OVER ONE MILLION COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDEA sweeping coming-of-age tale, an epic love story and a searing thriller, all unfolding on a vast canvas.There is a moment when childhood ends.For Joseph 'Patch' Macauley and Saint Brown, it comes late one summer as Patch is abducted from their hometown. Devastated, Saint devotes her days to finding her best friend.Held in total darkness, Patch is hopeless and alone - until he feels a hand in his. Though he never sees the girl, they fall in love. When he escapes, he's left with only her voice and name - and promises to spend the rest of his life searching for her.As Saint's heart breaks for the boy she lost - and the man he becomes - she will shadow his journey, to uncover the truth behind who took him.Over a lifetime driven by obsession, Patch and Saint must sacrifice everything for redemption, justice, and, ultimately, love - even if that means losing each other forever ...****** PRAISE FOR ALL THE COLOURS OF THE DARK: 'Impeccably crafted, deeply emotional, entirely shattering. I was captivated from page one.' BONNIE GARMUS, author of LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY 'Chris Whitaker's latest novel is a book to lose yourself in... this sprawling crime novel transcends its genre to become something epic in scope, haunting and ultimately deeply moving. A huge achievement.' ALEX MICHAELIDES, author of THE SILENT PATIENT 'ALL THE COLOURS OF THE DARK is epic in every sense of the word: time, scope, skill, and love. It's a crime novel with a huge beating heart and some of the best characters I've ever passed my time with.' ABIGAIL DEAN, author of GIRL A 'Taut, beguiling , and suspenseful, ALL THE COLOURS OF THE DARK reveals the depth of a town's loss when a young boy goes missing' NITA PROSE, author of THE MAID 'Engrossing, heart-breaking and uplifting in equal measure - I've never read anything quite like it. This book will stay with you for a very long time.' LUCY FOLEY, author of THE PARIS APARTMENT 'This book hits like a sledgehammer. Equal parts harrowing and triumphant, Chris Whitaker's novel is a haunting story of America, alternating between its twin strands of violence and love. I couldn't put it down, and will always remember that 13 year old pirate, Patch, and that brilliant little beekeeper, Saint. An absolutely must-read novel.' GILLIAN FLYNN, author of GONE GIRL Read more

A WORLD ON THE BRINK OF WAR. AN AFFAIR ON THE EDGE OF SCANDAL.FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING AUTHOR‘A riveting tale of politics, war and erotic obsession’ Sunday Times‘His most enthralling yet . . . a slam dunk of a plot . . . extraordinary’ Nicholas Coleridge, Independent‘Gripping . . . Harris also has the John le Carré gift for showing how meetings can become a form of blood sport’ Jake Kerridge, Telegraph'Splendid' Max Hastings, Sunday TimesSummer 1914. A world on the brink of catastrophe.In London, 26-year-old Venetia Stanley – aristocratic, clever, bored, reckless – is having a love affair with the Prime Minister, H. H. Asquith, a man more than twice her age. He writes to her obsessively, sharing the most sensitive matters of state.As Asquith reluctantly leads the country into war with Germany, a young intelligence officer is assigned to investigate a leak of top secret documents – and suddenly what was a sexual intrigue becomes a matter of national security that will alter the course of political history.Seamlessly weaving fact and fiction in a way that no writer does better, Precipice is the thrilling new novel from Robert Harris.'The king of the page-turning thriller' i Paper'Harris's cleverness, judgment and eye for detail are second to none' Sunday Times'Harris writes with a skill and ingenuity that few other novelists can match' Financial Times'Harris is a master of historical fiction, a compelling author who brings to life the recent and ancient past' TLSRobert Harris, Sunday Times bestseller, May 2024 Read more

From the million-copy bestselling author of The Lost Bookshop'A delicious book that I couldn’t resist devouring in one sitting. It was a delight to lose myself in the world of Edie and the mysterious baker. I would recommend to pastry lovers and book lovers alike!' Sally Page, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Keeper of StoriesNestled among the cobblestone streets of Compiègne, there existed a bakery unlike any other. Rumours were whispered through the town that its pastries offered a taste of magic, chasing away the darkest of sorrows. Just one bite of a croissant might bring luck, unlock a precious memory or reveal hidden longings.But dark clouds were looming on the horizon…For Edie Lane, a recipe for disaster doesn’t require that many ingredients. Take an unhealthy amount of wishful thinking and a sprinkle of desperation and that’s how Edie left everything behind in Ireland for her dream job at a bakery in Paris. Except the bakery isn’t in Paris – and neither is Edie.This might not be where Edie intended to be but she soon realizes it's exactly where she needs to be…Praise for Evie Woods‘Beautifully written and captures the wonder and awe that a story can bring to its reader…a delightful story for any book lover…an ode to storytelling and the connections that books can make!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Wowwww!! It’s been awhile since I read something so fascinating, captivating and special all in one…It takes you on a journey like most books do, but this one, I just want to inscribe on my back and hope that it becomes a part of me so that I can carry it with me always’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘A must read for readers that love books’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘A beautiful story that begs to be read in one sitting…a magical story filled with beautiful prose and many surprises that readers will not soon forget’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘This spellbinding book hooked me from the very beginning and I couldn't put it down til the end’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Evie Woods's book 'The Lost Bookshop' was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 2023-12-18. Read more

‘I was in awe reading this book, wonderfully written, fascinating history and brought with it the scent of all those flowers. A delight for my senses.’ Milly JohnsonThe Lost Bookshop meets The Keeper of Stories in this utterly heart-warming story about friendship, hope and a mystery hidden in the language of flowers…The smallest treasures can hold the biggest mysteries…One year after her husband’s death Emma has become a wallflower, hiding among the brighter blooms in the florist where she works.But when a colleague invites her to a talk on the Titanic, she begins a quest to uncover who arranged the flowers on board.As Emma discovers the lost story of the girl and the great ship, she realises that flowers may unlock long buried secrets in her own life…Will she be able to unlock the mystery of the Titanic and heal her heart too?Escape into the world of Sally Page with the perfect summer read for a weekend away or cosying up in your favourite armchair! From the author of phenomenal bestsellers The Keeper of Stories and The Book of Beginnings comes another novel that will warm your heart.'A gorgeous, gorgeous book.This is such an engaging read, packed with light, colour and kindness.' Hazel Prior, author of Away with the PenguinsReaders LOVE The Secrets of Flowers‘Another masterpiece by Sally Page! I read this in one sitting. It moved me, made me smile and stayed with me…’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘I devoured this in a day. I knew this book was going to be a big warm hug and it didn’t disappoint’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘What a delightful book. Finished in one hit because I really wanted to know what happened … A book to make you feel glad to be human’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘A lovely, lovely read. Great cast of characters and a wonderful story' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘A must read for anyone looking for a feel-good heartwarming read. I cannot recommend Sally Page enough’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘I found myself moved to tears … I love Sally Page's writing style – she understands people and how they feel, particularly characters who are awkward in their own skins.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘This book has me laughing and crying… A brilliant read, loved it’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘If you like flowers and history, then you will adore this book’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘This is a story that will stay with me for a long time’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Sally Page's book 'The Keeper of Stories' was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 2022-12-12. Read more

An inspiring, uplifting story of love and loss, courage and adventure, from the bestselling author of The Skylark’s Secret.1927. Violet Mackenzie-Grant is embarking on her dream of studying at the Edinburgh School of Gardening for Women. She doesn’t yet know that it’s a journey that will take her to Kathmandu and beyond, deep into captivating landscapes and cultures that are worlds away from everything and everyone she’s left behind in Scotland.2020. Daisy Laverock has dreamed of retracing the footsteps of her great-great-aunt Violet ever since discovering her long-lost journals, whose accounts of plant hunting in the 1930s inspired Daisy’s own career. Divorced, and facing an empty nest, Daisy decides to embark on the trip of a lifetime. She arrives in Nepal, ready to start trekking in the shadow of Everest. But fate, and the pandemic, have other plans.Stranded and alone, Daisy must fall back on the kindness of strangers, taking inspiration from Violet’s determination and resilience to keep going in the darkest of times. As she gradually pieces together the fragments of Violet’s story and uncovers long-held secrets, can Daisy finally reveal a path forward to her own future? Read more

An instant Sunday Times bestseller and soon to be a major motion picture!'Astonishing. Compelling. Powerful' - Delia Owens, bestselling author of Where the Crawdads Sing'Stuns with sacrifice. Uplifts with heroism' - Bonnie Garmus, bestselling author of Lessons in Chemistry'Powerful' - Matt Haig, bestselling author of The Midnight LibraryFrom the worldwide bestselling author of The Four Winds, The Nightingale and Firefly Lane (a Number One series on Netflix),The Women is a story of devastating loss and epic love. It would be the journey of a lifetime . . .'Women can be heroes, too'. When twenty-year-old nursing student, Frances "Frankie" McGrath, hears these unexpected words, it is a revelation. Raised on California's idyllic Coronado Island and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing, being a good girl. But in 1965 the world is changing, and she suddenly imagines a different path for her life. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she impulsively joins the Army Nurses Corps and follows his path.As green and inexperienced as the young men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is overwhelmed by the chaos and destruction of war, as well as the unexpected trauma of coming home to a changed America. Frankie will also discover the true value of female friendship and the heartbreak that love can cause.Readers love The Women:'It honours ALL women: those who have fought for their rights and freedoms, those who have been overlooked and underappreciated, those who have been forgotten by families and society''I've been looking forward to this book's release for months' 'Kristin Hannah has done it again' Read more

'A beautifully written story of loss and love' Florence Knapp'Tender, moving' Daily Mail'A beautiful story of grief, hope and love' Lucy Diamond'Superbly crafted and tender' Woman & Home‘Spectacular... a gift to readers everywhere’ Adriana TrigianiThe sea stole him from her. Could it bring him back?The spellbinding story of a lost boy, a tragic love affair and a seafaring community’s buried secrets finally coming to light.Winter, 1900. A little boy washes up on the beach of a small fishing village in Scotland, barely alive. He bears an uncanny resemblance to teacher Dorothy's son, lost to the sea many years before.When the village is snowed in, Dorothy agrees to look after the child until he can be returned home. But, as the past rises to meet the present, long-buried secrets in this tight-knit community start to come to light. And Dorothy finds herself thrown together again with the reclusive fisherman Joseph, after years of keeping their distance…READERS LOVE THE FISHERMAN'S GIFT:‘Took my breath away’ *****‘This book emotionally destroyed me in the best way… My heart aches so much for these characters’ *****‘An absolute treasure of a book. I loved it from start to finish’ *****‘A haunting and evocative read. The characters, especially Dorothy, have stayed with me well beyond the pages.’ *****‘A completely immersive, first-class story. Brilliantly observed, atmospheric and haunting all in one novel!’ ***** Read more

The book that has stolen hearts everywhere, the breath-takingly powerful Sunday Times bestseller and Richard & Judy Book Club pick, perfect for fans of Where the Crawdads Sing and Great Circle.'A sweeping story of survival and becoming' Women's Prize For Fiction'Spellbinding' The Times'Tragic, uplifting and completely unforgettable' Bonnie Garmus, author of Lessons in ChemistryWhen a moment changes everything, how do you live the rest of your life?1940s Colorado: Teenage Victoria Nash is the only woman in a family of troubled men.When she meets Wilson Moon, a young drifter with a mysterious past, on a street corner, their connection is immediate. And dangerous.But then tragedy strikes, and Victoria is forced to leave her home and face a decision that will change her life forever.Loved deeply by readers, this is the epic coming-of-age adventure of Victoria Nash, determined to save her family’s generational peach farm from destruction, as she falls in love, faces devastating tragedy, and finally faces what she must do to survive.Readers are loving Go as a River:'Beautiful' Daily Mail'A powerful love story with an unforgettable heroine at its heart' Sunday Express'A book that will stay with me forever' ***** Reader review'Oh, how I loved this book. Going to be Christmas presents for all my family' ***** Reader Review'A book to be treasured.' ***** Reader review'An incredible read. Emotional heartbreaking, but very 'real' ***** Reader Review'After reading non-stop all night, I’m feeling very emotional, still' ***** Reader Review'From the moment I started reading, I found it very hard to put down' ***** Reader Review'A beautiful book' ***** Reader reviewSunday Times bestseller, April 2023Richard And Judy Book Club Pick, Spring 2024 Read more

From million-copy bestselling author Imogen Clark comes a story of two families, two babies and one maddeningly hot day that will change their lives forever.It’s the hottest day of the 1976 heatwave and there’s not a breath of fresh air in the labour ward at Lincoln County Hospital. Michelle is having her fourth child, a girl, while beloved husband Dean is sipping a cold pint in the pub. Their little house is already bursting at the seams, but Michelle is sure they’ll find a way to stretch their budget and continue life as a blissfully chaotic happy family. They name their new baby Donna.In the next bed, exhausted and wearing a perfectly impractical lace-trimmed white nightgown, Sylvie has just given birth to her first child at forty and wants to sleep, while her oblivious husband Jeremy hovers and suggests he sketch this ‘perfect moment’. The midwife thinks she’ll feel more like bonding with her baby when she’s had some rest, but Sylvie isn’t so sure. She and Jeremy call their daughter Leonora.When the two little girls are taken to their respective homes, the date of their birth seems to be the only thing to connect them. But one day, years in the future, their paths will cross again when Michelle comes looking for Sylvie—because something happened that blistering hot day, something they both deserve answers to… Read more

The Richard and Judy Book Club Pick The #1 eBook Bestseller Uncover the secrets that lie beneath Notting Hill; the captivating new mystery from Sunday Times bestseller Eve Chase – now in paperback! 'A clever mystery that kept me gripped. I loved every word' Claire Douglas'Passionately emotional, dreamily written and dripping with boho glamour' Daily Mail'A book you want to race back to' Lisa Jewell'A wonderful twisty novel of family and secrets' Kate Morton'Moody, evocative, with a dream-like quality no other author can master' Gillian McAllister'Lush, evocative, nostalgic; gripping. A true treat of a book' Sarah Vaughan*****Present day Paris: Maggie Parker receives a call. The new owners of her family’s old Notting Hill home are digging up the basement. They’ve no idea what might lie beneath . . .London, twenty-one years earlier: teenaged Maggie, babysitting her little brother, waits in vain for her mother to come home after a night out. Seeking clues to her mother’s mysterious disappearance, she's drawn away from the neighbourhood’s grand terraces and into its hustling backstreets - and the arms of someone else living on their wits.Over two decades later, the clock is ticking on a secret set to shatter Maggie’s grown-up life. But the draw of the past is irresistible . . . *****Praise for The Midnight Hour:'Evocative, beautifully written and absolutely gripping, The Midnight Hour is sensational’ Rosie Walsh'A gripping tale of family secrets' Woman's Own'I was up all night reading' Elizabeth Fremantle'Engrossing, atmospheric and beautifully written' Anna Mazzola'A plot as tightly sprung as a Swiss watch' Veronica Henry'Absorbing and compulsive . . . a brilliantly imagined and beautifully written story' Hazel Gaynor'An exquisitely-written, immersive mystery' Tammy Cohen'I adored every word' Gill Paul'So vivid, it's like a time machine' Tasmina Perry Read more

From the author of bestselling sensation Small Pleasures comes a life-affirming exploration of love, loneliness and the quiet forces that shape our lives. 'Beautiful, tender, moving. Clare Chambers is a genius'INDIA KNIGHT'A warm, multi-layered mystery brimming with all the same nostalgia, wit and tenderness as Small Pleasures'i PAPER'Like entering a modest bungalow and finding yourself in a cathedral'SUNDAY TIMES'One of our most talented authors'GUARDIANCroydon, 1964. Art therapist Helen Hansford is working in a psychiatric hospital, where she has been having passionate but precarious affair with her married colleague, the charismatic Dr Gil Rudden.Helen's structured life is upended when William Tapping - a silent, thirty-seven-year-old man with a beard down to his waist - arrives the hospital. As Helen helps William express himself through art, she becomes increasingly entangled in his mysterious past.Inspired by a true story, Shy Creatures is a life-affirming exploration of loneliness, love and the quiet forces that shape our lives, reminding us that freedom can come in unexpected forms.'As compelling as you want fiction to be'SUNDAY TIMES'Extraordinary'FINANCIAL TIMES'A lively, funny, forgiving novel'PATRICK GALE'Chambers is such a humane writer and this novel is full of exquisite detail'EVENING STANDARD*Small Pleasures was a Silver Award bestseller according to Nielsen BookScan UK, 10 November 2023 Read more

A BRAND NEW historical saga from Fenella J Miller full of courage and bravery. Perfect for fans of Lizzie Lane and Rosie Clarke!London July 1939Elizabeth Roby lives a content and privileged life in London with husband Jonathon and children, Emily and George. But with the outbreak of war, everything changes.Jonathon informs his family that they have to move from their smart London home to the riverside town of Wivenhoe and their new home Harbour House, where Jonathon will do his duty for his country as part of the Admiralty at the shipyards.But Elizabeth is devastated. How will she start a new life in a place she hardly knows, surrounded by strangers? And how will her children cope allowed to run wild in the countryside with urchins? Elizabeth is sure it will be a disaster!But with the threat of German bombs hanging over London, she knows they must follow Jonathan and start a new life. Even if it means disaster for them as family.Will the Roby family survive this turmoil? Or will Harbour House provide them with a second chance to start again?A gripping and authentic tale of courage, duty and bravery!Praise for Fenella J Miller:'Yet again, Fenella Miller has thrilled me with another of her historical stories. She brings alive a variety of emotions and weaves in facts relating to the era, all of which keep me reading into the small hours.' Glynis Peters'Curl up in a chair with Fenella J Miller's characters and lose yourself in another time and another place.' Lizzie Lane'Engaging characters and setting which whisks you back to the home front of wartime Britain. A fabulous series!' Jean Fullerton'Loved every word of this book. Fenella is a great author and leaves her books with you wanting more. I can’t wait to read the next one.' 5 star Reader Review! Read more

*The Sunday Times Top Three Bestseller*From the bestselling author of The House at Riverton and The Secret Keeper, Kate Morton brings us her trademark mix of secrets, lies, and intricately layered mysteries in her sixth novel, The Clockmaker's Daughter.My real name, no one remembers.The truth about that summer, no one else knows.In the depths of a nineteenth-century winter, a little girl is abandoned in the narrow streets of London. Adopted by a mysterious stranger, she becomes in turn a thief, a friend, a muse, and a lover. Then, in the summer of 1862, shortly after her eighteenth birthday, she retreats with a group of artists to a beautiful house on a quiet bend of the Upper Thames . . . Tensions simmer and one hot afternoon a gun-shot rings out. A woman is killed, another disappears, and the truth of what happened slips through the cracks of time.Over the next century and beyond, Birchwood Manor welcomes many newcomers but guards its secret closely - until another young woman is drawn to visit the house because of a family secret of her own . . .As the mystery of The Clockmaker’s Daughter by Kate Morton begins to unravel, we discover the stories of those who have passed through Birchwood Manor since that fateful day in 1862. Intricately layered and richly atmospheric, it shows that, sometimes, the only way forward is through the past. Read more

The new novel from the Booker-shortlisted, internationally bestselling author of The Island of Missing Trees and 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World*****There Are Rivers in the Sky is a rich, sweeping novel set between the 19th century and modern times, about love and loss, memory and erasure, hurt and healing, centred around three enchanting characters living on the banks of the River Thames and the River Tigris – their lives all curiously touched by the epic of Gilgamesh.*****WINNER OF THE INAUGURAL GOOD HOUSEKEEPING GOOD BOOKS SPRING COLLECTION‘Elif Shafak is a unique and powerful voice in world literature’ Ian McEwan'Shafak makes a new home for us in words' Colum McCann'One of the best writers in the world today' Hanif Kureishi Read more

OPRAH'S BOOK CLUB PICK INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER SUBJECT OF A SIX-PART SUPER SOUL PODCAST SERIES HOSTED BY OPRAH WINFREY ONE OF BARACK OBAMA'S BEST BOOKS OF 2023 'One of the best books I've read in my entire life. It's epic. It's transportive . . . It was unputdownable!' Oprah Winfrey, OprahDaily.com Spanning the years 1900 to 1977, The Covenant of Water follows a family in southern India that suffers a peculiar affliction: in every generation, at least one person dies by drowning - and in Kerala, water is everywhere. At the turn of the century a twelve-year-old girl, grieving the death of her father, is sent by boat to her wedding, where she will meet her forty-year-old husband for the first time. From this poignant beginning, the young girl and future matriarch - known as Big Ammachi - will witness unthinkable changes at home and at large over the span of her extraordinary life, full of the joys and trials of love and the struggles of hardship. A shimmering evocation of a lost India and of the passage of time itself, The Covenant of Water is a hymn to progress in medicine and to human understanding, and a humbling testament to the hardships undergone by past generations for the sake of those alive today. Imbued with humour, deep emotion and the essence of life, it is one of the most masterful literary novels published in recent years. Read more

All her mother left her was a clue to a family secret. But is it a mystery best left unsolved?For decades Emma Bowen has hoped she and her mother, Margaret, might find a way back into each other’s lives. Even as a child, her strongest connection to her mother was a painting Margaret created before Emma was born, of a little girl lost in a maze. So when Margaret dies, gifting the painting to a total stranger, Emma is consumed by grief—for her mother, the little girl, and the relationship they never had.Clearing out her mother’s seaside flat, Emma is faced with a mountain of possessions and paperwork from a life she knows so little about. When she discovers something that throws doubt over everything she’s ever been told about Margaret’s past, Emma must decide whether to pull at the thread of secrets and lies. Will the truth help her through her grief—or reveal a loss that runs deeper than she ever imagined?Revised edition: Previously published as The Girl in the Maze, this edition of The Girl in the Midnight Maze includes editorial revisions. Read more

The beautiful family drama from the international bestselling author of THE MURDERS AT FLEAT HOUSE and The Seven Sisters series 'Stunning, enchanting, evocative. You can feel the wind in your hair' 5***** Reader Review'A beautiful story, brilliantly woven through generations' 5***** Reader Review'Takes you on a journey. Beautifully written' 5***** Reader Review ________How did one secret cause a century of heartache?Walking along the windswept cliffs of Ireland, Grania Ryan meets young Aurora.Mysteriously drawn to her, Grania discovers that their families are strangely and deeply entwined.From a bittersweet romance in wartime London, to a troubled relationship in contemporary New York, the two families, past and present, have been entangled for a century.Can Aurora help Grania understand the past, and change her future?From wartime London, through modern day New York and to the windswept cliffs of Ireland, The Girl on the Cliff is a sweeping tale of love, loss and hope.________Praise for Lucinda Riley 'Thoroughly addictive storytelling with a moving, emotional heart' Dinah Jefferies'A brilliant page-turner' Daily Mail'An absolutely fantastic storyteller' Katherine Webb'Brilliant escapism' Red Read more

‘What a page turner!' Daisy Wood, author of The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris'A delicious Art Deco novel with a delightfully acerbic heroine.' Marius Gabriel, author of The German Daughter'Original and immersive.' Eva Glyn, author of An Island of SecretsIn a bookshop nestled in the sprawling streets of Lisbon, a shopkeeper leads a double life…Looking for a new start after her father’s death, Lara Hope arrives in Lisbon in search of a family she’s never met.As war storms across Europe, Lara finds solace and belonging in her landlady’s tranquil bookshop in one of the most beautiful corners of the city.But when she witnesses a customer secretly swapping a book, she realises the bookshop is not all it seems. Lara is plunged into a labyrinthine world of mystery and facades, encountering new friends, an unexpected romance, and even royalty… Is she prepared to risk it all for this new life?Readers love The Bookshop of Secrets:'This book was an absolute joy. I didn’t want to finish it.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'I adored this novel and found it hard to put down. The plot unfolds with ease and you easily warm to the characters.'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Beautifully written.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'An exceptional read.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Read more

'Another fabulous and entertaining read. I devoured it!' Santa MontefioreESCAPE TO THE EMPIRE THEATRE WITH THE BRAND-NEW NOVEL FROM MUSICAL THEATRE LEGEND, MICHAEL BALL.1926. Running a theatre may appear to be all about the showbiz, but times are hard at The Empire. Following a turbulent period Jack Treadwell, erstwhile proprietor, his mother Lillian, and his playwright wife Grace, know they need to get things back on track - and how better than with the annual pantomime, a new venture, and an all-singing all-dancing talent contest, showcasing the best performers around.But could Lillian's new admirer, Grand Duke Nikolai Kuznetsov, be bringing disaster in his wake? Will The Empire be caught up in the scandal surrounding West End star, Stella Stanmore? And what are their enemies in Highbridge planning?While Jack and Grace fight to ensure the show does go on, a royal visitor raises the stakes and a young widow, Sally Blow, dares to dream that the talent contest might be her big break.As the talent contest draws closer, tragedy strikes. Amid the glitz and glamour there are strange goings on and a plot afoot. Is everything Jack and Grace have worked so hard for about to come crashing down? And could this be curtains for The Empire?In this perfect read for theatre lovers, Michael Ball transports readers to the roaring twenties as he works his magic in this second Empire Theatre novel.'Secrets and scandals, intrigue, glamour and romance, and all the excitement and vibrancy of a theatre . . . there is never a dull moment from curtain rise to the final, action-packed showdown. ' Yorkshire Evening PostReaders are loving A BACKSTAGE BETRAYAL'A beautifully described evocative piece of the era with wonderful characters. Loved it' *****'A lovely cosy read with a lot of excitement' *****'Wonderful characters, great plot and a perfect setting' *****'The second brilliant instalment in what I hope will be a long-running series' *****Praise for THE EMPIRE'A wonderful book. A love letter to the theatre' Rev. Richard Coles'A fantastic book. Brilliant' Don Black OBE'A wonderful read' Jeffrey Archer'A golden debut - charming, funny and romantic' Cameron Mackintosh'Takes you to the magical world of theatre' Rosie Goodwin Read more

'Marvellous' Bridget Collins, The Sunday Times bestselling author of The BindingSometimes the greatest spectacle hides the darkest secrets . . . In an alternate London, the city's Theatre District is a walled area south of the river where an immersive production - the Show - has been running for centuries, growing ever bigger, more sprawling and lavish. The Show is open to anyone who can afford a ticket but the District itself is a closed world; even the police have no jurisdiction within its walls.Juliet's mother died when she was a baby. Brought up by her emotionally distant father and even more distant stepmother, she has never felt wanted. It's only when her father passes away that Juliet - now nineteen - learns her birth was registered in the District. Desperate to belong somewhere at last, she travels to London where she hopes to unearth the truth about her identity, her mother's death and her father's years of silence - and claim her birthright. But in the District, there is only one central truth: the Show must go on. And in a world where illusions abound, and powerful men control the narrative, Juliet has no idea of just how far some will go to ensure certain stories are never told . . .For fans of The Miniaturist and The Doll Factory, The Theatre of Glass and Shadows is a place where nothing is as it seems.'Original and captivating' Karen Coles, author of The Asylum Read more