Narrative theme: sense of place
Oceanview Publishing Rag and Bone
Book SynopsisNominated BEST NOVEL by International Thriller WritersOne Man’s Personal Crusade Against Corporate Greed Having spent ten months on the run after he was framed for the murder of an estate-clearing associate, handyman Jay Porter returns to his hometown of Ashton, New Hampshire. During his time as a fugitive, he searched for a hard drive―evidence that would put his longtime nemeses Adam and Michael Lombardi behind bars. But he came up empty handed. He has nothing. No hard drive, no hope. He hasn’t spoken to his ex-wife and son in almost a year and he’s broke. With his reputation tarnished and employment opportunities nonexistent, Jay takes a charity assignment from old friend/flame Alison Rodgers and learns of a fire at Alison’s former rehab farm. Jay is convinced that the Lombardis started a fire as a scare tactic to pressure Alison to sell. As Jay begins to look into the origins of the fire, he hopes he will finally be able to put away his enemies. But he soon discovers that evil isn’t so easy to define, and that sometimes we need to take the law into our own hands if we want justice.Perfect for Fans of Dennis Lehane While all of the novels in the Jay Porter Series stand on their own and can be read in any order, the publication sequence is:Lamentation December Boys Give Up the Dead Broken Ground Rag and BoneTrade Review"The writing snaps. The story crackles. The characters are achingly real. I tore through Rag and Bone in a single session. What else can I say? Read Joe Clifford." Meg Gardiner, Edgar Award-winning and best-selling author"Gritty and gripping, with prose that cuts to the bone. Joe Clifford has crafted a modern noir that pulls no punches." Riley Sager, New York Times best-selling author"Joe Clifford's Rag and Bone is tough, tight, and engrossing, filled with genuine emotion and unsparing authenticity." Lou Berney, Edgar Award-winning author"Clifford is one fine writer . . . for those who eat, drink, and sleep noir, this one's for you." Booklist"As often happens in life for those with addiction issues, Clifford's [ Rag and Bone ] doesn't portray a fairy tale happy-ever-after ending. The author strives to depict through his characters the dangers of drug addiction. In that, he succeeds. Brilliantly!" BookreporterPraise for the Jay Porter Series "The depth of the characters. The vividness of the New Hampshire winter setting. The importance of the novel's theme. Joe Clifford's a crime writer to pay attention to." David Morrell, New York Times best-selling author"Joe Clifford writes the kind of books that I love to read, mysteries that not only make you think, but make you feel. He is a master at creating characters that bind to your DNA and stay with you long after the last page is turned." Allen Eskens, USA Today best-selling author
£13.25
Kensington Publishing The Cartel 3: The Last Chapter
Book SynopsisThe Cartel has come full circle with this fast-paced, groundbreaking novel, the finale to the hit series by New York Times bestsellers Ashley & JaQuavis. Miamor is fighting for her life in the belly of the beast. She''s been kidnapped, and she''s staring death in the eye. Is the reign over for the head of the Murda Mamas? Carter is in federal custody and leaves the Diamond Empire to Zyir and Mecca. When the past comes back to haunt Mecca and the truth finally comes to light, will The Cartel rise or fall? Breeze is in the clutches of the crazed Ma''tee, and she desperately searches for a way out. Will she escape, or die his love slave? The answers to these questions lie inside the pages of Cartel 3: The Final Chapter. Open it to discover the shocking truth, and prepare yourself for the unpredictable conclusion of one of the best street series of all time.
£13.22
Black Lawrence Press, Inc. News of the Air
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£17.05
Bloomsbury Publishing Brother
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£13.60
Bloomsbury Publishing Zorrie
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£14.45
Bloomsbury Publishing USA Decent People
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£15.29
Counterpoint It Needs To Look Like We Tried: A Novel
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£21.24
Counterpoint Prince Of Monkeys: A Novel
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£21.24
Counterpoint Death And The Butterfly: A Novel
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£21.24
Counterpoint Out of Esau: A Novel
Book SynopsisWhen a woman questioning her marriage encounters the kind and steadfast pastor of her small town, they are both forced to reconsider their pasts, their faith, and their futureRobert Glory has never quite felt as though he fit in the small town of Esau, Michigan, but he finds solace in his role as the pastor of Esau Baptist and in his spare, orderly routine. When Susan Shearer arrives at his church seeking the strength to stay true to her increasingly volatile husband, neither expect that their immediate connection will upend both of their lives. As their relationship deepens and Susan’s life at home becomes more unstable, Robert and Susan are forced to confront the wounds that have shaped them and discover if they still have the power to change. Told from five different perspectives—including Susan’s husband, Randy, her brilliant but high-strung young daughter, Willa, and Robert’s long-estranged mother, Leotie—Out of Esau is a visceral look at the dynamics of an abusive marriage, a nuanced portrait of faith and its loss, and a sweeping story of redemption.
£21.60
Counterpoint You Are Here: A Novel
Book Synopsis
£22.09
Counterpoint Out of Esau: A Novel
Book SynopsisWhen a woman questioning her marriage encounters the kind and steadfast pastor of her small town, they are both forced to reconsider their pasts, their faith, and their futureRobert Glory has never quite felt as though he fit in the small town of Esau, Michigan, but he finds solace in his role as the pastor of Esau Baptist and in his spare, orderly routine. When Susan Shearer arrives at his church seeking the strength to stay true to her increasingly volatile husband, neither expect that their immediate connection will upend both of their lives. As their relationship deepens and Susan’s life at home becomes more unstable, Robert and Susan are forced to confront the wounds that have shaped them and discover if they still have the power to change.Told from five different perspectives—including Susan’s husband, Randy, her brilliant but high-strung young daughter, Willa, and Robert’s long-estranged mother, Leotie—Out of Esau is a visceral look at the dynamics of an abusive marriage, a nuanced portrait of faith and its loss, and a sweeping story of redemption.
£16.16
Soho Press Inc Opioid, Indiana
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£14.40
Algonquin Books Big Girl, Small Town
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£14.41
Algonquin Books Hot Stew
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£14.41
Algonquin Books Inside the Wolf
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£21.60
Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial El tercer paraíso (Premio Alfaguara 2022) / The
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£16.96
Regal House Publishing LLC That Pinson Girl
Book SynopsisIn a bleak Mississippi farmhouse in 1918, Leona Pinson gives birth to an illegitimate son whose father she refuses to name, but who will, she is convinced, return from the war to rescue her from a hardscrabble life with a distant mother, a dangerous brother, and a dwarf aunt. When, instead, her lover returns with a wife in tow, her dreams are shattered. As her brother’s violence escalates and her aunt flees, Leona must rely on the help of Luther Biggs, the son of Leona’s grandfather and one of his former slaves, to protect her child. Told against the backdrop of the deprivation of World War I, the tragedies of the influenza epidemic, and the burden of generations of betrayal, That Pinson Girl unfolds in lyrical, unflinching prose, engaging the timeless issues of racism, sexism, and poverty.
£16.16
Focus on the Family Publishing Saving Grayson
Book Synopsis
£13.99
Catapult Heartbroke
Book SynopsisWinner of the California Book AwardFrom the acclaimed author of Godshot and “a pitch-perfect ventriloquist of extraordinary talent and ferocity” (T Kira Madden) comes a defining book of Californian stories where everyone is seeking or sabotaging loveUnited by the stark and sprawling landscapes of California’s Central Valley, the characters of Heartbroke boil with reckless desire. A woman steals a baby from a shelter in an attempt to recoup her own lost motherhood. A phone-sex operator sees divine opportunity when a lavender-eyed cowboy walks into her life. A mother and a son selling dream catchers along a highway that leads to a toxic beach manifest two young documentary filmmakers into their realm. And two teenage girls play a dangerous online game with destiny.Heartbroke brims over with each character’s attempt to salvage grace where they can find it. Told in bright, snapping prose that reveals a world of loss and love underneath, Chelsea Bieker brilliantly illuminates a golden yet gothic world of longing and abandonment under an unrelenting California sun.
£20.80
Entangled: Amara Forever Starts Now
Book SynopsisIn Forever Falls, single men are more scarce than a vegetarian at a Texas barbecue. That is, until Australian Ethan Hammersmith moves in. Only he didn't come to America to find lovehe's searching for his father. But in this town, he might as well have a flashing sign above his head that says available. Thankfully, the distractingly adorable manager of the local diner is willing to give him cover.Monroe Roberts is the town's divorced misanthrope who gave up on forever after the love of her life skipped town with the yoga instructor. Now she's trying to keep her struggling diner afloatuntil a hot, single Australian guy strolls in. Suddenly Monroe's restaurant is packed full of non-paying customers who are hoping that Ethan is today's special.With her business now in serious trouble, Monroe has the perfect plan to save them both. They just have to convince the whole town that they're an item. But what should have been the perfect plan is about to become one big, hilarious boyfriend fiasco
£7.99
Entangled: Amara A Lot Like Christmas
Book SynopsisThis Christmas season, love comes where you least expect it.For Jessica Connolly, there is no better place than her coastal hometown of Blue Moon Bay. She has a wonderful family, supportive best friends, and a successful bakery on Main Street. Unfortunately, every time she designs one of her ex-boyfriends'' wedding cakes, she''s reminded just how unlucky she is with love...and that she''s a good luck charm for men to find their happily ever after. With someone else. The minute they break up. So she''s done with love.Dr. Mitch Jameson is more comfortable traveling the world with Doctors Without Borders than staying in one place. He just needs to survive the holidays in his small hometown before he can leave again. The beautiful, intriguing bakery owner with an aversion to dating might be just whohe needs to occupy his restless heart.From sipping hot chocolates at the local festival of lights to early morning dessert deliveries, Jessica and Mitch rediscover the spirit of the holidays. But when the 25 days of Christmas are over, will their romance be over, too?Each book in the Blue Moon Bay series is STANDALONE:* A Lot Like Love* A Lot Like Christmas* A Lot Like Forever
£9.31
Entangled: Amara Come What Maybe
Book SynopsisSocial media strategist Lauren Wallace plans everything. But when she returns to the charmingif not too small for comforttown of Seaside Cove, it's only about a second before her tough-love Grams is already on her case. So when Grams tells her not to go to that bar, Lauren decides it's time for a temporary rebellion. Which is exactly when the trouble starts.Grams was right. The bar was not a good plan. Because suddenly super-cute bar owner Ethan McAllister has gone from being Lauren's (kind of) high school nemesis to a very unexpected one-night stand. And worse, Lauren's attempts to resume her ultra-responsible life keep getting thwarted by more unwelcome spontaneity. And a pregnancy.Now there's a baby on the way, Lauren's the talk of the entire town, and all her planning has gone right out the window. All that's missing is childbirth to make her pain complete. But it'll be nothing compared to Grams's reaction when she finds out that Lauren broke the biggest rule of allfalling for the wrong guy.
£7.99
Entangled: Amara First Bride to Fall
Book SynopsisA shy woman. Her outdoorsy crush. And the bet that could bring them togetheror implode spectacularly.Nell Delaney will do almost anything for her parents and her two sisters. But enter a marriage of convenience to save the family's coffee shop? Too far. So Nell and her sisters strike a deal: whoever hasn't found love in thirty days has to step up to take one for the team. The good news? Nell knows the perfect guy to fall in love with. The bad news? She's going to have to pretend she likes the outdoorsa lot.Adventure guide Grant Williams knows immediately that Nell is not exactly Little Miss Outdoorsy. She's a walking natural disasteran amazingly adorable disaster. And whoa, their chemistry is unbelievable. Everything between them is so perfect, he's not even a little bit shocked when he starts thinking of foreverRight up until he catches the town gossiping about the Delaney sisters' bargain and realizes she's just using him to win a bet. His family's unreliable reputation means he can't just dump one of the town's sweethearts. No, she needs to dump him. If she's going to pretend to be the perfect doting bride, he'll just pretend to be the worst bachelor on the market.Let the games beginEach book in the Majestic Main series is STANDALONE:* First Bride to Fall* Second Bride Down* Last Bride Standing
£7.99
Amazon Publishing The History of Us: a novel
Book SynopsisFrom Sweet Bliss author Jennifer Bardsley comes a poignant romance about a small-town crime that throws together ex–high school sweethearts who have never quite gotten over their past. Andrea Wint’s life in the small town of Port Inez, Washington, is a simple one. She works, enjoys the gorgeous view from her bay window, and visits her dad at the memory-care facility. Her father is in the late stages of Alzheimer’s, but Andrea brings in one coin from his valuable collection every day—little bits of precious metals that seem to bring him back to himself, even if just for a few moments. So when Andrea’s house is burgled and the coins disappear, she’s bereft. To track down the culprit, she turns to Dustin Karlsson, who just happens to be her former high school sweetheart. Years ago, they broke each other’s hearts, and some wounds are slow to heal. But Dustin feels indebted to the ailing Tom Wint and wants to help. What’s more, Dustin has a personal stake in finding the perpetrator. In fact, he suspects the thief could be his own brother-in-law, a gambler and a drunk who skipped town, leaving Dustin’s sister and two young nieces behind. As Dustin and Andrea travel the Pacific Northwest in an effort to recover the missing coins, old feelings rekindle. Maybe their happily ever after can still be minted.Trade Review“Jennifer’s story peels back layer after layer until Dustin and Andrea get down to what really matters—what they feel down deep in their hearts. A lovely story of finding love, healing old hurts, and working together toward a lovely future together.” —Carolyn Brown, New York Times bestselling author of Riverbend Reunion “Equal turns thoughtful and sweet, The History of Us is a darling read. Dustin and Andrea shine as a couple, and Port Inez is the type of small-town that will draw you in like you are a member of the Karlsson family.” —Addie Woolridge, author of The Checklist “Jennifer Bardsley delivers a beautifully written story of love, family, and second chances. You will experience all the feels as the hero and heroine navigate their way toward happily ever after. The characters were written with such authenticity that you will feel as if you know them personally. I enjoyed the love and devotion both main characters showed for their families. Bardsley skillfully handled the delicate subject of Alzheimer’s disease with grace and care, weaving it into the storyline flawlessly. These two characters truly went on a journey that led them back to each other. —Joy Avery, author of Something So Sweet “Gripping and emotional, The History of Us is a beautiful story of what it truly means to love someone. Bardsley weaves a captivating tale of the complicated but powerful nature of family bonds, taking readers on a journey through the Pacific Northwest with two broken people looking to recover something lost—and along the way, rediscovering their enduring love for each other.” —Elissa Grossell Dickey, author of The Speed of Light and Iris in the Dark “Jennifer Bardsley’s love stories are exactly what we need right now—books with hope, family, and characters that feel like home!” —Brooke Burroughs, author of The Marriage Code and The Name Curse “With intimate and touching moments set in the breathtakingly beautiful Pacific Northwest, The History of Us is a captivating novel that features the challenges and heartache of loving someone with Alzheimer’s, the complicated nature of familial bonds, and a satisfying, chaste romance that will leave readers wanting more of Bardsley’s compassionate, confident prose.” —Paulette Kennedy, author of Parting the Veil “Jennifer Bardsley’s latest is the perfect jaunt through the Pacific Northwest as Dustin and Andrea discover that no amount of time or distance can extinguish the enduring power of a deep connection. The History of Us is deeply rooted in hope, family bonds, and taking advantage of second chances.” —Mansi Shah, author of The Taste of Ginger
£11.24
Amazon Publishing The Sweet Spot
Book SynopsisShe wants forever. He plays it day by day. They’re both wishing for the best in USA Today bestselling author Adriana Locke’s charming and sexy hopefully-ever-after romance.Single mom Palmer Clark will not be sidelined by the new man in town. Sure, the honey-tongued baseball legend is gorgeous, loves puppies, and has charmed his way into the community’s heart, but Palmer craves stability. Nothing about Cole says forever. So why is he so hard to resist?Cole is swinging through town to visit his parents when he meets the kind of down-to-earth distraction he’s been looking for since retiring from the majors. True, his long-term relationship score is zero. But even though raising his average with Palmer seems impossible, it’s worth a shot.As promising as the summer nights are, fate turns small-town dreams upside down, and some lessons are learned the hard way. But having faith in love and choosing hope over fear might get Palmer and Cole to the sweet spot they’re looking for.
£13.29
Amazon Publishing Talk of the Town
Book SynopsisIn this lighthearted romance filled with small-town humor and high jinks, an unsuspecting real estate agent becomes the wildest dream come true for all the single moms?except the one he wants.They?re coworkers, friends, and confidants, but Peter Marshal has always pined for a little something more with Noelle Walters. As a widow and a single mom, Noelle prefers to play it safe, and falling for Peter was never part of the plan.Then again, neither of their plans accounted for the well-meaning but meddling actions of Peter?s sister, who offers him up as their town?s most eligible bachelor in the local moms? Facebook group. He?s none the wiser about the source of this sudden surge in attention, but he only has eyes for Noelle. And from where she?s standing on the sidelines of Peter?s popularity, it?s getting harder to pretend that she doesn?t see what everyone else sees in her best friend.With all eyes on them, will Peter and Noelle finally see beyond the hurdles to the happily ever after that?s been there all along?
£13.38
Amazon Publishing When We Were Enemies: A Novel
Book SynopsisTwo women, generations apart, in the spotlight. A powerful novel about family secrets, devastating choices, and hope for the future by the bestselling author of When I’m Gone. Camera-shy Elise Branson is different from the other women in her maternal line. Her mother is an award-winning actress. Her late grandmother, Vivian Snow, is a beloved Hollywood icon. But when Elise’s upcoming wedding coincides with a documentary being made about Vivian, Elise can’t escape the camera’s gaze. And neither can her grandmother, even in death. It’s 1943 when Vivian, a small-town Indiana girl, lends her home front support to the war effort. As a translator in the nearby Italian POW camp, she’s invaluable. As a celebrated singer for the USO, she lifts men’s spirits and falls in love with a soldier. But behind this all-American love story is a shocking secret—one that is vital to keep buried if Vivian is to achieve the fame and fortune she covets. For Elise and Vivian, what’s hidden—and what’s exposed—threatens to unravel their lives. The heart-wrenching choices they must make will change them both forever.Trade Review“As a novelist, Emily Bleeker has a genuinely impressive, narrative driven, and distinctive storytelling style that fully engages her readers from first page to last. Her latest novel, When We Were Enemies will have a special appeal to readers with in interest in comparative generational historical fiction at its very best. A memorable read throughout, When We Were Enemies is a highly recommended pick…” —The Historical Fiction Shelf, Midwest Book Review “An original, fascinating, deftly crafted, and fun read from beginning to end, When We Were Enemies smoothly showcases author Emily Bleeker's undeniably impressive talents and her mastery of narrative driven storytelling.” —The General Fiction Shelf, Midwest Book Review
£13.29
Amazon Publishing The Heirloom Inn
Book SynopsisFrom USA Today bestselling author Olivia Miles comes the heartfelt story of the bond that brings three sisters together to face past regrets and the future of their family?s legacy.After the death of their beloved aunt, the estranged Burke sisters reunite at their childhood home for an unforgettable summer, each harboring a secret. With their family once again at a turning point, they must overcome their differences to discover what the future holds for the lakefront house and each other.Leah?s marriage is over, which somehow still doesn?t uncomplicate matters when she reconnects with her first love. Emma is tired of being the responsible one, stuck in her hometown by obligation to her family and by feelings for someone she can?t have. Sadie?s life in New York has all but fallen apart, and she?s haunted by the mistakes she made that led her so far away from home in the first place.But when they learn that their ancestral estate is in danger of foreclosure, the sisters must find a way to mend the rifts between them to save the only true home they?ve ever known?and with it, maybe they can stitch themselves back together too.
£13.11
Amazon Publishing The Midnight Garden: A Novel
Book SynopsisFrom debut author Elaine Roth comes a hopeful and heartfelt story about a young widow who uncovers the magic of everyday life—and the power of second chances. After the sudden death of her husband, Hope finds herself reeling from the loss in more ways than one. First a young wife and now a grieving widow, she feels like fodder for never-ending town gossip. But when Hope meets Will, a screenwriter back in town to run his family’s inn, she sees in him another resident oddball. And like her, Will has been navigating a loss of his own. As Hope falls for Will, she seeks out another enigma in town: Maeve, an eccentric woman who makes healing teas and communes with the dead. Some of the townspeople think she’s a grifter, a fake. Will, too, is skeptical. Hope yearns for closure and forgiveness, seeing in Maeve the chance to trust herself again—and in Will, a chance to rediscover the enchantment in the world around her… And the courage to build a bigger life than she ever thought possible.Trade Review“Readers of Jenny Colgan will enjoy this rising author.” —Booklist
£13.06
Astra Publishing House Emergency
Book SynopsisFor readers of Rachel Cusk and Jenny Odell, a lyrical work of autofiction that explores the dissolution of boundaries between the self and our earth as we head towards ecological catastrophe.“Emergency is an incisive kaleidoscope of past and present, nature and industry, stillness and pace, collapsing all into a tapestry of consciousness.” —Ayşegül Savaş, author of Walking on the Ceiling Emergency is a novel about the interconnectedness of all life on Earth. Our narrator is at home during lockdown, where she ponders both past and present. She remembers her 1990s childhood in rural Yorkshire. She recalls a kestrel hunt, helping a farmer save a renegade bull, and days playing with her best friend, Clare. In her village, neighbors argue, keep secrets, care for one another, and try to hold down jobs. Fox cubs fight in the woods, plants compete for space, a quarry slowly falls apart, and we see a three-legged deer who likes cake. With painterly vision, Hildyard evokes the bygone, pre-internet world of her schooldays, whose irretrievability signals at something far greater than fleeting youth. With urgent intimacy, Emergency asks us to look at the essential; the people who help define us, animals, local and global ecologies, and to consider what the slow disappearance of Hildyard’s and our own native environment might mean for humanity at large. A requiem for the English countryside, a story of remote violence, and a work of praise for a persistently lively world, Daisy Hildyard’s Emergency reinvents the pastoral novel for the climate change era.Trade Review"In refusing to privilege human drama over natural processes, Hildyard captures the ecosystem’s delicate interconnectedness and suggests a new way of writing about our toll on the environment." —The New Yorker"[Emergency is] a gorgeous novel of a youth spent on the cusp of societal upheaval."—Publishers Weekly"The beauty of Emergency is in its attempt to glimpse an expanded paradigm of meaning, which encompasses but isn’t limited to our own." —Sam Sacks, The Wall Street Journal "Emergency is a crucial intervention. It drives a stake into the heart of the pastoral genre . . . This is what nature writing should be: absurd, overwhelming, and chaotically alive with the din of the world." —Lauren Collee, The Rumpus"There is something energetic in Emergency, something mystical about the human and non-human really meeting . . . Emergency reminds us, through its young protagonist, that we often miss so much of the world, so much of reality."—Alan Rossi, Literary Hub"In meditative and exquisitely constructed descriptions . . . the natural world comes to us, blazingly alive, and our place in it does too." —Hannah Hutchings-Georgiou, The White Review "A stunning book—a balm for our times—containing the incredible gift of the everyday."—Kirkus, Starred Review"A quiet, complicated hymn to nature . . . [Emergency] is a novel with an elastic strangeness, gliding seamlessly between the familiar and the surreal . . . In the wake of the biggest natural melodrama of recent times, Emergency is a thoughtful, poised reflection on how much change we humans, among the animals, can ever bring to bear." —Natalie Whittle, Financial Times “This quiet, well-written novel, which has a surprise ending, is worth a look.” —Barbara Love, Library Journal"Daisy Hildyard has confronted our new nature and, bravely, compellingly, makes our shared emergency visible." —Clare Pettitt, Times Literary Supplement "A keenly observed book of naturalism, [Emergency] is about a place, an era and the tenuous epoch of childhood which are all as fragile and fleeting as they are eternal in symbol and memory. I loved this book. When I finished it, I started over at the beginning." —Sarah Blackman, Heavy Feather Review "Emergency is a quiet novel that explores with remarkable subtlety the deep and fraying interconnectedness of life on earth. Hildyard writes with the precision and associative leaps of a poet . . . It’s something new that will linger long after you’ve finished reading."—Stephen Sparks, Bookseller at Point Reyes Books “A common fragility unites all species in this quietly magnificent novel.”—Damian Walsh, Literary Review “This book succeeds because of the chilly and beautifully sustained voice of its narrator, the precise embroidery of its sentences and paragraphs, its observations of the natural world and insistence that there is no distinction between humans and environments.” —Sarah Moss, The Guardian“Daisy Hildyard’s Emergency is a pastoral novel for the age of dissolving boundaries.The slowness and gentleness of the text, its pace and its language, make you consider its title.”—Abi Andrews, The Irish Times“Past and present, nature and humanity, life and death intermix, ebbing and flowing in a stream of prose that carries the reader on an exhilarating … and violent ride.”—Philippa Nutall, The New Statesman“Hildyard doesn’t offer the narratives of therapy, social criticism or self-development to be found in other English pastoralists …. Her style is more reminiscent of such contemporary poets as Kathleen Jamie and Alice Oswald, with their quiet and attentive watchfulness to a non-human reality they only half-understand. Her prose calls for, and frequently earns, the same respectful attentiveness from its readers.”—Dr. Nikhil Krishnan, The Telegraph
£18.40
Astra Publishing House Fire in the Canyon: A Novel
Book SynopsisA New Yorker Best Book of 2023A new novel from National Book Award nominee Daniel Gumbiner about a California grape-grower, his family, and the climate disaster that upends their quiet lives.Since his release from prison after serving an eighteen-month sentence for growing cannabis, Ben Hecht’s life has settled into a familiar routine. On his farm in the foothills of California, he stays busy cultivating a dozen acres of grapes and tending to a flock of mistrustful sheep. Meanwhile, from her desk in their old redwood barn, his novelist wife, Ada, continues to work on what may be her most important book yet. When their only son, Yoel, comes home from Los Angeles for a rare visit, Ben is forced to confront their long troubled relationship, which has continued to degrade in recent years. But before the two of them can truly address their past, a wildfire sweeps through the region, forcing the Hecht family to flee to the coast, and setting into motion a chain of events that will transform them all. This is a story about grape growing and wine, financial and familial struggles, and the peculiar characters and unlikely heroes one will always find in small-town California. Through the experiences of the Hechts and the escalating challenges that face their community, Fire in the Canyon is an intimate look at the lives of those already living through the climate crisis.Trade ReviewA New Yorker Best Book of 2023: Set in the foothills of California’s gold country, this dread-laden novel follows a family who make their living cultivating grapes for winemaking as they attempt to resume their lives in the wake of a wildfire. After an evacuation, they return to the same land, but their environment—increasingly marred by drought, fire, and high temperatures—presents a cascade of fears: not just death and injury from fire but power outages, dangerous air quality, and smoke that might taint their grapes and thus take away their livelihood. The father’s detailed awareness of the region’s weather produces a sense of looming crisis; he notes how often once unusual events now occur—a set of circumstances that make it “hard not to wonder where the bottom was.”"The prose shines in its depictions of nature and setting, as when Gumbiner compares burnt trees to 'spires of obsidian.' Near the end of the novel . . . the reader must also locate the sacred in the natural and mourn all that humanity is losing as we hurtle toward a decimated planet."—Edan Lepucki, Alta Journal"Set in the foothills of California’s gold country, this dread-laden novel follows a family who make their living cultivating grapes for winemaking as they attempt to resume their lives in the wake of a wildfire. . . The father’s detailed awareness of the region’s weather produces a sense of looming crisis."—The New Yorker"“Fire in the Canyon” certainly has mythic overtones. It is a kind of Steinbeck saga with more modern catastrophes in mind; instead of the depredations of the Dust Bowl and the Depression, the Hechts face the twin crises of economic precarity and climate change."—Lorraine Berry, Los Angeles Times"Gumbiner writes with tremendous heart for his characters, as well as meticulous detail about their everyday lives tending their crops, making wine and finding community in a disorienting moment of environmental precarity."—Jessica Zack, San Francisco Chronicle"There is action and drama, but it's not a collage of IPCC report scenarios, it's a real and human story about what happens when a family's own unspectacular life becomes part of the global drama of global warming."—Alexis Madrigal, KQED Forum"Gumbiner crafts an important story, the fictional equivalent of outdoor warning sirens screaming above smoldering pine trees. An engaging, Steinbeckian look at climate change and its emotional costs."—Kirkus Reviews"A soulful masterpiece about the climate crisis in California."—Gabe Hudson, Kurt Vonnegut Radio"Suspenseful . . . Gumbiner skillfully builds tension as the Hecht family’s hard work in the vineyards plays out, pulling them together, even as they ignore the red-flag fire warnings and face the uncertainty of whether the wine produced will be potentially ruined by smoke taint. Readers will be riveted."—Publishers Weekly"Daniel Gumbiner is fast becoming a sort of 21st century Steinbeck, authoritatively illuminating life in California, with all its glories and calamity. Filled with vivid characters and deep knowledge of the land, this is a commanding second novel." —Dave Eggers, author of The Circle"There’s some golden hue or quality that tinges these pages. I have felt for a long time like we need more California novels, and since reading his first novel, more writers like Daniel Gumbiner."—Tommy Orange, author of There There "Stunning. Daniel Gumbiner is one of our greatest living writers on and of the American West, and this book is a thing of beauty." —Claire Vaye Watkins, author of I Love You but I've Chosen Darkness
£21.60
Grand Central Publishing The Return
Book Synopsis
£16.00
The New York Review of Books, Inc Havoc
Book Synopsis
£18.00
The New York Review of Books, Inc Temptation
Book Synopsis
£17.95
The New York Review of Books, Inc Our Philosopher
Book Synopsis
£13.56
Poisoned Pen Press Dark Currents
Book Synopsis
£14.39
Sourcebooks Landmark Where I Can't Follow
Book Synopsis
£16.14
Sourcebooks, Inc After We Were Stolen: A Novel
Book SynopsisAn emotionally wrought debut fiction novel perfect for book clubs about a girl who escapes from a cult after a deadly fire destroys her family's compound, only to be haunted by That Night as she tries to build a new life for herself.A fire. Her escape. And the realization her entire life has been a lie.One night, nineteen-year-old Avery is awoken by a fire consuming her family's compound. She manages to escape and runs away with her younger brother, Cole, hiding in the woods and then a school gym for weeks, dodging stares and stealing food to survive. After police apprehend them for shoplifting, a horrific discovery is made-they were actually kidnapped as children, taken by the cult leaders they knew as Mom and Dad.Cole is quickly reunited with his family and permanently separated from Avery, who is taken to a women's shelter when no family comes forward. Avery isn't certain who survived the Bakelite cult fire or, more importantly, who set it. As she tries to move past the lies and the trauma of her childhood, the events of the night of the fire come bursting back into the news, and a police investigation throws Avery into the spotlight where she's pushed to answer questions she can't explain. The memories of that night and her former life threaten to undo all the progress she's made, but she must uncover the truth about the fire to truly be free.Suspenseful, emotionally charged, and deeply thought-provoking, After We Were Stolen delves into ideas of family-those we're born into and those we make, resilience, and the lengths a cult survivor will go to finally be free of her painful past. Brooke Beyfuss's powerful debut novel sparkles with heart, grit, and extraordinary characters who will stay with you long after the last page.
£16.31
Sourcebooks, Inc The Last Carolina Girl: A Novel
Book Synopsis
£15.74
Bloom Books Kyland
Book Synopsis
£16.14
Allen & Unwin The Dunbar Case
Book SynopsisThe thirty-eighth book in the Cliff Hardy seriesThis wasn't Hardy's usual brief--uncover the mysteries of a nineteenth-century shipwreck--but he could do with an easy case and the retainer was generous. But is it ever that simple? Not with a notorious crime family tearing itself apart, and an undercover cop playing both sides against the middle. These and an alluring but fiercely ambitious female journalist give Hardy all the trouble he can handle. 'Ever feel manipulated?' Hardy asks. The body count mounts up as he pushes closer to the truth about the mystery and the loot.Trade ReviewReminds you just how good Peter Corris is, what a legend his private-detective character Cliff Hardy is. * Sydney Morning Herald *Hardy goes from strength to strength. * Adelaide Advertiser *Peter Corris is undoubtedly a major figure in our time. -- Stephen Knight
£12.46
Nimbus Publishing (CN) Beholden
Book Synopsis
£21.79
Acorn Press When the Hill Came Down
Book Synopsis
£17.95
Nimbus Publishing Limited Kin
Book Synopsis
£15.50
Nimbus Publishing Limited Birth Road
Book Synopsis
£17.05
Vagrant Press Beholden
Book Synopsis
£17.05
Pushcart Press A Day Like Any Other: The Great Hamptons
Book Synopsis
£17.09
