Narrative theme: politics / economics

Book SynopsisIn Evil Hour is the thrilling story of a Colombian society menaced by rumour and paranoia by the Nobel Laureate Gabriel García Márquez, author of the One Hundred Years of Solitude and Love in the Time of Cholera. As a small South American town sweats under an oppressive heat, an unknown person creeps through the night sticking malicious posters to walls and doors. When the contents of one poster lead to a murder, everyone knows that the town is threatened by a malevolent presence - but is there anything that the mayor, the doctor or the priest can do about it?''In Evil Hour was the book which was to inspire my own career as a novelist. I owe my writing voice to that one book!'' Jim Crace''Belongs to the very best of Márquez''s work...should on no account be missed'' Financial Times''A splendid achievement'' The TimesTrade ReviewA masterly book * Guardian *

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Book Synopsis1788: the bloody revolution in France causes upheaval in the Morland family.Henri-Marie Fitzjames Stuart, bastard offshoot of the Morland family, strives to protect his daughter, Heloise, his mistress, Marie-France, and their son Morland. To this end, he binds Heloise to a loveless marriage with a Revolutionary, and allies himself with the great Danton. But in the bloodbath of the guillotine and the fall of Danton, Henri-Marie loses his head and Heloise flees to England.She is welcomed with open arms by the family, and in Yorkshire Jemima proudly witnesses three marriages amongst her turbulent brood.At least three may be an heir to Morland Place, but the seeds of disaster have already been sown.

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThe East End is a powerful, authentic thriller... It's a great read and an important warning." - Bill Clinton, 42nd President of the United States and co-author of The President Is Missing"The East End is another in a series of amazing works by Webb Hubbell… Don’t start this book unless you have some free time, because you aren’t going to want put it down" - J. O. Booker M.D., Former Medical Advisor to the Arkansas Department of Health"Webb Hubbell’s The East End is brilliant and captivating. Hubbell’s understanding, use, and ability to explain the vagaries of the legal system is remarkable." - Philip J. Hirschkop, civil rights attorney

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Book SynopsisA New York Times Best Thriller Pick for 2023'Provocative, perceptive and ingenious' - A J Finn, author of The Woman in the Window Shortlisted for the Wilbur Smith Adventure Book Prize, Going Zero is a high-concept thriller from Oscar-nominated screenwriter Anthony McCarten. Perfect for fans of I Am Pilgrim and The Circle.TWO HOURS TO VANISHTen people are selected to Beta test a ground-breaking piece of spyware. Pioneered by tech-wunderkind Cy Baxter, FUSION can track anyone on earth.ONE CHANCE TO WINGiven two hours to 'Go Zero' – disappear off-grid – each Zero has thirty days to elude the sophisticated Capture Teams sent to find them. Anyone that beats FUSION will receive $3 million. If Cy's system proves itself, he wins a $90 billion contract with the CIA to revolutionize surveillance forever.ZERO ALTERNATIVES TO LOSINGFor Zero 10, Kaitlyn Day, the stakes are higher than money, and far more personal than Cy could have imagined. Kaitlyn needs to win to get what she wants, and Cy will stop at nothing to realize his ambitions. When the game’s timer hits zero, there will only be one winner. . .'One of the best thrillers I've read in a long time… pure entertainment' – Douglas Preston, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Pendergast series'As fast-paced as it is timely. . . wickedly taut' - Graham Moore, author of The HoldoutReader Praise for GOING ZERO:‘I read it in a single day as it proved impossible to put down’‘***** a thrill ride right from the off’‘Twists and turns, prize money, tech, government contracts and lies. This book has it all’‘Fans of the techno-thriller will eat it up’‘As compelling as The Da Vinci Code and as fun and fast paced’‘***** Wow just wow! Absolutely loved this book’‘Hands down one of the best thrillers I’ve read lately’‘***** I cannot recommend this book highly enough’‘Had me on the edge of my seat and I couldn't put it down’‘All I can say is wow’Trade ReviewThat can-you-beat-the-system hook recalls the juggernaut likes of Ready Player One and Lost, but Going Zero outpaces them both, and dives deeper: it's a speculative-fiction classic in the vein (and even in the league) of I, Robot and Jurassic Park. Provocative, perceptive, and – no other word will do – ingenious. -- A.J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the WindowOne of the best thrillers I’ve read in a long time. Beyond pure entertainment is the truth this novel speaks about the disturbing times we live in. -- Douglas Preston, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Cabinet of Dr. Leng and The Lost City of the Monkey GodAs fast-paced as it is timely. . . Anthony McCarten shoots a bullet through contemporary America with this wickedly taut conspiracy thriller. I'll never look at my phone the same way again. -- Graham Moore, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Days of Night and The SherlockianThe excitement is in the chase, which builds steadily. . . This well-written yarn proves that you don't have to have a blood bath to have an engaging thriller * Kirkus Reviews *

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Book Synopsis“By turns revealing, hilarious, dishy, and razor-sharp, Impersonation lives in that rarest of sweet spots: the propulsive page-turner for people with high literary standards.” —Rebecca Makkai, author of The Great Believers Allie Lang is a professional ghostwriter and a perpetually broke single mother to a young boy. Years of navigating her own and America’s cultural definitions of motherhood have left her a lapsed idealist. Lana Breban is a powerhouse lawyer, economist, and advocate for women’s rights with designs on elected office. She also has a son. Lana and her staff have decided she needs help softening her public image and that a memoir about her life as a mother will help. When Allie lands the job as Lana’s ghostwriter, it seems as if things will finally go Allie’s way. At last, she thinks, there will be enough money not just to pay her bills but to actually buy a house. After years of working as a ghostwriter for other celebrities, Allie believes she knows the drill: she has learned how to inhabit the lives of others and tell their stories better than they can. But this time, everything becomes more complicated. Allie’s childcare arrangements unravel; she falls behind on her rent; her subject, Lana, is better at critiquing than actually providing material; and Allie’s boyfriend decides to go on a road trip toward self-discovery. But as a writer for hire, Allie has gotten too used to being accommodating. At what point will she speak up for all that she deserves?   A satirical, incisive snapshot of how so many of us now live, Impersonation tells a timely, insightful, and bitingly funny story of ambition, motherhood, and class.  

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Book SynopsisFrom beloved, RITA-award-winning author Kennedy Ryan comes the gripping, passionate finale of the All the King's Men duology.Though surrender is what Maxim Cade demanded of Lennix Hunter's body and heart, she had other plans. They were fast-burning fascination and combustible chemistry, the son of an oil baron and the Apache daughter at war with his family, but she trusted him, and he turned out to be a thief who stole her love.Still, if what they had was a lie, why had it felt so real?Now, the man she swore to hate is about to have it all, and he wants Lennix at his side. But when the two of them are forced to face the unthinkable, their rocky foundation is tested, as is the invisible thread that seems to wind their fates together. As they navigate a treacherous political landscape in their quest for justice, Maxim and Lennix soon learn that power is a game, and they are merely the pawns and players. Facing insurmountable odds, will they win the world, or will they lose it all?

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Book Synopsis 'A compelling novel about the tragedy of corrupting power, set in post-independence Kenya... Ngugi writes with passion about every form, shape and colour which power can take' Sunday Times After decades of British rule Kenya has declared its independence, but drought and poor harvests still govern the village of Ilmorog. Undeterred, Munira, Karega, Wanja and Abdulla each move to Ilmorog in search of a more provincial life, only to find themselves suspects in a crime that signals a dark turning of the times. A classic of modern African literature, Ngugi wa Thiong'o's damning satire of politics and corruption in Kenya would prove the catalyst for his imprisonment by the Kenyan government.Trade ReviewA compelling novel about the tragedy of corrupting power, set in post-independence Kenya. . . Ngugi writes with passion about every form, shape and colour which power can take * Sunday Times *A mind-blowing political statement, an anguished cry of despair… a bombshell * The Weekly Review, Kenya *

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Book SynopsisAnna is starting to think she made a mistake in moving to Hull. Steph sees her city changing and misses her dad. Both are looking for somewhere to call home and something to believe in. And Sheila? She’s determined to bring people together again, the only way she knows how – karaoke! ‘Cause what we need right now is to get up on our feet, grab a mic together and belt out a ballad after a pint or five. From Pride in Poland and Windass at Wembley, to City of Culture and Brexit Britain, Us Against Whatever is an electrifying cabaret about the places we keep in our hearts, with support from Hull’s finest voices – you!

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Book SynopsisAgainst the odds, former steel worker Harry Perkins has led the Labour party to a stunning victory. Now he's going to dismantle Britain's nuclear warheads, bring finance under public control and dismantle the media empires. But the establishment isn't going down without a fight. As MI5 conspires with the city and press barons to bring Perkins down, he finds himself caught up in a no-holds-barred battle for survival. Described as 'the political novel of the decade' when it was first published, A Very British Coup is as fresh and relevant now as it ever has been.Trade ReviewAs fascinating as it was entertaining when it was first published ... it's disturbing how much still resonates. If Corbyn seeks a cautionary tale, he need look no further. -- Val McDermid * New Statesman *Rattles along with speed and great credibility * The Times *A delicious fantasy... crisply written and the story belts along * Observer *A world of power struggle in Downing Street, Fleet Street, Whitehall and Washington * New Statesman *A spiffing read... calculated to grip blue-rinsed Conservative ladies and make Socialist eyes pop * People *Chris Mullin's book is the first for some time that I have stayed awake to finish -- Ken Livingstone * Labour Herald *A curious Molotov cocktail * Financial Times *Entertaining propaganda * Literary Review *A very effective political thriller, which hasyou on the edge of your seat from start to finish * Oxford Mail *Entertaining to anyone interested in contemporary politics * Glasgow Herald *...a brilliant concept that opened the way for my own novels -- Michael DobbsCompulsive reading * City Limits *

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Book Synopsis"This is one beautiful book."—Mia CoutoKnown and celebrated in Brazil and abroad for his novel Resistance , Julián Fuks returns to his auto-fictional alter ego Sebastián in a narrative alternating between the writer’s conversations with refugees occupying a building in downtown São Paulo, his father’s sickness, and his wife’s pregnancy. With impeccable prose, the author builds associations that go beyond the obvious, not only between glimpsing a life's beginning and end, but also between the building’s occupation and his wife's pregnancy — showcasing the various forms of occupation while exposing the frailty of life, the risk of solitude and the brutality of not belonging.Trade Review"Fiction to look out for in 2021." —The Observer"...a thoughtful, intimate exploration of how people literally and figuratively occupy their own stories and those of others." —Publishers Weekly"Poignant, thought-provoking and engaging." —The Scotsman"Wholly mesmerising." —Irish Times"Best books of 2021" —The Financial Times"This is one beautiful book."" —Mia Couto"A slender yet striking novel." —Hopscotch Translation"Occupation asks a lot of its readers, but it gives in equal measure; and when you do come up for air, you look around you with a renewed and invigorated sense of the space you occupy in your own life. Superb." —Lunate"A quiet masterpiece." —Asymptote"In Fuks’ prose occupation and resistance walk hand-in-hand." —Full Stop**********Praise for Julián FuksPart of The New York Times' The Decameron Project: New Fiction.International Dublin Literature Prize (Longlist)English PEN (Award)José Saramago Literary Prize (Winner)Jabuti Award for Best Foreign Edition (Winner)Oceanos Prize for Literature in Portuguese (Winner)Jabuti Award for Book of the Year (Winner)Anna Seghers Prize (Winner)"This small book carries a big punch...Fuks is a young writer to watch." —The Guardian"Fuks’s skill lies in his quiet exploration of how exclusion — willed or imposed — shapes experience within families." —New York Times"Fuks’ prose is rythmic and patterned." —The Times Literary Supplement"Eloquent, unsettling and deeply philosophical." —The Financial Times"This elegant, essayistic novel, the first translated into English by this Brazilian writer, is a family drama with the dramatic parts deliberately quieted.... Fuks impressively inhabits the near despair that comes with the fragmentation of family and country." —Kirkus"Fuk’s work, while challenging in form, comes together in a powerful way. This is a thoughtful novel about identity and exile." —Publishers Weekly"Resistance is an urgent and profound novel, a meditation on family, home and dislocation. Fuks focuses on a single family living in Brazil, years after fleeing Argentina. One of the best novels I've read concerning the generation after Brazil's military regime. Fuks' writing is sharp and humane, intimate and lyrical. A stunning work." —Mark Haber, Brazos Bookstore"A brilliant achievement." —Le Monde**********

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Book SynopsisThe Man Who Would Be King is a captivating novella written by Rudyard Kipling, the renowned British author. Published in 1888, the story follows the adventures of two ex-British soldiers, Daniel Dravot and Peachey Carnehan, as they set out on a daring quest to become kings of Kafiristan, a remote region in Afghanistan. The novel showcases Kipling's mastery of storytelling, vivid descriptions, and rich character development. The narrative presents a thought-provoking examination of imperialism and its impact on both the colonizers and the colonized. Kipling delves into questions of identity and the inherent flaws of human ambition, ultimately questioning the price one must pay for attempting to transcend one's station. With its compelling plot, evocative imagery, and profound themes, The Man Who Would Be King remains a powerful exploration of human nature and the consequences of unchecked ambition, solidifying Kipling's status as a literary master.

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Book Synopsis'A tragedy of classical proportions...a magnificent novel' The TimesDiscover the Pulitzer-prize winning novel that confirmed Philip Roth as one of the greatest American writers.'Swede' Levov is living the American dream. He glides through life cocooned by his devoted family, lucrative business, sporting prowess and good looks. He is the embodiment of thriving, post-war America, land of liberty and hope. Until one sunny day in 1968, when Swede's daughter, Merry, commits an outlandishly savage act of political terrorism and the Levov family is plunged into mayhem. Extraordinarily nuanced and poignant, American Pastoral is the first in an eloquent trilogy of post-war American novels that still resonates today._________________PRAISE FOR AMERICAN PASTORAL:'Angry, grieving, witty, acute' Sunday Times'A profound and personal meditation on the changes in the American psyche over the last fifty years' Financial Times'A momentous novel' Observer'Utterly tragic and compelling' TatlerTrade ReviewMarvellous... Raging and elegaic * Guardian *Full of insight, full of sharp ironic twists, full of wisdom about American idealism, and full of terrific fun... A profound and personal meditation on the changes in the American psyche over the last fifty years * Financial Times *A tragedy of classical proportions...a magnificent novel * The Times *Wonderful, rich...entirely gripping * Sunday Telegraph *A momentous novel * Observer *

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Book SynopsisTHE MOST IMPORTANT NOVEL YOU'LL READ THIS YEARHarrowing and heartening in equal measure, this book is a breathtaking tale of racial fissures, fury and friendship' David Lammy, MP and author of TribesA powerful story about friendship, race, love, forgiveness, and justice and the stunning ways they intersectEmpathetic, riveting, and authentic' Laura Dave, bestselling author of The Last Thing He Told MeA painfully amazing read teaching us that sometimes, when it comes to race, the real enemy is ignorance' Rhys Stephenson, actor and TV presenter Provides a starting point for conversations which are crucial, at times uncomfortable, but long overdue' Ruth Hogan, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Keeper of Lost Things* * *Not every story is black and white.Riley and Jen have been best friends since they were children, and they thought their bond was unbreakable. It never mattered to them that Riley is black and Jen is white. And then Jen''s husband, a Philadelphia police officer, is invTrade Review‘A tough but necessary read as it seeks to find meaning for all affected by the tragedy it depicts…a powerful debut’ Andi Osho, actress and author of Asking for a Friend ‘We Are Not Like Them is the best kind of book, one that manages to educate readers as it entertains them. Riveting, timely and honest, this powerful page-turner explores the complexity of friendship and race – and will stay with you long after its stunning conclusion’ Greer Hendricks, Sunday Times bestselling co-author of The Wife Between Us ‘A timely, evocative read about what tests us as friends, as partners, and ultimately, as humans, and will have you rethinking your own perspectives and experiences. A perfect read for 2021’ Allison Winn Scotch, bestselling author of Cleo McDougal Regrets Nothing ‘Books have the power to make changes, start conversations – this is one of those books. Powerful, authentic and relevant, this brilliantly written story will stay with me, always’Louise Jensen, bestselling author of The Family ‘Pacy and immersive, We Are Not Like Them skillfully merges the personal and political in this truly illuminating read’ Kia Abdullah, author of Take It Back ‘This is one of those books that is guaranteed to get people talking’ Joanne Finney, Good Housekeeping ‘A powerful story race, compassion, friendship and justice[…] a challenging and important read’ Daily Mail ‘I rarely say this, but I think everyone should read this’ Platinum ‘Don’t miss this powerful read’ Fabulous, Sun on Sunday ‘A powerful book’ Bella ‘Powerful, accessible and wholly relatable’ Stylist​ ‘A powerful and thought-provoking emotional rollercoaster of a novel’ My Weekly 'An absolute must-read'​ The Upcoming ‘[A] propulsive, deeply felt tale of race and friendship’People magazine

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Book SynopsisWritten by 'a sublimely elegant historical novelist as addictive as crack' (Daily Telegraph), the Inspector Troy series is perfect for fans of Le Carré, Philip Kerr and Alan Furst.1941.After ten years spying for the Americans, Wolfgang Stahl disappears during a Berlin air raid. The Germans think he's dead. The British know he's not. But where is he? MI6 convince US Intelligence that Stahl will head for London, and so Captain Cal Cormack, a shy American 'aristocrat', is teamed with Chief Inspector Stilton of Stepney, fat, fifty and convivial. Between them they scour London, a city awash with spivs and refugees. When things start to go terribly wrong, ditched by MI6 and disowned by his embassy, Cal is introduced to his one last hope - Sergeant Troy of Scotland Yard...Trade ReviewOne of the most entertaining thrillers I have read. * Sunday Telegraph *Lawton evokes wartime London with an infectiously jaunty panache. * Sunday Times, Donna Leon *The sense of London during the Blitz is strong and the story, with its mix of real history and believable invention, is fast-paced, twisting and tense. * Observer *Troy is a character of real depth and subtlety. His brooding presence at the heart of the novel, at once enigmatic and vulnerable, makes Riptide not only a satisfying read, but... [a thriller] with a strong moral heartbeat. * Independent *

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Book SynopsisGraham Greene (Author) Graham Greene was born in 1904. He worked as a journalist and critic, and in 1940 became literary editor of the Spectator. He was later employed by the Foreign Office. As well as his many novels, Graham Greene wrote several collections of short stories, four travel books, six plays, three books of autobiography, two of biography and four books for children. He also wrote hundreds of essays, and film and book reviews. Graham Greene was a member of the Order of Merit and a Companion of Honour. He died in April 1991.Paul Theroux (Introducer) Paul Theroux was born in Medford, Massachusetts, in 1941, and published his first novel, Waldo, in 1967. He wrote his next three novels, Fong and the Indians, Girls at Play and Jungle Lovers, after a five-year stay in Africa. He subsequently taught at the University of Singapore, and during his three years there produced a collection of short stories,Trade ReviewThe ultimate chronicler of twentieth-century man’s consciousness and anxiety. -- William Golding

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Book SynopsisA poignant, tender story of families and sisters divided by the cruelty of political chancemy heart ached for them on every page. Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Alice NetworkA city divided.When the Berlin Wall goes up, Karin is on the wrong side of the city. Overnight, she's trapped under Soviet rule in unforgiving East Berlin and separated from her twin sister, Jutta.Two sisters torn apart.Karin and Jutta lead parallel lives for years, cut off by the Wall. But Karin finds one reason to keep going: Otto, the man who gives her hope, even amidst the brutal East German regime.One impossible choiceWhen Jutta finds a hidden way through the wall, the twins are reunited. But the Stasi have eyes everywhere, and soon Karin is faced with a terrible decision: to flee to the West and be with her sister, or sacrifice it all to follow her heart?From the USA Today and internationally bestselling WWII novelist of The German Midwife, The Secret Messenger and The Berlin Girl comes Trade Review Praise for Mandy Robotham: ‘Powerful and haunting.’ Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Alice Network ‘The Berlin Girl paints a vibrant picture of some of the chilling harbingers of World War II. You'll gasp aloud and shed a few tears on this insightful, bold, fast-paced ride through Berlin's last moments of crumbling glory before the cloud of World War II descends.’ Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Lost Names ‘A gripping read, filled with tension and suspense as war brews in 1930s Berlin.’ Fiona Valpy, bestselling author of The Dressmaker’s Gift ‘Mandy captured a chilling sense of tension and fear, knowing what was on the horizon.’ Suzanne Goldring, author of My Name is Eva 'An absorbing read and a fascinating glimpse into Berlin and Germany just before the outbreak of the Second World War.'Janet MacLeod Trotter, bestselling author of The Tea Planter’s Daughter ‘A powerful and poignant look at how the world turned upside down. Full of things I love in a novel from strong heroines to forgotten history, this is Mandy’s best book yet.’ Lorna Cook, #1 bestselling author of The Forgotten Village ‘I was gripped by Georgie’s mission to alert the world to the horrors to come, as Hitler’s Germany prepares to create a new Europe. Mandy Robotham’s description of Berlin on the brink of war crackles with tension and shows us the best and worst of humanity.’ Sarah Steele, author of The Missing Pieces of Nancy Moon ‘Yet again, Robotham shines a forensic light on another little-known story of WW2… in the writer’s expert hands, this [novel] becomes agonisingly tense as Georgie refuses to stand by as witness and becomes embroiled in a terrifying game of cat and mouse.’ L P Fergusson, author of The Summer Fields

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Book SynopsisFirst Among Equals is an exciting political drama, by master storyteller Jeffrey Archer.In the 1960s, four ambitious new MPs take their seats at Westminster. Over three decades they share the turbulent passions and upheavals of the race for power with their wives and families, men and women caught up in a dramatic game for the highest stakes of all. But only one man can gain the ultimate goal – the office of Prime Minister . . .Trade ReviewAnother example of the author’s mastery of the pure art of storytelling * Daily Telegraph *We haven’t had a better novel about Parliament since Anthony Trollope * Scotsman *

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Book SynopsisWildness is a kind of magicDiscover a land of enchantment, legend, and adventure in this third book of The Immortals series, featuring an updated package perfect for longtime fans and newcomers alike.Daine Sarrasri's power is growing, and her bond with animals is ever stronger.Along with her mentor, Numair, and a delegation from Tortall, Daine is sent to the Emperor Mage of Carthak in hopes that she can help to smooth international relations between their lands before discord bubbles over into war by helping the emperor's ailing birds.But Carthak's emperor Ozorne is charmingly treacherous, and Carthak itself built on the labour and suffering of slaves. No matter her choices, Daine finds herself at the centre of a terrible crossroads: she cannot turn away from animals in need, but to help this man could place those she loves in the greatest danger and make a mockery of all she values.All the while, her magic is flourishing, leading her to answers and abilities beyond what she ever couTrade Review‘Tamora Pierce didn’t just blaze a trail. Her heroines cut a swath through the fantasy world with wit, strength, and savvy. Pierce is the real lioness, and we’re all just running to keep pace.’LEIGH BARDUGO, #1 New York Times bestselling author ‘Tamora Pierce creates epic worlds populated by girls and women of bravery, heart, and strength. Her work inspired a generation of writers and continues to inspire us.’HOLLY BLACK, #1 New York Times bestselling author ‘Tamora Pierce’s books shaped me not only as a young writer but also as a young woman. Her complex, unforgettable heroines and vibrant, intricate worlds blazed a trail for youngadult fantasy—and I get to write what I love today because of the path she forged throughout her career. She is a pillar, an icon, and an inspiration.’SARAH J. MAAS, #1 New York Times bestselling author ‘I take more comfort from and as great a pleasure in Tamora Pierce's Tortall novels as I do from Game of Thrones.’Washington Post

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Book Synopsis''Good-hearted and brutal at the same time, The Milkman in the Night is a complex, unsettling mixture of bleakness and warmth'' Sunday TimesRead this eccentric epic from the author of cult classic Death and the PenguinSemyon is disturbed. He has woken up in the living room with blood on his shirt, an angry wife and no idea where he was the night before. When this happens several mornings in a row, he realises he needs to investigate. After his friend Volodka follows him one night, they discover he''s meeting a tall, blonde woman and accompanying her to her apartment. In the daytime he doesn''t know this woman or where her apartment is and, odder yet, someone is watching Volodka watching Semyon. Meanwhile, there are some strange goings-on in Kyiv - an unemployed sniffer-dog handler makes a dangerous discovery, a single mother is providing breast milk for an unusual recipient and a vengeful cat is on the loose...Trade ReviewA glorious, epic, eccentric and often hilarious satire, heavily tinged with Russian melancholy -- Kate Saunders * The Times *There is much to enjoy in this book. Kurkov works in the tradition of Nikolai Gogol and Mikhail Bulgakov, blending folkloric characters, magical realism and political satire to reveal a society riddled with greed, stupidity and corruption -- Marina Lewycka * Financial Times *Good-hearted and brutal at the same time, The Milkman in the Night is a complex, unsettling mixture of bleakness and warmth * Sunday Times *Kurkov is hugely talented * Time Out *This book is a joyride... Kurkov has a rollercoaster of fun between zig and zag. He defies the reader not to join him * Scotsman *

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Book SynopsisA Small Circus is a powerful 1931 portrayal of a German town on the brink of chaos, from bestselling author Hans Fallada (writer of Alone in Berlin)It is summer, 1929, and in a small German town a storm is brewing. The shabby reporter Tredup leads a precarious existence working for the Pomeranian Chronicle - until he takes some photographs that offer the chance to make a fortune. In Krüger''s bar, the farmers are plotting their revenge on greedy officials. A mysterious travelling salesman from Berlin , Henning, is stirring up trouble - but no one knows why. Meanwhile the Nazis grow stronger and the Communists fight them in the streets. And at the centre of it all, the Mayor, ''Fatty'' Gareis, seeks the easy life even as events spiral beyond his control.As tensions erupt between workers and bosses, town and country, Left and Right, alliances are broken, bribes are taken and plots are hatched, until the tension spills over into violence.''UTrade ReviewUncommonly vivid and original -- Robert MusilReal love and real humanity -- Hermann HesseThe best account of small-town Germany ... so terribly genuine, it is frightening -- Kurt TucholskyThis novel's genius ... lies in Fallada's ability to reveal ... as well as to analyse the macabre game of musical chairs that was the Weimar Republic. Fallada gives us front-row seats to Germany's decade-long quest for a sacrificial scapegoat that culminated in the Nazi takeover. ... Two years after Alone in Berlin's runaway success, A Small Circus continues the Fallada revival that owes so much to the efforts of its translator, the poet Michael Hofmann -- André Naffis-Sahely * Independent *Fallada creates characters with Dickensian prodigality, each yokel, hack, pig and pen-pusher brought to life in Michael Hofmann's beautifully judged translation ... a generous, life-affirming treat -- Jake Kerridge * Telegraph *Michael Hofmann ... comes as close as possible to giving us Fallada's work in all its coarse, humorous, immediate, tragic glory -- Charlotte Moore * Spectator *Not for the first time, all praise is due to Michael Hofmann's art and feel for nuance. His translation catches the many voices - some exasperated, others bewildered, a few downright angry - that make this bold, exuberant and candid narrative sizzle with life and the relentlessly shocking reality of it all * Irish Times *Fallada's own experiences as a regional journalist in north Germany underlie the action, and it is this sense of realism, combined with an ear for dialogue and an acute understanding of human frailty, that make the novel such an authentic portrayal of an imploding era -- Ben Hutchinson * Observer *

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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of The Circle and The Monk of Mokha comes a taut, suspenseful story of two foreigners'' role in a nation''s fragile peace.''Tightly written, carefully designed to wrong-foot preconceptions, and astute . . . An intensely gripping story'' Evening StandardAn unnamed country is leaving the darkness of a decade at war, and to commemorate the armistice the government commissions a new road connecting two halves of the state.Two men, foreign contractors from the same company, are sent to finish the highway. While one is flighty and adventurous, wanting to experience the nightlife and people, the other wants only to do the work and go home. But both men must eventually face the absurdities of their positions, and the dire consequences of their presence.With echoes of J. M. Coetzee and Graham Greene, this timeless novel questions whether we can ever understand another nation''s war, and what role wTrade ReviewTightly written, carefully designed to wrong-foot preconceptions, and astute... An intensely gripping story * Evening Standard *Certainly his best book since What is the What, The Parade may well be the sound of a major writer finding his mature voice * Spectator *A parable of progress, as told by J.M. Coetzee to Philip K. Dick -- Richard FlanaganThe Parade is a heartbreaker and a mindbender. It is a novel of ideas that packs an emotional punch that left me reeling. With clear, unadorned prose, Eggers lays bare the costs of war, and of peace -- Tayari JonesA readable, atmospheric book * The Times *This is a tale for our time, an allegory about intervening in foreign lands without knowledge, and so a nightmare vision of our endless wars. -- Thomas E. RicksIn The Parade, the anxiety grows with every page and every mile to reach an ending that turns everything upside down and sends us into the heart of darkness. A minimalistic, merciless novel. A powerful allegory and a painfully concrete contemporary story-Eggers is a true virtuoso of that synthesis. -- Georgi GospodinovWide-ranging and thoughtful engagement with concepts of power and inequality and whether Western notions of what constitutes 'progress' are always right * Literary Review *It partakes of a complex of anxieties about America's role as an affluent superpower of dubious virtue * Financial Times *Egger's commitment to social and political issues continues * Mail on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisTHE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER''A sweeping saga about the Iranian revolution as it explodes . . . a Doctor Zhivago of Iran'' Margaret Atwood_____________________________________1950s Tehran. In an alleyway an abandoned baby cries into the night, attracting the attention of the young man who will save her.And so begins the story of Aria, an orphan girl who comes of age on the volatile streets. As Aria grows she is torn between the three women fated to mother her: the harsh wife of the man who rescued her; a wealthy widow, who offers her refuge but cannot offer her love; and the mysterious Mehri, whose secrets will shatter everything Aria thought she knew about herself. And then, just as the political turmoil in the country deepens, Aria falls in love with a boy caught on the wrong side of the revolution . . . _____________________________________''Sweeping, cinematic and oh-so-gripping'' Sunday TelegraphTrade ReviewAn affecting portrait of the Iranian revolution . . . leaves you simultaneously heartbroken and full of hope * Sunday Times *Explores the darkness and hope of a city on the brink of revolution . . . Epic. An impressive debut, not easily forgotten * Observer *Warm-hearted, compelling, hugely enjoyable * Times *A sweeping saga about the Iranian revolution as it explodes - told from the ground level and centre of the chaos. A Doctor Zhivago of Iran Aria is a feminist odyssey, about a girl in a time of intolerance as the revolution in Iran is breaking out ... a poised and dramatic historical novel with contemporary relevanceA beautiful book set against the pains and passions of the Iranian Revolution . . . It is a book about a particular time and place yet also, and perhaps more importantly, about the common hopes and intimate longings of lives so forcibly invaded by national events * Hisham Matar, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Return *Set in a vibrantly depicted Tehran and spanning a 30-year period leading up to the 1981 Iranian Revolution, Hozar's serpentine narrative shows how the inequality and corruption of Iranian society under the Shah gives way to something more sinister...it's a spellbinding debut * Mail on Sunday *This rags-to-riches-to revolution tale about an orphan girl's coming of age in Iran is sweeping, cinematic and oh-so gripping. In it we follow Aria as she searches for belonging and falls in love amid the political tumult of her age * Sunday Telegraph *Nazanine Hozar's immaculate first novel follows a group of Iranians in the lead-up to the 1979 revolution and marks the arrival of a major new voice * Alex Preston, Observer *The skilfully told story of a young woman struggling to find her place in intolerant, revolutionary Iran * i *An epic tale of turmoil in Iran. Its skilful blending of personal and political drama, along with its broad scope, richness of setting and vitality of character, gives it something of the quality of [Doctor Zhivago] * Guardian *Epic in scope . . . Hozar is a courageous and talented writer, excellent at capturing emotional complexity and interrogating her themes * The Irish Independent *Nazanine Hozar's stunning debut takes us inside the Iranian revolution - but seen like never before, through the eyes of an orphan girl . . . heart-pounding * Asia House Arts *An impeccable debut of a young girl's odyssey in the Iranian Revolution * Foyles newsletter *An alluring and enlightening read * Irish Times *

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Book SynopsisA group of anarchists are under surveillance by Scotland Yard in Chesterton''s hugely popular metaphysical thriller. The Supreme Anarchists Council is dedicated to overthrowing the world order. To keep their identities a secret, each of them has been named a day of the week. Gabriel Syme, an eccentric poet, is recruited by Scotland Yard to infiltrate the group. He tracks down the six men and manages to win a place on the council. But in a bizarre and surreal twist of events, Syme realises that five of the six members are not at all what they seem . . .Trade ReviewGloriously entertaining * Simon Hammond, The Guardian *

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Book SynopsisIn 1945 secrets hidden at an Italian estate could prove just as vital to humanity''s fate as the war efforts on the frontlines . . . if nurse Diana Bolsena can get to them first.Tuscany, 1945. As the war in Europe ends, American Red Cross nurse Diana Bolsena finds herself separated from her unit. Unable to reconnect with the American army, she''s left to survive with nothing but her spirit, her talents as a nurse, and her nightmares of the horror of war. Determined to return to active duty in the Pacific, to earn her way back Diana begins caring for a child with disabilities on the estate of the enigmatic Signora Bugari. Amidst the ravages of war, it is a peaceful existence until a visiting German officer, Herr Adler, arrives demanding Bugari return what is rightfully his. When a shocking murder attracts more people to the isolated estate, Diana suspects Adler''s hidden secrets could affect the course of history. But who will uncover them

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Book SynopsisGeorge Orwell, perhaps one of the most perceptive writers of the twentieth century, wrote extensively about English life and politics. This selection of his essays and journalism brings together his most provocative and insightful writing on England and Englishness. Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket-sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition is edited and introduced by Professor Michael Gardiner.Orwell’s interests were broad. He often wrote about everyday concerns such as transport, food and the weather. Turning to social issues, he exposed the plight of the poor and the unemployed. He dissected the idea of nationalism and he examined the failings of the Left. What emerges from his acute observation of English rituals, habits and attitudes is his belief that these are the very things with which the English people can defend themselves against oppression. His writing remains insightful and prescient to this day.Trade ReviewHis [Orwell’s] real talent was for analysing and explaining a tumultuous period in human history. -- Dorian Lynsky * Guardian *In my 20s, I discovered Orwell’s essays and nonfiction books and reread them so many times that my copies started to disintegrate. -- George Packer * The Atlantic *

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Book SynopsisFrom the New York Times bestselling author of The End of Power comes an edge-of-your-seat political thriller about rival spies, dangerous love, and one of history’s most devastating revolutions. Venezuela, 1992. Unknown colonel Hugo Chávez stages an ill-fated coup against a corrupt government, igniting the passions of Venezuela’s poor and catapulting the oil-rich country to international attention. For two rival spies hurriedly dispatched to Caracas—one from Washington, DC, and the other from Fidel Castro’s Cuba—this is a career-defining mission. Smooth-talking Iván Rincón of Cuba’s Intelligence Directorate needs a rebel ally to secure the future of his own country. His job: support Chávez and the revolution by rallying the militants and neutralizing any opposing agents. Meanwhile, the CIA’s Cristina Garza will do everything in her power to cut Chávez’s influence short. Her priority: stabilize the greatest oil reserves on the planet by ferreting out and eliminating Cuba’s principal operative. As Chávez surges to power, Iván and Cristina are caught in the fallout of a toxic political time bomb: an intrepid female reporter and unwitting informant, a drug lord and key architect in Chávez’s rise, and personal entanglements between the spies themselves. With everything at stake, the adversaries find themselves at the center of a game of espionage, seduction, murder, and shifting alliances playing out against the precarious backdrop of a nation in free fall. A thrilling fictional story based on unimaginable real-life events.Trade ReviewPraise for Two Spies in Caracas A New York Times Globetrotting Pick! An Amazon Best Book of the Month: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense “Naím wields his experiences as an international affairs writer and former Venezuelan economic cabinet member to provide authoritative insights into the severe economic downturns and rises in violence stemming from the power plays of external actors seeking to exploit a vulnerable nation in turmoil. This is a must for anyone who wants to explore this tumultuous and often strange period in modern Latin American history.” —Publishers Weekly Praise for The End of Power “A remarkable new book by the remarkable Moisés Naím.” —Richard Cohen, Washington Post “Naím is a courageous writer who seeks to dissect big subjects in new ways.” —Wall Street Journal “[A] highly original, interdisciplinary meditation on the degeneration of international power…The End of Power makes a truly important contribution.” —Washington Post “This fascinating book…should provoke a debate about how to govern the world when more and more people are in charge.” —Foreign Affairs “After you read The End of Power, you will see the world through different eyes. Moisés Naím provides a compelling and original perspective.” —Arianna Huffington “[Naím] makes his case with eloquence.” —Financial Times “A timely and timeless book.” —Booklist “Having served as editor in chief of Foreign Policy and executive director of the World Bank, Naím knows better than most what power on a global scale looks like…[A] timely, insightful, and eloquent message.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) “The End of Power will change the way you read the news, the way you think about politics, and the way you look at the world.” —William Jefferson Clinton “In my own experience as president of Brazil, I observed firsthand many of the trends that Naím identifies in this book, but he describes them in a way that is as original as it is delightful to read. All those who have power—or want it—should read this book.” —Fernando Henrique Cardoso

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Book SynopsisA thrilling portrait of 1960s Berlin and Krushchev's Moscow, centring around the exchange of two spies - a Russian working for the KGB, and an unfortunate Englishman.Having shot someone in the chaos of 1963 Berlin, Wilderness finds himself locked up with little chance of escape. But an official pardon through his father-in-law Burne-Jones, a senior agent at MI6, means he is free to go - although forever in Burne-Jones's service. When the Russians started building the Berlin wall in 1961, two 'Unfortunate Englishmen' were trapped on opposite sides. Geoffrey Masefield in the Lubyanka, and Bernard Alleyn (alias KGB Captain Leonid Liubimov) in Wormwood Scrubs. In 1965 there is a new plan. To exchange the prisoners, a swap upon Berlin's bridge of spies. But, as ever, Joe has something on the side, just to make it interesting, just to make it profitable...Trade ReviewEven reviewers have their favourites and John Lawton is one of mine. Nobody is better at using historical facts as the framework of a really good story... The crowded, complication story is enriched by glimpses of Kennedy and Krushchev, by pinpoint-precise period detail and by interesting, credible characters. * Literary Review *[A] cleverly misleading title, one of the many twists in John Lawton's constantly entertaining Cold War saga... The spying detail is well mixed with humour. * The Times *A complex and beautifully detailed tale, a full-blooded cold-war spy thriller * Irish Times *All these adventures arrive gift-wrapped in writing variously rich, inventive, surprising, informed, bawdy, cynical, heartbreaking and hilarious. However much you know about postwar Berlin, Lawton will take you deeper into its people, conflicts and courage... spy fiction at its best. * Washington Post *Lawton's gift for memorable atmosphere and characters, intelligent plotting and wry prose put him solidly at the top of anyone's A-list of contemporary spy novelists. * Seattle Times *Both books are meticulously researched, tautly plotted, historical thrillers in the moUld of World War II and Cold War fiction by novelists like Alan Furst, Philip Kerr, Eric Ambler, David Downing and Joseph Kanan. * Wall Street Journal on THE UNFORTUNATE ENGLISHMAN and THEN WE TAKE BERLIN *Intricate plotting, colourful characters, and a brilliant prose style put Lawton in the front rank of historical thriller writers. * Publishers Weekly *A sublimely elegant historical novelist as addictive as crack but overlooked by too many readers for too long. * Daily Telegraph on A LILY OF THE FIELD *Lawton's up there with Philip Kerr and Alan Furst. Yes, he's that good. * The Sun on THEN WE TAKE BERLIN *While Lawton's previous novels were distinguished by their precise and elegant prose, Then We Take Berlin offers, courtesy of its Cockney protagonist, a cruder but equally effective vernacular style underpinned by mordant black humour. * Irish Times on THEN WE TAKE BERLIN *Lawton builds a wonderfully convincing picture...writing with remarkable authority... as usual with Lawton's books, it's rather more than the sum of its parts. * Spectator on THEN WE TAKE BERLIN *

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Book SynopsisLaura travels the world before returning to Sydney, where she works for a publisher of travel guides. Ravi dreams of being a tourist until he is driven from Sri Lanka by devastating events. An enthralling array of people, places and stories surround these superbly drawn characters - from Theo, whose life plays out in the long shadow of the past, to Hana, an Ethiopian woman determined to reinvent herself. Michelle de Kretser illuminates travel, work and modern dreams in this brilliant evocation of the way we live now. Questions of Travel is infused with wit, imagination, uncanny common sense and a deep understanding of what makes us tick.Trade ReviewThis is a novel unlike any other I have read... It is not really possible to describe, in a short space, the originality and depth of this long and beautifully crafted book. -- A.S. Byatt * The Guardian *Ambitious and entertaining... Questions of Travel should ensure her place as a serious international novelist of the first rank. * The Economist *Sweeping and virtuosic... An outstanding novel. -- Stephanie Cross * Daily Mail *Novel by novel, the Sri Lankan-born Australian has emerged as one of the most fiercely intelligent voices in fiction today. This new work, her most ambitious yet, makes globalisation and its discontents the focus of a multi-faceted story that unites grandeur and intimacy. -- Boyd Tonkin * The Independent *An artful meditation on movement and migration. * The Times Literary Supplement *Man Booker-longlisted de Kretser's precisely written novel is concerned with tourists, refugees and the complexities of immigration... a nuanced and ambivalent look at the crassness of tourism. * The Sunday Times *This truly is a book for our times. * Irish Times *

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Book SynopsisA feverish vision of McCarthy-era Hollywood...Los Angeles, 1950. Over the course of a single day, two friends grapple with the moral and professional uncertainties of the escalating Communist witch-hunt in Hollywood. Director John Marsh races to convince his actress wife not to turn informant for the House Committee on Un-American Activities, while leftist screenwriter Desmond Frank confronts the possibility of exile to live and work without fear of being blacklisted. As Marsh and Frank struggle to complete shooting on their film She Turned Away, which updates the myth of Orpheus to the gritty noir underworld of post-war Los Angeles, the chaos of their private lives pushes them towards a climactic confrontation with complicity, jealousy, and fear. Night for Day conjures a feverish vision of one of the country's most notorious periods of national crisis, illuminating the eternal dilemma of both art and politics: how to make the world anew. At once a definitively American novel, echoing Philip Roth and Raymond Chandler, it also nods to the mythic landscapes of Dante and the iconoclastic playfulness of James Joyce. With as much to say about the early years of the Cold War as about the political and social divisions that continue to divide the country today, Night for Day is expansive in scope and yet tenderly intimate, exploring the subtleties of belonging and the enormity of exile-not only from one's country but also from one's self.Trade ReviewImmersive... Flanery is an accomplished novelist. [He] writes with skill and conviction. * Guardian *Flanery's funniest and most entertaining... novel * TLS *Craftsmanlike * Sunday Times *Patrick Flanery is an exceptionally gifted novelist. * Philip Gourevitch, New Yorker, on Patrick Flanery *Flanery is a master of puzzling, alarming and even terrifying storytelling. * A.S Byatt, Guardian, on Patrick Flanery *A passionate, gripping, brilliantly voiced and scintillatingly intelligent novel... I Am No One will get under your skin. * Neel Mukherjee, on I am No One *

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Book SynopsisA man arrives at a house on the coast to write a book. Separated from his lover and family and friends, he finds the solitude he craves in the pyrotechnic beauty of nature, just as the world he has shut out is experiencing a cataclysmic shift. The preoccupations that have galvanised him and his work fall away and he becomes lost in memory and beauty. He begins to tell us a story ... A retired porn star who is made an offer he can't refuse for the sake of his family and future. So he returns to the world he fled years before, all too aware of the danger of opening the door to past temptations and long-buried desires. Can he resist the oblivion and bliss they promise? A breathtakingly audacious novel by the acclaimed author of The Slap and Damascus about finding joy and beauty in a raging and punitive world, about the refractions of memory and time and, most subversive of all, the mystery of art and its creation.Trade ReviewA genuinely brave counter-cultural novel... It's terrific, like everything he writes. * Johann Hari, author of STOLEN FOCUS *Rejecting the rage of contemporary politics for a tender celebration of sensuality, nature, memory and love, 7½ makesa defiant claim: that even now, as the world burns, beauty is worth our attention. In this thrilling mashup of autobiography, homage, film and fiction, Tsiolkas presents a rebellious paean to joy and artistic freedom. I've admired the risk and power of all his novels, but this might be riskiest of all-so personal, so delicate and true-and I love it. * Charlotte Wood, Stella Prize-winning author of The Weekend *

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Book SynopsisSwinging from South Africa to England: one woman’s hunt for her birth mother in an all-too-believable near future in which an antibiotic crisis has decimated the population. A prescient, thrilling debut. ‘Combines the excitement of a medical thriller à la Michael Crichton with sensitive characterisation and social insight in a timely debut novel all the more remarkable for being conceived and written before the current pandemic’ Guardian ‘STUNNING and terrifying … The Waiting Rooms wrenches your heart in every way possible, but written with such humanity and emotion’ Miranda Dickinson ‘Chillingly close to reality, this gripping thriller brims with authenticity … a captivating, accomplished and timely debut from an author to watch’ Adam Hamdy ________________ Decades of spiralling drug resistance have unleashed a global antibiotic crisis. Ordinary infections are untreatable, and a scratch from a pet can kill. A sacrifice is required to keep the majority safe: no one over seventy is allowed new antibiotics. The elderly are sent to hospitals nicknamed ‘The Waiting Rooms’ … hospitals where no one ever gets well. Twenty years after the crisis takes hold, Kate begins a search for her birth mother, armed only with her name and her age. As Kate unearths disturbing facts about her mother’s past, she puts her family in danger and risks losing everything. Because Kate is not the only secret that her mother is hiding. Someone else is looking for her, too. Sweeping from an all-too-real modern Britain to a pre-crisis South Africa, The Waiting Rooms is epic in scope, richly populated with unforgettable characters, and a tense, haunting vision of a future that is only a few mutations away. ________________ ‘Engrossing and eye-opening, with heart-stopping plot twists … a stunning medical thriller set in a terrifying possible future’ Foreword Reviews ‘A touching, gut-wrenching story of family mystery and tragedy … a thriller that punches on two fronts – heart AND mind’ The Sun ‘Gripping and disturbing … the medical research is convincing, the scenarios plausible, and the story is emotionally engaging. This is an incredible debut!’ Gill Paul ‘If the themes are dark and topical, the writing is exquisite. Breath held, I got to the finale with my heart in my mouth. Eve Smith weaves a complex and clever tale, merging countries and timelines; the result is a superb and satisfying novel’ Louise Beech ‘Margaret Atwood is one of my all-time writing heroes and The Handmaid's Tale is probably the best book I’ve ever read. Eve Smith and The Waiting Rooms really do challenge that long-held crown…’ Random Things through My Letterbox ‘Thoroughly engaging … an eye-opening read’ Crime Fiction Lover ‘A novel of our times’ Trip Fiction ‘Haunting, honest and horrifying in its reality … An epic and thrilling read’ Book Literati ‘Stunning dystopian debut. A prescient and alarming tale that seems just a whisper from reality’ Suzy Apsley ‘The Waiting Rooms will certainly distract us from the real world for a few hours and this is the immeasurable value of fiction. It gives hope that, as in Eve Smith’s fictitious world, the possibility of a happy ending still exists’ Die Burger ‘The Waiting Rooms is a seriously impressive debut, a novel that is intuitive and chilling, one that will resonate with all in this current climate’ Swirl & Thread

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Book SynopsisDiana Of The Crossways Book 3 is a feminist novel written by George Meredith. The novel is based on the life of legendary socialite Caroline Norton, who married a bad man, produced pro-feminist literature, and interacted with a number of political figures. As portrayed, Diana is a remarkable heroine who gets into problems in every way in a Victorian culture that sexualizes every relationship between a man and a woman because she is impulsive, headstrong, vivacious, and passionate. But, how will Diana manage her relationship? How will she overcome the taunts of society? To read this feminist novel, readers should read the amazing collection of Diana of the crossways! As this is a strong reflection that how a relationship was being judged at that time, Diana of the Crossways Book 3 is a peculiar combination of the reader being aware that it is fiction and heavily based on actual occurrences and the reader wanting to get lost in the emotional experiences that Meredith attempts to evoke through his erratic writing.

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Book SynopsisWinner of the 2022 OCM Bocas Prize for Fiction.Shortlisted for the Society of Authors' McKitterick Prize 2022.Finalist of the 2022 Firecracker Award in Fiction.Coconut trees. Carnival. Rum and coke. To many outsiders, these and other sunny images are all they know about life in the Caribbean. However, if you want to learn how the locals truly live and experience the dark and often harrowing truths that lurk behind the idyllic imagery of Caribbean culture, then come visit the town of Pleasantview.Come during election season, and see how one candidate sets out to slaughter endangered turtles - just for fun. Or come on the day the other candidate beats his "outside-woman," so badly she ends up losing their baby. Then come on the night of the political rally, where this grieving woman exacts a very public revenge. Stay a while, and see how this single event has a trajectory far beyond the lives of the immediate actors, with often tragic and heartbreaking consequences.Written in a remarkable combination of Standard English and Trinidad Creole, Pleasantview showcases the entrenched political, racial, and class dichotomies of life in Trinidad: the generosity (yet cruelty) of the average Trini; the sense of optimism (and yet, despair) which permeates everyday interaction; and the musicality of Caribbean creole (kriol) expression that masks an ingrained and frequently violent patriarchy.Merging the vibrancy and darkness of recent Caribbean writers such as Ingrid Persaud and Claire Adam with the linguistic experimentation of Marlon James's A Brief History of Seven Killings, Pleasantview is a landmark work in international fiction.Trade ReviewCeleste Mohammed forces you to travel with her characters. You see their lives and their world as they do, on foot. You walk in her characters' shoes. Mohammed is a skillful storyteller, so the journey educates and exhilarates you, Mohammed invents a clear, crackling town/district, Pleasantview, a bustling, hustling side of Trinidad, where few of us have ever been, or will ever go. Pleasantview forces us to look at how we behave when uncontained, when unconstrained, when our lack of morality unmoors us. * A.J. Verdelle, author of The Good Negress *These stories are full of unexpected twists and connections and infused with humor. They herald the arrival of an intriguing new voice. * Ingrid Persaud *Pungent and searing, this is a refreshing portrait of island life told in stories that are crafted with candor and movement. Bursting with wisdom and humanity, it's hard to believe that this book is Mohammed's debut. * Candice Iloh *The residents of the fictional Trinidadian town of Pleasantview are divided by mistrust and racial and ethnic tension, but they are forever bound to each other by their shared histories and secrets. From Omar who is forced to confront his boss's corruption, to Miss Ivy in her employer's hand-me-down fur coat outside the police station, Mohammed's characters demand to be acknowledged. In this beautifully written debut, Mohammed gives voice to the silenced and the overlooked. Pleasantview sizzles with originality and heart and introduces a fearless new writer. * Hester Kaplan, author of Unravished *Pleasantview offers the reader a sharp and fearless view of the dark underbelly of life in Trinidad, filled with unforgettable characters that we meet in do-or-die situations. Marked by male violence, political underhandedness, and economic desperation, Pleasantview also demonstrates Mohammed's remarkable range as a writer as she moves seamlessly from callousness to tenderness, humor to sorrow, lyricism to minimalism in a work that lingers in the reader's mind long after the final page. This is a thrilling debut. * Laurie Foos, author of Ex Utero and The Blue Girl *As James Joyce did for Dublin, Celeste Mohammed holds up a polished mirror to the inhabitants of the fictitious Trinidadian town of Pleasantview and dares the reader to take an unflinching look at a multi-ethnic society that is vibrant and joyous but riddled with corruption and the exploitation of women, the young, and the vulnerable. Mohammed's writing is smart, funny, and enlivened by everyday Trinidadian vernacular, creating rich and lively portraits of a range of Trini characters. A formidable debut, Pleasantview's razor-sharp observations of misogyny and the abuse of power are leavened by humor and a pitch-perfect ear for the language of human foibles. * Tony Eprile, author of The Persistence of Memory *In one of Chekhov's stories, a character says that every happy man should have someone who taps at his door with a little hammer, reminding him that there are unhappy people in the world. Reading Celeste Mohammed's novel-in-stories makes me think of that magical little tap-except that the door opens not to a vision of unhappiness, but to a world crammed with life that you never knew existed. * Claire Adam, author of The Golden Child *The residents of Pleasantview come to vivid light in this extraordinary debut from Celeste Mohammed. Each slice of life in this Trinidadian village cuts clean to the bone, revealing how people are both complicated and complicit in the way we break each other's hearts and bodies. From the riveting opening to the aching end, Mohammed's gift for giving voice to each character is glorious. * Tracey Baptiste *

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Book Synopsis''Pavese''s novels are works of an extraordinary depth where one never stops finding new levels, new meanings'' Italo CalvinoJune, 1943. Allied aircraft are bombing Turin; fascist Italy is on its knees. Every evening, after a day''s teaching in the city, Corrado returns to the safety of the hills and the care of his two doting landladies. He has no attachments, no obligations. Yet against his better judgement he is drawn to the easy warmth of a circle of anti-fascists who congregate at a nearby tavern, and confronted with a painful choice: emotional and political commitment, with all its dangers - or devastating retreat. Pavese''s extraordinary semi-autobiographical novel is a lucid portrayal of missed opportunities and human weakness, set against the seductive intensity of the Italian countryside.Translated with an introduction by Tim ParksShortlisted for The Society of Authors Translation Award 2022Trade ReviewPavese is one of the few essential novelists of the mid-twentieth century -- Susan SontagPavese's nine short novels make up the most dense, dramatic, and homogeneous narrative cycle of modern Italy ... But above all they are works of an extraordinary depth where one never stops finding new levels, new meanings -- Italo CalvinoCesare Pavese's cool, contemplative voice was the most important among postwar Italian writers -- W. S. DiPieroInsinuating, haunting and lyrically pervasive * The New York Times Book Review *

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Book SynopsisThe pulse-pounding new thriller featuring Cotton Malone. Perfect for fans of Dan Brown, Sam Bourne and Scott Mariani. The pope is dead. Cardinals are beginning to arrive at the Vatican to select his replacement, but one has fled for Malta in search of a document that dates back to the 4th century and Constantine the Great.Former Justice Department operative Cotton Malone is in Italy, on the trail of legendary letters between Winston Churchill and Benito Mussolini that could re-write history. But someone else is after the same letters and, when Malone obtains and then loses them, he's plunged into a hunt that draws the attention of the legendary Knights of Malta.The knights are the only warrior-monks to survive into modern times. Now they are a global humanitarian organization, but within their ranks lurks the Secreti - an ancient sect intent on affecting the coming papal conclave. Malone races the rogue cardinal, the knights, the Secreti, and the clock to find what has been lost for centuries. Meanwhile, the election of the next pope hangs in the balance.Trade ReviewPraise for Steve Berry * - *My kind of thriller * Dan Brown *Berry raises this genre's stakes * The New York Times *

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Book SynopsisThe Beating of his Wings by Paul Hoffman is the final instalment in his epic Cale and the Sanctuary of Redeemers series. The Beating of his Wings is the third and final instalment in the epic Paul Hoffman trilogy following Cale and the Sanctuary of the Redeemers. Following The Left Hand of God and The Last Four Things, this climatic ending will bring this sensational narrative to a close, and finally the fate of the angel of death will be revealed.Imagine if Phillip Pullman''s His Dark Materials met Umberto Eco''s Name of the Rose. Fans of epic heroic fiction will love this series.Praise for Paul Hoffman:''This book gripped me from the first chapter and then dropped me days later, dazed and grinning to myself'' Conn Iggulden''Tremendous momentum'' Daily Telegraph''A cult classic . . .'' Daily Express

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Book Synopsis''The kind of book that has you screaming Yes! Yes! Yes! Now I get it! on almost every page'' Caitlin Moran''Dr Taylor sets out a compelling case . . . gives voice and agency to women who have experienced trauma and violence'' Morning StarShe asked for it. She was flirting. She was drinking. She was wearing a revealing dress. She was too confident. She walked home alone. She stayed in that relationship. She was naïve. She didn''t report soon enough. She didn''t fight back. She wanted it. She lied about it. She comes from a bad area. She was vulnerable. She should have known. She should have seen it coming. She should have protected herself.The victim blaming of women is prevalent and normalised in society both in the UK, and around the world.What is it that causes us to blame women who have been abused, raped, trafficked, assaulted or harassed by men? Why are we uncomfortable with placing all of the blame on the perpetratorTrade ReviewDr Taylor sets out a compelling case . . . gives voice and agency to women who have experienced trauma and violence * Morning Star *The kind of book that has you screaming "Yes! Yes! Yes! Now I get it!" on almost every page * Caitlin Moran *Not an easy read from a fella's perspective but nor should it be. Using countless, often shocking case histories as well as her own expert analysis, Dr Jessica Taylor seeks time and again to prove the inherent truth of her thesis. Does she succeed? Put it this way: months later, Dr Taylor's words still haunt me . . . * Matthew Wright *This is an important book * Dawn French *

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Book SynopsisAcross the globe, millions of computer screens flicker with the artfully coded world of T'Rain - an addictive internet role-playing game of fantasy and adventure. But backstreet hackers in China have just unleashed a contagious virus called Reamde, and as it rampages through the gaming world spreading from player to player - holding hard drives hostage in the process - the computer of one powerful and dangerous man is infected, causing the carefully mediated violence of the on-line world to spill over into reality. A fast-talking, internet-addicted mafia accountant is brutally silenced by his Russian employers, and Zula - a talented young T'Rain computer programmer - is abducted and bundled on to a private jet. As she is flown across the skies in the company of the terrified boyfriend she broke up with hours before, and a brilliant Hungarian hacker who may be her only hope, she finds herself sucked into a whirl of Chinese Secret Service agents and gun-toting American Survivalists; the Russian criminal underground and an al-Qaeda cell led by a charismatic Welshman; each a strand of a connected world that devastatingly converges in T'Rain. An inimitable and compelling thriller that careers from British Columbia to South-West China via Russia and the fantasy world of T'Rain, Reamde is an irresistible epic from the unique imagination of one of today's most individual writers.Trade ReviewFantastic * Sunday Times *Like Stephenson's most critically acclaimed novel, Cryptonomicon, Reamde combines meticulous observation of the stranger socio-economic effects wrought by technology with rousing fusillade adventure... Outrageously entertaining... a joyride * Guardian *Sometimes when you're reading Neal Stephenson, he doesn't just seem like one of the best novelists writing in English right now; he seems like the only one * Time *

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Book SynopsisLonglisted for the Man Booker Prize ''Good God, thought Oliver, as he saw the smile. She thinks I''m him! And all at once he knew it was so. He was Dr Norman Wilfred.'' On the sunlit Greek island of Skios, the Fred Toppler Foundation''s annual lecture is to be given by Dr Norman Wilfred, the world-famous authority on the scientific organisation of science. He turns out to be surprisingly young and charming - not at all the intimidating figure they had been expecting. The Foundation''s guests are soon eating out of his hand. So, even sooner, is Nikki, the attractive and efficient organiser.Meanwhile, in a remote villa at the other end of the island, Nikki''s old school-friend Georgie waits for the notorious chancer she has rashly agreed to go on holiday with, and who has only too characteristically failed to turn up. Trapped in the villa with her, by an unfortunate chain of misadventure, is a balding old gent called Dr Norman Wilfred, who

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Book SynopsisLes Misérables is a magnificent, sweeping story of revolution, love and the will to survive set amidst the poverty stricken streets of nineteeth-century Paris.Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition has features an introduction by Paul Bailey.Escaped convict Jean Valjean turns his back on his criminal past to build his fortunes as an honest man. He takes in abandoned orphan Cosette and raises her as his own daughter. But Jean Valjean is unable to free himself from his previous life and is pursued to the end by ruthless policeman Javert. As Cosette grows up, young idealist Marius catches a glimpse of her and falls desperately in love. The fates of all the characters await them during the violent turmoil of the June Rebellion in 1832.This abridged version of Victor Hugo's masterpiece was published in 1915 with the aim to provide 'a unified story of the life and soul-struggles of Jean Valjean'.Trade ReviewLes Misérables is probably the best book ever written . . . it really is an incredible classic. -- Dominic West * Metro *Les Misérables is a game with destiny: it dramatises the gap between the imperfections of human judgments, and the perfect patterns of the infinite -- Adam Thirlwell * The Guardian *On the morning of April 4, 1862, part 1 of Les Misérables, called “Fantine,” was released simultaneously in Brussels, Paris, Saint Petersburg, London, Leipzig, and several other European cities. No book had ever had an international launch on this scale -- Nina Martyris * The Paris Review *

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Book Synopsis'A masterpiece of the sacred and the profane... A literary triumph.' Jake Arnott, Guardian How do you build a nation? It takes statesmen and soldiers, farmers and factory workers, of course. But it also takes thieves, prostitutes and policemen. Nation-building demands sacrifice. And one man knows exactly where those bodies are buried: Cohen, a man who loves his country. A reasonable man for unreasonable times. A car bomb in the back streets of Tel Aviv. A diamond robbery in Haifa. Civil war in Lebanon. Rebel fighters in the Colombian jungle. A double murder in Los Angeles. How do they all connect? Only Cohen knows. Maror is the story of a war for a country's soul – a dazzling spread of narrative gunshots across four decades and three continents. It is a true story. All of these things happened. Praise for Maror: 'A bloody beast of a book.' Daily Mail 'This is crime writing in the tradition of Balzac and Dickens and a major achievement, full of sound, fury, drugs and blood... An earthquake of a book.' CrimeTime 'Some write in ink, others in song, Tidhar writes in fire... Maror is a kaleidoscopic masterpiece, immense in its sympathies, alarming in its irreverences and altogether exhilarating.' Junot Díaz 'One of the boldest, most visionary writers I've ever read creates both a vivid political exploration and a riveting crime epic. It's like the Jewish Godfather!' Silvia Moreno-Garcia 'Maror blends the page-turning wit of a hard-boiled detective noir with the stirring intrigue of a multi-national political epic. An ambitious achievement that weaves a tapestry of both story and statement.' Kevin Jared Hosein 'Radiant with [...] the richly nuanced complexity and style of Marlon James' A Brief History of Seven Killings ... Will catch your breath as it presents the history of Israel from unique points of view, with dazzling multi-generational scope.' LoveReadingTrade ReviewA sprawling epic set across four decades, and an audacious account of the underbelly of nation-building... Spectacular... Fascinating... Astonishing... Maror is a masterpiece of the sacred and the profane... Tidhar has achieved a literary triumph -- Jake Arnott, GuardianSome write in ink, others in song, Tidhar writes in fire... Maror is a kaleidoscopic masterpiece, immense in its sympathies, alarming in its irreverences and altogether exhilarating -- Junot DíazMaror blends the page-turning wit of a hard-boiled detective noir with the stirring intrigue of a multi-national political epic. An ambitious achievement that weaves a tapestry of both story and statement -- Kevin Jared HoseinRadiant with [...] the richly nuanced complexity and style of Marlon James' A Brief History of Seven Killings... Will catch your breath as it presents the history of Israel from unique points of view, with dazzling multi-generational scope * LoveReading *One of the boldest, most visionary writers I've ever read creates both a vivid political exploration and a riveting crime epic. It's like the Jewish Godfather! -- Silvia Moreno-GarciaStartlingly refreshing * Daily Mail *Crime writing in the tradition of Balzac and Dickens and a major achievement... An earthquake of a book * CrimeTime *Every few years an Israeli writer produces a blockbuster book, designed to grab readers by the ears and occasionally readjust what they know – or think they know – about the Jewish state... Magnificent * Jewish Chronicle *Tidhar draws on his own experience of growing up in Israel and on the nation's turbulent history to tell an authentic story about creating your own identity * Jewish News *

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Book SynopsisA gripping, meticulously researched and richly detailed historical thriller moving from London during the Blitz, to divided post-war Berlin.John Holderness, known to most as 'Wilderness', comes of age during World War II in Stepney, breaking in to houses with his grandfather. After the war, Wilderness is recruited as MI5's resident 'cat burglar' and finds himself in Berlin, involved with schemes in the booming black market that put both him and his relationships in danger. In 1963 it is a most unusual and lucrative request that persuades Wilderness to return - to smuggle someone under the Berlin Wall and out of East Germany. But this final scheme may prove to be one challenge too far...Trade ReviewLawton's up there with Philip Kerr and Alan Furst. Yes, he's that good. * The Sun *While Lawton's previous novels were distinguished by their precise and elegant prose, Then We Take Berlin offers, courtesy of its Cockney protagonist, a cruder but equally effective vernacular style underpinned by mordant black humour. * Irish Times *Lawton builds a wonderfully convincing picture...writing with remarkable authority... as usual with Lawton's books, it's rather more than the sum of its parts. * Spectator *A stylish spy thriller. * The New York Times Book Review *A candidate for the most entertaining historical novel of the year... fantastically engaging. * USA Today *John Lawton finds himself in the same boat as the late Patrick O'Brian - a sublimely elegant historical novelist as addictive as crack but overlooked by too many readers for too long. * Daily Telegraph on A Lily of the Field *John Lawton's books contain such a wealth of period detail, character description and background information that they are lifted out of any category. Every word is enriched by the author's sophistication and irreverent intelligence, by his meticulous research and his wit. * Literary Review on A Lily of the Field *Never mind the comparisons-Lawton can stand up on his own, and Then We Take Berlin is a gem. * Seattle Times *

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Book SynopsisWhen the Americans make an offer to buy land in Iceland to build a NATO airbase after the Second World War, a storm of protest is provoked throughout the country. Narrated by a country girl from the north, the novel follows her experiences after she takes up employment as a maid in the house of her Member of Parliament. Her observations and experiences expose the bourgeois society of the south as rootless and shallow and in stark contrast to the age-old culture of the solid and less fanciful north.''The Atom Station is the work of someone who has seen every cherished dream sold down the river, but who loves humanity too much to despair. His heroine refuses to be bullied or bought, a feminist before her time, full of curiosity and spirit'' GuardianTrade ReviewThe Atom Station is the work of someone who has seen every cherished dream sold down the river, but who loves humanity too much to despair. His heroine refuses to be bullied or bought, a feminist before her time, full of curiosity and spirit * Guardian *Laxness is a poet who writes to the edges of the pages, a visionary who allows us a plot. * Daily Telegraph *An extraordinary book, brimming with little wisdoms, funny episodes, sharp phrases...and a determined optimism of spirit * The Times *Laxness was a genius * New York Review of Books *Magnus Magnusson's translation reads smoothly and skilfully renders Laxness's dry and quirky wit * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book SynopsisWhen Simeon Simcox, a socialist clergyman, leaves his entire fortune not to his family but to the ruthless, social-climbing Tory MP Leslie Titmuss, the Rector''s two sons react in very different ways. Henry, novelist and former ''angry young man'' turned grumpy old reactionary, decides to fight the will and prove their father was insane. Younger brother Fred, a mild-mannered country doctor, takes a different approach, quietly digging in Simeon''s past, only to uncover an entirely unexpected explanation for the legacy.An exquisitely drawn saga of ancient rivalries and class struggles, featuring a glorious cast of characters, Paradise Postponed is a delicious portrait of English country life by a master satirist.Trade ReviewHats off to John Mortimer. He's done it again! * Spectator *He reveals on every page . . . a sense of the absurd, a shrewd eye for human foibles and an infallible sense of comic timing * New York Times *Paradise Postponed is an hilarious novel and thoroughly recommended * Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisTHE BRILLIANTLY FUNNY SEQUEL TO THE QUEEN AND I FROM BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE ADRIAN MOLE SERIESWhat if being Royal was a crime?The UK has come over all republican. The Royal Family exiled to an Exclusion Zone with the other villains and spongers. And to cap it all, the Queen has threatened to abdicate.Yet Prince Charles is more interested in root vegetables than reigning ... unless his wife Camilla can be Queen in a newly restored monarchy. But when a scoundrel who claims to be the couple''s secret love-child offers to take the crown off their hands, the stage is set for a right Royal show down.And the question for Camilla (and rest of the country) will be: Queen of the vegetable patch or Queen of England?_____________''Brilliantly satirical'' Evening Standard''One of our finest living comic writers'' The Times''Brilliantly funny'' CloserTrade Review[Townsend's] political fantasies achieve satire's difficult double aim of being credibly realistic and preposterously funny * Sunday Times *A brilliantly satirical story - just the kind of book, one imagines, Camilla would keep in her loo * Evening Standard *One of our finest living comic writers * The Times *Brilliantly funny * Closer *Another fantastic read from Townsend * OK! *

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Book SynopsisONE WAR. TWO WOMEN. WILL THEY BE ABLE TO SAVE THE ONES THEY LOVE?A sweeping new novel from the Sunday Times bestselling authorIn 1943, Contessa Sofia de'' Corsi''s peaceful Tuscan villa among the olive groves is upturned by the sudden arrival of German soldiers. Desperate to fight back, she agrees to shelter a wounded British radio engineer in her home, keeping him hidden from her husband Lorenzo - knowing that she is putting all of their lives at risk.When Maxine, an Italian-American working for the resistance, arrives on Sofia''s doorstep, the pair forge an uneasy alliance. Feisty, independent Maxine promised herself never to fall in love. But when she meets a handsome partisan named Marco, she realizes it''s a promise she can''t keep...Before long, the two women find themselves entangled in a dangerous game with the Nazis. Will they be discovered? And will they both be able to save the ones they love?''Dinah JefferieTrade ReviewMy ideal read - I couldn't put it down -- Santa Montefiore on 'The Tea Planter's Wife'A sweeping tale, beautifully written in a wonderful setting, heart rending yet ultimately up lifting. Gorgeous. -- Katie Fforde on 'The Sapphire Widow'The sights, smells and atmosphere of Ceylon are beautifully depicted. This is Dinah Jefferies at her best. -- Lucinda Riley on 'The Sapphire Widow'

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