The audiobook is narrated by Elliot Fitzpatrick, Olivia Vinall and Helen Keeley and also features Olivia Dowd, Paul Panting, Joe Gaminara and Heather Long. 'Araminta is one of the most daring and intriguing writers working today. This is a resonant, razor-laced and dangerously glittering novel' Gillian Flynn 'An absolutely thrilling tale, full of breathless cliffside terror and fresh feminist theory masked in tight, propulsive mystery. I devoured this book' Lisa Taddeo ********* If most men say they’re one of the good guys, then why are so many women afraid to walk alone at night? Cole is the perfect husband: a romantic, supportive of his wife, Mel’s career, keen to be a hands-on dad, not a big drinker. A good guy. So when Mel leaves him, he's floored. She was lucky to be with a man like him. Craving solitude, he accepts a job on the coast and quickly settles into his new life where he meets reclusive artist Lennie. Lennie has made the same move for similar reasons. She is living in a crumbling cottage on the edge of a nearby cliff. It’s an undeniably scary location, but sometimes you have to face your fears to get past them. As their relationship develops, two young women go missing while on a walk protesting gendered violence, right by where Cole and Lennie live. Finding themselves at the heart of a police investigation and media frenzy, it soon becomes clear that they don’t know each other very well at all. This is what happens when women have had enough . . . ********* ‘A dark, dazzling shock to the system. One of the Good Guys is clever, composed, exciting and frightening’ Chris Whitaker 'Scorching, smart and soaked in feminist rage, this is a suspense that stays with you long after the last page' Ellery Lloyd 'It got me by the throat and wouldn’t let go. It’s creepy, thought-provoking, compelling and so very relevant' Julie Cohen 'A mind-bending tour de force. Araminta Hall has always been one of my favorite writers, but what she has done here is groundbreaking. This thriller is shocking, twisted, dark, and absolutely on-point' Samantha Downing 'A bold and on-point feminist thriller about gendered violence with Gone Girl twistiness and narrator unreliability' Victoria Selman 'A dark, original and thought-provoking read. This book will hook you from the first page and keep you thinking long after the last' Alice Feeney

One of the Good Guys

Preorder Mhairi's new novel COVER STORY now! She found The One. But when everyone wants him, can she keep him? When there’s a ring on her doorbell, there’s only one person Edie Thompson wants it to be. The person who’s still in her heart. The person who just might be The One. She and Elliot Owen called it quits once before – but aren’t they too good together not to try? And here he is – offering her everything she dreamed of. But dating Elliot, an actor, is anything but plain sailing. Being an ocean apart and followed by the press is one thing, but when Edie’s friends and Elliot’s family are drawn in, things get messy. Then her boss hires a friendly face in the form of Declan Dunne, who’s there for her when times are tough, and Edie starts to wonder … are she and Elliot a fairytale come true – or a cautionary fable about getting what you wish for? '14/10 on the QWJ scale (queasy with jealousy scale)! I WISH I'd written it. I loved this book so much' MARIAN KEYES 'I am absolutely feral for Mhairi McFarlane. Smart, sensitive, extremely funny and always so, so spot on, she is easily one of the best writers working today' LINDSEY KELK 'McFarlane never misses' GILLIAN MCALLISTER, SCOTTISH DAILY MAIL 'Mhairi McFarlane is the absolute queen of romantic comedies that belie a darker core’ STYLIST READERS ARE LOVING YOU BELONG WITH ME: 'A gorgeous story that you can't put down' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Mhairi is a genius at characterisation and loud-out-loud funny' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'The dialogue in this just made me swoon … clever, funny and often heart-wrenching' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Another stunner from Mhairi … she is very insightful about real relationships' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'The queen of wit is back and long may she reign'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Who’s That Girl

You Belong with Me

'I genuinely could not put this down' – Stacey Halls, author of Mrs England 'A tour de force of a gothic thriller. I devoured it' – Gillian McAllister, author of Wrong Place, Wrong Time 'Taut, propulsive, beautifully done' – Susan Stokes-Chapman, author of Pandora From Elizabeth Macneal, the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Doll Factory, The Burial Plot is a spellbinding Gothic thriller about murder and manipulation. London, 1839. With the cemeteries full and money to be made in death, tricksters Crawford and Bonnie survive on wicked schemes and ill-gotten coin. But one blistering evening, their fortunes flip. A man lies in a pool of blood at Bonnie’s feet and now she needs to disappear. Crawford secures her a position as lady’s maid in a grand house on the Thames. As Bonnie comes to understand the family – the eccentric Mr Moncrieff, obsessively drawing mausoleums for his dead wife, and their peculiar daughter Cissie, scribbling imaginary love letters to herself – she begins to question what secrets are lying behind the house’s paper-thin walls and whether her own presence here was planned from the beginning. Because Crawford is watching, and perhaps he is plotting his greatest trick yet . . . The audiobook includes an exclusive interview between the author, Elizabeth Macneal, and the narrator, Olivia Vinall.

The Burial Plot

Brought to you by Penguin. This audiobook is read by Olivia Vinall, and Elif Shafak reads the Note to Reader at the end of the story. This is the story of one lost poem, two great rivers, and three remarkable lives – all connected by a single drop of water. In the ruins of Nineveh, that ancient city of Mesopotamia, there lies hidden in the sand fragments of a long-forgotten poem, the Epic of Gilgamesh. In Victorian London, an extraordinary child is born at the edge of the dirt-black Thames. Arthur’s only chance of escaping poverty is his brilliant memory. When his gift earns him a spot as an apprentice at a printing press, Arthur’s world opens up far beyond the slums, with one book soon sending him across the seas: Nineveh and Its Remains. In 2014 Turkey, Narin, a Yazidi girl living by the River Tigris, waits to be baptised with water brought from the holy sit of Lalish in Iraq. The ceremony is cruelly interrupted, and soon Narin and her grandmother must journey across war-torn lands in the hope of reaching the sacred valley of their people. In 2018 London, broken-hearted Zaleekhah, a hydrologist, moves to a houseboat on the Thames to escape the wreckage of her marriage. Zaleekhah foresees a life drained of all love and meaning – until an unexpected connection to her homeland changes everything. A dazzling feat of storytelling from one of the greatest writers of our time, Elif Shafak’s There are Rivers in the Sky is a rich, sweeping novel that spans centuries, continents and cultures, entwined by rivers, rains, and waterdrops: ‘Water remembers. It is humans who forget.’ ***** ‘Elif Shafak is a unique and powerful voice in world literature’ Ian McEwan 'An extraordinary novel, fresh and cleansing, like the rain bouncing off the metal roof of our lives.' Colum McCann 'Make place for Elif Shafak on your bookshelf. Make place for her in your heart too. You won't regret it' Arundhati Roy 'One of the best writers in the world today' Hanif Kureishi 'A brilliant, unforgettable novel' Mary Beard © Elif Shafak 2024 (P) Penguin Audio 2024

There are Rivers in the Sky

Brought to you by Penguin. The woman never goes by the same name. She never stays in the same place too long. She never ages. She never dies. But those around her do. When two grieving strangers meet by chance in Osaka airport they uncover a disturbing connection. Jake's best friend and Mariko's twin brother each died, 6,000 miles apart, in brutal and unfathomable circumstances. Each encountered a mesmerising, dark-haired woman in the days before their deaths. A woman who came looking for Mariko - and then disappeared. Jake, who has carried his loss and guilt for a decade, finds himself compelled to follow the trail set by Mariko's revelations. It's a trail that weaves across continents and centuries, leading back to the many who have died - in strange and terrifying and eerily similar ways - and those they left behind: bewildered, disbelieved, yet resolutely sure of what they saw. And, at the centre of it all, there is the same beguiling woman. Her name may have changed, but her purpose has never wavered, and as Jake races to discover who, or what she is, she has already made her next choice. But will knowing her secret be enough to stop her? 'A mesmerising story, brilliantly told' IAN McGUIRE 'Utterly addictive and completely immersive ...The most propulsive thing I have read all year' LARA WILLIAMS, author of Supper Club 'I was completely swept up ... It continues to haunt and unsettle me, in the very best of ways' EMILY MIDORIKAWA, author of Out of the Shadows 'Like nothing else I've ever read ... The kind of story you tell around a campfire as the lights of civilization begin to flicker out around you; a global, intelligent and ambitious archetypal nightmare' KRISTEN ROUPENIAN, author of Cat Person © Susan Barker 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

Old Soul

This audiobook narrated by Olivia Vinall exposes the hidden history of a nation sleepwalking its way into evil Charlotte Beradt began having unsettling dreams after Adolf Hitler took power in 1933. She envisioned herself being shot at, tortured and scalped, surrounded by Nazis in disguise, and breathlessly fleeing across fields with storm troopers at her heels. Shaken by these nightmares and banned as a Jew from working, she began secretly collecting dreams from her friends and neighbors, both Jewish and non-Jewish. Disguising these "diaries of the night" in code and concealing them in the spines of books from her extensive library, she smuggled them out of the country one by one. Available again for the first time since its publication in the 1960s, this sensational book brings together this uniquely powerful dream record, offering a visceral understanding of how terror is internalized and how propaganda colonizes the imagination. After Beradt herself fled Germany for New York, she collected these dream accounts and began to trace the common symbols and themes that appeared in the collective unconscious of a traumatized nation. The fear of dictatorship was ever-present. Dreams of thought control, even the prohibition of dreaming itself, bore witness to the collapse of outer and inner worlds. Now in a haunting new translation by Damion Searls, The Third Reich of Dreams provides a raw, unfiltered, and prophetic look inside the experience of living through Hitler's terror.

The Third Reich of Dreams

'Dark, chilling, atmospheric . . . The Escape is this winter’s The Hunting Party' – Veronica Henry From bestselling author Ruth Kelly, The Escape is an electrifying thriller of influencers, secrets and lies set in a grand mansion in rural France. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell and Sarah Pearse. The Perfect Offer When struggling influencer couple Adele and Jack post a crowdfunding video online, they’re amazed when a mysterious benefactor offers to buy them a crumbling French chateau. It’s the lifeline they need to leave all their troubles behind. The Perfect Dream For Adele, it’s a dream come true. She will post videos of the renovation as thousands of online subscribers follow their journey. But the chateau is not all it seems and the local community is far from welcoming. The Perfect Nightmare Then Adele’s videos suddenly stop. Her sister Erin visits to make sure she’s OK, but the couple have vanished. Between the obsession of Adele’s fans and the claustrophobic secrecy of the nearby town, Erin must unravel the shocking truth behind the couple’s disappearance . . . 'A deliciously dark look at the world of influencers set against the backdrop of a glamorous French chateau - tense and shocking' – Catherine Cooper, author of The Chalet

The Escape

Brought to you by Penguin. As for queens, they are either hated or forgotten. She already knows which option suits her best . . . Perfect for fans of ARIADNE and THE SONG OF ACHILLES, this is the extraordinary retelling of history's most infamous heroine. Mother. Monarch. Murderer. Magnificent. You are born to a king, but marry a tyrant. You stand helplessly as he sacrifices your child to placate the gods. You watch him wage war on a foreign shore and comfort yourself with violent thoughts of your own. You play the part, fooling enemies who deny you justice. Slowly, you plot. You are Clytemnestra. But when the husband who owns you returns in triumph, what then? Acceptance or vengeance - infamy follows both. So you bide your time and wait, until you might force the gods' hands and take revenge. Until you rise. For you understood something that the others don't. If power isn't given to you, you have to take it for yourself. A blazing novel set in the world of Ancient Greece and told through the eyes of its greatest heroine, this is a thrilling tale of power and prophecies, of hatred, love, and of an unforgettable Queen who fiercely dealt out death to those who wronged her. "Vivid with fury, passion and strength, this is a fabulous myth retelling" Jennifer Saint "A powerhouse of a novel. Clytemnestra's rage, heartbreak and determination radiate off the page" Elodie Harper "Rivals House of the Dragon in conspiracies and feminine brutality. An electrifying read" Elizabeth Fremantle "Redefines the mythical retelling genre with a warrior queen who, instead of enduring suffering, avenges it" Annie Garthwaite ©2023 Costanza Casati (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Clytemnestra

INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER • WINNER OF THE MARY HIGGINS CLARK AWARD “This gem of a book sparkles with wit and originality. . . . There is no shortage of tricks and feints in this excellent novel and Genevieve is a delightful character.” — The Globe and Mail “A spooky gothic romance with impeccable vibes. I loved this!"" — Erin Sterling, New York Times bestselling author of The Ex Hex and The Kiss Curse In this wickedly whimsical Gothic murder mystery brimming with romance, betrayals, and chills, a fake spiritualist is summoned to hold a séance for a bride who died on the eve before her wedding, but as nefarious secrets are revealed, the line between hoax and haunting blurs. Be careful what you conjure... In Victorian London, Genevieve Timmons poses as a spiritualist to swindle wealthy mourners—until one misstep lands her in a jail cell awaiting the noose. Then a stranger arrives to make her a peculiar offer. The lord he serves, Mr. Pemberton, has been inconsolable since the tragic death of his beautiful bride-to-be. If Genevieve can perform a séance persuasive enough to bring the young lord peace, she will win her freedom. Soothing a grieving nobleman should be easy for someone of Genevieve’s skill, but when she arrives at the grand Somerset Park estate, Mr. Pemberton is not the heartbroken lover she expected. The surly—yet exceedingly handsome—gentleman is certain that his fiancée was murdered, even though there is no evidence. Only a confession can bring justice now, and Mr. Pemberton decides Genevieve will help him get it. With his knowledge of the household and her talent for illusion, they can stage a haunting so convincing it will coax the killer into the light. However, when frightful incidents befall the manor, Genevieve realizes her tricks aren’t required after all. She may be a fake, but Somerset’s ghost could be all too real… A Dreadful Splendor is delicious brew of mystery, spooky thrills, and intoxicating romance that makes for a ghoulishly fun and page-turning read. ""A delightful mix of gothic, mystery, and romance. I had such fun reading this book!"" — Gwenda Bond, New York Times bestselling author of Not Your Average Hot Guy

A Dreadful Splendor

A buried corpse disappears. A child is kidnapped. A woman suddenly vanishes. The only clue - mysterious Chinese symbols; left behind at each of the crime scenes in a provincial town in Northern Denmark. In the eye of the storm is Eva. After suffering a deeply sorrowful tragedy - where her long-awaited daughter is stillborn - Eva is fighting to get her life back on track together with her husband who recently, and inexplicably, became paralyzed and is now unable to take care of himself. In an attempt to escape her grief, Eva embarks on her own investigation to find out who is behind these violent crimes. And why. It turns out, the past will play a chilling and completely unexpected role... 'The Chinese Twin' is Sarah Engell's captivating, best-selling thriller bringing together past secrets, lies and heinous crimes in a shocking culmination. "...a quivering, intense and strangely disturbing thriller..." Berlingske Sarah Engell (1979) has written books for both teenagers and adults. Through the years, she has received several awards for her writing: The Carlsen Award (2017), The Blixen Award (2018) and The Claus Deleuran Award (2018). In 2018, Sarah Engell was given The Danish Arts Foundation's three-year scholarship. 'The Chinese Twin' is Sarah Engell's first adult novel.

The Chinese Twin

Dramatisations and readings of novels and short stories by Nobel laureate Doris Lessing – plus a bonus documentary, Open Book, examining her life and career One of the most celebrated and important authors of the 20th Century, Doris Lessing was awarded a Nobel Prize for the ‘visionary power’ of her fiction, which spans a variety of genres and explores themes such as racism, feminism and social and political upheaval. This collection includes the radio productions of three of her acclaimed novels and four short stories, as well as a fascinating discussion of her life and work. The Good Terrorist – Olivia Vinall stars in this adaptation of Doris Lessing’s satire of incompetent revolutionaries in a London squat. Lucy Grange – Exiled from the sophistication of her homeland, stylish Lucy seeks solace and comfort, and learns 'to accept the second-rate'. Read by Estelle Kohler. The Grass is Singing – In this powerful exploration of racial politics in 1940s Rhodesia, adapted from Doris Lessing’s first novel, a white woman’s troubled relationship with her black houseboy comes to a violent end. Starring Alison Pettit and Tracy-Ann Oberman. Flight – A laughing, teasing granddaughter and a dovecote full of strutting birds are an old man's only escape from his cold family home. Read by Jack Klaff. The Golden Notebook – Susannah Harker stars in this dramatisation of Doris Lessing’s ground-breaking novel about marriage, motherhood, mental breakdown and communism. The Death of a Chair – A lived-in chair is bought at auction, where it begins its final journey towards discovery and destruction. Read by Barbara Marten. Open Book: Doris Lessing Mariella Frostrup talks to Doris Lessing about her long and extraordinarily varied writing career.

Doris Lessing: A BBC Radio Collection

Brought to you by Penguin. 'I shall be a thousand different Marys and, in such manner, shall find the one I wish to be...' Lady Mary Wortley Montagu longs for adventure, freedom and love, believing that only by truly living can she ever escape the stalking crow of Death... An aristocratic woman in 18th century England is expected to act in certain ways. But Mary has never let society's expectations stifle her: she writes celebrated poetry and articles advocating for equality, as well as endless, often scandalous, letters to her many powerful friends. However, Mary wants more from the world. Using her charm and connections, she engineers a job offer for her husband as ambassador to the Ottoman Empire. Travelling to Constantinople, Mary finally discovers the autonomous life she dreams of. And when she observes Turkish women 'engrafting' children against smallpox, she resolves to bring the miracle cure back to England. Despite this, Mary's reputation becomes increasingly tainted. Her inability to abide by the rules, her outspoken opinions on women's rights, and her search for love and desire at all costs gains her powerful enemies. While Mary tries to ensure her name will live on by arranging the publication of her diaries after her death, her own daughter works against her, afraid of what they might contain... An illuminating and beautiful novel which gives a voice to the tragically unremembered yet extraordinary life of pioneering poet and feminist, Mary Wortley Montagu. ©2024 Sean Lusk (P)2024 Penguin Audio

A Woman of Opinion

Brought to you by Penguin. A powerful and spine-tingling gothic tale exploring mother-daughter relationships, sexuality, and class. There are some facts about the world that only your mother can teach you. Marguerite had been confined for the sake of her wellbeing. That’s what her mother had said. Marguerite Périgord is locked in the attic of her family home, a towering Chelsea house overlooking the stinking Thames. For company she has a sewing machine, Mrs Beeton’s Book of Household Management and a carrion crow who has come to nest in the rafters. Restless, she spends her waning energies on the fascinations of her own body, memorising Mrs Beeton’s advice and longing for her life outside. Cécile Périgord has confined her daughter Marguerite for her own good. Cécile is concerned that Marguerite’s engagement to a much older, near-penniless solicitor, will drag the family name – her husband’s name, that is – into disrepute. And for Cécile, who has worked hard at her own betterment, this simply won’t do. Cécile’s life has taught her that no matter how high a woman climbs she can just as readily fall. Of course, both have their secrets, intentions and histories to hide. As Marguerite’s patience turns into rage, the boundaries of her mind and body start to fray. And neither woman can recognise what the other is becoming. ‘Bold, blazing, absolutely unforgettable’ Elizabeth Macneal, bestselling author of The Doll Factory ‘Probably one of the best books I've read this year! It felt like an unholy mix of Ottessa Moshfegh and Leonora Carrington, whilst still being very much its own thing … I loved it’ Julia Armfield, author of Private Rites and Our Wives Under The Sea ‘A gruesome, provocative, stylish fairytale.... A true Gothic gem’ Kaliane Bradley, bestselling author of The Ministry of Time © Heather Parry 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

Carrion Crow

Brought to you by Penguin. A pure pleasure of a novel set in Georgian London where the discovery of a mysterious ancient Greek vase sets in motion conspiracies, revelations and romance. There is a fine line between coincidence and fate... In London 1799, Dora Blake is an aspiring jewellery artist who lives with her uncle in what used to be her parents' famed shop of antiquities. When a mysterious Greek vase is delivered, Dora is intrigued by her uncle's suspicious behaviour and enlists the help of Edward Lawrence, a young man seeking acceptance into the Society of Antiquaries. Edward sees the ancient vase as key to unlocking his academic future. Dora sees it as her chance to restore her parents' shop to its former glory, and to escape her uncle. But what Edward discovers about the vase has Dora questioning everything she has ever known, about her life, her family and the world as she knows it. As Dora uncovers the truth she starts to realise that some mysteries are buried, and some boxes are locked, for a reason. Gorgeously atmospheric and deliciously page-turning, Pandora deals with themes of secrets and deception, love and fulfilment, fate and hope. Critic Reviews "Olivia Vinall, who was delightful as DS Matilda Stone in Queens of Mystery, maintains a running current of excitement and copes effortlessly with the challenge of a cast ranging from grandes dames to Cornish seamen." (The Sunday Times) © Susan Stokes-Chapman 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022

Pandora

Brought to you Penguin. 'Maudie, why are all the best characters men?' Maudie closes the book with a clllump. 'We haven't read all the books yet, Miss Cristabel. I can't believe that every story is the same' Cristabel Seagrave has always wanted her life to be a story, but there are no girls in the books in her dusty family library. For an unwanted orphan who grows into an unmarriageable young woman, there is no place at all for her in a traditional English manor. But from the day that a whale washes up on the beach at the Chilcombe estate in Dorset, and twelve-year-old Cristabel plants her flag and claims it as her own, she is determined to do things differently. With her step-parents blithely distracted by their endless party guests, Cristabel and her siblings, Flossie and Digby, scratch together an education from the plays they read in their freezing attic, drunken conversations eavesdropped through oak-panelled doors, and the esoteric lessons of Maudie their maid. But as the children grow to adulthood and war approaches, jolting their lives on to very different tracks, it becomes clear that the roles they are expected to play are no longer those they want. As they find themselves drawn into the conflict, they must each find a way to write their own story... © Joanna Quinn 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022

The Whalebone Theatre

Brought to you by Penguin. A single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife... But why would he choose her? Summer 1841. It is marriage season in the county of Wickenshire, and Miss Amelia Ashpoint isn’t sure she can face yet another ball. But now that she has reached the grand age of three-and-twenty, time is (apparently) running out. Her father is anxious to secure her a husband and has set his sights on Mr Montgomery Hurst of Radcliffe Park. Only, Mr Hurst has just announced his engagement to somebody else. To the great consternation of Wickenshire, a community that thrives on gossip, the county’s most eligible bachelor is about to marry not only an unknown stranger – but a widow with three children, odd manners and no ancestry to speak of. Society is appalled and intrigued. Meanwhile, Amelia Ashpoint has no interest in marriage at all. But in this town, it is clear that nobody’s business is their own. And while society has high expectations for Amelia, her heart is drawing her in a very different direction . . . A love letter to Jane Austen and Elizabeth Gaskell, The Trouble with Mrs Montgomery Hurst is a witty novel of manners and gossip, class and family, scandal and romance. --- 'Romance and scandal abound in this compelling period drama . . . Recommended for all lovers of Regency historical fiction' LAURA SHEPPERSON, author of The Heroines 'Warm and witty, with a wonderful cast of quirky characters whose company I found irresistible' JESSICA BULL, author of Miss Austen Investigates ‘A glittering comedy with spiky wit, an eye for social critique, and (of course) a terrific sense of irony’ TOM MEAD, author of Death and the Conjuror and The Murder Wheel 'Rich with scandal, romance and social mores . . . a total delight!' ANITA FRANK, author of The Lost Ones and The Good Liars 'Enter the county of Wickenshire at your peril, because you will never want to leave' HANNAH DOLBY, author of NO LIFE FOR A LADY 'A feast of clever wit and lovingly drawn characters, this is an absolute treat for fans of Jane Austen - or anyone looking for for top-rate storytelling' HESTER MUSSON 'An absolute dream of a book. A compelling storyline that kept me gripped to the last page, and beyond. I think this book will establish her - deservedly - as one of our best historical fiction writers' ANNE CORLETT ©2024 Katie Lumsden (P)2024 Penguin Audio

The Trouble With Mrs Montgomery Hurst

He did kill. Kill and kill and kill.’ Tess’s number one priority has always been her three-year-old daughter Poppy. But splitting up with Poppy’s father Jason means that she cannot always be there to keep her daughter safe. When she finds a disturbing drawing, dark and menacing, among her daughter’s brightly coloured paintings, Tess is convinced that Poppy has witnessed something terrible. Something that her young mind is struggling to put into words. But no one will listen. It’s only a child’s drawing, isn’t it? Tess will protect Poppy, whatever the price. But when she doesn’t know what, or who, she is protecting her from, how can she possibly know who to trust . . . ? Praise for Nicci French: 'Confirms Nicci French as the giant of the genre' Erin Kelly ‘Part ingenious locked-room mystery. Part you’ve-got-the-wrong-person nightmare drama. Part intricate memory game. Yet all seamlessly woven together. French’s best book yet’ A J Finn ‘Expertly paced, psychologically sharp, thoroughly enjoyable' Louise Candlish ‘A novel that blissfully plays with two genres: on the one hand an against-the-odds legal thriller à la John Grisham… and on the other a Miss Marple whodunnit’ Sunday Times ‘Nicci French husband-and-wife writing team responsible for some of the UK’s best psychological thrillers have created a gem of a protagonist in Tabitha’ Observer ‘First-class’ Independent ‘Gripping’ Literary Review

The Unheard

A dazzling mixture of crime, romance, magic and myth from the acclaimed author of The Psychology of Time Travel. The Kendrick family have been making world-famous dolls since the early 1800s. But their dolls aren't coveted for the craftmanship alone. Each one has a specific emotion laid on it by its creator. A magic that can make you feel bucolic bliss or consuming paranoia at a single touch. Though founded by sisters, now only men may know the secrets of the workshop. Persephone Kendrick longs to break tradition and learn the family craft, and when a handsome stranger arrives claiming doll-making talent and a blood tie to the Kendricks, she sees a chance to grasp all she desires. But then, one night, the family's most valuable doll is stolen. Only someone with knowledge of magic could have taken her. Only a Kendrick could have committed this crime... Reviews for Kate Mascarenhas: 'Witty, inventive and unflashily wise about human hearts; Mascarenhas's future promises to be an exciting one' GUARDIAN. 'Breathtakingly tender and wryly understated' NEW YORK TIMES. 'Captivating, delightful and thoroughly original' JENNIE MELAMED. 2020 Head of Zeus

The Thief on the Winged Horse

Brought to you by Penguin. It's 1852 and Margaret Lennox, a young widow, is offered a position as governess at Hartwood Hall. She quickly accepts, hoping this isolated country house will allow her to leave her past behind. Cut off from the village, Margaret soon starts to feel there's something odd about her new home, despite her growing fondness for her bright, affectionate pupil, Louis. There are strange figures in the dark, tensions between servants and an abandoned east wing. Even stranger is the local gossip surrounding Mrs Eversham, Louis's widowed mother, who is deeply distrusted in the village. Margaret finds distraction in a forbidden relationship with the gardener, Paul. But despite his efforts to reassure her, Margaret is certain that everyone here has something hide. And as Margaret's own past threatens to catch up with her, she must learn to trust her instincts before it's too late... The Secrets of Hartwood Hall is a chilling gothic mystery, and an authentic and atmospheric love letter to Victorian fiction. 'I loved this fresh take on the gothic genre. Vivid, haunting, surprising' STACEY HALLS, author of Sunday Times bestsellers The Familiars, The Foundling and Mrs England 'A full-blooded gothic mystery with bite, great characterisation and heaps of atmosphere' EMMA STONEX, author of Sunday Times bestseller The Lamplighters ©2023 Katie Lumsden (P)2023 Penguin Audio

The Secrets of Hartwood Hall

'Richly evocative' STACEY HALLS 'Heartbreaking' RACHEL HORE 'Touching, absorbing'' DAILY MAIL 'Poignant . . . There'll be tears' WOMAN & HOME 'An enveloping story to savour' KATE SAWYER A luminous debut novel of a love affair set against the terrible aftermath of war, for readers of IN MEMORIAM by Alice Winn, WAKE by Anna Hope and THE OUTCAST by Sadie Jones No one survives war unscathed. But even in the darkest days, seeds of hope can grow. It is 1946 and in the village of Oakbourne the men are home from the war. Their bodies are healing but their psychological wounds run deep. Everyone is scarred - those who fought and those left behind. Alice Rayne is married to Stephen, heir to crumbling Oakbourne Hall. Once a sweet, gentle man, he has returned a bitter and angry stranger, destroyed by what he has seen and done, tormented by secrets Alice can only guess at. Lonely and increasingly afraid of the man her husband has become, Alice must try to pick up the pieces of her marriage and save Oakbourne Hall from total collapse. She begins with the walled garden and, as it starts to bear fruit, she finds herself drawn into a new, forbidden love. Set in the Suffolk countryside as it moves from winter to spring, The Walled Garden is a captivating love story and a timeless, moving exploration of trauma and the miracle of human resilience. 'A heartbreaking tale, vividly dramatised' Rachel Hore 'Tender and lyrical . . . This beautiful book had notes of both Elizabeth von Arnim and Elizabeth Jane Howard. More please!' Natasha Solomons 'Touching, absorbing . . . A beautifully written story that will especially appeal to Rachel Hore fans' Daily Mail 'A poignant drama . . . What happens when war ends? How do people move on after what they've seen and possibly done? Hardy explores these complex themes in this gentle but powerful novel. There'll be tears, but this evocative read is worth every one' Book of the Month, Woman and Home 'Written with great delicacy and feeling' Elizabeth Buchan, author of Two Women in Rome 'Hardy's supremely observed novel blossoms like a rose-sharp and pointed, and stunningly beautiful' Inga Vesper, author of The Long, Long Afternoon 'A poignant, powerful novel about aftermath, trauma and hope' Katie Lumsden, author of The Secrets of Hartwood Hall LONGLISTED FOR THE HWA GOLD CROWN AWARD FOR BEST HISTORICAL FICTION NOVEL OF THE YEAR* *20th September 2023 https://www.historiamag.com/the-2023-hwa-crown-awards-longlists/

The Walled Garden

George Eliot's beloved story of life, love and politics in an English town A jewel in the classic literature crown, Middlemarch was selected as one of the BBC’s ‘100 Novels That Shaped Our World’. Its epic arc takes in politics, tragedy, romance and comedy, interweaving multiple narratives to make up a thrilling ensemble tale. Set in the 1830s, this ‘study of provincial life’ introduces us to young, idealistic Dorothea Brooke, who accepts a proposal from scholarly Edward Casaubon, hoping to forge a loving partnership of intellectual equals. But on honeymoon in Rome, she swiftly becomes disillusioned. Trapped in an unhappy marriage, she finds solace in her friendship with Casaubon’s cousin, Will Ladislaw – only for her controlling husband to suspect her of betrayal, and set out to test her loyalty. Meanwhile, mayor’s son Fred Vincy embarks on a steep economic learning curve, risking his burgeoning relationship with Mary Garth. When he contracts typhoid, he is treated by the town’s new medical man, Tertius Lydgate, who becomes drawn to Fred’s sister, Rosamond. Eager to win her hand, the doctor seeks help from the wealthy Mr Bulstrode – a decision he will come to regret... As their stories shift, viewpoints twist together and lives collide and realign in a compelling ‘convergence of human lots’ that shows us an entire world in microcosm. Juliet Aubrey stars as the Narrator, George Eliot, with Olivia Vinall as Dorothea, Charles Edwards as Casaubon and John Heffernan as Dr Lydgate. Also featured is a bonus edition of In Our Time, in which Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss George Eliot’s classic novel, described by Virginia Woolf as ‘one of the few English novels written for grown-up people'. Cast and credits The Narrator, George Eliot – Juliet Aubrey Dorothea – Olivia Vinall Edward Casaubon – Charles Edwards Dr Lydgate – John Heffernan Will Ladislaw – Joseph Quinn Arthur Brooke/Caleb Garth/Mr Trumball – Neil McCaul Sir James Chettam – Hugh Skinner Rev Farebrother – Miles Jupp Nicholas Bulstrode – Adrian Scarborough Celia – Lucy Reynolds Peter Featherstone/Standish/John Raffles – Clive Hayward Fred Vincy/Auction bidder – Will Kirk Rosamond – Laura Christy Mr Vincy/Mr Bambridge – Rick Warden Mrs Cadwallader/Mrs Plymdale – Jessica Turner Adolf Naumann/Barman – Adam Courting Dr Hawley/Clerk – Greg Jones Servant/Mrs Abel – Sinead MacInnes Tantripp/Mary Garth – Scarlett Courtney Mrs Garth – Alison Belbin Letty Garth – Grace Doherty Farmer/Mr Hopkins – Ikky Elyas Tertius Lydgate – John Heffernan Harriet Bulstrode – Rosie Cavaliero Mrs Vincy/Farebrother’s aunt – Heather Craney Written by George Eliot Adapted by Katie Hims Directed by Jessica Dromgoole and Tracey Neale First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 23 November-7 December 2019

Middlemarch

Brought to you by Penguin. THE NEXT CAPTIVATING NOVEL FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF ONE DAY IN DECEMBER Two Lives. Two Loves. One Impossible Choice. Lydia and Freddie. Freddie and Lydia. They've been together for almost a decade, and Lydia thinks their love is indestructible. But she's wrong. Because on her 27th birthday, Freddie dies in a tragic accident. So now it's just Lydia, and all she wants to do is hide indoors and sob 'til her eyes fall out. But Lydia knows that Freddie would want her to live her life well. So, enlisting the help of his best friend and her sister Elle, she takes her first tentative steps into the world and starts to live - perhaps even to love - again. Then something unbelievable happens, and Lydia gets another chance at her old life with Freddie. But what if there's someone in her new life who wants her to stay? A heart-breaking, uplifting story for fans of PS I Love You and Jojo Moyes, this gorgeously romantic novel will make you laugh, cry and remind you of what a wonderful gift it is to love and to be loved. © Josie Silver 2020 (P) Penguin Audio 2020

The Two Lives of Lydia Bird

Brought to you by Penguin. This Penguin Classic is performed by Olivia Vinall, who is known for her roles in Apple Tree Yard and The Woman in White. This definitive recording includes an introduction by Rosemarie Morgan. Independent and spirited Bathsheba Everdene has come to Weatherbury to take up her position as a farmer on the largest estate in the area. Her bold presence draws three very different suitors: the gentleman-farmer Boldwood, soldier-seducer Sergeant Troy and the devoted shepherd Gabriel Oak. Each, in contrasting ways, unsettles her decisions and complicates her life, and tragedy ensues, threatening the stability of the whole community. The first of his works set in Wessex, Hardy's novel of swiftpassion and slow courtship is imbued with his evocative descriptions of rural life and landscapes, and with unflinching honesty about sexual relationships. (c) 1874, Thomas Hardy (P) 2019 Penguin Audio

Far from the Madding Crowd

Brought to you by Penguin. Sometimes the truth lies in the things you cannot see. In 1830 a young novice called Catherine Labouré was granted a vision of the Virgin Mary. Nearly 200 years later, Sister Anne is also waiting for a sign. Which is why she accepts a mission to go to a tiny community on an island just off the coast of Brittany. Her only companion there is a sceptical, chain-smoking older nun who just wants to be left in peace. On the island she meets Hugo, the son of a devout family who prefers to look for the meaning of life amid the stars; Madenn, a grandmother whose daughter was killed in a crash and who finds meaning in routine; Isaac, Madenn's grandson, an otherworldly teenager who doesn't fit in but who befriends Hugo, and Julia, a sickly child. If anyone needs a miracle, it is her. But it is not Sister Anne who receives a vision. Instead it is Isaac who is found on a promontary, transfixed, unable to utter more than the words 'I see'. The event soon becomes headline news and the world descends on the small island, opening old wounds and unleashing a chain of events none of them could have foreseen. ©2024 Victoria Mas (P)2024 Penguin Audio

The Island of Mists and Miracles

Brought to you by Penguin. It's 1951 and the servants of Stalin are closing in on the occupied nations of eastern Europe. As the Red Army tightens the net, Greta - best and bravest of freedom fighters - is told to escape to the West and undertake a dangerous mission. Greta's task is to find a missing girl: the precious daughter of a partisan general who was sent into exile in the final days of the war. But the so-called Free World is no place for vulnerable young refugees. Europe is in ruins, the old Empires are dying, and a spectacular cast of spivs, gangsters and rival intelligence agencies are fighting over the scraps. Crossing the Iron Curtain will require nerves of steel as Greta faces down the French mob, ex-Nazis, Soviet spies, all the glamour and temptation of Paris and ultimately, her own demons. The Exile is the stunning prequel to The Partisan, Patrick Worrall's critically-acclaimed debut, which introduced the world to the force of nature that is Greta. This is her white-knuckle ride into the black heart of postwar Europe - a terrifying world in which allies and enemies are impossible to tell apart. ________ Praise for The Partisan 'Fast-paced, intriguing and deeply atmospheric' Tom Bradby 'Remarkedly assured debut ... the advent of a real talent...One to watch' Sunday Times 'Impressive ... The scene-setting is finely detailed and evocative, the characters skilfully drawn' Financial Times 'Immersive, intriguing, and intelligent - incredibly impressive, up there with the best in the genre' Lee Child © Patrick Worrall 2024 (P) Penguin Audio 2024

The Exile

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