here: epitaph, requiem and lament. Three great elergies by Milton, Whitman and Rilke are surrounded by a wide variety of shorter poems. Naturally, the pathos of death predominates, but its comedy has not been neglected, whether in the savage poems of World War I or the gentle teasing of seventeenth-century satire. Poets include: Akhmatova, Auden, Bishop, Brodsky, Browning, Carew, Cory, Cowley, Dickinson, Donne, Dryden, Dyer, Fletcher, Graves, Gurney, Hardy, Harrison, Herrick, Hopkins, Horace, King, Leopardi, Lowell, MacCaig, Mandelstam, Milosz, Philips, Propertius, Roethke, Smith, Tennyson, Dylan Thomas, Edward Thomas and Wordsworth.

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Book SynopsisApril 21, 1923. The SS Metagama is inching out of Stornoway harbour on the Isle of Lewis, bound for Canada. On board are Finlay and Mairead; they are young and hopeful, leaving behind a community that has been touched by tragedy to change their lives foreverOn the other side of the Atlantic, though, they face the realities of an uncaring industrial society. The effects of the Great Depression are inescapable, prejudice and division are rife, and though they remain bound by a shared past, their own lives soon diverge.In an adopted country that is tense with both opportunity and loss, social progress and violent backlash, can Mairead and Finlay keep their promises to one another, to look only forward, and resist the constant pull of home?From the author of the prize-winning As the Women Lay Dreaming comes a poignant and deeply evocative novel of the 20th-century emigrant experience in the New World. With lyrical prose and masterful storytelling, Murray paints a vivid portrait of the resilient Hebrideans-in-exile who struggled between holding on and letting go.

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Book Synopsis*Discover The Secrets of Flowers, the brand new novel from Sally Page available to pre-order now*I absolutely loved it! So different, clever, funny and charming' Sunday Times bestseller Katie FfordeFunny, wise, moving and full of lovely momentsThe characters are endearing and unforgettable' Hazel Prior, author of the Richard & Judy Book Club Pick Away with the PenguinsJanice is a wonderful woman whose authenticity pulls you alongthe breadth and originality of supporting characters makes this debut an immersive delight' Dorset MagazineAbsolutely spellbindinga warm-hearted, thoughtful, funny and yet deeply poignant' Celia Anderson, author of 59 Memory LaneA treasure of a book. Beautiful, emotional and heartfelt with a cornucopia of characters you'll love spending time with' Phaedra Patrick, author of The Library of Lost and FoundShe can't recall what started her collection. Maybe it was in a fragment of conversation overheard as she cleaned a sink? Before long (as she dusted a sitting room or defrosted a fridge) she noticed people were telling her their stories. Perhaps they always had done, but now it is different, now the stories are reaching out to her and she gathers them to herWhen Janice starts cleaning for Mrs B a shrewd and tricksy woman in her nineties she meets someone who wants to hear her story. But Janice is clear: she is the keeper of stories, she doesn't have a story to tell. At least, not one she can share.Mrs B is no fool and knows there is more to Janice than meets the eye. What is she hiding? After all, doesn't everyone have a story to tell?Readers are loving Sally Page:Oh my giddy aunt what an amazing bookabsolutely adored it from start to finish' JeannieNot what I was expecting at allloved the way it ended' JulieAn absolutely wonderful, unputdownable book full of delightful characters' SueWhat a wonderful idea for a bookA joy to read' AngelaBeautiful storyI loved every minute of reading it!' RubieTrade Review‘Wow, what a fantastic book that kept me rooting for the main character, Janice…The book has so many interesting characters, each with their own story and I loved it’ ‘An interesting, enjoyable and quite engaging story…anyone who is fascinated in people's lives will love this book and be completely engrossed from start to finish’ ‘A lovely, delightful book filled with rich, wonderful characters, and an intriguing plot’

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER AND WATERSTONES THRILLER OF THE MONTH 'Chilling and perfectly paced, one to put on the very top of your TBR!' Sarah Pearse 'Thriller fans will be in heaven' Louise CandlishMY CHILD HAS BEEN TAKEN. AND I’VE BEEN GIVEN A CHOICE . . . KILL A PATIENT ON THE OPERATING TABLE OR LOSE MY SON FOREVER. The man lies on the table in front of me. As a surgeon, it’s my job to save him. As a mother, I know I must kill him. You might think that I’m a monster. But there really is only one choice. I must get away with murder. Or I will never see my son again.I’VE SAVED MANY LIVES. WOULD YOU TRUST ME WITH YOURS?Five star reader reviews: ‘Absolutely phenomenal’  ‘Kept me hooked from the very staTrade Review‘Do No Harm hooked me . . . What a terrifying ride!’ GILLY MACMILLAN 'Had me on the edge of my seat . . . Do No Harm is brilliantly thrilling' NADINE MATHESON 'The most nail biting book I’ve read this year. . . An absolute rollercoaster, you won’t be able to put it down' HOLLY SEDDON 'Brilliant. Relentlessly tense. This thriller gave me palpitations' LESLEY KARA ‘Utterly gripping, addictive and brilliantly tense’ KAREN HAMILTON 'An edge-of-your-seat, head-spinning thriller with emotion and depth woven through its heart' LAUREN NORTH 'A brilliant example of psychological crime writing at its very best' KATE RHODES 'The ultimate page turning edge-of-your-seat thriller. Loved it' NIKKI SMITH 'A corker of a thriller’ KATE RIORDAN 'Gripping and tense' OBSERVER 'An astonishingly good read – a fabulous plot, great characters and you’ll be on a knife-edge right up until the brilliant ending!’ MY WEEKLY ‘A brilliant, pacy thriller’ BELLA ‘An absolute edge of your seat belter. I urge you to pre-order it now’ Reader review ‘Let me be the first one to call it: Do No Harm is going to be HUGE!’ Reader review ‘It gripped me from page 1’ Reader review

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Book SynopsisA sad, beautiful novel, The Body Artist is an elliptical meditation on the mysteries of love, life and time.Trade ReviewAmerica's greatest living writer. * Observer *A novel that is both slight and profound, a distilled meditation on perception and loss, and a poised, individual ghost story for the twenty-first century. * Observer *A masterly portrait of the impact of death on those who live. * Evening Standard *

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Book SynopsisDCI Matilda Darke is the perfect heroine' Elly GriffithsThe third book in Michael Wood's darkly compelling crime series featuring DCI Matilda Darke. Perfect for fans of Peter James, Lee Child and Karin Slaughter.Eight killers. One house. And the almost perfect murderStarling House is home to some of the nation's deadliest teenagers, still too young for prison.When the latest arrival is found brutally murdered, DCI Matilda Darke and her team investigate, and discover a prison manager falling apart and a sabotaged security system. Neither the staff nor the inmates can be trusted.The only person Matilda believes is innocent is facing prison for the rest of his life. With time running out, she must solve the unsolvable to save a young man from his fate, and find a murderer in a house full of killersTrade ReviewPraise for A ROOM FULL OF KILLERS: ‘You can count on Michael Wood to deliver a deliciously twisted and intriguing plot, leading to a surprise ending by a likeable and very real protagonist, Matilda Darke’ Yrsa Sigurdardottir ‘A pitch-black concept, tightly delivered and played at exhilarating pace’ Paul Finch Praise for OUTSIDE LOOKING IN: ‘At one point in this tense thriller, the endearing protagonist reflects that the investigation is like having “all the pieces of the jigsaw but…from different boxes”. Matilda Darke is right – and only in the final pages is the full picture revealed…’ Chris Simms ‘Crackling dialogue, dark wit and an exciting ending. Recommended if you liked Happy Valley’ Mark Edwards ‘DCI Matilda Darke is going places’ James Oswald ‘A compelling, addictive read, it’s hard to put down. I really enjoyed getting to know DCI Matilda Darke. She's strong character with real depth’ Robert Bryndza, bestselling author of THE GIRL IN THE ICE Praise for FOR REASONS UNKNOWN: ‘A beautifully written book with a dark heart and a secret that impacts on generations’ Sarah Ward ‘A skilfully crafted and compelling debut that hooks from the off and will keep you guessing until the final page. I can’t wait for Michael Wood’s next one’ M.R. Hall ‘Gripping, sad and unexpected – this is a terrific debut. Wood writes with the confidence and flair of an old hand’ Alex Marwood ‘A strong debut with an intriguing mystery at its heart. The first thing that strikes me is how well he writes female characters. The novel is packed full of strong women’ Ben Cheetham ‘An appealing – and refreshingly human – lead character is swept along in this ingeniously plotted, fast paced debut’ Chris Simms 'This explosive novel is already making a bang – with reviewers comparing Michael’s work to that of his heroes Val McDermid and James Oswald' Sheffield Star

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewPreloved is one for your keeper shelves. * Red *An absolute gem of a novel, like finding vintage Dior in your local chazza. It's hard to believe that this tender-hearted, wryly observed and exquisitely written story is a debut and its heroine Gwen, as lost as the unwanted donations she prices up, will resonate with so many readers. Preloved is one for your keeper shelves. -- Sarra ManningI think I’ve been waiting for a novel like Preloved for my whole reading life. This is a luscious, shimmering book of depth and delicacy. It’s sad, hilarious, sad, tender, brutal, brilliantly observed – there is a sense of magic on every page. -- Daisy Buchanan, author of InsatiablePreloved is full of sharp observations on life, loss, regret and self-preservation... spilling over with wit and hope. Cleverly interwoven with stories of the myriad reasons items find their way into charity shops, the joy, friendship and ultimate enlightenment Gwen discovers offers a quirky and poignant reminder that one person's trash is always somebody else's treasure. -- Julietta Henderson, author of The Funny Thing about Norman ForemanPreloved has taken up residence in my heart and I will be recommending it to everyone I know. It's completely enchanting, completely captivating, completely brilliant, I adored everything about it. It has so much heart and warmth, while Gwen is so well-written and relatable. I was already a fan of Lauren Bravo's writing, and now I'm officially obsessed. -- Lucy VineLaugh-out-loud funny but also poignant and tender, Preloved is an absorbingly special debut novel. I devoured in equal measure the delicious descriptions of food and the moving vignettes of preloved treasures peppered throughout the book, while the nineties and noughties nostalgia had me gasping with pleasure. -- Laura Price, author of Single Bald FemaleFull of relatable anecdotes, lively, funny and modern, Preloved is a moving tale of emancipation and friendship. I loved it! -- Margaux Vialleron, author of The Yellow KitchenBeautifully considered and wonderfully crafted with characters who feel true to life. Full of witty observations and dazzling retorts and withering reactions… it won’t disappoint. -- Justin Myers/The GuylinerPreloved is a beautiful, funny novel full of pitch perfect insight and detail. In a world of fast fashion, fast friendships and fast opinion, this is a refreshing and relatable alternative, celebrating and challenging our ideas about objects and ownership. For anyone (like me) who has ever stood behind the counter of a charity shop, it will spark particular joy. Political, delightful and very very funny. -- Nell Frizzell‘While all Gwen’s friends are “procreating in the countryside”, she is single, lonely and now, jobless. So she begins anew in the place where all things get a second chance: a charity shop. Preloved is a funny and touching read.’ -- The I, best April books‘When Gwen is made redundant she volunteers at a charity shop, where encountering objects that come with incredible stories changes her life. Poignant and funny’ -- BestA hot water bottle of a novel – in that it’s best enjoyed on the sofa when you’re in need of something warming and comforting -- StylistOptimistic and engaging… intimate and joyful… We’re waiting for Preloved to be optioned by Reese Witherspoon or at least adapted into a binge-worthy Netflix series… -- GlamourA love letter to charity shops and the treasures within, this is a tale that will warm your heart. -- My WeeklyGenerous, hopeful, and big-hearted, Preloved’s warm sweetness is perfectly balanced by sharp observation, and a deeply moving exploration of grief. A glorious find of a book; one worth holding onto -- Kate Young

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Book SynopsisA gripping standalone thriller from the Sunday Times No.1 bestselling author of the Logan McRae series.Beware of the darkWelcome to the Misfit Mob where Police Scotland dumps the officers it can't get rid of, but wants to. Officers like DC Callum MacGregor, lumbered with all the boring go-nowhere cases. So when an ancient mummy is found at the Oldcastle tip, it's his job to track down its owner.But then Callum uncovers links between his mummified corpse and three missing young men, and life starts to get a lot more interesting.No one expects the Misfit Mob to solve anything, but right now they're all that stands between a killer's victims and a slow lingering death. Can they prove everyone wrong before someone else dies?Trade Review‘Wickedly twisty plotting and dazzling displays of black humour’ Library Journal Praise for Stuart MacBride: ‘Dark and gripping. A riveting page-turner’ Independent on Sunday ‘MacBride is a damned fine writer’ Peter James ‘A satisfyingly compelling thriller’ Sunday Mirror ‘Skilful storytelling … strong characterisation … intriguing and engrossing’ Guardian ‘MacBride’s thrillers just keep getting better’ Express ‘Exciting … a guaranteed bestseller’ Literary Review ‘Unmissable … superb storytelling’ Sun ‘Crime fiction of the highest order’ Mark Billingham ‘A terrific writer … Logan McRae is a delight’ The Times

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Book SynopsisFrom the winner of the National Book Award for Fiction, 2012 comes this elegantly crafted novel that explores the strange power that lost children exert on the memories of those they leave behindWhen Faye Travers is sent to appraise a family estate in a small New Hampshire town and comes across a forgotten set of valuable Native American artefacts, she is not surprised by the discovery. However, she is shocked when she finds a rare drum particularly because without even touching the instrument she hears its deep resonant sound.Following the discovery, we trace the drum''s passage both backwards and forwards in time. We hear the voice of Bernard Shaawano, an Ojibwe, who tells of how his grandfather created the drum after years of mourning his younger daughter''s death and how it changes the paths of those who cross it. Through Faye, we experience her anguished relationship with a local sculptor who also mourns the loss of a daughter, and witness the life Faye has made alone with her moTrade Review‘The author knows how to spin a good yarn … Full of poetic writing and a passionate indignation on behalf of the dispossessed, this novel shows the author at her best.’ The Times ‘Erdrich handles the shift in pace beautifully. The world she portrays is harsh, with death from smallpox or starvation giving way to the oppressions of poverty and alcoholism. But such is the unsentimental poetry of Erdrich’s vision that it becomes a place to almost envy, too.’ Observer 'Resonant, poetic and exact … these visions will remain imprinted on the reader's mind.' Los Angeles Times 'Intricate and beautifully written.' Boston Globe 'Spare, perceptive, unsentimental.' New York Times

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Book SynopsisThe legendary Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill present a blazing narrative that rampages through the twentieth century, portraying four women and the long shadows cast over their lives by totalitarian rule.

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Book Synopsis''What a writer he was; he could flip over a sentence so gently, and showthe underbelly in a heartbeat. His work is always quietly compassionate'' Elizabeth StroutIn this final collection of ten exquisite, perceptive and profound stories, William Trevor probes into the depths of the human spirit. Here we encounter a tutor and his pupil, whose lives are thrown into turmoil when they meet again years later; a young girl who discovers the mother she believed dead is alive and well; and a piano-teacher who accepts her pupil''s theft in exchange for his beautiful music. These gorgeous stories - the last that Trevor wrote before his death - affirm his place as one of the world''s greatest storytellers.''Trevor is a master of both language and storytelling'' Hilary Mantel''He is one of the great short-story writers, at his best the equal of Chekhov'' John Banville''The greatest living writer of short stories in the English language'' New YorkerTrade ReviewNone but those with a complete mastery of fiction can walk this line. William Trevor was not "an Irish Chekhov" or even "the Irish Chekhov". He was and will remain the Irish William Trevor * Guardian *10 stories bring a literary career that lasted more than half a century to a consummate conclusion * Sunday Times *William Trevor's prose runs as clear as water yet tastes like gin * Economist *Extraordinary stories from ordinary lives * The Times *One of the great contemporary chroniclers of the human condition, in all its pathos, comedy and strangeness. As a writer he looked at the world with an always surprised but never scandalised eye, and his writer's heart was with those awkward and obscurely damaged souls who cannot quite manage the business of everyday life - all of us, that is * New Statesman *There are those rare, exceptional writers who are fortunate enough (like their readers) to burn bright and steady over many decades, expressing the same creative clarity at the end of their careers as they did at the beginning. William Trevor was one of those writers * LA Times *We honor him as the supreme master of his honest art * Cynthia Ozick *In the first few paragraphs of a story he could set an entire scene without seeming to, working on details, small moments, odd thoughts. As in the work of Alice Munro, there often seemed to be very little happening in his fiction, but then he was capable of offering the reader a sense of an immense dramaHis stories are formally beautiful and, at the same time, interested in the smallness of human lives. He was, as a writer, watchful, unsentimental, alert to frailty and malice. A master craftsmanTrevor is a master of both language and storytellingWe honor him as the supreme master of his honest art * Cynthia Ozick *Trevor is a master of both language and storytelling -- Hilary MantelHe is one of the great short-story writers, at his best the equal of Chekhov -- John BanvilleIn the first few paragraphs of a story he could set an entire scene without seeming to, working on details, small moments, odd thoughts. As in the work of Alice Munro, there often seemed to be very little happening in his fiction, but then he was capable of offering the reader a sense of an immense drama -- Colm TóibínThe strength of all his writing was an unshowy perfection of style, through which he expressed his unerring instinct for fairness. His total lack of self-importance allowed him to express what was important in the world around him. He was one of the greatest writers about justice and suffering, disguised as an ordinary person -- Bernard O’DonoghueA beautiful writer... I would not have become a writer at all had I not discovered his work. -- Yiyun LiThe man - the work - was brilliant, elegant, surprising, reliable, precise, stark, often sad, sometimes funny, shocking and even frightening -- Roddy DoyleHis stories are formally beautiful and, at the same time, interested in the smallness of human lives. He was, as a writer, watchful, unsentimental, alert to frailty and malice. A master craftsman -- Anne EnrightThere is no better short story writer in the English-speaking world * Wall Street Journal *Writers often get asked which authors they return to again and again, their comfort books if you will, the ones that make them remember why fiction matters. William Trevor, I have answered on countless occasions. His stories. Any of them -- John BoyneHe is, I think, sui generis, and in his 12 collections (and 13 novels, and two novellas: an exhibition of near-Updikean energy), he has created a version of the short story that almost ignores the form's hundred or so years of intricate evolution. These stories stay in the mind long after they're finished because they're so solid, so deliberately shaped and directed so surely toward their solemn, harsh conclusions -- William Boyd, reviewing Cheating at Canasta in the 'New York Times'A posthumous collection of stories by the Irish writer reflects his formidable craft * Observer *There are those rare, exceptional writers who are fortunate enough (like their readers) to burn bright and steady over many decades, expressing the same creative clarity at the end of their careers as they did at the beginning. William Trevor was one of those writers * LA Times *What you might call Trevor's parting shots are as robustly vivid and potent, as wistful and emotionally rigorous, as his more youthful oeuvre * Herald *William Trevor, master of the short story, was at the top of his game in his final decade * Telegraph *William Trevor's short fiction was the stuff of legend * Event Magazine *Trevor's prose style is effortless, elegant and economical, but manages to contain the most hugely difficult feelings: jealousy, guilt and yearning regret * Daily Mail *An Irish writer, an international writer, a great writer. Put bluntly, he is revered by writers -- Jhumpa LahiriExtraordinary stories from ordinary lives * The Times *One of the great contemporary chroniclers of the human condition, in all its pathos, comedy and strangeness. As a writer he looked at the world with an always surprised but never scandalised eye, and his writer's heart was with those awkward and obscurely damaged souls who cannot quite manage the business of everyday life - all of us, that is -- John Banville * New Statesman *10 stories bring a literary career that lasted more than half a century to a consummate conclusion -- Peter Kemp * Sunday Times *William Trevor's prose runs as clear as water yet tastes like gin * Economist *None but those with a complete mastery of fiction can walk this line. William Trevor was not "an Irish Chekhov" or even "the Irish Chekhov". He was and will remain the Irish William Trevor -- Julian Barnes * Guardian *

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Book Synopsis From the artist behind the critically acclaimed, award-winning, New York Times #1 bestselling graphic novel Logicomix comes a graphic novel about the life and legacy of Aristotle, the polymath who became one of the founding figures of modern thought Little is known about the early life of Aristotle, the polymath who would go on to serve as a cultural cornerstone of modern thought and scholarship. Alecos Papadatos, the artist behind the critically acclaimed, award-winning, New York Times #1 bestselling graphic novel Logicomix, and Tassos Apostolidis, an author and teacher, team up to bring his story to life, following the trail of clues to paint a picture of the great man and his philosophy. The son of a renowned Macedonian physician, Aristotle pursues his studies in Athens and becomes one of Plato’s favorite disciples. A great scholar, he even serves as Alexander the Great, Ptolemy, and Cassander’s personal tu

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Book Synopsis On the evening of their wedding anniversary, Ali and Matthew are involved in a fatal car accident. Trade Review Praise for Louise Sharland: ‘Atmospheric, unsettling, and gripping, Louise is clearly a fresh new talent to the genre’ Phoebe Morgan, author of The Babysitter ‘One of the best debut novels I have read – compelling, claustrophobic and captivating’ Katerina Diamond, author of The Heatwave 'An intelligent and thought-provoking story that combines psychological thrills with the heartfelt emotions of a grieving mother, with a great cast of characters, this book is highly recommended’ Louise Douglas, author of The House by the Sea ‘This was a great book to read, it had all the twists and turns in it which kept me guessing right until the end.’ Reviewer ‘A compelling emotional journey of a mother determined to get the truth. Absolutely amazing read, highly recommended.’ Reviewer ‘I stayed up all night to read this. I will need a lot of coffee soon. Help me.’ Reviewer ‘I am already eager from a new book from this author. She has been added to my auto buy list.’ Reviewer ‘The ultimate denouement is a breath-taking climax to an original and compelling read.’ Reviewer ‘The Lake easily made it onto my Loved list for 2021.’ Reviewer ‘Believable characters and author shows great insight into the tragic death of the young boy in the book.’ Reviewer ‘This was such a tense suspenseful book! It had me hooked from get go. The characters were raw… Felt what Kate was feeling and I just love that in a book!’ Reviewer ‘The plot develops beautifully, unfolding piece by piece and you really feel you’re on the voyage of discovering, taking the highs and lows with her. Stunning and a book that will stay with me for a long time.’ Reviewer ‘I will be looking out for more of Louise's books as this one was a brilliant psychological thriller.’ Reviewer

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Book SynopsisCan the bonds of motherhood give them the strength they'll need to get through the war? St Ives, Spring 1943.After having given up her baby at seventeen, Sonya is inspired by her work at an orphanage to discover what happened to her daughter twenty-five years ago. Reunited, they struggle to bond whilst braving the war together.Nurse Lily has returned to St Ives to finish training as a midwife. But when old flame Tristan is brought in wounded, she must put the past firmly to bed in order to care for him.And working at Tristan's convalescent home, Mary longs for the romance she reads of in her novels. But her overprotective mother is making that more difficult at every turnIn times of war, the Cornish Girls can rely on one another to make it through. But can they lean on the bonds of motherhood for support too?A heart-warming tale of motherhood in wartime, for fans of Nancy Revell and Donna Douglas.Readers have been swept away by the Cornish Girls:Romancefriendshiporphansfamilywomen helpTrade Review Praise for the Cornish Girls: ‘A fascinating story, beautifully written, with interesting characters I really liked. A most enjoyable read!’ Kitty Neale ‘A warm-hearted story – at times I laughed and at others I held my breath … I loved the characters and I’m delighted it is the first in a series’ Pam Weaver ‘This is the first in a series, which is great news for fans of Betty Walker and the Cornish Girls!’ Historical Novel Society

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Book SynopsisA forgotten past. A garden full of secrets. A mystery to be uncovered.1943.With her best friend having recently joined the Land Army and her mother lost in grief after the death of her father early in the war, Gloria is lonely. When she finds an unlikely kindred spirit in Jerome, an American soldier stationed in her Cotswolds village, Gloria begins to fall in love. But conflict between the soldiers and the villagers lead to an impossible choice with devastating consequences.Present day.After their dreams of starting a family are crushed, Philippa and her husband Marco need a fresh start. Focusing on repairing the crumbling walls and leaking roof of the Cotswolds house they impulsively bought seems easier work than repairing their relationship. When Philippa finds a hidden memorial hidden deep in the garden, the discovery only pushes them further apart. But as Philippa determines to uncover the truth behind the memorial, could the secrets it reveals be the key to finally putting their hTrade Review Reviews for Kerry Barrett: ‘Wonderful… Both heart-warming and heart-breaking… Unputdownable.’ Kathleen McGurl, author of The Girl from Bletchley Park ‘Poignant and full of heart, this is a beautiful read about love, kindness and impossible choices… Heart-breaking but ultimately uplifting.’ Annie Lyons, author of Eudora Honeysett Is Quite Well, Thank You

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Book Synopsis?My favourite novel and one I wish I?d written.? ALAN BENNETTWinner of the McKitterick Prize for best first novel by an author aged over 40, and the Hawthornden Prize for imaginative literature.Everyone craves retirement from the Civil Service, don?t they? That time for an ageing patriarch to enjoy the fruits of a well-earned pension and the respect of his family; maybe even to indulge in a love of music halls and metropolitan life. If only people would listen and do as they were told?His fourth son William, the long-suffering narrator, is the constant butt of his father?s jokes and victim of his brothers? indifference. But as death, divorce and other darker dramas follow, father and son slowly establish a strange harmony.Trade Review‘There’s no other novel quite like it. Andrew Barrow has the most curious, in both senses, comic ear and, as if by magic, can turn everyday speech into the stuff of sublime comedy.’Craig Brown ‘Andrew Barrow’s The Tap Dancer . . . must be my favourite novel and one I wish I’d written.’Alan Bennett ‘Andrew Barrow’s first novel is reminiscent of John Mortimer’s A Voyage Round My Father. Both are portraits of ageing patriarchs whose behaviour is outrageously self-centred but who retain a place in their children’s affections by their sheer eccentricity.’Sunday Telegraph ‘A comic masterpiece . . . Andrew Barrow’s insight into the minutiae of English family life is absolutely brilliant . . . his ear for dialogue is matchless . . . this is a great literary creation.’Spectator ‘Weird but wonderful first novel . . . brilliantly funny . . . horribly true.’Harpers & Queen ‘A magnificent creation . . . Could rank alongside Mr Pooter and Nancy Mitford’s Uncle Matthew.’Independent ‘All the characters, even the minor ones, are perfectly realised, thanks largely to Barrow’s remarkable skill at pinpointing the social and psychological undercurrents of casual conversation.’Times Literary Supplement ‘Father, tap dancing weirdly across the kitchen in moments of glee, has immense vitality . . . A comic masterpiece.’ Financial Times

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Book Synopsis?Messy Roots is a laugh-out-loud, heartfelt, and deeply engaging story of their journey to find themself--as an American, as the daughter of Chinese immigrants, as a queer person, and as a Wuhanese American in the middle of a pandemic.??Malaka Gharib, author of I Was Their American DreamAfter spending her early years in Wuhan, China, riding water buffalos and devouring stinky tofu, Laura immigrates to Texas, where her hometown is as foreign as Mars?at least until 2020, when COVID-19 makes Wuhan a household name.In Messy Roots, Laura illustrates her coming-of-age as the girl who simply wants to make the basketball team, escape Chinese school, and figure out why girls make her heart flutter.Insightful, original, and hilarious, toggling seamlessly between past and present, China and America, Gao?s debut is a tour de force of graphic storytelling.Trade Review"In this fresh, frank, and tender debut, author-illustrator Gao offers a compellingly layered graphic memoir.... A multidimensional, thoroughly entertaining account of growing into queer Asian American identity." — Publishers Weekly (starred review) “In this poignant memoir, Gao ­conveys her love for her home country and her journey as an immigrant. Her voice is grounded yet humorous; she illustrates a more ­nuanced Wuhan than the one depicted in current media, while conveying the difficulty of being a part of American society yet never feeling truly at home. A tender story of self-acceptance that lifts the story of Wuhan beyond COVID and shines light on a ­region with a rich culture and history.” — School Library Journal (starred review) “Gao personalizes her experiences with insight and humor. This book delivers a coming-of-age story that tackles themes of immigration, assimilation, racism, sexuality, and self-identity. An affecting and candid depiction of the universal search for one’s place in the world.” — Horn Book (starred review) "The narrative overlays immigrant community dynamics with the intersections of race, ethnicity, and gender in young adults’ identity development while drawing on Chinese cultural icons old and new, such as White Rabbit candies.... A nuanced representation of being Asian and transnational in the contemporary U.S." — Kirkus Reviews "In this beautifully illustrated graphic memoir, debut author/artist Gao does an excellent job of representing the complexity and challenges that came with growing up as young Chinese immigrant... [H]eartfelt and relatable." — Booklist “Messy Roots is a laugh-out-loud, heartfelt and deeply engaging story of their journey to find themself--as an American, as the daughter of Chinese immigrants, as a queer person and as a Wuhanese American in the middle of a pandemic. Through hilarious inner dialogue, videogaming references and fun explainers, Gao effortlessly brings readers into their world.” — Malaka Gharib, author of I Was Their American Dream “Messy Roots is funny, intimate, absorbing, and deeply moving. What a gift to have this peek into Laura Gao’s memories, in all their sweetness and complexity.” — Becky Albertalli, New York Times bestselling author of Kate in Waiting "Finding ourselves can be messy, but Laura Gao tells her story of self-discovery with honest and vulnerable beauty." — Mike Curato, Lambda Award-winning author of Flamer “Messy Roots surprised me in all the best ways. It’s a book that will stay with you for a long time to come.” — Tillie Walden, author of On a Sunbeam "Hilarious, heartfelt, and beautifully illustrated, Messy Roots deserves to join the Chinese American canon right next to Gene Luen Yang’s American Born Chinese." — R.F. Kuang, author of The Poppy War "Messy Roots is about the hardship of identity and the beautiful but messy journey to find it." — Aminder Dhaliwal, author of Cyclopedia Exotica

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Book SynopsisFrom the internationally bestselling author Lesley Pearse comes a moving story of family, adoption and identityLosing her adopted mother threatens all she''s ever had . . .Daisy was adopted. But when her mother dies, she finds her secure existence thrown into turmoil by the discovery of a scrapbook.Inside it is information about her real mother.However, when Daisy drops everything to go in search of her roots, she uncovers a harrowing story of greed, misery and corruption. She also risks hurting her adored Dad, the only true family she has left.Can she cope with the truth about her real parents?And more importantly, who is the real Daisy?___________''With characters it is impossible not to care about . . . this is storytelling at its very best'' Daily Mail''Lose yourself in this epic saga'' Bella''An emotional and moving epic you won''t forget in a hTrade ReviewOrphaned, lost. Who is she really? One young woman's search across the globe for a past - and a future . . . Losing her adopted mother threatens all she's ever had . . . * from the publisher's description *With characters it is impossible not to care about, this is storytelling at its very best * Daily Mail *An emotional and moving epic you won't forget in a hurry * Woman’s Weekly *

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Book SynopsisIn this intimate, confiding poetry collection, McGuinness shows how identity is layered, permeable, always in motion - how we are always actor and audience to ourselves''This is McGuinness''s best collection by far, and stands out from the crowd''SUNDAY TIMESIn Blood Feather, a book of doubling and displacement, we see time in a new way: the past, personal and collective, lingering as an ever-present ghost - while lost beyond recall.The first section, ''Squeeze the Day'' - a series of deeply moving poems about the author''s mother, displaced between languages - investigates her illness and death; how being bilingual is like having a double, a second self; how each self haunts the other. ''The Noises Things Make When They Leave'' elegises today''s post-industrial landscapes, their people and professions: sidelined by literature, bypassed by globalisation. The final sequence, ''After the Flood'', links the book''s themes, seeking a way of seeiTrade ReviewThis is McGuinness's best collection by far, and stands out from the crowd * Sunday Times *An eloquent fusion of the delicate and the direct * Financial Times, *Summer Reads of 2023* *McGuinness has a delightfully distinctive voice… His buoyant imagination always carries the day… He can be breathtakingly simple, and to have written one poem as good as 'Tired Metaphor' is enough for any writer in any year * Times Literary Supplement, *Books of the Year* *Arresting... Reminds us that the best poetry is often that which never makes it from the notebook * Guardian *Patrick McGuinness writes of the other country of childhood with Proustian élan and Nabokovian delight -- John Banville, author of The SeaA deeply moving book of poems... Shimmering with the "sweet dark syrup" of humour, and gorgeous sleights of imagery, these are poems of extraordinary grace; they come up for air with their cupped hands empty, yet brimming with light -- Fiona Benson, author of EphemeronAn extraordinary writer of great compassion -- Denise Mina, author of The Field of BloodThe brilliance of Patrick McGuinness's writing has made his memories unforgettable to the reader -- Adam Foulds, author of The Quickening MazeBrilliant... A book alive with understated yearning * Literary Review *

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Book SynopsisThis is a tale of murder.Or maybe that''s not quite true. At its heart, it''s a love story, isn''t it?One spring morning, reclusive ex-movie star Lana Farrar invites a small group of her closest friends for a weekend away, on her small private island, just off the coast of Mykonos.Beneath the surface, old friendships conceal violent passions and resentments. And in forty-eight hours, one of them will be dead.But that was just the beginning...You may think you know this story. Think again. Trade ReviewInfinitely thrilling and delicately crafted, the plot keeps everyone guessing until the very end, with an unscrupulous villain to underline just how good it is. Do no miss it * Daily Mail *Gloriously atmospheric and utterly riveting, this is my favourite Alex Michaelides yet. Readers you are in for a treat! But then what else would you expect from the undisputed master of the twist? -- Lucy FoleyDeliciously twisty and fi endishly clever. A highly enjoyable tale of subterfuge, secrets and murder * Observer *Alex Michaelides hits the trifecta with his third novel, The Fury. The highly original story structure presents the reader with the king of all unreliable narrators, enough twists and turns to power two novels, and a host of characters that bleed right on the page. For fans of erudite, locked room mysteries told with style and theatrical panache, The Fury will deliver, on all counts -- David BaldacciYou'll think you know where it's going and you couldn't be more wrong -- Linwood BarclayThe Fury by Alex Michaelides is a proper, grown-up thriller that exudes class from every page. So much more than a murder mystery, every twist and turn is simultaneously a total surprise and completely inevitable. The writing is perfectly sparse, yet cloaks a narrative of rare complexity. So many contradictions, yet all unite in a devastating whole. The Fury is a very special book and highly recommended -- Janice HallettAnother breathtakingly twisty thriller. Takes the classic murder mystery and twists it into something devious and enthralling and consistently surprising * i *This is a masterclass in suspense. A unique and captivating narrator takes you on a journey filled with twists and finely drawn characters you will treasure. This is probably his best book. Not to be missed -- Steve CavanaghA glorious triumph - just brilliant -- Stephen FryAudacious, twisty, compelling, and full of the joyous verve that one only finds in the very best storytelling, this is the best novel yet from Alex Michaelides -- Sophie HannahMichaelides takes the formula and has fun turning it inside out. Think Patricia HIghsmith meets Noel Coward * Mail on Sunday *Mesmerising - a beguiling labyrinth of twists and surprises, even better than The Silent Patient. The Fury is The Magus meets The Secret History on a Greek island paradise where nothing is as it seems, and Alex Michaelides is a master magician, skilfully misdirecting the reader at every turn -- JP DelaneyThe Fury is a masterfully woven story of Shakespearean twists and Machiavellian turns. A Greek Tragedy in the guise of a postmodern thriller. Do not miss this one. -- Holly JacksonA classic, twisting, brilliant murder mystery. A wonderfully drawn cast of characters with a motive to kill for, in a location to die for, keep you guessing until the shocking finale. Clever, and fiendishly fun -- Chris WhitakerA very sophisticated book which takes the format of a classic murder mystery and elevates it to something very devious and clever indeed. The narrator is fabulous - I was throughly gripped by his voice and it seems to have been written with great glee. There's such a tremendous complicity to it even though the reader has no idea how much of what he's telling is true, even down to the final pages. The way it reveals itself through the layers of the narrative is very well done indeed. -- Harriet TyceThe Fury, like its beguiling narrator, is endlessly evolving, wildly entertaining, and like the very best fiction, impossible to pin down. Just when you think you have it cornered, it moves, impossibly and with stunning flourish, toward a devastating finale. The Talented Mr. Ripley for our time -- Blake CrouchAlex Michaelides is the grand master of the modern mystery. The Fury reads like Hitchcock with a heart, or Agatha Christie running amok on a wind-whipped Greek island. A tale of old friends and buried emotions ready to explode, all set on in an idyllic island rendered so perfectly you can smell the jasmine, the ouzo and the Aegean Sea. The Fury will, quite literally, blow you away. Totally brilliant. -- Tony ParsonsA master storyteller that never fails to deliver * Daily Mail *Glamorous, sinister, and endlessly surprising, The Fury reads like Agatha Christie and Patricia Highsmith took a Greek vacation together and decided to write a book while there. It's twisty, twisted entertainment -- Riley SagerOne of those rare books where really nothing is as it seems. As usual, Alex Michaelides does not disappoint -- Ragnar JonassonPraise for Alex Michaelides -- :A deliciously dark, elegant, utterly compulsive read - with a twist that blew my mind -- Lucy FoleyI read it in two nights and savoured every luscious word, every grim encounter, every startling twist -- David BaldacciThe perfect thriller. I quite literally couldn't put it down -- A. J. FinnOne of the best psychological thrillers I have ever read... one of the most shocking, mind-blowing twists in recent memory -- Blake CrouchAbsolutely brilliant . . . I read it in a state of intense, breathless excitement -- Stephen Fry

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Book SynopsisTHE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER, SOON TO BE A MAJOR TV SERIES It''s not what you''ve lost . . . it''s what you''ve found.One summer morning, a flight takes off from New York to Los Angeles: there are 192 people aboard. When the plane suddenly crashes, twelve-year-old Edward Adler is the sole survivor.In the aftermath, Edward struggles to make sense of his grief, sudden fame and find his place in a world without his family. But then Edward and his neighbour Shay make a startling discovery; hidden in his uncle''s garage are letters from the relatives of other passengers - all addressed him.Following the passengers'' final hours and Edward''s unique coming-of-age, Dear Edward asks one of life''s most profound questions:What does it mean not just to survive, but to truly live?---------------------------------''Ann Napolitano''s writing is astonishing. I''m in awe'' Marian Keyes''A very moving and emotional read'' Anne Tyler''Gripping and elegiac, this is a captivating novel about loss, love and growing up'' Rosamund Lupton''That rare book that breaks your heart and stitches it back together . . . Don''t miss this one'' Jodi PicoultTrade ReviewA powerful book about living a meaningful life during the most difficult of times * New York Times *Outstanding, beautifully written, a compulsive read -- John BoyneThat rare book that breaks your heart and stitches it back together . . . Don't miss this one -- Jodi PicoultA very moving and emotional read -- Anne TylerGripping... a captivating novel about loss, love and growing up -- Rosamund LuptonWonderful... a beautifully written coming-of-age story -- Nina StibbeDear Edward made me think, nod in recognition, care about its characters, and cry, and you can't ask more of a novel than that -- Emma DonoghueStunning, life-affirming * Vogue *

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Book SynopsisBY THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE TALENTED MR RIPLEY, CAROL AND STRANGERS ON A TRAINCompleted just months before Patricia Highsmith''s death in 1995, Small g explores the labyrinthine intricacies of passion, sexuality, and jealousy in a charming tale of love misdirected.''It has a serenity rarely found in Highsmith''s world'' GEOFFREY ELBORN, GUARDIAN ''What is most remarkable in this novel is the empathy . . . with which Highsmith writes about gay men'' FRANCIS KING, SPECTATOR ''Like Ripley, [Highsmith''s characters] burn in a reader''s memory'' LOS ANGELES TIMES BOOK REVIEW At the ''small g'', a Zurich bar known for its not exclusively gay clientele, the lives of a small community are played out one summer.Rickie Markwalder is a designer whose lover Petey was brutally murdered. Rickie and his performing dog Lulu are regulars at the bar, as are vTrade ReviewFrom the first page it is recognizably authentic Highsmith. Perhaps approaching her lesbian novel Carol in tenderness and theme, it has a serenity rarely found in Highsmith's world -- Geoffrey Elborn * Guardian *Years of producing tight, energetic thrillers has honed down Highsmith's style, and in this book, with its child-like simplicity, is quite wonderfully readable -- Philip Hensher * Mail on Sunday *The novel is a delight . . . all the more so for its untypically sunny atmosphere * Daily Telegraph *Small g is a welcome addition to Highsmith's published novels, offering readers an insight into a fascinating aspect of Swiss society and an opportunity to explore Highsmith's final concerns and obsessionsIts superabundance of characters is only one of the elements that give Small g its air of Shakespearean complexity * New York Times Book Review *What is most remarkable in this novel is the empathy . . . with which Highsmith writes about gay men . . . one can imagine the Small g existing, a piquant mixture of bohemianism and respectability, exactly as Highsmith describes it -- Francis King * Spectator *Like Ripley, [Highsmith's characters] burn in a reader's memory * Los Angeles Times Book Review *All the qualities we love about Highsmith's work . . . are here in abundance . . . her characters astonish themselves, and us, by discovering love in the very last places they ever expected to find it * O Magazine *

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Book Synopsis''A captivating, suspenseful thriller that draws you in - with a twist that will take your breath away.'' TM Logan, bestselling author of The Holiday***After the sudden death of her husband, Tess is drowning in grief. All she has left is her son, Jamie, and she'll do anything to protect him but she's struggling to cope.When grief counsellor Shelley knocks on their door, everything changes. Shelley is understanding and kind, and promises she can help Tess through the hardest time of her life. But when a string of unsettling events happens and questions arise over her husband's death, Tess starts to suspect that Shelley may have an ulterior motive. Tess knows she must do everything she can to keep Jamie safe but she's at her most vulnerable, and that's a dangerous place to be . . .***READERS ARE OBSESSED WITH THE PERFECT BETRAYAL:This book floored me!' I'm still holding my brTrade ReviewAs satisfyingly intriguing and page-turning as you could possibly want. An emotional read - the end is a shocker! * Emma Curtis, acclaimed author of ONE LITTLE MISTAKE *A heart-rending evocation of grief that packs a devious punch. It left me reeling. * Lesley Kara, bestselling author of THE RUMOUR *A beautifully written psychological suspense about the power of love after a life-changing loss. A sense of impending doom and foreboding gripped me from the first page as I struggled with Tess to make sense of her new life. Lauren North brilliantly portrays Tess's fear, panic, and confusion, making me root for her throughout. The ending is stunning and powerful. * Mary Torjussen, author of THE GIRL I USED TO BE *A captivating, suspenseful thriller that draws you in - with a twist that will take your breath away. * TM Logan, bestselling author of LIES and THE HOLIDAY *Expertly executed characters who broke my heart and shocks that had me double checking I'd locked the doors, with one of those jaw-on-the-floor twists. What a book! * Jack Jordan, author of BEFORE HER EYES *The Perfect Betrayal had my head spinning 360 degrees . . . Brilliant. * Sandie Jones, author of Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick THE OTHER WOMAN *

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Book Synopsis 'Stand-out' Caz Frear 'Captivating' Samantha Downing 'Razor-sharp' Laura Lippman 'Riveting’ Liv Constantine 'Sharp and sassy' Heat**Winner of a Lefty Award for Best Mystery** **Edgar Award and Anthony Award Finalist** **Shortlisted for Thriller of the Year at the Capital Crime Fingerprint Awards**  She found out her sister was back in New York from Instagram. She found out about her death from the New York Daily News.But she’s the only one convinced it wasn’t an accident . . .    Desiree Pierce, a Black reality TV star, is found dead on a playground in the Bronx. Her death is quickly declared an overdose by the police and the media – tragic, but not a crime.   Lena Scott, Desiree’s sister, knows that can&rsTrade Review'Kellye Garrett, a break-out star in crime fiction . . . A traditional mystery set in the world of reality television and Instagram influencers, it is equal parts charm and heartbreak, with razor-sharp insights on class, race, and family. I'm happy to know that Kellye Garrett is just getting started. I can't wait to see what she does next' Laura Lippman 'A riveting, read-through-the-night thriller by a masterful storyteller. From the very first page to the jaw-dropping finish, this is one you need to put at the top of your reading list' Liv Constantine 'Like a Sister is a marvel and a must-read story for the current moment. Garrett, with deft humor and a perfect eye for the blurred lines of social media and reality TV, has crafted a gripping narrative of domestic suspense which delivers hard, essential truths about race, class, and makes us question why some women's stories are too often disbelieved' Ivy Pochoda 'In death, reality star Desiree Pierce should be absolved of her sins, but instead has accumulated strikes against her character – unless her sister Lena can prove she was murdered . . . Domestic suspense for the Instagram gen. #lovedit' Lori Rader-Day 'Like A Sister is fresh, original, funny and with such a strong voice, like a great noir novel of the 1920s and 30s sling-shotted into modern-day New York. Think Dashiell Hammett with hip hop and social media. In Lena Scott, Kellye Garrett has created a cynical, loyal and utterly real character – the kind of modern, clued-up woman you’d definitely want on your side. Garrett is a clear front runner in the genre, writing a compulsive crime tale with family at its heart' Emma Bamford, debut author of Deep Water 'This murder mystery with attitude is sharp and sassy' Heat 'A smart New York switchback ride of a thriller, with a fresh and likeable heroine' Mail on Sunday 'A classy thriller featuring a fascinating, if reluctant heroine' Maxim Jakubowski, Crime Time

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Book Synopsis An intimate, clever, and ultimately gut-wrenching graphic memoir about the daily decision people must make between being sexualized or being invisible—now in paperback In Commute, we follow author and illustrator Erin Williams on her daily commute to and from work, punctuated by recollections of sexual encounters as well as memories of her battle with alcoholism, addiction, and recovery. As she moves through the world navigating banal, familiar, and sometimes uncomfortable interactions with the familiar-faced strangers she sees daily, Williams weaves together a riveting collection of flashbacks. Williams recollections highlight the indefinable moments when lines are crossed and a woman must ask herself if the only way to avoid being objectified is to simply cease drawing any attention to her physical being. She delves into the gray space that lives between consent and assault and tenderly explores the complexity of the shame, guilt, vulnerabilitTrade ReviewWilliams does not shy away from her shame. She is also angry, and she knows she is not alone, and that brilliant anger is where the book becomes truly great. Her confidence—and literal straight gaze at the reader, full of vulnerability and challenge—makes this volume a critique, a lament, and a sigh. As Williams elegantly argues, many women need all three. This sharp and splendidly drawn memoir will strike a strong chord in the current moment. * Publishers Weekly, Starred Review *“One day’s commute offers time for the author to reflect on sexual predators, alcoholism, and the experiences she understands better now than she did at the time…A catharsis for the author that fits perfectly within a pivotal period for society and culture at large.” * Kirkus Reviews *...[Williams] adds an eloquent voice to the chorus of stories testifying to the daily experiences of women under patriarchy. Commute is a book that really should be read by everyone. * BookPage, Starred Review *“Williams is as unapologetic in this book as she is vulnerable, which makes for a unique, timely, and powerful read.” * The Beat *“This is welcoming, soul-baring, stunningly interconnected, and very discussable.” * Booklist *

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Book Synopsis A powerful graphic novel adaptation of the classic and genre-defining war novel The Red Badge of Courage, which has been continuously in print since 1894, available simultaneously in hardcover and paperback Steve Cuzor's stark yet detailed artwork perfectly capture the realistic prose of the original novel, presenting a lushly illustrated, unflinching depiction of war through the eyes of a young, inexperienced soldier. By illustrating the story, Cuzor pulls readers into the midst of the action, making Henry Fleming’s experience feel all the more visceral. Literary aficionados and students alike will find another layer of this classic story to appreciate in this new adaptation of Crane’s magnum opus. Written by Stephen Crane when he was just 24, The Red Badge of Courage is a Civil War story that captured the imaginations of readers worldwide and made its author an overnight literary icon. A groundbreaking and

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Book Synopsis'A powerful story, sweetly told' - Antonio Iturbe, author of The Librarian of AuschwitzA country torn apart by war. Two siblings divided by fate.Italy, 1938. Mussolini is in power and war is not far away . . .Clara and Pippo are just children: quiet, thoughtful Clara is the older sister; Pippo, the younger brother, is forever chatting. The family has only recently arrived in the city carrying their few possessions.When Mamma goes missing early one morning, both Clara and Pippo go in search of her. Clara turns right; Pippo left.As a result of the choices they make that morning, their lives will be changed forever.Diana Rosie’s Pippo and Clara tells the story of a family and a country divided. But will Clara and Pippo - and their mother - find each other again?Trade ReviewAn absorbing story of a brother and sister separated by troubled times in an Italy torn between fascination and hatred of fascism . . . A powerful story sweetly told -- Antonio Iturbe, author of The Librarian of AuschwitzA heartbreaking read set against the backdrop of WWII * S Magazine (Express) *Deeply affecting . . . This is an enjoyable, fast-paced and emotionally engaging story that portrays the ideological divides of wartime Italy from different childhood perspectives * Historical Novel Society *Moving and evocative . . . Rosie has produced a tender portrayal of wartime Italy, vividly describing the previously vibrant neighbourhoods and the bravery that sometimes comes to the fore in the face of tragedy * The Lady *Diana Rosie’s latest novel tells the story of a family pulled apart by conflict . . . Pippo and Clara’s dad was killed when they were very young and when the family move to an Italian city, they find themselves separated from both their mother and each other. Taken in by two different families, they dream of finding each other again as they do their best to survive in Italy’s changing political climate * OK Magazine *Charms and illuminates in equal measure -- Fanny Blake on Alberto's Lost BirthdayMoving, thoughtful and absorbing . . . Alberto's Lost Birthday reminds us of the importance of home and the peace that comes with knowing who we truly are -- Mail on Sunday on Alberto's Lost BirthdayWill capture your heart until the very end -- Essentials magazine on Alberto's Lost BirthdayA fascinating look at Spain’s troubled history and a heartwarming intergenerational love story about the bonds of family -- Red magazine on Alberto's Lost Birthday

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Book SynopsisWashington Post''s Top 10 Graphic Novels 2012''An unflinching and frequently unforgiving narrative of what it means to have bipolar disorder'' - John Crace, Guardian''Marbles isn''t just a great story; it''s proof that artists don''t have to be tortured to be brilliant.'' - Entertainment WeeklyShortly before her thirtieth birthday, Forney was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Suffering from (but enjoying) extreme mania, and terrified that medication would cause her to lose creativity, she began a long struggle over many years to find mental stability while retaining her creativity. Searching to make sense of the popular idea of the ''crazy artist'', she finds inspiration from the lives and work of other artists and writers who suffered from mood disorders, including Vincent van Gogh, Georgia O''Keeffe, William Styron, and Sylvia Plath. She also researches the clinical aspects of bipolar disorder, incluTrade ReviewNot only does her conversational intimacy draw readers in, but her drawings perfectly capture the exhilarating frenzy of mania and the dark void of depression...Forney's story should resonate with those grappling with similar issues, while her artistry should appeal to a wide readership. Kirkus (Starred Review) Ellen Forney's memoir of her bipolar diagnosis and long pharmacopic trek toward balance is painfully honest and joyously exuberant. Her drawings evoke the neuron-crackling high of mania and the schematic bleakness of depression with deft immediacy. Forney is at the height of her powers as she explores the tenuous line between mood disorders and creativity itself. -- Alison Bechdel, author of Fun Home. Forney's exhilarating and enlightening autobiographical portrait of her bipolar disorder (otherwise known as manic depression), takes the reader on an emotional rollercoaster, an authentic evocation of the author's journey. Her clear and thoughtful art provides a powerful, effective and brilliant illumination of this unforgettable adventure. Miami Herald Marbles isn't just a great story; it's proof that artists don't have to be tortured to be brilliant. Entertainment Weekly Dense with intellectual and emotional power, Forney's book is a treasure--as a memoir, as an artwork, and as a beautifully conceived and executed commentary on both mental experience and the creative life. With wit, humor, a wicked sense of the absurd, and eloquent insight into the beauty that shines through the mercurial life of the mind, this graphic memoir explores its subject with a particular precision and power. Forney should be read. -- Marya Hornbacher, bestselling author of Madness: A Bipolar Life

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Book SynopsisA singular gift. At once gentle and piercing, spare and profound, [Saito's] artistry breaks open hearts, releasing rivers of love for what isand grief for what is already lost. NAOMI KLEIN, New York Timesbestselling author ofDoppelgangerIn her debut collection of comics, artistand climate activist Madeleine Jubilee Saito offers a quietlyradical message of hope.Framed as a letter in response to a loved one's pain, this series of ethereal vignettestakes readers on a journey from seemingly inescapable isolation and despair, through grief and rage, toward the hope of community and connection. Drawing on her faith as well as the traditions of climate and disability justice, Saito reminds readers that if we're going to challenge fossil fuel capitalism, we must first imagine what lies beyond it: The beauty and joy of a healed world.

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Book SynopsisMeet Detective Superintendent Roy Grace on his unforgettable first major case, in this TV tie-in edition of Dead Simple, by award winning crime author Peter James.Now a major ITV series, Grace, adapted for television by screenwriter Russell Lewis and starring John Simm.It was meant to be a harmless stag-night prank. But a few hours later, the groom has disappeared and his friends are dead.With only three days to the wedding, Roy Grace is contacted by the man’s distraught fiancée to unearth what happened on that fateful night.The one man who ought to know of the groom’s whereabouts is saying nothing. But then he has a lot more to gain than anyone realizes, for one man’s disaster is another man’s fortune . . .Although the Roy Grace novels can be read in any order, Dead Simple is the first thrilling title in the bestselling series. Enjoy more of the Brighton detective’s investigations with Looking Good Dead and Not Dead Enough.Trade ReviewA terrific tale of greed, seduction and betrayal * Daily Telegraph *Ingenious plotting, high suspense and tight writing * Daily Mail *

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Book Synopsis'Simultaneously tragic and uplifting. And I have to say at times funny. Charlotte Levin is SUCH a clever writer . . . A magnificent read' – Ruth Jones, author of Love Untold'This emotional rollercoaster is alternately heart-breaking and hopeful. I was gripped' – Daily MailA gripping, darkly comic tale of searing loss, coercive control and the consequences of taking the wrong path.Every morning, Janet Brown goes to work cleaning offices. It calms her – cleanliness, neatness. All the things she’s unable to do with her soul can be achieved with a damp cloth and a splash of bleach. However, the guilt she still carries about a devastating loss that happened eleven years ago, cannot be erased so easily.When Janet finds herself involved in a train crash, she recognizes her chance to do what she couldn’t all those years ago. And she makes a decision. As news spreads of Janet’s actions, her story inspires everyone around her and, for the first time, her life has purpose. Her future is filled with hope.But Janet's story isn't quite what it seems. As events spiral out of control, she soon discovers that coming clean isn't an option. Because if Janet washes away the lies, what long-buried truths will she finally have to face?If I Let You Go by Charlotte Levin is a deeply moving and gripping portrayal of a woman coming to terms with loss.Trade ReviewA gripping story. My heart was in my mouth! -- Ruth Jones, author of Love UntoldThis emotional rollercoaster is alternately heart-breaking and hopeful. I was gripped. * Daily Mail *Heartrending and surprising, with an very believable protagonist, this is a tale of loss, grief, abuse and fractured relationships. A tremendously moving second novel from Charlotte Levin. * Culturefly *Exploring grief and guilt, this thriller is an easy page turner. Heartfelt but with a dark streak. * Heat *Levin's debut If I Can't Have You was a must-read and this new book is just as addictive. * Good Housekeeping *What a treat this book is. There hasn't been a protagonist who has got under my skin in such a big way since Eleanor Oliphant. I rooted for Janet from the first page, and in all her sadness and shyness, wanted the best for her. Beautifully observed and tender, this is a story of redemption, of loss and survival, full of twists and turns, and with a big northern heart pulsing throughout -- Julie Hesmondhalgh, from The Pact, Broadchurch and Coronation StreetA moving portrait of a coercive marriage that will have you gripped to see if Janet will break free * Women & Home *A thoughtful, beautifully written book about grief, and ordinary people being thrown into extraordinary circumstances. Unusual and compelling, with just a touch of humour. Loved it -- Catherine Cooper author of The Chalet and The CruiseImpossible to put down, this is a darkly brilliant novel that balances the heartbreak with the humour. -- Louise Hare, bestselling author of This Lovely CityPowerful, hard-hitting, provoking -- L.V. Matthews, bestselling author of The Twins and The PrankTremendously powerful. Nobody writes quite like Charlotte Levin. It's at once uplifting and heartbreaking; excruciating and inspiring. She captures the essence of her characters like no other writer I know. A brilliant achievement. -- Emma Christie, bestselling author of Find Her First and The Silent DaughterI loved If I Let You Go. It is beautifully written, stark yet redemptive — moving, hopeful, powerful and wonderfully human. Charlotte Levin is the queen of complex narrators. I feel like I’ve known Janet all my life. -- Caroline Hulse, author of All the Fun of the FairUtterly gripping, almost unbearably poignant yet warm, wise and full of hope - a story I'll remember for a long time. -- Frances Quinn bestselling author of The Smallest ManAn intensely beautiful depiction of vulnerability that instantly draws you into the world of a disturbingly fragile woman. This is powerful and subtle writing that is incredibly moving. An exquisite book! -- Victoria Dowd, author of A Book of MurderCharlotte Levin is one of the most interesting and talented writers around at the moment -- Trevor Wood, bestselling author of Dead End StreetIt is both heartbreaking and hopeful - Charlotte writes the most stunning prose and her character observations are both darkly humorous and incredibly insightful. I loved it! -- Nikki Smith author of Look What You Made Me DoA deeply empathetic exploration of grief, loneliness, guilt, toxic relationships and forgiving oneself. At its heart, this is a poignantly sad story, but it is told with such humour and warmth that one cannot help but enjoy every nuance drawn through the perfectly written prose -- Louise Fein, author of People Like UsIf I Let You Go is a funny, dark, heart-breaking book about love, courage and finding yourself. With sharp characterisation and warmth on every page, and a heroine you’ll be rooting for from the word go. I absolutely adored it. -- Eleni Kyriacou, author of She Came To Stay

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Book SynopsisThe Librarian of Auschwitz is ideal for readers of The Tattooist of Auschwitz and The Choice, this graphic novel is the story of the smallest library in the world – and the most dangerous. Based on a true story, it is an extraordinary novel of courage and hope by Antonio Iturbe and Loreto Aroca.‘It wasn’t an extensive library. In fact, it consisted of eight books and some of them were in poor condition. But they were books. In this incredibly dark place, they were a reminder of less sombre times, when words rang out more loudly than machine guns . . .’Fourteen-year-old Dita is one of the many imprisoned by the Nazis at Auschwitz. Taken, along with her mother and father, from the Terezín ghetto in Prague, Dita is adjusting to the constant terror that is life in the camp. When Jewish leader Freddy Hirsch asks Dita to take charge of the eight precious books the prisoners have managed to smuggle past the guards, she agrees. And so Dita becomes the secret librarian of Auschwitz, responsible for the safekeeping of the small collection of titles, as well as the ‘living books’ – prisoners of Auschwitz who know certain books so well, they too can be ‘borrowed’ to educate the children in the camp.But books are extremely dangerous. They make people think. And nowhere are they more dangerous than in Block 31 of Auschwitz, the children’s block, where the slightest transgression can result in execution, no matter how young the transgressor . . .Based on the incredible and moving true story of Dita Kraus, holocaust survivor and secret librarian for the children’s block in Auschwitz.Trade ReviewAn unforgettable, heartbreaking novel * Publishers Weekly, starred review *Like Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief, it’s a sophisticated novel with mature themes, delivering an emotionally searing reading experience. An important novel that will stand with other powerful testaments from the Holocaust era. * Booklist, starred review *Though no punches are pulled about the unimaginable atrocity of the death camps, a life-affirming history. * Kirkus Reviews, starred review *this novel is one that could easily be recommended . . . alongside Elie Wiesel's Night and The Diary of Anne Frank . . . once read, will never be forgotten . . . A hauntingly authentic Holocaust retellingAn engrossing read, seamlessly translated from Iturbe's original Spanish. Iturbe retains the dignity and full horror of Dita's situation, while creating a narrative of hope and bravery in the face of fear. * Compass Magazine *

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Book SynopsisWOULD YOU EVER GIVE UP ON FINDING YOUR CHILD, IF THEY VANISHED WITHOUT A TRACE?Number One Irish bestselling author of When All is Said Anne Griffin returns with this beautiful, emotional novel about love, loss, family and hope that will break your heart . . . but also put it back together again.THE IRISH BESTSELLER THAT EVERYONE IS RAVING ABOUT:'Stunning . . . I loved it' LIZ NUGENT'Elegant and moving' JOHN BOYNE'A storyteller of rate gifts' JOSEPH O'CONNOR'A beautiful, emotive mystery' CHRIS WHITAKER'Gently heartbreaking, but also hopeful and uplifting. An insight into the fragility of the human condition and what holds us together when we break' IRISH TIMESOne unremarkable afternoon, Rosie watched her daughter Saoirse cycle into town, expecting to hear the slam of the door when she returned a few hours later. But the slam never came.Eight years on, after an extensive investigation into her disappearance, Rosie is the only person who stubbornly believes that her child might still be alive. When Rosie receives a call from her father, asking her to return home for the summer, she is forced out of her limbo. Life on the island of Roaring Bay revives old rivalries, but it also brings new friendships and unexpected solace.Yet, when a sudden glimmer of hope appears, Rosie is forced to face an impossible question: is she right to think that Saoirse is still alive? Or will her belief that her daughter will one day return to her come at the cost of everything she has left?'This book consumed me' DISHA BOSE'A hauntingly beautiful tale' SUNDAY POST'Tender and wise and life-affirming' KATHLEEN MACMAHON'A compelling novel about the healing power of community' SARAH GILMARTIN'Griffin's writing is as engaging and compassionate as ever: The Island of Longing is a superb novel that tussles with the hope and heartbreak of being alive' DANIELLE MCLAUGHLIN'This beautiful novel about maternal love is especially moving on the back and forth between hope and acceptance' GOOD HOUSEKEEPING'One of Griffin's great gifts is how she draws small-town communities and the personalities that make them what they are' IRISH SUNDAY TIMESTrade ReviewHer most emotionally complex book yet . . . Gently heartbreaking, but also hopeful and uplifting. An insight into the fragility of the human condition and what holds us together when we break -- Edel Coffey * Irish Times *One of Griffin's great gifts is how she draws small-town communities and the personalities that make them what they are * Irish Sunday Times Culture *Exquisite -- Woman's OwnThis beautiful novel about maternal love is especially moving on the back and forth between hope and acceptance. -- Good HousekeepingAn agonising but hauntingly beautiful tale * Sunday Post *An elegant and moving account of family loss and reconnection, this is Anne Griffin's best novel yet. -- John BoyneAn immensely powerful novel by a storyteller of rare gifts -- Joseph O'ConnorAnne takes a deep dive into the soul of the mother of a missing child and the result is a story that is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Beautifully written and sensitive without ever being sentimental, this is a stunning portrait by a master craftswoman. I loved it. -- Liz NugentA beautiful, emotive, heartbreaking mystery. The Island of Longing takes a quietly powerful, yet deeply hopeful, humorous and compassionate look at loss, and belonging, and the absolute agony of the unknown. -- Chris WhitakerAnne Griffin is a lovely writer, and this is a lovely book . . . Oiled by the sturdy little ferry that ploughs the sea between the novel's West Cork island setting and the mainland, Griffin's story is tender and wise and ultimately life-affirming. -- Kathleen MacMahonAnne Griffin's central character Rosie Driscoll will pitch your heart into a stormy sea. You'll feel as if you're right beside her in the waves of love and loss as she strikes out for safe harbour. A beautiful story, steeped in Irish brine -- Tish DelaneyGripping, heart-wrenching and acutely human novel that offers a deeply empathetic view of suffering and resilience - and the many shapes that survival can take. Read this book! -- Alice RyanA powerful novel that is full of grace, this latest work of beauty proves once again that Griffin is a gorgeous storyteller full of empathy and wisdom -- Helen CullenGriffin's writing is as engaging and compassionate as ever: The Island of Longing is a superb novel that tussles with the hope and heartbreak of being alive. -- Danielle McLaughlinA compelling, cleverly structured novel about loss, legacy and the healing power of community -- Sarah GilmartinWith a great ear for dialogue and eye for setting, Griffin builds a real sense of what loss can do to a family. * The Style List *A beautiful novel, heartbreaking, thoroughly moving and impossible to put down, The Island of Longing further enhances Anne Griffin's standing as one of our very best writers. A sheer joy to read, and a book that deserves to hit every height -- Billy O'CallaghanWhat do you think when the unthinkable happens? The Island of Longing transported me to West Cork to ask that very question in a moving story of family, loss and hope. It's the little details-dialogue, street names and details on the ferryboat-that made me feel at home with heroine, Rosie . . . Griffin perfectly captures the stifling isolation of grief, how claustrophobic tragedy can feel and how, sometimes, only the sea can offer relief. -- Freya BromleyI sympathised with Rosie on every page . . . a suspenseful and deeply satisfying novel -- Margot LiveseyI absolutely loved this novel. Incredibly moving, beautifully observed, with characters so well-drawn that I felt I'd known them my whole life. Although the subject matter is achingly sad, the warmth and humanity that shines through Anne's writing makes it a total joy to read. A bittersweet story of love and loss, deftly and sensitively told, that will stick with me for a long time to come. -- Rebecca PertThe Island of Longing is a moving unforgettable novel, about the burden of loss and grieving, told through Griffin's vivid prose and characteristic gentle humour. This book consumed me -- Disha BoseA beautifully written tale of love, loss and human endurance, with an emotional depth that rings true. -- Madeleine D'ArcyPRAISE FOR ANNE GRIFFIN:There are deep thoughts sown beneath the light and charming surfaces of Griffin's novels. Her books are fable-like, deep musings on life, mortality, and what makes a life worth living, philosophy for everyday readers, cleverly disguised as a good old-fashioned story * Irish Times *The next big name to emerge from the Irish writing scene. -- John BoyneIreland's long line of magical storytellers is further enriched by Anne Griffin, who follows her poignant debut When All is Said with another outstanding read * Sunday Express *

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Book Synopsis"A novel of exceptional emotional force" John Self, Guardian***A Financial Times Fiction in Translation Book of the Year 2023***It's not only grief and loneliness that have tormented Tara since her husband's death. In her, something rises and crests like a wave. As she sits in squalor in a house that once knew love, she hears the deafening cry of a past she thought was stifled and the resurgence of the person she had been before. A girl with another name, who loved to laugh and dance, who believed in the innocence of childhood until she was overtaken by her country's demons. With her characteristic lyricism and precision, Nathacha Appanah offers us total immersion into a world of lost futures and hidden pasts, in which the implacable hand of fate can only be resisted at a price.Translated from the French by Jeffrey ZuckermanTrade ReviewNothing Belongs to You is a physical novel - its sentences grab you by the throat, devour you, haunt you. The prose is magnificent because from its shadows and its ghosts, a light emerges, despite everything. A tour de force -- Mohammed Aïssaoui * Le Figaro *Nathacha Appanah has penned an unsettling novel, full of imaginative, dizzying and hypnotic prose -- Linda Pommereul * Page des Libraires *A wonderful return to Nathacha Appanah's sensual and committed writing on the condition of women and the state of the world * Le Point *Refusing to take the easy way out, the writer avoids the traps of pathos or of pity. Nathacha Appanah is one of our most singular novelists -- Hubert Artus * Le Parisien *A deeply moving book of rare literary power -- Clémence Roux * Marie France *A novel of exceptional emotional force -- John Self * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisDivision Street is full of secrets. And one night in particular has been kept buried.'Lyrically examines the ways a single event can alter many lives for ever . . . wonderful' Good HousekeepingAn impulsive lie – told with the best intentions – consumes the Wilf family. Even as they change and grow, each is haunted by what they choose to forget. Then the Shenkmans move in across the street: a couple with their own secrets and a lonely, brilliant son.As their stories collide in ways they never could have imagined, the past comes hurtling back to Division Street, setting in motion a spellbinding chain of events that will transform both families forever.A heart-stopping story about human connection, for fans of THE PAPER PALACE and LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE‘A fantastic writer’ Dolly Alderton‘Stunning’ Lisa Taddeo‘Tender and philosophical’ Hannah Beckerman, Observer* READERS LOVE SIGNAL FIRES * 'Was both devastated and wowed at the end''The best novel that I've read all year! I couldn't put it down''Profoundly moving, deeply relatable and so beautifully written''Gorgeous, deeply moving and captivating''Beautiful, full of emotion and magic'Trade ReviewSignal Fires is a great novel, but it's also something rarer: a good novel, one that shines with deep truths about what it is to love someone, lose them, and live on * Financial Times *A stunning future classicTender and philosophical * Observer *Gripping * People Magazine *Lyrically examines the ways a single event can alter many lives for ever . . . wonderful * Good Housekeeping BOOK OF THE MONTH *

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Book SynopsisWe thought because we had power, we had wisdom. A unique mix of prose and sequential storytelling, Lore follows Jennifer Bradley's journey to solve the mystery of her father's death. But her search grows increasingly bizarre when what she discovers threatens not just her existence, but the entirety of modern society, too.

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Book SynopsisMake Me a Woman offers charming vignettes about being young, Jewish, and singleIt''s easy to understand why Vanessa Davis has taken the comics industry by storm and is poised to do the same with the world at largeher comics are pure chutzpah, gorgeously illustrated in watercolors. No story is too painful to telllike how much she enjoyed fat camp. Nor too off-limitslike her critique of R. Crumb. Nor too personallike her stories of growing up Jewish in Florida. Using her sweet but biting wit, Davis effortlessly carves out a wholly original and refreshing niche in two well-worn territories: autobio comics and the Jewish identity.Davis draws strips from her daily diary, centering on her youth, mother, relationships with men, and eventually her longtime boyfriend. Her intimacy, self-deprecation, and candor have deservedly earned her many accolades and awards. Her deft comedic touch, lush color, and immediacy will set Davis apart not only as one of the premier carto

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Book SynopsisWhat if your son was the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll?From the moment she first holds him, Gladys Presley loves her son Elvis ferociously. She is the one by his side when his father is in the jailhouse; as they move from place to place skirting poverty; as Elvis’s obsession with music grows and he begins his whirlwind rise to never-before-seen success. But while he brings audiences across the land to their knees and achieves unimagined wealth and fame, there is another story – of drinking and diet pills, loneliness and loss – and at the height of his power Elvis finds that even kings must go on alone.‘Roberts is an exceptionally tender and empathetic writer, and the story of Elvis Presley and his relationship with his mother is one ripe for her skills… both epic and intimate’ GraziaTrade ReviewAn immediately convincing evocation of time and place, as well as character, colour, sultry heat and complex emotions... Moving effortlessly between the late 1950s and Elvis's straitened upbringing, it vividly conveys his world * Sunday Times *This is an impressive, deceptively gentle novel, full of quiet music and even quieter tragedy -- Claire Allfree * Daily Telegraph *One of the best books about a rock star I've ever readBethan Roberts grew up in a house filled with Elvis’s music and pored over her mother’s Elvis annuals and scrapbooks as a child… its emotional range rings true and its fidelity to a certain strain of wistful melancholy might go deeper than facts... an understated, thoughtful novel about a man who wore suits fashioned from gold leaf on stage, which occasionally prompts the reader to burst into song. -- Susie Boyt * Financial Times *Graceland is an astonishing literary achievement. Bethan Roberts somehow manages to unlock the mystery to that beautiful sadness in the voice of Elvis. Utterly heartbreaking. -- Jake Arnott

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