FICTION CATALOGUE JANUARY - JUNE 2019 - Penguin Books
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FICTION CATALOGUE
JANUARY - JUNE
2019
1
Slow Motion Ghosts
Jeff Noon
A dark and labyrinthine thriller from a bold new voice in
crime fiction
A dark and labyrinthine thriller from a bold new voice in
crime fiction
It is 1981. London is bruised by austerity, social unrest and
racial tension, and the police are at war. Anger has erupted in
the Brixton Riots and is finding expression in protest, anarchy
and punk. For Detective Inspector Hobbes, the battle lines are
being redrawn within his own ranks as right and wrong are
clouded by prejudice.
Into this mess comes a murder. A promising young singer has
been maimed and killed and the artistry of the crime is
disturbing. On the hunt for the killer, Hobbes begins an
investigation that will lead him deep into a subculture hidden
beneath the everyday. A cult of personality that hides from the
problems of the city and escapes to a world of its own, a world
that is at once seductive and devastating. How far will Hobbes
have to go to learn the truth? And how many more must die
before he does?
Bringing the trademark imagination of his acclaimed early
novels, Jeff Noon has delivered a police procedural with a
difference - an intricate, twisting crime novel that pulls you in
and doesn’t let go.
Jeff Noon is the author of six acclaimed novels, Vurt, Pollen, January 2019
Automated Alice, Nymphomation, Needle in the Groove and 9780857525611
Falling Out of Cars, as well as two collections of short fictions, Royal Octavo
and is also the crime fiction reviewer for The Spectator. He lives £16.99 : Hardback
in Brighton. 384 pages
Jeff Noon is the author of six acclaimed novels, Vurt, Pollen,
Automated Alice, Nymphomation, Needle in the Groove and
Falling Out of Cars, and two collections of short fictions, Pixel
Juice and Cobralingus. He lives in Brighton.
2
Once Upon a River
Diane Setterfield
A spellbinding, multi-layered mystery set in the 19th
Century around the Thames, brimming with folklore,
suspense, science and romance, by the bestselling author of
The Thirteenth Tale, a 'mistress of the craft of
storytelling' (Guardian)
THE LONG-AWAITED, SPELLBINDING NEW NOVEL FROM THE
AUTHOR OF THE BESTSELLING THE THIRTEENTH TALE, A
'MISTRESS OF THE CRAFT OF STORYTELLING' (Guardian).
A dark midwinter’s night in an ancient inn on the Thames. The
regulars are entertaining themselves by telling stories when
the door bursts open on an injured stranger. In his arms is the
drowned corpse of a little child.
Hours later the dead girl stirs, takes a breath and returns to
life.
Is it a miracle?
Is it magic?
Or can it be explained by science?
An exquisitely crafted multi-layered mystery brimming with
folklore, suspense and romance, as well as with the urgent
scientific curiosity of the Darwinian age, Once Upon a River is as
richly atmospheric as Setterfield’s bestseller The Thirteenth
Tale. January 2019
9780857525659
DianeSetterfield’s bestselling novel, The Thirteenth Tale Royal Octavo
waspublished in 38 countries, sold more than three million £12.99 : Hardback
copies, and was madeinto a television drama scripted by 432 pages
Christopher Hampton, starring Olivia Colmanand Vanessa
Redgrave. Her second novel was Bellman & Black, and her new
novel is Once Upon a River. Born in rural Berkshire, she now
lives near Oxford, by the Thames.
3
The Angel Makers
Emma Hornby
Gritty and page-turning historical saga set in Northern
England in the late 1800s, perfect for fans of Dilly Court and
Rosie Goodwin.
Minnie Maddox, a Manchester baby farmer, is delighted for her
neighbour when she finally becomes a mother after more than
two decades of trying. But when the child dies of natural
causes whilst in her care, and knowing her neighbour will be
devastated, Minnie swaps it with one of her charges. Years
later, the child - Jewel - discovers the truth and sets out to find
her real parents.
Gritty and page-turning historical saga set in Northern England in
the late 1800s, perfect for fans of Dilly Court and Rosie Goodwin.
Thirty-something mother of three, Emma Hornby lives on a
tight-knit working-class estate in Bolton and has read sagas all
her life. Before pursuing a career as a novelist, she had a
variety of jobs, from care assistant for the elderly, to working
in a Blackpool rock factory. She was inspired to write after
researching her family history; like the characters in her books,
many generations of her family eked out life amidst the squalor
and poverty of Lancashire's slums.
January 2019
9780593080559
Demy Octavo
£18.99 : Hardback
448 pages
4
The Suspect
From the No. 1 bestselling author of Richard &
Judy Book Club hit The Child
Fiona Barton
The new must-read standalone crime thriller from the author of
Sunday Times bestsellers THE WIDOW and THE CHILD - featuring
unforgettable journalist, Kate Waters.
The new must-read thriller from the author of Sunday Times bestseller,
THE WIDOW, and the Richard & Judy No. 1 bestseller, THE CHILD.
'A fast-paced whodunnit with heart, characters I feel I know and a
deliciously dark twist. Superb writing, often blackly funny, and a
scene that made me cry into my pillow.' Gillian McAllister, Sunday
Times bestselling author of EVERYTHING BUT THE TRUTH
'Fiona Barton is perceptive, empathetic and a talented writer' Daily
Express
*********
‘The police belonged to another world – the world they saw on the television
or in the papers. Not theirs.’
When two eighteen-year-old girls go missing on their gap year in
Thailand, their families are thrust into the international spotlight:
desperate, bereft and frantic with worry.
Journalist Kate Waters always does everything she can to be first to
the story, first with the exclusive, first to discover the truth – and this
time is no exception. But she can’t help but think of her own son, who
January 2019
she hasn’t seen in two years, since he left home to go travelling. This
9781787630222
time it’s personal.
£12.99
Royal Octavo : Hardback
And as the case of the missing girls unfolds, they will all find that
384 pages
even this far away, danger can lie closer to home than you might
think . . .
*********
Praise for Fiona Barton:
'Clever and compelling' Clare Mackintosh, author of LET ME LIE
'An engrossing, irresistible story' Shari Lapena, author of THE COUPLE
NEXT DOOR
'A gripping book you won't be able to put down' Sun
'Engrossing. Suspenseful' Stephen King
'A skilful, tautly written thriller' Red
Fiona Barton's debut, The Widow, was a Sunday Times and New York
Times bestseller and has been published in thirty-five countries and
optioned for television. Her second novel, The Child, was a Sunday
Times bestseller. Born in Cambridge, Fiona currently lives in south-
west France.
Previously, she was a senior writer at the Daily Mail, news editor at the
5
I Owe You One
Sophie Kinsella
Number One bestselling author Sophie Kinsella's irresistible
new standalone: a story of love, empowerment and an IOU
that changes everything . . .
The irresistible new standalone from Sophie Kinsella is a
story of love, empowerment and an IOU that changes
everything . . .
Fixie Farr can’t help herself. Straightening a crooked object,
removing a barely-there stain, helping out a friend . . . she just
has to put things right. It’s how she got her nickname, after all.
So when a handsome stranger in a coffee shop asks her to
watch his laptop for a moment, Fixie not only agrees, she ends
up saving it from certain disaster. To thank her, the computer’s
owner, Sebastian, scribbles her an IOU – but of course Fixie
never intends to call in the favour.
That is, until her teenage crush, Ryan, comes back into her life
and needs her help – and Fixie turns to Seb. But things don’t
go according to plan, and now Fixie owes Seb: big time.
Soon the pair are caught up in a series of IOUs – from small
favours to life-changing debts – and Fixie is torn between the
past she’s used to and the future she deserves.
Does she have the courage to fix things for herself and fight
for the life, and love, she really wants?
February 2019
***** EVERYBODY LOVES SOPHIE KINSELLA: ***** 9780593079928
Royal Octavo
'Left me giddy with laughter. I loved it' JOJO MOYES £20.00 : Hardback
368 pages
'Life doesn't get much better than a new Sophie Kinsella novel'
RED
'One of the most relatable books I've read in a long time, I
couldn’t put it down.' LOUISE PENTLAND (SprinkleofGlitter)
Sophie Kinsella is an international bestselling writer. She is
the author of many number one bestsellers, including the
hugely popular Shopaholic series.
6
Written From the Heart
Trisha Ashley
A reissue of one of Trisha's earliest works: a fantastically funny
novel about unusual love affairs and building your own happy ending,
from the Sunday Times bestselling queen of popular fiction.
-- Previously published in 2008 as 'Happy Endings' --
The witty, weird and wonderful abound in this early romantic comedy
by Sunday Times bestselling author Trisha Ashley.
Tina Devino is a middling romance novelist who dreams of writing a
bestseller but is increasingly forced to compete with younger (and
blonder) debut authors for her publisher's and agent’s attention.
Feeling forgotten, Tina realises the only way up is to take her career
and destiny in hand and create her own happy ending . . . But will she
succeed?
Trisha Ashley's Sunday Times bestselling novels have twice been
shortlisted for the Melissa Nathan Award for Comedy Romance, and
Every Woman for Herself was nominated by readers as one of the top
three romantic novels of the last fifty years.
Trisha lives in North Wales. For more information about her please
visit www.trishaashley.com, her Facebook page
www.facebook.com/TrishaAshleyBooks or follow her on Twitter
@trishaashley.
February 2019
9781784160883
£8.99
B format : Paperback
400 pages
7
The Secretary
Renée Knight
The new novel from the No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author of
Disclaimer.
The eagerly anticipated new thriller from the No.1 bestselling author
of Disclaimer.
'Poised to establish herself as a big name' Telegraph
Look around you. Who holds the most power in the room? Is it the
one who speaks loudest, who looks the part, who has the most
money, who commands the most respect?
Or perhaps it’s someone like Christine Butcher: a meek, overlooked
figure, who silently bears witness as information is shared and secrets
are whispered. Someone who quietly, perhaps even unwittingly,
gathers together knowledge of the people she’s there to serve – the
ones who don’t notice her, the ones who consider themselves to be
important.
There’s a fine line between loyalty and obsession. And when someone
like Christine Butcher is pushed to her limit, she might just become
the most dangerous person in the room . . .
Renée Knight worked as a documentary-maker for the BBC before
turning to writing. She is a graduate of the Faber Academy ‘Writing a
Novel’ course, and lives in London with her husband and two children.
Her widely acclaimed debut novel, Disclaimer, was a Sunday Times No.1
bestseller. The Secretary is her second novel.
February 2019
9780857522849
£12.99
Royal Octavo : Hardback
352 pages
8
Kellanved's Reach
Path to Ascendancy Book 3
Ian C. Esslemont
An enthralling, exciting third chapter - full of adventure and magic -
in the new epic fantasy sequence 'Path to Ascendancy' by Ian C.
Esslemont that takes readers back to the turbulent and troubled
early history of what would become the Malazan Empire.
The incessant war between the bickering city states of Quon Tali
rages. So engrossed are the warring lords and princes in their own
petty feuds that few notice that an upstart mage from Dal Hon has
gained control of the southern seas. But some powers are alarmed
And in the meantime, as Purge and Tali indulge in what seems like a
their never-ending game of war, a mercenary caught up in the fight
between the two states suddenly refuses to play along and causes all
sorts of chaos. Simultaneously, a pair of escapees from Castle Gris
make their way across this ravaged landscape of flame and butchery.
Their intention to seek out the legendary Crimson Guard.
And then there's Kellanved who could not care less about any of this
petty politicking or strategy or war. Something other and altogether
more mysterious has caught his attention and he - together with a
reluctant and decidedly sceptical Dancer - traverse continents and
journey through the Realms in pursuit . . . But this ancient mystery
that has so captivated Kellanved is neither esoteric nor ephemeral.
No, it is of an altogether darker and more dangerous hue. It involves
the Elder races themselves, and more specifically - certainly more
alarmingly - the semi-mythic, and universally dreaded, Army of Dust
and Bone.
Surely no one in their right mind would be so foolish as to embark on
a journey from which none have returned? Well, no one except
Kellanved that is . . .
Returning to the turbulent early history of what would become the February 2019
Malazan Empire, here is the third awesome chapter in Ian C. 9780593074756
Esslemont's new epic fantasy sequence. £20.00
Royal Octavo : Hardback
Born in Winnipeg in 1962, IAN CAMERON ESSLEMONT has studied and 420 pages
worked as an archaeologist, travelled extensively in South East Asia B & W map
and lived in Thailand and Japan for several years. He now lives in
Fairbanks, Alaska, with his wife and children. He has a creative writing
degree and his novels Night of Knives, Return of the Crimson Guard,
Stonewielder, Orb Sceptre Throne, Blood and Bone and Assail are all set in
the fantasy world of Malaz that he co-created with Steven Erikson. His
latest novel, Dancer's Lament, begins an exciting new series that is set
in the same extraordinarily imagined world.
9
One False Move
Robert Goddard
Robert Goddard is 'the master of the triple double-cross' (The Times)
he delights in misleading and surprising his audience and ONE FALSE
MOVE is classic Goddard; a twisting mystery that quickly becomes a
heart-stopping thriller.
What value can be put on a human mind?
How Joe Roberts does what he does is a mystery. He has a brain that
seems able to outperform a computer. To a games company like
Venstrom that promises big profits if his abilities can be properly
exploited. So they send Nicole Nevinson to track him down and make
him an offer too good to refuse.
But Venstrom aren’t the only people interested in Joe. His current
boss, a shady businessman, is already making serious money out of
Joe’s talents and isn’ going to let him go without a fight. And then
there are other forces, with still darker intentions, who have their own
plans for him.
Almost before she knows it, Nicole’s crossed an invisible line into a
world where the game being played has rules she doesn’t understand
and where no-one can help her win.
But win she must. Because the battle now isn’t just for Joe’s mind, it’s
for Nicole’s life.
Robert Goddard was born in Hampshire and read History at
Cambridge. His first novel, Past Caring, was an instant bestseller.
Since then his books have captivated readers worldwide with their
edge-of-the-seat pace and their labyrinthine plotting. The first Harry
Barnett novel, Into the Blue, was winner of the first WHSmith Thumping
Good Read Award and was dramatized for TV, starring John Thaw. His March 2019
thriller, Long Time Coming won an Edgar in the Mystery Writers of 9780593076385
£18.99
America awards. Robert's most recent books feature hero James
'Max' Maxted. Royal Octavo : Hardback
384 pages
10Bryant & May - The Lonely Hour
(Bryant & May Book 17)
Christopher Fowler
In London a cunning killer goes about his grim work - a killer who
always strikes at 'the lonely hour' - 4am. It falls to detectives Arthur
Bryant and John May and the Peculiar Crimes Unit to find the method
in his madness . . .
In Which Mr May Makes A Mistake And Mr Bryant Goes Into The Dark
On a rainy winter night outside a run-down nightclub in the wrong part
of London, four strangers meet for the first time at 4:00am.
A few weeks later the body of an Indian textile worker is found
hanging upside down inside a willow tree on Hamstead Heath. The
Peculiar Crimes Unit is called in to investigate. The victim was found
surrounded by the paraphernalia of black magic, and so Arthur Bryant
and John May set off to question experts in the field.
But the case is not what it appears. When another victim seemingly
commits suicide, it becomes clear that in the London night is a killer
who knows what people fear most. And he always strikes at 4:00am.
In order to catch him, the PCU must switch to night shifts, but still the
team draws a blank. John May takes a technological approach, Arthur
Bryant goes in search of academics and misfits for help, for this is
becoming a case that reveals impossibilities at every turn, not least
that there's no indication of what the victims might have done to
attract the attentions of a murderer that doesn’t seem to exist. But
impossibilities are what the Peculiar Crimes Unit does best.
As they explore a night city where all the normal rules are upended,
they’re drawn deeper into a case that involves murder, arson, kidnap,
blackmail, bats and the psychological effects of loneliness on
Londoners. It's a trail that takes them from the poorest part of the
East End to the wealthiest homes in North London - an investigation
that can only end in tragedy…
March 2019
Christopher Fowler is the author of more than forty novels (fifteen of 9780857525680
which feature the detectives Bryant and May and the Peculiar Crimes £16.99
Unit) and short story collections. The recipient of many awards, Demy Octavo : Hardback
including the coveted CWA ‘Dagger in the Library’, Chris has also 360 pages
written screenplays, video games, graphic novels, audio plays and two
critically acclaimed memoirs, Paperboy and Film Freak. His most recent
book is The Book of Forgotten Authors, drawn from his ‘Invisible Ink’
columns in the Independent on Sunday. Chris divides his time between
London's King’s Cross and Barcelona. You can find out more by
visiting his website and following him on Twitter.
11A Vintage Summer
Cathy Bramley
A Vintage Summer is the new fizzingly fun, feel-good and comical
romantic novel from bestselling author Cathy Bramley.
A sparkling summer story that's FULL of surprises!
London has not been kind to Lottie Allbright. Realising it’s time to cut
and run, she packs up and moves back home – but finds her family
in disarray. In need of a new place to stay, Lottie takes up the offer
of a live-in job managing a local vineyard. There’s a lot to learn – she
didn’t even know grapes could grow so far north!
Butterworth Wines in the rolling Derbyshire hills has always been run
on love and passion but a tragic death has left everyone at a loss.
Widowed Betsy is trying to keep the place afloat but is harbouring a
debilitating secret. Meanwhile her handsome but interfering grandson,
Jensen, is trying to convince her to sell up and move into a home.
Lottie’s determined to save Butterworth Wines, but with all this and an
unpredictable English summer to deal with, it’ll be a challenge.
And that’s before she discovers something that will turn her summer –
and her world – upside down . . .
Your favourite authors have loved reading Cathy's novels:
‘Delightful!’ Katie Fforde
‘A page-turner of a story’ Milly Johnson
'Delightfully warm with plenty of twists and turns' Trisha Ashley
Cathy Bramley is the Sunday Times bestselling author of romantic
comedies including Wickham Hall, The Lemon Tree Café, Hetty's
Farmhouse Bakery and A Match Made in Devon. She lives in a March 2019
Nottinghamshire village with her family. 9780552173957
£7.99
Her recent career as a full-time writer of light-hearted, romantic fiction B format : Paperback
416 pages
has come as somewhat of a lovely surprise after spending eighteen
years running her own marketing agency. However, she has been
always an avid reader, never without a book on the go and now thinks
she may have found her dream job!
Cathy loves to hear from her readers. You can get in touch via her
website or on social media.
12The Boy in the Headlights
(Munch and Krüger Book 3)
Samuel Bjork
The bestselling Munch & Kruger series. A new murder bears
striking resemblance to a bizarre cold case but things get
even darker when Mia Kruger spots a familiar face on the
bus; it is her sister Sigrid, but that isn't possible - she has
the death certificate to prove it.
The bestselling series, a former Richard and Judy bookclub
pick, returns with another chilling case.
Munch and Krüger. An unexpected pairing. A brilliant team.
Winter 1999. An old man is driving home. It is dark and cold,
and his is the only car on the road. Suddenly his headlights
catch an animal up ahead. He hits the breaks furiously. Just in
front of his bonnet he finds a young boy with a set of deer
antlers on his head.
Fourteen years later, a woman is found brutally murdered. Her
body hidden in the boot of a car. She is the first but she won’t
be the last.
Holger Munch is glad for the work; his personal life is anything
but simple and escape is sweet. Mia Krüger is a woman on a
mission. For the first time in a long time, she is clean.
As more victims are reported, each crime scene is a little
different to the last. There’s an uncanny resemblance to cases March 2019
from Mia’s past. And then one day she sees a familiar face on
9780857522542
the bus. It is her sister Sigrid, but she knows that’s not Royal Octavo
possible, she’s got the death certificate to prove it.
£14.99 : Hardback
384 pages
Samuel Bjork is the pen name of Norwegian novelist,
playwright and singer/songwriter Frode Sander Øien. The Owl
Always Hunts At Night is the second in his Munch and Krüger
series, I’m Travelling Alone was the first. Both have been
bestsellers across Scandinavia and the rest of Europe.
13Star-Crossed
Minnie Darke
A delicious romantic comedy about good friends, true love
and all the signs of the Zodiac. Why rely on fate when you
could rewrite the stars?
Destiny doesn't happen by accident . . .
When Justine Carmichael (Sagittarius, aspiring journalist and
sceptic) bumps into her teenage crush Nick Jordan (Aquarius,
struggling actor and true believer) it could be by chance. Or it
could be written in the stars.
Justine works at the Alexandria Park Star - and Nick, she now
learns, relies on the magazine's astrology column to guide him
in life.
Looking for a way to get Nick’s attention, Justine has the idea
of making a few small alterations to the horoscope for Aquarius
before it goes to print.
After all, it’s only the stars. What could possibly go wrong?
Star-crossed is a funny, super-smart and gloriously feel-good
novel, perfect for anyone who loves David Nicholls, Marian Keyes
and Jojo Moyes.
Minnie Darke lives in Tasmania, Australia. She is a Gemini, a
daylight librarian and moonlight cherisher of almost-forgotten
dreams of becoming an actor, a Scrabble cutthroat and drinker
of Russian Caravan tea, the human companion to one street April 2019
terrier and two British Giant rabbits. 9781787631076
Demy Octavo
£12.99 : Hardback
388 pages
0
14The Fire Starters
Jan Carson
The dazzling new literary novel from a prize-winning rising star in
Irish fiction: two fathers must protect their children in a city gone
mad, but what if it's the city that needs protecting from their
children?
Doctor Jonathan Murray has guarded his heart for so long, he’s not
sure it exists any more. When a patient lures him to her flat claiming
to be minutes from death, all the barriers fall away. But she is no
ordinary woman, and their encounter will turn his world upside down.
On the rougher side of town, Sammy Agnew is wrestling with his dark
past, and fears the violence in his blood lurks in his son, too – a
silent, cold boy who rarely emerges from his room in the attic.
Meanwhile, Belfast is seething with menace under a fierce sun:
someone is lighting fires everywhere, and encouraging others to do
so too. As the city falls into frenzy, and as the lines between fantasy
and truth, right and wrong, begin to blur, Jonathan and Sammy’s
worlds collide. Soon, both men will be forced to question everything
they thought they knew – about themselves, about their children, and
about the lengths they are prepared to go to in the name of love.
Jan Carson is based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Her first novel,
Malcolm Orange Disappears, was published in 2014 to critical acclaim,
followed by a short collection, Children’s Children (2016), and a flash
fiction anthology, Postcard Stories (2017). Among many other
successes, she was shortlisted for the Sean O’Faolain short story prize
in 2016, and won the Harper’s Bazaar short story competition in 2016.
Her much anticipated second novel, The Fire Starters, will be published
in the UK and Ireland in April 2019.
April 2019
9780857525741
£12.99
Demy Octavo : Hardback
304 pages
15If, Then
Kate Hope Day
In a sleepy Oregon town at the base of a dormant volcano,
four neighbours find their lives upended when they see
visions of themselves in an alternate reality, and have to
question the choices they’ve made as natural disaster
looms. For fans of Celeste Ng's LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE.
In a sleepy Oregon town at the base of a dormant volcano,
four neighbours find their lives upended when they see
visions of themselves in an alternate reality, and have to
question the choices they’ve made as natural disaster
looms. For fans of Celeste Ng's LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE
and TV serial SIX FEET UNDER.
In the shadow of a dormant volcano in Oregon lies a small
town much like any other – though mistier perhaps, and
greener. Look closely and you’ll see four neighbours plagued
by strange visions.
Ginny, a devoted surgeon, is troubled by a vision of a beautiful
colleague in her bed; her husband Mark, a wildlife scientist,
foresees imminent and devastating natural disaster. Next door
lives Samara, a young estate agent, who sees a vision of her
late mother looking healthy and vibrant; opposite is Cass, a
brilliant scholar struggling with the demands of a small baby,
who glimpses an image of herself pregnant all over again, just
as she is returning to her game-changing research.
When the volcano begins to rumble, it becomes clear that
these visions are not what they first seemed, and that the April 2019
lives of this close-knit community are in grave danger 9780857525826
Demy Octavo
KATE HOPE DAY was an associate producer at HBO. She lives £12.99 : Hardback
with her husband, children and pets in Oregon, US, where her 266 pages
novel is set.
16Too Close
Natalie Daniels
For fans of Harriet Lane’s HER and Paula Daly’s KEEP YOUR FRIENDS
CLOSE, TOO CLOSE is a twisting tale of friendship and betrayal.
How close is too close?
For fans of Harriet Lane’s HER and Paula Daly’s KEEP YOUR FRIENDS
CLOSE, TOO CLOSE is a twisting tale of friendship and betrayal.
How close is too close?
There’s a moment, when you meet someone new, when the
connection is so strong that making a friend can feel like falling in
love.
That’s how it was for Connie and Ness. They met in the park while
their children played and as they talked, they realised they were
neighbours. Perhaps it was only natural that they and their families
would become entirely inseparable.
But when Ness’s marriage ends in a bitter divorce, she is suddenly at
Connie’s house all the time. Connie doesn’t have a moment to
herself, no time alone with her husband, not a second to chat to her
kids. It’s all too much. Something has to give.
Connie has woken up in a psychiatric hospital. They say she
committed a terrible crime but she says she can’t remember a thing.
April 2019
9780552176125
£7.99 : Paperback
320 pages
17Expectation
Anna Hope
Love, children, career – modern women are expected to
have it all. But what must they sacrifice to win even some of
it?
Love, children, career – modern women are expected to have it
all. But what must they sacrifice to win even some of it?
Hannah has jumped through every hoop to make her way in
the world from her working class beginnings. But will the thing
she’s worked hardest for stay out of reach forever?
Cate has fought against convention all her life - how has she
ended up as a small-town stay-at-home mum?
Lissa is charismatic, beautiful and avant-garde. She chose the
thrill of the theatre over family – but will she ever get to be the
lead in her own life?
ANNA HOPE’s fierce and compelling novel of friendship and the
pressure to succeed as a woman takes three lifelong friends
and asks, what does it really take to make us happy?
April 2019
9780857524904
Demy Octavo
£16.99 : Hardback
266 pages
18Sunfall
Jim Al-Khalili
Twenty-five years in the future, and our planet is facing an
inescapable natural Armageddon that threatens all life on Earth -
Professor Jim Al-Khalili, one of the UK's pre-eminent physicists,
combines rip-roaring storytelling and mind-expanding high-concept
science in his debut thriller.
2041, and for all the advances science and technology have brought,
our world is under attack from rampant climate change, uncontrollable
mass migration, cyber-terrorism, fragmenting societies and insidious
governmental secrecy and paranoia. And then the unthinkable
happens - the Earth, our planet, seems to be turning against itself - it
would appear that the magnetic field, which protects life on Earth from
deadly radiation from space, is failing . . .
Fearful of the mass hysteria that would follow if the truth were to
become known, world governments have concealed this rapidly
emerging Armageddon. But a young Iranian computer genius
stumbles across what is really going on, the secret is out, and it's a
race against time to put in place an outrageous, desperate last ditch
plan to save the world: to reactivate the earth's core using beams of
dark matter. As a small team of brave and brilliant scientists - each a
maverick in his or her own way - battle to find a way of transforming
the theory into practice, they face a fanatical group intent on pursuing
their own endgame agenda: for they believe mankind to be a plague
upon this earth and will do anything, commit any crime, to ensure
that the project fails - and so bring about humanity's end...
Set in a convincingly conceived very near future full of dazzling
technologies, AIs and augmented realities, eminent scientist and
broadcaster Professor Jim Al-Khalili's thrilling debut novel draws on
cutting edge science to tell a nail-biting story of what might be . . .
April 2019
Jim Al-Khalili OBE FRS is a quantum physicist, author and broadcaster 9780593077429
£12.99
based at the University of Surrey where he holds a joint chair in
physics and the public engagement in science. He has written twelve Royal Octavo : Hardback
320 pages
books, translated into over twenty languages. He is a regular
presenter of TV science documentaries and also presents the long-
running weekly BBC Radio 4 programme, The Life Scientific. A recipient
of the Royal Society Michael Faraday medal, the Institute of Physics
Kelvin Medal and the inaugural Stephen Hawking Medal for Science
Communication, he is also the current president of the British Science
Association. He lives in Hampshire and Sunfall is his first novel.
19How To Find Home
Mahsuda Snaith
A modern retelling of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in which
four wildly different characters cross the country in search
of the things they think they need at most. A heart-warming,
poignant novel from Observer New Face of Fiction Mahsuda
Snaith.
‘What am I? A homeless, pregnant thief sitting on a bench in a
Magistrates Court, boyfriend with a season ticket for the place but
nowhere to be seen.’
Molly doesn’t want to be that person anymore; she wants to
be better. She needs to get out of this place and start anew.
In this fresh, modern retelling of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,
Molly travels across the country in search of a place to call
home, somewhere to confront her past and finally begin her
reinvention. Accompanied by Luca – wiry, wild and a little weird
– and Jules – loud and seemingly fearless – she trundles
through sunflower fields, to suburban manor houses and to
beachside resorts at the edge of her world. She comes face-to-
face with old adversaries and new challenges; her past is
never far behind. But the three of them never waver in their
pursuit of courage, love, safety and – most importantly –
home.
A contemporary fairy-tale from one of our most exciting voices,
Mahsuda Snaith promises another heart-warming, poignant
novel about resilience, imagination and the power of never-
ending hope. May 2019
9780857524690
Mahsuda Snaith is the winner of the SI Leeds Literary Prize Demy Octavo
2014 and Bristol Short Story Prize 2014, and a finalist in the £12.99 : Trade Paperback
Mslexia Novel Writing Competition 2013. She lives in Leicester 304 pages
where she leads writing workshops and teaches part-time in
primary schools. She was an Observer New Face of Fiction in
2017. Mahsuda is a fan of reading (obviously) and crochet (not
so obviously).
20The Forest of Wool and Steel
Natsu Miyashita
Bestselling winner of the Japan 2016 Booksellers Award, chosen as
the title bookshop staff most wanted to hand-sell: A wise and
uplifting novel for fans of A WHOLE LIFE and THE TRAVELLING CAT
CHRONICLES.
Bestselling winner of the 2016 Japan Booksellers Award, selected by
bookshop staff as the book they most wanted to hand-sell: A tender
and uplifting novel for fans of A WHOLE LIFE and THE TRAVELLING
CAT CHRONICLES.
Tomura is startled at the hypnotic sound of a piano being tuned in his
school. It seeps into his soul and reminds him of the forests, both
dark and gleaming, that surround his mountain village. From that
moment, he becomes determined to discover more.
Set in a small town in Hokkaido, and roaming between the piano
store and the homes of the clients whose pianos he tunes, this is a
story of a man finding his way through the forest of life, a path he
navigates with humility and wit. Exploring solidity, friendship and the
universal quest for truth, it shows how acts of compassion and
acceptance will take us where we most want to go.
[Contains 5 exquisite illustrations]
May 2019
9780857525185
£9.99
Demy Octavo : Hardback
208 pages
21Ellie and the Harpmaker
Hazel Prior
A quirky, surprising love story that will pluck the heart-
strings . . . Perfect for fans of The Keeper of Lost Things and
Three Things About Elsie.
Meet Ellie Jacobs. A one-time librarian, she now spends most
of her time looking after her husband Clive and their home,
apart from the days when she escapes into the wilds of
Exmoor to write poetry.
Meet the harp-maker. Dan Hollis lives alone, in a remote barn
hidden in the woods. For the past twenty-three years he has
been making harps; choosing beautiful local wood, carving and
shaping it by hand and inlaying into each harp a ‘signature’
Exmoor pebble.
One day while out walking, Ellie stumbles across Dan in his
workshop . . . and so begins a story of surprises, unintended
complications and life-changing consequences for everyone.
This heart-warming, funny and quirky love story will stay with you
long after you finish the last page.
Hazel Prior lives on Exmoor with her husband and a huge
ginger cat. As well as writing, she works as a freelance harpist.
May 2019
9781787630918
Royal Octavo
£12.99 : Hardback
320 pages
22Mind Games
Leona Deakin
A MAJOR LAUNCH OF A NEW INVESTIGATIVE THRILLER
SERIES
A compulsive, twisting, addictive debut thriller in the vein of
M. J. Arlidge's Eeny Meeny that features fresh, flawed
heroine Dr Bloom and a series of mysterious
disappearances.
Four 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, and psychologist and private detective Dr Augusta
Bloom is persuaded to investigate. As she 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
puppeteer. But is she playing into their hands?
Leona Deakin started her career as a psychologist with the
West Yorkshire Police. She is now an occupational psychologist
and lives with her family in Leeds. This is her debut thriller.
May 2019
9781784164089
B format
£7.99 : Paperback
384 pages
23Reflections
Marcia Willett
This delightful new novel from Marcia Willett is ideal for
fans of Katie Fforde and Fern Britton.
After her husband dies, Cara finds herself at an odd end in her
London home. Without a thought, she sells it and returns to
her brother’s home in Salcombe. There she begins to look back
at her life and question the things that have led her to this
moment.
Cosmo has also escaped from the trappings of his life in the
city, finding life in the South West a far more relaxing and
appealing fit, especially when he meets local girl, Amy. But his
time is limited and he hasn’t quite found himself able to let go
of everything back home just yet.
Just out of school, Sam has found himself at a loose end. His
future seems bright but he is still coping with the loss of his
parents when he was very young. He’s had to make his own
family from the people left around him but those connections
only seem to be loosening with age.
With the moon steady in the sky and the tide coming in, these
characters learn that for everything lost there is something to
be gained.
Praise for Marcia Willett:
'A beautifully woven tale of families and their secrets...' Liz
Fenwick, bestselling author of The Cornish House
'Riveting, moving and utterly feel-good' Daily Mail May 2019
'Sweeping powers of description transport her readers to 9780593080061
another time and place' Rosanna Ley Royal Octavo
£16.99 : Hardback
Marcia Willett was born in Somerset and lives in deepest 320 pages
Devon.
A former ballet dancer and teacher, she is the author of many
bestselling novels.
24Secret Service
Tom Bradby
There are two candidates running for Prime Minister of the
UK. One of them is a Russian Spy.
From ITV''s News Anchor and bestselling author, Tom
Bradby, Secret Service is a fresh-from-the-headlines
thriller.
Even the best intelligence play has consequences – good and
bad.
When a young woman working undercover for SIS as the
nanny for an oligarch’s family is found brutally murdered, Kate
Henderson, head of the Russian desk, knows that something is
very wrong. What’s more the intel she has helped uncover
seems to be pointing towards the existence of a high level
Russian mole in the British government.
Particularly when that mole might be in line to be the next
Prime Minister…
Tom Bradby is Political Editor of ITV News. He began his
reporting career with the company as Ireland Correspondent
more than fifteen years ago, during which time he covered the
unfolding peace process and wrote his first novel, Shadow
Dancer. As Asia Correspondent, based in Hong Kong, he was
shot and seriously wounded whilst covering a riot in Jakarta.
After a spell as Royal Correspondent, he went on to become
UK Editor before taking up his current post in the summer of
2005.
May 2019
Tom Bradby is the acclaimed author of six novels: Shadow 9780593080429
Dancer, The Sleep of the Dead, The Master of Rain, The God of Royal Octavo
Chaos, The White Russian and Blood Money. £12.99 : Hardback
320 pages
The Master of Rain was shortlisted for the Crime Writers'
Association Steel Dagger for Best Thriller of the Year 2002. The
White Russian was shortlisted for the Crime Writers'
Association Ellis Peters Award for the Best Historical Crime
Novel of 2003. The God of Chaos was shortlisted for the Crime
Writers' Association Ellis Peters Award for the Best Historical
Crime Novel of 2005.
He lives in England with his wife and three children.
25The Warehouse
Rob Hart
A riveting and immersive thriller which takes our current
reality and transforms it into a terrifyingly recognisable
future
The Warehouse is a near-future thriller set in an America
addicted to consumerism where gun violence, climate change
and unemployment have ravaged the nation, and an online
retail giant named Cloud reigns supreme. Cloud brands itself
not just as an online storefront but a sort of global saviour.
However beneath that sunny exterior is a grinding, soul-
sucking machine which will stop at nothing to make a buck.
Rob Hart is the publisher of Mysterious Press.com and the
author of the Ash McKenna private detective series. He has
also collaborated with James Patterson on Scott Free. He lives
in New York City.
June 2019
9781787631243
Royal Octavo
£12.99 : Hardback
352 pages
26Untitled 4
Laura Madeleine
The sumptuous and seductive world of Tangiers in the early
20th century, is a world where men make decisions and
women follow. But Alejandra won't stand for that.
In the dead of night, with blood on her hands, Alejandra made
her escape.
In a small port in Southern Spain, Alejandra finds that the only
way for a runaway girl to make a living is to sell herself. But
she won’t do it.
Seduced by the power of the rich men boarding the ferries for
Tangier, Alejandra sets her sights on something a little more
exciting. But the port is a man’s world and she cannot get
close to it, not dressed as she is…
Even the money and the freedom of this new and exotic world
cannot keep Alejandra’s secrets safe for long. Her new friends
want to know what she is running from, they want to know
who she is and whether they can trust her...
After a childhood spent acting professionally and training at a
theatre school, Laura Madeleine changed her mind, and went
to study English Literature at Newnham College, Cambridge.
She now writes fiction, as well as recipes, and was formerly
the resident cake baker for Domestic Sluttery. She lives in
Bristol, but can often be found visiting her family in Devon,
eating cheese and getting up to mischief with her sister,
fantasy author Lucy Hounsom. June 2019
9781784162542
B Format (TW)
£7.99 : Paperback
320 pages
27The Body Lies
Jo Baker
A brand new contemporary novel about a creative writing
school tutor whose relationship with a student goes
tragically wrong - from the bestselling author of
LONGBOURN
What if you realised the subject your student is studying is
you?
When a young mother accepts a creative writing post in a
remote northern university, it’s meant to be a fresh start, away
from the big city and the scene of a violent assault that she’s
desperate to forget. But despite the distractions of a busy
teaching schedule and single motherhood, her nerves continue
to jangle. To make matters worse, a vicious debate about
violence against women in crime novels sours the group
dynamic, turning her class into a smouldering pit of rivalry and
tension.
When a troubled student starts emailing her chapters from his
novel instead of sharing them with the class, it seems like just
another problem to manage. But as she reads his work, the
borders between fiction and reality begin to blur as she
recognises herself as the main player in his book, and he has
written her a terrible fate.
Will she be able to stop life imitating art before it’s too late?
A fascinating interrogation of the violence against women in
fiction and, a terrifying page-turner that will have you checking June 2019
the locks on your door, The Body Lies is an essential book for 9780857526434
our time. Demy Octavo
£12.99 : Hardback
Jo Baker was educated at Oxford and Queen's University, 236 pages
Belfast. She is the author of the bestselling LONGBOURN, which
is due to be made into a film, and A COUNTRY ROAD, A TREE, an
acclaimed novel inspired by the life of Samuel Beckett. She lives
in Lancashire with her husband and two children.
28The Second Wife
Rebecca Fleet
The twisty new thriller from the acclaimed author of The
House Swap.
The twisty new thriller from the acclaimed author of THE
HOUSE SWAP, Rebecca Fleet.
After the suicide of his first wife, Alex has been given a second
lease of life with Natalie. Newly married and living in Brighton
with his thirteen year old daughter Jade, the couple seem to
be made for one another – but their idyllic domestic calm is
shattered when the family narrowly escapes a devastating fire
in their home. Alex soon discovers that Natalie and Jade have
different accounts of what happened that terrible night – but
which one of his family is lying, and why?
Rebecca Fleet lives and works in London. The House Swap is
her first thriller.
June 2019
9780857525499
Royal Octavo
£12.99 : Hardback
384 pages
29The Perfect Betrayal
Lauren North
The debut psychological suspense drama from an exciting
new voice in thriller fiction, THE PERFECT BETRAYALis a
dark, emotionally engaging novel that asks: who can you
trust in your darkest moment?
'I thought she was our friend. I thought she was trying to
help us.'
After the sudden death of her husband, Tess Clarke is
drowning in grief. All she has left is her son, Jamie, and she'll
do anything to keep him safe - but she's struggling to cope.
When grief counsellor Shelley knocks on their door, everything
changes. Shelley is beautiful, confident and takes control when
Tess can't bear to face the outside world.
But when questions arise over her husband's death and
strange things start to happen, Tess begins to suspect that
Shelley may have an ulterior motive. Tess knows she must do
everything she can to keep Jamie safe - but who can she
trust?
Lauren North writes psychological suspense novels that delve
into the darker side of relationships and families. She has a
lifelong passion for writing, reading, and all things books.
Lauren’s love of psychological suspense has grown since
childhood and her dark imagination of always wondering
what’s the worst thing that could happen in every situation.
June 2019
Lauren studied psychology before moving to London where 9780552176088
she lived and worked for many years. She now lives with her £7.99 : Paperback
family in the Suffolk countryside. Readers can follow Lauren on 356 pages
Twitter @Lauren_C_North and Facebook @LaurenNorthAuthor
30Death and other Happy Endings
Melanie Cantor
There’s nothing like being told that in three months you’ll be
dead to make you think about what you really want in life…
A smart, funny first novel for readers of Sophie Kinsella and
Lucy DIamond
There’s nothing like being told that in three months you’ll be
dead to make you think about what you really want in life…
Jennifer Cole has just been told that she has a rare and
terminal blood disorder. She has 90 days to say goodbye to
friends and family, and to put her affairs in order. Focusing on
the positives (she won’t have to go on in a world without
Bowie or Maya Angelou; she won’t get Alzheimer’s or
Parkinson’s, or teeth that flop out at the mere mention of the
word apple), Jennifer realises she only has one real regret to
address: the relationships she’s lost.
So rather than running off to complete a frantic bucket list of
exotic experiences in tropical holiday destinations, she chooses
to stay put and write a letter each to three people – her
overbearing, selfish sister, her jelly-spined, cheating ex-
husband, and her charming, unreliable ex-boyfriend – finally
telling them the truth. After all, what is the worst that can
happen to you when you have nothing left to lose?
At first, Jennifer feels cleansed by her catharsis. Liberated,
even. Her ex-boyfriend rushes to her side and she even starts
to build bridges with her sister Isabelle (that is, once Isabelle’s
confirmed that Jennifer’s condition isn’t genetic). But once you
start telling the truth, it’s hard to stop. And as she’ll discover,
the truth isn’t always as straightforward as it seems.
June 2019
9781787631380
Royal Octavo
£12.99 : Hardback
352 pages
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