Festive Fiction
Into the Storm
A storm lies ahead of her. Freedom lies beyond it … ‘Such a brilliant writer and this was another 5 star book for me’ Reader Review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Hugely immersive and emotional’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘An emotional mystery that will grip you so tight that you can't breathe’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘She is the master of creating real, flawed, magnetic characters’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ONE NIGHT It is a wild night in the middle of December, and GP Enya is crouched over a teenage boy, performing CPR in the rain. ONE MOMENT The boy survives, but Enya’s life splinters in two. Trapped in a loveless marriage, the storm propels her to break free. ONE CHANCE TO BE FREE But even in the remote country town that becomes her sanctuary, Enya is haunted by the night in the rain. Beneath the boughs of an ancient tree that tells a thousand stories, can she find the courage to face her own? 'A terrific story! It had me completely gripped from the very first page' KARIN SLAUGHTER ‘Outstanding… I simply couldn’t stop reading. One of the two or three best novels I’ve read this year and without question the best book I’ve ever read by Cecelia' JOHN BOYNE
R 390.00
The Glassmaker
From the bestselling historical novelist, a rich, transporting story that follows a family of glassmakers from the height of Renaissance-era Italy to present day.It is 1486 and Venice is a wealthy, opulent center for trade. Orsola Rosso is the eldest daughter in a family of glassblowers in Murano, the island revered for the craft. As a woman, she is not meant to work with glass—but she has the hands for it, the heart, and a vision. When her father dies, she teaches herself to make beads in secret, and her work supports the Rosso family fortunes.Skipping like a stone through the centuries, in a Venice where time moves as slowly as molten glass, we follow Orsola and her family as they live through creative triumph and heartbreaking loss, from a plague devastating Venice to Continental soldiers stripping its palazzos bare, from the domination of Murano and its maestros to the transformation of the city of trade into a city of tourists. In every era, the Rosso women ensure that their work, and their bonds, endure.Chevalier is a master of her own craft, and The Glassmaker is as inventive as it is spellbinding: a mesmerizing portrait of a woman, a family, and a city that are as everlasting as their glass.
R 405.00
Short Life
Two car accidents take place on the same night, on the same stretch of twisting valley road. One is fatal, and six friends’ lives will never be the same. Only two of them know what really happened that night – and one will stop at nothing to get to the truth. When your life is on the line, who can you really trust?
R 310.00
Fire and Bones
#1 New York Times bestselling author Kathy Reichs returns with a new twisty, unputdownable thriller featuring forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan. It’s never easy working fire scenes. Called to Washington, DC to analyse the victims of a mysterious arson attack, Tempe quickly finds her misgivings justified. The fire site is in Foggy Bottom, a neighbourhood with a colourful history, and as the pieces start falling into place, the property’s ownership becomes more and more suspicious. Sensing a good story, Tempe teams up with a new ally, telejournalist Ivy Doyle. Delving into the past, the duo learns that back in the Thirties and Forties the home was the hangout of a group of bootleggers and racketeers known as the Foggy Bottom Gang. Though interesting, this fact seems irrelevant – until the son of one of the gang members is shot dead at his farm in Virginia. When another Foggy Bottom Gang-linked property burns to the ground, claiming one more victim, what might have been coincidence starts to look more like targeted attacks. As she and Ivy dig deeper, Tempe’s instincts point towards the obvious: somehow, her every move since coming to Washington has been anticipated in advance. And every path forward brings with it a lethal threat.PRAISE FOR KATHY REICHS: ‘A thing of clever beauty – smart, scary, complicated, and engrossing’ Michael Connelly ‘This page-turning series never lets the reader down’ Harlan Coben ‘One of my favourite writers’ Karin Slaughter ‘I await the next Kathy Reichs thriller with the same anticipation I have for the new Lee Child or Patricia Cornwell’ James Patterson
R 400.00
There are Rivers in the Sky
The breathtaking new novel from the Booker-shortlisted, bestselling author of The Island of Missing Trees and 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World - available for pre-order now *****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
R 400.00
By Any Other Name
**PRE-ORDER NOW – THE DAZZLING NEW NOVEL FROM MULTI-MILLION COPY BESTSELLING AUTHOR JODI PICOULT**'Had me absolutely captivated . . . I loved all the questions this novel raised about who gets to tell which stories and how complex that can become. Jodi Picoult is a genius' JENNIFER SAINT'[An] inspiring work of feminist literature' ELLE 'Timely and affecting . . . Picoult’s many, many fans will pounce on her latest incisive, pot-stirring tale' BOOKLIST, Starred'You’ll fall in love with Emilia Bassano, the unforgettable heroine based on a real woman that Picoult brings vividly to life. Book clubs will embrace this rich, inspiring story' KRISTIN HANNAH'A blend of historical fiction and modern-day settings, the novel gives us timelines that intertwine and surprise. Picoult has done her research' HARPER'S BAZAAR'Picoult creates a richly detailed portrait of daily life in Elizabethan England, from sumptuous castles to seedy hovels. . . . A vibrant tale of a remarkable woman' KIRKUS****What if the greatest writer of all time isn’t who we think he is?What if he isn’t even a he?Step back four hundred years and discover the female author who hid behind the mask of the man we know as William Shakespeare . . .In Elizabethan London, young Emilia Bassano is a ward of English aristocrats. Her education has endowed her with a sharp wit and a gift for storytelling, but still she is allowed no voice of her own. Forced to become a mistress to the Lord Chamberlain, who oversees the theatre, Emilia discovers the power of stories to beguile audiences. Secretly, she forms a plan to bring a play of her own to the stage - by paying an actor named William Shakespeare to front her work. In modern-day Manhattan, playwright Melina Green finds a woman's voice is still worth less than a man's. But, inspired by the life of her ancestor Emilia Bassano, Melina takes a lesson from history and submits a play under a male pseudonym . . . Moving between Elizabethan England and modern day Manhattan, By Any Other Name is a beautifully written, compelling novel that explores the theme of identity and the ways in which two women, centuries apart—one of whom might just be the real author of Shakespeare’s plays—are both forced to hide behind another name to make their voices heard.PRAISE FOR JODI PICOULT'A writer the world needs to be reading right now' Independent'It is hard to exaggerate how well Picoult writes' Financial Times'She is the master of her craft' Daily Telegraph'There are writers who try and do what Picoult does, and then there's Picoult' Marie Claire
R 400.00
R 330.00
Here One Moment
The new novel from the worldwide Number One bestselling author behind the Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning HBO series Big Little Lies and recent smash hit bestseller Apples Never Fall. We’re all so busy, caught up in life's moments, big and small . . . The flight attendant working a shift on her birthday.The mother struggling alone with two young children.The newlyweds excited about their tropical honeymoon .The overworked father missing his kid’s big show.The young man returning from his best friend’s funeral.The ER nurse wondering what retirement will bring.All strangers. All unsuspecting. Each with a life heading in a particular direction – or so they imagine.Because an elderly woman is about to step into each of their paths. In just a few words, she will make a prediction, tying herself to all of them. And, in being bound to her, these disparate strangers will all face similar existential dilemmas. .Who is this woman? Is she a genuine clairvoyant? A charlatan? The answer to prayers, or a harbinger of nightmares? What she will prove to be is an agent of chaos, fraying relationships, putting entire futures into doubt and causing the most ordered of lives to unravel in the most unexpected of ways . . . Praise for Liane Moriarty: 'One of the few writers I'll drop anything for' Jojo Moyes 'An engrossing mashup of family drama and psychological suspense that offers a mystery. Complex and satisfying. Perfect holiday reading' Guardian 'Keeps you guessing until the very end' Reese Witherspoon'Moriarty writes vividly, wittily and wickedly' Sunday Express'Had me utterly hooked' Daily Mail
R 400.00
In Too Deep
***AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER NOW***Reacher had no idea where he was. No idea how he had got there. But someone must have brought him. And shackled him. And whoever had done those things was going to rue the day. That was for damn sure.Jack Reacher wakes up, alone, in the dark, handcuffed to a makeshift bed. His right arm has suffered some major damage. His few possessions are gone. He has no memory of getting there.The last thing Reacher can recall is the car he hitched a ride in getting run off the road. The driver was killed.His captors assume Reacher was the driver's accomplice and patch up his wounds as they plan to make him talk.A plan that will backfire spectacularly . . .'There's only one Jack Reacher. Accept no substitutes.' MICK HERRONAlthough the Jack Reacher novels can be read in any order, In Too Deep is the 29th book in the internationally bestselling series.And be sure not to miss Reacher no.28, The Secret! ***OUT NOW**
R 395.00
Leo
'Unquestionably the supremo of South African crime-writing fiction' - Peter JamesBenny Griessel and Vaughn Cupido are languishing in Stellenbosch. Run-of-the-mill police work in the leafy university town is a far cry from their previous life in the elite HAWKS. But when a student is found dead on a mountain trail, the two detectives find themselves trying to unpick a stubbornly difficult mystery. In the north of the country, meanwhile, a beautiful wildlife guide is recruited by a group of special forces soldiers to act as a honeytrap, part a dangerous multi-million-dollar heist that goes tragically wrong. Then back in Stellenbosch, a local businessman is found murdered in what looks like a professional hit - suffocated by fast-action filler foam sprayed down his throat. A message to keep silent - but about what? You need a cool head to unravel it all, because sadly, the thieves and criminals are as likely to be in government - or even the police - as on the streets. You need to stay calm, focused - and sober. Benny may be sober these days, but he's not feeling calm. Solving this puzzle is turning into a deadly race against time and there's another date that's coming towards him like an express train. Alexa has fixed the date for their wedding. Big trouble, on every front.
R 395.00
The Creation of Half-Broken People
Showcasing African Gothic at its finest, this hypnotic novel tangles together classic texts of madness and female rebellion alongside elements of the jingoistic novels of Victorian adventurer H. Rider Haggard. The result is an extraordinary reinvention of colonial and patriarchal perspectives.The unnamed narrator spins a web back through a century of colonial possession – political, spiritual and mental – to imagine the stories of conquest and captivity, control and disruption, from the perspective of the women and men ‘half-broken’ by the stigmas attached to race and mental illness. Equally ‘half-broken’ are those dehumanised by their insane greed for dominion and treasure.With trademark compassion and complexity, Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu balances the humanity of her characters against the cruelty of empire, making for a spellbinding and literally haunting account of love and magic.
R 360.00
Tea Merchant
Part 1 of a new two-part series by bestselling author Jackie Phamotse!It is 2005, a time of silent anticipation and hidden possibilities in the rugged Cederberg mountains. Cameron Coal is embroiled in a desperate fight to save his family’s rooibos farm, which is a hair’s breadth from bankruptcy, while wrestling overwhelming grief after his wife’s death and trying to build a relationship with his blind daughter. His father, John, might be the family’s last hope to save their farm from an enemy lurking in plain sight. But in the shadows, Cameron’s brother, Sole, harbours a secret that could shatter their world.Amid the chaos of a veld fire, Cameron’s gaze falls upon a mysterious nurse, Luna Parks, who is new to their town. As Luna and Cameron grow closer, her mysterious past and closely guarded secrets could shatter the very foundation of their relationship.In the meantime, several questions must be answered: Who wanted Cameron’s wife dead? How far will Cameron go to keep his enemies at bay? Will Luna ever tell him the truth about her past? Who really owns South Africa’s indigenous plant, the illustrious rooibos? And will Cameron’s decisions cost another life, or will it ensure the rise of the Tea Merchant?
R 150.00
We Solve Murders
FROM THE #1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUBA brand new series.An iconic new detective duo.And a thrilling new murder to solve . . . -----Steve Wheeler is enjoying retired life. He does the odd bit of investigation work, but he prefers his familiar habits and routines: the pub quiz, his favourite bench, his cat waiting for him when he comes home. His days of adventure are over: adrenaline is daughter-in-law Amy’s business now.Amy Wheeler thinks adrenaline is good for the soul. As a private security officer, she doesn’t stay still long enough for habits or routines. She’s currently on a remote island keeping world-famous author Rosie D’Antonio alive. Which was meant to be an easy job . . .Then a dead body, a bag of money and a killer with their sights on Amy have her sending an SOS to the only person she trusts. A breakneck race around the world begins, but can Amy and Steve stay one step ahead of a deadly enemy?-----Available to pre-order now!
R 400.00
Milk and Honey
This stunning new hardcover book celebrates the journey of Rupi Kaur and milk and honey. 40 new original poems and 20 new illustrations Full-color, never-before-seen photos and memorabilia Illuminating introduction and handwritten diary entries by Rupi Heartfelt annotations from Rupi and some of today’s most respected voices Since its debut, milk and honey has sold more than 6 million copies globally, becoming the highest-selling book of poetry in the 21st century and propelling Rupi Kaur into the stratosphere as the voice of a generation. milk and honey has taken millions of readers on a shared journey through life’s most emotional moments, reminding us along the way that there is sweetness everywhere, if only we are willing to look. An exceptional volume, the milk and honey 10th Anniversary Collector’s Edition is a must-have keepsake that will be treasured by longtime fans as well as readers new to the work that transformed poetry in our time.
R 605.00
Counting Miracles
'Find where you belong and make that place your own...' Tanner has spent his whole life moving from place to place, belonging nowhere. So when his dying grandmother reveals the name and location of the father he never knew, he plans to visit Asheboro to lay the past to rest, then move on - just as he always has. Kaitlyn knows exactly where she belongs. In Asheboro, she's built a life for herself and her kids that she's proud of, especially after the turmoil of divorce. But when she meets lone wolf Tanner, she can't help but feel something has been missing until now.Jasper will never belong again. He had everything - and he lost it all. Now with only his old dog Arlo for company, he lives quietly, haunted by the tragic accident that took place decades before. Three strangers' worlds are about to collide, changing the trajectory of all their lives. Because some paths cross, some merge, and others guide you home... From the much-loved bestselling author of The Notebook comes a brand-new emotional and powerful novel about the journeys we take and those who touch our hearts along the way.
R 445.00
Crash
If you were given the opportunity to disappear and start your life again, would you take it?Paris 1933. Four people's lives are dramatically torn apart by a single terrifying event. Two days before Christmas the express train to Strasbourg crashes into a local train in the winter darkness outside Paris. On board is Gilles Malroux, a man with a shady past and a strong reason to avoid the police. In the mayhem of the crash he is badly injured but to avoid capture by the police he swaps identity papers with one of the other victims of the impact. Gilles tries to flee in the dark but finds himself taken to the house of a woman he doesn't know but who calls him Davide. She nurses him. But is the bitter medicine in the spoon she puts to his lips healing him or harming him?Camille Malroux is Gilles' sister. She works for the French Civil Service and is trying to climb the ladder of respectability after a childhood in poverty. When she is informed by police that her brother is seriously injured in hospital, she rushes to his bedside, only to discover it is not Gilles. It is a heavily bandaged stranger. He is unconscious and has her brother's identity papers in his locker. Only by digging to discover the true identity of the bandaged man in the hospital bed can she hope to trace Gilles.But Gilles is sinking into further danger. He is drugged. A priest and a doctor hover over him, as if waiting for him to die, and constantly the woman who calls him Davide is at his side. What is it she wants from him? The Crash is thrilling historical fiction about identity, revenge and survival.
R 425.00
Spud
It is 2003 – ten years since Spud Milton’s class of 93 matriculated and the boys went their separate ways. Despite their seemingly unbreakable bond, the Crazy 8 – Rambo, Mad Dog, Vern, Fatty, Garth Garlic, Boggo, Simon and Spud – have not kept in touch. Or at least, not as far as Spud knows. When he receives an invitation from the school to attend the Ten Year Reunion weekend, Spud is determined to avoid the event at all costs, but he hasn’t reckoned with the bombardment of intrusive messages and threatening phone calls from his former dorm mates. No one is going to bend his arm, not this time; he is immune to peer pressure and wise to Rambo’s devious manipulation techniques. Spud has moved on. And, anyway, he has enough to worry about on the home front.At 28 Spud is stuck in a one-third life crisis. Reflecting on a decade of spectacular non-achievement, at a point where he’s coming to realise that his glittering stage career might have stalled before it’s even begun, casts him into deep gloom. For the former scholarship kid, the prospect of once again having to measure up to his blue-blooded school friends – and be found wanting – has him riddled with anxiety. Not only that. Spud still doesn’t have a serious girlfriend, which has seen him resort to a questionable international bath-sexting relationship with an old flame. Not to mention that circumstances have forced him to move back in with his parents and his senile grandmother, Wombat, whose walks never end where they began.After a wildly unsuccessful fishing trip with his father, as well as a return to his old way of figuring things out – writing in his diary – to his own surprise, Spud finds his reunion resistance crumbling. Curiosity and courage win the day. It’s just a weekend, after all … what could possibly go wrong?
R 360.00
Alaska Sanders Affair
"One of the world's most original voices in crime fiction"A. J. Finn, #1 bestselling author of The Woman in the WindowThe murder of Alaska Sanders was quickly solved. Within days, two suspects were identified. One died, the other pleaded guilty. Case closed.But, eleven years later, the death of another woman in a fast-food parking lot changes everything. Marcus Goldman, celebrity author and amateur investigator, picks up a thread that will unravel not only an open and shut case, but the very fabric of his best friend's life.Sergeant Perry Gahalowood, who led the original investigation, is hell-bent on setting the record straight. Teaming up with Marcus, he seeks redemption in most the intricate and testing case of his career.In this sequel to the phenomenal worldwide bestseller The Truth about the Harry Quebert Affair, Joël Dicker delivers the last word in slow-burn police procedurals. Clue by clue, witness by witness, question by question, his characters solve an unguessable puzzle that could only have been set by the master of the plot twist.Translated from the French by Robert Bonnono
R 440.00
