Hawthorn Close

From the multi-million copy bestselling author ... Recently moved to the village of Essington St Mary, Rob Carswell discovers the plight of his new neighbour Ilsa who is battling illness as well as the bullying tactics of a local builder. It is proving to be a more dramatic corner of Wiltshire than the tranquil atmosphere would suggest. Nearby, Amy Hatherall is feeling adrift following the death of her mother, but a final handwritten letter leads her in an unexpected direction to a great-aunt she never knew she had. As the line of old hawthorn trees begin to blossom, they keep watch as romance and new beginnings bloom for the residents of the close.

Hawthorn and his partner, Child, are called to the scene of a mysterious shooting in North London. The only witness is unreliable, the clues are scarce, and the victim, a young man who lives nearby, swears he was shot by a ghost car. While Hawthorn battles with fatigue and strange dreams, the crime and the narrative slip from his grasp and the stories of other Londoners take over: a young pickpocket on the run from his boss; an editor in possession of a disturbing manuscript; a teenage girl who spends her days at the Tate Modern; and a madman who has been infected by former Prime Minister, Tony Blair. Haunting these disparate lives is the shadowy figure of Mishazzo, an elusive crime magnate who may be running the city, or may not exist at all.

Ben is learning to keep secrets. No one must know about his mother and her addiction to sherry. No one must know about the bedwetting that so bewilders him. And no one must ever know about the blue folder that he¿d stumbled across in Stuart England¿s car at the end of the previous term. Stuart England is the charismatic young master¿not long down from Oxford¿who makes life possible for Ben in the emotionally sterile environment of his prep school in Gloucestershire. This is the story of Ben¿s long struggle to be free of the demons that have chased him since childhood. Will he ever find the courage, like the house martins that fly high above the school, to accept life on life¿s terms?

'Laugh out loud funny. Heartbreakingly sad. Ella Griffin does it again' Marian Keyes Claire Dillon lives in the shadow of the past - until she gives herself one year to change her future... At thirty-three, Claire's mother had everything to live for. But she died in a tragic accident. And it was her daughter's fault. Now Claire is the same age. A floundering actress with a broken heart. Her life is going nowhere in the company of her gorgeous best friend, ex-rock star, Ray Devine. Her estranged brother, Nick, is back from America with his perfect wife. But Dublin is full of dark memories and he is already planning his escape. What will happen when another accident throws brother and sister together and a lifetime of secrets come to light? A heartwarming story of love and loss from the author of The Memory Shop - perfect for fans of Marian Keyes, Jenny Colgan and Emma Hannigan *** 'A touching story that reminds us all that love's never as simple as it sounds' Woman 'This thrilling story of romance and deceit is too good to put down' Closer 'Crackling with wonderful dialogue and Irish wit. A funny and moving story that will capture your heart and hold onto it 'til the very last page' Cathy Kelly