Narrative theme: social issues / social problems

Book SynopsisThe luminous new novel from 'one of the best writers of our time', double Booker Prize winner J. M. Coetzee.'Full of truth, tearfully moving to read... Brilliant' Evening StandardSimón and David - a tall ten-year-old - are in a new land, together with a woman named Inés. The small family have found a home in which David can thrive. But David is spotted by Julio Fabricante, the director of a local orphanage, playing football with his friends. He shows unusual talent. When David announces that he wants to live with Julio and the children in his care, Simón and Inés are stunned. David is leaving them, and they can only love him and bear witness.The Death of Jesus is the completion of an incomparable trilogy in which J. M. Coetzee explores the meaning of a world empty of memory but brimming with questions.* A New York Times Notable Book *___________________'Extraordinary... Coetzee stands as the pre-eminent novelist in the English-writing world' New Statesman'You will read its cool, dry final sentences - as I did - with tears in your eyes' The TimesTrade ReviewAnything J.M. Coetzee writes deserves our full attention…The Death of Jesus is full of truth, irreducible, tearfully moving to read -- David Sexton * Evening Standard, *Book of the Week* *Concludes the trilogy with force and heart… if The Death of Jesus strikes you in the right place, then you will read its cool, dry final sentences – as I did – with tears in your eyes -- John Self * The Times *Any new novel from Coetzee commands respect, and the final part of the trilogy is no exception… The Death of Jesus constantly challenges what we believe and why -- Max Davidson * Mail on Sunday *The Death of Jesus is a necessary read, casting a strange new light on one of the world’s greatest and most elusive novelists -- Doug Battersby * Financial Times *A phenomenon that arrives from out of nowhere and challenges our received ideas to breaking point ... a delicate, iridescent mystery * Guardian *

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Book Synopsis'An enchanting story about love, loss and the power of language' Elizabeth Macneal, author of The Doll FactorySometimes you have to start with what's lost to truly find yourself...Motherless and irrepressibly curious, Esme spends her childhood at her father's feet as he and his team gather words for the very first Oxford English Dictionary.One day, she sees a slip of paper containing a forgotten word flutter to the floor unclaimed.And so Esme begins to collect words for another dictionary in secret: The Dictionary of Lost Words. But to do so she must journey into a world on the cusp of change as the Great War looms and women fight for the vote. Can the power of lost words from the past finally help her make sense of her future?'A brilliant book about women and words - tender, moving and profound' Jacqueline WilsonReaders LOVE The Dictionary of Lost Words:'If you only read one book this year, let it be this one!''If you're a fan of The Binding and The Betrayals you will surely love this''A glorious combination of words, growing up, friendship, love, feminism and so much more''The best love letter to words and language''This book broke my heart ... I highly recommend it to any historical fiction fans ... it's one I will be reading again'Trade ReviewA brilliant book about women and words - tender, moving and profound -- Jacqueline WilsonAn extraordinary, charming novel... Williams pins a whole, rich life to the page * The Times *Poignant, perfectly paced... a beautifully nuanced work -- Eithne Farry * Mail on Sunday *I absolutely loved this book! Thought-provoking, touching and subtly romantic; I finished it in tears -- Katie FfordeWilliams's satisfying novel animates a fascinating history and imbues it with a feminist slant, asking how words mean different things to men and women -- Patricia Nicol * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisAn epic, deeply moving novel about the power of love and loving with courage - from the Man Booker International Prize-winning author of A Horse Walks into a Bar On a kibbutz in Israel in 2008, Gili is celebrating the ninetieth birthday of her grandmother Vera, the adored matriarch of a sprawling and tight-knit family. But festivities are interrupted by the arrival of Nina: the iron-willed daughter who rejected Vera's care; and the absent mother who abandoned Gili when she was still a baby. Nina's return to the family after years of silence precipitates an epic journey from Israel to the desolate island of Goli Otok, formerly part of Yugoslavia. It was here, five decades earlier, that Vera was held and tortured as a political prisoner. And it is here that the three women will finally come to terms with the terrible moral dilemma that Vera faced, and that permanently altered the course of their lives. More Than I Love My Life is a sweeping story about the power of love and loving with courage. A novel driven by faith in humanity even in our darkest moments, it asks us to confront our deepest held beliefs about a woman's duty to herself and to her children. 'Grossman's work resonates with emotional intelligence, humanity and truth' Irish TimesTrade ReviewMore Than I Love My Life... is a profound testament to the emotional power of fiction and shows why some critics regard Grossman as a candidate for the Nobel Prize for Literature. -- Max Liu * Financial Times *Immaculately translated by Jessica Cohen, this is another extraordinary novel from Grossman, a book as beautiful and sad as anything you'll read this year. -- Alex Preston * Observer *Unforgettable . . . This adds another remarkable achievement to Grossman's long list. * Publisher's Weekly *Starred Review* *In More Than I Love My Life he [Grossman] tells a sombre and affecting tale... [a] delicately crafted novel, crisply translated from the Hebrew by Jessica Cohen. -- Houman Barekat * Sunday Times *[Grossman gives] vivid voice to each of the characters as they navigate their pain, both present and past... Grossman's 12 previous novels and five volumes of non-fiction have brought him renown on both sides of the Atlantic. This book will earn him more. * Economist *

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Book SynopsisAre you looking for a book with bite?'OUTRAGEOUS, SMART, FUN' Bonnie Garmus, Sunday Times bestselling author of Lessons in Chemistry'BRILLIANT' StylistOne day, the mother was a mother but then, one night, she was quite suddenly something else...At home full-time with her two-year-old son, an artist finds she is struggling. She is lonely and exhausted. Her husband, always travelling for his work, calls her from faraway hotel rooms. One more toddler bedtime, and she fears she might lose her mind.Instead, she starts gaining things, surprising things that happen one night when her child will not sleep. New appetites, new instincts. And from deep within herself, a new voice...'INCREDIBLE' Carmen Maria Machado'I TORE THROUGH IT' Lisa McInerney'FUNNY AND UNNERVING AS HELL' Jenny Offill'The spiritual successor to Angela Carter' Evening StandardTrade ReviewOutrageous, gritty, smart, fun -- BONNIE GARMUS * Sunday Times bestselling author of Lessons in Chemistry *Yoder's voice is precise and funny, pitch-perfect... This is a terrifically alive and imaginative tale... an important contribution to the engagement with motherhood that rightly dominates contemporary feminism. -- Lara Feigel * Observer *I've been waiting my whole adult life for a read like this. Nightbitch is truly imaginative, utterly original, brave and brilliant - I devoured it. * Elaine Feeney, author of AS YOU WERE *A deliciously untamed satire on mothering and collapsed ambition... Yoder's descriptions of wild self-release are thrilling. -- Catherine Taylor * Financial Times *Yoder's commentary on the assorted neuroses of modern womanhood is graceful and coolly incisive... She infuses new life into the cold, furry flesh of the monstrous femme. -- AK Blakemore * Guardian *

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Book Synopsis*WINNER OF THE 2023 LAMBDA LITERARY AWARD FOR LESBIAN FICTION**A New York Times 100 Notable Book of 2022*'These stories glitter and pulse' Dantiel W. MontizIn her singular, electrifying style, K-Ming Chang peels back questions of body, power and identity, and the relationships of Asian American women, with vivid imagination.A stream of women adjust to American life by sneaking kisses from women at temple and buying tubs of vanilla ice cream to prepare for citizenship tests. Ghost-cousins cross space, seas and skies to haunt their living cousin. Two girls explore each other's bodies for the first time in the belly of a plastic shark.Brimming with moths and mothers, nine-headed birds and storm-chasers, these queer, fabulist tales delve viscerally into myth and memory, corporeality and ghostliness, beauty and the grotesque.ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR in New York Times, NPR, Them and Book Riot, from the National Book Award '5 under 35' honoree and author of Bestiary.'Wild and lyrical, visionary and touching. Read her!' Sharlene Teo'A voracious, probing collection, proof of how exhilarating the short story can be' New York Times'Stunning and moving... One of our most brilliant authors' Bryan WashingtonTrade ReviewAlert to the ways reality can buckle and contort, Chang conjures fiction that is almost fairytale-like, mythical, unsettling - yet at the same time blisteringly alive and unapologetically queer * Guardian *These stories glitter and pulse -- DANTIEL W. MONIZ, author of Milk Blood HeatA voracious, probing collection, proof of how exhilarating the short story can be... Each one is possessed of a powerful hunger, a drive to metabolize the recognizable features of a familiar world and transform them into something wilder, and achingly alive -- Alexandra Kleeman * New York Times Book Review *Constantly illuminating and thoroughly astounding... a stunning and moving work by one of our most brilliant authors. -- BRYAN WASHINGTON, author of Lot and MemorialThese stories by the Taiwanese American author of the gutsy 2020 debut novel Bestiary are obsessed with the vagaries of emigration and adolescence. Populated by ghosts and spirits, they dissolve the rigidities of American life into a slipstream of folkloric myth and transform the familiar world into something wilder. -- 100 Notable Books of 2022 * New York Times *

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Book Synopsis**LONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2023****SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE 2022**Discover an exhilarating novel about power and corruption set in a nation trapped in a cycle as old as time.'A masterpiece for our times. Gripping and exhilarating' Observer 'Uplifting and original' StylistThis is the story of a country on the brink of revolution.It's the story of Destiny, who returns home to witness the uprising.It's a story for all of us, and a reminder that history can be changed in the blink of an eye.'A novel with heart and energy' Daily Telegraph'Bulawayo is really out-Orwelling Orwell. This is a satire with sharper teeth, angrier, and also very, very funny' New York Times Book Review** SHORTLISTED FOR THE RATHBONES FOLIO PRIZE 2023****SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2023 VISIONARY ARTS AWARDS**Trade ReviewAllegory, satire and fairytale rolled into one mighty punch * Guardian *Brave, and moving -- Stuart Kelly * Scotsman *Vital and universal -- Hepzibah Anderson * Observer *Few writers can engineer a sentence like NoViolet Bulawayo * Irish Times *Bulawayo is really out-Orwelling Orwell. This is a satire with sharper teeth, angrier, and also very, very funny * New York Times Book Review *

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Book SynopsisSomething about your generation I've noticed, she said not unkindly once I had fallen silent, is that you give up very easily. Autumn 2018. A young woman starts a job as a research assistant at Oxford. But she can't shake the feeling that real life is happening elsewhere. Eight months later she finds herself in London. She's landed a temp contract at a society magazine and is paying £80 a week to sleep on a stranger's sofa. As the summer rolls on, tensions with her flatmate escalate. She is overworked and underpaid, spends her free time calculating the increasing austerity in England through the rising cost of Freddos. The prospects of a permanent job seem increasingly unlikely, until she finally asks herself: is it time to give up?**A NEW STATESMAN BOOK OF THE YEAR **________________________________PRAISE FOR THREE ROOMS'I was bowled over by this barbed, supple book...spiky, unsettling.' OLIVIA LAING'Cool, sharp and perceptive' Stylist'Crisp and resonant' New Statesman'A phenomenal achievement' The Times'One of the most candid and subtle explorations of class by an English novelist in recent years' TLS'A biting dissection of privilege, race, inequality and ideology in 21st century Britain' i'Jo Hamya is an exceptionally gifted writer...slowly but surely broke my heart' CLAIRE-LOUISE BENNETT'Intelligent, melancholy, funny and subtle' CHRIS POWER'Both spectral and steeped in contemporary reality' OLIVIA SUDJIC'Resigned to renting forever and feeling guilty every time you buy a cup of coffee? You'll want to read Jo Hamya's urgent and intelligent debut' EVENING STANDARDTrade ReviewA phenomenal achievement. Perfectly judged set pieces at parties, offices and art galleries are infused with the illuminating and inquiring mind of an author who watches our society with an unflinching x-ray eye and tells its stories back to us with elegance and wit. And that, surely, is the mark of an excellent writer. -- Melissa Katsoulis * The Times *Biting and truthful ... A polemical novel, in a tradition of women writing about the cost of freedom that includes Woolf and leads to novelists such as Deborah Levy and Rachel Cusk ... [it] also belongs to a new genre of socially realist writing about millennial poverty and what it does to women's ambitions. -- Shahidha Bari * Guardian *An intelligent, original examination of privilege and belonging in 21st-century England. Its account of thwarted progress proves absorbing, enriched as it is by shrewd observations and insightful meditations on the trials of modern life and the state of the nation. * Economist *A biting dissection of privilege, race, inequality and ideology in 21st-century Britain. * i *I was bowled over by this barbed, supple book about precarity and power, both for its spiky, unsettling intelligence and the frank beauty of the writing. -- OLIVIA LAING

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Book SynopsisA veteran British journalist living in Hong Kong investigates the disappearance of a student protestor amidst the pro-democracy demonstrations in this unsettling new novel from the acclaimed author of The ForgivenAfter twenty years as an ex-pat reporter in Hong Kong, Adrian Gyle has almost nothing to show for it. But now the streets are choked with students demanding democratic freedoms, and the old world is beginning to fall apart.Adrian's old friend Jimmy Tang, the scion of a wealthy Hong Kong family, has begun a reckless affair with Rebecca, a leading pro-democracy protestor. But when Rebecca disappears and Jimmy goes to ground, Adrian unearths the familiar old urge to investigate. Pursuing Rebecca's ghost to Java Road where the city's dead congregate, Adrian re-assembles her final hours - as he struggles to distinguish between delusion and reality.'Osborne's whodunnit is wrapped in an atmospheric portrait both of a particular place and time, and of the creation and destruction of a friendship. Highly recommended' GUARDIAN'Osborne goes from strength to strength' LIONEL SHRIVER'Osborne handles surface and depth with immense skill, as only great writers can' DEBORAH LEVY, FINANCIAL TIMES'If the purpose of a novel is to take you away from the everyday and show you something different, then Osborne is succeeding, and handsomely' LEE CHILD, NEW YORK TIMESTrade Review[A] superbly atmospheric reportage of a place and time... [On Java Road is] his most compulsive yet -- Peter Kemp * Sunday Times *Marvellously convincing evocations of fractious, tear-gas-canister-strewn Hong Kong... Osborne...presents every country his novels visit clearly, without imposing his own gloss * Literary Review *In the growing footprint of what he deems "Planet Tourism," his novels have become his radical reworking of travel writing - as sensual, provocative and riveting portraits of lives and places in flux * Washington Post *Masterly ... This story of moral failings and totalitarian excess is as disturbing as it is irresistible -- Peter Carty * i *Osborne's whodunnit is wrapped in an atmospheric portrait both of a particular place and time, and of the creation and destruction of a friendship. Highly recommended * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisLove and marriage, children and family, death and grief. Life touches everyone the same, but living under lockdown? It changes us alone.A man abroad wanders the stag-and-hen-strewn streets of Newcastle, as news of the virus at home asks him to question his next move. An exhausted nurse struggles to let go, having lost a much-loved patient in isolation. A middle-aged son, barred from his mother's funeral, wakes to an oncoming hangover of regret. Told with Doyle's signature warmth, wit and extraordinary eye for the richness that underpins the quiet of our lives, Life Without Children cuts to the heart of how we are all navigating loss, loneliness and the shifting of history underneath our feet.'Life Without Children is boldly exhilarating, with its revelations of quiet love and the sheer charm of the characters' voices' Sunday Times'Quietly devastating...shivers with emotion' Financial Times'In the stripping away of everyday anxieties, the virus reveals what matters most, those qualities that are always at the heart of Doyle's fiction: love and connection' Observer'Moving...and beautiful' Daily MailTrade ReviewA quietly devastating collection of short stories that brilliantly portrays the pervasive sense of hopelessness that immobilised us during the dog days of Covid... Silver linings have been hard to find lately, but in Life Without Children Doyle has given us just that * Sunday Times *[A] gem of a collection... Roddy Doyle's greatest gift has always been for dialogue. He can command the full range of Irish voices and registers, but he has lately put his gifts to use in painting a picture of characters in...their "third age". * Daily Telegraph *Quietly devastating... Doyle's clipped, plain dialogue shivers with emotion. * Financial Times *Life Without Children...displays Doyle's remarkable talent for conveying the strongest of emotions in the simplest of words and the shortest of sentences... It bristles with quietly sharp insights into the shape of a human life. * Reader's Digest *There is an immediacy to the stories in Life Without Children, an emotional charge that comes with writing in real time, and an optimism too. In the stripping away of everyday anxieties, the virus reveals what matters most, those qualities that are always at the heart of Doyle's fiction: love and connection. * Observer *

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Book Synopsis'Riveting' Guardian'Electrifying' Colson WhiteheadWhen the world collapses, where will you run? After rolling blackouts and epic storms engulf America, the neighbourhood of First Street, Charlottesville comes under attack by violent white supremacists. A small group of families, friends and strangers flee for their lives, taking refuge in Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's historic plantation home in the hills above the town.Over nineteen heart-stopping days the group, led by Da'Naisha Love - a young Black descendant of Jefferson and Sally Hemings - find ways to survive as the world burns beneath them. But with the terror below coming closer, they must decide how far they're willing to go to protect what's theirs . . .'Absolutely unforgettable' Roxane Gay'Stunning' Mail on SundayTrade ReviewRiveting storytelling. This incandescent work speaks not just to the moment, but to history * Publishers Weekly (starred review) *A badass debut by any measure - nimble, knowing, and electrifying * Colson Whitehead, twice-Pulitzer Prize winning author of THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD and THE NICKEL BOYS *An electric new literary voice * Esquire *Absolutely unforgettable. Johnson's prose soars to remarkable heights * Roxane Gay, New York Times bestselling author of HUNGER and AYITI *Unputdownable... Extraordinarily powerful... One of the finest books of 2021 and a future classic * The Bookseller, Book of the Month *

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Book Synopsis*As seen on The One Show**Dead Good 14 Best Thrillers of All Time 2023*'Thrilling . . . a terrific series' Sunday TimesSomeone has an appetite for murderKamil Rahman used to be a detective in Kolkata. Now he's a cook in London's East End.Yet trouble still knows where to find him...Kamil Rahman thought his crimefighting days were behind him. But when a woman he knows is murdered and the police arrest the most convenient suspect, he hangs up his apron and employs his detective skills once more to find the true killer.Meanwhile, restaurant manager Anjoli is volunteering with a homeless charity, where she notices a sudden troubling increase in unexplained deaths among people sleeping rough in and around Brick Lane. With the council and police uninterested, she starts an investigation of her own.Kamil and Anjoli's cases seem unrelated, but as the duo dig deeper, they discover connections that stretch from London to Lahore. Together they take on the indifference of the authorities.If the Met won't find the murderers, then they will.*A GUARDIAN BEST CRIME AND THRILLER BOOK OF 2022*Trade ReviewA real surprise... It is not just the descriptions of food that leave you hungry for more -- Mark Sanderson * The Times *Thrilling... This is a terrific series, a vivid portrait of the East End where a thriving economy is overshadowed by the effects of inequality -- Joan Smith * Sunday Times *Chowdhury's portrait of multicultural London is as effective as his portrayal of the mixed feelings of his characters, who may enjoy aspects of their lives but still long for the pleasures they have left behind -- Natasha Cooper * Literary Review *Kamil and Anjali are a terrific team. Chowdhury makes the murder mystery feel like a brand-new invention. His second thriller is chockfull of authentic flavours and tasty surprises that will leave readers wanting more. -- Christopher Fowler, author of the Bryant and May MysteriesMarvellous! A vivid romp through the Londoner's London, seen through the sharp eyes of a recent arrival. The only thing that induced me to put it down was the fact that it made me so hungry... * Alex Marwood *

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Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times Bestseller from the Winner of the Booker PrizeShe will change the way you see the world . . . 'I'll remember Elizabeth Finch when most other characters I've met this year have faded' The TimesElizabeth Finch was a teacher, a thinker, an inspiration. Neil is just one of many who fell under her spell during his time in her class. Tasked with unpacking her notebooks after her death, Neil encounters once again Elizabeth's astonishing ideas on the past and on how to make sense of the present.But Elizabeth was much more than a scholar. Her secrets are waiting to be revealed . . . and will change Neil's view of the world forever.'Enthralling . . . A connoisseur and master of irony himself, [Barnes] fills this book with instances of its exhilarating power' Sunday Times'A lyrical, thoughtful and intriguing exploration of love, grief and the collective myths of history' BooklistTrade Review[Barnes] is always clever, often original and unusually funny... Elizabeth Finch...offers plenty to chew on...with barely a sentence in it that doesn't have some nutritional value. -- John Self * The Times *A singular tale. -- Stephanie Cross * Daily Mail, *Books to Look Out For 2022* *Everything Barnes writes changes everything... Barnes's latest novel, must be read at least twice for the full force of its voltage to be felt... A cryptic crossword of a novel, Elizabeth Finch is a tricksier and even brainier version of Flaubert's Parrot. -- Frances Wilson * Oldie *The book's central and most enthralling section...deals with a figure EF esteemed as a kindred spirit: Julian the Apostate... A bravura exercise in nimbly handled erudition... [Elizabeth Finch] also celebrates the cast of mind Barnes most prizes. A connoisseur and master of irony himself, he fills this book with instances of its exhilarating power. -- Peter Kemp * Sunday Times *Elizabeth Finch ranks alongside Barnes' best. -- Joshua Pugh Ginn * UK Press Syndication *

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Book SynopsisThis is a witch story unlike any other.Lux has lost everything when Else finds her in the woods. Her family, her lover, her home - all burned. The world is suspicious of women like her. But Lux is cunning; she knows how to blend into the background. And she knows a lot about poisons.Else needs Lux's help to destroy the man who wronged her. But on their hunt they will uncover dark secrets that entangle them with dangerous adversaries.From the snowy winter woods to the bright midnight sun; from lost and powerless to finding your path, Now She is Witch conjures a world where women grasp at power through witchcraft, sexuality and performance, and sometimes by throwing each other to the wolves.'A story that will hold you tight and not let go' Stylist'Mesmerising and evocative...There are echoes of everything from the Brothers Grimm to Angela Carter' Observer'Powerful, imaginative, compelling - myth-making at its best' Val McDermid'An impassioned reclaiming of female desire...absorbingly atmospheric' Daily Mail'Spooky, timeless, feminist, inventive, unsettling' Viv GroksopTrade ReviewKirsty Logan's mesmerising and evocative novel represents an imaginative triumph in this new subgenre [of "witch lit"]... There are echoes of everything from the Brothers Grimm to Angela Carter in Logan's deceptively simple storytelling * Observer *Logan builds Lux's world with an eye for striking detail...the images snap and sizzle with portent and possibility * Guardian *One of our national writing treasures, Kirsty Logan's latest tale is a deeply atmospheric, sometimes gory but ultimately uplifting... a story that will hold you tight and not let go * Stylist *An impassioned reclaiming of female desire. Stuffed, Russian-doll like, with stories...an absorbingly atmospheric adventure * Daily Mail *A dark conjuring of a book: angry, powerful, hypnotic, told in prose of dazzling power. -- Kiran Millwood Hargrave

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Book SynopsisThe highly-anticipated second instalment in the CRIME trilogy, now a hit TV SeriesIn Edinburgh, Detective Inspector Ray Lennox is investigating a brutal crime...Ritchie Gulliver MP is dead. Castrated and left to bleed in an empty Leith warehouse. Vicious, racist and corrupt, many thought he had it coming. But nobody could have predicted this.After the life Gulliver has led, the suspects are many - corporate rivals, political opponents, the countless groups he's offended. And the vulnerable and marginalised, who bore the brunt of his cruelty.As Lennox unravels the truth, and the list of shocking attacks grows, he must put his personal feelings aside. But one question refuses to go away: who are the real victims here?'Sharp, fearless, passionate and brilliant' Independent'An ingeniously plotted and propulsive thriller' Literary ReviewTrade ReviewAn ingeniously plotted and propulsive thriller... bristling with risky satire and moral disgust. * Literary Review *If you like your crime dramas Scottish and sweary, this one's for you. -- Jessie Thompson * Evening Standard, *Books to Look Out For 2022* *A triumph... A great, redemptive book... It leaves you wanting more, much more * Observer, on CRIME *Powerful, passionate writing... Welsh gets it just right * Literary Review, on CRIME *Powerful... A bracing and engaging read * Daily Telegraph, on CRIME *

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Book Synopsis'Donna Leon provides another delectable slice of the thoughtful policeman's life at work and at home... So Shall You Reap is as witty and wise as anything Leon has written. To read her is to restore the soul.' The TimesOn a cold November evening, Guido Brunetti and Paola are up late when a call from his colleague Ispettore Vianello arrives, alerting the Commissario that a hand has been seen in one of Venice's canals. The body is soon found, and Brunetti is assigned to investigate the murder of an undocumented Sri Lankan immigrant. Because no official record of the man's presence in Venice exists, Brunetti is forced to use the city's far richer sources of information: gossip and the memories of people who knew the victim. Curiously, he had been living in a garden house on the grounds of a palazzo owned by a university professor, in which Brunetti discovers books revealing the victim's interest in Buddhism, the revolutionary Tamil Tigers, and the last crop of Italian political terrorists, active in the 1980s.As the investigation expands, Brunetti, Vianello, Commissario Griffoni, and Signorina Elettra each assemble pieces of a puzzle-random information about real estate and land use, books, university friendships-that appear to have little in common. Until Brunetti stumbles over something that transports him back to his own student days, causing him to reflect on lost ideals and the errors of youth, on Italian politics and history, and on the accidents that sometimes lead to revelation.PRAISE FOR DONNA LEON'A splendid series . . . with a backdrop of the city so vivid you can almost smell it' Sunday Telegraph'One of the most exquisite and subtle detective series ever' Washington Post'Rich entertainment' Sunday TimesTrade ReviewDonna Leon provides another delectable slice of the thoughtful policeman's life at work and at home... So Shall You Reap is as witty and wise as anything Leon has written. To read her is to restore the soul -- Mark Sanderson * The Times *Like all of Leon's novels, it ultimately feels like a glorious invigorating holiday * Daily Express *[Leon's] success lies in the kindness and the decency of her main character as well as in the backdrop of Venice, the city that all of her books are set in, and the way she combs through its street and canals for stories of corruption and power and greed and hubris, always allowing Brunetti to sink back into the loving embrace of his family and food * Off Air with Jane & Fi *Much more than a whodunnit -- Christina Hardyment * The Times *Donna Leon's novels appear as regularly as the season and - it really is true - they get better and better. * The Tablet *

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Book SynopsisWith the Great War raging, can they keep Britain going?1915. On Beth Healey's eighteenth birthday, she hopes that she will be able to forget the ghastly war and celebrate. But that evening, her twin brother Ned announces that he has signed up to fight. No longer able to stand working in her parents' village shop while others are doing their bit, Beth applies to join the Army Post Office's new Home Depot on the Regent's Park, and is astounded to be accepted. She will be responsible for making sure that letters and parcels get through to the troops on the front line. Beth is thrilled to be a crucial part of the war effort and soon makes friends with fellow post girls Milly and Nora, and meets the handsome James. But just as she begins to feel that her life has finally begun, everything starts falling apart, with devastating consequences for Beth and perhaps even the outcome of the war itself. Can Beth and her new friends keep it all together and find happiness at last?The Post Office Girls is perfect for fans of Johanna Bell, Daisy Styles and Nancy Revell.READERS LOVE THE POST OFFICE GIRLS!'A superb debut novel' - 5 STARS'Entertaining, enlightening and thoroughly enjoyable' - 5 STARS'I absolutely loved this book and I am already eagerly awaiting book two in the series' - 5 STARS'The book gave a wonderful in sight into postal-service life during the war. Well done, Poppy' - 5 STARS'An excellent WW1 book' - 5 STARSTrade ReviewI loved The Post Office Girls! It really captured what it was like for women at home during the war. And the ending had me on the edge of my seat! * Johanna Bell *A wonderful coming-of-age story, full of humour against such an emotional backdrop * Jessica Ryn *Brimming over with period detail, this coming-of-age story has an endearing heroine and an absorbing plot. A sparkling debut saga * Maisie Thomas *

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Book SynopsisCurl up with the perfect festive saga read! Can they deliver hope and friendship this Christmas? 1915. After the recent dramatic events at the Home Depot, Milly Woods is looking forward to spending as much time as possible with her Post Office girls, Nora and Beth - known as Liza to her friends. With Christmas fast approaching, their job of getting millions of letters and parcels to the troops on the front line is more important than ever.But when Milly is moved to a different department, she and the girls struggle to find time to spend together. Feeling more and more lonely, Milly finds company and common ground at her local suffragette group - as well as catching the eye of a wounded ex-soldier at the Home Depot.But soon, Milly discovers that her new friends might not be what they seem. As she is drawn into a deadly plan that could affect the outcome of the war, can her Post Office girls help her get back on track, and scupper the plan in time for Christmas?READERS LOVE THE POST OFFICE GIRLS!'A superb debut novel' - 5 STARS'Entertaining, enlightening and thoroughly enjoyable' - 5 STARS'I absolutely loved this book and I am already eagerly awaiting book two in the series' - 5 STARS'The book gave a wonderful in sight into postal-service life during the war. Well done, Poppy' - 5 STARS'An excellent WW1 book' - 5 STARS

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Book Synopsis'Secrets and lies, poverty and elegance, old loyalties and new friendships all combine to make Eleni Kyriacou's debut novel a compelling page-turner' - Fiona Valpy, bestselling author of The Dressmaker's GiftOne of Woman & Home's Best Historical Fiction Reads of 2020In a city of strangers, who can you trust?London, 1952. Dina Demetriou has travelled from Cyprus for a better life. She's certain that excitement, adventure and opportunity are out there, waiting - if only she knew where to look.Her passion for clothes and flair for sewing land her a job repairing the glittering costumes at the notorious Pelican Revue. It's here that she befriends the mysterious and beautiful Bebba.With her bleached-blonde hair and an appetite for mischief, Bebba is like no Greek Dina has ever met before. She guides Dina around the fashionable shops, bars and clubs of Soho, and Dina finally feels life has begun.But Bebba has a secret. And as thick smog brings the city to a standstill, the truth emerges with devastating results. Dina's new life now hangs by a thread. What will be left when the fog finally clears? And will Dina be willing to risk everything to protect her future?A story of friendship, family, love and loss set against the grimy and glittering streets of fifties Soho. For fans of Kate Furnivall and Rachel Rhys.Further praise for SHE CAME TO STAY:'An atmospheric page-turner perfectly set in the smoke and glitter of a vanished world . . . gripping' - Erin Kelly, bestselling author of He Said/She Said'Compelling and beautifully observed. Kyriacou brilliantly evokes the violence and the grime beneath the sequins and surface glamour of 1950s Soho' - Rachel Rhys, bestselling author of Dangerous Crossing 'I absolutely loved it. A gripping, enthralling story . . . I was completely engrossed' - Laura Marshall, bestselling author of Friend Request 'An absorbing story of friendship, betrayal and resilience' - Sarah Maine, bestselling author of Beyond the Wild River 'A gripping, evocative story . . . well researched and utterly convincing. A real gem of a book' - Gill Paul, bestselling author of The Lost Daughter'An evocative page-turner full of memorable characters. A wonderful debut' - Jenny Quintana, author of The Missing GirlReaders are loving SHE CAME TO STAY, too!'I can highly recommend this book. You will be hooked from start to finish.' 5 STARS'A cracking storyline packed with secrets, as well as unexpected twists and turns make this, cliche or no, a proper page-turner.' 5 STARS'A brilliant read.' 5 STARS'The plot moves quickly and is gripping. I didn't want to put the book down but then was sorry to leave the characters and their London haunts behind when I got to the end.' 5 STARS'A really enjoyable read.' 5 STARSTrade ReviewShe Came To Stay is a gripping story about friendship, family and the meaning of home. An atmospheric page-turner perfectly set in the smoke and glitter of a vanished world. -- Erin KellySet in the dazzling world of 1950s Soho, She Came to Stay is an evocative page-turner full of memorable characters who stayed inside my head long after I had finished reading. Eleni Kyriacou has written a wonderful debut -- Jenny Quintana, author of The Missing GirlSecrets and lies, poverty and elegance, old loyalties and new friendships all combine to make Eleni Kyriacou's debut novel a compelling page-turner, following Dina as she struggles to escape her past in rural Cyprus and make a better life for herself in 1950s Soho. * Fiona Valpy, bestselling author of The Dressmaker's Gift *Compelling and beautifully observed. Kyriacou brilliantly evokes the violence and the grime beneath the sequins and surface glamour of 1950s Soho * Rachel Rhys, bestselling author of Dangerous Crossing *An absorbing story of friendship, betrayal and resilience amongst the immigrant community where the struggle for survival brings out the best - and the worst - in characters who choose conflicting, often dangerous, ways to get ahead in a post war London. * Sarah Maine, bestselling author of Beyond the Wild River *I absolutely loved it - a gripping, enthralling story with characters I loved (and hated!), and so atmospheric, I was completely engrossed in the world of 1950s SohoA gripping, evocative story of the dangers facing a young Cypriot girl in 1950s Soho. Even breathing the air is a risk as the great smog descends. The descriptions of the louche world of cafés and strip clubs are well researched and utterly convincing. It's a real gem of a book. * Gill Paul, bestselling author of The Lost Daughter *An intriguing tale that is supported by wonderful characterisation * Woman's Own *

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Book SynopsisSHE CAME TO STAY is the stunning debut novel from the author of THE UNSPEAKABLE ACTS OF ZINA PAVLOU, now a feature title on BBC2's Between the Covers, and also named one of Woman & Home's Best Historical Fiction Reads of 2020.'Secrets and lies, poverty and elegance, old loyalties and new friendships all combine to make Eleni Kyriacou's debut novel a compelling page-turner' - Fiona Valpy, bestselling author of The Dressmaker's GiftIn a city of strangers, who can you trust?London, 1952. Dina Demetriou has travelled from Cyprus for a better life. She's certain that excitement, adventure and opportunity are out there, waiting - if only she knew where to look.Her passion for clothes and flair for sewing land her a job repairing the glittering costumes at the notorious Pelican Revue. It's here that she befriends the mysterious and beautiful Bebba.With her bleached-blonde hair and an appetite for mischief, Bebba is like no Greek Dina has ever met before. She guides Dina around the fashionable shops, bars and clubs of Soho, and Dina finally feels life has begun.But Bebba has a secret. And as thick smog brings the city to a standstill, the truth emerges with devastating results. Dina's new life now hangs by a thread. What will be left when the fog finally clears? And will Dina be willing to risk everything to protect her future?Further praise for SHE CAME TO STAY:'An atmospheric page-turner perfectly set in the smoke and glitter of a vanished world . . . gripping' - Erin Kelly, bestselling author of He Said/She Said'Compelling and beautifully observed. Kyriacou brilliantly evokes the violence and the grime beneath the sequins and surface glamour of 1950s Soho' - Rachel Rhys, bestselling author of Dangerous Crossing 'I absolutely loved it. A gripping, enthralling story . . . I was completely engrossed' - Laura Marshall, bestselling author of Friend Request 'An absorbing story of friendship, betrayal and resilience' - Sarah Maine, bestselling author of Beyond the Wild River 'A gripping, evocative story . . . well researched and utterly convincing. A real gem of a book' - Gill Paul, bestselling author of The Lost Daughter'An evocative page-turner full of memorable characters. A wonderful debut' - Jenny Quintana, author of The Missing GirlReaders are loving SHE CAME TO STAY!'I can highly recommend this book. You will be hooked from start to finish.' 5 STARS'A cracking storyline packed with secrets, as well as unexpected twists and turns make this, cliche or no, a proper page-turner.' 5 STARS'A brilliant read.' 5 STARS'The plot moves quickly and is gripping. I didn't want to put the book down but then was sorry to leave the characters and their London haunts behind when I got to the end.' 5 STARS'A really enjoyable read.' 5 STARSTrade ReviewShe Came To Stay is a gripping story about friendship, family and the meaning of home. An atmospheric page-turner perfectly set in the smoke and glitter of a vanished world. -- Erin KellySet in the dazzling world of 1950s Soho, She Came to Stay is an evocative page-turner full of memorable characters who stayed inside my head long after I had finished reading. Eleni Kyriacou has written a wonderful debut -- Jenny Quintana, author of The Missing GirlSecrets and lies, poverty and elegance, old loyalties and new friendships all combine to make Eleni Kyriacou's debut novel a compelling page-turner, following Dina as she struggles to escape her past in rural Cyprus and make a better life for herself in 1950s Soho. * Fiona Valpy, bestselling author of The Dressmaker's Gift *Compelling and beautifully observed. Kyriacou brilliantly evokes the violence and the grime beneath the sequins and surface glamour of 1950s Soho * Rachel Rhys, bestselling author of Dangerous Crossing *An absorbing story of friendship, betrayal and resilience amongst the immigrant community where the struggle for survival brings out the best - and the worst - in characters who choose conflicting, often dangerous, ways to get ahead in a post war London. * Sarah Maine, bestselling author of Beyond the Wild River *I absolutely loved it - a gripping, enthralling story with characters I loved (and hated!), and so atmospheric, I was completely engrossed in the world of 1950s SohoA gripping, evocative story of the dangers facing a young Cypriot girl in 1950s Soho. Even breathing the air is a risk as the great smog descends. The descriptions of the louche world of cafés and strip clubs are well researched and utterly convincing. It's a real gem of a book. * Gill Paul, bestselling author of The Lost Daughter *An intriguing tale that is supported by wonderful characterisation * Woman's Own *

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Book Synopsis'An intense, superbly crafted, edge of your seat thrill ride' Sylvain Neuvel, author of SLEEPING GIANTS If you could be ANYONE, who would you be? When a brilliant female scientist searching for an Alzheimer's cure throws a switch - and finds herself mysteriously transported into her husband's body, she will change her life - and the world - forever.Two decades later, 'flash' technology allows individuals the ability to transfer their consciousness into other bodies for specified periods, paid, registered and legal. Society has been utterly transformed by the process, from travel to warfare to entertainment. But beyond the reach of the law is a sordid black market called the darkshare, where desperate vessels anonymously rent out their bodies, no questions asked . . . for any purpose. Anami has her own reasons for using it, and they start with revenge.Like BLADE RUNNER crossed with GET OUT, Charles Soule's thought-provoking work of speculative fiction takes us to a world where identity, morality, and technology collide.Trade ReviewFast-paced and suspenseful. Soule's uncomfortable vision of the future will please readers of cutting-edge speculative fiction * Publishers Weekly *An intense, superbly crafted, edge of your seat thrill ride. I loved the two slowly converging storylines, not to mention the most dedicated, hardcore character I've read in a long, long time * Sylvain Neuvel, author of Sleeping Giants *A sharp, prescient investigation of the human mind inside a breakneck thriller that will have you riveted until the very last twist * Peng Shepherd, author of The Book of M *An imaginative, time-fragmented thriller about the bitter and potentially deadly consequences of body-snatching * Kirkus Reviews *A remarkable, consequential novel and a terrifying wake-up call * Susan Henderson, author of The Flicker of Old Dreams *Explosive * Booklist *A wonderfully mysterious thriller that proves Soule is as much a master of prose as he is of comic book script * Chuck Wendig, NYT bestselling author of Wanderers *This volatile and unpredictable novel will entertain and keep you guessing until the very end * New York Journal of Books *The Oracle Year has all of the elements of a straight-ahead Action thriller, while exploring faith, politics, and personal responsibility with heart and a sly, satirical wit straight out of the funny pages * B&N Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog *

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Book SynopsisPreviously published at The OctopusWe believed he had died from an overdose. There was no reason to suspect otherwise . . .When Elspeth is invited to her ex-husband Richard's fiftieth birthday party, she's expecting a star-studded event for the famous British film director, full of A-listers and hangers-on. But she arrives to find just seven other carefully selected guests in attendance.A surreal evening ensues, orchestrated by the charming yet manipulative host, culminating in what will surely become a night to remember . . .Because by morning, Richard will be dead, and every guest a suspect.Praise for The Ninth Guest:'Very intriguing' Heat, Book of the Week'Tess Little is a modern Agatha Christie, setting up her nine suspects, locking them in a sprawling Los Angeles mansion, and knocking them down one by one' Tanen Jones, author of The Better Liar'A unique locked-room mystery . . . Perfect for fans of Lucy Foley' Wendy Walker, bestselling author of Don't Look for MeTrade ReviewDark, compelling Hollywood intrigue and a diverse cast of well-drawn characters make The Ninth Guest a unique locked-room mystery that readers will simply devour! It's perfect for fans of Lucy Foley -- Wendy Walker, bestselling author of DON'T LOOK FOR METess Little is a modern Agatha Christie, setting up her nine suspects, locking them in a sprawling Los Angeles mansion, and knocking them down one by one over the course of a decadent, stomach-turning dinner party. The Ninth Guest kept me guessing until the very last -- Tanen Jones, author of THE BETTER LIARWith a knowing satirical eye, Tess Little skillfully weaves a page-turner full of satisfying twists and turns -- Kyle McCarthy, author of EVERYONE KNOWS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOUWith skewering intensity and taut, unsettling prose, Tess Little plunges us into the kaleidoscopic glamour of Hollywood, where the eccentric birthday party of a brilliant, sadistic director forces the eruption of long-buried pain. Timely, smart and satisfying -- Paula McLain, bestselling author of THE PARIS WIFEElspeth's emotional journey both grips and gratifies. Little is a writer to watch * Publisher's Weekly *A novel you will easily devour in just a few sittings, it's unexpected and immensely gripping, leaving you with lots to consider. * Selcouth *

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Book Synopsis*THE INSTANT NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER IN CANADA*'A fascinating and compelling story peopled with strong, brave women who had me cheering them on and moved to tears' Tracy Rees, bestselling author of The Rose Garden'Just tell them you're looking for Jane...'2017 When Angela discovers a mysterious letter containing a life-shattering confession in a stack of forgotten letters, she begins to look for the intended recipient. Her search takes her to the 1970s and 80s, when a group of daring women operated an illegal underground abortion network known only by its whispered code name: Jane . . .1971As a teenager, Dr. Evelyn Taylor was forced to give her baby up for adoption. Swearing she'll do everything she can to make sure other women have the right to choose, she joins the Jane Network to provide safe but illegal abortions. There, she crosses paths with Nancy, who was told that if she ever found herself 'in a position', she should ask for Jane. Nancy soon becomes the Network's newest volunteer, desperately trying to help others while family secrets threaten everything she knows to be true.Over the years, Evelyn, Nancy, and Angela's lives intertwine to reveal the devastating consequences that come from a lack of choice, and the buried secrets that will always find a way to the surface . . . Spanning decades, Evelyn, Nancy, and Angela's lives intertwine to reveal the devastating consequences that come from a lack of choice, and the buried truths that will always find a way to the surface...'A compelling, courageous must-read about motherhood and choice' Genevieve Graham, bestselling author of The Forgotten Home Child'A beautifully written meditation on the lengths mothers will go to for their children as well as an eye-opening history of women' Janet Skeslien Charles, bestselling author of The Paris LibraryTrade ReviewA fascinating and compelling story peopled with strong, brave women who had me cheering them on and moved to tears -- Tracy Rees, author of The Rose GardenLooking for Jane is a beautifully written meditation on the lengths mothers will go to for their children as well as an eye-opening history of women. It is an ode to the doctors, nurses, and volunteers who fought for the rights of future generations to have a say over their bodies. This gracefully entwined story of three generations of women, societal mores, and mothers and daughters stole my heart -- Janet Skeslien Charles, bestselling author of The Paris LibraryHeather Marshall shines a spotlight on the unsettling truths and heartbreaking realities faced by women of every generation. Looking for Jane is a compelling, courageous must-read about motherhood and choice -- Genevieve Graham, bestselling author of The Forgotten Home ChildAn original and poignant story that holds a mirror to the ongoing fight for women's rights. In reflecting on a dark spot in Canadian history, Heather Marshall speaks to the power of solidarity and of brave women who dare to take a stand -- Ellen Keith, bestselling author of The Dutch Wife

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Book Synopsis*THE INSTANT NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER IN CANADA*'A fascinating and compelling story peopled with strong, brave women who had me cheering them on and moved to tears' Tracy Rees, bestselling author of The Rose Garden'Just tell them you're looking for Jane...'2017 When Angela discovers a mysterious letter containing a life-shattering confession in a stack of forgotten letters, she begins to look for the intended recipient. Her search takes her to the 1970s and 80s, when a group of daring women operated an illegal underground abortion network known only by its whispered code name: Jane . . .1971As a teenager, Dr. Evelyn Taylor was forced to give her baby up for adoption. Swearing she'll do everything she can to make sure other women have the right to choose, she joins the Jane Network to provide safe but illegal abortions. There, she crosses paths with Nancy, who was told that if she ever found herself 'in a position', she should ask for Jane. Nancy soon becomes the Network's newest volunteer, desperately trying to help others while family secrets threaten everything she knows to be true.Over the years, Evelyn, Nancy, and Angela's lives intertwine to reveal the devastating consequences that come from a lack of choice, and the buried secrets that will always find a way to the surface . . . Spanning decades, Evelyn, Nancy, and Angela's lives intertwine to reveal the devastating consequences that come from a lack of choice, and the buried truths that will always find a way to the surface...'A compelling, courageous must-read about motherhood and choice' Genevieve Graham, bestselling author of The Forgotten Home Child'A beautifully written meditation on the lengths mothers will go to for their children as well as an eye-opening history of women' Janet Skeslien Charles, bestselling author of The Paris LibraryTrade ReviewA fascinating and compelling story peopled with strong, brave women who had me cheering them on and moved to tears -- Tracy Rees, author of The Rose GardenLooking for Jane is a beautifully written meditation on the lengths mothers will go to for their children as well as an eye-opening history of women. It is an ode to the doctors, nurses, and volunteers who fought for the rights of future generations to have a say over their bodies. This gracefully entwined story of three generations of women, societal mores, and mothers and daughters stole my heart -- Janet Skeslien Charles, bestselling author of The Paris LibraryHeather Marshall shines a spotlight on the unsettling truths and heartbreaking realities faced by women of every generation. Looking for Jane is a compelling, courageous must-read about motherhood and choice -- Genevieve Graham, bestselling author of The Forgotten Home ChildAn original and poignant story that holds a mirror to the ongoing fight for women's rights. In reflecting on a dark spot in Canadian history, Heather Marshall speaks to the power of solidarity and of brave women who dare to take a stand -- Ellen Keith, bestselling author of The Dutch Wife

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE; THE ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN AWARD FOR YOUTH LITERATURE; THE STONEWALL BOOK AWARD (YA); THE PRINTZ HONOR_____________________________________________________________________________________________'A gripping novel where historical fiction meets romance, Last Night at the Telegraph is a whirlwind read... Immersive and creative.' - Gay Times'Lo's writing . . . shimmers with the thrills of youthful desire. A lovely, memorable novel' - Sarah Waters, author of Tipping the Velvet and The Night Watch.'An instant classic, the finest LGBTQIA+ romance I've read in ages.' - Bill Konigsberg, award-winning author of The Music of What Happens and The BridgeFrom the award winning author of Ash comes a gripping story of love and duty set in San Francisco's Chinatown during the 1950s.Seventeen-year-old Lily Hu can't remember exactly when the question took root, but the answer was in full bloom the moment she and Kathleen Miller walked under the flashing neon sign of a lesbian bar called the Telegraph Club.America in 1954 is not a safe place for two girls to fall in love, especially not in Chinatown. Red-Scare paranoia threatens everyone, including Chinese Americans like Lily. With deportation looming over her father - despite his hard-won citizenship - Lily and Kath risk everything to let their love see the light of day.Trade ReviewLo's writing, restrained yet luscious, shimmers with the thrills of youthful desire. A lovely, memorable novel about listening to the whispers of a wayward heart and claiming a place in the world * Sarah Waters *Exquisite and heart-shattering, Last Night at the Telegraph Club made me ache with wishing. This book is for anyone who has ever loved-in any sense of the word * Emily X.R. Pan *Oh, what a wonderful novel this is! For all who ever dared to want more, much more, from life - a beautifully sensitive love story, with telling historic detail * Susan Elia MacNeal *Malinda Lo's Last Night at the Telegraph Club is an instant classic, the finest LGBTQIA+ romance I've read in ages. Lo has lovingly re-created 1950s San Francisco and made me feel as though I'd lived there, and her depiction of first love felt so real that I experienced it in long-since-forgotten corners of my own heart * Bill Konigsberg *A beautifully observed story about finding love and fighting for one's identity against tremendous odds. In bringing a fascinating chapter of history to vivid life, this novel illuminates a path to the future through a careful understanding of our past. It's vivid, emotional, and hopeful. I loved it * Abdi Nazemian *Beautifully written historical fiction about giddy, queer first love. * Kirkus *deftly realised tale . . . a perfect romance and drama for the summer * the National *

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Book Synopsis'If you're looking for your next Handmaid's Tale-esque fix, this is it' Belfast TelegraphThe highly acclaimed debut novel about the power of women, for fans of Margaret Atwood and Naomi Alderman.They say wickedness lies in the sea.To touch the water - to even look at it - will stir up the sin that naturally lives in the heart of each woman. The only path to salvation is obedience, marriage and motherhood. Those women on the isle of Eden who fail in their duty will be cast back into the dark water, without mercy.But the sea calls to Esta. It always has.When danger forces Esta beyond the shallows, she uncovers a different world. One of freedom and power. It sets her on a course to uncover a secret sunk beneath the waves and the truth that will tear Eden apart.The Seawomen is a fiercely written and timely feminist novel, at once gothic, fantastical and truly unforgettable, for fans of Margaret Atwood and Kiran Millwood Hargrave.'A gripping tale of love and bravery' SOPHIE WARD, author or The Schoolhouse'Unsettling and lushly written' KIRSTY LOGAN, author of Now She is Witch'A powerful, enchanting novel' ANNA BAILEY, author of Tall Bones'Mesmerising and moving' SUSANNAH WISE, author of The Fragile EarthTrade ReviewBeautifully written ... a great concept, brilliantly executed, and it is essential reading for dystopian fiction fans -- Sunday Business PostIf you're looking for your next Handmaid's Tale-esque fix, this is it -- Belfast TelegraphTimms unmasks organised religion as a gleaming façade for misogynistic cults, and explores how easily whispered rumours can spiral into mass hysteria. Bonus points for her shockingly nasty villain, Father Jessop * SFX *An unsettling and lushly-written reimagining of witch trials, exploring fertility, control and how what we believe can save us - or destroy us. The Handmaid's Tale meets The Shape of Water -- Kirsty LoganA gripping tale of love and bravery; The Seawomen immerses you in its watery world. -- Sophie WardThis book sucked me under and held me in its gorgeous, terrifying embrace. It's a rare treat to read a story so gripping told in such beautiful prose. Dive in and don't look back. -- Zoe GilbertRichly atmospheric, powerful and provocative. A raw and beautiful coming of age story. -- Caroline LeaI read this beautiful novel in a fever dream, its sweeping prose carrying me away like a boat out at sea. Chloe Timms has written an extraordinary tale of one woman's desire for freedom, for love. Mesmerising and moving, I couldn't put it down. -- Susannah WiseA powerful, enchanting novel, with prose so vivid you can taste the salt in the air on your tongue -- Anna BaileyTimms' writing is at once lyrical and measured, bold and tender. The lens she offers us to look through is an unusual and passionate love story, which renders The Seawomen as gripping as it is haunting. -- The Swansea BayA beautiful and profoundly satisfying novel. I was enthralled from the opening scenes and didn't want it to end. I loved this book. Vivid, magical, entrancing. -- Cathy RentzenbrinkAn unsettling and lushly-written reimagining of witch trials, exploring fertility, control and how what we believe can save us - or destroy us. The Handmaid's Tale meets The Shape of Water. * Kirsty Logan, author of The Gloaming *A gripping tale of love and bravery; The Seawomen immerses you in its watery world. -- Sophie Ward, author of Booker longlisted Love and Thought ExperimentsThis book sucked me under and held me in its gorgeous, terrifying embrace. It's a rare treat to read a story so gripping told in such beautiful prose. Dive in and don't look back. -- Zoe Gilbert, author of FolkA tale as slippery as a fish... I was never quite sure of what things were. Feminist allegory, modern folklore, or romance? Maybe The Seawomen is all of those things, and more. In any case, I was hooked.Richly atmospheric, powerful and provocative. A raw and beautiful coming of age story. * Caroline Lea, author of The Glass Woman *Fiercely feminist and utterly unique. Timms is a bold new talent. This is a story about oppression, the bonds that tie us - and the lies that break us. Suspenseful and intensely engaging, from Timms' lyrical writing to the genre-bending, unpredictable plot, you won't be able to put this one down. * Natasha Ngan, bestselling author of the Girls of Paper and Fire series *Hold your breath and hang on to hope. Perfect for fans of The Gloaming by Kirsty Logan and The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave, The Seawomen is a captivating and sometimes terrifying debut that will sweep you out to sea. * Jen Campbell, author of The Beginning of the World in the Middle of the Night *I read this beautiful novel in a fever dream, its sweeping prose carrying me away like a boat out at sea. Chloe Timms has written an extraordinary tale of one woman's desire for freedom, for love. Mesmerising and moving, I couldn't put it down. I have no doubt it will feature on everyone's lists * Susannah Wise, author of This Fragile Earth *Beautifully written, unsettling as a storm over the ocean, Timms' novel reads like the darkest fable, pulling you in like the tide. * Louise Morrish, author of Operation Moonlight *An astonishing literary achievement, The Seawomen punches you in the gut, pulls you under the water and keeps you gasping for air until the very end. This is not just a story about love and survival but also about women's empowerment and the idea that no one's life is worth more than another. Chloe Timms is an extraordinary new talent. * Laura Price, author of Single Bald Female *An allegorical love story with echoes of fairytales and told with a visceral brutality. At its heart it is about whether to believe what we are told over what we feel to be true * Kate Sawyer, author of Costa shortlisted The Stranding *It isn't often that a novel grips me, unsettles me and totally blows me away with its unpredictability, but Timms manages it. A provocative, imaginative and beautifully written work of art * Becca Day, author of The Girl Beyond the Gate *The Seawomen is an evocative, atmospheric read. I was drawn into the insular community of Eden's Isle, heavy with secrets and lies. The final chapters in particular were incredibly compelling - I didn't come up for air until I'd finished the whole thing -- Louise Carey, author of InscapeSuch a compelling read, filled with myth & desire & the sea -- Katie Hale, author of My Name is MonsterThe Seawomen is simply astonishing - a salt-smattered, genre-bending masterpiece written in the most exquisite, evocative prose. This is perfect for fans of Midsommar, The Handmaid's Tale and The Shape of Water. Dizzyingly, intoxicatingly beautiful -- Lizzie Pook, author of Moonlight and the Pearler's DaughterThe Seawomen literally took my breath away. Masterfully crafted and exquisite writing. This novel is what I call a masterpiece -- Lizzie Damilola Blackburn, author of Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband?A powerful, enchanting novel, with prose so vivid you can taste the salt in the air on your tongue -- Anna Bailey, author of Tall BonesChloe Timms is creating quite a stir in the literary world with her debut novel The Seawomen ... a hugely atmospheric book of power and control with the brilliant character of Esta at its centre. For fans of The Handmaid's Tale and The Power. * The Style Life *With splashes of The Handmaid's Tale and the isolated, quasi-religious communities in the films Midsommar and The Village, this is a book you can truly submerge yourself in; so take a deep breath and dive beneath the waves' * Cambridge Edition *Timms unmasks organised religion as a gleaming façade for misogynistic cults, and explores how easily whispered rumours can spiral into mass hysteria. Bonus points for her shockingly nasty villain, Father Jessop * SFX *If you're looking for your next Handmaid's Tale-esque fix, this is it * Belfast Telegraph *Beautifully written ... a great concept, brilliantly executed, and it is essential reading for dystopian fiction fans * Sunday Business Post *I adored this novel. I was completely hooked by Esta, Cal and the island. Transported by Chloe's incredible ability to write landscape and the body so powerfully. The prose is beautiful, each delicious sentence captures the reader and the story builds with sublime pacing and a taut plot that keeps you turning the page. If you like Sophie Mackintosh or Megan Hunter get this book. It's like Breaking the Waves meets The Essex Serpent. Chloe Timms is such a singular talent and I'll be reading everything she writes -- Olivia Fitzsimons author of The Quiet Whispers Never Stop

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Book SynopsisThey say wickedness lies in the sea.To touch the water - to even look at it - will stir up the sin that naturally lives in the heart of each woman. The only path to salvation is obedience, marriage and motherhood. Those women on the isle of Eden who fail in their duty will be cast back into the dark water, without mercy.But the sea calls to Esta. It always has.When danger forces Esta beyond the shallows, she uncovers a different world. One of freedom and power. It sets her on a course to uncover a secret sunk beneath the waves and the truth that will tear Eden apart.The Seawomen is a fiercely written and timely feminist novel, at once gothic, fantastical and truly unforgettable, for fans of Margaret Atwood and Kiran Millwood Hargrave.'A gripping tale of love and bravery' SOPHIE WARD, author or The Schoolhouse'Unsettling and lushly written' KIRSTY LOGAN, author of Now She is Witch'A powerful, enchanting novel' ANNA BAILEY, author of Tall Bones'Mesmerising and moving' SUSANNAH WISE, author of The Fragile EarthTrade ReviewBeautifully written ... a great concept, brilliantly executed, and it is essential reading for dystopian fiction fans -- Sunday Business PostIf you're looking for your next Handmaid's Tale-esque fix, this is it -- Belfast TelegraphTimms unmasks organised religion as a gleaming façade for misogynistic cults, and explores how easily whispered rumours can spiral into mass hysteria. Bonus points for her shockingly nasty villain, Father Jessop * SFX *An unsettling and lushly-written reimagining of witch trials, exploring fertility, control and how what we believe can save us - or destroy us. The Handmaid's Tale meets The Shape of Water -- Kirsty LoganA gripping tale of love and bravery; The Seawomen immerses you in its watery world. -- Sophie WardThis book sucked me under and held me in its gorgeous, terrifying embrace. It's a rare treat to read a story so gripping told in such beautiful prose. Dive in and don't look back. -- Zoe GilbertRichly atmospheric, powerful and provocative. A raw and beautiful coming of age story. -- Caroline LeaI read this beautiful novel in a fever dream, its sweeping prose carrying me away like a boat out at sea. Chloe Timms has written an extraordinary tale of one woman's desire for freedom, for love. Mesmerising and moving, I couldn't put it down. -- Susannah WiseA powerful, enchanting novel, with prose so vivid you can taste the salt in the air on your tongue -- Anna BaileyTimms' writing is at once lyrical and measured, bold and tender. The lens she offers us to look through is an unusual and passionate love story, which renders The Seawomen as gripping as it is haunting. -- The Swansea Bay

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Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times bestsellerA stunning science fiction debut, The Space Between Worlds is both a cross-dimensional adventure and a powerful examination of identity, privilege, and belonging.'My mother used to say I was born reaching, which is true. She also used to say it would get me killed, which it hasn't. Not yet, anyway.'Born in the dirt of the wasteland, Cara has fought her entire life just to survive. Now she has done the impossible, and landed herself a comfortable life on the lower levels of the wealthy and walled-off Wiley City. So long as she can keep her head down and avoid trouble, she's on a sure path to citizenship and security - on this world, at least.Of the 380 realities that have been unlocked, Cara is dead in all but 8.Cara's parallel selves are exceptionally good at dying - from disease, turf wars, or vendettas they couldn't outrun - which makes Cara wary, and valuable. Because while multiverse travel is possible, no one can visit a world in which their counterpart is still alive. And no one has fewer counterparts than Cara.But then one of her eight doppelgängers dies under mysterious circumstances, and Cara is plunged into a new world with an old secret. What she discovers will connect her past and future in ways she never could have imagined - and reveal her own role in a plot that endangers not just her earth, but the entire multiverse.Trade ReviewJohnson's debut is a rare bird in any reality: a novel that is twisting, suspenseful, and profound * Max Gladstone, co-author of the Hugo and Nebula-winning THIS IS HOW YOU LOSE THE TIME WAR *Profoundly satisfying . . . [it] remained two steps ahead of my imagination, rattling it out of complacency and flooding it with color and heat * The New York Times Book Review, Editors' Choice *A gritty, riveting, and ultimately hopeful novel about the people, choices, and relationships who make us who we are - in this world, and in those we can only imagine * Kameron Hurley, Hugo and Locus award-winning author of The Light Brigade *A strong new voice in science fiction * Sunday Times Culture *Fascinating, complicated, compelling . . . this is a jewel of a novel, all the more impressive for being Johnson's debut * Locus *Clever characters, surprise twists, plenty of action, and a plot that highlights social and racial inequities in astute prose * Library Journal Starred Review *Johnson bursts onto the scene with this thought-provoking, high-concept sci-fi debut that impresses with exceptional worldbuilding and a distinctive protagonist * Publishers Weekly *Johnson excels at contrasting lives of privilege and poverty, and at drip-feeding information that gradually reveals Cara's complex character * Guardian *A dark, provocative read that's both challenging and satisfying * SFX *Micaiah Johnson's debut is a punk album, presenting a world where even our possibilities are colonized. I loved every twisting minute of it * Alex White, author of A Big Ship at the Edge of the Universe *A riveting story filled with adventures and emotions * The Nerd Daily *Gorgeous writing, mind-bending worldbuilding, razor-sharp social commentary, and a main character that demands your attention - and your allegiance * Rob Hart, author of The Warehouse *An imaginative tale of multiverses and doppelgangers * Choice Magazine *A witty, deep and savvy tale . . . Fresh and interesting * New Scientist *Sliding Doors meets Mad Max . . . a fast-paced, compelling read * SciFiNow *Micaiah Johnson's debut is a punk album, presenting a world where even our possibilities are colonized. I loved every twisting minute of it * Alex White, author of A Big Ship at the Edge of the Universe *Johnson's world-hopping debut uses science fictional tools and an exciting plot to address urgent questions of privilege and position. . . . A compelling stand-alone debut that will leave readers thrilled, thoughtful, and anticipating the author's next book * Kirkus Reviews *50 Best Sci-fi and Fantasy Books of the Past Decade * NPR *At a time when I was really struggling with the cognitive demands of reading anything for work or pleasure, this book flooded me with oxygen and lit me on fire. I can't say for certain that it enabled me to read again, but in its wake, I could * Amal El-Mohtar, award-winning author of This Is How You Lose the Time War *A dark, provocative read... The social commentary is hard-hitting, delivered with plenty of gripping, well-crafted storytelling * SFX *Johnson, while never neglecting the necessity for story, has taken the opportunity to treat with profound questions if you read closely * ParSec Magazine *

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Book SynopsisAN OF-THE-MOMENT NOVEL FOR READERS OF FLEISHMAN IS IN TROUBLE'Timely, risky and dazzling' Polly Clark, author of Tiger'Sharply funny, perceptive, and surprising at every turn, The Smash-Up is a story that's acid-etched and full of heart, intimate, and relevant' Amy Bloom, New York Times bestselling author of White Houses and Away'Every woman should read this book. Every woman, every feminist, every activist' Jane Harris, author of Orange Prize shortlisted The ObservationsAfter years spent in the city, working with his business partner Randy on Bränd media, Ethan finds himself in the quiet, closed-off town of Starkfield. His wife Zenobia is perpetually distracted by the swirling #MeToo politics, the Kavanaugh hearings, and her duties to the feminist activism group she formed: All Them Witches. Ethan finds himself caught between their regular meetings at his home and the battle to get his livewire daughter Alex to sleep.But the new, stilted rhythm of his life is interrupted when he receives a panicked message. Accusations. Against Randy. A slew of them. And Ethan is abruptly forced to question everything: his past, his future, his marriage, and what he values most.Unrelenting in its satire, The Smash-up jolts you into the twisted psyche of successful brand advertising, where historic exploitation is only ever a panicked phone-call away. With magnetic energy and doses of comic wit, Benjamin creates a world of social media algorithms, extreme polarization, the collapsing of identity into tweet-sized spaces, and the spectre of violence that can be found even in the quietest places.Trade ReviewThe Smash-Up is an incandescent meteor of a novel, blazing through the preoccupations of our time with wit, originality and compassion. Timely, risky and dazzling. -- Polly Clark, author of TIGERSharply funny, perceptive, and surprising at every turn, The Smash-Up is a story that's acid-etched and full of heart, intimate, and relevant as it explores the impact on a family of the collapse of everything in this unsettled, unsettling world. Ali Benjamin is Edith Wharton with fresh eyes. -- Amy Bloom, New York Times bestselling author of White Houses and AwayA great page-turner, this book could only have been written now. It made me cry, it made me laugh, it made me think. Every woman should read this book. Every woman, every feminist, every activist. And then, together we should all go and Burn It All Down. -- Jane Harris, author of Orange Prize shortlisted THE OBSERVATIONSBenjamin's immediately engaging writing captures the complicated emotions and biting humour of these bruising times and their impact on relationships. * Booklist *Funny, compelling and utterly relatable, this is the novel for you. * Stylist *Benjamin is an absolutely brilliant satirist and deftly juxtaposes the battlegrounds of marriage, parenthood and middle-class aspiration with the fight for truth and justice in the bigger political picture. * Daily Mail *A fun, timely novel that's unexpectedly full of hope. * People's Pick *An exhilarating ride .... hilarious .... there are no heroes here; I got whiplash trying to figure out who I trusted and what I was rooting for, and the sensation was mesmerizing.... Benjamin is like an overly chatty but skilled magician .... a modern and energetic story about a marriage on the skids. * The New York Times *Smart, funny and topical, this is an astute story of a once-happy couple dealing with temptation, familiarity, fury and the very real chance that their relationship will be smashed to smithereens under the pressure. * Daily Mirror *Ambitious, startling, funny, furious, and wise, Ali Benjamin's debut novel offers the shock of recognition as it deftly tackles some of the biggest issues of our time. Taking inspiration from Ethan Frome, Edith Wharton's classic tale about a small-town love triangle, The Smash-Up explores a world Wharton couldn't have imagined in 1911. . . but it's ultimately a story that explores the same themes as her original: duty vs. passion; confinement vs. escape; the staggering tragedy of lost potential. * Grazia (Best Books of 2021) *Smart, funny and topical, this is an astute story of a once-happy couple dealing with temptation, familiarity and fury. * S Mag *

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Book SynopsisAN OF-THE-MOMENT NOVEL FOR READERS OF FLEISHMAN IS IN TROUBLE'Timely, risky and dazzling' Polly Clark, author of Tiger'Sharply funny, perceptive, and surprising at every turn, The Smash-Up is a story that's acid-etched and full of heart, intimate, and relevant' Amy Bloom, New York Times bestselling author of White Houses and Away'Every woman should read this book. Every woman, every feminist, every activist' Jane Harris, author of Orange Prize shortlisted The ObservationsAfter years spent in the city, working with his business partner Randy on Bränd media, Ethan finds himself in the quiet, closed-off town of Starkfield. His wife Zenobia is perpetually distracted by the swirling #MeToo politics, the Kavanaugh hearings, and her duties to the feminist activism group she formed: All Them Witches. Ethan finds himself caught between their regular meetings at his home and the battle to get his livewire daughter Alex to sleep.But the new, stilted rhythm of his life is interrupted when he receives a panicked message. Accusations. Against Randy. A slew of them. And Ethan is abruptly forced to question everything: his past, his future, his marriage, and what he values most.Unrelenting in its satire, The Smash-up jolts you into the twisted psyche of successful brand advertising, where historic exploitation is only ever a panicked phone-call away. With magnetic energy and doses of comic wit, Benjamin creates a world of social media algorithms, extreme polarization, the collapsing of identity into tweet-sized spaces, and the spectre of violence that can be found even in the quietest places.Trade ReviewThe Smash-Up is an incandescent meteor of a novel, blazing through the preoccupations of our time with wit, originality and compassion. Timely, risky and dazzling. -- Polly Clark, author of TIGERSharply funny, perceptive, and surprising at every turn, The Smash-Up is a story that's acid-etched and full of heart, intimate, and relevant as it explores the impact on a family of the collapse of everything in this unsettled, unsettling world. Ali Benjamin is Edith Wharton with fresh eyes. -- Amy Bloom, New York Times bestselling author of White Houses and AwayA great page-turner, this book could only have been written now. It made me cry, it made me laugh, it made me think. Every woman should read this book. Every woman, every feminist, every activist. And then, together we should all go and Burn It All Down. -- Jane Harris, author of Orange Prize shortlisted THE OBSERVATIONSBenjamin's immediately engaging writing captures the complicated emotions and biting humour of these bruising times and their impact on relationships. * Booklist *Funny, compelling and utterly relatable, this is the novel for you. * Stylist *Benjamin is an absolutely brilliant satirist and deftly juxtaposes the battlegrounds of marriage, parenthood and middle-class aspiration with the fight for truth and justice in the bigger political picture. * Daily Mail *A fun, timely novel that's unexpectedly full of hope. * People's Pick *An exhilarating ride .... hilarious .... there are no heroes here; I got whiplash trying to figure out who I trusted and what I was rooting for, and the sensation was mesmerizing.... Benjamin is like an overly chatty but skilled magician .... a modern and energetic story about a marriage on the skids. * The New York Times *Smart, funny and topical, this is an astute story of a once-happy couple dealing with temptation, familiarity, fury and the very real chance that their relationship will be smashed to smithereens under the pressure. * Daily Mirror *Ambitious, startling, funny, furious, and wise, Ali Benjamin's debut novel offers the shock of recognition as it deftly tackles some of the biggest issues of our time. Taking inspiration from Ethan Frome, Edith Wharton's classic tale about a small-town love triangle, The Smash-Up explores a world Wharton couldn't have imagined in 1911. . . but it's ultimately a story that explores the same themes as her original: duty vs. passion; confinement vs. escape; the staggering tragedy of lost potential. * Grazia (Best Books of 2021) *Smart, funny and topical, this is an astute story of a once-happy couple dealing with temptation, familiarity and fury. * S Mag *

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Book Synopsis'A master at using humour to underscore the horror of racism, William Melvin Kelley is a writer whose work, decades later, continues to shed light on that which millions of people would rather remain hidden'MATEO ASKARIPOUR, AUTHOR OF BLACK BUCKA searing, provocative satire by one of the most important African-American novelists of the twentieth century that lays bare the abiding racism and the legacy of slavery on the psyche of white America.Mitchell Pierce is a well-off New York ad executive whose marriage is falling apart. He no longer feels any passion for his pregnant wife, Tam, and even feels estranged from his toddler son, Jake. Mitchell is trapped in an unrewarding and loveless life, and though domestic violence isn't in his character, it is never very far away, either.Mitchell's life will irrevocably change one day, though, when a young man appears at his apartment door to pick up the family's black maid, Opal, for a date. Cooley it turns out is not a stranger to the household. The twins that Tam is carrying are a result of superfecundation--the fertilization of two separate ova by two different males. So when one child is born black and the other white, Mitchell goes on a quest to find Cooley and make him take his baby.In the tradition of Brer Rabbit trickster tales, dem enacts a modern-day fable of turning the tables on the white oppressor and inverting the history of miscegenation and subjugation of African Americans.

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Book SynopsisONE OF BARACK OBAMA'S FAVOURITE BOOKS OF 2021 LONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE 2022'A thrilling work' Ta-Nehisi Coates'Lovely and lyrical . . . warm and wonderful' Kiley ReidA queen of punk before her time. A duo on the brink of stardom. A night that will define their story for ever.Opal is a fiercely independent young woman pushing against the grain in her style and attitude, a Black punk artist before her time. Despite her unconventional looks, Opal believes she can be a star. So when the aspiring British singer/songwriter Neville Charles discovers her one night, she takes him up on his offer to make rock music together.In early seventies New York City, just as she's finding her niche as part of a flamboyant and funky creative scene, a rival band signed to her label brandishes a Confederate flag at a promotional concert. Opal's bold protest and the violence that ensues set off a chain of events that will not only change the lives of those she loves, but also be a deadly reminder that repercussions are always harsher for women, especially Black women, who dare to speak their truth.Decades later, as Opal considers a 2016 reunion with Nev, music journalist S. Sunny Shelton seizes the chance to curate an oral history about her idols. Sunny thought she knew most of the stories leading up to the cult duo's most politicized chapter, but as her interviews dig deeper, a nasty new allegation from an unexpected source threatens everything.Provocative and haunting, The Final Revival of Opal & Nev introduces a bold new name in contemporary fiction and a heroine the likes of which we've not seen in storytelling.'An absolutely brilliant book' SARA COLLINS'Musical and revolutionary' JASON REYNOLDS'A marvellous musical tale of friendship, betrayal, and the power that comes with self-reclamation' LAYLA SAAD'Fantastic . . . Magical' ZAKIYA DALILA HARRIS'A packed time capsule that doubles as a stick of dynamite' NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW'An absorbing tale bursting with colour' COSMOPOLITAN'One of the books of the year' STYLIST'An utterly fresh take on finding one's voice' O, THE OPRAH MAGAZINETrade ReviewLovely and lyrical; a warm and wonderful intersection between journalism and fiction. This is a novel you'll want to read out loud. It's made for readers and music lovers who find themselves wishing that Behind The Music was still on the air * Kiley Reid *Dawnie Walton's The Final Revival Of Opal & Nev is one of the most immersive novels I've ever read. This is largely because of Walton's skill at letting so many people talk in so many different ways. Voices are marshalled from across America, and then across the Atlantic, and blended seamlessly into a tale about black culture, black women, American capitalism. This is a thrilling work of polyphony -- a first novel, that reads like the work of an old hand * Ta-Nehisi Coates *Incredible. There was a moment while reading when the volume of the world went on mute, for me. An absolutely brilliant book * Sara Collins *Like the best fiction, it feels truer and more mesmerizing than some true stories. It's a packed time capsule that doubles as a stick of dynamite * New York Times Book Review *The Final Revival of Opal & Nev is as musical and revolutionary in tone and structure as it is in content. It delves into the complexities of the creative life, specifically as it pertains to Black women, and instead of shying away or egg-shelling, it does what every good book does: tells the truth. A truth that bangs. That shrieks. A siren song to shatter what we've known of the novel. Things won't ever be the same after this. And I'm so happy Dawnie Walton has arrived * Jason Reynolds, author of the New York Times bestseller LONG WAY DOWN *My heart races thrillingly every time I think about Opal & Nev! A marvelous musical tale of friendship, betrayal, and the power that comes with self-reclamation. This story will stay with me for many years to come * Layla Saad *Fantastic. I so desperately wanted Opal Jewel to have existed; I wanted to have experienced her music first-hand. What I love most of all about this book, though, is the way Walton quite literally inserts a strong, bold Black rock musician into a history that's often discouraged us from shining, or from even entering at all. Magical * Zakiya Dalila Harris, author of THE OTHER BLACK GIRL *A dazzling debut * Louise O'Neill *By turns playful and serious, and always wonderfully entertaining, The Final Revival of Opal & Nev is a fascinating account of a woman's search for her father and of the music business in the 1960s and early 70s. The immensely gifted Dawnie Walton creates a vivid chorus of voices as she tells the story of Opal's journey from a church in Detroit to the stage in New York where everything changes. This novel rocks. * Margot Livesey *What a fresh, spirited book. The Final Revival of Opal & Nev has such a lived quality and its every character is so sharply observed, it's hard to believe this is a work of fiction. Then again, one is utterly transported by it: no matter how far away the reader is from the world of 1970s' New York rock and roll, we are let in to this generous, fascinating saga. A huge achievement * Caoilinn Hughes *Walton's fabulous debut novel is an utterly fresh take on finding one's voice, on systemic racism and sexism, and on freedom of expression. That these heavy subjects don't weigh down this hugely entertaining novel are testament to Walton's deftness and skill * O, The Oprah Magazine *The quixotic Opal is a wonderfully flawed heroine and her frustration as a Black female singer denied a voice is particularly apposite. Fans of Daisy Jones & The Six will love it * Red *Walton pumps up the volume with a fresh angle on systemic racism and freedom of expression. This is a firecracker * Publishers Weekly *[An] absorbing tale bursting with colour . . . One for fans of Daisy Jones and The Six * Cosmopolitan *Presented as an oral history of a cult band on the verge of reappraisal, Walton's debut is also a smart, sharp take on white privilege and who owns whose voice * The i *[Layered] in both its organization and its impact, Dawnie Walton's novel tells the story of '70s musicians Opal and Nev and is alternatingly structured as an oral history and recurring editors' notes from a journalist assembling the twisty, politically inflected tale * Vogue US *Delicious and deep ... a rollicking tale of 1970s New York - but with a fascinating twist * Elle US *Daisy Jones & The Six fans will love this story * Good Housekeeping *Walton has created an entirely believable and powerful universe that looks at race, talent, envy and forgiveness and is filled with emotion. It's one of the books of the year * Stylist *[A] brilliant, crackling firework of a debut * Daily Mirror *The book bursts with clear-eyed takes on race, sex, and creativity that Walton unfurls in urgent, endlessly readable style * Entertainment Weekly *Walton has penned a true wonder of a debut novel . . . her writing is impeccable * Library Journal *Provocative, daring and a remarkable female heroine make this unforgettable * Image *With beautiful, honest writing and an otherworldly way of bringing her characters to life, it is safe to say that Dawnie Walton has created a masterpiece with The Final Revival of Opal & Nev * Reading Happy blog *Dawnie Walton's debut is a smash hit. At the heart of the story is Opal Jewel; an audaciously unapologetic Afro-punk heroine, who is so alive as a character that it feels as though Walton has rewritten music history * Irish News *In a combination of music, politics, race and feminism that transcends the line between fiction and reality, Walton makes a poignant statement about freedom of expression and finding your own path * Press Association *Poignant . . . a smash hit * Woman's Way *An engaging and fun read, a case of fiction being truer and more revealing than fact * International Times *Walton has delivered a thoughtful page-turner that locks into its groove early on, and offers a timely exploration of both feminist agency and America's seemingly insoluble problem with race * Big Issue *Rich in atmosphere * Independent *It's wonderful, powerful and so cinematic. I stayed up late into the night to finish it and enjoyed how each character was uniquely selfish and flawed. It's a brilliant book * i news *

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Book Synopsis"A mystery and an elegy for the death of old-fashioned journalism, it's a book that will warm your heart." The Observer "Splendid . . . Funny, poignant, perceptive and plenty of sharp elbows along the way." Val McDermid Thorn Marsh was raised in a house of whispers, of meaningful glances and half- finished sentences. Now she's a journalist with a passion for truth, more devoted to her work at the London Journal than she ever was to her ex-husband. When the newspaper is bought by media giant The Goring Group, who value sales figures over fact-checking, Thorn openly questions their methods, and promptly finds herself moved from the news desk to the midweek supplement, reporting heart-warming stories for their new segment, The Bright Side, a job to which she is spectacularly unsuited. On a final warning and with no heart-warming news in sight, a desperate Thorn fabricates a good-news story of her own. The story, centred on an angelic apparition on Hampstead Heath, goes viral. Caught between her principles and her ambitions, Thorn goes in search of the truth behind her creation, only to find the answers locked away in the unconscious mind of a stranger.Marika Cobbold returns with her eighth novel, On Hampstead Heath. Sharp, poignant, and infused with dark humour, On Hampstead Heath is an homage to storytelling and to truth; to the tales we tell ourselves, and the stories that save us.Trade ReviewOn Hampstead Heath is a deliciously romantic comedy of misunderstandings and misbehaviour - I loved it -- Clare Chambers * author of SMALL PLEASURES *With On Hampstead Heath, Marika Cobbold has rebooted the Hampstead Novel for the 21st century. A delightful novel -- Amanda CraigA heart-warming and at times hilarious tale about truth and honesty in this treacherous age of social media -- Josie LloydA brilliant and brave take on fake news and its fallout -- Elizabeth BuchanClever and funny with a splinter of melancholy running through it. It's a superb read -- Frances Quinn * author of THE SMALLEST MAN *Few writers balance darkness and light as well as Cobbold -- Sarah Hughes * i paper *On Hampstead Heath was so refreshing and unexpectedly needed, like feeling the sun on your face in winter. Funny, astute, and aching in all the right ways, I was utterly charmed. -- Tor Udall * author of A THOUSAND PAPER BIRDS *Marika Cobbold's look on life is unique -- Katie FfordeOn Hampstead Heath is exactly what is needed at this time. A romantic story tempered with a sharp wit and written with knowledge and love of place in which it's set -- Adèle GerasAn absolute little gem of a book, On Hampstead Heath is entertaining, thought-provoking and extremely witty -- Michelle Ryles * The Book Magnet *A fabulous read. It's wise and perceptive, honest and witty * Short Book and Scribes *Brilliant and funny and darkly surprising -- Emma Stonex

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Book SynopsisCollect the entire INVINCIBLE comic book series that the hit Prime Video series is based on in these all-new softcover editions!NOW A HIT ANIMATED SERIES ON PRIME VIDEO!These all-new definitive softcover editions collect the entire INVINCIBLE comic book series from the very beginning, with stunning covers from Cory Walker and Dave McCaig.Invincible's become Earth's newest protector, working for the Global Defense Agency led by Cecil Stedman. Whether it's facing off with Doc Seismic or an alien menace, Mark's been a good soldier... but something's changed.Now, Mark Grayson can no longer follow Cecil's orders unquestioned and finds himself up against the very organization he's been working for! This won't be pretty...Collects INVINCIBLE #48-53

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Book SynopsisExperience SPAWN like never before in 600 pages of stunning manga by Juzo Tokoro!Encounter new Spawns and iconic villains as a vengeful Spawn battles gangsters while trying to protect his loved ones. Meet Ken Kurosawa, a former bodyguard whose life ends in a car bomb during a gang war, leading him to a fateful deal with MALEBOGIA. Now, he must confront his past in a gripping tale of manipulation and destiny. This Is Pure Manga Magic!Collects Manga's SHADOWS OF SPAWN #1 3.

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Book SynopsisWar rages on the Somme battlefield in France on July 1, 1916, with a new Hellspawn leading the dead. But the true battle is within Spawn himself, as he questions his morality. Wanda's fate hangs in the balance as Spawn grapples with his inner demons. Brace yourself for shocking revelations as Mammon executes deadly plans, trapping Al Simmons in Hell with no hope of escape. Collects Spawn Issues #179 - 184

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Book SynopsisThe hit Image series that won the Eisner for Best New Series is back! Can it now win just Best Series? Probably not! That's a really competitive category! Dallas Comics is up and running! But can the team make a Domain comic for a new generation before Jerry Jasper and Singular Comics beat them to it? Or will familial tensions, shocking revelations, and a visit to San Diego Comic Expo ruin the series before their rivals can? Chip Zdarsky is back, writing and illustrating his fun and heartfelt examination of the comic book industry and (Vin Diesel voice) family! Collects Public Domain #6-10.

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Book SynopsisA sweeping tale of fallen kingdoms, ancient curses, and doomed love, sure to appeal to fans of epic dark fantasies like CONAN, LORD OF THE RINGS, and FRANK FRAZETTA'S DEATH DEALER. Collects Spawn Godslayer One-Shot, and Issues #1 8

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Book Synopsis This official behind-the-scenes companion to Prime Video's hit animated series, INVINCIBLE! The Art of Invincible Season 1 features exclusive character, background, and vehicle designs, key art, and more! This volume takes fans behind the scenes and includes interviews with key creatives, including INVINCIBLE comic creators Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker.

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Book Synopsis Color in tons of pages of your favorite mutants in this awesome and 100% official X-Men coloring book!It''s time to color in your favorite characters and scenes from Marvel''s X-Men! From Cyclops and Wolverine to Sabretooth and Magneto, there are over 90 pages of black-and-white art that comic fans will love. So, take flight in the Blackbird, square off with the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, and pop your adamantium claws as you dive into this retro X-Men coloring book. It''s perfect for fans old and new!

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