Narrative theme: health and illness

Book Synopsis* SOON TO BE A MAJOR TV SERIES STARRING SARAH MICHELLE GELLAR AS AMBER REYNOLDS *Marvellous' A. J. Finn'A bold and original voice' Clare MackintoshA brilliant thriller' Ali LandMy name is Amber Reynolds. There are three things you should know about me.1. I'm in a coma2. My husband doesn't love me any more3. Sometimes I lieUnnerving, twisted and utterly compelling, you won't be able to put this thriller down.Trade Review‘A gripping debut with a brilliant twist, I loved it’ B A Paris ‘Boldly plotted, tightly knotted – a provocative true-or-false thriller that deepens and darkens to its ink-black finale. Marvellous’ A. J. Finn ‘A bold and original voice – I loved this book’ Clare Mackintosh ‘Expect perfectly imbedded twists and sharply drawn characters. A brilliant thriller’ Ali Land ‘A tightly written thriller with an ending that demands you go straight back to the beginning’ Metro ‘Satisfyingly serpentine, and with a terrific double twist in the tale, it leaves you longing for more’ Daily Mail ‘Intriguing, original and addictive, I can’t wait to see what the author does after this blinding debut’ The Sun ‘Clever and utterly compelling’ The Sun on Sunday’s FABULOUS Magazine ‘Clever, compelling and masterfully plotted’ Daily Express ‘Sometimes I Lie is a rare book, combining helter skelter twists with razor sharp sentences. Make sure you read it in a well lit room, Alice Feeney’s imagination is a very dark place indeed’ Dan Dalton, BuzzFeed ‘An utterly compelling, twisted, shocking psychological thriller that made me gasp out loud’ Sophie Raworth, BBC Presenter

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Book SynopsisA young woman’s journey is beset with trials and tribulations, but will it end in happiness?As war looms in Europe, 18-year-old Jane Shaw, runs her family’s household as an unpaid servant on a meagre budget.When her beloved younger brother dies in suspicious circumstances, Jane as his carer, is forced to take a position in service looking after Ned, a troubled young boy. Here she meets Ned’s Uncle, dashing David Heron, and they form an immediate attachment which will impact Jane’s whole life.Finding themselves orphaned, Jane and her sister Melia are left at the mercy of their domineering Aunt Alice. Struggling to cope with Aunt Alice's exacting wishes Jane decides to strike out on her own and do her bit for King and Country in the Nursing Corp. Here, despite the terrible conditions she finds her one true vocation and one true love.But Jane’s destiny has many more cruel twists and turns to come.Will she ever find her peace and get her happy-ever-after?And where does her destiny lie and with whom?A new saga set during World War One from the well-loved, bestselling Rosie Clarke

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Book SynopsisCan life ever be the same again? The start of a fabulous new series set at Trenwith Estate from bestselling author Rosie ClarkeHampshire, 1913Amidst the glitz and glamour of England’s High Society, Sarah Trenwith is more of a wallflower living in the shadow of her beautiful sister Marianne.But as the war approaches Sarah will have to step out of the place society and her family have assigned her if she’s to do her part and claim the love she always dreamed of from afar.As heir to Lord Pelham's estate, Troy is not expected to join the army, but he’s determined to do his part. Yet the war exacts a toll that he never anticipated and the future he once imagined with his one true love seems forever from his grasp.After the trials and tribulations of war, can two star crossed lovers finally find each other and true happiness?Previously published as A Gentleman’s Honour by Linda Sole

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Book SynopsisIn the baron’s icebound castle, a parasite is spreading . . . From Hiron Ennes, Leech is an atmospheric Gothic horror, perfect for fans of Jeff VanderMeer and Silvia Moreno-Garcia.'Unique and utterly assured, I will follow this writer anywhere' – Gillian Flynn, author of Gone GirlIn an isolated chateau, as far north as north goes, the baron’s doctor has died. The Interprovincial Medical Institute sends out a replacement. But when the new physician investigates the cause of death, which appears to be suicide, there’s a mystery to solve. It seems the good doctor was hosting a parasite. Yet this should have been impossible, as the physician was already possessed – by the Institute.The Institute is here to help humanity, to cure and to cut, to cradle and protect the species from the horrors their ancestors unleashed. For hundreds of years, it has taken root in young minds and shaped them into doctors, replacing every human practitioner of medicine. But now there’s competition. For in the baron’s cold castle, already a pit of secrets and lies, the parasite is spreading . . .These two enemies will make war within the battlefield of the body. Whichever wins, will humanity lose again?‘A wonderful new entry to Gothic science fiction, impeccably clever and atmospheric. Think Wuthering Heights . . . with worms!’ – Tamsyn Muir, author of Gideon the NinthFeatured in The Times Best Sci-Fi Books and Winner of The Sydney J. Bounds Award for Best Newcomer at the British Fantasy Awards 2023.Trade ReviewSo much more than the horror story it may sound like. This is The Thing meets The Alienist, and to call it merely horror is a disservice . . . So unique and utterly assured, I will follow this writer anywhere going forward. -- Gillian Flynn, author of Gone GirlA wonderful new entry to Gothic science fiction, impeccably clever and atmospheric. Think Wuthering Heights . . . with worms! -- Tamsyn Muir, author of Gideon the NinthLeech isn’t like anything I’ve read before. Superb writing, interesting and fresh ideas, skilful execution. Highly recommended. I’ll be reading anything Hiron Ennes writes from now on -- Tade Thompson, author of RosewaterWhat a unique book! Surprising turns and staggering ideas – all woven together by beautiful writing. This is one to remember -- Tim Lebbon, author of The SilenceI didn’t know a book could perfectly convey the concept of a distributed intelligence, alive and aware of each of its proxies, but Leech is proof anything is possible in good hands -- Cassandra Khaw, author of Nothing But Blackened TeethIf you’ve ever wondered what would happen if David Cronenberg and Edgar Allen Poe bumped into each other at the same parasitological conference, here’s your answer -- Peter Watts, author of BlindsightEnnes spins classic Gothic horror and fascinating science fiction into a creation that is disturbing, horrifying, and impossible to turn away from -- Brom, author of the Sandman Slim seriesLeech is wonderful, with a truly unique protagonist, a goeey, squicky post-apocalyptic setting, and a dose of Gormenghast gothic. Perfect for fans of Gideon the Ninth and The Traitor -- Django Wexler, author of The Shadow Campaigns seriesA tense, disturbing work of Gothic horror that embraces difficult themes of power, abuse, agency and raw survival in an unforgettably apocalyptic setting. Gory, shocking, raw – and utterly humane -- Kameron Hurley, author of The Light BrigadeHiron Ennes's debut is an intricate, well-observed marooned-community thriller -- The TimesUniquely compelling -- Financial Times

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Book SynopsisA genuine masterpiece' ObserverSpectacular' Maggie O'Farrell'Beautiful' Hilary MantelFascinating bold and masterful' Max PorterThe highly anticipated new novel from the Costa-award winning, three-times Booker-longlisted author of Reservoir 13.Doc Wright could be two steps or two miles from his team. In an ice storm, distance loses meaning. No one can see. No one answers their radio. All he can do is keep going, but something has gone wrong inside his head.Back home, he is the only one who can explain what happened to them in Antarctica. But after what changed on the ice, everything has lost its meaning. Now his wife, Anna, must become his carer. Now he must find a new way to be in the world. All he can do is try to tell his story even if words fail him.The most gripping piece of writing I've read in a long time: Sit. Read. Applaud' Jarvis CockerExtraordinarily tense and atmospheric' TelegraphExceptional I absolutely loved it' David Nicholls, author of Sweet SorrowGripping, moving, magTrade Review‘Gripping, moving, magnificent’ Kamila Shamsie, author of Home Fire ‘Jon McGregor has crafted a unique narrative, encompassing frozen wastes & altered interior landscapes. The most gripping piece of writing I’ve read in a long time: Sit. Read. Applaud’ Jarvis Cocker ‘Utterly original. Jaw-dropping. The sort of book you’ll think about for ages’ Paula Hawkins, author of Girl on the Train ‘Another McGregor novel that, beneath its serene surface, takes huge risks … Fortunately, it’s also another McGregor novel that triumphantly gets away with it’ The Times 'Lean Fall Stand is a beautiful piece of work and should win a roomful of prizes. Jon McGregor writes plainly and exactly, like a poet, and the precision of his writing makes every heartbeat register' Hilary Mantel, author of The Mirror and the Light ‘A spectacular book … It does what Jon McGregor does so well: examine the widening ripples of a single event. I read it again, as soon as I'd finished’Maggie O’Farrell, author of Hamnet ‘Opens as excitingly as any work of fiction I’ve recently read … It’s extraordinarily tense and atmospheric – and McGregor’s prose is tight as a wire’ Telegraph ‘Exceptional. … So moving, and the use of language is remarkable. I absolutely loved it’ David Nicholls, author of Sweet Sorrow ‘A genuinely fascinating book and a troubling, riveting reading experience. A bold and masterful investigation into the weather system of the human mind’ Max Porter, author of The Death of Francis Bacon ‘A genuine masterpiece: poised, multilayered and full of the most astonishingly beautiful prose’ Alex Preston, Observer ‘McGregor’s precise, well-judged prose attests to both the power of language and to the havoc created by its loss’ Financial Times

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Book Synopsis'Unique and utterly assured, I will follow this writer anywhere' – Gillian Flynn, author of Gone Girl‘A wonderful new entry to Gothic science fiction, impeccably clever and atmospheric. Think Wuthering Heights . . . with worms!’ – Tamsyn Muir, author of Gideon the NinthThe Times Best Sci-Fi Books 2022 and Winner of The Sydney J. Bounds Award for Best Newcomer at the British Fantasy Awards 2023.In an isolated chateau, as far north as north goes, the baron’s doctor has died. The Interprovincial Medical Institute sends out a replacement. But when the new physician investigates the cause of death, which appears to be suicide, there’s a mystery to solve. It seems the good doctor was hosting a parasite. Yet this should have been impossible, as the physician was already possessed – by the Institute.The Institute is here to help humanity, to cure and to cut, to cradle and protect the species from the horrors their ancestors unleashed. For hundreds of years, it has taken root in young minds and shaped them into doctors, replacing every human practitioner of medicine. But now there’s competition. For in the baron’s icebound castle, already a pit of secrets and lies, the parasite is spreading . . .These two enemies will make war within the battlefield of the body. Whichever wins, will humanity lose again?Leech by Hiron Ennes is an atmospheric Gothic triumph, perfect for fans of Jeff VanderMeer and Silvia Moreno-Garcia.Trade ReviewSo much more than the horror story it may sound like. Ennes has created a world that's fully realized and disturbingly believable, a place both futuristic in its environmental disasters but Victorian in its manners and ways. This is The Thing meets The Alienist, and to call it merely horror is a disservice, as it's beautifully written and so strangely humane one feels empathy for a virus struggling, like all the humans about it, to survive. So unique and utterly assured, I will follow this writer anywhere going forward -- Gillian Flynn, author of Gone GirlA wonderful new entry to Gothic science fiction, impeccably clever and atmospheric. Think Wuthering Heights . . . with worms! -- Tamsyn Muir, author of Gideon the NinthLeech isn’t like anything I’ve read before. Superb writing, interesting and fresh ideas, skilful execution. Highly recommended. I’ll be reading anything Hiron Ennes writes from now on -- Tade ThompsonWhat a unique book! Surprising turns and staggering ideas – all woven together by beautiful writing. This is one to remember -- Tim LebbonI didn’t know a book could perfectly convey the concept of a distributed intelligence, alive and aware of each of its proxies, but Leech is proof anything is possible in good hands -- Cassandra KhawIf you’ve ever wondered what would happen if David Cronenberg and Edgar Allen Poe bumped into each other at the same parasitological conference, here’s your answer -- Peter WattsEnnes spins classic Gothic horror and fascinating science fiction into a creation that is disturbing, horrifying, and impossible to turn away from -- BromLeech is wonderful, with a truly unique protagonist, a goeey, squicky post-apocalyptic setting, and a dose of Gormenghast gothic. Perfect for fans of Gideon the Ninth and The Traitor -- Django WexlerA tense, disturbing work of Gothic horror that embraces difficult themes of power, abuse, agency and raw survival in an unforgettably apocalyptic setting. Gory, shocking, raw – and utterly humane -- Kameron HurleyPart of me admires the sheer level of craft that Ennes put into this book, but another part of me feels it must surely have been unearthed, whole and eerie and throbbing, in a box in a dark attic. Gothically bloody, beautifully written, and sharp as a scalpel to the amygdala. I loved it -- Freya MarskeHiron Ennes's debut is an intricate, well-observed marooned-community thriller -- The TimesUniquely compelling -- Financial TimesFans of gothic horror will find a lot to love . . . Hiron Ennes juxtaposes cosily old-fashioned gothic imagery, such as snowy fields and cavernous castles, with genuinely shocking bouts of body horror . . . It's delightfully malignant, prompting questions about who the villain really is, and making Leech feel even more ambiguous and alluring -- SFX

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Book SynopsisThe brand new psychological thriller from the bestselling author of The Bridesmaid and The Daughter in Law.It should have been the perfect weekend…Work colleagues Nicole, Margo, Paisley and Audrey all appear to be looking forward to a weekend away at Nicole’s luxurious beach house on the Dorset coast. It should be a chance for the women to kick back, relax and regroup after a stressful moment at work.But this is no normal girls’ getaway. And the beach house is no normal home. This place holds dark secrets for Nicole, which threaten to be revealed when its doors are opened.And unbeknownst to host Nicole, each of the three other guests all have secrets of their own…and some of them could be deadly.Praise for Nina Manning:'Heart-stopping, pacy and tension filled. Highly recommended.' Claire Allan, USA Today Bestseller'Compelling and claustrophobic, Nina is an exciting new voice and definitely one to watch' Phoebe Morgan, author of The Babysitter'Chilling and creepy. An atmospheric and addictive debut.' Diane Jeffrey, author of The Guilty Mother'Totally addictive. I couldn't put it down!' Darren O'Sullivan, author of Closer Than You Think'A claustrophobic, nail-biting thriller that draws you in and doesn't let go.' Naomi Joy, author of The Liars‘Clever, emotionally draining and totally gripping. I absolutely loved this book!’ D E White, author of The Forgotten Child

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Book SynopsisTwo exquisite novellas on memory, perception, and shifting intimaciesIn “The Impostor,” a man travels with his wife through Italy and recalls a family legend about an uncle who was swallowed by Mt. Vesuvius. Preoccupied by this mysterious event, he grapples with the fallibility of memory and the enigma of time. In “Blue Butterflies of the Amazon,” a matriarch, rendered mute and paralyzed by a stroke, defenselessly observes the shifting dynamics between her only son, his wife, and her husband while they play out their complex intimacies before her.As the characters of The Impostor wander between worlds and states of mind, Edgard Telles Ribeiro elucidates their situations in surprisingly inventive ways that explore devastating questions of reality, consciousness, and loss.Trade ReviewPraise for The Impostor“Ribeiro’s deft and insinuating storytelling captures the uncanny feeling of slippage. . . . [His writing is] atmospheric and engrossing, and by the end Mr. Ribeiro has proven himself a master of the subtleties of subjectivity.” —Wall Street Journal“Explor[es] the mysteries and possibilities of life continually unfolding rather than irrevocably damaged.” —North of Oxford“Two elegant novellas, each an atmospherically charged investigation of consciousness, familial ties, legacy, and language. . . . These crystalline stories form a memorable diptych.” —Publishers Weekly“These inventive novellas are like literary puzzles for the reader to tease out.” —Kirkus Reviews“Telles Ribeiro’s title novella is a tour de force that takes place simultaneously in the distant past and in the present, in a seamlessly fractured continuum of time. The second novella is a complex and breathtaking work, rich in feeling, an audacious, dazzling performance. By turns delicate and humorous, wrenching and melancholic, it lays bare the souls of its characters in a manner that I can only call Chekhovian. It is the work of a master.” —Jaime Manrique, author of Cervantes Street and Like This Afternoon Forever“Comical and brooding, enchanting and disturbing, The Impostor triggers a unique free fall into the unnerving craters of the mind.” —Laura Restrepo, author of Delirium and The Divine BoysSelect Praise for Edgard Telles Ribeiro“Elegant, absorbingly knowing, chilling, dryly humorous and often moving.” —Francisco Goldman, author of Say Her Name and Monkey Boy“Cunning” —Maureen Corrigan, Washington Post“[Telles Ribeiro] unveils details with a poetic lushness, unhurried, dreamy, as if lingering on their weight, their significance.” —Philadelphia Inquirer“The art of Telles Ribeiro’s [work] is in his sumptuous lyrical narrative style.” —Tulsa World“Telles Ribeiro’s [work] is of global import, a caution against too readily forgetting and too quickly adapting.” —Words Without Borders

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Book SynopsisIn The Cancer Plot, Reginald Wiebe and Dorothy Woodman examine the striking presence of cancer in Marvel comics. Engaging comics studies, medical humanities, and graphic medicine, they explore this disease in four case studies: Captain Marvel, Spider-Man, Thor, and Deadpool. Cancer, the authors argue, troubles the binaries of good and evil because it is the ultimate nemesis within a genre replete with magic, mutants, and multiverses. They draw from gender theory, disability studies, and cultural theory to demonstrate how cancer in comics enables an examination of power and responsibility, key terms in Marvel’s superhero universe. As the only full-length study on cancer in the Marvel universe, The Cancer Plot is an appealing and original work that will be of interest to scholars across the humanities, particularly those working in the health humanities, cultural theory, and literature, as well as avid comics readers.Trade Review“Wiebe and Woodman take on a fascinating subject: the representation and significance of cancer in Marvel comics. They explore the paradox of cancer: how in a fantasy setting of extraordinary diversity and ‘miraculous’ feats, it alone remains immune from all cures -- a sort of zero-degree realism which vouchsafes the genre’s connection to the real world.” José Alaniz, University of Washington, author of Death, Disability, and the Superhero: The Silver Age and Beyond“The Cancer Plot gives an incisive and engaging analysis of the prevalence of cancer in Marvel comics with specific attention to how the representation of disease in these works enables an examination of power as it relates to citizenship and civic duty. This is a timely study that will enrich readers' understanding of the complexities of storytelling in this genre.” Kelly McGuire, Trent University"Through those case studies and others—as well as their broader observations about the Marvel universe and the superhero genre—Wiebe and Woodman give readers much to contemplate.... They explore the social meaning of health and sickness both in the stories themselves and the world at large, revealing that behind the masks and alter egos, many of Marvel’s characters can tell us a lot about ourselves. The result should convince more than a few readers that we should leave plenty of room for superhumans in the medical humanities." Matt Peters, Graphic Medicine, November 16, 2023 [Full article at https://www.graphicmedicine.org/comic-reviews/the-cancer-plot-terminal-immortality-in-marvels-moral-universe]Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction: But I Don’t Want to Cure Cancer I Bodies, Cancer, and Death Editor’s Note 1 | Death and Cancer: Immortality and the Problem of Limits 2 | Living with Cancer: Medical Narratives and Superheroes II Cancer, Power, and Responsibility: Exploring Four Superhero Stories Editor’s Note / The Death of Captain Marvel 3 | This Whole Business of Death: Cancer and Captain Marvel Editor’s Note / Ultimate Spider-Man 4 | Cure as Poison: Cancer and Spider-Man’s Moral Battle Editor’s Note / The Mighty Thor 5 | Cancer as Fatal Opportunity: Thor and the Question of Worthiness Editor’s Note / The Despicable Deadpool 6 | “Welcome to the Freak Show!”: Deadpool and Perpetual Remission Conclusion: The End That Is Not the End Appendix 1 Marvel Characters 1.1 Marvel characters who have had cancer but did not die of it 1.2 Marvel characters who have had cancer and died of it 1.3 Marvel characters who have had cancer and died attempting to cure it or destroy their enemies before succumbing to it 1.4 Marvel cancer deaths by decade Appendix 2 DC Characters 2.1 DC characters who have had cancer 2.2 DC characters with an unnamed terminal condition 2.3 DC cancer and terminal condition by decade Notes Works Cited Index

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Book Synopsis This World Fantasy Award winner in the vein of Animal Farm delves into a lab worthy of a mad Nazi scientist—but run by a brilliantly sadistic rodent. In the annals of American literature, there has never been a character quite like Doctor Rat, PhD. From one of the most indispensable storytellers in speculative fiction, this biting satire introduces a narrator of learned charm and humor, and a twisted logic that is absolutely chilling.   Doctor Rat is a credit to his species. A survivor of the most refined scientific experiments, now removed from the maze, he has become a valued and productive member of the academic community. When he must administer a lethal dose, he comforts his fellow rats with his compassionate slogan: “Death is freedom.”   But everything changes when animals worldwide begin to rebel, refusing to accept their proper places in the natural order of things: as test subjects, pets, or foo

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Book SynopsisThe new unputdownable thriller from the author of The Final Country, winner of the CWA Silver Dagger Award 2002.Trade ReviewPraise for The Right Madness: ‘The Poet Laureate of American hard-boiled literature, superior even to James Lee Burke. No-one writes likes Crumley…a dark and memorable quest for salvation against a background of unremitting violence. Deeply compelling.’ Guardian ‘Reading Crumely is like hurtling through an assault course. A rare and exhilarating stylist… he is funny, salty and ruthless. One of the marvels of contemporary crime writing. Nobody does it better. It's unlikely that anyone would dare to try.’ Literary Review ‘The old boy done good as usual. Long may he live!’ Independent on Sunday ‘This is pulp fiction at its most profane, visceral and poetic’ Sunday Times Praise for The Final Country: ‘This is an extraordinary double-barrelled blast from a lost era. It’s a two-fisted epic of Texan treachery, packed to the gunwales with sex, drugs, booze and guns.‘ Independent ‘Lyrical, liberal, exciting and humane. Sexy, too, with a generosity that transcends taste and as violent as needs be.’ Literary Review ‘This complex thriller is so hardboiled it makes Ellroy and Connelly read like Simon and Garfunkel…it’s good. Very good’ Time Out

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Book SynopsisCan life ever be the same again? The start of a fabulous new series set at Trenwith Estate from bestselling author Rosie ClarkeHampshire, 1913Amidst the glitz and glamour of England’s High Society, Sarah Trenwith is more of a wallflower living in the shadow of her beautiful sister Marianne.But as the war approaches Sarah will have to step out of the place society and her family have assigned her if she’s to do her part and claim the love she always dreamed of from afar.As heir to Lord Pelham's estate, Troy is not expected to join the army, but he’s determined to do his part. Yet the war exacts a toll that he never anticipated and the future he once imagined with his one true love seems forever from his grasp.After the trials and tribulations of war, can two star crossed lovers finally find each other and true happiness?Previously published as A Gentleman’s Honour by Linda Sole

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