Narrative theme: interior life / psychological fiction
Amazon Publishing What Can't Be Seen
Book SynopsisA brilliant psychologist faces the secrets and lies of her own dark past in a shocking novel of suspense by the Washington Post and Amazon Charts bestselling author of A Familiar Sight. “Gretchen…What have you done?” Psychologist and criminologist Dr. Gretchen White, top consultant for the Boston PD, has solved countless cases—but never her own. Since the age of eight, she has lived her life thinking she killed her aunt. After all, she was found standing over the body, clutching a bloody knife. Most people, including Detective Patrick Shaughnessy, believe the little sociopath got away with murder. Thirty years later, Detective Lauren Marconi wants to prove them wrong. When plucking at the threads of the past unravels a decades-old case tied to the White family, both Lauren and Gretchen grapple with the question, What if Gretchen really is guilty? As old secrets come to light and Gretchen’s lifelong grip on her darkest impulses threatens to erode, Shaughnessy is there watching, waiting for her to lose control one more time. Everyone thinks they know what happened that night. But the truth is beyond what anyone imagines—even Gretchen herself.Trade Review“The book’s well-constructed plot matches its three-dimensional characters. Psychological thriller fans will be eager for more.” —Publishers Weekly
£8.54
Amazon Publishing When I Was You
Book SynopsisA stolen identity leads a woman down a dark and desperate path in a gripping novel of psychological suspense by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Minka Kent. After barely surviving a brutal attack, Brienne Dougray rarely leaves her house. Suffering from debilitating headaches and memory loss, she can rely only on her compassionate new tenant, Dr. Niall Emberlin, a welcome distraction from the discomfiting bubble that has become her existence. But Brienne’s growing confidence in her new routine is shaken when she stumbles across unsettling evidence that someone else is living as…her. Same name. Same car. Same hair. Same clothes. She’s even friended her family on social media. To find out why, Brienne must leave the safety of her home to hunt a familiar stranger. What she discovers is more disturbing than she could have ever imagined. With her fragile mind close to shattering, Brienne is prepared to do anything to reclaim her life. If it’s even hers to reclaim.
£8.54
HarperCollins Publishers Lucky
Book SynopsisI devoured it.' Erin KellyAn exhilarating voice' Adele ParksUnbelievably tense and twisty.' Laura MarshallLuckyRachel EdwardsThe more she wins, the more she losesAbsorbing, unsettling, unflinching. I've been thinking about it for days and I'll be recommending it to everyone.' Caz Frear, author of Sweet Little LiesSomeone is watching Etta. Footsteps in the night, the security light coming on at strange hours is it all just her curtain-twitching neighbours, who seem to monitor her every move? Or is her little online problem making her paranoid?Because Etta needs to win big. She joined a gambling website to get a bit of cash, hoping to convince her boyfriend Ola that they can afford to get married. And she was so good at it until she wasn't. Luckily, she's made a friend who hit the jackpot and if she plays her cards right, he could lend her the money to win everything back. Easy. So why does she feel so afraid?Trade Review‘Betrayal, blackmail, a marriage on hold…all the ingredients of a page-turning thriller, in a post-Brexit world of debt and insecurity.’ Monique Roffey, author of The Mermaid of Black Conch ‘Terrifying. Enough to make the reader break out in a cold sweat.’ Guardian ‘A fresh, exhilarating voice’ Adele Parks ‘Unbelievably tense and twisty’ Laura Marshall, author of Friend Request ‘This deep dive into gambling addiction packs a huge emotional punch. I devoured it’ Erin Kelly, author of He Said/She Said ‘A brilliant portrayal of one woman’s descent into the world of online gambling – I felt every spin of the wheel; the highs of adrenaline followed by stomach churning nausea’ Nikki Smith, author of All In Her Head ‘Tense beyond belief but impossible to put down. Dark, absorbing and brilliantly terrifying’ Louise Hare, author of This Lovely City ‘Love, chance and betrayal all take a seat at the table in Rachel Edward’s compelling novel, Lucky. Delivered in Rachel’s exciting and original style is a winning storyline, crafted with excellence, packed with suspense and walk-off-the-page characters you’ll think about long after turning the last page’ Olivia Kiernan, author of Play Dead for Me ‘Timely, absorbing, unsettling and unflinching, with a dark, knowing wit. I’ve been thinking about it for days and I’ll be recommending it to everyone’ Caz Frear, author of Sweet Little Lies
£8.54
Penguin Books Ltd Repetition
Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE NOBEL PRIZE FOR LITERATURE''Repetition made a great and, as I have since learned, lasting impression on me'' W. G. SebaldFilip Kobal, an Austrian teenager, is on the trail of his missing older brother Gregor, who he never knew. All he has is two of Gregor''s books: a school copy book, and a dictionary in which certain words have been marked. As he enters Slovenia on his journey, Filip discovers something else entirely: the transformative power of language to describe the world, and the unnerving joy of being an outsider in a strange land.''One of the most moving evocations I have ever read of what it means to be alive, to walk upon this earth'' Gabriel JosipoviciTranslated by Ralph ManheimTrade ReviewHandke's eminence, displayed in a substantial oeuvre of plays, novels and poems, is reaffirmed brilliantly by [Repetition] -- Publisher's WeeklyKnifelike clarity of evocation ... Handke is a kind of nature poet, a romantic whose exacerbated nerves cling like pained ivy to the landscape -- John Updike
£9.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Peach
Book Synopsis_______________SELECTED BY THE INDEPENDENT AND THE OBSERVER AS A BOOK OF THE YEAR 2018_______________''An immensely talented young writer ... Her fearlessness renews one''s faith in the power of literature ' - George Saunders, winner of the 2017 Man Booker PrizePoetic' - Independent The language is scintillating, the emotional heft remarkable' - Observer Daring' - Sunday TimesFerocious, startling, all-consuming' - Daisy Johnson, author of Fen_______________Peach is a teenage girl like any other. She has college, and her friends, and her parents and the new baby, and her gorgeous boyfriend Green. She has her friend Sandy, and Sid the cat, and homework to do. But something has happened something unspeakable and her world has become unfamiliar, fractured into strange textures and patterns. Reeling through her refracted universe, Peach knows that the people she loves arTrade ReviewAn immensely talented young writer ... Her fearlessness renews one's faith in the power of literature -- George Saunders, author of Lincoln in the Bardo, winner of 2017 Man Booker PrizeEmma Glass’s fictional debut – a novella-cum-prose poem – packs one hell of a punch … Glass’s commitment to the visceral is like nothing else I’ve read … Peach inhabits a strange, horror-story realm of the hyperreal, and Glass’s vision goes a long way towards portraying an experience that’s near-impossible to articulate * Observer *Addressing an all-too-relevant issue, the novel charts the physical and psychological effects on Peach through stylised, poetic prose, self-confessedly informed by James Joyce’s experiments with language. Referenced variously as “the new Jane Eyre”, “intimately weird” and “exhilaratingly bold” * Independent, Books to look out for in 2018 *Glass’s tale of a girl neglected by her parents and abused by others is a dark poetic read that is a visceral in its telling. It’s an extraordinary debut that we urge you to seek out * Stylist, 'Books to read this Spring' *Peach by Emma Glass is a short and brutal tale of sexual assault and its resulting traumas that carries clear echoes of Eimear McBride ... The language is scintillating, the emotional heft remarkable * Observer, The best fiction for 2018 *Peach is shocking, revealing and deals with a subject most authors would shy away from. It is uncomfortable, worthy and brave …Glass deserves recognition for her bravery regarding both the topic and style * Independent *A visceral work … Glass uses fragmented, sensory language to evoke the lasting trauma of a sexual assault, from dissociative episodes to body dysmorphia. But for all its emotional insight, the book’s boldest choice is its suspension between fantasy and reality * New Statesman *Genre-defying and brilliantly surreal novella ... Barely 100 pages, and somewhere between poetry and prose, this is a book to be devoured in a single sitting. Glass is an exciting new author to know * Vogue *An impressive achievement. There are obvious Joycean and Eimear McBridean influences on her writing, which is rich with onomatopoeia, musical rhythm and graphic, bloody imagery …A truly original voice for the future. Peach is a meeting place for expressionist poetry and Cronenberg-style body horror that’s not something you come across every day * Big Issue *A debut of consistently visceral writing ... The dark poetic world of Emma Glass’s debut, Peach, immerses the reader in a young woman’s personal hell … Through prose that is lyrical, mythic and yet wonderfully clear, Peach expounds on themes of good versus evil, and the base nature of desire, consumption and carnality … There is a spoken word vibrancy to Glass’s prose … Not since Patrick McCabe’s The Butcher Boy has such symbolism been used so effectively to make clear one woman’s brutal experiences * Irish Times *Surreal and unsettling, experimental and lyrical * Big Issue *A daring novel * Sunday Times *Powerfully felt, sinister, vivid * Literary Review *Related in an urgent, rhythmic unspooling of language … Peach’s voice is unsettling, idiosyncratic and discomforting, as well as being moving and utterly absorbing … This sense of radical domestic fantasy gives the novel a raw power, as well as provoking multiple interpretations. It may occasionally confound, but Peach is a bold, memorable novel – gripping, strange and utterly singular * Spectator *Challenging fiction that disrupts narrative forms, provocatively outlandish stream of consciousness set in the aftermath of a sexual assault … A gutsy, discomfiting experiment * Metro *It’s apt to see that this debut author cites James Joyce, Gertrude Stein, Kate Bush and Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) in her acknowledgements. Peach is a hypnotic, visceral read ... Lyrically and visually driven, Glass’s sentences read like powerful poems, and they encompass so much emotion, you’ll find it hard to put this novel down once you start * Lithub, 15 books you should read this January *What it lacks in pages (Peach has just 98), it makes up for in uniqueness * Red, Most Hotly Anticipated Books of 2018 *This startling book uses hypervisceral prose to detail how a woman tries to move through ordinary life after being raped. An explosive dramatization of trauma, Glass' short but harrowing Peach provides a propulsive, unforgettable read that's impossible to shake * Entertainment Weekly *Choose wisely the moment when you pick up Peach; because once you do you'll be unable to put it down until the very last sentence -- Kamila Shamsie, author of Home FireImpossible to categorise, intimately weird and exhilaratingly bold, Peach shares literary DNA with Gertrude Stein, Hubert Selby Jr, and Eimear McBride, but Emma Glass’s massive talent is all her own -- Laline Paull, author of The BeesPeach is ferocious, startling, all-consuming ... it has changed the way I see the world -- Daisy Johnson, author of FenPeach is a work of genius. So lonesome and moving, so gruesome, wry, tender and plaintive. It is the new Jane Eyre, and one wild, thrilling ride. Swallow it in one gulp, and carry a spare copy in your pocket. Always -- Lucy Ellmann, author of MimiA mesmerising, deeply disturbing and stylistically daring debut, Peach reads almost like an incantation of dread and fear ... A visceral and unflinching journey through one woman's internal life. Like A Girl is a Half -formed Thing before it, this is a ground-breaking work of experimentation * NetGalley, ‘Netgalley UK’s Top Ten Books, December 2017 – January 2018’, *Glass ... aptly portrays Peach's real and mythical struggles between emotion and reason, power and trauma in this darkly arresting debut * Booklist *Glass’s prose is capable of breathtaking deftness ... A terrifying window into a freshly traumatized psyche. With paragraphs that read like poems, this is a memorably crafted entry into the canon of revenge narratives * Kirkus *
£9.49
Headline Publishing Group The Missing Wife The uplifting and compelling
Book SynopsisReaders of Marian Keyes, Lisa Jewell and Santa Montefiore will love Sunday Times bestselling author Sheila O''Flanagan''s THE MISSING WIFE - the riveting story of a woman determined to escape, the man who wants to find her and the friends and family unaware of the dark truth. Set in the glorious, sunny south of France.Have you ever wanted to disappear? When Imogen Naughton vanishes, everyone who knows her is shocked. She has a perfect marriage. Her handsome husband treats her like a princess. She''s always said how lucky she is. So why has she left? And how will she survive without Vince?What goes on behind closed doors is often a surprise, and Imogen surprises herself by taking the leap she knows she must. But as she begins her journey to find the woman she once was, Imogen''s past is right behind her... Will it catch up with her? And will she be ready to face it if it does?What readers are saying about <Trade ReviewA wife runs away from her marriage in this smart and twisty yarn ***** (5 stars) * Heat *The new GONE GIRL... This GONE GIRL-esque novel will have you gripped until the very end **** (4 stars) * Look *Must-have * Sunday Express *Another first class bestseller. I read the book in one sitting as it was so enjoyable, full of romance and kept you riveted until the last page. A must for all [Sheila's] fans * Woman's Way *Must-read * Express *Praise for Sheila's other novels: 'An exciting love story with a deliciously romantic denouement * Sunday Express *Make some space in your suitcase * Candis *Really enjoyable... Will keep you guessing right up until the end * Heat *A very warm and touching book ... deserves to be a bestseller * Woman's Way *Romantic and charming, this is a real must-read * Closer *O'Flanagan's lightness of touch and gentle characterisations have produced another fine read; an ideal addition to that summer holiday * Sunday Express *A lovely book that will keep you guessing right up until the end * Bella *Insightful, witty and full of fun... This is touching, tense and clever writing * Irish Independent *
£10.44
Headline Publishing Group The View Was Exhausting
Book Synopsis''Effortlessly cool, razor-sharp and crazy fun - I couldn''t put it down'' TAYLOR JENKINS REID, author of DAISY JONES AND THE SIX''SEXY and GLAMOROUS and ROMANTIC and CELEBTASTIC and such UTTER, GLORIOUS FUN'' MARIAN KEYES''A perfect summer read'' VOGUE''The smart, sexy and genuinely insightful rom com I''ve been waiting for'' GAL-DEM---A bold, swoon-worthy and utterly modern debut novel about truth, fame and privilege - and how we love now.Whitman ''Win'' Tagore and Leo Milanowski are the greatest love story of our time. International movie star meets the beautiful son of a millionaire. Their kisses write headlines and their fights break the internet. Nobody needs to know it''s not real.Win knows that Hollywood demands perfection - especially from a woman of colour.Leo just wants to enjoy life, and shift press attention away from his dysfunctional family.Together they cTrade ReviewA pure delight! Effortlessly cool, razor sharp and crazy fun - I couldn't put it down. It is Notting Hill for 2021, an absolute crowd pleaser -- Taylor Jenkins ReidEscapist, suspenseful, razor sharp and very unusual. I loved the chemistry between the two protagonists and flew through the book because I was dying to know what happens -- Frances ChaA glamorous power ride through fame, misogyny and racism, with a swoony romance -- Julie CohenAn absolutely stellar debut with tension that crackles and prose that sings... the complex, Hollywood love story we've all been waiting for -- Emily HenryDeft, funny and tender, The View Was Exhausting is as smart as it is swoon-worthy - this is exactly the book you should be reading right now -- Julia ArmfieldA glittering, swoon-worthy love story that's also about the intersections of power, representation, fame and privilege. It's funny and warm and gorgeously written and I'm calling it now as the beach read of the summer or, if we're all stuck inside, the escapist read of the summer, because reading this I was totally swept away -- Jane HealeyA book to read in the sun with a glass of wine and nothing else to do all day. Fun, sexy and totally gripping -- Laura KayA sexy, scorching treat - fresh and ultra modern, I devoured it -- Victoria GoslingA refreshingly modern love story that explores everything from truth and privilege to love and insecurities... a must-read book of the summer * Culturefly *Delicious... A dazzling mix of glitzy Hollywood, torrid gossip and dreamy romance - and also delivers a cutting critique of power, celebrity and privilege -- Hazel Barkworth
£17.09
Headline Publishing Group I Was Told It Would Get Easier
Book SynopsisWhen a mother-daughter duo set out on a road trip, the last thing they expect to find along the way is each other... The new, heartfelt and hilarious novel from the bestselling author of THE BOOKISH LIFE OF NINA HILL.''GORGEOUS'' Marian Keyes''Charmed by its funny loveliness'' Nina StibbeJessica and her daughter Emily are touring colleges. For Jessica, this is going to be the chance to reconnect with the daughter she seems to have lost. But for Emily, it''s a preview of freedom, and the chance to explore a new and exciting future.Yet before any of this can happen, their perfectly planned trip is derailed into a series of off-roading misadventures: mother-daughter skiving, skipped mandatory meetings, and a scuffle with the FBI...With seatbelts fastened, physical and emotional baggage safely stowed away, this mother-daughter duo might be ready to hit the road, but arTrade ReviewThis sweet treat doesn't require a college-bound child to enjoy, though anyone who has helped their offspring weather the admissions process will definitely appreciate this sharp send-up * Publishers Weekly *Waxman shines at creating characters that feel like best friends * Booklist *
£19.01
Headline Publishing Group The Music of Bees
Book Synopsis''It''s simultaneously heart-breaking and uplifting, and I loved it'' Abi Daré, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl with the Louding Voice''This heart-warming, uplifting story will make you want to call your own friends, not to mention grab some honey'' Good Housekeeping* A Good Housekeeping Book Club Pick * Named a Most Anticipated Book of 2021 by BookRiot and the New York Post *_________________________________________To the outside world Alice, Jake and Harry have little in common.Alice is a social outsider: reclusive, middle-aged, and with only 850,000 honeybees for company. Jake, following an accident at a high school party, is grappling with life in a wheelchair and dashed dreams of music school.And Harry is an aimless twenTrade ReviewA hopeful, heart-warming, uplifting story about the power of chosen family . . . but it's the bees, with all their wonder and intricacy and intrigue, that make this story sing * Laurie Frankel, New York Times bestselling author of This Is How It Always Is *A special treat for nature lovers, The Music of Bees is full of warmth and hope and decency * Rebecca Hardiman, author of Good Eggs *The Music of Bees is a transportive tale to lighten the heart. Eileen Garvin has woven a hypnotic human story of perseverance and second chances with a glittering love letter to our pollinators. It combines a cast of marvellous characters with an utterly exquisite excursion into the buzzy life of bees. Every page hums with hope, gleaming with a message of our inextricable interconnectedness, both within our own species and to our home of the natural world. The Music of Bees is an enchanting book of belonging, overcoming adversity and the journey to find a hive of one's own. * Kira Jane Buxton *
£10.44
Amazon Publishing Malice
Book SynopsisThe perfect life becomes the perfect nightmare in a twisting novel of psychological suspense from #1 USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Jaynes… Dr. Daniel Winters is living a fairy-tale life. He has a beachfront home in Malibu, a career as a respected pediatrician at a thriving Los Angeles practice, and a gorgeous new wife, Mia. For a man whose past was rife with mental illness, addiction, and thoughts of suicide, it seems too good to be true. Then Daniel learns that a fellow pediatrician and his family were found slaughtered in their home. It’s just the first chip in the facade of Daniel’s perfect life. Little by little, everything starts to fall away. At work, his career becomes at risk when he’s asked to remain silent about a dangerous new drug. At home, Mia has gone from an affectionate newlywed to a mysterious woman carefully hiding secrets—and possibly a lover. Then, another doctor is found dead, and as Mia’s behavior becomes increasingly suspicious, Daniel begins to wonder: Is paranoia getting the best of him…or has his fairy-tale life become a nightmare worse than he could have ever imagined?
£8.54
Pan Macmillan Our Dark Secret
Book SynopsisFrom the author of The Missing Girl, Jenny Quintana’s gripping novel, Our Dark Secret, tells the story of two girls, two deaths and two decades of silence . . . The crazy girls, they called them – or at least, Elizabeth liked to think they did. As a teenager in the late 1970s, she was clever, overweight and a perfect victim for the bullies. Then Rachel and her family arrived in town and, for Elizabeth, it was as if a light had been switched on. She was drawn to the bright and beautiful Rachel like a moth to a flame.Rachel had her own reasons for wanting Elizabeth as a friend, and although their relationship was far from equal, Elizabeth would do anything for Rachel.Then the first body was discovered.Twenty years on, Elizabeth wants nothing more than to keep the secrets of her teenage years where they belong: in the past. But another body has been found, and she can’t keep running from what happened.Can she?Trade ReviewEmotional and gripping: Our Dark Secret confirms Jenny Quintana as the mistress of the heartbreaking thriller -- Erin Kelly, author of He Said/She Said and Stone MothersDarkly compelling, tender characterisation — I read this in a few greedy gulps -- Jane Shemilt, author of Daughter and Little FriendsBittersweet, full of growing menace, yet poignant and full of longing . . . Fans of The Missing Girl will fall in love with this! -- Karen Hamilton, author of The Perfect GirlfriendJenny Quintana is a rare talent . . . Superb plotting, razor-sharp characterisation, and a creeping sense of dread makes Our Dark Secret a novel that you won’t be able to put down -- Caz Frear, author of Sweet Little Lies and Stone Cold HeartA compulsive page-turner; a beautifully written coming-of-age story; a murder mystery peopled with characters who live and breathe . . . and a brilliant read -- Fiona Cummins, author of Rattle and The NeighbourExcellent – a dark and moving mystery, woven from the tales of truly memorable characters -- Rachel Edwards, author of DarlingOur Dark Secret has everything I look for in a novel — beautiful writing, memorable characters and a gripping mystery. Elizabeth is a wonderful creation — I worried for her, rooted for her and feared her in equal measure. Bravo Jenny! -- Emily Elgar, author of If You Knew Her and Grace is GoneEmotional and heartfelt this is a dark, atmospheric coming of age story that’s beautifully written, and grips from the start. One to watch out for! -- Amanda Jennings, author of In Her Wake and The Cliff HousePart coming of age story, part mystery, totally gripping! -- Jo Jakeman, author of Sticks and Stones and Safe HouseCrime fans will love Our Dark Secret for the unguessable murder mystery at the heart of the plot. But the book is also a beautifully nostalgic coming of age story with subtly engaging characters whose heartbreaking dilemmas turn our initial perceptions inside out. The novel is so acutely observed and involving that it has the power to transport all of us who grew up in the 1970s back to the chicken chasseur, Barry White and Purdy-haircut filled suburbia of our childhoods -- Carolyn Kirby, author of The conviction of Cora Burns and When We FallAddictive * Woman's Weekly *The friendship of two girls bonded by secrets fizzes on a slow burning fuse that has you waiting for the big bang when the past explosively catches up * Peterborough Telegraph *
£13.49
Pan Macmillan You Are Not Alone
Book Synopsis'The plot is ingenious, and the writing as clever and tantalising as ever' – Daily MailFrom Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, the authors of the top ten bestseller The Wife Between Us and An Anonymous Girl, comes You Are Not Alone – a gripping novel about a group of women who appear to have the perfect lives, but all is not what it seems . . .You probably know someone like Shay Miller. She wants to find love, but it eludes her. She wants to be fulfilled, but her job is a dead end. She wants to belong, but her life is becoming increasingly isolated.You probably don’t know anyone like the Moore sisters. They have an unbreakable circle of friends. They live a life of glamour and perfection. They always get what they desire.Shay thinks she wants their life.But what they really want is hers.Trade ReviewThis is the latest excellent offering from the classy double act that gave us the The Wife Between Us . . . Intelligent and disturbing * Daily Mail *A thriller not to be missed -- Candis on An Anonymous GirlTackling big issues of morality and ethics, the story explores what happens when boundaries are crossed and creepy obsessiveness takes over from cool professionalism -- Psychologies on An Anonymous GirlFans of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train will adore this classy domestic noir set in New York . . . It has a humdinger of a twist which I didn’t see coming . . . The result is a fast-paced and hugely enjoyable thriller -- Sunday Express on The Wife Between Us
£8.54
Pan Macmillan The Hiding Place
Book Synopsis'An engrossing and evocative read. Jenny Quintana captures layered atmosphere and complex emotions beautifully, alongside writing a compulsive tale. I loved it' – Kate Hamer, author of CrushedSome houses have their secrets. But so do some people . . .From the bestselling author of The Missing Girl and Our Dark Secret, comes The Hiding Place: a story about identity, love, long-buried secrets and lies.Abandoned as a baby in the hallway of a shared house in London, Marina has never known her parents, and the circumstances of her birth still remain a mystery.Now an adult, Marina has returned to the house where it all started, determined to find out who she really is. But the walls of this house hold more than memories, and Marina’s reappearance hasn’t gone unnoticed by the other tenants.Someone is watching Marina. Someone who knows the truth . . .Trade ReviewAn engrossing and evocative read. Jenny Quintana captures layered atmosphere and complex emotions beautifully, alongside writing a compulsive tale. I loved it -- Kate Hamer, author of The Girl in the Red Coat and CrushedTense [and] skillful * Daily Mail *An emotionally taut, spellbinding, vivid mystery . . . This is definitely a book readers won’t be able to put down -- Karen Hamilton, author of The Perfect Girlfriend and The Last WifeI loved The Hiding Place. Wonderful writing, mystery and intrigue, and a great story . . . I shed a tear at the end -- Emma Curtis, author of The Night You Left and Keep Her QuietAn emotional read for anyone who loves a good mystery * Woman's Weekly * The Hiding Place is a real gem of a book. Jenny Quintana's evocation of the 1960s bursts from the page and the human stories that unfold for the residents of 24 Harrington Gardens are breath-taking and compelling. A gripping plot with characters who will keep you guessing (and break your heart a little, too) -- Eleni Kyriacou, author of She Came to StayRead this if you like Lisa Jewell . . . An emotional drama, skilfully divided across two timelines -- Best magazineAnother beguiling Quintana mystery . . . The Hiding Place is about the hopes, fears and impossible choices of ordinary people. It is about the things that connect and separate us. It is a testament to the fragile nature of truth and a masterpiece of storytelling -- Claire Dyer, author of The Last DayA gripping suspense story that expertly interweaves the past and present . . . Beautifully written and extremely moving -- Nikki Smith, author of All In Her HeadAn absorbing and moving mystery which Quintana unpacks with her inimitable flair -- Rachel Edwards, author of Darling and LuckyFrom the first page of The Hiding Place I felt the delicious sense of security that comes from being in the hands of an expert storyteller . . . The Hiding Place is both a flawlessly-written mystery and a moving meditation on what it means to belong -- Carolyn Kirby, author of When We Fall and The Conviction of Cora BurnsEffortlessly engaging & full of secrets, I thoroughly enjoyed The Hiding Place, a credible mystery, intriguingly unravelled over two timelines, that kept me guessing to the very end -- Anita Frank, author of The Lost OnesThe Hiding Place is domestic suspense at its finest - tense, emotional and chock-full of secrets. Jenny Quintana's novels are always rich with atmosphere and social observation, but this is undoubtedly her best yet. Moving effortlessly between 1960s and 1990s London, Quintana keeps you guessing from the first page to the last -- Caz Frear, author of Sweet Little Lies and Shed No TearsThe Hiding Place is an emotionally-resonant and intriguing mystery, in which past and present, secrets and memories converge to unlock a vital truth, all woven together through Quintana's assured and sensitive prose -- Philippa East, author of Little White Lies and Safe And SoundMarina, a foundling, tries to discover who she really is. But the house she was found in is full of secrets and the truth becomes more and more dangerous. Gripping and full of goose bumps - I couldn’t put it down -- Frances Maynard, author of The Seven Imperfect Rules of Elvira Carr and Maggsie McNaughton's Second ChanceAt a time when I was finding it very difficult to read or concentrate, The Hiding Place came to my rescue. What a gently captivating and beautifully told mystery – I loved it -- Nicola Rayner, author of You and Me and The Girl Before YouWith a cast of fascinating characters, a gripping, emotion-packed mystery rolling out across two timelines, and written with an insightful and languorous elegance, this absorbing, heartbreaking drama sees Quintana at her storytelling best * Lancashire Post *
£11.99
Pan Macmillan The Golden Couple
Book SynopsisThe Golden Couple is a psychological thriller that will keep you guessing to the very end - from Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, the authors of the top ten bestseller The Wife Between Us.Marissa and Mathew Bishop seem like the golden couple, until Marissa cheats. She wants to repair things – both because she loves her husband, and for the sake of their eight-year-old son. After a friend forwards an article about Avery, Marissa takes a chance on this maverick therapist, who lost her licence due to controversial methods.If Avery Chambers can’t fix you in ten sessions, she won’t take you on as a client. She helps people overcome everything, from anxiety to domineering parents. Her successes almost help her absorb the emptiness she feels since her husband’s death.When the Bishops glide through Avery’s door, all three are immediately set on a collision course. Because the biggest secrets in the room are still hidden, and it’s no longer simply a marriage that’s in danger.‘The Golden Couple is propulsive and thrilling. It grabbed me from the first page and didn't let go. A page-turner that will keep you guessing until the very end’ - Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of Daisy Jones and The Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn HugoTrade ReviewThe Golden Couple is propulsive and thrilling. It grabbed me from the first page and didn't let go. A page-turner that will keep you guessing until the very end -- Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of Daisy Jones and The Six and Malibu RisingThe Golden Couple is my favorite kind of thriller: a guessing game filled with characters you care about and twists you don't see coming . . . an utterly compelling, spellbinding read -- Lisa Jewell, bestselling author of The Family UpstairsA propulsive, twisty, unputdownable thriller – with two heroines you won't be able to get enough of . . . and a twist you'll never see coming -- Laura Dave, author of The Last Thing He Told MeA riveting cat-and-mouse game of a novel that explores the intricacies of marriage, and the many ways in which people lie to themselves . . . and others. This is a psychological thriller in every sense of the word -- Lori Gottlieb, author of Maybe You Should Talk To Someone
£8.54
Vintage Publishing The Voice in My Ear
Book Synopsis'Superbly written and fearlessly imagined fiction' Sarah HallTen women, all called Claire, are tangled up in complex power dynamics with their families, friends, and lovers. Though all are different ages, and leading different lives, each is haunted by the difficulty of living on her own terms. Claire is a teenaged babysitter left alone with a strange little girl and her imaginary friend. Claire is a woman trying to escape her elderly mother by employing an android carer. Claire is a young TV journalist wrecking her first big interview. Claire's boyfriend discovers more than he bargains for when he begins to read her diary.And whatever she does, Claire is always living in the shadow of a monstrous mother.'Leviston is a mistress of precision and emotional insight' Hilary Mantel, TLSTrade ReviewI loved it. I absolutely loved it. It felt like a choose your own adventure version of somebody’s life... I cannot say enough how much I enjoyed it. It’s a writer putting herself through her paces – it’s showing us what she can do and I’m really excited to see what she does next. -- Naomi Alderman * BBC Radio 4 Front Row *Brilliant, bracing... Dazzling... One of the many triumphs of this original, peculiarly truthful book is to leave us questioning what kindness is and what care is, no longer able to take the platitudes of daily life for granted also unwilling to leave them behind. -- Lara Feigel * Guardian *It's hard to explain how good this fiction debut by Frances Leviston is... So thrilling... Outstandingly well written. -- Claire Harman * Times Literary Supplement *Books of the Year* *Frances Leviston’s debut work of fiction positively knocked my socks off. Each of the 10 stories in The Voice in My Ear is about a different woman called Claire — an apt appellation for characters illuminating aspects of modern life… She has triumphantly succeeded in turning a poetic perceptivity to the [short story] form. -- Mia Levitin * Financial Times *[The Voice in My Ear has] a psychological and emotional coherence unusual for a story collection… You can feel the subtext pulse between the lines and occasionally, thrillingly, it surges onto the page… Extraordinary… Leviston is so skilled at noticing and cataloguing the emotional abrasion of being a daughter, the toll of motherhood and love’s ability to wound… But these responses are matched, and exceeded, by the admiration, excitement and exhilaration provoked by what she achieves on the page. -- Chris Power * Sunday Times *
£9.49
Cornerstone Keisha The Sket: ‘A true British classic.’
Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE BRITISH BOOK DISCOVER AWARD 2022Where were you when Keisha the Sket first broke the internet?Keisha is a girl from the ends, sharp, feisty and ambitious; she's been labelled 'top sket' but she's making it work. When childhood crush and long-time admirer, Ricardo, finally wins her over, Keisha has it all: power, a love life and the chance for stability. But trauma comes knocking and with it a whirlwind of choices that will define what kind of a woman she truly wants to be.Told with the heart and soul of the inner city, with an unforgettable heroine, Keisha the Sket is a revelation of the true, raw, arousing and tender core of British youth culture.Complete with essays from esteemed contemporary writers Candice Carty-Williams, Caleb Femi and Aniefiok Ekpoudom.Trade ReviewKeisha the Sket is truly a crucial part of not just Black Brit literature, but British literature as a whole. * Bolu Babalola *Our literary foremother. * Candice Carty-Williams *Keisha the Sket accidentally decolonised literature. * Black Ballad *'Reading Keisha the Sket as an adult makes me swoon at the richness of its nostalgia. * Caleb Femi *British answer to Gossip Girl. * Dazed *
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton The Undead Gypsy: The darkly funny Own Voices
Book Synopsis'A complete rollercoaster romp of a story... Kit has a created cast of heroes and villains whose escapades leave the reader crying with laughter and gasping with horror... But the story also has an emotional depth and poignancy which resonates long after the final page has been turned.' - Ruth HoganNow if you were a poor Gypsy mush, who'd had a run of bad luck and whose ever-loving was done with managing on thin air, and someone was to offer you a lucrative run of work, what would you do? Okay, so it's not legit, but sometimes it's got to be worth the risk. You could buy your lovely Zilla all that her heart desires, you could stand your rounds at the kitchema without counting the money in your pocket, update your van, put a deposit on a bit of ground to call your own.So you do it, you take the work and you take the risk, but then it all blows up in your face and you've pulled your loved ones into danger. Well worse than danger. And now you're going to have to take yourself away, disappear from sight. Be the undead playing at being dead. By the author of Thursday Nights at the Bluebell Inn, this Own Voices novel reveals, with compassion and humour, the precarious lives of its characters in a story where, sometimes, the mystical and the everyday worlds converge.
£9.49
Quercus Publishing Zorrie
Book SynopsisFinalist for the 2021 National Book Award (Fiction)"It was Indiana, it was the dirt she had bloomed up out of, it was who she was, what she felt, how she thought, what she knew."As a girl, Zorrie Underwood's modest and hardscrabble home county was the only constant in her young life. After losing both her parents, Zorrie moved in with her aunt, whose own death orphaned Zorrie all over again, casting her off into the perilous realities and sublime landscapes of rural, Depression-era Indiana. Drifting west, Zorrie survived on odd jobs, sleeping in barns and under the stars, before finding a position at a radium processing plant. At the end of each day, the girls at her factory glowed from the radioactive material.But when Indiana calls Zorrie home, she finally finds the love and community that have eluded her in and around the small town of Hillisburg. And yet, even as she tries to build a new life, Zorrie discovers that her trials have only begun.Spanning an entire lifetime, a life convulsed and transformed by the events of the 20th century, Laird Hunt's extraordinary novel offers a profound and intimate portrait of the dreams that propel one tenacious woman onward and the losses that she cannot outrun. Set against a harsh, gorgeous, quintessentially American landscape, this is a deeply empathetic and poetic novel that belongs on a shelf with the classics of Willa Cather, Marilynne Robinson, and Elizabeth Strout.Trade ReviewA virtuosic portrait of midcentury America itself - physically stalwart, unerringly generous, hopeful that tragedy can be mitigated through faith in land and neighbor alike...This is not fiction as literary uproar. This is a refined realism of the sort Flaubert himself championed, storytelling that accrues detail by lean detail...Hunt's prose is galvanized by powerful questions. Who were those forebears who tilled the land for decades, seemingly without complaint? How did they fashion happiness, or manage soaring passions, in their conformist communities? He re-examines the pastoral with ardent precision...What Hunt ultimately gives us is a pure and shining book, an America where community becomes a 'symphony of souls, ' a sustenance greater than romance or material wealth for those wise enough to join in * New York Times *Zorrie is a quiet novel about an ordinary life. And when you're ordinary, you need resilience like Zorrie's to survive in an uncaring world. Laird Hunt's short and affecting novel follows Zorrie Underwood's life from childhood in Depression-era Indiana, when she's orphaned, to early adulthood, when she's left on her own, to an eventual marriage and working life * O Magazine's Most Anticipated Historical Fiction Novels of 2021 *Zorrie is Hunt at his best.Compelling from its first page.[A] tender, glowing novel that is just as beautiful as Marilynne Robinson's Gilead or Denis Johnson's Train Dreams. -- Anthony Doerr * Observer, Best Book of 2021 *Hunt's skill is in taking familiar themes such as grief, love, memory and the passage of time and making us think afresh about the hastening decades. * Spectator *Throughout these 160 pages, a life unfurls, passes and lingers. Laird Hunt's Zorrie is a magnificent character who truly feels like a friend - gentle, unsentimental and poetic. * Sunday Business Post Review *
£9.49
Amazon Publishing The Best Friend
Book SynopsisThe Amazon Charts bestselling series. From the author of Dead Certain comes a twisting novel of friendship, love, and marriage—and all their cunning and deadly betrayals. Back in 1986, Clint Broden was a novice New York defense attorney building a family with his wife, Anne, and impatient for his career to take off. That’s when his defense of his closest friend, Nick Zamora, made headlines. In spite of his lingering suspicions that his soul mate since childhood had a secret, Clint was dedicated to believing Nick hadn’t murdered his new bride. Three decades later, Clint is now the celebrated go-to attorney for the rich and famous. Nick is a lauded literary superstar living his dreams in Los Angeles. Though separated by thirty years and three thousand miles, they’re still bound by one thing—the trial that tested the limits of their friendship. After all these years, the last thing Clint expects is to be pulled back into Nick’s disruptive life. But this time, his motives for getting involved might be different from proving his old friend’s innocence. It could be Clint’s last chance to force a reckoning with the sins of the past.Trade Review“This is a well-constructed, compelling legal thriller that deals perceptively with guilt and retribution, all set on a firm basis of love.” —Booklist
£8.54
Amazon Publishing The Last Sister
Book SynopsisAn Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestseller. Three sisters’ secrets collide in a shocking novel of suspense by the bestselling author of the Mercy Kilpatrick series. Twenty years ago Emily Mills’s father was murdered, and she found his body hanging in the backyard. Her younger sister, Madison, claims she was asleep in her room. Her older sister, Tara, claims she was out with friends. The tragedy drove their mother to suicide and Tara to leave town forever. The killer was caught. The case closed. Ever since, Emily and Madison have tried to forget what happened that night—until an eerily similar murder brings it all back. It also brings FBI special agent Zander Wells to the Oregon logging town. As eager as he is to solve the brutal double slaying, he is just as intrigued with the mystery of Emily’s and her sisters’ past. When more blood is shed, Zander suspects there’s a secret buried in this town no one wants unearthed. Is it something Emily and Madison don’t know? Or aren’t telling? And Tara? Maybe Emily can’t bear to find her. Because when Tara disappeared, she took a secret of her own with her.Trade ReviewAn Amazon Best Book of the Month: Romance “[A] gripping novel of suspense from Elliot (A Merciful Secret)…Elliot skillfully unravels layers of intersecting stories, each one integral to the overall story of the Mills family and their small-town secrets. Readers will want to see more from this author.” —Publishers Weekly “Elliot succeeds in creating both a thrilling mystery and a fascinating character study of the people inhabiting these pages.” —Bookreporter “With her riveting, narrative driven, deftly crafted storytelling style as a novelist, Kendra Elliot’s The Last Sister will prove to be a welcome and enduringly popular addition to community library Mystery/Suspense/Thriller collections.” —Midwest Book Review “Suspense on top of suspense. This one will keep you guessing until the final page and shows Elliot at her very best.” —The Real Book Spy “Every family has skeletons. Kendra Elliot’s tale of the Mills family’s dark secrets is first-rate suspense. Dark and gripping, The Last Sister crescendos to knock-out, edge-of-your seat tension.” —Robert Dugoni, bestselling author of My Sister’s Grave “The Last Sister is exciting and suspenseful! Engaging characters and a complex plot kept me on the edge of my seat until the very last page.” —T.R. Ragan, bestselling author of the Jessie Cole series
£11.44
Amazon Publishing The Apartment
Book SynopsisIt’s an opportunity she can’t refuse. The woman before her tried… Freya Miller needs a miracle. In the fallout of her husband’s betrayal, she’s about to lose her family home, and with it the security she craves for her five-year-old daughter, Skye. Adrift and alone, she’s on the verge of despair until a chance meeting with the charismatic Dr Marsden changes everything. He’s seeking a new tenant for a shockingly affordable flat in a fashionable area of London. Adder House sounds too good to be true… But Freya really can’t afford to be cynical, and Dr Marsden is adamant she and Skye will be a perfect fit with the other residents. But Adder House has secrets. Even behind a locked front door, Freya feels as if she’s being watched: objects moving, unfamiliar smells, the blinking light of a concealed camera… and it’s not long before she begins to suspect that her dream home is hiding a nightmarish reality. Was it really chance that led her here—or something unthinkably dark? As the truth about Adder House starts to unravel, can Freya and Skye get out—or will they be locked in forever? Revised edition: This edition of The Apartment includes editorial revisions.
£8.54
Amazon Publishing Dead Against Her
Book SynopsisSheriff Bree Taggert’s downfall is part of a killer’s cunning design in #1 Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melinda Leigh’s novel of murder, lies, and revenge. Called to an isolated farm to check on an elderly widow, Sheriff Bree Taggert finds a brutal double homicide. One of the victims is Eugene Oscar, the bitter and corrupt former deputy she recently forced out of the department. Working with criminal investigator Matt Flynn, Bree discovers that she isn’t the only one who had a troubling history with Eugene. But someone doesn’t want Bree digging up the past. She becomes the target of a stranger’s sick and devious campaign calculated to destroy her reputation, career, family, and new relationship with Matt. To make matters worse, she’s the prime suspect in Eugene’s murder. When her chief deputy goes missing while investigating the case, Bree refuses to back down. She won’t let him become the next victim. His life and her future depend on finding a killer nursing a vengeful rage.Trade ReviewAn Amazon Best Book of the Month “Bree Taggert is everything I love in a heroine.” —Allison Brennan, New York Times bestselling author of The Third to Die “Melinda Leigh knows just how to blend poignant family drama with edge-of-your-seat suspense. As the heroine of this thrilling new series, Bree Taggert will capture your heart.” —Laura Griffin, New York Times bestselling author “Not since Walt Longmire have I been so enthralled by a character! Sheriff Bree Taggert is tough, flawed, and I want to see more of her!” —Debra Webb, USA Today bestselling author of Trust No One “A feast for crime-novel fans.” —Lee Goldberg, #1 New York Times bestselling author “Fast paced and riveting, with the complex and compelling lead homicide detective, Bree Taggert…destined to be a hit series.” —Karin Slaughter, international bestselling author “Leigh’s vulnerable yet strong lead characters add depth to an exciting new series.” —Library Journal “Leigh has a genuine talent for creating believable, appealing characters and realistic dialogue.” —Kirkus Reviews “Full of twists and turns that leave the reader on the edge of their seat.” —Crimespree Magazine “Readers will cheer Bree every step of the way.” —Publishers Weekly
£8.54
Amazon Publishing Secrets Between Friends
Book SynopsisThe old house hides her darkest secret—and there’s no running away this time… Twenty years ago, Liz left Easthaven to escape the memory of one tragic night at Lakewell Manor. Only she and her best friend Tamsin saw what really happened, and in the aftermath they drifted apart. Now she’s forced back after a nasty divorce, with two daughters in tow, the shadows of that terrible night lurking on every corner. With a custody battle looming, she’s one wrong move away from her life falling apart completely. So when news arrives that Tamsin, too, is returning to Easthaven, Liz fears their reunion will bring the awful truth spilling out into the open. But when she finally meets Tamsin, now mistress of the clifftop house whose locked gates have guarded the friends’ secret all these years, she’s in for a surprise. Tamsin looks different, and she doesn’t remember Liz, let alone what happened that night… Something is clearly wrong. But confronting Tamsin means reliving the nightmare Liz has been running from for twenty years. Can she risk exposing what happened that night, knowing that the truth will destroy everything?
£8.54
Amazon Publishing Kismet: A Thriller
Book SynopsisFrom Amina Akhtar comes a viciously funny thriller about wellness—the smoothies, the secrets, and the deliciously deadly impulses. Lifelong New Yorker Ronnie Khan never thought she’d leave Queens. She’s not an “aim high, dream big” person—until she meets socialite wellness guru Marley Dewhurst. Marley isn’t just a visionary; she’s a revelation. Seduced by the fever dream of finding her best self, Ronnie makes for the desert mountains of Sedona, Arizona. Healing yoga, transcendent hikes, epic juice cleanses…Ronnie consumes her new bougie existence like a fine wine. But is it, really? Or is this whole self-care business a little sour? When the glam gurus around town start turning up gruesomely murdered, Ronnie has her answer: all is not well in wellness town. As Marley’s blind ambition veers into madness, Ronnie fears for her life.Trade ReviewPraise for Kismet “An amusing takedown of influencer culture.” —Kirkus Reviews “Readers will be curious to see what this talented author does next.” —Publishers Weekly “Akhtar turns her sharp wit on the wellness community and its dark secrets in a thriller equal parts vicious and funny.” —USA Today “Akhtar brings to her second novel…a gimlet-eyed view of Sedona, Ariz.’s wellness pretensions and a wicked way with one-liners…the surprises Akhtar has in store upend assumptions about trauma, healing, and the motivations of those who helicopter into lands they claim to hold sacred.” —Los Angeles Times “Twisty, sardonic.” —Oprah Daily “The alluring world of wellness gets a fatal awakening in Amina Akhtar’s darkly humorous thriller Kismet.” —Popsugar “Addictive.” —The Big Thrill “An impressive blend of mystery, thriller and dark humor that will draw you in almost instantly and not let go until all is revealed in the final pages.” —Bookreporter “[Kismet] skewers the wellness industry of Sedona (Amina Akhtar is now based in Arizona) and also includes a light supernatural touch that’s perfectly integrated into the thriller arc as a whole.” —CrimeReads “Amina Akhtar weaves a wickedly smart tale.” —Desi News “With Kismet, Amina Akhtar invites us into the foxhole with Ronnie Khan, a New Yorker stationed in Sedona, just in time for Wellness World War. I loved this book—the claustrophobia of wide ‘open’ exclusive spaces. Amina teleports us to the passive-aggressive front lines in this dry landscape where caftans and corpses are equally foreboding. You want Ronnie to make a run for it, but she’s a real hero—she wants to make a go for it. Lucky for us, she stays. Kismet is wicked and smart, a fly-on-the-wall humdinger where a light social gathering spikes your blood pressure. Amina deftly intertwines the earthly with the otherworldly. Read it now so you can be the one telling your friends about Kismet.” —Caroline Kepnes, New York Times bestselling author of You “Amina Akhtar had me at ravens! Then she kept me turning the pages with her colorful cast of characters, keen insights, and layered, engaging heroine. Kismet is darkly funny, sharply observant, and full of surprises. Don’t miss this utterly original and wildly entertaining thriller.” —Lisa Unger, New York Times bestselling author of Last Girl Ghosted “The twists just keep coming in Kismet, Amina Akhtar’s dark and delicious thriller. I can’t imagine a better companion around these nail-biting curves than the novel’s protagonist, Ronnie Khan, who is wide eyed yet smarter than she lets on, naive yet world weary. In a nutshell: she’s the perfect heroine. I’d follow her anywhere.” —Jess Lourey, Amazon Charts bestselling author of Unspeakable Things “Dead bodies are turning up in Sedona’s upscale wellness community? Sign me up! I loved everything about Kismet, Amina Akhtar’s sharply observant, funny thriller. Gleeful and gripping, Akhtar has knocked it out of the park with this wickedly entertaining, twisty novel.” —Jennifer Hillier, bestselling author of Little Secrets “A chilling tale that lures in the reader with a seductive blend of friendship and tranquility, then transforms it into something evil and deliciously twisted.” —A. R. Torre, New York Times bestselling author of Every Last Secret “Kismet is funny, sharp, twisty, and spot on. Whether she’s dealing with toxic relationships or everyday racism, Ronnie Khan is a character that you can’t help but root for. I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun reading a novel. Everyone, and I mean everyone, is going to be talking about those ravens.” —Kellye Garrett, Agatha, Anthony, and Lefty Award–winning author of Like a Sister “Wickedly smart and outrageously entertaining, Kismet grabs hold and doesn’t let go until a final twist that will have even the savviest readers gasping. Just like the clever, scene-stealing ravens, Akhtar skewers those who deserve it with her trademark wit while also layering in emotional nuance as compelling as the captivating mystery. At once atmospheric, chilling, and thought-provoking, Kismet will surely be this summer’s must-read thriller.” —Brianna Labuskes, bestselling author of A Familiar Sight “Gaspingly original. Kismet is brilliant and twisty—a knockout page-turner about guilt, revenge, and the toxicity of family and friendships. The oh-so-talented Amina Akhtar unleashes her keen eye and mordant wit—and exquisite understanding of human emotions—to reveal the dark side of the wellness industry and the terrifying reality behind the glam exteriors. Wow! This gripping, heartbreaking, and constantly surprising thriller is not to be missed!” —Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today bestselling author of Her Perfect Life “Amina Akhtar yet again brings her wickedly wicked style to this twisty thriller about a woman who’s finally taken charge of her life—only to find dead bodies piling up around her in the wellness community where she’s starting over. Kismet is a page-turner populated by eerie ravens and people who aren’t what they seem in a perfectly unsettling desert setting.” —Gigi Pandian, USA Today bestselling author of Under Lock & Skeleton Key “Kismet is the twistiest, most delicious take on wellness and self-care gone wrong. With a cast of unforgettable characters, a point of view you’ll never guess, and an ending that leaves you breathless, you’ll be busting down doors to join me as co-president of the Amina Akhtar fan club!” —Yasmin Angoe, author of Her Name Is Knight “Kismet is a gleeful (and at times literal) skewering of influencer culture and clout chasing, as well as a deeply relevant look at how easily and often the white wellness world intersects with racism and cultural appropriation—and how blind we can be to that and to the stain it leaves on the world around us. A bold and insightful whodunnit that ensures you’ll never look at ravens the same way again.” —Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan, bestselling authors of The Royal We and The Heir Affair “Kismet is an unforgettable read, with a fantastic setting and backdrop—sharp, haunting, and loaded with Amina Akhtar’s hypnotic, visceral voice. Chilling, surprising, and loaded with biting commentary on the Sedona wellness community, this novel lingered with me for days after I finished it. Kismet is mesmerizing—a writer at the peak of her powers.” —Alex Segura, acclaimed author of Secret Identity, Star Wars Poe Dameron: Free Fall, and Blackout “Unsettling from the very first page, Kismet takes its readers on a wild ride set in Sedona’s wellness community, featuring a serial killer, crystals, and kick-ass ravens. It’s strange and smart and spellbinding, with sharp social commentary and huge surprises. Another eerie gem from Amina Akhtar.” —Megan Collins, author of The Family Plot “A mystery thriller just the way I like them—full of secrets and karma. Amina Akhtar creeps us out and keeps us guessing all the way!” —Christopher Golden, New York Times bestselling author of Road of Bones and Ararat “Kismet is as atmospheric as it is dark and twisted. An unsettling read with wholly original protagonists, this is one thrilling story I won’t be forgetting soon.” —Hannah Mary McKinnon, international bestselling author of Never Coming Home “A remarkably original, terrifying read that seized me from the first line. Kismet is an astonishing, expertly structured thriller. Akhtar’s signature creepy tone, suffused with dread and laced with wicked humor, is riveting. Her characters make you blur the lines of morality and justice. With brilliantly shifting points of view, a touch of magic, and a jaw-dropping ending, this is a stand-out suspense.” —Samantha M. Bailey, international bestselling author of Woman on the Edge and Watch Out for Her “A desert setting, crystals to ward off evil, cunning ravens, and murder. Amina Akhtar has whipped up a creepy mystery that will have you second-guessing what you know about the wellness industry, not to mention what to think the next time you see ravens!” —Wanda Morris, Lefty-nominated author of All Her Little Secrets “One of the most original, chilling, and startlingly honest thrillers I’ve ever read, Amina Akhtar plunges readers into an altogether fresh flavor of hell in Kismet. Balancing nail-biting terror with razor-sharp wit, Akhtar interrogates the feral side of the human heart with a rare fearlessness that is certain to make Kismet one of the year’s hottest titles and an absolute must-read. Period.” —P. J. Vernon, acclaimed author of Bath Haus Praise for Amina Akhtar “#FashionVictim is sick and vicious and funny and voicey…I ‘totes’ loved this one.” —Caroline Kepnes, New York Times bestselling author “For those craving a new fashionably vicious read, this book is darkly satisfying.” —Martha Stewart Living “A diabolical page-turner…impossible to put down.” —Forbes “Darkly funny.” —Fashionista “As awesome as it sounds…welcome to the cruel world of fashion where women’s looks, weight, and youth are the only things to value.” —Book Riot “Hilariously funny as well as profoundly unsettling…will keep readers hooked and laughing, if a bit uncomfortably, from page one until the shocking ending.” —Kirkus Reviews “Full of suspense, social satire, and deliciously dark humor, #FashionVictim gives ‘killer wardrobe’ a whole new meaning. I couldn’t put it down.” —Alison Gaylin, USA Today bestselling author of If I Die Tonight “#FashionVictim is sharp, stylish, and gleefully sinister; you’ll never read Vogue the same way again.” —Jessica Morgan and Heather Cocks, founders of Go Fug Yourself and authors of the national bestseller The Royal We “#FashionVictim gives new meaning to the phrase ‘dressed to kill’…instead of the devil wearing Prada, she’s wearing her victim’s blood in a perfect shade of Essie red.” —Aliza Licht, EVP marketing and communications and the author of Leave Your Mark “Every page of #FashionVictim pops with a dark and dishy verve. Fierce in every sense of the word.” —Jessica Tom, author of Food Whore “#FashionVictim is a book to not only buy, keep, and read, but to inhale from page one. The sense of menace in the prologue will hook readers from the get-go, and Akhtar’s sharp-as-a-tack writing will carry you along this entertaining read to a stunning end, um, ending.” —New York Journal of Books “Gleefully bloodthirsty…this dark novel has the energy of Heathers gone twentysomething.” —Publishers Weekly “The characters reminded me a great deal of the dark movie Heathers…a whole lot of sick fun. All I can hope is that the author was not speaking from reality…and that another book will be written very, very soon.” —Suspense Magazine “The story’s dark humor is one of its best attributes, and while the reader may wonder if Anya will get caught, there’s no doubt that whatever happens, she’ll be dressed to kill.” —Mystery Scene
£8.54
Amazon Publishing Desperate Paths
Book SynopsisIn Eden, the truth can have deadly consequences. Brooklyn Anderson knows it looks bad. She was found wiping down a gun. Her father now dead. His blood on her hands. The incomprehensible nightmare has started. Seven days earlier, Brooklyn had returned to Eden to care for her beloved father, who lay helpless in a hospital bed. Her estranged sister, Ginny, said he fell. But as Brooklyn soon realizes, Ginny is prone to lying. Former Eden resident Darius Woods was in the hospital too. The famous actor had written a screenplay that would lay bare all the secrets of the town, but within hours of his return, someone shot him. As the Woods investigation proceeds, and Brooklyn starts to question everything she believes about her family, her neighbors, and her home, secrets and lies begin to unravel. But nothing can prepare her for where those lies will finally lead. And sharing the truth of what happened the night her father died might just make things worse.
£8.54
Amazon Publishing The Night of the Moths
Book SynopsisHe’s finally letting go of the memory of his murdered girlfriend. Then he sees her texts. Alice was a hopeful young graduate student when, on a beautiful August night, her body was found in the woods. She’ll always remember the night she was murdered. And she still suffers the grief and rage that destroyed her family. But what Alice regrets most is the last fight she had with her boyfriend, Enrico—and the fact that she never had the chance to tell him something that would have changed everything. A decade later, Enrico has returned to the provincial town where Alice lived and died, to sell his family home. All he wants is to forget. But then, among the things he left behind, he finds an old cell phone…and unread texts sent from Alice’s phone. Now, her terrible secrets are about to swallow up everyone she knew, loved, and trusted. For Enrico, discovering them is his only chance to put his lost love—and the demons of his past—to rest.
£8.54
Amazon Publishing The School Reunion
Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of The Secret Mother, a chilling tale about revisiting the past—and digging up secrets you’d rather forget. The invitation to her school reunion couldn’t have come at a better time for Chloe Flynn. Divorced, broke and bored at work, she’s living a life her teenage self would hate. Turning the clock back fifteen years might be just what she needs to wipe the slate clean and start again. And then there’s the chance she’ll bump into Nathan Blake, the one she still regrets letting get away… Back at her elite private school, Chloe sparkles as she reunites with old friends and long-forgotten love interests. And then, just as she’d hoped, there’s Nathan, more handsome than ever before. Even better, he’s single too, and seems to be just as keen to make up for lost time… But as the evening progresses, Chloe can’t help feeling that something’s not quite right—that she’s not the only one who’s come here for more than just a party. When the secrets of the past start to emerge and the reunion takes a sinister turn, it’s clear that nothing is what it seems—and nothing will be the same again.
£8.54
Black Rose Writing Cannibal Club
Book SynopsisArmed with extraordinary medical talent and a winning smile, newly trained surgeon, Chase Callaway, enters the world of private practice in Los Angeles, only to be greeted by a wall of stunning peer rejection. A charge of malpractice is levied a mere three days into his career, followed by professional attacks intended to ruin, effectively ending his surgical practice after only one month. Battling back to respectability takes many years, but even then, dark clouds linger. Significant mental injuries still fester, reinforcing his growing fear and belief in a multi-generational family curse, eventually prompting a return to academic medicine at his alma mater, Far West Texas University. Under the direction of his former mentor, he is given the charge to develop a multidisciplinary breast center, a new concept in the late 1980s, in the midst of a controversial revolution in breast cancer management. Energized by his abiding belief that the California experience served a Providential purpose to strip away personal gain in favor of group excellence, Dr. Callaway''s indomitable spirit meets head-on with unrelenting tribulation.
£19.90
Green Writers Press Today My Name Is Billie
Book SynopsisEvery Year thousands of educators are accused of physical abuse. Some are guilty and are prosecuted, but hundreds who are innocent are forced to surrender their licenses. This is what happened to Billie. Deceit and betrayal threatened her survival, extinguished her life’s dream, and erased her sense of self worth. She wondered if she could ever trust again. Rejected by family and friends, she was forced to reinvent every aspect of her entire life. When a catastrophic fire crippled her community, and individuals grappled with personal tragedy, she gained a deeper understanding of the gift of forgiveness and the power of hope. Her brave struggles saved not only her life but also the lives of others. At times brutally painful, at other times hugely positive, Today My Name Is Billie reveals how a single lie can spread like fire and destroy all that it touches.Trade Review"Neile Parisi's debut novel, Today My Name is Billie , explores the aftermath of teacher Billie Murray's life when one of her trusted students falsely accuses her of physical abuse. In the fallout from this boy's lie, Billie loses her job as well her relationship with her husband and two sons. Billie chooses to relocate from Connecticut to a small southern town where she begins to heal. After many years she experiences another horrifying experience. This time, however, she learns to love, forgive and become an empowered version of herself. Today My Name is Billie ignites hope in the tenacity of the human spirit." Charita Cole Brown, author of Defying the Verdict: My Bipolar Life
£13.46
Pushkin Press Another Person
Book Synopsis'A mesmerising debut. Dark, twisted and bracingly empathetic' Diana Reid, author of Love and Virtue Winner of the 2017 Hankyoreh Literary Award ---------------- Who is Jina? The stupid woman who ruined a young man's promising career? The weird loner whose university boyfriend thinks she has a victim complex? The naïve country girl who ignored a friend's cry for help? The survivor? To answer these questions, Jina will have to return to Anjin University and the toxic culture that destroyed the lives of many female students - including one, Ha Yuri, who died tragically and mysteriously not long before she left. ---------------- PRAISE FOR ANOTHER PERSON 'Immaculately crafted, shocking and moving' Sang Young Park, author of the International Booker-longlisted Love in the Big City 'Dark Academia the way I like it... smart and full of suspense' Hanna Bervoets, author of We Had to Remove This Post 'Sharp social commentary and amazing, complex female characters. An unusual, unpredictable thriller' Simone Campos, author of Nothing Can Hurt You NowTrade Review'Dark Academia the way I like it: Another Person is one of those novels where you're never sure who you should be rooting for, or if you should be rooting for anyone at all. Smart, and full of suspense, it will keep you guessing until the end.' - Hanna Bervoets, author of We Had to Remove This Post'Sharp societal commentary and amazing, complex female characters. An unusual, unpredictable thriller' - Simone Campos, author of Nothing Can Hurt You Now'This is not a remote-controlled weapon aiming at us from a distance. This is a novel standing right before us like a stone-age axe, hacking at our blunted hearts. A novel not like a drone, but like dynamite; more like a dagger than an arrow. In an ever-more misogynistic society, day after day feminism plots its self-transformation-Another Person is its latest weapon. I love Kang Hwagil's direct and primal writing style. I love her perseverance and courage, not to gracefully skirt around a topic, but instead to shout out, 'This is not okay' - Cheong Yeoul, writer'This novel exposes and interrogates. Another Person's protagonists Yuri, Jina and Sujin-as well as the countless women within the 'brackets' of the Korean context-are screaming out... This is a novel that will spark debate.' - Young-Sook Kang, author of Rina'A novel so immaculately-crafted, shocking, and moving, it's hard to believe it's the author's first; this is what Kang Hwagil's ANOTHER PERSON is to me' - Sang Young Park, author of the International Booker-longlisted Love in the Big City'A confronting and timely book about consent, toxic masculinity, sexual assault and how women are treated in South Korea, by one of the country's most prominent feminist writers' -Independent
£13.49
Vintage Publishing Professor Chandra Follows His Bliss
Book Synopsis'I loved this beautiful book. It's tender and compassionate, written with exquisite care and verve, and so so SO funny' MARIAN KEYESProfessor Chandra is about to embark on the trip of a lifetime. In the moments after the bicycle accident, Professor Chandra begins to reassess his life, his career and his relationship with his three children. He’s just missed out on the Nobel Prize (again). All this work. All this stress. It's killing him.Professor Chandra needs to take a break, and reluctantly agrees to visit a Californian retreat, to follow his bliss.And so he must try to crack the most complex problem of all: the secret to his own happinessTrade ReviewI loved this beautiful beautiful book. It's tender and compassionate, written with exquisite care and verve, and so so SO funny -- Marian KeyesChandra is a delightful creation: peevish, intolerant, intellectually exacting, unwittingly eccentric, nerdy, needy let lovable. The book, like its picaresque hero, is a one-off -- Patricia Nicol * Sunday Times *This brilliant and eloquent novel, which puts into words so many unutterable annoyances, is a sort of Zen satire in which tolerance and understanding mingle with hilarious criticism of contemporary mores. It’s a wonderful read -- Wendy Holden * Daily Mail *Rajeev Balasubramanyam gently pokes fun at the modern fondness for positivity, but tells a disarmingly positive story... The writing is elegant and witty and the comedy is always underpinned with humanity; a life without bliss is no life, and the gradual dawning of Chandra’s self-awareness is genuinely uplifting -- Kate Saunders * The Times *Balances satire and self-enlightenment... a surprisingly soulful family tale that echoes Jonathan Franzen’s Corrections in its witty exploration of three children trying to free themselves from the influence of their parents -- Ben East * Observer *
£13.49
Canongate Books Total
Book SynopsisA middle-aged novelist devoid of inspiration alights on material in the form of an obsessive pet-shop worker from Cincinnati. A pregnant mother of two finds herself increasingly in thrall to her help, Nat. For Joad, the discovery of a haunting type-written document in an old desk in need of restoration is overwhelming. And when Roxanne rescues her sister from an institution, she comes to realise how vulnerable they both are.Each of the seven stories in Total is a full world, painted with vivid strokes. From the comforting mundanities of motherhood to a technologically infected near future that mirrors our present with dark prescience, each life captured in this collection is unforgettable.Deftly navigating the fault lines of relationships - new, established or remembered - Total is a powerful collection of brilliantly imaginative stories, and eloquent proof of Rebecca Miller's writing prowess.Trade ReviewWit and coolly slaying wisdom are constant delights in these emotionally complex stories . . . cinematically vivid * * Observer * *Miller knows and is playing with . . . all the ways stories and lives infinitely repeat. You've never quite seen them inhabited by these versions of these characters, nor at the tenor of these sentences, with these deftly deployed layers of surprise * * New York Times * *Miller's new collection shows her in many moods and modes, from wistful to comedic to speculative. What a pleasure! -- JEFFREY EUGENIDESA "cinematic prose style" is often a critical cliché, but in the case of Rebecca Miller, no other descriptor suffices . . . [a] captivating, coolly spare new collection * * Oprah Daily * *The characters in Total are instantly recognisable - they are privileged, deluged by memories and in situations fraught with anxiety, but Miller manages to offer a fresh perspective on old conundrums * * Daily Mail * *In Miller's alluring collection, protagonists search for connection and pleasure in strange, sometimes destructive ways . . . Miller brings a cinematic eye to her descriptions (a parking garage's "final floor" offers a "vivid sky") and plenty of drama to the situations. These stories are full of surprises * * Publishers Weekly * *The seven brilliantly knotty and piercingly intimate stories in Total depict characters undone, temporarily or irreparably, by obsessive love * * Lit Hub * *Slim but powerful . . . [Miller] adeptly encapsulates these women's experiences . . . Recommended for fans of Joyce Carol Oates and Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go * * Booklist (starred review) * *Praise for Rebecca Miller: Miller is a luminous writer -- OLIVIA LAINGMiller is an excellent novelist -- KATE ATKINSON
£13.49
Canongate Books Total
Book SynopsisA pregnant mother of two finds herself increasingly in thrall to her help, Nat. For Joad, the discovery of a haunting typewritten document in an old desk in need of restoration is overwhelming. And when Roxanne rescues her sister from an institution, she comes to realise how vulnerable they both are. Deftly navigating the fault lines of relationships - new, established or remembered - Total is a powerful collection of brilliantly imaginative stories. From the comforting mundanities of motherhood to a technologically infected near future that mirrors our present with dark prescience, each life captured in this collection is unforgettable.Trade ReviewWit and coolly slaying wisdom are constant delights in these emotionally complex stories . . . cinematically vivid * * Observer * *Miller knows and is playing with . . . all the ways stories and lives infinitely repeat. You've never quite seen them inhabited by these versions of these characters, nor at the tenor of these sentences, with these deftly deployed layers of surprise * * New York Times * *Miller's new collection shows her in many moods and modes, from wistful to comedic to speculative. What a pleasure! -- JEFFREY EUGENIDESA "cinematic prose style" is often a critical cliché, but in the case of Rebecca Miller, no other descriptor suffices . . . [a] captivating, coolly spare new collection * * Oprah Daily * *The characters in Total are instantly recognisable - they are privileged, deluged by memories and in situations fraught with anxiety, but Miller manages to offer a fresh perspective on old conundrums * * Daily Mail * *In Miller's alluring collection, protagonists search for connection and pleasure in strange, sometimes destructive ways . . . Miller brings a cinematic eye to her descriptions (a parking garage's "final floor" offers a "vivid sky") and plenty of drama to the situations. These stories are full of surprises * * Publishers Weekly * *The seven brilliantly knotty and piercingly intimate stories in Total depict characters undone, temporarily or irreparably, by obsessive love * * Lit Hub * *Slim but powerful . . . [Miller] adeptly encapsulates these women's experiences . . . Recommended for fans of Joyce Carol Oates and Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go * * Booklist (starred review) * *Praise for Rebecca Miller: Miller is a luminous writer -- OLIVIA LAINGMiller is an excellent novelist -- KATE ATKINSON
£9.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Package
Book Synopsis'Fitzek's thrillers are breathtaking, full of wild twists' HARLAN COBEN Emma's the one that got away. The only survivor of a killer known in the tabloids as 'the hairdresser' – because of the trophies he takes from his victims. Or she thinks she was. The police aren't convinced. Nor is her husband. She never even saw her tormentor properly, but now she recognises him in every man. Questioning her sanity, she gives up her job as a doctor in the local hospital and retreats from the world. It is better to stay at home. Quiet. Anonymous. Safe. No one can hurt her here. And all she did was take a parcel for a neighbour. She has no idea what she's let into her home. 'Sebastian Fitzek is without question one of the crime world's most evocative storytellers. He always serves up an intense, impossible to put down thriller and The Package is no exception. A gripping read with a surprising twist, this one is not to be missed' KARIN SLAUGHTER 'Sebastian Fitzek is simply amazing. I truly hope that one day I will be able to create suspense and plot twists in the way only Sebastian can. A true Master of his craft' CHRIS CARTER Sebastian Fitzek is Germany's most successful author. His books have sold 13 million copies, been translated into more than thirty-six languages and are the basis for international cinema and theatre adaptations. Sebastian Fitzek was the first German author to be awarded the European Prize for Criminal Literature. He lives with his family in Berlin. Coming soon: PASSENGER 23Trade ReviewFitzek's thrillers are breathtaking, full of wild twists -- Harlan CobenSebastian Fitzek is without question one of the crime world's most evocative storytellers. He always serves up an intense, impossible to put down thriller and The Package is no exception. A gripping read with a surprising twist, this one is not to be missed -- Karin SlaughterSebastian Fitzek is simply amazing. I truly hope that one day I will be able to create suspense and plot twists in the way only Sebastian can. A true Master of his craft -- Chris CarterSpine-chilling... Masterful... Brilliant' * The Times *Dazzling * Sunday Times *A breakneck ride * Big Issue *Grimly atmospheric * Guardian *A seriously chilling, mind-burrowing read... An intense psychological thriller full of plot-twisty action' * LoveReading *Full of twists and turns, this thriller from Sebastian Fitzek is impossible to put down * Chat. *If you enjoy psycho noir then [The Package] will not disappoint... Fitzek squeezes every ounce of claustrophobic suspense out of the situation' * Shotsmag. *He draws you into [Emma's] world of fear and trembling. There are multiple twists which will change your perspective on events, and I suspect a reread will reveal how well Fitzek foreshadows these. An intriguing puzzle * Sci-Fi Bulletin *Fitzek has a reputation for stories with multiple twists, and this certainly has them... Gripping and spine-chilling' * Daily Mail *Fitzek is a past master at ramping up the paranoia * Guardian *Utterly chilling * Crime Reads *The reading experience was formidable, using the essence of the psychological thriller effectively and keeping the reader wondering what awaits them... There is a real sense of darkness in the writing and the plot, with characters who know how to add twists at just the right times... Kudos, Mr. Fitzek, for a stunning piece that left me tied in knots. This is the kind of story that entertains and disturbs in equal measure' * Mystery & Suspense *A masterfully written thriller that will give you goosebumps * San Francisco Book Review *
£8.54
Scribe Publications Bird Life: a novel
Book Synopsis‘Astonishing’ Emily Perkins, author of Lioness ‘Beautifully lyrical’ Mat Osman, bassist of Suede and author of The Ghost Theatre A lyrical and ambitious exploration of madness and what it is like to experience the world differently, from the Booker Prize–longlisted author of The Chimes. In Ueno Park, Tokyo, as workers and tourists gather for lunch, the pollen blows, a fountain erupts, pigeons scatter, and two women meet, changing the course of one another’s lives. Dinah has come to Japan from New Zealand to teach English and grieve the death of her brother, Michael, a troubled genius who was able to channel his problems into music as a classical pianist — until he wasn’t. In the seemingly empty, eerie apartment block where Dinah has been housed, she sees Michael everywhere, even as she feels his absence sharply. Yasuko is polished, precise, and keenly observant — of her students and colleagues at the language school, and of the natural world. When she was thirteen, animals began to speak to her, to tell her things she did not always want to hear. She has suppressed these powers for many years, but sometimes she allows them to resurface, to the dismay of her adult son, Jun. One day, she returns home, and Jun has gone. Even her special gifts cannot bring him back. As these two women deal with their individual traumas, they form an unlikely friendship in which each will help the other to see a different possible world, as Smaill teases out the tension between our internal and external lives and asks what we lose by having to choose between them.Trade Review‘Bird Life is a deeply affecting novel, transcending cultural barriers while reaching through them to the essentially human.’ -- David Mills * The Times *‘A playful study of genius, grief, and special powers.’ -- Caleb Klaces * The Guardian *‘The two women at the centre of Anna Smaill’s lovely, disconcerting novel Bird Life feel certain something is about to happen — something that’s about to change everything. These kinds of proclamations in a novel can feel unfulfillable, but when Dinah and Yasuko finally do meet, the transformations each affects upon the other are surprising, consuming, and satisfying. Smaill’s crystalline prose brings us inside each of their minds as they manoeuvre through a thoroughly modern cityscape into which the natural world is forever making incursions. An unusual, empathetic, and compulsively readable tale.’ -- Dan Kois, author of Vintage Contemporaries‘A beautifully lyrical tale of loss, grief, and madness, whose central characters are so deftly drawn that you find yourself breathlessly following them down. Magically strange yet horribly real.’ -- Mat Osman, bassist of Suede and author of The Ghost Theatre‘Bird Life is an astonishing book about grief, beauty, and survival ... the writing enters your bloodstream like a strange and wonderful drug.’ -- Emily Perkins, author of Lioness‘[Bird Life is] as richly sensory and exquisite as Smaill’s previous novel, The Chimes. The world tilts and becomes strange and marvellous through her eyes.’ -- Lucy Treloar, author of Wolfe Island‘Smaill writes compellingly about the all-consuming nature of grief and the afterlife of those left behind. She also absorbingly evokes Yasuko’s mental illness, which sees her consulting beetles and birds for their counsel.’ -- Stephanie Cross * Daily Mail *‘Magic, mental illness, and sorrow drive this powerful offering … Smaill excels equally at emotional drama, magical realism, and horror. Readers will find much to love.’ -- Publishers Weekly, starred review“[E]lliptical, poetic … [A]n evocative and sensitive depiction of mental distress and the importance of perseverance … The key message of this subtle book: Though it might be difficult to detect them during times of hardship, glimmers of hope are always visible if one knows where to look.” * Bookpage *‘Bird Life is immersive, beautifully constructed and fascinating in its portrayal of love and sorrow and the ways in which a mind constructs its world. It’s a fresh, beautifully written book, perfect for a reader looking for something out of the ordinary.’ -- Louise Ward * NZ Herald *Praise for The Chimes: ‘A totalitarian regime inflicts amnesia through music in this fresh and complex novel, which shows the social importance of an understanding of the past … fresh and original … cleverly orchestrated and poignantly conveyed throughout.’ -- Catherine Taylor * The Guardian *Praise for The Chimes: ‘To call The Chimes striking is I dare say to underplay what might be the most distinctive debut of the decade. Certainly, Smaill’s experience as a poet come through clearly in her perfectly poised prose. There’s a real richness to her images; a depth to her descriptions; her dialogue practically sparkles; and the structure of the whole thing sings.’ -- Niall Alexander * tor.com *Praise for The Chimes: ‘The novel is hypnotic, melancholic, and requires concentration, but it builds to an incredibly tense and emotionally satisfying climax that rewards all the effort.’ * Elle Magazine *
£15.29
Double 9 Booksllp Under Western Eyes
Book Synopsis
£14.24
Double 9 Booksllp A Landscape Painter
Book Synopsis
£11.69
Double 9 Booksllp The Devil's Paw
Book SynopsisE. Phillips Oppenheim's World War I-set novel The Devil's Paw, written in 1920, is rife with international espionage and intrigue. After being given access to extremely private documents, Miss Katherine Abbeway is quickly detained on suspicion of being a spy. She gives the confidential papers to a friend, but are they really secure? Will they fall into the wrong hands? The Devil's Paw is a perfect illustration of both Oppenheim's qualities and flaws. The plot, which centers on an attempted Bolshevik-style revolution in England during World War I, starts off as both an exciting thriller and a masterful representation of the political premise that battles on the subject that overthrow rulers are frequently required to safeguard a free society. Peace is not the greatest virtue. The backdrop of World War I provides the readers an insight into the hardships of people during that time. This is a compelling book because of the combination of suspicion, conspiracies, and the general threat of war which is present throughout the course of the novel.
£11.99
Double 9 Booksllp Maggie: A Girl Of The Streets
Book SynopsisMaggie: A Girl of the Streets is a novella by Stephen Crane. The story follows the tragic life of a young girl named Maggie, growing up in the impoverished tenements of New York City during the late 19th century. Maggie's life is marked by poverty, violence, and despair. Her alcoholic father beats her mother and siblings, and Maggie herself is forced to work in a sweatshop at a young age. Despite her efforts to escape her bleak circumstances, Maggie is ultimately dragged down by the violence and corruption of her environment. As Maggie spirals downward into prostitution and drug addiction, Crane paints a bleak portrait of urban life, highlighting the crushing poverty and hopelessness that many immigrants faced in the rapidly growing cities of America. The novella is notable for its unflinching portrayal of the harsh realities of life for the urban poor, and for its powerful indictment of the social and economic forces that contributed to their suffering. Although the novella was initially met with controversy and critical scorn, it has since come to be regarded as a groundbreaking work of naturalism, and a powerful testament to the human cost of poverty and social injustice.
£9.15
Double 9 Books A Call the Tale of Two Passions
Book SynopsisA Call written by Ford Madox Hueffer, is a poignant exploration of the psychological and emotional impact of warfare on people. This novella delves into the studies of George Winterbourne, a writer who, in spite of to start with resisting the decision to arms, unearths himself compelled to enlist all through World War I. Hueffer's narrative is a profound examination of the internal conflicts and ethical dilemmas faced via those caught in the tumult of battle. The protagonist's journey will become a metaphor for the broader societal response to the decision for responsibility at some point of a time of worldwide upheaval. The novella skillfully navigates the complexities of obligation, honor, and the human psyche, portraying the transformative impact of war on Winterbourne's person. Hueffer's writing captures the mental nuances of his protagonist, presenting readers with a nuanced portrayal of the inner struggles faced by way of people grappling with the decision to serve. As a writer deeply stricken by the struggle, Ford Madox Hueffer brings authenticity to his narrative, offering readers a compelling insight into the emotional toll exacted through the warfare. A Call stands as a timeless work that transcends its historic context, delving into the popular themes of sacrifice, identity, and the profound impact of struggle at the human spirit.
£10.79
Hodder & Stoughton The Muse: A memoir of love at first sight
Book SynopsisNobody writes like Nell Dunn... always communally, with rare honesty, with love, and with calm and ground-breaking understanding... It's glorious. Ali Smith The Muse is all it could be; an act of sharing that goes beyond particular experience to take us to a happy realm of natural sisterhood. TLSNell Dunn has perfect pitch for the words we use and for the loves and mysteries of the human heart. Carmen Callil Defiant, funny and exhilarating. The Muse is so high-spirited and full of a sense of adventure. Margaret DrabbleThis slim volume is entertaining... You long to know more about Nell's lifeDaily MailThe Muse is the story of a life-changing friendship. It starts with Nell's account of a chance meeting with Josie at the age of 22.Josie teaches her how to live for moment, how to have adventures and find the sweetness of life even in hardship. This was the Sixties, a time of literary and sexual experimentation, of the breakdown of old barriers and inhibitions Even as she was hooking up with dodgy men, Josie always carried herself like a star, and as the inspiration for the ground-breaking novel of working class women Poor Cow and the play Steaming - both of which were made into movies - she became one, feted by producers on Broadway.Life is the thing, was Josie's motto. But where would her philosophy of taking no care for tomorrow lead her?In prose of unique clarity and simplicity that always gets straight to the heart of matter, The Muse follows this friendship over the decades.
£11.24
Headline Publishing Group Her Husbands Mistake
Book SynopsisTHE NO. 1 BESTSELLERHer husband has betrayed her. Can she forgive him - and should she? From the bestselling author of Three Weddings and a Proposal and The Missing WifeWhat readers are saying about Her Husband''s Mistake:''I loved this book. So many will be able to identify'' *****''A truly brilliant book'' *****''Could not put it down!'' *****''Just had to keep on reading to find out what''s was happening'' *****Dave''s made a BIG mistake. What''s Roxy going to do about it? The riveting new novel from No. 1 bestselling author Sheila O''Flanagan. Perfect for readers of Marian Keyes and Amanda Prowse. Roxy''s marriage has always been rock solid.After twenty years, and with two carefree kids, she and Dave are still the perfect couple.Until the day she comes home unexpectedly, and finds DaTrade ReviewPraise for HER HUSBAND'S MISTAKE: 'Another gem from O'Flanagan * Heat *A classic tale of the perfect wife and mother rediscovering her potential * Women's Weekly *An inspiring tale of strength, love and self-discovery from Roxy's dilemma. It's a novel that will resonate with many women, and you'll be cheering Roxy on throughout * S Magazine *Praise for Sheila O'Flanagan's irresistible novels: 'A hugely enjoyable romance, written with pace and heart. It will make you long to jump on a plane * Sunday Mirror *You'll race through this warm, heart-felt read * Best *This GONE GIRL-esque novel will have you gripped until the very end * Look *Escapist in every sense, this easy-to-read romance has a steely edge * Sunday Mirror *I read the book in one sitting as it was so enjoyable, full of romance and kept you riveted until the last page * Woman's Way *An exciting love story with a deliciously romantic denouement * Sunday Express *Make some space in your suitcase * Candis *The perfect holiday companion... O'Flanagan is one of our best-known, best-loved and most prolific women's fiction authors * Irish Independent *
£8.09
Hodder & Stoughton MR Gandys Grand Tour
Book SynopsisTimothy Gandy has kept his lifetime''s ambition secret for forty years.Now, suddenly (if tragically) released from the hen-pecked tedium of his ordinary existence, he is unexpectedly free to realize his dreams.He will embark on a Grand Tour of Europe, following in the footsteps of the aristocrats of the eighteenth century.He anticipates high art, culture and pleasant weather. He never expected to encounter new friendships - and possibly even love - along the way. It seems that Mr Gandy has embarked on the journey of a lifetime . . .READERS ARE LOVING MR GANDY''S GRAND TOUR:''Another heartwarming story from Alan Titchmarsh'' - 5 STARS''Well worth reading'' - 5 STARS''What a sweet tale this was'' - 5 STARS''Loved it!'' - 5 STARS''Enchanting'' - 5 STARSTrade ReviewPRAISE FOR ALAN TITCHMARSH:A perfect love story * Katie Fforde on THE HAUNTING *It's just brilliant - full of poetry * Jilly Cooper on THE SCARLET NIGHTINGALE *A pleasurable read which fans will lap up * Daily Mail *The story brims with intrigue * Daily Express on THE HAUNTING *Art, antiques and romance are the ingredients: Titchmarsh boils the pot to a fine froth. * Saga Magazine on THE FOLLY *
£8.99
Vintage Publishing What Red Was: ‘One of the most powerful debuts
Book Synopsis'An urgent story told beautifully' - Dolly Alderton'Gripping, unflinching and elegant' - Sophie MackintoshA powerful, unforgettable story about modern love, privilege and a young woman's journey after her life falls apart.******When Kate meets Max in the first week of university, a life-changing friendship begins. Over the next four years, the two become inseparable. But loving Max means knowing his family: the wealthy Rippons, all generosity, social ease and quiet repression.Theirs is not Kate's world, and yet she finds herself drawn quickly into their gilded lives, and the secrets that lie beneath. Until one summer evening at the Rippons' home, just after graduation, her life is shattered in a bedroom while a party goes on downstairs.******An Observer Hottest-Tipped Debut Novelist and Elle One To Watch'Unforgettable...subversive and sophisticated' Elle'Outstanding...brilliantly told' Observer'A writer with a voice as fresh as new paint... Beautiful' The Times'One of the most powerful debuts you'll ever read' Stylist'Scorching and original' Sunday Times, Style'Dazzling... Enthralling' Alexandra Kleeman'Unputdownable... A powerful and haunting tale' Independent'If you like David Nicholls, Elizabeth Day, Donna Tartt...it's exceptional' Pandora Sykes'Compelling... Price's prose glimmers' Mail on SundayTrade ReviewMoving, vivid, confronting and bold, What Red Was is an urgent story told beautifully * Dolly Alderton *Subversive and sophisticated… [Rosie Price’s] exploration of sexual violence and class makes for an unforgettable read * Elle, **Books to Look Out for in 2019** *Bringing together themes of survival, agency, complicity, self-denial and, ultimately, courage, this assured book is one of the most powerful debuts you’ll ever read. * Stylist *An incredibly nuanced exploration of the complexities of sexual violence, WHAT RED WAS heralds the arrival of a major new literary talent. This is an important book. * Louise O'Neill, author of ASKING FOR IT and ALMOST LOVE *WHAT RED WAS is a gripping novel that shines an unflinching light on trauma and its prismatic impact. A deeply necessary book, elegant and assured even as it burns at the centre with cool, clear-eyed rage. * Sophie Mackintosh, author of THE WATER CURE *
£8.99
Amazon Publishing Killman Creek
Book SynopsisA #1 Wall Street Journal bestseller. Every time Gwen closed her eyes, she saw him in her nightmares. Now her eyes are open, and he’s not going away. Gwen Proctor won the battle to save her kids from her ex-husband, serial killer Melvin Royal, and his league of psychotic accomplices. But the war isn’t over. Not since Melvin broke out of prison. Not since she received a chilling text… You’re not safe anywhere now. Her refuge at Stillhouse Lake has become a trap. Gwen leaves her children in the protective custody of a fortified, well-armed neighbor. Now, with the help of Sam Cade, brother of one of Melvin’s victims, Gwen is going hunting. She’s learned how from one of the sickest killers alive. But what she’s up against is beyond anything she feared—a sophisticated and savage mind game calculated to destroy her. As trust beyond her small circle of friends begins to vanish, Gwen has only fury and vengeance to believe in as she closes in on her prey. And sure as the night, one of them will die.
£8.54
Quercus Publishing The Deception of Harriet Fleet: Chilling
Book Synopsis'An utterly thrilling gothic tale' KIRSTY WARK'Rich in atmosphere and suspense' BELLA ELLIS'Two unforgettable heroines' ELLY GRIFFITHSDark and brimming with suspense, an atmospheric Victorian chiller set in brooding County Durham for fans of Stacey Halls and Laura Purcell1871. An age of discovery and progress. But for the Wainwright family, residents of the gloomy Teesbank Hall in County Durham the secrets of the past continue to overshadow their lives.Harriet would not have taken the job of governess in such a remote place unless she wanted to hide from something or someone. Her charge is Eleanor, the daughter of the house, a fiercely bright eighteen-year-old, tortured by demons and feared by relations and staff alike. But it soon becomes apparent that Harriet is not there to teach Eleanor, but rather to monitor her erratic and dangerous behaviour - to spy on her.Worn down by Eleanor's unpredictable hostility, Harriet soon finds herself embroiled in Eleanor's obsession - the Wainwright's dark, tragic history. As family secrets are unearthed, Harriet's own begin to haunt her and she becomes convinced that ghosts from the past are determined to reveal her shameful story.For Harriet, like Eleanor, is plagued by deception and untruths.'Terrific characters' ELIZABETH BUCHAN'A deliciously unsettling tale' SONIA VELTON'Gothic ingredients given a modern twist' HOPE ADAMSTrade ReviewAn utterly thrilling Gothic tale of two women, secretly striving to break free from the female conventions of Victorian England -- Kirsty WarkRich in atmosphere and suspense, The Deception of Harriet Fleet is a deliciously dark and Gothic tale that transports you into the Victorian age -- Bella Ellis, author of THE BRONTË MYSTERIESThis book could have been written especially for me as it contains all my favourite things: Gothic setting, wild landscape, family secrets and not one but two unforgettable heroines. A richly enjoyable read that has a lot to say about women's lives, then and now -- Elly Griffiths, author of THE DR RUTH GALLOWAY MYSTERIESI so enjoyed this. With terrific characters and a deep feeling for the Gothic, this is quite a debut. Helen Scarlett is obviously a writer who will go far -- Elizabeth Buchan, author of THE MUSEUM OF BROKEN PROMISESI was completely transported to bleak Teesbank Hall where the corridors echo with murder and madness. The Deception of Harriet Fleet is a deliciously unsettling tale with women, and their quest for truth, independence and fulfilment, at its dark, Gothic heart -- Sonia Velton, author of BLACKBERRY AND WILD ROSERaced through this engrossing debut. It's a tale full of familiar Gothic ingredients given a modern twist. Just the ticket for a chilly January night -- Hope Adams, author of DANGEROUS WOMENA fabulously engrossing mystery - a richly woven tale of Victorian Gothic suspense that's spine-tingling, riveting and keeps you guessing to the end. The Secret Garden meets Jane Eyre -- Lulu Taylor, author of A MIDWINTER PROMISEA haunting, richly imagined novel, suffused with dread. Harriet Fleet's is the poignant story of a brave woman fighting to break free from the constraints of society and the grip of demons past and present. A captivating book -- Miranda Malins, author of THE PURITAN PRINCESS
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Hodder & Stoughton Starling Days
Book Synopsis''A singular novel from the poetic and painterly mind of Rowan Hisayo Buchanan.'' Sharlene Teo, author of Ponti''An exquisite rendering of love, sadness, and misunderstanding . . . I want to share this book with everyone I know.'' The Paris Review ''A quiet triumph - tenderly and disarmingly exploring the responsibility of love, loneliness, what it is to feel lost'' Sophie Mackintosh, author of The Water CureMina is staring over the edge of the George Washington Bridge when a patrol car drives up. She tries to convince the officers she''s not about to jump but they don''t believe her. Her husband, Oscar is called to pick her up.Oscar hopes that leaving New York for a few months will give Mina the space to heal. They travel to London, to an apartment wall-papered with indigo-eyed birds, to Oscars oldest friends, to a canal and blooming flower market. Mina, a classicistTrade ReviewA poetic, hypnotic exploration of mental health...It's a strangely mind-expanding read that's a must for anyone who's struggled with depression or loves someone who does. * Stylist *Unravelling the truth is one of the considerable pleasures of this beautifully written novel. * Spectator *The significant thing is that this is a novel that takes depression seriously . . . it is affecting and melancholy . . . Buchanan is a novelist of talent and grace. * Scotland on Sunday *An exquisite rendering of love, sadness, and misunderstanding . . . Starling Days is an exploration of depression without clear resolution, but it is all the more precious for that refusal. I want to share this book with everyone I know. * Paris Review *Tender * Daily Mail *A beautifully weird portrayal of being alone together, millennial ennui, bisexuality and hybrid identity. It captures the brilliance and isolation of big cities as well as the struggle and strength to keep on going. A singular novel from the poetic and painterly mind of Rowan Hisayo Buchanan. * Sharlene Teo, author of Ponti *Starling Days is a quiet triumph - tenderly and disarmingly exploring the responsibility of love, loneliness, what it is to feel lost, and whether another person, indeed whether any one person, is capable of making us feel found. It illuminates both the difficulties and joys of being with others, but also those of being inside our own skins. * Sophie Mackintosh, author of The Water Cure *For readers looking for a 'relatable' tale of struggle and survival, the book offers consolation. * Guardian *
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Hodder & Stoughton The Swap
Book SynopsisTwo women. Two children. But whose is whose?''An emotionally charged and thought-provoking read that any parent will relate to'' Woman''s WeeklyWhen two strangers, Tess and Annie, undergo IVF at an American clinic, their embryos are mixed up and each woman gives birth to the wrong child.The women only discover the devastating error three years later. Tess wants to swap the children back; Annie doesn''t. As the pair wrangle, neither of them expect what unfolds.*******PRAISE FOR THE SWAP''A gripping, heartbreaking and original story which asks some important questions about motherhood and keeps you guessing until the very end, absolutely loved it.'' - Clare Empson, author of HIM''A wonderfully written, thought provoking and moving read. I raced through the pages, desperate to know the outcome. Such a clever, originalTrade ReviewPraise for The Swap * : *An emotionally charged and thought-provoking read that any parent will relate to * Woman's Weekly *A gripping read. * CLOSER *An insightful and emotionally charged read * Woman's Own *A thought-provoking and tense tale * Woman & Home *This is a real heartbreaker of a read. * HEAT *Gripping * BELLA *I read the book in one weekend and emerged wanting to hug my loved ones a little bit tighter. A compelling, thought-provoking, emotional thriller of a book -- Katie MarshA gripping, heartbreaking and original story which asks some important questions about motherhood and keeps you guessing until the very end, absolutely loved it. -- Clare Empson, author of HIMA wonderfully written, thought provoking and moving read. I raced through the pages, desperate to know the outcome. Such a clever, original idea. I loved it. * Claire Douglas *Oh how it was worth the wait! Fiona has crafted an emotive and credible read . . . Harrowing in parts, but uplifting in others, Fiona keeps the pace constant . . . deeply moving and beautifully written. -- Louise Jensen, author of THE SURROGATE and THE DATEThe hook on the cover - Two Women. Two Children. But Whose is Whose? - would grab anyone, but it's the gorgeous writing, the stunning attention to detail, and the searingly difficult themes explored that kept me. I read this in just two days. The impossible dilemma is so sensitively addressed, and yet Mitchell has still created an addictive, page-turner. An unforgettable book. -- Louise Beech, author of THE LIONJust finished the brilliant THE SWAP by Fiona Mitchell and my heart aches. It explores the gut-wrenching dilemma of two women following an IVF mix-up. A gripping tale written with great sensitivity and humour, even in its darkest moments. Book club gold. * Francesca Jakobi, author of BITTER *Praise for The Maid's Room:A modern-day The Help * Emerald Street *A brilliant and eye-opening read * Prima *A beautifully written and deeply moving novel . . . crafted with a mixture of grim detail, dark humour and poignancy, at times it's hard to believe that this book is a work of fiction. Genuinely excellent. ***** * Heat *I loved The Maid's Room with its exquisite writing, married with a shocking and powerful story line that had me gripped and moved until the uplifting conclusion. A fascinating read about survival and the strength and resilience of the human heart. * Katie Marsh, author of A LIFE WITHOUT YOU and THIS BEAUTIFUL LIFE *
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