Search results for ""Transworld""

Irish is the story of the mass migration from Ireland to Glasgow that took place in the wake of the Great Famine of the mid-nineteenth century. It is an epic account of the coming together of a nation and a city. This is the tale of those who escaped a nightmare existence in the poorest and most deprived country in Europe and changed the city of Glasgow forever. Irish brings to life the horrot of those grim days and reveals the unimaginable suffering endured as a result of the Potatoe Blight. It describes in vivid detail the hazards and hardships faced by those fleeing Ireland in search of a better life overseas, including a startling account of one of the most deplorable maritime crimes ever committed, the voyage of the SS Londonderry. The coming of the Irish to Glasgow had a bigger impact on the city than other event. Now, for the first time, the truth about this most significant and stirring episode is vividly unfolded. It tells of the contribution made by Irish labourers in Glasgow to the Industrial Revolution; reveals that the legendary football clubs of Celtic and Rangers may never have existed were it not for the migrant's arrival; and describes the "Partick War", and the occasion of the first-ever Orange Walk.

Read more less

Robin Friday was an exceptional footballer who should have played for England. He never did. Robin Friday was a brilliant player who could have played in the top flight. He never did. Why? Because Robin Friday was a man who would not bow down to anyone, who refused to take life seriously and who lived every moment as if it were his last. For anyone lucky enough to have seen him play, Robin Friday was up there with the greats. Take it from one who knows: 'There is no doubt in my mind that if someone had taken a chance on him he would have set the top division alight,' says the legendary Stan Bowles. 'He could have gone right to the top, but he just went off the rails a bit.' Loved and admired by everyone who saw him, Friday also had a dark side: troubled, strong-minded, reckless, he would end up destroying himself. Tragically, after years of alcohol and drug abuse, he died at the age of 38 without ever having fulfilled his potential. The Greatest Footballer You Never Saw provides the first full appreciation of a man too long forgotten by the world of football, and, along with a forthcoming film based on Friday's life, with a screenplay by co-author Paolo Hewitt, this book will surely give him the cult status he deserves.

Read more less

Ruby and Grace have grown up in the poorest slums of Hull. Friends since early childhood, they have supported each other in bad times and good. But their families are bound together by more than friendship, and secrets from the past threaten to make their lives even more difficult.The local cotton mill has provided work for Ruby and Grace since they were nine years old, and now years later both girls find themselves the object of attention from the mill owner's sons. As times grow harder, and money ever scarcer, Grace becomes involved in campaigns against poverty and injustice, while Ruby is tempted into prostitution.The two girls are searching for something that could take them far away . . . But what price will they pay to find it?If you like Katie Flynn and Dilly Court, you'll love this heartwarming story of triumph over adversity.---------------------------Praise for Val Wood:'A heart-warming story filled with compelling action' Rosie Goodwin'Hull's answer to Catherine Cookson' BBC Radio 4's Front Row'Wonderfully fully-fleshed characters are the mainstay of [Val Wood's] stories' Peterborough Telegraph

Read more less

THE TIKTOK SENSATION!'This book has everything in it that one could want in a love story... grab a copy and curl up with it for a weekend! You won't be disappointed. The best love story ever!!' Reader review----Joshua Park never expected to be a widower at the age of thirty. Given his solitary job, small circle of friends and family, and the social awkwardness he's always suffered from, he has no idea how to negotiate this new, unwanted phase of life.But Lauren, his wife, had a plan to keep him moving forward. A plan hidden in the letters she leaves him, giving him a task for every month in the year after her death.It's a journey that will take Joshua from his first outing as a widower to buy groceries... to an attempted dinner party that becomes a comic disaster... to finding a new best friend while weeping in the dressing room of a clothing store.As his grief makes room for new friendships and experiences, Joshua learns Lauren's most valuable lesson: the path to happiness doesn't follow a straight line.Funny, sometimes heart-wrenching, and always uplifting, this novel from bestselling author Kristan Higgins illuminates how life's greatest joys are often hiding in plain sight.----Real readers have fallen in love with Pack up the Moon:'Perfect. Get your tissues and ice cream or comfort food of your choice. Absolutely perfect' 5 star reader review'I loved everything about this book!!!! It was so beautifully written' 5 star reader review'I cried throughout the entirety of this book. So emotional and so well written' 5 star reader review'This is the best book I have read so far this year!' 5 star reader review'This book is mesmerizing... couldn't put it down' 5 star reader review

Read more less

Finalist of the 2023 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction'Told in a rich array of voices, this gorgeously written debut explores the myriad syncopations of love and desire' Celeste Ng, author of Little Fires Everywhere'Beautifully and cleverly written...The novel's tender, sensual, enchanting prose entices you into a world of deep longing' Deesha Philyaw, author of The Secret Lives of Church LadiesLove is messy. Love can make us feel alive. It can also bring us down. Sometimes we look for it in all the wrong places. This is a novel about longing, desire and dreams; about passion and risk and all the places in between.Maggie is pregnant with Circus Palmer's child. This may be her last chance, but she craves her freedom.Pia is Circus's ex-wife, still in love with the fantasy of the man who conjured jazz tunes for her into the night, but who left many years before.Koko, Circus's daughter, is lost in the maelstrom of teenage years, the confusion of awakening desire and yearning for the father she barely knows.Peach is a barmaid who just wants someone to see the person she is inside.Odessa is on the run from a mistake that can't be undone.And then there's Circus, Circus Palmer, a jazz trumpeter whose moment of glory is fading. Selfish, damaged, scared, perhaps the only person Circus is fooling is himself.Delivered in a lush orchestration of diverse female voices, Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm is a provocative and gripping novel about the desire to be loved, and the need to belong.*****'An exceptional debut...This story is an example of how love, in all of its polyrhythms, can sometimes sound like song, and other times like noise. And this book is an example of how a great story can become a bass drum, kicking and thumping in your belly far after it's over. A modern masterpiece.' Jason Reynolds, author of Look Both Ways'Soulful... Elegant, unexpected and wrenching as the "fierce" sounds that emerge from Circus's trumpet . . . Unforgettable' New York Times Book Review'[An] emerging literary superstar . . . This sensual and sensuous debut is a kaleidoscopic character study, a polyphonic riff on the modern-day Casanova from the perspectives of the myriad women in his wake' Oprah Daily'A sultry and subversive debut. Laura Warrell's prose sparkles, but it's what she's got to say about sex and love and being a woman that will take your breath away. This book is a love song, and Warrell knows how to hold all the right notes.' Rachel Beanland, author of Florence Adler Swims Forever'Jazz music is to be played sweet, soft, plenty rhythm,' proclaimed Jelly Roll Morton, and Warrell plays her exceptional first novel with plenty of rhythm and tenderness, delivered in brisk, mordantly gorgeous language' Library Journal'A book about desire and about love, about where these emotions meet and part and sometimes interlace in inescapable ways...a classic in the making.' Brian Castleberry, author of Nine Shiny Objects

Read more less

'Cunning, explosive . . . A thumping good read.' Time OutJack Reacher, alone, strolling nowhere. A Chicago street in bright sunshine. A young woman, struggling on crutches. Reacher offers her a steadying arm.And turns to see a handgun aimed at his stomach.Chained in a dark van racing across America, Reacher doesn't know why they've been kidnapped. The woman claims to be FBI. She's certainly tough enough. But at their remote destination, will raw courage be enough to overcome the hopeless odds?_________Although the Jack Reacher novels can be read in any order, Die Trying is the 2nd in the series.And be sure not to miss Reacher's newest adventure, no.27, No Plan B! ***OUT NOW***

Read more less

Margriet grew up as a lonely child in the old town of Hull. Her adored father often travelled by sea to the Netherlands, leaving her with an unaffectionate mother and only her imagination of a little Dutch girl, Anneliese, to keep her company. When devastation ravages her tiny family. Annelise becomes the comforting friend Margriet needs for a long time to come.A few years later, Margriet is blossoming into a kind young lady. Keen to escape her mother and strike out on her own, she forms an unlikely friendship with some of the street children who roam the town.As Margriet acts upon her inspiration to help them, will the troubles of her past break her spirit, or will she be able to overcome them?If you've liked books by Katie Flynn and Dilly Court, you'll love Val's heart-rending stories of triumph over adversity.

Read more less

'Lyrical' Daily Mail'Beautiful' Spectator'Skilled' Financial Times'Vulnerable' Guardian'Deft' Independent'Profound' Observer'The beginning of summer. Perhaps it crosses my mind even now while I wait for news of Amy that something is coming towards us. Like sighting the first slow swell of a wave.'Years ago, in an almost accidental moment of heroism, Ed saved Amy from drowning. Now, in his thirties, he finds himself adrift. He's been living in London for years - some of them good - but he's stuck in a relationship he can't move forward, has a job that just pays the bills, and can't shake the sense that life should mean more than this. Perhaps all Ed needs is a moment to pause. To exhale and start anew. And when he meets Amy again by chance, it seems that happiness might not be so far out of reach. But then tragedy overtakes him, and Ed must decide whether to let history and duty define his life, or whether he should push against the tide and write his own story.Filled with hope and characteristic warmth, Undercurrent is a moving and intimate portrait of love, of life and why we choose to share ours with the people we do.

Read more less

A delightfully touching and uplifting saga from the Sunday Times bestselling author Susan Sallis, perfect for fans of Maeve Binchy, Fiona Valpy and Rosamunde Pilcher.READERS ARE LOVING SEARCHING FOR TILLY!"I loved this story. Her style is flowing and she really knows how to make her characters come alive." - 5 STARS"This is one of the best books I have read, certainly another amazing one by Susan Sallis. It cleverly spans generations while pulling the generations together into one story. Mystery, with a touch of supernatural intrigue. Very clever, would read again. " - 5 STARS"Brilliant as usual" - 5 STARS*****************************************CAN REVELATIONS FROM THE PAST HELP THEM START A NEW LIFE?Three women came to the remote Cornish cottage that summer: Jenna, only twenty-six and grieving for the loss of the love of her life; her mother Caro, whose husband Steve had also died; and Laura, who had been married to Caro's beloved brother Geoff. The Widow's Cottage, the house where they were staying was called, and it was poignantly suitable.In that tiny Cornish community they discover strange memories of their ancestors, and especially of Tilly, Caro's mother, whose family history seemed to mirror so much of their own.They become swept up in the dramatic story of Tilly and her family, a story which takes them on an epic journey across the West Country and to the solution of an amazing family mystery.

Read more less

The adventure filled memoir from the world's most beloved trainspotter, TikTok sensation Francis Bourgeois.'Francis is one of the kindest, most genuine people I've met in a long time. His passion and unadulterated happiness is inspiring. I can't wait for more magical adventures with him.' - Joe Jonas'A National Treasure Of The TikTok Age.' - Grazia'Thrashing builds and builds. I look down and pull up my sleeve: I've got goosebumps, making all the hairs on my arm stand on end. I'm absolutely buzzing.' From sleeping in a car to get a good shot of 73962 Dick Mabbutt to trainspotting with Niall Horan, Francis Bourgeois has been on one hell of a ride over the past year. Bringing joy to millions, his epic journeys have highlighted the importance of connecting with your passions.In The Trainspotter's Notebook, Francis shares his greatest trainspotting adventures and takes you with him across the fields and footbridges of Britain, passing through historic terminals and backwater stations in pursuit of tones, thrash and locomotive perfection. Told in his inimitable style, these hilarious and heart-warming tales take you behind the scenes of his most popular videos, and celebrate the places and people of the railway.Are you ready to depart?'Oh for goodness sake, I'm on the wrong platform!'

Read more less

Readers of Rosamunde Pilcher, Maeve Binchy and Fiona Valpy will simply love this utterly captivating, emotional and memorable novel from The Sunday Times bestselling author Susan Sallis.Readers are loving The Apple Barrel!"A book you can become immersed in and just enjoy" - 5 STARS"Susan Sallis has such an insight into characters - a very moving, interesting story" - 5 STARS"Beautifully written....kept my attention to the end" - 5 STARS"One of those books where you are unaware how long you have been reading! Loved it!" - 5 STARS"A book that you have great difficulty putting down but very sorry when it's finished" - 5 STARS********************************************************WHEN FACED WITH BETRAYAL, CAN YOU FIND PEACE? Hope and Jack Langley's marriage gets off to a promising start: they spend their honeymoon in a primitive Cornish cottage called Widdershins and Hope falls in love with the place on sight - even though half of it has fallen down, water has to be pumped by hand and there are no sea views.Soon after they return home to begin married life in a small village outside Gloucester, Hope discovers she is pregnant. And, almost simultaneously, the glamorous Petersens, Henrik and Mandy, move in as new neighbours. Local rumour about the couple is rife: they are rich, they are Norwegian, they aren't married, they give crazy parties. To Hope and Jack, they seem reassuringly normal and kind and soon the two couples became close.With the birth of their second daughter, the Langleys' happiness seems complete. But appearances can be deceptive.The challenges that eventually confront Hope are almost overwhelming, and the only place that offers refuge and peace is her beloved Widdershins.

Read more less

'An electrifying debut, and the perfect summer read... A million out of five stars!' Ali Hazelwood, The Love Hypothesis'Swoony, sexy, funny, and profoundly moving' Ava Wilder, How to Fake it in Hollywood'This road trip romance is guaranteed to sweep you off your feet!' Amy Lea, Set on You'Stunningly heartfelt and sexy beyond words' Rachel Lynn Solomon, The Ex Talk---Two weeks on the road... stuck in a car with your high-school enemy.Noelle Shepard is grieving the loss of her beloved grandmother when she discovers decades-old photos and letters that hint to a forbidden love in her gram's past. Needing to know the full story, she creates a TikTok video appealing for information - and it goes viral.Through her video, she manages to track down her grandmother's secret love, Paul, who offers to take her on the honeymoon road-trip he and Gram planned but never got to go on.Noelle jumps at the chance to make this one last connection with her grandmother. There's just one problem - Paul's grandson is Noelle's frustratingly handsome high-school rival Theo.And Theo has to come, too.It's only two weeks. Surely Noelle can survive that long? But with one car between them - and often only one bed - it doesn't take long for things to heat up...---Readers are loving You, With a View'I can't wait for everyone to scream about this... Absolute romance perfection''This was a couldn't-put-it-down/read-almost-in-one-sitting read for me... A true romance novel where my heart was left a mushy happy mess''EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS BOOK IS PERFECT TO ME''An absolute stunner of a debut. The banter between the two characters is top-notch and hilarious''Do yourself a favour and add this to your TBR immediately!'

Read more less

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER - NOW UPDATED WITH FOUR NEW CHAPTERS'This swashbuckling book is a furious attack on the Russian president. Killer in the Kremlin traces Putin's bloody career... a life littered with corpses.' - THE TIMESA gripping and explosive account of Vladimir Putin's tyranny, charting his rise from spy to tsar, exposing the events that led to his invasion of Ukraine and his assault on Europe.In Killer in the Kremlin, award-winning journalist John Sweeney takes readers from the heart of Putin's Russia to the killing fields of Chechnya, to the embattled cities of an invaded Ukraine.In a disturbing exposé of Putin's sinister ambition, Sweeney draws on thirty years of his own reporting - from the Moscow apartment bombings to the atrocities committed by the Russian Army in Chechnya, to the annexation of Crimea and a confrontation with Putin over the shooting down of flight MH17 - to understand the true extent of Putin's long war.Drawing on eyewitness accounts and compelling testimony from those who have suffered at Putin's hand, we see the heroism of the Russian opposition, the bravery of the Ukrainian resistance, and the brutality with which the Kremlin responds to such acts of defiance, assassinating or locking away its critics, and stopping at nothing to achieve its imperialist aims.In the midst of one of the darkest acts of aggression in modern history - Russia's invasion of Ukraine - this book shines a light on Putin's rule and poses urgent questions about how the world must respond.'An extraordinarily prescient and fascinating book.' - NIHAL ARTHANAYAKEInstant Sunday Times bestseller, March 2023

Read more less

From the Booker longlisted author, and an Irish Times No.1 bestseller - a searing, jubilant novel about four generations of women and the stories that bind them.'Beautiful, compassionate ... Donal Ryan at his inimitable best.' MAGGIE O'FARRELL'One of the finest novelists writing today... a haunting, exquisite masterpiece.' RACHEL JOYCE___________This is a story about family, about all of the things it should be - and sometimes isn't.In Nenagh, County Tipperary, four generations of Aylward women live and love. The head of the family, Nana, is a woman who has buried two sons and whose life has been the family farm. Her daughter-in-law, Eileen, is estranged from her own parents, having 'shamed' them and given birth to Saoirse. And then there's Saoirse herself, eavesdropping on lives she cannot comprehend. It is only when they must battle for the inheritance of Dirt Island - a narrow strip of land adjacent to Eileen's childhood home - that they truly understand the roots that bind their lives together._________'The prose drips like honey off a spoon' SUNDAY TIMES'Beautifully poised, sad, poetic and human....I loved every single line.' IAN RANKIN'A generous mosaic of a novel about the staying power of love and pride and history and family' COLUM McCANN'His paragraphs are unnoticeably beautiful, his heart always on show' ANNE ENRIGHT'Endlessly surprising and incredibly moving' DAVID NICHOLLS'A life-enhancing talent' SEBASTIAN BARRY'I would struggle to think of any other Irish author working today who writes with as much compassion as Donal Ryan' LOUISE O'NEILL

Read more less

No one speaks to strangers on the train. What would happen if they did?Find out in the feel-good read of the year.Readers are falling in love with The People on Platform 5:'Incredible book, full of joy and warmth and love!''A great novel with some truly wonderful characters''The fantastic cast of eclectic characters will steal your heart & have you rooting for their happy endings''A feel-good, once-in-a-lifetime story'­­­-----------------------Every day at 8:05, Iona Iverson boards the train to go to work. As a seasoned commuter, she knows there are rules that everyone should follow:· You must have a job to go to· Don't consume hot food· Always pack for any eventuality· You must never speak to strangers on the trainIona sees the same group of people each day - ones she makes assumptions about, gives nicknames to, but never ever talks to.But then, one morning, Smart-but-Sexist-Surbiton chokes on a grape right in front of Iona. Suspiciously-Nice-New Malden steps up to help and saves his life, and this one event sparks a chain reaction.With nothing in common but their commute, an eclectic group of people learn that their assumptions about each other don't match reality. But when Iona's life begins to fall apart, will her new friends be there when she needs them most?­­­-----------------------'Utterly gorgeous. A proper good pick-me-up of a book' RUTH JONES'Warm, funny and moving' ROSIE WALSH'Full of original characters and wisdom' KATIE FFORDE'Sunny, funny and full of heart' NITA PROSE'Feel-good fiction at its best' SOPHIE COUSENS'Gloriously entertaining and completely addictive' HAZEL PRIOR

Read more less

'Totally addictive' JUNO DAWSON'Completely riveting' FABULOUS'Glamorous, surprising' MARIAN KEYES'Utterly gripping. Unsettling' LUCY FOLEY'An absolute page turner' CECILIA AHERN******Samantha Miller is everything her fans want to be. Her three million followers hang on her every word - she's an oracle, telling them how to be their best, true selves.To promote her new number-one bestseller, she's written an essay about her sexual awakening as a teenager with her best friend, Lisa. She's never told a soul, now she's telling the world.But Lisa's memory of that night is far darker.It's Sam's word against Lisa's - so whose 'truth' is really a lie?******'Darkly delicious' ELIZABETH DAY'Compulsive, brilliant' ABIGAIL DEAN'Utterly compelling' HOLLY BOURNE'Clever and beautifully crafted' OBSERVER

Read more less

'DON'T PUT YOUR TRUST IN REVOLUTIONS. THEY ALWAYS COME ROUND AGAIN. THAT'S WHY THEY'RE CALLED REVOLUTIONS. PEOPLE DIE, AND NOTHING CHANGES.'The twenty-fifth of May is an important, sombre day in Ankh-Morpork - the anniversary of one of the city's bloodiest rebellions.But crime stops for nothing, as Commander Sam Vimes of the City Watch knows. When a notorious serial killer emerges from hiding, the chase leads the Watch to the roofs of Unseen University where a magical storm is brewing. It's a case of wrong place, very wrong time.For Vimes finds himself back in his own rough, tough past with only a killer for company and a city on the brink of revolution to contend with. But he must survive, because he has a job to do: track down the murderer and change the outcome of the rebellion.And get back to the future before his wife gives birth, of course.All in a day's work ...'The best Discworld book in the whole world ever. Until next time.' SFXNight Watch is the sixth book in the City Watch series, but you can read the Discworld novels in any order.

Read more less

'A lie can run round the world before the truth can get its boots on.'William de Worde has somehow found himself editor of Ankh-Morpork's first newspaper. Well, with a name like that . . .Launched into the world of investigative journalism, alongside reporter Sacharissa Cripslock, William soon learns that the news is a risky business. For a start, his colleagues include a band of axe-wielding dwarfs and a recovering vampire with a life-threatening passion for flash photography.It's a big news week: the most powerful man in the city has been arrested, leaving Ankh-Morpork without a leader. And a dangerous criminal organisation will do anything to control the story . . .'An unmitigated delight . . . very, very funny' The TimesThe Discworld novels can be read in any order but The Truth is a standalone.

Read more less

'YOU CANNOT INTERFERE WITH FATE. WHO ARE YOU TO JUDGE WHO SHOULD LIVE AND WHO SHOULD DIE?'Death comes to us all. When he came to Mort, he offered him a job.Death is the Grim Reaper of the Discworld, a black-robed skeleton with a scythe who ushers souls into the next world. He is also fond of cats and endlessly baffled by humanity. Soon Death is yearning to experience what humanity really has to offer, but to do that, he'll need to hire some help.It's an offer Mort can't refuse. As Death's apprentice he'll have free board, use of the company horse - and being dead isn't compulsory. It's a dream job - until Mort falls in love with Death's daughter, Ysabell, and discovers that your boss can be a killer on your love life . . .'Incredibly funny, compulsively readable' The Times'Cracking dialogue, compelling illogic and unchained whimsy' Sunday TimesMort is the first book in the Death series, but you can read the Discworld novels in any order.

Read more less

'This didn't feel like magic. It felt a lot older than that. It felt like music.'Being sixteen is always difficult, but it's even more so when there's a Death in the family. Susan hasn't exactly had a normal upbringing, with a skeletal grandfather who rides a white horse and wields a scythe.When Death decides he needs a well-earned break, he leaves Susan to take over the family business. The only problem is, everyone mistakes her for the Tooth Fairy . . .Well, not the only problem. There's a new, addictive music in Discworld. It's lawless. It changes people. It's got a beat and you can dance to it.It's called Music With Rocks In. And it won't fade away . . .'Genius . . . deals with death with startling originality' New York Times'His spectacular inventiveness makes the Discworld series one of the perennial joys of modern fiction' Mail on SundaySoul Music is the third book in the Death series, but you can read the Discworld novels in any order.

Read more less

'Anything you do in the past changes the future. The tiniest little actions have huge consequences. You might tread on an ant now and it might entirely prevent someone from being born in the future.'Rincewind, inept wizard and reluctant hero, has found himself magically stranded on the Discworld's last continent.It's hot. It's dry. There was this thing once called The Wet, which no one believes in any more. Practically everything that's not poisonous is venomous. But it's the best bloody place in the world, all right?And in a few days, it will die. The only thing standing between the last continent and wind-blown doom is Rincewind, and he can't even spell wizard. Still . . . no worries, eh?'A minor masterpiece. I laughed so much I fell from my armchair' Time Out'A master storyteller' A. S. ByattThe Last Continent is the sixth book in the Wizards series, but you can read the Discworld novels in any order.

Read more less

'There's a kind of magic in masks. Masks conceal one face, but they reveal another. The one that only comes out in darkness . . .'The Opera House in Ankh-Morpork is home to music, theatrics and a harmless masked Ghost who lurks behind the scenes. But now a set of mysterious backstage murders may just stop the show.Agnes Nitt has left her rural home of Lancre in the hopes of launching a successful singing career in the big city. The only problem is, she doesn't quite look the part. And there are two witches who would much rather she return home to join their coven.Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg have travelled to Ankh-Morpork to convince Agnes that life as a witch is much better than one on the stage. Only now they're caught up in a murder mystery featuring masks and maniacal laughter.And the show MUST go on . . .'A master storyteller' A. S. Byatt'Funny, delightfully inventive, and refuses to lie down in its genre' ObserverMaskerade is the fifth book in the Witches series, but you can read the Discworld novels in any order.

Read more less

'The Ugly Truth is fresh, compelling and searing in its exploration of the toxicity of social media and the reality of modern celebrity. Not to be missed!' Lisa Jewell, bestselling author of THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS'#FreeBritney meets The Appeal in this addictively unique thriller' Jack Jordan, bestselling author of Do No Harm_"I'm a prisoner. I'm not allowed to leave. There is someone watching me every minute of the day."Media superstar Melanie Lange has disappeared.Her father, billionaire business tycoon Sir Peter Lange, says she is a danger to herself and has been admitted to a private mental health clinic.Her ex-husband, Finn, and best friend, Nell, say she has been kidnapped. They are deeply concerned for her safety.The media will say whichever gets them the most views - no matter what the cost.But whose side are you on? And where is Melanie?_'A startling thriller with a sharp edge. Fast and compelling, it leaves you gasping for breath' Daily Mail'A whip-smart and ingenious thriller' Lesley Kara, bestselling author of The Rumour'Original, timely, thought-provoking' B. A. Paris, bestselling author of Behind Closed Doors'A compelling read that will make you look at headlines in a different way' GlamourReaders are obsessed with The Ugly Truth!'There are some books that quickly become an obsession. The Ugly Truth is one of those books''The Ugly Truth is a phenomenal thriller from start to finish. L.C. North really knows what she's doing''An absolutely spot-on portrayal of the harsh landscape that is modern-day fame and celebrity. As disturbing as it is thought-provoking' Told via interviews, transcripts and diary entries, The Ugly Truth is a shocking and addictive thriller about fame, power and the truth behind the headlines.

Read more less

From the pen of multi-million copy seller and Sunday Times bestselling author Susan Sallis comes a magnificent and sweeping novel that asks whether friendships really can endure through thick and thin. Readers of Rosamunde Pilcher, Maeve Binchy and Fiona Valpy will not be disappointed.READERS ARE LOVING COME RAIN OR SHINE!"Brilliant, I couldn't put it down." - 5 STARS"Great storyline. Took me a while to place everyone, so many wonderful characters. But so worth it. Susan Sallis puts you right there, in the thick of it." - 5 STARS"Wonderful" - 5 STARS"It was exciting and intriguing and nicely slow at the same time" - 5 STARS***********************************************************************************************************SOME FRIENDSHIPS REALLY DO STAND THE TEST OF TIME. WILL THEIRS?The four of them were close when they worked together in the 1960s: Natasha, Prudence, Rachel and Maisie.Now, twenty years later, Natasha, newly divorced and back from America with a fifteen-year-old daughter, decides there must be a reunion. Pru, always the mysterious one, deeply involved with her commune in Cornwall, unexpectedly offers to host at Prospect House, a property she has inherited in the Malvern Hills. Rachel, married to her former boss, a Liberal MP, gladly leaves a tangled domestic situation to join the friends she hasn't seen for so long.And Maisie ... Maisie, perhaps the most vulnerable of the four, mother of five children, married to the unpredictable Edward, fails to arrive at Prospect House.The drama of her disappearance has a far-reaching effect on the lives and destinies of them all...

Read more less

Richard Osman meets MasterChef. In this cookery school, murder is on the menu...'Delicious fun!' Tess Gerritsen'Knife Skills for Beginners is a joy.' S. J. Bennett‘A deliciously dark slice of murder and mystery.’ Chris Whitaker'If Ruth Rendell had teamed up with Delia Smith they’d have produced something like this.’ J. M. Hall‘Dazzlingly sharp with a wit that sparkles off the page.' Jane CorryA recipe for disaster.When chef Paul Delamare takes a job teaching at an exclusive residential cookery school in Belgravia, the only thing he expects his students to murder is his taste buds. But on the first night, the unthinkable happens: someone turns up dead...The school rests on a knife-edge.The police are convinced Paul is the culprit. After all, he’s good with a blade, was first on the scene – and everyone knows it doesn’t take much to push a chef over the edge. To prove his innocence, he must find the killer. Could it be one of his students? Or the owner of the school – a woman with secrets and a murky past?It all boils down to murder.If Paul can’t solve the mystery fast – as well as teach his students how to make a perfect hollandaise sauce – he’ll be next to get the chop.

Read more less

*Please note this is not a novel, but a companion book for Reacher fans*NOW UPDATED TO INCLUDE A Q&A WITH LEE CHILD AND ALAN RITCHSON, STAR OF PRIME TV'S HIT SERIES, REACHERMy name is Jack Reacher.No middle name, no address.I'm a man with a rule. People leave me alone, I leave them alone. If they don't, I don't.As every Reacher fan knows, you don't have to break the rules if you make the rules.Rule 1. NEVER VOLUNTEER FOR ANYTHINGRule 2: BE ON YOUR FEET AND READYRule 3. SHOW THEM WHAT THEY'RE MESSING WITH Rule 4: DON'T BREAK THE FURNITURERule 5: IF IN DOUBT, DRINK COFFEE'There's only one Jack Reacher. Accept no substitutes'MICK HERRON

Read more less

This collection of imagined book covers will have you scratching your head and laughing out loud with every page turn. Though Pranks with Sausages and Holy Bible II don't actually exist, Rejected Books offers up a professionally produced catalogue of the worst books imaginable, and what these tomes (and plenty more) could look like.Rejected Books includes delightfully weird covers of imagined books like:The Sculptors Who Couldn't Do HandsCooking with Breast MilkPossessed Toys: A Buying GuideUnfortunate Gluing AccidentsCamel Toes Through HistoryEnjoy the worst book pitches of all time and rest assured that anyone can have a future in publishing ... even if your ideas are totally horrible.

Read more less

'[A] captivating and dramatic account. . . Drawn from letters and diaries, Holland’s immersive narrative is told through the eye-level perspectives of dozens of subjects. Readers will be enthralled' Publishers Weekly‘Tells the story of the hard, bloody, muddy fighting that filled the rest of 1943… this excellent book reinforces Holland’s reputation as the busiest and most popular military historian of the second world war working today’ Spectator‘A remarkable achievement by a historian at the height of his powers. Holland has successfully illustrated both the signi­ficance and the savagery of the Italian campaign... through a powerful and compelling narrative’ Military History Matters_____________________From the bestselling author of Brothers in Arms comes the story of the most pivotal Allies campaign of World War II.With the invasion of France the following year taking shape, and hot on the heels of victory in Sicily, the Allies crossed into Southern Italy in September 1943. They expected to drive the Axis forces north and be in Rome by Christmas. And although Italy surrendered, the German forces resisted fiercely and the swift hoped-for victory descended into one of the most brutal battles of the war.Even though shipping and materiel were already being safeguarded for the D-Day landings, there were still huge expectations on the progress of the invading armies, but those shortages were to slow the advance with tragic consequences. As the weather closed in, the critical weeks leading up to Monte Cassino would inflict a heavy price for every bloody, hard fought mile the Allied troops covered.Chronicling those dark, dramatic months in unflinching and insightful detail, The Savage Storm is unlike any campaign history yet written. James Holland has always recounted the Second World War at ground level, but this version telling brings the story vividly to life like never before. Weaving together a wealth of letters, diaries, and other incredible documents, Holland traces the battles as they were fought - across plains, over mountains, through shattered villages and cities, in intense heat and, towards the end, frigid cold and relentless rain - putting readers at the heart of the action to create an entirely fresh and revealing telling of this most pivotal phase of the war._____________________Praise for James Holland'Impeccably researched and superbly written' Observer'Holland has something new to say.... Filled with insight and detail' Neil Oliver'James Holland is the best of the new generation of WW2 historians' Sebastian Faulks

Read more less

'Nathan Law's agonising account of China's ruthless takeover of Hong Kong provides a terrible insight into Beijing's ambitions - the world needs to read this.' - Jon Snow 'In Freedom, Nathan Law paints a deeply personal portrait of sheer courage... An essential and timely read.' - Speaker Nancy PelosiWhat does it mean to be truly free? And can any of us be free until all of us are?Nobel Peace Prize nominee Nathan Law has experienced first-hand the shocking speed with which our freedom can be taken away from us, as an elected politician arrested simply for speaking his mind. He remembers what it is like to lack freedom - and his father's precarious three-day escape from China in a small rowing boat.When authoritarianism makes gains around the world, demanding our silence as the price of doing business, it poses a challenge to democracy everywhere.In this passionate rallying cry, Law argues that we must defend our freedom now or face losing it for ever.'Now we all need to stand firm to defend our freedoms, to ensure truth is not determined by dictators. We are born free and as equals. As long as we believe in that, no one can take it away from us.'

Read more less

THE PERFECT GIFT FOR THOSE WHO LOVE LONDON.A RADIO 4 BEST FOOD AND DRINK BOOK OF THE YEAR.An illustrated guide to London's best pubs and their extraordinary history, presented by the founder of the world-famous Liquid History Tours.Pull up a stool for a thirst-quenching trundle through London's liquid history in search of the city's greatest pubs. We raise a toast in Shakespeare's local, pop in for a pint at Jack the Ripper's bar and push open the bloodstained doors of the Bucket of Blood.Liquid History is a beautifully illustrated love letter to London's finest hostelries, written by the city's leading pub tour guide and host of the celebrated Liquid History Tours. Profiling over 50 timeless boozers, this book tells the story of London's history and the taverns that have hosted, harboured and refreshed its leading characters.Exploring the watering holes of London's writers and artists, its most notorious criminals and celebrated figures, we move from architectural marvels to secretive backstreet boozers to join the dots for London's ultimate knees-up.

Read more less

The perfect gift for any music lover . . . 'Hepworth has more insider knowledge and knows more rock anecdotes than any man alive' The Herald'Unmissable for music enthusiasts' Woman & HomeThe Rock and Roll A Level is here to rescue the pop quiz from the grip of bores who know the chart position of everything and the value of nothing.It's for the people who like pop music because it tells them so much about real life, the people who learned about America from the songs of Chuck Berry, about Europe from the albums of David Bowie and about all manner of things from the songs of Steely Dan.It's the first quiz book where the answers are as interesting as the questions.It's the first quiz book where general knowledge matters as much as an adolescence spent reading the NME or Smash Hits.It's a proper education.

Read more less

Including such gems as Why Are You in The Shower With Me? Our Love is Tested in Traffic and What Time Should We Leave for the Airport? John Kenney's poems are packed with funny, wry observations about the reality of life once the initial shine of a relationship has dulled. From parental gripes to dwindling sex lives; from less-than-romantic gifts to irritating personal habits, it's all covered.____________________Are you in the mood?I am.Let's put the kids down.Have a light dinner.Shower.Maybe not drink so much.And do that thing I would rather do with you than with anyone else.Lie in bed and look at our iPhones.

Read more less

Born of bright-white wishing and black-edged desire, the Grimm girls each command a single element and wield it with great power. But a child born of a Grimm and a fallen star will have command over every element . . . and wield infinite power.At twenty-one, Goldie gave birth to a daughter by her dead lover. Now Goldie is nearly thirty and Luna almost nine. Conceived in the realm between life and death, Luna is part star-soldier, part Grimm and now those opposing forces are waging war within her.Terrified of losing her increasingly volatile child, Goldie goes on the run. Then an act of violence forces her to return and Luna is taken into care. Mother and child can still meet - in the haunted otherworld that is Everwhere.Desperate to reclaim her daughter, Goldie must also confront whatever is corrupting Everwhere. For fresh leaves are falling, and Grimm girls are dying. Fearing the return of her father, Goldie knows she cannot succeed alone and summons her sisters.But can the bonds of sisterhood bear the terrible price that will be paid . . .

Read more less

The perfect gift for the Spice Girls fan in your life!‘Lauren Bravo is one of my very favourite writers.’ Dolly Alderton'A joyous and energetic celebration of girlhood, friendship and pop culture. If you have ever sung into the lid of a can of Impulse body spray, you need to read this.' Daisy BuchananThe words 'girl power' conjure vivid memories of short skirts and platform boots. But it wasn't just about the look, it was about feminism. The Spice Girls gave a generation their first glimpse of the power of friendship, of staying true to yourself, of sheer bloody-mindedness. And the girl power generation went on to kick-start a new conversation around gender equality.We may have grown up asking What Would the Spice Girls Do?, but their particular brand of feminism is as relevant today as it was twenty years ago – we still need that fun and fearlessness, we still need accessible and all-embracing equality… we still need a zig-a-zig-ah.‘The Spice Girls’ arrival on the pop scene marked the gateway to a modern form of feminism, all dressed up as a riotously good time.’ StylistAs featured in Elle magazine's Best Feminist Gift Books

Read more less

A DEADLY VIRUS. QUARANTINE. A WORLD IN LOCKDOWN. THE THRILLER THAT PREDICTED IT ALL. THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER'Flies thrillingly, eerily close to reality' Guardian'This page-turner... is riveting and spookily anticipates much that has unfolded in reality' Sunday TimesA race-against-time thriller, as one man must find the origin and cure for a new killer virus that has brought the world to its knees.At an internment camp in Indonesia, forty-seven people are pronounced dead with a mysterious fever. When Dr Henry Parsons - microbiologist and epidemiologist - travels there on behalf of the World Health Organization to investigate, what he finds will soon have staggering repercussions across the globe.As international tensions rise and governments enforce unprecedented measures, Henry finds himself in a race against time to track the source and find a cure - before it's too late . . .***WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:'If you have a desire to really understand what is going on in the world right now, this is a novel that you cannot afford to miss!''Well-written and fast-paced. Most of all utterly, scarily, believable.'

Read more less

'A charming page-turner of a romance' Laura Jane Williams, bestselling author of Our Stop'A heart-warming tale . . . sure to tug at your heart-strings' Woman's Own_________________Alice and Alife couldn't be more different.He's charming, talkative and outgoing. She's reserved, efficient and a workaholic.Forced together by circumstance, they can't see each other but they can talk - and as Alfie slowly brings Alice out of her shell, they start to get to know each other better.The connection between them feels real, but can you really fall for someone you've never seen? ___Readers are falling in love with Before I Saw You:***** 'One of the must-reads of 2021! It is beautifully written with characters that have such great depth.'***** 'An absolute joy and a love story about falling in love and allowing yourself to be loved.'***** 'A funny, heart-wrenching and beautiful love story. Absolutely loved it.'

Read more less

'Will keep you reading long into the night. I absolutely loved it.' Lesley Kara'Absolutely outstanding.' Lauren North________________________________Jenny has just given birth to the baby she's always wanted. She's never been this happy.Her husband, Leo, knows this baby girl can't be his. He's never felt so betrayed.The same night, a vulnerable young woman, Hannah, wakes to find her newborn lifeless beside her. She's crazed with grief.When chance throws Hannah into Leo's path, they make a plan that will have shattering consequences for all of them.Years later, a sixteen-year-old girl reads an article in a newspaper, and embarks on a journey to uncover the truth about herself. But what she learns will put everything she has ever known - and her own life - in grave danger. Because some people will go to desperate lengths to protect the secrets their lives are built on . . .________________________________'As always, Emma Curtis's clever skilful writing keeps the reader racing through the pages.' Jane Corry'A blood-chilling scenario that set my heart racing . . . Emma Curtis is the queen of the unputdownable thriller.' Nuala Ellwood *****READERS CAN'T STOP TALKING ABOUT KEEP HER QUIET'Lots of twists and turns, suspense and heart-stopping moments' 'The type of book that you GENUINELY can't put down' 'Emma Curtis just gets better all the time' 'This book will suck you right in and you won't want to stop reading' 'With each page I turned the intensity of this psychological thriller increased'

Read more less

'An incredible book. Profoundly affecting and deeply soulful. This book will stay with me forever.' Ruth Jones, No.1 Sunday Times bestselling authorI don't know how you've made it this far . . .Sami's childhood is much like any other - school with his friends, dinners with his family, playing with his pets (stray cats and dogs, and the turtle he keeps on the roof).But with Syria at war with itself, nothing is really normal. And Sami's hopes for a better future are about to be ripped away.Inspired by extraordinary true events, The Stray Cats of Homs is the breathtaking story of a young man who will do anything to keep the dream of home alive.___'An absolutely riveting novel and a searing and incredibly important book. Storytelling at its best.' Donal Ryan'Warm, captivating and inspiring.' Mike Thomson, author of Syria's Secret Library'Compelling and uncompromising' BBC Radio 4, Sunday

Read more less

'This grown-up love story is gorgeously written and romantic without being sentimental' Good Housekeeping'This tender tale of second chances... is a nostalgic delight' Sunday MirrorYou never forget the one that got away. Daniel was the first boy to make Alison a mix tape.But that was years ago and Ali hasn't thought about him in a very long time. Even if she had, she might not have called him 'the one that got away'; after all, she'd been the one to run.Then Dan's name pops up on her phone, with a link to a song from their shared past.For two blissful minutes, Alison is no longer an adult in Adelaide with temperamental daughters; she is sixteen in Sheffield, dancing in her skin-tight jeans. She cannot help but respond in kind.And so begins a new mix tape.Ali and Dan exchange songs - some new, some old - across oceans and time zones, across a lifetime of different experiences, until one of them breaks the rules and sends a message that will change everything...__________Readers have fallen in love with Mix Tape!'I laughed, I cried, I listened to the music. I wanted to know the characters in real life.' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'This book is beautiful. The writing is so emotive and evocative.' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'I LOVED this book - the music in it brought back so many memories from my teenage years.' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'Mix Tape is is my idea of story heaven. I loved it. Really loved it. I'm telling everyone I know about it.' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'What a wonderful book! Tenderly written and with characters that are so different but all make their own mark.' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Read more less

**Don't miss Granny McCreedy's brand-new adventure in Call of the Penguins - available now!**A Richard & Judy Book Club and BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick.A truly feel-good book club read - a #1 bestseller in ebook and audio!'This year's Eleanor Oliphant . . . Funny, bittersweet and wholly original.' Daily ExpressVeronica McCreedy is about to have the journey of a lifetime . . .Veronica McCreedy lives in a mansion by the sea. She loves a nice cup of Darjeeling tea whilst watching a good wildlife documentary. And she's never seen without her ruby-red lipstick.Although these days Veronica is rarely seen by anyone because, at 85, her days are spent mostly at home, alone.She can be found either collecting litter from the beach ('people who litter the countryside should be shot'), trying to locate her glasses ('someone must have moved them') or shouting instructions to her assistant, Eileen ('Eileen, door!').Veronica doesn't have family or friends nearby. Not that she knows about, anyway . . . And she has no idea where she's going to leave her considerable wealth when she dies.But today . . . today Veronica is going to make a decision that will change all of this.'I love this gorgeous book. Unflinching, stubborn, funny and moving, Veronica is an unlikely heroine who will sneak in and capture your heart.' Trisha AshleyReaders are falling in love with Away with the Penguins:'Without a doubt the most delightful, joyous and uplifting book I've read so far this year . . . be prepared to fall in love.' *****'A gloriously quirky and life affirming story of hope.' *****'Oh how I loved this absolute gem of a book. Both heartbreaking and heartwarming.' *****

Read more less

'Utterly engaging.' - Sunday TimesFrom her first life-changing solo trip to Australia as a young graduate, Rosita Boland was enthralled by travel. In the last thirty years she has visited some of the most remote parts of the globe carrying little more than a battered rucksack and a diary.Documenting nine journeys from nine different moments in her life, Elsewhere reveals how exploring the world – and those we meet along the way – can dramatically shape the course of a person’s life. From death-defying bus journeys through Pakistan to witnessing the majestic icescapes of Antarctica to putting herself back together in Bali, Rosita experiences moments of profound joy and endures deep personal loss.In a series of jaw-dropping, illuminating and sometimes heart-breaking essays, Elsewhere is a book that celebrates the life well-travelled in all its messy and wondrous glory.

Read more less

From the author of no.1 ebook bestseller and Richard & Judy Book Club pick Away with the Penguins.'Uplifting and full of heart, I couldn't put it down!' Jo Thomas, author of Celebrations at the Chateau-Sometimes it takes a chance encounter to discover what happiness really is . . .Meet Dan: Dan needs peace and order. He likes perfectly triangular sandwiches, the way coffee smells of sunshine and harvest, and the sound of birdsong that drifts into his harp-making workshop on Exmoor. His life is quiet, predictable, and safe from any danger of surprises.Meet Ellie: Ellie is a dreamer. But recently Ellie has stopped dreaming and her world has become very small. Her days are spent keeping a perfect home for her husband, Clive, and trying to keep him happy.When Ellie stumbles across Dan's workshop, they cannot imagine that their lives are about to change forever... -Readers love Ellie and the Harpmaker***** 'Without question this is one of the best books I have read and I read a lot'***** 'The perfect feel-good read!'***** 'Warm, touching and funny, it's a great read that will fill your heart with joy'***** 'A magical tale that leaves you feeling warm and hopeful'***** 'A beautifully written, tender love story ... I didn't want it to end but couldn't put it down'

Read more less

Some stories are universal. They play out across human history. And time is the river which will flow through them.It starts with a family, a family which will mutate. For now, it is a father, mother and two sons. One with his father’s violence in his blood. One who lives his mother’s artistry. One leaves. One stays. They will be joined by others whose deeds will change their fate. It is a beginning.Their stories will intertwine and evolve over the course of two thousand years – they will meet again and again at different times and in different places. From distant Palestine at the dawn of the first millennium to a life amongst the stars in the third. While the world will change around them, their destinies will remain the same. It must play out as foretold. It is written.A Traveller at the Gates of Wisdom is the extraordinary new novel from acclaimed writer John Boyne. Ambitious, far-reaching and mythic, it introduces a group of characters whose lives we will come to know and will follow through time and space until they reach their natural conclusion.

Read more less

_____________________________‘If you’ve ever felt like you were out of your element, in over your head or working without a net, you will love this book. Funny, fast-paced, and so emotionally true it hurts.’ Piper Kerman, author of Orange is the New Black_____________________________Guidelines for aspiring stenographers:· Neutral tones set the tone· Be discreet and neat – like a librarian or well-paid prostitute· Breathe quietly or not at all· Above all else, keep the secrets to yourself…In 2012, Beck Dorey-Stein was just scraping by in Washington DC when an unusual job interview landed her in the Oval Office as one of Barack Obama's stenographers. She joined the elite team who accompanied the President wherever he went, recorder and mic in hand. On whirlwind trips across time zones, Beck forged friendships with a tight group of fellow travellers - young men and women who, like her, left their real lives behind to hop aboard Air Force One in service of the President. But as she learned the ropes of protocol, Beck became romantically entangled with a colleague, and suddenly, the political became all too personal. Set against the backdrop of a White House full of glamour, drama and intrigue, this is the story of a young woman making unlikely friendships, getting her heart broken, learning what truly matters and discovering her voice in the process._____________________________Praise for From the Corner of the Oval Office'Who knew the West Wing could be so sexy? Beck’s unparalleled access is obvious on every page, along with her knife-sharp humour... Lots of books claim to give real insider glimpses, but this one actually delivers.'Lauren Weisberger, author of The Devil Wears Prada'This memoir is good and gossipy, will make you wish that you got to hang out with Barack and Michelle on a daily basis and is the missing link between The West Wing and Bridget Jones’s Diary.' Red'Set against the backdrop of a White House full of glamour, drama and intrigue, this is the story of a young woman making unlikely friendships, getting her heart broken, learning what truly matters and discovering her voice in the process.' GLAMOUR's Best Books of 2018

Read more less

WOMAN & HOME'S BEST THRILLER OF THE YEAR'If you like a proper, twisty nerve-wracking thriller, here's one for you!'Emma Curtis, author of One Little MistakeFour strangers are missing. Left at their last-known locations are birthday cards that read:YOUR GIFT IS THE GAME. DARE TO PLAY? The police aren’t worried – it’s just a game. But the families are frantic. As psychologist and private detective Dr Augusta Bloom delves into the lives of the missing people, she finds something that binds them all.And that something makes them very dangerous indeed.As more disappearances are reported and new birthday cards uncovered, Dr Bloom races to unravel the mystery and find the missing people.But what if, this time, they are the ones she should fear?WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT GONE: 'Sensational' *****'I will say phenomenal. Although that doesn't cover how good this book is' *****'Complete mind-twisting and gripping suspense' *****'I raced through it desperate to get to the end while not wanting it to end' *****'What a riveting psychological thriller' *****'It is dark, riveting, twisty and cruel' *****'Wow . . . this book was fabulous' *****'Belter of a psychological thriller' *****'Please write another novel soon, I need the adrenaline rush' *****

Read more less

Pop music’s a simple pleasure. Is it catchy? Can you dance to it? Do you fancy the singer?But what’s fascinating about pop is our relationship with it. David Hepworth is interested in the human side of pop. He’s interested in how people make the stuff and, more importantly, what it means to us. In this collection of essays written throughout his career, Hepworth shows how it is possible to take music seriously and, at the same time, not drain the life out of it. From the legacy of the Beatles to the dramatic decline of the record shop via the bewildering nomenclature of musical genres; with characteristic insight and humour Hepworth asks some essential questions about music and, indeed, life: is it all about the drummer; are band managers misunderstood; and is it appropriate to play ‘Angels’ at funerals?As Pope John Paul II said ‘of all the unimportant things, football is the most important’. David Hepworth believes the same to be true of music and this selection of his best writing, covering the music of last fifty years, shows you precisely why.

Read more less

**WINNER of the EU Prize for Literature**'One of the most exciting and original Northern Irish writers of her generation' SUNDAY TIMES'Gripping, affecting, surprising. I inhaled it' LISA MCINERNEY 'Captivating, intelligent and courageous' IRISH TIMES'Spectacular. At once grittily real, wildly magical and insanely alluring - a siren-song of a novel.' DONAL RYAN'Jan Carson seems to have invented a new Belfast in this gripping, surprising, exhilarating novel.' RODDY DOYLE'Blew me away with its power, anger and wit.' JOSEPH O'CONNOR Dr Jonathan Murray fears his new-born daughter is not as harmless as she seems. Sammy Agnew is wrestling with his dark past, and fears the violence in his blood lurks in his son, too.The city is in flames and the authorities are losing control. As matters fall into frenzy, and as the lines between fantasy and truth, right and wrong, begin to blur, who will these two fathers choose to protect?Dark, propulsive and thrillingly original, this tale of fierce familial love and sacrifice fizzes with magic and wonder.

Read more less

**As read on BBC Radio Four**Uplifting, joyous, hopeful - a novel about late love and second chances, shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award and winner of the Paul Torday Memorial Prize'A moving tribute to friendship and love, to the courage of the ordinary, and to starting again' RACHEL JOYCE, author of Miss Benson's Beetle'Full of grace and humanity' Sunday Times________________________This story begins with a letterFrom a housewifeto the gentle curatorOf an extraordinary museumWhere lies peacefullyAn ancient exhibitThat holds the keyTo EverythingWe are.Meet Me at the Museum tells of a connection made across oceans and against all the odds. Through intimate stories of joy, despair, and discovery, two people are drawn inexorably towards each other, until a shattering revelation pushes their friendship to the very edge.This deeply affecting debut novel by seventy-three year-old Anne Youngson won the Paul Torday Memorial Prize and was dramatized on BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour*******************************'Tender, wise and moving, Meet Me at the Museum is a novel to cherish.' JOHN BOYNE'Insightful, emotionally acute and absorbing' DAILY EXPRESS'Beautiful and affecting' NINA STIBBEWhat readers are saying:'I loved this book. It was so different from anything else I have read'*****'I just loved this book and read it in one sitting. There were times when I felt like underlining the sentences that resonated with me'*****'I read this book one letter at a time, just to let the contents sink in. Tears came to my eyes'*****

Read more less