Search results for ""author a."

What kind of man kills his own family?A gripping, tender novel about fathers and sons from the highly acclaimed authorA Guardian crime and thriller book of the year 2020'This is a beautifully realised novel, touching on the fallibility of memory and the unknowability of families, and gripping in its intensity. Outstanding' Mail on Sunday'A spectacular novel' SpectatorWhen Tom was eight years old, his father took a shotgun and shot his family: his wife, his son and baby daughter, before turning the gun on himself. Only Tom survived.He left his tiny, shocked community on the island of Litta and the strained silence of his Uncle Malcolm's house while still a young boy. For twenty years he's tried to escape his past. Until now.Without knowing how to ask, he needs answers - from his uncle, who should have known. From his neighbours, who think his father a decent man who 'just snapped'. From the memories that haunt the wild landscape of the Hebrides. And from the silent ones who know more about what happened - and why - than they have ever dared admit.By turns gripping, beautiful, devastating and tender, Our Fathers is a story about violence and redemption, control and love. With understated compassion and humour, Rebecca Wait gives a voice to the silenced and to the silences between men of few words.

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From the bestselling author of The Jam Factory Girls, Mary Wood's The Guernsey Girls is the first in a touching new series of friendship found far from home . . .January 1936. After the hard work of being a maid at Wallington Manor in the lead-up to Christmas, Annie is thrilled at the prospect of going home to Bethnal Green. She has missed her family, but the money she earns keeps them all afloat.Olivia is from the island of Guernsey and is visiting her aunt at Wallington Manor. When she has to leave for London, Annie is asked to look after her, and on the train journey a friendship blossoms.A tragic accident sees their friendship become even stronger. A friendship that will see both girls through pain, happiness, marriage and death. A friendship that will see them both united in Guernsey.And this is just the beginning of their incredible journey . . .

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A hilarious, escapist romcom from the author of CONFESSIONS OF A FORTY-SOMETHING F##K UP!Love is the greatest mystery of all . . .Meet Ruby Miller: a writer who makes happy-ever-afters happen. Until she discovers her fiancé is a lying cheat, and loses her faith in love. When her sister invites her on a beach holiday to Goa to forget about him, Ruby jumps on a plane . . . and headfirst into an extraordinary adventure.Stolen bags, a runaway sister and a handsome American stranger sweep Ruby into a magical mystery tour across India. Amid fortresses and fortune tellers, and a whirlwind of weddings, she uncovers fascinating stories of love, lost and found.But as the mysteries deepen, secrets are revealed that turn Ruby's life upside down. And what started as a journey to find her sister, becomes a journey to find herself - and love - again.

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The story of a life. The story of the year.'Lessons shows [McEwan] at the very peak of his powers. He has written his masterpiece' Daily TelegraphWhen the world is still counting the cost of the Second World War and the Iron Curtain has descended, young Roland Baines's life is turned upside down. Stranded at boarding school, his vulnerability attracts his piano teacher, Miriam Cornell, leaving scars as well as a memory of love that will never fade.Twenty-five years later Roland's wife mysteriously vanishes, and he is left alone with their baby son. Her disappearance sparks of journey of discovery that will continue for decades, as Roland confronts the reality of his rootless existence and attempts to embrace the uncertainty - and freedom - of his future.'Ian McEwan is a masterful storyteller' Elif Shafak'A beautiful book about love, loss and regret' Observer'Luminous, beautifully written... about lives imperfectly lived' Vogue'A whole, unruly life between the covers of a single book: a literary feat' Spectator'A tour de force... A single life is silhouetted against global happenings' Sunday Times* A Book of the Year for The Times, Sunday Times, Financial Times, Spectator, New Statesman, Washington Post, Vogue and New Yorker *

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'Welsh is brilliant at what he does... This is his most readable and memorable novel since Trainspotting' Independent on SundayGlue is the story of four boys growing up in the Edinburgh schemes, and about the loyalties, the experiences and the secrets that hold them together into their thirties. As we follow their lives from the 70s into the new century - from punk to techno, from speed to Es - we can see each of them trying to struggle out from under the weight of the conditioning of class and culture, peer pressure and their parents' hopes that maybe their sons will do better than they did. What binds the four of them is the friendship formed by the scheme, their school, and their ambition to escape from both; their loyalty fused in street morality: back up your mates, don't hit women and, most importantly, never grass - on anyone.'His most ambitious, but also his most complete and engaging work to date... arguably, his best book' TLS

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NEIL GAIMAN: 'Glorious. A story that will be found and enjoyed and dreamed about for years to come'A celebration of friendship, courage and imagination inspired by Alice in Wonderland, The Chronicles of Narnia and The Wizard of Oz.__________________________It all starts on the morning the letter D disappears from the language. First, it vanishes from her parents' conversation at breakfast, then from the road signs outside. Soon the local dentist and the neighbour's Dalmatian are missing, and even the Donkey Derby has been called off. Though she doesn't know why, Dhikilo is summoned to the home of her old history teacher Professor Dodderfield and his faithful Labrador, Nelly Robinson. And this is where our story really begins. Set between England and the wintry land of Liminus, a world enslaved by the monstrous Gamp and populated by fearsome, enchanting creatures, D (Tale of Two Worlds) is a mesmerising tale of friendship and bravery in an uncertain world. Told with simple beauty and warmth, its celebration of moral courage and freethinking is a powerful reminder of our human capacity for strength, hope and justice.'Dhikilo is a splendid heroine for our time: She stands for kindness, honesty and humanity' DIANE SETTERFIELD'Young adult readers will love it, but Faber's brio and bubbly ingenuity will delight adult readers too.' Daily Mail

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'Mary E. Pearson is a fearless storyteller' Stephanie GarberA reformed thief and the young leader of an outlaw dynasty lock wits in a battle that may cost them their lives, and their hearts, in a new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Remnant Chronicles.When the patriarch of the Ballenger empire dies, his son, Jase, becomes its new leader. Even nearby kingdoms bow to the strength of this outlaw family, who have always governed by their own rules. But a new era looms on the horizon, set in motion by a young queen, which makes her the target of the dynasty's resentment and anger.At the same time, Kazi, a legendary former street thief, is sent by the queen to investigate transgressions against the new settlements. When Kazi arrives in the forbidding land of the Ballengers, she learns that there is more to Jase than she thought. As unexpected events spiral out of their control, bringing them intimately together, they continue to play a cat and mouse game of false moves and motives in order to fulfil their own secret missions.PRAISE FOR MARY E. PEARSON'One of my favorite reads of the year' Alyson Noël'Deeply satisfying, intricately plotted fantasy' Robin LaFevers'Breathtaking' Booklist'Heart-pounding' Cinda Williams Chima

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'Gripping, heartbreaking and uplifting.' Christy Lefteri, author of the million-copy bestseller The Beekeeper of AleppoTHEIR STORY WILL BREAK YOUR HEARTTHEIR JOURNEY WILL FILL YOU WITH HOPEYOU WILL NEVER FORGET THEIR NAMESWhen they are little girls, Cibi, Magda and Livia make a promise to their father - that they will stay together, no matter what. Years later, at just 15, Livia is ordered to Auschwitz by the Nazis. Cibi, only 19 herself, remembers their promise and follows Livia, determined to protect her sister, or die with her. Together, they fight to survive through unimaginable cruelty and hardship.Magda, only 17, stays with her mother and grandfather, hiding out in a neighbour's attic or in the forest when the Nazi militia come to round up friends, neighbours and family. She escapes for a time, but eventually she too is captured and transported to the death camp.In Auschwitz-Birkenau the three sisters are reunited and, remembering their father, they make a new promise, this time to each other: That they will survive.Three Sisters is a beautiful story of hope in the hardest of times and of finding love after loss. Heather Morris is the global bestselling author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz and Cilka's Journey, which have sold eight million copies worldwide. Three Sisters is her third novel, and the final piece in the phenomenon that is the Tattooist of Auschwitz series.

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Who are you at 16, if you can't remember anything about your life since you were 12? A brilliant exploration of identity and love for YA readers, by the bestselling author of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. After an accident that leaves her with partial amnesia, Naomi tries to piece together the fragments of the last three-and-a-half years of her life. She discovers that she has a tennis-champion boyfriend but can't remember him, is co-editor of the yearbook with a quirky guy who wears a smoking jacket, her parents are divorced, and she apparently hates her mother. She has friends who simply don't seem that attractive any more and, despite having meticulously kept a diary during the now-lost years, she only wrote about what she ate every day in it! But when a girl loses three-and-a-half years, she gets a chance to reinvent herself. After all, who is to say that everything has to stay the same? 'Essentially a love story, it is also an exploration of teenage identity, handled with such a skilful blend of wit, intelligence and tenderness that readers will lose themselves in the story and find themselves in the process.' Daily Telegraph

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From No.1 Sunday Times bestseller Clare Mackintosh, A Cotswold Family Life is a warm, humorous memoir of family life in the countryside'Insightful, funny, absorbing' Prue Leith'Original yet totally recognisable' Katie Fforde'Sheer bliss!' Jill Mansell'Heartfelt and poignant' Sunday ExpressI have always loved the Cotswolds. I think I loved them even before I found them, in that half-formed ideal one has of where to put down roots. Somewhere peaceful, green, where the road meanders between drystone walls and from town to town, and a strip of blue bursts from brook to river and back again.For eight years, Clare Mackintosh wrote for Cotswold Life about the ups and downs of life with a young family in the countryside. In this memoir, she brings together all of those stories - and more - for the first time. From keeping chickens to getting the WI drunk, longing for an Aga to dealing with nits, Clare opens the door to family life with warmth and humour and heart.Have you read Clare Mackintosh's bestselling fiction? A Game of Lies, her new smart and twisty thriller, is out now.

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Discover these feel-good recipes to restore, revive and rejuvenate, and enjoy the simple pleasures of food.Whatever your day looks like – there is a recipe here that is just right. Whether it is a quick and comforting noodle bowl or a hearty slow-cooked pie, this book celebrates food's power to restore, revive and rejuvenate. But it isn't just about the food on your plate: it's about how it gets there. Stirring Slowly celebrates time spent in the kitchen. Wile away a happy hour stirring a creamy black dhal, or give your undivided focus to flipping caramelised apple, ricotta and hazelnut pancakes – because cooking nourishes you inside and out.'The sort of book that has you immediately plastering its pages with post-it notes... the writing is warm, encouraging and moving' Nigella Lawson

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Washington, DC, born and Wisconsin educated, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings was an unlikely author of a coming-of-age novel about a poor central Florida child and his pet fawn—much less one that has become synonymous with Florida literature writ large. Rawlings was a tough, ambitious, and independent woman who refused the conventions of her early-twentieth-century upbringing. Determined to forge a literary career beyond those limitations, she found her voice in the remote, hardscrabble life of Cross Creek, Florida. There, Rawlings purchased a commercial orange grove and discovered a fascinating world out of which to write—and a dialect of the poor, swampland community that the literary world had yet to hear. She employed her sensitive eye, sharp ear for dialogue, and philosophical spirit to bring to life this unknown corner of America in vivid, tender detail, a feat that earned her the Pulitzer Prize in 1938. Her accomplishments came at a price: a failed first marriage, financial instability, a contentious libel suit, alcoholism, and physical and emotional upheaval. With intimate access to Rawlings’s correspondence and revealing early writings, Ann McCutchan uncovers a larger-than-life woman who writes passionately and with verve, whose emotions change on a dime, and who drinks to excess, smokes, swears, and even occasionally joins in on an alligator hunt. The Life She Wished to Live paints a lively portrait of Rawlings, her contemporaries—including her legendary editor, Maxwell Perkins, and friends Zora Neale Hurston, Ernest Hemingway, and F. Scott Fitzgerald—and the Florida landscape and people that inspired her.

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Feel your everyday stresses melt away with 48 simple, accessible and achievable lessons in this beautiful mindfulness guideFrom the renowned Bhuddist monk and million-copy bestselling author of Zen: The Art of Simple Living, Shunmyo Masuno_________Learn to let go of stress, change how you worry, and improve your life for good with this invaluable companion for reducing anxiety and maintaining calm.Shunmyo Masuno, Zen Buddhist Monk and million copy bestselling author of Zen: The Art of Simple Living, will teach you how to relieve the anxieties of everyday life in 48 vital, easy-to-achieve lessons.With Don't Worry, you will learn how to:Focus on the here and now Improve your most important relationships Take a step back from your worries Regain control of your thoughts Learn ways to accept yourself as you areBy following these simple steps, you can enjoy a calmer, more relaxed, positive version of yourself.

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Let international bestselling author Colleen McCullough sweep you away with this enthralling, evocative and emotional saga of one woman's quest to come to terms with a new life. If you like Victoria Hislop, Lucinda Riley and Fiona Valpy, you'll love this!'Fast-moving and immensely readable... Back to the open spaces, merciless climate and sheer pioneering stance of the magical THE THORN BIRDS, this book is a page turner from start to finish' -- Maeve Binchy'A compelling, passionate and gritty saga that was well worth the wait' -- She'A powerful saga' -- Mirror'Absorbing' -- Sunday Telegraph'I could put this book down. I was consumed with it' -- ***** Reader review'This book is utterly compelling and quite simply, I loved it. I wanted to finish it, but, didn't want it to end. Beautifully written, descriptive passages. A truly Master author. Thank you' -- ***** Reader review'One of the best reads I've had in years' -- ***** Reader review'Thoroughly loved this book, I was hooked from the first page!' -- ***** Reader review**********************************************************************Alexander Kinross is remembered in his native Scotland only as a shiftless boilermaker's apprentice. But when he writes from Australia to summon his bride, his relatives realize he is now a man to be reckoned with.Arriving in Sydney after a difficult voyage, sixteen-year-old Elizabeth Drummond meets her husband-to-be and discovers that he frightens and repels her.Isolated in Alexander's great house, Elizabeth finds that marriage does not prompt her husband to enlighten her about his past life - nor his present one, in which his mistress, the sensuous, tough, outspoken Ruby Costevan, still plays a part...Will she be able to forge a happy new life in this new world?

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THE ACCLAIMED INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER BY THE NOBEL PRIZE WINNING AUTHOR.'A masterpiece' - The Times'The Arab Tolstoy' - Simon Sebag MontefioreSugar Street, the climactic final book in the classic Cairo Trilogy, is the captivating story of a family struggling to change with the rise of modern Egypt. As Cairo shrugs off the final vestiges of colonialism, Ahmad Al Jawad has lost his power and surveys the world from a latticed balcony. Unable to control his family's destiny, he watches helplessly as his dynasty and the traditions he holds dear disintegrate before his eyes.But through Ahamd's three grandsons we see modern how Egypt takes shape. One grandson is a communist activist, another a Muslim fundamentalist, both working for what they believe will be a better world. And Ridwan, the inheritor of his father's charms, launches a political career aided by a homosexual affair with prominent politician.A vivid portrait of a family and a country in a time of upheaval, the Cairo Trilogy is the greatest and best loved work by the 20th century's most important Arab novelist.

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Jill Mansell's fabulous new novel AND NOW YOU'RE BACK is coming in January 2021. Pre-order now to be one of the first to read it!Snap up your perfect autumn read from the SUNDAY TIMES bestselling author and 'queen of feel-good fiction'!'Like a little blast of sunshine - uplifting, heartwarming and supremely feelgood' SOPHIE KINSELLA'Gripping and incredibly comforting' MARIAN KEYESThe trouble with secrets is that you can't guess what the consequences will be . . .Lainey has lost everything. Luckily one little fib (OK, quite a big fib) helps nail her dream job. Soon she's living in a stunning house by the sea, fending off obsessed fans for a retired - if far-from-retiring - actor and organising his charming but chaotic family. It's definitely worth the challenge of keeping her secret.At least Lainey isn't looking for love. It's time for a break from all that. And yet . . . Seth, the actor's grandson, really is rather attractive. There's growing chemistry and a definite connection between them. But how would he react if he knew she hadn't been honest with him? Lainey's not the only one with a secret, though. Seth has one of his own. And everything's about to start unravelling . . .A beautiful Cornish setting, one chaotic family, and a woman who's had enough of love. Or has she? Praise for Jill Mansell:'One of my favourite writers' KATIE FFORDE'The queen of witty, heart-warming, feel-good love stories' RED'Reading Jill is always such a joy!' VERONICA HENRY'Jill Mansell just gets better and better' HEAT * * * * *'A fab, feel-good read' PRIMA** Be one of the first to read Jill Mansell's new novel, SHOULD I TELL YOU? - available for pre-order now**Readers adore Jill Mansell!'A fantastic read yet again, great characters, great story and as always a few happy tears''Completely absorbing and so addictive''Entertains from start to finish, and it fully deserves a 5-star rating''Great characters and I can't get enough of the "will they, won't they" - "should they, could they"obstacles and setbacks'

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Ambition, betrayal, love. A wonderful love story from the bestselling author of Light a Penny Candle and Circle of Friends.'A powerful story of love and jealousy' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH'A master storyteller' MARIAN KEYES'I have returned to read Maeve Binchy time and time again' LORRAINE KELLY'Compulsive reading... Binchy has the true story-teller's knack' OBSERVER_________________Growing up in a quiet seaside town, Clare O'Brien and David Power shout their hearts' desires into the echo cave, praying their destinies will carry them far away from Castlebay.Years later, their paths cross again. David, following in his father's footsteps, is studying medicine and Clare has won a scholarship to University College.But eventually Castlebay will draw them back and, against a backdrop of empty grey skies, sea-spray and howling winds, this drama of ambition, betrayal and love will reach its turbulent conclusion._________________Readers love Echoes . . .***** 'Maeve Binchy is a first class story teller, and ECHOES is one of her best. If you pick it up, you will not be disappointed.'***** 'I was transported by this book and also its characters stuck with me. 5 stars.'***** 'A warm, page-turning novel that makes you sad when it ends.'***** 'Maeve Binchy is always a pleasure and this book is no exception.'***** 'Just a wonderful and beautifully told story.'

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INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER"Don't start a Freida McFadden book late at night. You won't be able to put it down!"— Natalie Barelli, bestselling author of UnforgivableTwo women. An office filled with secrets. One terrible crime that can't be taken back.Dawn Schiff is strange.At least, everyone thinks so at Vixed, the nutritional supplement company where Dawn works as an accountant. She never says the right thing. She has no friends. And she is always at her desk at precisely 8:45 a.m.So when Dawn doesn't show up to the office one morning, her coworker Natalie Farrell—beautiful, popular, top sales rep five years running—is surprised. Then she receives an unsettling, anonymous phone call that changes everything…It turns out Dawn wasn't just an awkward outsider—she was being targeted by someone close. And now Natalie is irrevocably tied to Dawn as she finds herself caught in a twisted game of cat and mouse that leaves her wondering: who's the real victim?But one thing is incredibly clear: somebody hated Dawn Schiff. Enough to kill.The Coworker is a tense, unputdownable thriller from New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden that explores the dark ways the past can echo through the present—with deadly consequences.

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Based on the incredible true story of the Meller sisters, as told to Heather Morris. 'Gripping, heartbreaking and uplifting.' Christy Lefteri, author of the million-copy bestseller The Beekeeper of Aleppo THEIR STORY WILL BREAK YOUR HEART THEIR JOURNEY WILL FILL YOU WITH HOPE YOU WILL NEVER FORGET THEIR NAMES When they are little girls, Cibi, Magda and Livia make a promise to their father - that they will stay together, no matter what. Years later, at just 15, Livia is ordered to Auschwitz by the Nazis. Cibi, only 19 herself, remembers their promise and follows Livia, determined to protect her sister, or die with her. Together, they fight to survive through unimaginable cruelty and hardship. Magda, only 17, stays with her mother and grandfather, hiding out in a neighbour's attic or in the forest when the Nazi militia come to round up friends, neighbours and family. She escapes for a time, but eventually she too is captured and transported to the death camp. In Auschwitz-Birkenau the three sisters are reunited and, remembering their father, they make a new promise, this time to each other: That they will survive. Three Sisters is a beautiful story of hope in the hardest of times and of finding love after loss. Two of the sisters are alive in Israel today, surrounded by friends and family. They have chosen Heather Morris to tell their story in Three Sisters. Heather Morris is the global bestselling author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz and Cilka's Journey, which have sold eight million copies worldwide. Three Sisters is her third novel, and the final piece in the phenomenon that is the Tattooist of Auschwitz series.

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'Astonishing . . . Genius . . . A masterpiece' EMMA WATSONChristopher Reese has been through a lot by the age of seven. He will go through much more before he turns eight.All his mother Kate Reese ever wanted to do is protect him. She will have to do that more than she ever imagined.Their new home, the town of Mill Grove, Pennsylvania, is sleepy, ordinary, and isolated. In other words: perfect for what is about to happen.Something that will deeply mark everyone: from Christopher and his mother, to the local sheriff, the residents of the retirement home, and every student at the school.Something which no one can explain, but everyone can feel. Something that will change everything . . .'Haunting and thrilling' JOHN GREEN'Unputdownable. You'll fall in love with these characters.' R. J. PALACIO'Warms the heart, freezes the blood . . . First class' DAILY TELEGRAPH

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'An unmissable banger that you need to preorder immediately.' ALICE SLATER'You've never read anything like this.' JULIA ARMFIELD'A meta-meditation on the mysteries, malice, and minutiae of adolescence.' TOM BENN'One of the summer's most talked-about books.' SUNDAY TIMESDo you know what happened already? Did you know her? Did you see it on the internet? Did you listen to a podcast? Did the hosts make jokes?Did you see the pictures of the body? Did you look for them?It's been nearly a decade since the horrifying murder of sixteen-year-old Joan Wilson rocked Crow-on-Sea, and the events of that terrible night are now being published for the first time.That story is Penance, a dizzying feat of masterful storytelling, where Eliza Clark manoeuvres us through accounts from the inhabitants of this small seaside town. Placing us in the capable hands of journalist Alec Z. Carelli, Clark allows him to construct what he claims is the 'definitive account' of the murder - and what led up to it. Built on hours of interviews with witnesses and family members, painstaking historical research, and most notably, correspondence with the killers themselves, the result is a riveting snapshot of lives rocked by tragedy, and a town left in turmoil.The only question is: how much of it is true?'Deeply disturbing and hilarious.' IMOGEN CRIMP 'Insanely propulsive . . . She's a master of structure that Clark.' JENNY MUSTARDA GRANTA BEST OF YOUNG BRITISH NOVELIST 2023WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:'This will no doubt be THE book of the summer. You need to pre-order this NOW.' @books.with.han'Once again, Eliza Clark conjures her dark magic to pen something disturbing and addictive.' @mostardentlyalice'Eliza's writing is pure brilliance and she captivates you with every page.' @zoreadsbooks'Taking aim at our relationship with true crime, the brutality of teenage girls and classicism, it was easily my favourite read of 2023 so far.' @charlotte__reads_'So cleverly written I am mind blown.' @jordslibrary'Eliza Clark is a genius.' @mydarkgrace**Eliza Clark's incendiary debut, Boy Parts, is available now**

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'Dripping with authenticity. Packed full of characters you genuinely care about . . . I didn't read the last few chapters, I devoured them. An absolute triumph' M. W. CRAVEN_____________________Three can keep a secret. If two of you are dead... Two women are snatched off the streets of London in one weekend.DI Charlie George and his team get to work. The lives of these young women - one of them a mother - are on the line, and the clock is ticking.When they catch a lucky break from a CCTV camera, Charlie is sure they have their man. And that's when he gets his first surprise. Because nothing about this case is simple and not everyone is quite what they seem.Charlie's job is to find the missing women and get to the truth. But some people would rather the truth stays hidden - even when the bodies start to pile up..._____________________Praise for Colin Falconer'Once you read [a] Colin Falconer [book], you'll want to read everything he's ever written' Crystal Book Reviews'Falconer's grasp of period and places is almost flawless ... He's my kind of writer' Peter Corris, The Australian'You are in for a real roller-coaster ride of never ending intrigue'History and Women'Falconer demonstrates exceptional characterization' Bookgeeks

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'THE KING OF CRIME FICTION' SUNDAY EXPRESSSomeone buried the truth. Now it's time to dig up the lies...A GRIPPING REBUS THRILLER FROM THE ICONIC #1 BESTSELLER* * * * **Private investigator Stuart Bloom was missing, presumed dead.Until now.His body is discovered in an abandoned car - in an area that had already been searched...Detective Inspector Siobhan Clarke combs through the mistakes of the original investigation. After a decade without answers, it's time for the truth.But it seems everyone involved with the case is hiding something.None more so than Siobhan's own mentor: former detective John Rebus. The only man who knows where the trail may lead - and that it could be the end of him.EVERYONE HAS SECRETSNOBODY IS INNOCENTIN A HOUSE OF LIES* * * * *THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS - CRIME & THRILLER BOOK OF THE YEAR SHORTLISTSPECSAVERS NATIONAL BOOK AWARDS - CRIME & THRILLER OF THE YEAR SHORTLIST'Loved In A House Of Lies. Ian Rankin is a genius'LEE CHILD'Rankin's latest and greatest. It is stunning. I didn't sleep for three nights reading it.'JILLY COOPER'Absolutely wonderful. Clever, gripping, a fabulous read.'KATE MOSSE'Rebus is one of British crime writing's greatest characters: alongside Holmes, Poirot and Morse ... Beautifully told, superbly constructed and utterly engrossing.'DAILY MAIL'Grips from the first sentence. No one in Britain writes better crime novels today.'EVENING STANDARD'A must-read'TANA FRENCH'Rankin has always been at the top of his game, and this latest is no exception.'LINWOOD BARCLAY'A first-rate crime novel: tense, twisty and often very funny. A real joy.'ELLY GRIFFITHS'Definitely not to be missed. No reader will go away disappointed.'PETER ROBINSON'Thrillingly told, with the best cast in contemporary crime, Rankin is one of the most significant social commentators of our time. Just read the book. It says it better than I can.'DENISE MINA'Masterful storytelling'SUNDAY MIRROR'In a House of Lies is at least as good as any of the previous novels.'THE SCOTSMAN'A page-turning pleasure.'GRAZIA'Rankin's plotting is as sure-footed as ever.'FT, Books of the Year'Intriguing and clever'LIZ NUGENT'Complex, twisty, funny, intelligent. And lots of heart. Superb.'WILL DEAN'The king of crime fiction.'SUNDAY EXPRESS'One of the great Rebus novels - as gripping as it is intoxicating.'METRO

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'Delicious tensions between parents and squabbles among their children seem so harmless, yet every one has the potential to start a devastating snowball of events. I couldn’t put this one down.' - Janice Hallet author of The AppealLooking to escape her old life, Nancy and her ten-year-old daughter Lara move to Ripton. A quiet, picturesque village in the rolling Derbyshire countryside, it seems like the perfect place to settle down.But when Nancy reaches the school gates, she learns that beneath the quaint village atmosphere is a minefield. And after her daughter clashes with her school friends, Nancy quickly finds herself outside the whispering circle of parents.As much as Nancy finds the playground politics absurd, they soon become impossible to ignore when Lara is accused of hurting another girl.Desperate to clear Lara's name, Nancy is about to learn just what lengths a parent will go to for their child . . .Wry, twisting and suspenseful, Michelle Frances tells a story of schoolyard sniping turning into something much uglier in The Playground, for fans of Liane Moriarty and Adele Parks.**************PRAISE FOR THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING AUTHOR MICHELLE FRANCES'Michelle Frances is an author we're going to hear a great deal about' JILLY COOPER‘Brilliant (toxic) context. Loved the epistolary touches. Taut, dark, and seriously addictive.’ WILL DEAN‘I tore through the pages . . . A high-speed chase of a novel’ Louise Candlish‘Michelle Frances manages to bring fresh energy to this age-old theme of family secrets . . . The finale doesn't disappoint’ Daily Mail‘Toxic family relationships, sultry European settings and an intricate plot which leaves you never knowing who to trust’ Catherine Cooper, author of The Chalet

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Molly Peel feels trapped by her family: her ex-husband Craig cannot seem to abandon his controlling ways despite abandoning her for a younger woman, her lazy son Brian has long been taking advantage of her generosity, and her selfish daughter Rachel is embarrassed by her. When she is blamed for ruining Rachel's wedding in circumstances beyond her control, Molly decides enough is enough and makes a clean break to Wiltshire to begin a new life. However, the persistent interference of her ex presents difficulties. Can Molly find the courage to stand up for herself and finally move on?

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From bestselling author and winner of the Blue Peter Best Story Book Award, Uki and the Outcasts is the first in a new trilogy set in the world of Podkin One-Ear.'EXCELLENT,' says the bard. 'It's probably a good idea for you to know about him.''Wait . . . him? Who's him?' said Rue.'Uki,' says the bard. 'Uki Patchwork. The Magpie Demon. Uki of the Two Furs.'From the Ice Wastes beyond the Cinder Wall emerges an unlikely hero. Rejected by his village and left to die, young Uki is given life and unique powers by a long-buried spirit from the time of the Ancients . . . and a life or death mission.Joined by two other outcasts - a trained assassin who refuses to kill people and a very short rabbit who rides the fastest jerboa on the plains - Uki must capture Valkus, the Spirit of War, before rabbitkind destroys itself in conflict.A thrilling new book set in the Five Realms of Podkin One-Ear.'Storytelling perfection.' Sophie Anderson'One of my sons very favourite authors.' Romesh Ranganathan'Superb.' Max Porter

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When a firebomb attack at a Brighton travellers' site kills women and children, Chief Superintendent Jo Howe has strong reason to believe the new, dubiously elected, far-right council leader is behind the murders. Against the direct orders of her chief constable, Jo digs deeper into the killings. She uncovers a criminal ring of human trafficking and euthanasia all leading to a devastating plot which threatens thousands of lives and from which the murderous politician looks sure to walk away scot-free.

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The explosive finale to the Extraordinaries trilogy by New York Times bestselling author TJ Klune.School's out for the summer and a raging heat wave has blanketed Nova City. Still, Nick's life is pretty much perfect, as he finally gets to team up with his superhero boyfriend to bring justice, protection, and disaster energy to the world.Meanwhile, Seth, Jazz, and Gibby are setting up headquarters for Lighthouse, their hero team, Nick's dad's private investigation agency is taking off, and Nick's mother, the superhero known as TK, is right there at Nick's side. Where she's always been. Hasn't she?But something's off. It's not just Simon Burke campaigning to 'cure' Extraordinaries. And it's not the rumours of Nick's ex-boyfriend and villain-in-the-making's escape. Something isn't right and Nick will need all his loved ones together to uncover the truth - a truth that will reveal a traitor in their midst and burn through their lives like a wild fire.Praise for The Extraordinaries'Half a love-letter to fandom, half self-aware satire, and wholly lovable' Sophie Gonzales'The most down-to-earth book about superheroes I've ever read' Mason Deaver'Klune plays with superhero genre tropes and fan-fiction clichés with the skill of a true fan' Kirkus Reviews'Is it possible to fall in love with someone's imagination? If so, consider me fully smitten' David Leviathan

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'Ray Carney was only slightly bent when it came to being crooked...'To his customers and neighbors on 125th street, Carney is an upstanding salesman of reasonably-priced furniture, making a life for himself and his family. He and his wife Elizabeth are expecting their second child, and if her parents on Striver's Row don't approve of him or their cramped apartment across from the subway tracks, it's still home.Few people know he descends from a line of uptown hoods and crooks, and that his façade of normalcy has more than a few cracks in it. Cracks that are getting bigger and bigger all the time.See, cash is tight, especially with all those instalment plan sofas, so if his cousin Freddie occasionally drops off the odd ring or necklace at the furniture store, Ray doesn't see the need to ask where it comes from. He knows a discreet jeweller downtown who also doesn't ask questions. Then Freddie falls in with a crew who plan to rob the Hotel Theresa - the 'Waldorf of Harlem' - and volunteers Ray's services as the fence. The heist doesn't go as planned; they rarely do, after all. Now Ray has to cater to a new clientele, one made up of shady cops on the take, vicious minions of the local crime lord, and numerous other Harlem lowlifes.Thus begins the internal tussle between Ray the striver and Ray the crook. As Ray navigates this double life, he starts to see the truth about who actually pulls the strings in Harlem. Can Ray avoid getting killed, save his cousin, and grab his share of the big score, all while maintaining his reputation as the go-to source for all your quality home furniture needs?HARLEM SHUFFLE is driven by an ingeniously intricate plot that plays out in a beautifully recreated Harlem of the early 1960s. It's a family saga masquerading as a crime novel, a hilarious morality play, a social novel about race and power, and ultimately a love letter to Harlem.

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'Alluringly gritty' TIME 'An extraordinary thriller' Lee Child #1 New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris returns with the second thrilling instalment in her Gunnie Rose series . . .When Lizbeth Rose is hired onto a new crew to transport a crate into Dixie, she sees it as an easy protection gig. Dixie, the self-exiled southeast territory of the former United States, might be just about the last place she wants to visit, but the job itself is straightforward . . . until their cargo is stolen and her journey turns into a massacre.Up against a wall in Dixie, Lizbeth has to go undercover with an old friend to retrieve the crate. Forces across three territories will be racing her, for what the crate contains is something powerful enough to spark a rebellion, if she can get it back in time . . .Internationally bestselling Charlaine Harris (Sookie Stackhouse mysteries and Midnight, Texas trilogy) is at her best here, building a compelling world of this alternate history of the United States, where magic is an acknowledged but despised power.

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'Gibson is having tremendous fun' Independent --------------THE THIRD NOVEL IN THE BLUE ANT TRILIOGY - READ PATTERN RECOGNITION AND SPOOK COUNTRY FOR MORE Hubertus Bigend, the Machiavellian head of global ad-agency Blue Ant, wants to uncover the maker of an obscurely fashionable denim that is taking subculture by storm. Ex-musician Henry Hollis knows nothing about fashion, but Bigend decides she is the woman for the job anyway. Soon, though, it becomes clear that Bigend's interest in underground labels might have sinister applications. Powerful parties, who'll do anything to get what they want, are showing their hand. And Hollis is about to find herself in the crossfire.A gripping spy thriller by William Gibson, bestselling author of Neuromancer. Part prophesy, part satire, Zero History skewers the absurdity of modern life with the lightest and most engaging of touches. Readers of Neal Stephenson, Ray Bradbury and Iain M. Banks won't be able to put this book down. -------------- 'An ideas-swarm, coated with a hipster glaze' Herald 'Gibson's writing is thrillingly tight' New York Times Book Review

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A funny and enchanting romcom from the author of CONFESSIONS OF A FORTY-SOMETHING F##K UP!If only you knew then what you know now . . .***Imagine if you could go back ten years and meet your younger self. What advice would you give . . . wear sun cream? Stay away from those PVC trousers? He's the one - don't let him go?For Charlotte Merryweather, there's no need to imagine. She's about to find out for real.Alexandra Potter's deliciously funny and enchanting romantic comedy looks at life, love and what might happen if you could turn back time.

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In this creative and engaging reading, Richard Kuhns explores the ways in which Decameron'ssexual themes lead into philosophical inquiry, moral argument, and aesthetic and literary criticism. As he reveals the stories' many philosophical insights and literary pleasures, Kuhns also examines Decameronin the context of the nature of storytelling, its relationship to other classic works of literature, and the culture of trecento Italy. Stories and storytelling are to be interpreted in terms of a wider cultural context that includes masks, metamorphosis, mythic themes, and character analysis, all of which Boccaccio explores with wit and subtlety. As a storyteller, Boccaccio represents himself as literary pimp, conceiving the relationship between storyteller and audience in sexual terms within a tradition that goes back as far as Socrates' conversations with the young Athenians. As a whole, Boccaccio's great collection of stories creates a trenchant criticism of the ideas that dominated his social and cultural world. Addressed as it is to women who were denied opportunities for education, the author's stories create a university of wise and culturally observant texts. He teaches that comic, religious, sexual, and artistic themes can be seen to function as metaphors for hidden and often dangerous unorthodox thoughts. Kuhns suggests that Decameronis one of the first self-conscious creations of what we today call "a total work of art." Throughout the stories, Boccaccio creates a detailed picture of the Florentine trecento cultural world. Giotto, Buffalmacco, and other great painters of Boccaccio's time appear in the stories. Their works and the paintings that surround the characters as they prepare to leave the plague-ridden city, with their representations of Dante, Aquinas, and other thinkers, are essential to understanding the ways the stories work with other works of art and illuminate and enlarge interpretations of Boccaccio's book.

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Sheila O'Flanagan's MY FAVOURITE GOODBYE is a delicious novel about finding love in unexpected places - not to be missed by readers of Veronica Henry and Freya North. Ash O'Halloran is happy with her futon, her flat, her cat and her job as a party caterer. She doesn't do impulsive. She is absolutely, perfectly in control of her single woman's life. And if she can't have relationships without complications - then she's content to carry on as she is. Ms Self-Contained. But when she's employed to cook the supper over which Dan Morland plans to propose to his girlfriend, suddenly she becomes party to someone else's relationship - in all its tangled, heart-breaking complexity. And, as she watches Dan struggling to sort out the mess his emotions have got him into, Ash starts to realise she's not Ms Invulnerable after all...What readers are saying about My Favourite Goodbye: 'An absolutely excellent book - I don't think I've read a more touching story since' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'I have read a couple of Sheila O'Flanagan's books already but this one is by far the best. I wanted to read it all in one go but I just didn't want it to end so like a delicious bar of chocolate I allowed myself a bit at a time' Amazon reviewer, 5 stars'What a delightful read! I cannot imagine anyone not enjoying this charming, light-hearted and humorous book' Amazon reviewer, 5 stars

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Second historical thriller in the Alexander Seaton series sweeps the hero back to his roots in Ulster, and a family living under a curse and riven with long-held secretsAberdeen, 1628.Alexander Seaton's happily settled life as a university teacher is shattered by the arrival in town of a stranger who looks like his twin and who carries a plea for help from Alexander's dead mother's family in Ireland. The family has been placed under a poet's curse, threatening death to various members. Elements of the curse have already begun to play out. Reluctantly answering the call, Seaton travels to Ulster, to find himself among a family torn apart by secrets and deep resentments. As he seeks out the author of the curse, he becomes deeply entangled in a conflict that involves fugitive priests, displaced poets, rebellious plotters and agents of the king. Confronted by murder within his family, he finds the lines between superstition and faith, duty and loyalty are becoming increasingly blurred, while his Scottish homeland grows ever more remote.

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'Among our most fascinating novelists ... unmissable' Daily Telegraph-------THE SECOND NOVEL IN THE BLUE ANT TRILIOGY - READ PATTERN RECOGNITION AND ZERO HISTORY FOR MOREIn New York, a young Cuban called Tito is passing iPods to a mysterious old man. Such activities do not go unnoticed, however, in these early days of the War on Terror, and Tito's movements are being tracked. Meanwhile, in LA, journalist Hollis Henry is on the trail of Bobby Chombo, who appears to know too much about military systems for his own good. With Bobby missing and the trail cold, Hollis digs deeper and is drawn into the final moves of a chilling game . . .A gripping spy thriller by William Gibson, bestselling author of Neuromancer. Part prophesy, part satire, Spook Country skewers the absurdity of modern life with the lightest and most engaging of touches. Readers of Neal Stephenson, Ray Bradbury and Iain M. Banks won't be able to put this book down.-------'A cool, sophisticated thriller' Financial Times 'Superb, brilliant. A compulsive and deeply intelligent literary thriller' New Statesman 'A neat, up-to-the-minute spy thriller' Metro

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'A brilliant contemporary novel' COLM TÓIBÍN'So witty, observant and wise' MARIAN KEYES'I am fully in awe of Dolan's talent' DOUGLAS STUART'A dazzling follow-up to Exciting Times' KATHERINE HEINY'Beautiful' PANDORA SYKESMeet the wedding party:THE BRIDE AND GROOM Celine and Luke are meant to get married and live happily ever after. But Celine's more interested in playing the piano, and Luke's a serial cheater.THE BRIDESMAID Phoebe, Celine's sister, is meant to finish college and get a real job. Instead she pulls pints, lives with six flatmates, and has no long-term aspirations beyond smoking her millionth cigarette.THE BEST MAN Archie, Luke's best friend and ex-boyfriend, is meant to move up the corporate ladder and on from Luke. Yet he stands where he is, admiring the view.THE GUEST Vivian, Luke's other best friend and other ex, was meant to put up with Luke's bullshit when they dated. But she didn't. And now she is contented, methodically observing her friends like ants. As the wedding approaches and these five lives intersect, each character will find themselves looking for a path to their happily ever after - but does it lie at the end of an aisle?From the author of Exciting Times, this is a sparkling ensemble novel about love and marriage, fidelity and betrayal, that is both ferociously clever and supremely enjoyable

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'An unmissable banger that you need to preorder immediately.' ALICE SLATER'You've never read anything like this.' JULIA ARMFIELD'A meta-meditation on the mysteries, malice, and minutiae of adolescence.' TOM BENN'One of the summer's most talked-about books.' SUNDAY TIMESDo you know what happened already? Did you know her? Did you see it on the internet? Did you listen to a podcast? Did the hosts make jokes?Did you see the pictures of the body? Did you look for them?It's been nearly a decade since the horrifying murder of sixteen-year-old Joan Wilson rocked Crow-on-Sea, and the events of that terrible night are now being published for the first time.That story is Penance, a dizzying feat of masterful storytelling, where Eliza Clark manoeuvres us through accounts from the inhabitants of this small seaside town. Placing us in the capable hands of journalist Alec Z. Carelli, Clark allows him to construct what he claims is the 'definitive account' of the murder - and what led up to it. Built on hours of interviews with witnesses and family members, painstaking historical research, and most notably, correspondence with the killers themselves, the result is a riveting snapshot of lives rocked by tragedy, and a town left in turmoil.The only question is: how much of it is true?'Deeply disturbing and hilarious.' IMOGEN CRIMP 'Insanely propulsive . . . She's a master of structure that Clark.' JENNY MUSTARDA GRANTA BEST OF YOUNG BRITISH NOVELIST 2023WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:'This will no doubt be THE book of the summer. You need to pre-order this NOW.' @books.with.han'Once again, Eliza Clark conjures her dark magic to pen something disturbing and addictive.' @mostardentlyalice'Eliza's writing is pure brilliance and she captivates you with every page.' @zoreadsbooks'Taking aim at our relationship with true crime, the brutality of teenage girls and classicism, it was easily my favourite read of 2023 so far.' @charlotte__reads_'So cleverly written I am mind blown.' @jordslibrary'Eliza Clark is a genius.' @mydarkgrace**Eliza Clark's incendiary debut, Boy Parts, is available now**

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Few believed Professor Coldwell could communicate with spirits. But in Scotland's oldest university town something has passed from darkness into light. Now, the young are being haunted by night terrors and those who are visited disappear. This is certainly not a place for outsiders, especially at night. So what chance do a rootless musician and burned-out explorer have of surviving their entanglement with an ageless supernatural evil and the ruthless cult that worships it? A chilling occult thriller from award-winning author Adam Nevill, Banquet for the Damned is both a homage to the great age of British ghost stories and a pacey modern tale of Devil worship and witchcraft.

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