War, combat and military adventure fiction

Book Synopsis''first rate set operational pieces'' - Sunday TimesA migrant boat battles through the rough Mediterranean. Its passengers are desperate, starving and scared.They are also being ruthlessly targeted by the SAS.Islamic State militants are smuggling themselves into Europe using these boats. Only by locating such men before they make it into the UK can the Regiment stop them committing their acts of terror on British soil.When one of these migrants reveals plans for a sickening Christmas Day atrocity in London, SAS operative Danny Black is tasked with infiltrating the most dangerous theatre of war in the world: Islamic State heartland. There, he and his team must lift a brutal IS commander - the only man who knows all the details of the London attack. The commander surrounds himself with vicious militants and a harem of sex slaves whom he treats in the most sadistic ways imaginable. And his jihadi wife is, if possible, even more abominable tTrade Review'first rate set operational pieces' * Sunday Times *Praise for Chris Ryan * : *Ryan chooses fiercely up-to-the-minute plots, and laces them with an exceptional eye for detail and insider knowledge ... Fearsome and fast-moving. * Daily Mail *A shockingly authentic tale to keep your adrenaline pumping as fast as the blood on the pages. * The Sun *Nobody takes you to the action better than Ryan, because he's the real deal, and this muscle-and-bone thriller will have fans' blood pumping. * Evening Standard *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe action-filled climax ofthe epic story of the Batavi uprising in AD 69, from the author of the bestselling Empire series. **NOW FEATURING AN ADDITIONAL SHORT STORY**''A masterclass in military historical fiction'' - Sunday ExpressVictory is in sight for Kivilaz and his Batavi army. The Roman army clings desperately to its remaining fortresses along the Rhine, its legions riven by dissent and mutiny, and once-loyal allies of Rome are beginning to imagine the unimaginable: freedom from the rulers who have dominated them since the time of Caesar. The four centurions - two Batavi and two Roman, men who were once comrades in arms - must find their destiny in a maze of loyalties and threats, as the blood tide of war ebbs and flows across Germania and Gaul. For Rome does not give up its territory lightly. And a new emperor knows that he cannot tolerate any threat to his undisputed power. It can only be a Trade ReviewPraise for Anthony Riches * : *This thrilling, insightful and compelling trilogy [...] is a masterclass in military historical fiction anddemonstrates how the trauma of war affected the ordinary Roman soldier. * Sunday Express *This is fast-paced and gripping "read-through-the-night" fiction, with marvellous characters and occasional moments of dark humour. Some authors are better historians than they are storytellers. Anthony Riches is brilliant at both. -- Conn IgguldenA master of the genre * The Times *A damn fine read . . . fast-paced, action-packed. -- Ben KaneStands head and shoulders above a crowded field . . . . real, live characters act out their battles on the northern borders with an accuracy of detail and depth of raw emotion that is a rare combination. -- Manda ScottRiches highlights the chaos and fragility of an empire without an emperor . . . dense, complicated and rewarding. * The Times *

Read more less

Book SynopsisSunday Post's best reads of the year, 2018Rome, AD 63. Vespasian has been made Governor of Africa. Nero, Rome's increasingly unpredictable Emperor, orders him to journey with his most trusted men to a far-flung empire in Africa to free 500 Roman citizens who have been enslaved by a desert kingdom. Vespasian arrives at the city to negotiate their emancipation, hoping to return to Rome a hero and find himself back in favour with Nero. But when Vespasian reaches the city, he discovers a slave population on the edge of revolt. With no army to keep the population in check, it isn't long before tensions spill over into bloody chaos. Vespasian must escape the city with all 500 Roman citizens and make their way across a barren desert, battling thirst and exhaustion, with a hoard of rebels at their backs. It's a desperate race for survival, with twists and turns aplenty.Meanwhile, back in Rome, Nero's extravagance goes unchecked. All of Rome's elite fear for their lives as Nero's closest allies run amok. Can anyone stop the Emperor before Rome devours itself? And if Nero is to be toppled, who will be the one to put his head in the lion's mouth?______________________________________________Don't miss Robert Fabbri's epic new series Alexander's Legacy Trade ReviewFabbri does an excellent job with this scintillating source material. -- Antonia Senior * The Times *Stuffed with political deviousness and vivid depictions of war and torture, Fabbri's eighth book of the series is shockingly good. * Sunday Sport *Robert Fabbri has a winner on his hands. * The BookPlank *A stonking read. * Classic FM *Fabbri's Vespasian novels have been creating quite a stir. * The History Girls *Picked as one of the best reads of the year * Sunday Post *

Read more less

Book Synopsis*Now available as a full-length novel! Originally published in five ebook parts*The epic story of Caratacus: a barbarian king who led the tribes of Britannia against mighty Rome . . . AD 18, Britannia.The Roman Empire rules much of the known world. Beyond the northern frontier lies Britannia, where ceaseless feuding amongst the Celts leaves the island vulnerable to Rome''s ambitions.Caratacus, son of a powerful king, has no premonition of destiny when he is dispatched to train with the Druids. A brutal regime transforms the young prince into a warrior with unparalleled military skills - and the strategic cunning essential to outwit a stronger enemy.Nothing can prepare a man for the vicious reality of war. When Caratacus''s father takes a stand against aggressive neighbouring tribes, the combat exercises are over; this is a fight to the death. Only the most ruthless of tactics offer any hope of victory. But Caratacus, and the loya

Read more less

Book SynopsisDavid Zindell is one of the finest talents to appear since Kim Stanley Robinson and William Gibson perhaps the finest' Gene WolfeWhat happens when a man tasked with developing perfect memory forgets the most important thing in the universe?After a cataclysmic stellar war, peace has come to the trillion human beings who live on the Civilized Worlds. In Neverness, the City of Light, the pilots of the Order of Mystic Mathematicians resume their ancient quest to discover the real purpose of the human race. Crucial to their success will be a mastery of the One Memory, believed to hold the secret of how humanity might evolve.Thomas Rane is the Order's Lord Remembrancer. He has become the teacher to a new generation of humans called the Asta Siluuna the star children and so has a crucial part to play in the development of the human race. But at the end of the war, his beloved the mysterious and beautiful Maria died.Memory is strange, and Rane comes to believe that Maria might have surviveTrade Review PRAISE FOR DAVID ZINDELL ‘David Zindell is one of the finest talents to appear since Kim Stanley Robinson and William Gibson — perhaps the finest’Gene Wolfe ‘NEVERNESS streaked across the firmament as one of the great romantic epics of modern SF’Locus ‘Philip K. Dick would have been proud to conjure up such philosophies’Manchester Evening News

Read more less

Book SynopsisSome wars are destined to be fought foreverThey call it The Graveyard of Empires' for good reason. For thousands of years, Afghanistan has been the rock that generations of would-be conquerors have perished on. What chance does one man stand in this place?So when ex-SAS major Ben Hope hears former bounty-hunter, Madison Cahill, needs his help he knows it will test him to his limits and beyond. As the borders slam shut, he must trace his friend before the new regime does. His only lead? An ancient lost city founded by Alexander the Great and rediscovered by Madison's archaeologist father.The mission will take Ben back to a place he thought was firmly in his past, back to someone he can never leave behind and back to some old comrades. Among these is SAS man turned assassin, Jaden Wolf. Wolf has come to Afghanistan with his own agenda and knows as well as Ben that the conditions they face may prove as lethal as their enemies.As they uncover old secrets, they find modern ones are just aTrade Review‘Compelling from the first page until the last, Mariani and his fabulous protagonist Ben Hope entertain in a gripping tale that will have you turning the pages well into the night’ Mark Dawson ‘Thrilling. Scott Mariani is at the top of his game’ Andy McDermott ‘A high level of realism … the action scenes come thick and fast. Like the father of the modern thriller, Frederick Forsyth, Mariani has a knack for embedding his plots in the fears and preoccupations of their time’ Shots Magazine ‘James Bond meets Jason Bourne meets The Da Vinci Code’ J. L. Carrell ‘History, action, devious scheming and eye-opening detail. Mariani delivers a twisting storyline’ David Leadbeater 'Non-stop action – this book delivers’ Steve Berry

Read more less

Book SynopsisJanuary 1069. Less than three years have passed since Hastings and the death of the usurper, Harold Godwineson. In the depths of winter, two thousand Normans march to subdue the troublesome province of Northumbria. Tancred a Dinant, an ambitious and oath-sworn knight and a proud leader of men, is among them, hungry for battle, for silver and for land.But at Durham the Normans are ambushed in the streets by English rebels. In the battle that ensues, their army is slaughtered almost to a man. Badly wounded, Tancred barely escapes with his life. His lord is among those slain.Soon the enemy are on the march, led by the dispossessed prince Eadgar, the last of the ancient Saxon line, who is determined to seize the realm he believes is his. Yet even as Tancred seeks vengeance for his lord''s murder, he finds himself caught up in secret dealings between a powerful Norman magnate and a shadow from the past.As the Norman and English armies prepare to clash, Tancred begTrade ReviewVibrant and authentic. Rarely have I been so transported into the world of the medieval knight, and his environs. In short, Sworn Sword is an excellent read, full of intrigue and vivid, realistic battles. For new writers of historical fiction, this accomplished debut novel sets a high standard indeed. * Ben Kane, author of the bestselling Forgotten Legion Chronicles *Fans of the sword-swinging drama still mourning the end of HBO's epic Game of Thrones will find plenty to love in this uncompromising slice of historical fiction ... Breathlessly paced and packed with action, it's a mightily accomplished debut in a major new series * ShortList *A fantastic novel ... utterly convincing ... The plot is superb, clever and as true to the sources as is possible ... a brilliant achievement * Dr Elisabeth van Houts, Emmauel College, Cambridge *The setting and historical detail are superb and there is more than enough excitement to keep you hooked to the final page * New Books *Action packed, this is the first in a promising series, set in a fascinating period * Mail on Sunday *

Read more less

Book Synopsis'The battle of the Teutoburg Forest, or Varian Disaster, took place in Germany, in September of AD 9. Three Roman legions were massacred by native tribes in a supremely well executed ambush. The defeat was one of the greatest ever suffered by Rome, and the body blow it delivered was one of the reasons that the Empire never again made a serious attempt to conquer Germany. All my books are born from my obsession with Roman history, and this one was no different. Planning and writing a series of novels about the lead-up to this conflict, the battle itself and its aftermath has been thrilling. I have twice visited the area of Germany in which the battle took place, and its many museums. Seeing the equipment, weapons, coins and even the bones of legionaries who'd died in battle didn't just fuel my imagination it stirred my soul. Eagles at War is the first in my 'Eagles' trilogy of novels about the Varian disaster, and although it is a work of fiction,Trade ReviewMilitary historical fiction at its best * Sunday Express *Masterfully done * The Times *You can bank on Kane to deliver an accurate version of events fictionalised with verve and served up with a large dose of bloody violence. * Sunday Sport *Ben Kane has put himself at the top of the historical fiction writing tree, and with Eagles of War he has begun a new trilogy which will leave his fans eager for more * Western Mail *Gripping, brutal and brilliant -- Giles KristianBen Kane’s ability to illustrate the major turning points in Roman history at the level where the blood gets shed is second to none, and in Eagles at War his ability to put believable characters into the heart of the battle is stronger than ever. -- Tony RichesBen Kane lifts the genre into a space all his own where honour and duty, love and hate, legions and tribes clash in spectacular, bloody, heart-breaking glory... I loved this book. It dragged me in on the first page, held me spellbound to the end and I can’t wait for the next one. More! -- Manda Scott

Read more less

Book SynopsisAs Rome''s war with Carthage continues, two friends - now on opposing sides - confront each other in one of the most brutal sieges of all time. A new Hannibal novel by the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Forgotten Legion series.213 BC. Syracuse. Under the merciless Sicilian sun, a city is at war.Outside the walls, a vast Roman army waits. Yet the city's incredible defences, designed by Archimedes, mean that Syracuse will not be taken easily. A veteran of the bitter war since its beginning, Quintus is ready to give his life in the service of the Republic. But dangers face him from within his own ranks as well as from the enemy - who include his former friend, the Carthaginian, Hanno. Hanno has been sent by his general Hannibal to aid Syracuse in its fight against Rome. Pledged to bring death to all Romans, he is diverted from his mission by the discovery of Quintus' sister Aurelia, a captive within the city.Trade ReviewGritty, passionate and violent ... a thrilling page-turner. -- Steven PressfieldYou feel the ground tremble beneath the phalanxes, hear the battle cries of the legions, smell the carnage of war. -- Giles ChristianA compulsive, relentless story, vividly recounted in muscular prose * Daily Telegraph *Highly recommended * Daily Mail *

Read more less

Book SynopsisMalta 1941. To most people HMS Saracen is just an ugly, obsolete ship with an equally ugly recent history: her last commander is due for court-martial after shelling the troops he was sent to protect. But to Captain Richard Chesnaye she brings back memories - memories of the First World War when he and the old monitor went through the Gallipoli campaign together. It seems that captain and ship are both past their best. But as the war enters a new phase Chesnaye senses the possibility of a fresh, significant role - for him and the Saracen.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Second World War was turned on its head at the moment Admiral Kolhammer's ultra-modern stealth warships were hurled back through time from 2021. But no one could have predicted just how much of a nightmare would ensue . . . Only months after the Transition, the great powers scramble to develop the weapons of tomorrow. The year 1942 is now a world of crude jet fighters, monstrous attack helicopters, and unholy dirty bombs a mongrel technology, born decades prematurely. Then, in a radical rewriting of history, Japanese forces sweep into Australia, foreign agents begin a campaign of terror in the USA, and Germany prepares for an all-out attack on Britain. The twenty-first-century forces must resort to the most extreme measures yet and face a future rife with possibilities all of them apocalyptic . . . Picking up from where he left off with Weapons of Choice, John Birmingham shocks and awes us with this gripping second instalment in tTrade ReviewPraise for Weapons of Choice:'An excellent page-turner' FHM 'Breathless plotting, catholic geekery and the central premise suggest great things for the next two volumes' Daily Telegraph'If there was a Booker for explosive alternative history techno-thrillers with guts and brains, it would be a cinch' Sydney Morning Herald

Read more less

Book SynopsisA unique anthology of Kipling''s war stories and poems, from the frontier wars of empire to the Boer War and the First World War. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.Trade ReviewAt the price, this book is a must for everyone interested in humour, war and fine literature. Buy it. * Friends of the Imperial War Museum Newsletter *Table of ContentsStories include: The Drums of the Fore and Aft; A Conference of the Powers; The Light that Failed; The Mutiny of the Mavericks; The Lost Legion; The Way that he Took; A Sahib's War; The Comprehension of Private Copper; The Captive; A Friend of the Family; A Madonna of the Trenches; The Gardener

Read more less

Book Synopsis“[An] exciting read . . . [Jeff] Shaara returns to the U.S. Civil War in this first book of a new trilogy. . . . This novel is meticulously researched and brings a vivid reality to the historical events depicted.”—Library Journal  NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERSpring 1862. The Confederate Army in the West teeters on the brink of collapse. General Albert Sidney Johnston is forced to abandon the critical city of Nashville and rally his troops in defense of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad. Hot on Johnston’s trail are two of the Union’s best generals: Ulysses Grant and Don Carlos Buell. If their combined forces can crush Johnston’s army and capture the railroad, the war in the West likely will be over. There’s just one problem: Johnston knows of the Union plans and is poised to launch an audacious surprise attack on Grant’s encampment—a small settlement in southwestern Tennessee anchored b

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn a world where single combat determines the fate of nations, the Grievar fight in the Circles so that the rest can remain at peace. But given the stakes, things are never so simple. The Daimyo govern from the shadows and plot to gain an edge by unnaturally enhancing their Grievar Knights.Cego and his team enter year two at the world''s most prestigious combat school, the Lyceum. Though he''d like to focus on his martial studies, Cego feels the pull of his mysterious past and two missing brothers.Solara Halberd, daughter of the fighting legend, embarks on her own quest to bury the past. She must utilize every lesson her father taught her to explore unknown lands where evil lurks in the shadows. ''That rare book that fully satisfies me as an action fan'' Fonda Lee, author of Jade City, on The Combat Codes ''Darwin writes violence with the rhythm and surprise of a well-executed sonnet, wedding the smooth grace of choreography with the unflinching brutality of fists breaking bone. The fights are mesmerizing, layered like fascia, twitching and flexing and propelling the story toward a conclusion that both satisfies and opens the door to the next volume'' The New York Times on The Combat Codes''The Combat Codes is a great read for any fan of realistic martial arts fiction. The integration of a compelling sci-fi / fantasy plot and true-to-life martial arts action make for a unique story that any student of warfare is sure to enjoy'' Ryan Hall, UFC Fighter''The Combat Codes by Alexander Darwin is a chimera blending Science Fiction and Fantasy to tell a vividly-realized tale both focused and sprawling. It''s a book about warriors written by a master of the martial arts, and the mastery shows. In its pages, expect to explore power, politics, and brutal violence, but I repeat myself'' Evan Winter, author of The Rage of Dragons

Read more less

Book SynopsisA journalist by profession, Douglas Jackson transformed a lifelong fascination for Rome and the Romans in to his first two highly-praised novels, Caligula and Claudius. His third, Hero of Rome, introduced readers to a new series hero, Gaius Valerius Verrens. Eight further acclaimed 'Rome' novels followed, confirming Doug as one of the UK's foremost historical novelists. His latest novel, The Wall, was published to coincide with the 1900th anniversary of the construction of Hadrian's Wall. A member of the Historical Writers Association and the Historical Novel Society, Douglas Jackson lives near Stirling in Scotland.Trade ReviewA master of his discipline rightly hailed as one of the best historical novelists writing today * Daily Express *

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade ReviewCracking...one of our finest writers. * Saturday (Supp to the Scottish Daily Record) *One of the best historical novelists writing today. * DAILY EXPRESS *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA gripping and breath-taking novel of Roman adventure from bestselling author Douglas Jackson. Perfect for fans of Simon Scarrow and Ben Kane.Readers are loving Gaius Valerius Verrens! Spellbinding - 5 STARSI didn''t want to come to the end, some really fascinating detail and a great story. - 5 STARSUnexpected twists and an ending full of surprise rates it among my favorite reads to date. - 5 STARSKept me absolutely gripped from start to finish [-] historically accurate with the fictitious stories and characters expertly weaved into the real makes it utterly believable. - 5 STARS*****************************************REBELLION SIMMERS...AND TREACHERY LIES IN WAIT. AD 72: Vespasian is Emperor of Rome - but his grip on power is weakening. Economic disaster threatens the city - and when Rome is threatened, so too is the Empire.Trade ReviewA thrilling adventure . . . the tale is, as ever, impeccably researched . . . as exciting as an action movie. * PARMENION BOOKS *Such a fine addition to the series . . . Douglas Jackson writes beautifully . . . one of my very favourite series of novels, regardless of genre. * FOR WINTER NIGHTS *

Read more less

Book SynopsisPerfect for fans of Simon Scarrow and Ben Kane, this formidable and compelling historical thriller from bestselling author Douglas Jackson will have you absolutely gripped...Spectacular and satisfying...thrilling and dramatic...Roman historical fiction at its very best -- SUNDAY EXPRESSDouglas Jackson is one of the finest writers about today...this series is a glorious achievement -- FOR WINTER NIGHTSRightly hailed as one of the best historical novelists writing today -- DAILY EXPRESSI was devastated to finish this novel and look forward to many more from the pen of Douglas Jackson -- ***** Reader reviewSuperb in every way -- ***** Reader review**************************************************************IN THE FAR NORTH, GAIUS VALERIUS VERRENS'' DESTINY AWAITS...AD 80: Gaius Valerius Verrens is back where he belongs, at the head of a legion. BuTrade ReviewSpectacular and satisfying . . . thrilling and dramatic . . . Roman historical fiction at its very best. * SUNDAY EXPRESS *A wonderful novel . . . the battle scenes are as thrilling as ever . . . Douglas Jackson is one of the finest writers about today, irrespective of genre. This series is a glorious achievement and so too is the book that completes it’ -- FOR WINTER NIGHTS

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe unputdownable historical novel by the acclaimed and bestselling author of WAKE and EXPECTATION: a devastating story of love and madness at the brink of the Great War. ''Absolutely heart-breaking. One of the best books I've ever read'' DINAH JEFFERIES, author of The Tea-Planter''s Wife''Compelling, elegant, insightful'' OBSERVER1911: Inside an asylum at the edge of the Yorkshire moors, where men and women are kept apart by high walls and barred windows, there is a ballroom vast and beautiful. For one bright evening every week they come together and dance. When John and Ella meet it is a dance that will change two lives forever.Set over the heatwave summer of 1911, the end of the Edwardian era, THE BALLROOM tells a rivetting tale of dangerous obsession, of madness and sanity, and of who gets to decide which is which. It is a love story like no other.************************************Trade ReviewAbsolutely heart-breaking. One of the best books I’ve ever read * Dinah Jefferies, author of THE TEA-PLANTER'S WIFE *A British version of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Moving. Fascinating * Times *An unsentimental and affecting story * Sunday Times *Compelling, elegant and insightful. * Observer *In this deeply moving book, Hope reminds us that behind everyone’s facade lies something waiting to be rent free * Irish Times *An original, brilliant, evocative novel * Chris Cleave *A heartbreaking story of how love can flourish in the darkest of times * Cathy Rentzenbrink, The Bookseller *Part social commentary, part mystery and part dangerous liaison, this poignant story casts an unflinching gaze at the historic treatment of mental health disorders. * Financial Times *Such a magnificent setting definitely demands a story that delivers, all guns blazing. It does, and then some . . . Fiction at it’s finest. * Irish Independent *Beautiful * Stylist *An exquisite love story * Good Housekeeping *A terrifying, moving and uplifting story -- February Hot Read * Woman and Home *A poignant against-the-odds love story * Glamour *Tender . . . Hope is the emotion that unspools the delicate connections between these brilliantly drawn characters * Psychologies Magazine *The Ballroom is a beautifully wrought novel, a tender, heartbreaking and insightful exploration of the longings that survive in the most inhospitable environments. * Sunday Express 5/5 stars *Magnificent…a luminary of historical fiction…writing history from the margins, the personal stories behind the era, she delivers profound, poignant stories that stir the emotions. * Press Association *All the intensity and lyricism of Hope’s debut, Wake * Daily Mail *The Ballroom confirms her as a novelist of immense power...Exquisitely good. Sensitive, engrossing and highly recommended * Metro *The Ballroom is a beautiful, gripping, heart-wrenching, thought-provoking book. I was so enthralled, I read it in an evening, unwilling to put it down. * thewritesofwoman.wordpress.com *An atmospheric and thought provoking love story * bookslifeandeverything.blogspot.co.uk *

Read more less

Book SynopsisSteven Pressfield is the author of the novels The Legend of Bagger Vance, Gates of Fire, Tides of War and Last of the Amazons. He lives in California.Trade Review'Wonderfully-imagined...Richly atmospheric, stunningly graphic, intense and extraordinary' * NELSON DEMILLE *'A cracking, fast-paced contemporary re-telling of the legend that is Alexander ... Pressfield brings him alive for the modern audience with the verve and skill with which he conjured the heroes of Thermopylae in Gates of Fire.' * MANDA SCOTT *'If you want to know what it might have felt like to ride into battle with Alexander, read this striking book...blends a scholar's accuracy and a novelist's eye.' * BARRY STRAUSS, author of Salamis *'Pressfield has tackled a subject worthy of his enormous talent...and triumphed again.' * STEPHEN COONTS *'Deeply researched, dashingly written...this is a a terrific performance' * INDEPENDENT *

Read more less

Book SynopsisHereward''s story concludes in this brutal, bloody and thrilling page-turner - perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell and Conn Iggulden. With great gusto...James Wilde has succeeded in giving new and convincing life to a half-forgotten English hero. -- BBC HISTORY MAGAZINEVividly describes those turbulent, dismal years...this is a masterful tale, graphic and gory, and loaded with medieval history. -- PUBLISHERS WEEKLYA truly spell-binding series...masterfully done. -- PARMENIAN BOOKSLoved every minute. -- ***** Reader reviewWonderful storytelling -- ***** Reader reviewFull of twists and turns, aside factual events, recommended to all readers who enjoy battles and honour seeped in last events -- ***** Reader review***************************************************************BLADES ARE SHARPENED, BATTLE LINES DRAWN. NOW IS THE TIME FOR

Read more less

Book SynopsisSettle in for a bromantic space adventure!A genius is abducted by an alien bounty-hunter for the location of a powerful inter-dimensional object. Trouble is, he can’t remember a thing.Ben isn’t exactly a genius, but he has an immense breadth of knowledge. Whether it’s natural science (specifically the intricacies of bug sex), or vintage timepieces, he can spout facts and information with the best of experts. He just can’t explain why he knows any of it. Another thing he knows is the location of the Chime. What it is or why it’s important, he can’t say.But this knowledge is about to get him in a whole heap of trouble, as a trash-talking, flesh construct bounty hunter is on his tail and looking to sell him to the highest bidder. And being able to describe the mating habits of Brazilian bark lice won't be enough to get him out of it.File Under:  Science Fiction [ Bloom of GodTrade Review"Delightfully smart, funny, fast-moving entertainment that really did make me laugh out loud."– The Guardian"Where Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy recommended towels, this slapstick and semisweet space opera sends its Earthlings out among the aliens armed only with a jar of pickles… Readers are in for a treat." – Publishers Weekly, starred review"Panatier combines humor, action, and a memorable cast of characters to deliver a read perfect for fans of Becky Chambers who appreciate a good fart joke and fans of Douglas Adams interested in considering serious moral quandaries in between chuckles." – Booklist"Many writers try to play it safe with the dreaded second novel. Many writers, but not all, as Chris Panatier took chances and delivered with his second book… Reminiscent of the well-loved Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy, Stringers delivers the laughs, with the jokes drawing on the author’s clear love affair with the grotesque, with poignant moments peppered throughout. A highly enjoyable read with moments of real emotional honesty that deserves to reach a wide audience."– Gabriela Houston, author of The Second Bell"Stringers is f*cking ridiculous in all the best ways. I haven't laughed this hard at anything EVER. In fact, to have this many laugh-out-loud moments should be illegal - there are nuggets of gold to be found on every page. Throw in a fun plot, characters who are rich and lively and incredibly funny in their own distinct ways, and a unique and engaging format (you'll see), and you've got yourself a joyous and exciting read. None of you are ready for this." - Dan Hanks, author of Swashbucklers and Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire"Panatier finds the sweet spot between the social satire of The Coming of the Great White Handkerchief and the pathos of the farting, tap dancing aliens of the planet Margo. A tour de ridicule!" - R.W.W. Greene, author of Twenty-Five to Life and The Light Years"Wholly original. Ridiculously brilliant. Panatier’s Stringers is filled with genuine characters, mind-boggling humor, and the raw and hysterical emotions of beings plucked from obscurity, sold to the highest bidders, and used to serve Universe altering purposes. Panatier’s unconventional storytelling, combined with poetic sentences and a plethora of bug facts you never knew you needed, will keep you entertained until the very end. I can’t recommend enough." –Noelle Salazar, author of The Flight Girls "In a universe of sci-fi novels, Chris Panatier's Stringers inhabits a galaxy all its own. Equal parts hilarious, inventive, and action-packed, this absolute gem of a book delivers a riveting, poignant plot full of flawed, lovable characters. Come for the bug sex, stay for the jar of pickles."– Ron Walters author of Deep Dive“Panatier’s latest book is a riotous, interdimensional adventure with heart. Zany and erudite, Stringers reads like an SMBC comic that swallowed a whole series of Red Dwarf, veering from the unabashedly puerile to the profound by way of esoterica and galactic hijinks. With bug facts galore and a truly memorable jar of pickles, it has all the makings of a cult favourite. Panatier is one to watch.”– Calder Szewczak, author of The OffsetPRAISE FOR CHRIS PANATIER“The fascinating characters are sure to keep the reader’s attention.”– Publishers Weekly“If you like your dystopian futures with a twist, then The Phlebotomist is the story for you. Highly recommended.”– British Fantasy Society“A clever, inventive fantasy with a horrific twist that explores whether we are more than the sum of our parts.”– Tal Klein, author of The Punch Escrow “Panatier’s world – wracked by war and held together by weary patriotism – seems all too close at hand, and his characters are as real as your next-door neighbors. His unlikely hero, Willa Wallace, takes on mankind’s oldest foes – poverty, prejudice, greed, and things more calculating and predatory – in this exciting and genre-challenging debut from Angry Robot Books. ”– R.W.W. Greene author of The Light Years“With The Phlebotomist, Panatier has created a unique, intricately imagined vision of a divided society, where cash-for-blood is a booming trade and society is split by government sanctioned exsanguination. Rich, bold and visceral, this is a layered, post-apocalyptic book you won’t escape from easily, and one which left me genuinely squirming in my seat.” – Gemma Amor, Bram Stoker Award nominated author of Dear Laura and White Pines“A compelling dystopian thriller that presents a fallen world and proceeds to dissect it with sanguine enthusiasm using its refreshingly unconventional heroes.”– Indrapramit Das, author of The Devourers“A terrifying tale of governmental manipulation and control, set against the kind of global health crisis that used to be a futuristic “what if” but is now very much a “what might be”… equal parts fascinating and horrifying, and never not entertaining.”– Dan Hanks, author of Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire“In The Phlebotomist, Chris Panatier gives us the unlikely female protagonists—a plucky grandmother, a tech-geek locksmith, and a teenager with swords—we didn’t know we needed, and sets them in a near-future world that terrifies because it feels so possible. Nuclear disaster? Check. Constant monitoring by Big Brother? Uh-huh. Invasion of both men’s and women’s bodies for the Common Good? That, too. At once grounded in legit science, and also so totally imaginative that you have to find out what happens next, this book will take root at the base of your brain, threading its tentacles into your spinal cord and requiring you to keep turning pages until the bloody end.” – Jessica Hagemann, author of Headcheese“Chris Panatier knocks it out of the park with The Phlebotomist. A post-apocalyptic science fiction novel that–for once–doesn’t include a love triangle, a trio of moody teens, or zombies. Amazing, right?”– Sci Fi & Scary

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERThe electrifying new ORPHAN X adventure in the bestselling series - Evan Smoak returns with a mission which could cost him everything . . .''A stellar series, and the stories get better with each instalment'' DAILY MAIL''[A] witty, satisfying thriller'' SUN__________A heavily-armed counter-assault team, a convoy of tactical vehicles plus decoys, air support, a sedative more commonly used to knock out large animals, arm and leg restraints, a hood, mouthguard and a Secret Service Agent asking for a selfie.This was not your average invitation to meet with the President.But then Orphan X is not your average guest. The last survivor of the off-the-books programme that raised and trained him, Evan Smoak was sent around the world to do his government''s dirty work. Until he escaped.Now once again in need of his particular skill-set, the President trTrade Reviewwham-bam action and suspense, leavened with humour * Sunday Express *Praise for The Last Orphan- * : *The Last Orphan is pulse-pounding, heart-stopping, and thought-provoking. I loved it -- Meg Gardiner, No. 1 New York Times bestselling authorThe Last Orphan is a top-notch thriller and action packed joyride. Readers will not want to put it down * Karin Slaughter, New York Times bestselling author *As a crafter of wham-bam action and suspense, leavened with a healthy dose of humour, Hurwitz's abilities are as fine-tuned as ever * Daily Express *[A] witty, satisfying thriller * Sun *Hurwitz gives his seventh Orphan X thriller an epic scope, writing with verve and color . . . A crackerjack thriller * Kirkus *Nonstop action and relentless pacing are matched in The Last Orphan by deeply philosophical and powerfully emotional undertones * Publishers Weekly *A stellar series, and the stories get better with each instalment. [Evan Smoak is] the man you want in your corner when justice is needed * Daily Mail *Orphan X blows the doors off most thrillers I've read and catapults the readers on a cat-and-mouse that feels like a missile launch. Read this book. You will thank me later -- David Baldacci * - *Orphan X is his best yet - a real celebration of all the strengths Gregg Hurwitz brings to a thriller -- Lee Child * - *Another jet-fuelled thriller * Shots Magazine *Orphan X is most exciting new series character since Jack Reacher. A page-turning masterpiece of suspense -- Jonathan Kellerman * - *Mind blowing! A perfect mix of Jason Bourne and Jack Reacher -- Lisa Gardner * - *

Read more less

Book Synopsis Paul Fraser Collard''s roguish hero Jack Lark - dubbed ''Sharpe meets the Talented Mr Ripley'' - returns once more, switching sides to join the ranks of the Confederate Army. This latest adventure will see Jack journey through the Southern states as the American Civil War continues in earnest, and is a must-read for fans of Bernard Cornwell and Simon Scarrow. ''Enthralling'' The Times on the Jack Lark series Fighting for the Union gave Jack Lark purpose. But America is tearing itself apart and no one will be left in peace. Virginia, 1861. With his comrades defeated, Jack turns his back on the battlefield. At heart he''s still a soldier, but this wholly uncivil war has left him wanting something - and someone - more. Lost in the woods with the Confederate army closing in, Jack will stop at nothing to protect Rose and the future they might share. Then one bullet changes everything and JaTrade ReviewBrilliant * Bernard Cornwell *I love a writer who wears his history lightly enough for the story he's telling to blaze across the pages like this. Jack Lark is an unforgettable new hero * Anthony Riches *It felt accurate, it felt real, it felt alive... Every line every paragraph and page of the battles had me hooked, riveted to the page, there were times when I was almost as breathless as the exhausted soldiers * Parmenion Books *

Read more less

Book Synopsis1936: When a favor to a friend leaves Cal Jardine caught up in the Spanish Civil War, he finds himself with an interesting assortment of fighters. His new compatriots are a group of athletes in Barcelona for the People''s Olympiad. Together, they make an effective team and are primed for the fight; however, with a communist fanatic in the ranks, trouble is brewing. Even worse, a murderous betrayal lies ahead which threatens not just the fight, but Jardine himself. From the street battles of Barcelona to the fighting in the countryside, Jardine finds action as well as friendshipbut will he have suitable revenge on his betrayer?

Read more less

Book SynopsisIt is the fifth century of the Byzantium Empire. Flavius Belisaurius is son of the governor of Dorostorum City, and his father has two goals: to keep out the barbarians and to expose the deep roots of secular and ecclesiastical corruption. Seeking to prevent a raid, the governor enlists the help of the powerful magnate Senuthius Vicinus.Vicinus''s corruption is widespread but his support is crucial to win the battle. When Vicinus betrays this trust, Belisaurius Jnr witnesses the death of his father and the irretrievable tarnishing of his reputation. With Belisaurius''s life changed for good, he swears vengeance on the man who betrayed his father and begins a journey from which there is no virtuous way back.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn twenty years, the de Hauteville brothers have risen from penniless obscurity to become the most potent warrior family in Christendom: depended on by the Pope, feared by Byzantium, and respected by the Holy Roman Emperor. And now Roger, the youngest son, has finally come to Italy, where he also proves himself to be a great warrior and canny politician. It is he who will raise the family to the pinnacle of influence, not as vassals beholden to a greater power, but rulers in their own right.But the path is not easy; brotherly love only goes so far and nothing has altered in the bubbling stew of Italian politics. There are enemies at Roger's back as well as before him, battles to fight and defeats to be reversed, treacheries both secret and transparent to circumvent. Yet the loyalty of blood that binds this family of warriors together is still present and it is that, above everything, which will in the end be the catalyst that propels the name de Hauteville to the pinnacle of

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisNumber one New York Times bestselling author Jocko Willink’s fast-paced thriller Final Spin is a story of love, brotherhood, suffering, happiness and sacrifice – a story about life.Johnny . . .Shouldn’t be in a dead-end job.Shouldn’t be in a dead-end bar.Shouldn’t be in a dead-end life.But he is.It’s a hamster-wheel existence. Stocking warehouse store shelves by day, drinking too much whisky and beer by night. In between, Johnny lives in his childhood home, making sure his alcoholic mother hasn’t drunk herself to death, and looking after his idiosyncratic older brother Arty, whose world revolves around his laundromat job.Rinse and repeat.Then Johnny’s monotonous life takes a tumble. The laundromat where Arty works, and the one thing that gives him happiness, is about to be sold. Johnny doesn’t want that to happen, so he takes measures into his own hands. Johnny, along with his friend Goat, come up with a plan to get the money to buy the laundromat.But things don’t always go as planned . . .Trade ReviewWillink tells his story in quick blasts of haiku-like writing, with dialogue reminiscent of early David Mamet. Told with a gritty simplicity, this retains a hold on the reader right through to the inevitable tragic climax * Publishers Weekly *A crackerjack thriller . . . You've read this book before, and you've seen the movie, but Willink gives it a nice spin, a reminder of why the theme is timeless * Booklist *

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this spellbinding collection, Sara Paretsky showcases her extraordinary talents with fourteen short stories, including one new V.I. story and seven other classics featuring the indomitable detective.In 'Miss Bianca' a young girl becomes involved in espionage when she befriends a mouse in a laboratory that is conducting dark experiments. Ten-year-old V.I. Warshawski appears in 'Wildcat,' embarking on her very first investigation to save her father. A hardboiled New York detective and elderly British aristocrat team up to reveal a murderer in Chicago during the World's Fair in 'Murder at the Century of Progress'.In the new title story, 'Love & Other Crimes' V.I. treads the line between justice and vengeance when the wrongful firing of a family friend makes him a murder suspect.Trade ReviewSara Paretsky's command of the longform private eye novel is second to none, but is she equally adept at the short story? Love & Other Crimes is a new collection, and admirers will be pleased to glimpse into the South Chicago history of her steadfast female detective VI Warshawski. Other pleasures include pieces that function as introductions to her novels and a delicious Sherlock Holmes pastiche . . . A pleasing collection of amuse-bouches * Financial Times *

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this spellbinding collection, Sara Paretsky showcases her extraordinary talents with fourteen short stories, including one new V.I. story and seven other classics featuring the indomitable detective.In 'Miss Bianca' a young girl becomes involved in espionage when she befriends a mouse in a laboratory that is conducting dark experiments. Ten-year-old V.I. Warshawski appears in 'Wildcat,' embarking on her very first investigation to save her father. A hardboiled New York detective and elderly British aristocrat team up to reveal a murderer in Chicago during the World's Fair in 'Murder at the Century of Progress'. In the new title story, 'Love & Other Crimes' V.I. treads the line between justice and vengeance when the wrongful firing of a family friend makes him a murder suspect.

Read more less

Book SynopsisVietnam, 1969. Juarez, forty years later. Three men tied by the war they left behind — on collision course with a new one. As old grievances resurface, the bodies pile up. And as the fires on the border rage, a man's psyche falls apart, birthing a new understanding of himself. COLLECTS LOST SOLDIERS #1-5.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA provocative novel about abandoned faith, heartbreaking loss, and inescapable government scrutiny in the heartland of a post-9/11 nation. American missionary and ROTC cadet Tyler Ahls, long missing in Pakistan, has just surfaced, proselytizing in an Afghani terrorist propaganda video. For Omaha nurse Elisabeth Holland, it’s a shock that her brother is even alive. Now she must ask herself a more grave question: Is he a hostage or a traitor? Seasoned FBI special agent Frank Schwaller is asking this too. He’s come to Nebraska armed with countless hours of video, audio, and email surveillance. The object of his unyielding gaze is Elisabeth. But the more Schwaller uncovers about her—from her and Tyler’s evangelical Christian upbringing to her shattered youthful dreams to her broken marriage to a drifter—the more mystifying Elisabeth and the two men in her life become. To find out the truth about these entwined lives—and the desperation that comes from love, fear, and the need to disappear—Agent Schwaller will discover how even the most lonesome corners of the Plains can be darkened by the long shadow of war. From Kings of Broken Things author Theodore Wheeler comes an exploration of love lost, the failure of humanism, and the revelations of how deeply the US government spies on the personal lives of its citizens.Trade Review“A compelling portrait.” —Kirkus Reviews “Wheeler’s rich blending of Elisabeth’s grief over her lost husband and isolation from her family with transcripts from Schwaller’s investigation slowly builds an inviting tale. Readers will be intrigued by Wheeler’s provocative juxtaposition of extremism in both Christian and Muslim ideologies.” —Publishers Weekly “Theodore Wheeler’s In Our Other Lives is the kind of novel that makes you think deeply about the issues that have faced the United States since 9/11, while also telling a gripping story with great characters.” —Writer’s Bone “Theodore Wheeler weaves a compelling and complex narrative of public pain and private loss, of lives ruined by tragedy and at the same time redeemed by discovery. He shows us that people are mysteries, even to those who love them most, and that war and its aftermath reach deep into our land and our hearts.” —Mary Morris, author of Gateway to the Moon “Reminiscent of the late Denis Johnson’s masterpiece, Tree of Smoke, Wheeler’s sterling novel tackles the modern world’s attempt to systematically catalog the chaos of life. This clear-eyed look at society’s entrance into a fully digitized world delivers a host of fascinating characters’ unknowing struggles within the purview of the recently unveiled Patriot Act. As they wrestle with the old questions of what to believe in, and how to ground a life if you no longer believe in anything, it becomes clear the new information-gathering apparatus fails to understand the longing and need that propel each of them forward. An ambitious and absorbing achievement.” —Devin Murphy, author of Tiny Americans “Theodore Wheeler’s In Our Other Lives is wholly engrossing. Through the mysteries of the Ahls family, narrated through the eyes of the all-knowing servers that see, hear, and record everything in the wake of the Patriot Act, Wheeler deftly weaves the intricate, vulnerable lives of his characters against the stark backdrop of the American plains, resulting in a poignant book that’s as human as it is political. Once I started, I couldn’t put it down.” —SJ Sindu, author of Marriage of a Thousand Lies “A captivating, thought-provoking, and sweeping novel filled with power and depth. Set against the backdrop of America’s near-decade-long war on terrorism, In Our Other Lives offers a nuanced portrayal of public and private lives and the way those lives intersect, disconnect, and become lost in translation. Different kinds of losses and invasions radiate through this novel, and Wheeler reveals complexities of the human heart with subtle, beautiful prose that surprises as often as it delights.” —Kassandra Montag, author of After the Flood “Taut, knuckle-whitening, and full of intriguing questions, In Our Other Lives is a page-turner that keeps the reader guessing. An FBI agent visits Omaha, Nebraska, to gather information about a radicalized young man who was either captured while on a mission trip to Pakistan or who voluntarily joined up with a group of terrorists, only to find that in this midwestern city everyone keeps a secret; that disappearances and deaths pervade their lives as surely as they do for those in the Middle East; and that the war abroad is nearer than anyone imagined. Don’t miss out on this thrilling saga about a family in turmoil and the international crisis that ties them all together.” —Phong Nguyen, author of The Adventures of Joe Harper “Powerful, provocative, fascinating, and deeply unsettling: In Our Other Lives weaves the threads that connect our lives and those who account for this haywire of memory, love, faith, reason, and understanding. I am still thinking about this one, the way it snuck up on me, and how it will not let go.” —Robert Olmstead, author of Savage Country “With the pace of a thriller and the patience of a psychological study, In Our Other Lives depicts ordinary people consumed by tragedy and obsession. Wheeler skillfully depicts the struggles of mothers, missionaries, and spies, while always paying attention to the small, beautiful impulses that make them human.” —Jennie Melamed, author of Gather the Daughters

Read more less

Book SynopsisA provocative novel about abandoned faith, heartbreaking loss, and inescapable government scrutiny in the heartland of a post-9/11 nation. American missionary and ROTC cadet Tyler Ahls, long missing in Pakistan, has just surfaced, proselytizing in an Afghani terrorist propaganda video. For Omaha nurse Elisabeth Holland, it’s a shock that her brother is even alive. Now she must ask herself a more grave question: Is he a hostage or a traitor? Seasoned FBI special agent Frank Schwaller is asking this too. He’s come to Nebraska armed with countless hours of video, audio, and email surveillance. The object of his unyielding gaze is Elisabeth. But the more Schwaller uncovers about her—from her and Tyler’s evangelical Christian upbringing to her shattered youthful dreams to her broken marriage to a drifter—the more mystifying Elisabeth and the two men in her life become. To find out the truth about these entwined lives—and the desperation that comes from love, fear, and the need to disappear—Agent Schwaller will discover how even the most lonesome corners of the Plains can be darkened by the long shadow of war. From Kings of Broken Things author Theodore Wheeler comes an exploration of love lost, the failure of humanism, and the revelations of how deeply the US government spies on the personal lives of its citizens.Trade Review“A compelling portrait.” —Kirkus Reviews “Wheeler’s rich blending of Elisabeth’s grief over her lost husband and isolation from her family with transcripts from Schwaller’s investigation slowly builds an inviting tale. Readers will be intrigued by Wheeler’s provocative juxtaposition of extremism in both Christian and Muslim ideologies.” —Publishers Weekly “Theodore Wheeler’s In Our Other Lives is the kind of novel that makes you think deeply about the issues that have faced the United States since 9/11, while also telling a gripping story with great characters.” —Writer’s Bone “Theodore Wheeler weaves a compelling and complex narrative of public pain and private loss, of lives ruined by tragedy and at the same time redeemed by discovery. He shows us that people are mysteries, even to those who love them most, and that war and its aftermath reach deep into our land and our hearts.” —Mary Morris, author of Gateway to the Moon “Reminiscent of the late Denis Johnson’s masterpiece, Tree of Smoke, Wheeler’s sterling novel tackles the modern world’s attempt to systematically catalog the chaos of life. This clear-eyed look at society’s entrance into a fully digitized world delivers a host of fascinating characters’ unknowing struggles within the purview of the recently unveiled Patriot Act. As they wrestle with the old questions of what to believe in, and how to ground a life if you no longer believe in anything, it becomes clear the new information-gathering apparatus fails to understand the longing and need that propel each of them forward. An ambitious and absorbing achievement.” —Devin Murphy, author of Tiny Americans “Theodore Wheeler’s In Our Other Lives is wholly engrossing. Through the mysteries of the Ahls family, narrated through the eyes of the all-knowing servers that see, hear, and record everything in the wake of the Patriot Act, Wheeler deftly weaves the intricate, vulnerable lives of his characters against the stark backdrop of the American plains, resulting in a poignant book that’s as human as it is political. Once I started, I couldn’t put it down.” —SJ Sindu, author of Marriage of a Thousand Lies “A captivating, thought-provoking, and sweeping novel filled with power and depth. Set against the backdrop of America’s near-decade-long war on terrorism, In Our Other Lives offers a nuanced portrayal of public and private lives and the way those lives intersect, disconnect, and become lost in translation. Different kinds of losses and invasions radiate through this novel, and Wheeler reveals complexities of the human heart with subtle, beautiful prose that surprises as often as it delights.” —Kassandra Montag, author of After the Flood “Taut, knuckle-whitening, and full of intriguing questions, In Our Other Lives is a page-turner that keeps the reader guessing. An FBI agent visits Omaha, Nebraska, to gather information about a radicalized young man who was either captured while on a mission trip to Pakistan or who voluntarily joined up with a group of terrorists, only to find that in this midwestern city everyone keeps a secret; that disappearances and deaths pervade their lives as surely as they do for those in the Middle East; and that the war abroad is nearer than anyone imagined. Don’t miss out on this thrilling saga about a family in turmoil and the international crisis that ties them all together.” —Phong Nguyen, author of The Adventures of Joe Harper “Powerful, provocative, fascinating, and deeply unsettling: In Our Other Lives weaves the threads that connect our lives and those who account for this haywire of memory, love, faith, reason, and understanding. I am still thinking about this one, the way it snuck up on me, and how it will not let go.” —Robert Olmstead, author of Savage Country “With the pace of a thriller and the patience of a psychological study, In Our Other Lives depicts ordinary people consumed by tragedy and obsession. Wheeler skillfully depicts the struggles of mothers, missionaries, and spies, while always paying attention to the small, beautiful impulses that make them human.” —Jennie Melamed, author of Gather the Daughters

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn NYRB Classics OriginalSet in the early years of Mao’s China, Naked Earth is the story of two earnest young people confronting the grim realities of revolutionary change. Liu Ch’üan and Su Nan meet in the countryside after volunteering to assist in the new land reform program. Eager to build a more just society, they are puzzled and shocked by the brutality, barely disguised corruption, and ruthless careerism they discover, but then quickly silenced by the barrage of propaganda and public criticism that is directed at anyone who appears to doubt a righteous cause. Joined together by the secret of their common dismay, they remain in touch when Liu departs to work on a newspaper in Peking, where Su Nan eventually also moves. Something like love begins to grow between them—but then a new round of purges sweeps through the revolutionary ranks.One of the greatest and most loved of modern Chinese writers, Eileen Chang illuminates the dark corners of the human existence with a style of disorienting beauty. Naked Earth, unavailable in English for more than fifty years, is a harrowing tale of perverted ideals, damaged souls, deepest loneliness, and terror.

Read more less

Book Synopsis“Ott's prose crackles and sizzles. There's never a dull moment, right to the riveting end. It's the kind of novel Hemingway might have written had he been alive today.” ~Erik Martiny, author of Night of the Long Goodbyes West is a man looking to flee the past, barely old enough to drink and looking to rediscover himself after several tours in Afghanistan as a POW prison guard. After going AWOL, West looks to reunite with Solomon, his childhood best friend, who exists in the dark underworld of a Los Angeles gentleman’s club, Club Paradise. West soon finds himself caught in the web of an Iranian family and its patriarch, Big Z Pourali, a former wrestler with a dark side and side businesses that put his dancers, employees, and family in peril. West stays in LA to look after Solomon but soon falls for the club owner’s daughter Nikki. West must come to terms with the raw underside of a Los Angeles crime family and his own past, all the while hoping to maintain his sanity in the process.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisAt his beloved Nonno Paolo''s deathbed, fifteen-year-old Nico receives a gift that will change his life forever: a yellowing manuscript which tells the haunting, twisty tale of what really happened to his grandfather in Nazi-occupied Venice in 1943.A Times Best Thriller Book of 2022The Palazzo Colombina is home to the Uccello family: three generations of men, trapped together in the dusty palace on Venice''s Grand Canal. Awkward fifteen-year-old Nico. His distant, business-focused father. And his beloved grandfather, Paolo. Paolo is dying. But before he passes, he has secrets he''s waited his whole life to share.When a Jewish classmate is attacked by bullies, Nico just watches - earning him a week''s suspension and a typed, yellowing manuscript from his frail Nonno Paolo. A history lesson, his grandfather says. A secret he must keep from his father. A tale of blood and madness . . .Nico is transported back to the Venice of 1943, an occupied city seething under its Nazi overlords, and to the defining moment of his grandfather''s life: when Paolo''s support for a murdered Jewish woman brings him into the sights of the city''s underground resistance. Hooked and unsettled, Nico can''t stop reading - but he soon wonders if he ever knew his beloved grandfather at all.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe provocative debut by the Women's Fiction Prize 2018-shortlisted author of When I Hit You. When women take to protest, there is no looking back. Sometimes it is over working conditions, other times, perhaps, a strike for higher wages. And so, in a hungry, back-broken community of villages in Tamil Nadu, a group of rural workers begin to defy their landlords. The landlords, in turn, vow to violently crush them. But these punishments only serve to strengthen the villagers' resistance - after all, when starvation is the only option, what else is there to lose...?Trade ReviewDazzling, maddening, often hilarious * The Times *Powerful, lyrical, radical * Guardian *A novel of unmistakable fury * Independent *One of fiction's most fiery and unclassifiable of polemicists -- Claire Armistead * Observer *

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhen reporter Quentin Jones investigates a shadowy military programme during the desert war, he discovers cutting edge technology that simulates reality during interrogation. As the shadowy labyrinth of governmental corruption unfurls and tightens around him, unnerving links to his protégé Bruce keep emerging, who disappeared into the war several years earlier. The Dimensions of A Cave is a haunting journey into networks of power and corruption, exploring our drive towards war and obsession with new technologies. A modern day retelling of Heart of Darkness, this masterful debut novel heralds a dazzling and singular voice in fiction.Trade ReviewA very contemporary story about surveillance capitalism, virtual reality, and 21st-century forever war, [that] will still be read a century from now for the news it brings about the timeless riddle of the human self. It's increasingly rare these days to find a novelist with Greg Jackson's world-swallowing ambition, and rarer still for one to make good on that ambition as gloriously as Jackson does here -- Christopher BehaGreg Jackson's prose is sly, wise, and almost self-consciously heroic, undaunted by the present moment, though it threatens to be our last -- Joshua CohenGreg Jackson is an athletically talented writer who packs so much into every single sentence and scene it almost scares me. His debut novel is somehow both a hardboiled thriller and a philosophical treaty with dialogues that would make Sorkin blush -- Catherine LaceyGreg Jackson's Dimensions of a Cave is, sentence to sentence, a linguistic marvel, a genre-bending tale with moral and philosophical stakes as profound as they come -- Dinaw Mengestu

Read more less

Book SynopsisIf war is madness, how can love survive?Yugoslavia, summer 1979. A new village. A new life. But eight-year-old Miro knows the real reason why his family moved from the inland city of Knin to the sunkissed village of Ljeta on the Dalmatian Coast, a tragedy he tries desperately to forget. The Ljeta years are happy ones, though, and when he marries his childhood sweetheart, and they have a baby daughter, it seems as though life is perfect. However, storm clouds are gathering above Yugoslavia.War breaks out, and one split-second decision destroys the life Miro has managed to build. Driven by anger and grief, he flees to Dubrovnik, plunging himself into the hard-bitten world of international war reporters.There begins a journey that will take him ever deeper into danger: from Dubrovnik, to Sarajevo, to the worst atrocities of war-torn Bosnia, Miro realises that even if he survives, there can be no way back to his earlier life. The war will change him, and everyone he loves, forever.Trade ReviewTender, truthful, moving and at times painful * Sunday Mirror *I loved the way the author merges the compelling personal stories of this family against the dramatic background of the troubles of Yugoslavia in the 1980s. Miro is strong but flawed - an utterly realistic character - and when he is flung into the war his life is changed forever. How he copes with what he witnesses; with loss, disillusion and guilt, makes for a fascinating story which is told with integrity and authenticity -- Rosanna Ley, author of The Villa and Bay of SecretsA rattlingly good read, pacily plotted and ambitious in scope * Wendy Holden, Daily Mail *Thorpe's moving, powerful tale examines how easy it is for us to lose humanity in the face of evil * Daily Express *An important chronicle of one of the most disgraceful conflicts of the late 20th century . . . and quite apart from the history lesson, it's a fascinating read * Irish Independent on Sunday *

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Masterful and beautifully written. Riveting and compellingly authentic. Grips you like a vice from the first page and never lets you go' Damien LewisTwo men are on the run. They have four hundred miles to go across hostile territory. Soldiers on the ground track them day and night, a helicopter circles above, life becomes a second-by-second fight for survival. Each muscle movement, drop of sweat, glance and instinct matters. Every second counts.Through long slogs across country, risky raids for supplies, moments of sheer panic, and under the intense pressure to survive, an unbreakable bond between two men is forged. This stunningly written, adrenaline-pumping novel is a little-known classic of its genre.SHORTLISTED FOR THE FIRST EVER BOOKER PRIZE IN 1969‘England's prose has the tough, spare elegance of steel scaffolding… a brilliant achievement’ The TimesTrade ReviewMasterful and beautifully written. Riveting and compellingly authentic. Grips you like a vice from the first page and never lets you goEngland's prose has the tough, spare elegance of steel scaffolding. His vocabulary is wide, and used with arresting precision. The speed of the narrative is impeccably controlled – long slogs over country, moments of blind panic, passages of demoralizing inactivity, hair-raising evasions, all building up to a central set-piece in a burning field... A brilliant achievement * The Times *Shocked through with dramatic tension * Irish Times *Outstanding … I doubt if there has been a more impressive debut since William Golding’s * Daily Telegraph *

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn epic adventure full of peril on the high seas.1782: Fresh from passing his Lieutenancy examination, Alan Lewrie is promoted to first officer aboard brig o’war Shrike.He is sent to the Caribbean, where the Royal Navy battles the French and Spanish. Despite his assignment, Lieutenant Lewrie just can’t help himself, chasing the attentions of the young Lucy Beaumont.But when ordered to carry diplomats to Florida’s Gulf Coast and form an alliance with the Creeks and Seminoles to resist the spread of a fledgeling US, Lewrie might just get into even more trouble…The King’s Commission is a rip-roaring tale perfect for fans of C.S. Forester and Julian Stockwin.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA secret from the war with the power to change one woman’s future… 1939: War has broken out, and in Albania Bekim’s family take in a Jewish family fleeing from Nazi Austria. The years of war will shape his life in unimaginable ways as Bekim grows to love Hannelore, doing everything in his power to protect her. But will he be enough to keep her safe?2019: Following a shock redundancy, Ruth is taking an extended holiday in southern Italy where she befriends local Zak. When Zak’s dying father asks them to solve a mystery from his past, Ruth leaps at the chance. Journeying through his homeland of Albania, Ruth and Zak race to find the sacred artefacts hidden in the mountains during the war. A stunning and emotional novel of love and danger, perfect for fans of Lorna Cook and Rachel Hore.Praise for Out of the Mountain's Shadow ‘I have to say this is one of the best World War II Historical Fiction books I have read. I have not read any others that take place in Albania. I loved all the characters in the book’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Reader review‘Powerful, gripping, and emotional. It’s another look at the horrors of World War II and how simple ordinary people went to great lengths to protect those that were being persecuted. I highly recommend’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Reader review‘Outstanding - the best book I have read in a long time. Before reading this book I knew nothing about the history of Albania but learnt from reading this novel and it has instilled me to find out more. The characters were all very likeable.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Reader review‘My first book by this author and what a revelation … a tale of courage, hope and love. It’s quite a harrowing journey, and I'm so delighted to have had the privilege to be on it. This book has been executed with such fine detail I have absolutely nothing but 5-star praise for this book’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Reader review

Read more less

Book SynopsisMan against man. Face to face. One machine against another.It was shortly after the outbreak of the First World War. Martin Falconer and his friend, Frank, were anxious to ‘get into the scrap’ as soon as possible, their youth blinding them to the real danger of it all.Geoffrey, Martin’s elder brother, knew that it wasn’t a game. He had fought in the trenches, been wounded and had seen friends die.For Geoffrey the R.F.C. offered an opportunity to escape the mud and horror of the Front, while for Martin and Frank it was the chance to be in at the start of a totally different kind of fighting. They were to be pioneers.A scintillating, full-throttle thriller of the First World War, perfect for fans of W. E. Johns, Derek Robinson and Geoffrey Wellum.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less