On July 11th, 2023, G. P. Putnam’s Sons are due to publish BURN THE NEGATIVE, the latest thriller/mystery from Josh Winning. Winning’s debut, THE SHADOW GLASS, was a huge hit with horror, mystery and nostalgia fans, and we’re sure that readers will take to his second novel just as much. Here’s the synopsis…
Thirty years hiding from her past. Eight deaths still unexplained. One haunted horror film. Nowhere left to run.
Journalist Laura Warren is mid-flight to L.A. when she learns that the streaming series she’s about to report on is a remake of a ’90s horror flick. A cursed ’90s horror flick. The one she starred in—and has been running from her whole life.
As a child star, Laura was cast as the lead in The Guesthouse. She played Tammy Manners, the little girl with the terrifying gift to tell people how the Needle Man would kill them. But her big break was her last, as eight of her cast and crew mates died in mysterious ways, and the film became infamous—a cult classic of fictional horror that somehow summoned the real thing. Hoping to move on, Laura changed her name and her accent, dyed her hair, and moved across the Atlantic Ocean.
But some scripts don’t want to stay buried.
After landing, Laura finds a yellow dress like the one she wore in the movie. Then the words “She’s here” scratched into the wall in an actor’s trailer. And then people working on the series start dying. It’s all happening again, and Laura finds herself on the run with her sister and a jaded psychic, hoping to find answers—and to stay out of the Needle Man’s lethal reach.
An homage to slasher films with a fresh take on the true price of fame, Burn the Negative is a twisty thriller best read with the lights on.
If you haven’t yet had a chance to read Winning’s work, be sure to check out THE SHADOW GLASS — out now, published by Titan Books in North America and in the UK.
Just a quick post today to announce that eBook editions of Ben Aaronovitch‘s acclaimed second and third Rivers of London/Peter Grant novels are available again in North America! Published by JABberwocky, they are also available print-on-demand.
Here’s the synopsis for MOON OVER SOHO…
My name is Peter Grant, and I’m a Police Constable in that mighty army for justice known as the Metropolitan Police (a.k.a. the Filth). I’m also an apprentice wizard, the first in fifty years.
When your dad is an almost famous jazz trumpeter, you know the classics. And that’s why, when Dr Walid called me down to the morgue to listen to a corpse, I recognized the tune it was playing as the jazz classic ‘Body and Soul.’ Something violently supernatural had happened to the victim, strong enough to leave its imprint on his corpse as if it were a wax cylinder recording. The former owner of the body, Cyrus Wilkinson, was a part-time jazz saxophonist and full-time accountant who had dropped dead of a heart attack just after finishing a gig.
He wasn’t the first, but no one was going to let me exhume corpses just to see if they were playing my tune. So it was back to old-fashioned police legwork, starting in Soho, the heart of the scene, with the lovely Simone – Cyrus’s ex-lover, professional jazz kitten and as inviting as a Rubens portrait – as my guide. And it didn’t take me long to realise there were monsters stalking Soho, creatures feeding off that special gift that separates the great musician from someone who can raise a decent tune. What they take is beauty. What they leave behind is sickness, failure and broken lives.
My name is Peter Grant, police officer, apprentice wizard and well dressed man about town. I work for ECD9, otherwise known as the Folly, and to the Murder Investigation Team as ‘oh god not them again.’ But even their governor, the arch sceptic and professional northerner DCI Seawoll, knows that sometimes, when things go bump in the night, they have to call us in.
Which was why I found myself in an underground station at five o’clock, looking at the body of James Gallagher, US citizen and Arts Student. How did he avoid the underground’s ubiquitous CCTV to reach his final destination, and why is the ceramic shard he was stabbed with so strongly magical?
As the case took me into the labyrinth of conduits, tunnels and abandoned bomb shelters that lay beneath the streets I realised that London below might just be as complicated and inhabited as London above.
And worse, James Gallagher’s father is a US senator, so the next thing I know, I’ve got Special Agent Kimberley Reynolds of the FBI “liaising” with the investigation and asking awkward questions. Such as ‘just what are you guys hiding down here’ and ‘how did you conjure that light out thin air?’
The eBook is available via Kobo, Apple, and Amazon.
JABberwocky also publish the first novel in the series, RIVERS OF LONDON (formerly MIDNIGHT RIOT in the US). The novels are published in the UK by Gollancz/Orion, and in Germany by DTV. The latest novel in the series is AMONGST OUR WEAPONS, published by DAW Books in North America and Orion in the UK.
The collected edition of the latest Rivers of London comic arc, DEADLY EVER AFTER, is out this week! Officially published by Titan Comics on November 25th, it is the tenth comic series set in the Rivers of London world. Written by Ben Aaronovitch, Andrew Cartmel, and Celeste Bronfman, here’s the synopsis:
Illustrations from a mysterious book of fairy tales drawn in the late 1800s are coming to life in the 21st Century and causing havoc. The illustrations were originally painted by a Victorian artist called Jeter Day who disappeared one night in an enchanted forest when he was spirited away by tree nymphs never to be seen again…
Now, with the enchantment accidentally broken by Olympia and Chelsea, daughters of the river goddess Mama Thames, Jeter, twisted by his time spent with the nymphs, has returned to our world bitter and resentful. It is a world he neither recognises nor likes. All he wants is his life returned to him and woe betide any man who stands in his way.
With Peter and Nightingale busy on another case, it falls to sisters Olympia and Chelsea with the help of the Foxes to stop Jeter and save the day.
Series artwork is by José María Beroy.
Titan Comics has published all of the Rivers of London comic series to date: BODY WORK, NIGHT WITCH, BLACK MOULD, DETECTIVE STORIES, CRY FOX,WATER WEED, ACTION AT A DISTANCE, THE FEY AND THE FURIOUS and MONDAY, MONDAY.
The Rivers of London comics are set in the same world as Ben’s best-selling and critically acclaimed Peter Grant/Rivers of London novels and novellas. The latest book in the series is AMONGST OUR WEAPONS, which is out now in the UK (Orion), North America (DAW Books), and Germany (DTV)!
THE SERPENT IN HEAVEN, Charlaine Harris‘s hotly-anticipated fourth Gunnie Rose novel is out tomorrow in the UK! Published by Piatkus, here’s the synopsis…
Felicia, Lizbeth Rose’s younger half-sister and student at the Grigori school within the capital of the New Holy Russian Empire in San Diego, is caught between secrets and powerful family struggles. As a distant relative to the Tsar, she provides an essential service to him by providing blood transfusions for his hemophilia, and she is thus given rare access and dismissed as if cattle. At the Grigori school she is seen as a charity case, a poor orphan with no prospects and no sign of magical prowess-the latter which Felicia keeps purposefully hidden. And yet, when a kidnapping attempt is made upon Felicia her past and her future crash together in violent ways.
Continuing immediately after The Russian Cage, this fantastical fourth book takes a side step, exploring the Holy Russian Empire while also showcasing the dynamic depths of magic within Harris’s alternate North America in curious mysteries. Felicia, it turns out, is far more than the Russian-Mexican waif Lizbeth rescued, and the journey of discovery she is on is filled with magical assassins and desperation, but above it all is her courage to never give in to the limitations imposed upon her.
The first three novels in the Gunnie Rose series are also published in the UK by Piatkus, and out now in paperback and eBook: AN EASY DEATH, A LONGER FALL, and THE RUSSIAN CAGE.
Here are a few reviews that the series has received so far…
‘In this fast-paced thriller fueled by magic and gunslinging, no one can be trusted. Harris’s vividly detailed story will leave readers enthralled with the fascinating setting and a heroine who’s sure to be a new fan favorite.’ — Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) on AN EASY DEATH
‘Harris […] populates her gritty, immersive new world with genuinely interesting characters, and chilling moments of horror—of both the human and supernatural kind—punctuate this relentlessly paced road trip. A refreshing and cinematic, weird Western starring a sharp-as-nails, can-do heroine. Harris’ many fans will surely follow Gunnie Rose anywhere.’ — Kirkuson AN EASY DEATH
‘Harris has a remarkable talent for world building […] In all, this looks like another winning series from a sure-bet author.’ — Booklist on AN EASY DEATH
‘It’s a thrill ride through a world transformed by magic and altered politics, with an excellent kick-ass guide in Gunnie Rose, making this a strong start to a new series.’ — Locuson AN EASY DEATH
‘[A] shoot’em-up, rollicking ride.’ — Kirkus on A LONGER FALL
‘Everything a reader wants or can expect is here. Mystery, magic, romance, adventure, action, and best of all, a fascinatingly imagined alternate America peopled with intriguing characters.’ — Writing Pages on A LONGER FALL
‘Rarely a dull moment. Fans of Harris’s daring heroine will be pleased to accompany her on her latest adventure.’ — Publishers Weeklyon THE RUSSIAN CAGE
‘An entertaining addition to a consistently fun series.’ — Kirkuson THE RUSSIAN CAGE
‘Mixing in tidbits of real history with her own fictitious saga, the imaginative Harris creates an absorbing modern fantasy steeped in thoughtful action in THE RUSSIAN CAGE.’ — Sun Sentinel
‘A fun adventure…a series worth reading.’ — Fantasy Literature on THE RUSSIAN CAGE
Zeno represents Charlaine Harris in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.
Charlaine Harris‘s hotly-anticipated new novel, THE SERPENT IN HEAVEN is out in three weeks! The fourth novel in the author’s acclaimed Gunnie Rose fantasy/alternative history series, Piatkus is due to be publish it in the UK on November 15th. Here’s the synopsis…
Felicia, Lizbeth Rose’s younger half-sister and student at the Grigori school within the capital of the New Holy Russian Empire in San Diego, is caught between secrets and powerful family struggles. As a distant relative to the Tsar, she provides an essential service to him by providing blood transfusions for his hemophilia, and she is thus given rare access and dismissed as if cattle. At the Grigori school she is seen as a charity case, a poor orphan with no prospects and no sign of magical prowess-the latter which Felicia keeps purposefully hidden. And yet, when a kidnapping attempt is made upon Felicia her past and her future crash together in violent ways.
Continuing immediately after The Russian Cage, this fantastical fourth book takes a side step, exploring the Holy Russian Empire while also showcasing the dynamic depths of magic within Harris’s alternate North America in curious mysteries. Felicia, it turns out, is far more than the Russian-Mexican waif Lizbeth rescued, and the journey of discovery she is on is filled with magical assassins and desperation, but above it all is her courage to never give in to the limitations imposed upon her.
The first three novels in the Gunnie Rose series are also published in the UK by Piatkus, and out now in paperback and eBook: AN EASY DEATH, A LONGER FALL, and THE RUSSIAN CAGE.
Here are a few reviews that the series has received so far…
‘In this fast-paced thriller fueled by magic and gunslinging, no one can be trusted. Harris’s vividly detailed story will leave readers enthralled with the fascinating setting and a heroine who’s sure to be a new fan favorite.’ — Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) on AN EASY DEATH
‘Harris […] populates her gritty, immersive new world with genuinely interesting characters, and chilling moments of horror—of both the human and supernatural kind—punctuate this relentlessly paced road trip. A refreshing and cinematic, weird Western starring a sharp-as-nails, can-do heroine. Harris’ many fans will surely follow Gunnie Rose anywhere.’ — Kirkuson AN EASY DEATH
‘Harris has a remarkable talent for world building […] In all, this looks like another winning series from a sure-bet author.’ — Booklist on AN EASY DEATH
‘It’s a thrill ride through a world transformed by magic and altered politics, with an excellent kick-ass guide in Gunnie Rose, making this a strong start to a new series.’ — Locuson AN EASY DEATH
‘[A] shoot’em-up, rollicking ride.’ — Kirkus on A LONGER FALL
‘Everything a reader wants or can expect is here. Mystery, magic, romance, adventure, action, and best of all, a fascinatingly imagined alternate America peopled with intriguing characters.’ — Writing Pages on A LONGER FALL
‘Mixing in tidbits of real history with her own fictitious saga, the imaginative Harris creates an absorbing modern fantasy steeped in thoughtful action in THE RUSSIAN CAGE.’ — Sun Sentinel
‘An entertaining addition to a consistently fun series.’ — Kirkuson THE RUSSIAN CAGE
‘Rarely a dull moment. Fans of Harris’s daring heroine will be pleased to accompany her on her latest adventure.’ — Publishers Weeklyon THE RUSSIAN CAGE
‘A fun adventure…a series worth reading.’ — Fantasy Literature on THE RUSSIAN CAGE
Zeno represents Charlaine Harris in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.
The third novel starring master conman Gideon Sable novel, WHAT SONG THE SIRENS SANG, is out today in the UK and North America! The latest supernatural crime mash-up from one of the masters of the genre, Simon R. Green, it is published by Severn House. Here’s the synopsis…
The tables are turned on legendary master thief Gideon Sable when a priceless magical artifact is stolen from him, in this fast-paced supernatural heist thriller.
You can find everything you’ve ever dreamed of in the strange, old magical shop known as Old Harry’s Place. The problem is, not all dreams are kind.
Gideon Sable – legendary master thief, conman and well-dressed rogue – and his partner in crime Annie Anybody don’t want to be shopkeepers, but when the enigmatic Harry decides to retire, he blackmails the pair into taking the store on.
Before the grand reopening can happen, however, a menacing stranger arrives – with a rare and deadly item for them to appraise. A small piece of rock, with an unnerving aura, which ‘Smith’ claims contains the last echoes of the legendary sirens’ song. Before they can find out more, however, Smith vanishes… leaving only the stone.
Some valuables are more trouble than they’re worth. But before Gideon and Annie can work out if they’ve been set up, the stone is stolen from its impregnable hiding place. How? And why? Gideon only knows one thing for certain: no one steals from him and gets away with it…
The first two novels in the series — THE BEST THING YOU CAN STEAL and A MATTER OF DEATH AND LIFE — are also published by Severn House (UK and North America).
For those looking for even more great supernatural mystery from Green, you should check out his Ishmael Jones mystery series, also published by Severn House.
Zeno represents Simon R. Green in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.
WHAT SONG THE SIRENS SANG, Simon R. Green‘s third novel starring master conman Gideon Sable novel, is out in two weeks! It is published by Severn House, in the UK and North America on October 4th. Here’s the synopsis…
The tables are turned on legendary master thief Gideon Sable when a priceless magical artifact is stolen from him, in this fast-paced supernatural heist thriller.
You can find everything you’ve ever dreamed of in the strange, old magical shop known as Old Harry’s Place. The problem is, not all dreams are kind.
Gideon Sable – legendary master thief, conman and well-dressed rogue – and his partner in crime Annie Anybody don’t want to be shopkeepers, but when the enigmatic Harry decides to retire, he blackmails the pair into taking the store on.
Before the grand reopening can happen, however, a menacing stranger arrives – with a rare and deadly item for them to appraise. A small piece of rock, with an unnerving aura, which ‘Smith’ claims contains the last echoes of the legendary sirens’ song. Before they can find out more, however, Smith vanishes… leaving only the stone.
Some valuables are more trouble than they’re worth. But before Gideon and Annie can work out if they’ve been set up, the stone is stolen from its impregnable hiding place. How? And why? Gideon only knows one thing for certain: no one steals from him and gets away with it…
The first two novels in the series — THE BEST THING YOU CAN STEAL and A MATTER OF DEATH AND LIFE — are also published by Severn House (UK and North America).
If you’re looking for even more great supernatural mysteries from Green, you should check out his Ishmael Jones mystery series, also published by Severn House.
Zeno represents Simon R. Green in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.
Gunnie Rose returns in a couple of months, in Charlaine Harris‘s hotly-anticipated new novel, THE SERPENT IN HEAVEN! The fourth novel in the series, it is due to be published in the UK on November 15th, by Piatkus. Here’s the synopsis…
Felicia, Lizbeth Rose’s younger half-sister and student at the Grigori school within the capital of the New Holy Russian Empire in San Diego, is caught between secrets and powerful family struggles. As a distant relative to the Tsar, she provides an essential service to him by providing blood transfusions for his hemophilia, and she is thus given rare access and dismissed as if cattle. At the Grigori school she is seen as a charity case, a poor orphan with no prospects and no sign of magical prowess-the latter which Felicia keeps purposefully hidden. And yet, when a kidnapping attempt is made upon Felicia her past and her future crash together in violent ways.
Continuing immediately after The Russian Cage, this fantastical fourth book takes a side step, exploring the Holy Russian Empire while also showcasing the dynamic depths of magic within Harris’s alternate North America in curious mysteries. Felicia, it turns out, is far more than the Russian-Mexican waif Lizbeth rescued, and the journey of discovery she is on is filled with magical assassins and desperation, but above it all is her courage to never give in to the limitations imposed upon her.
Piatkus has published all of the Gunnie Rose novels in the UK to date: AN EASY DEATH, A LONGER FALL, and THE RUSSIAN CAGE.
Here are a few reviews that the series has received so far…
‘In this fast-paced thriller fueled by magic and gunslinging, no one can be trusted. Harris’s vividly detailed story will leave readers enthralled with the fascinating setting and a heroine who’s sure to be a new fan favorite.’ — Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) on AN EASY DEATH
‘Harris […] populates her gritty, immersive new world with genuinely interesting characters, and chilling moments of horror—of both the human and supernatural kind—punctuate this relentlessly paced road trip. A refreshing and cinematic, weird Western starring a sharp-as-nails, can-do heroine. Harris’ many fans will surely follow Gunnie Rose anywhere.’ — Kirkuson AN EASY DEATH
‘Harris has a remarkable talent for world building […] In all, this looks like another winning series from a sure-bet author.’ — Booklist on AN EASY DEATH
‘It’s a thrill ride through a world transformed by magic and altered politics, with an excellent kick-ass guide in Gunnie Rose, making this a strong start to a new series.’ — Locuson AN EASY DEATH
‘[A] shoot’em-up, rollicking ride.’ — Kirkus on A LONGER FALL
‘Everything a reader wants or can expect is here. Mystery, magic, romance, adventure, action, and best of all, a fascinatingly imagined alternate America peopled with intriguing characters.’ — Writing Pages on A LONGER FALL
‘Mixing in tidbits of real history with her own fictitious saga, the imaginative Harris creates an absorbing modern fantasy steeped in thoughtful action in THE RUSSIAN CAGE.’ — Sun Sentinel
‘An entertaining addition to a consistently fun series.’ — Kirkuson THE RUSSIAN CAGE
‘Rarely a dull moment. Fans of Harris’s daring heroine will be pleased to accompany her on her latest adventure.’ — Publishers Weeklyon THE RUSSIAN CAGE
‘A fun adventure…a series worth reading.’ — Fantasy Literature on THE RUSSIAN CAGE
Zeno represents Charlaine Harris in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.
The third Rivers of London graphic novel boxset is out now! Collecting the acclaimed 7th, 8th, and 9th collections — ACTION AT A DISTANCE, THE FEY AND THE FURIOUS, and MONDAY, MONDAY — it is published by Titan Comics. Written by Ben Aaronovitch and Andrew Cartmel, and with artwork from an all-star team, here’s the synopsis…
A stunning box set edition of the bestselling graphic novels in the Rivers of London series, starring Ben Aaronovitch’s laconic trainee wizard and budding detective, Peter Grant.
Vol 7: Action at a Distance
Thomas Nightingale is a man of immense power, one of the most highly revered magicians in Europe, but with a guarded past. Hidden within the archives of London Metropolitan Police’s Special Assessment Unit, Detective Constable Peter Grant is about to uncover a brief glimpse into his mentor’s history.
Vol 8: The Fey and the Furious
When a Mitsubishi Eclipse washes up on the shores of the Netherlands, officers are surprised to find some unusual cargo in its boot. Fortunately, unusual cargo just so happens to be wizarding-cop Peter Grant’s speciality. Infiltrating illegal street races, Peter hopes to find the supplier, but instead quickly finds himself speeding into a whole new world of trouble, where old enemies await.
Vol 9: Monday, Monday
What starts as a routine undercover operation to break up an organised teenage pickpocket gang turns into something far more dangerous when the Metropolitan police are confronted by a Swedish werewolf who’ll stop at nothing to avoid capture. Now it’s up to full-time cop and part-time wizard Peter Grant and his cohort of chums to hunt the deadly lycanthrope and bring him to heel!
The first two boxsets are available now, also published by Titan Comics. The latest story-arc in the Rivers of London series — DEADLY EVER AFTER, also co-authored by Celeste Bronfman — is available now in single issues (collected edition out soon).
Above, you can listen to the recent, great Lavie Tidhar interview on the Better Known from a couple of weeks ago!
Back in July, Lavie was also a guest on BBC Radio 4’s Open Book show, in the “Ethics of Crime” episode. You can listen to that, too, below.
Lavie’s latest novel is MAROR, which is published by Head of Zeus and out now. Here’s the synopsis…
How do you build a nation?
It takes statesmen and soldiers, farmers and factory workers, of course. But it also takes thieves, prostitutes and policemen.
Nation-building demands sacrifice. And one man knows exactly where those bodies are buried: Cohen, a man who loves his country. A reasonable man for unreasonable times.
A car bomb in the back streets of Tel Aviv. A diamond robbery in Haifa. Civil war in Lebanon. Rebel fighters in the Colombian jungle. A double murder in Los Angeles.
How do they all connect? Only Cohen knows.
Maror is the story of a war for a country’s soul – a dazzling spread of narrative gunshots across four decades and three continents.
It is a true story. All of these things happened.
The novel has been receiving a considerable number of great reviews, and here are just a few of them…
‘Some write in ink, others in song, Tidhar writes in fire… MAROR is a kaleidoscopic masterpiece, immense in its sympathies, alarming in its irreverences and altogether exhilarating.’ — Junot Díaz
‘One of the boldest, most visionary writers I’ve ever read creates both a vivid political exploration and a riveting crime epic. It’s like the Jewish Godfather!’ — Silvia Moreno-Garcia
‘MAROR blends the page-turning wit of a hard-boiled detective noir with the stirring intrigue of a multi-national political epic. An ambitious achievement that weaves a tapestry of both story and statement.’ — Kevin Jared Hosein
‘A masterpiece of the sacred and the profane … a literary triumph.’ — Guardian
‘A bloody beast of a book… MAROR is to Israeli history what Tarantino is to American movie culture’ — Daily Mail
‘Radiant with all the brutally elegant atmosphere of crime noir, and the richly nuanced complexity and style of Marlon James’ A Brief History of Seven Killings, it’s a genre-busting novel that will catch your breath … At once illuminating, thrilling and thought-provoking, this tale of corruption, killings, sacrifice and the souls that make up a nation is a symphonic feat of fiction.’ — LoveReading
‘Who can forget the savage, musical James Ellroy prose circa the L.A. Quartet books? Now we have a successor … Lavie Tidhar, a marvelous multi-genre author who never fails to delight, has now penned his noir opus. MAROR is a heady, nonstop brew of terror, violence, and mayhem, while also exuding swathes of coursing humanity.’ — Read Listen Watch
‘An unforgettably powerful saga … a sweeping portrayal of violence, corruption and chaos threaded through by veins of humanity… It is difficult to do justice to such a monumental work. So many aspects of MAROR attract superlatives but they fail to convey the range and breathtaking insight of this epic crime novel. A book for all lovers of great literature.’ — Queensland Reviewers Collective
Lavie’s next novel is NEOM, which is due to be published by Tachyon Publications, in November.
Today, Neom is a utopian dream — a megacity of the future yet to be built in the Saudi desert. In this deeply imaginative novel from the award-winning universe of Central Station, far-future Neom is already old. Sentient machines roam the desert searching for purpose, works of art can be more deadly than weapons, and the spark of a long-overdue revolution is in the wind. Only the rekindling of an impossible love affair may slow the inevitable sands of time.
The city known as Neom is many things to many beings, human or otherwise. It is is a tech wonderland for the rich and beautiful, an urban sprawl along the Red Sea, and a port of call between Earth and the stars.
In the desert, young orphan Elias has joined a caravan, hoping to earn his passage off-world. But the desert is full of mechanical artefacts, some unexplained and some unexploded. Recently, a wry, unnamed robot has unearthed one of the region’s biggest mysteries: the vestiges of a golden man.
In Neom, childhood affection is rekindling between loyal shurta-officer Nasir and hardworking flower-seller Mariam. But Nasu, a deadly terrorartist, has come to the city with missing memories and unfinished business. Just one robot can change a city’s destiny with a single rose — especially when that robot is in search of lost love.
Lavie Tidhar’s newest lushly immersive novel, Neom, which includes a guide to the Central Station universe, is at turns gritty, comedic, transportive, and fascinatingly plausible.
NEOM is also being met with a great amount of early praise. Here’s just some of the pre-release reviews and responses…
‘World Fantasy Award winner Tidhar takes readers back to the fascinating far-future world of 2016’s CENTRAL STATION in this gentle narrative about self-fulfillment and one robot’s quest to reunite with a lost love… Tidhar offers a heartfelt exploration of artificially intelligent beings’ struggles to find existential meaning while being restrained by both coding and form. Fans of literary sci-fi are sure to be enchanted by the imaginative worldbuilding and tenderly wrought characters.’ — Publishers Weekly
‘… hauntingly beautiful… Written in a straightforward but luminous style… NEOM is a treasure… a compelling chapter in this future history that reflects so much about who we are and the basic things we yearn for.’ — SciFi Mind
‘Lavie Tidhar’s NEOM is a stunning return to his world of CENTRAL STATION, twinning the fates of humans and robots alike at a futuristic city on the edge of the Red Sea.’ — Green Man Review
‘This was superb and I’m in awe of Tidhar’s vision. He’s conjured up a futuristic city that feels simultaneously ultramodern and also run down. The rich histories of the region and its cultures are seamlessly interwoven into the fabric of this fully-realized world.’ — Speculative Shelf
‘This is a book of hearts and of the heart, be it human or robot, and that is something that is universal, be it ourselves or in “the other”. The “other”, in Tidhar’s work, is us, and we are the other. We are all us, and in NEOM, we feel for that other, in the personage of the robots, in the human characters, and we take them, and their stories, into us.’ — File 770
‘A new novel set in the same universe as the multi-award winning CENTRAL STATION. Tidhar is a superb author, so it really doesn’t matter to me what he writes — I’ll still happily read it.’ — Civilian Reader
‘Another downloading from Tidhar’s fertile imagination. Science Fictional ideas and references spin off this in giddy profusion…As a writer Tidhar is frequently playful, allusive and self-referential…Tidhar has of late become fairly prolific. Perhaps he’s made good use of lockdown. NEOM shows there has been no drop-off in quality.’ — ParSec
In just a couple of months, Severn House is due to publish the third novel starring master conman Gideon Sable novel! Written by Simon R. Green, WHAT SONG THE SIRENS SANG is due to be published on October 4th in the UK and North America.
The tables are turned on legendary master thief Gideon Sable when a priceless magical artifact is stolen from him, in this fast-paced supernatural heist thriller.
You can find everything you’ve ever dreamed of in the strange, old magical shop known as Old Harry’s Place. The problem is, not all dreams are kind.
Gideon Sable – legendary master thief, conman and well-dressed rogue – and his partner in crime Annie Anybody don’t want to be shopkeepers, but when the enigmatic Harry decides to retire, he blackmails the pair into taking the store on.
Before the grand reopening can happen, however, a menacing stranger arrives – with a rare and deadly item for them to appraise. A small piece of rock, with an unnerving aura, which ‘Smith’ claims contains the last echoes of the legendary sirens’ song. Before they can find out more, however, Smith vanishes… leaving only the stone.
Some valuables are more trouble than they’re worth. But before Gideon and Annie can work out if they’ve been set up, the stone is stolen from its impregnable hiding place. How? And why? Gideon only knows one thing for certain: no one steals from him and gets away with it…
The first two novels in the series are also published by Severn House (UK and North America): THE BEST THING YOU CAN STEAL and A MATTER OF DEATH AND LIFE.
For those looking for even more great supernatural mystery from Green, you should check out his Ishmael Jones mystery series, also published by Severn House.
Zeno represents Simon R. Green in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.
The third issue of DEADLY EVER AFTER, the tenth Rivers of London comic series is out today, published by Titan Comics! Written by Ben Aaronovitch, Andrew Cartmel, and Celeste Bronfman, here’s the synopsis…
The unmissable next comic chapter set in the bestselling Rivers of London series!
When Chelsea and Olympia accidentally break an enchantment in the woods, deadly fairy tales from a mysterious old book start coming to life. To set things right, Chelsea and Olympia must unravel a mystery dating back to the 1800’s before they become victims of a lethal sorcery.
Interior art is by José María Beroy. The issue will be available with three covers, one each from Sanya Anwar (above), Vv Glass (below, left), and Patricio Clarey.
All nine of the previous Rivers of London comic series are also published by Titan Comics, now available in collected editions: BODY WORK, NIGHT WITCH, BLACK MOULD, DETECTIVE STORIES, CRY FOX, WATER WEED, ACTION AT A DISTANCE, THE FEY AND THE FURIOUS, and MONDAY, MONDAY.
Today, we wanted to share the news (in case you missed it) that Alice Bell‘s GRAVE EXPECTATIONS has been acquired (in a two-book deal) by Corvus Books in the UK! Described as a murder mystery ‘full of heart and humour’, it is Bell’s debut novel. The deal was announced last week in the Bookseller.
GRAVE EXPECTATIONS will be a lead title for Corvus in May 2023 (hardback, trade paperback and e-book). The paperback will follow in October 2023. Here’s a short synopsis for the novel…
How do you solve a murder when the ghost of a 17-year-old keeps telling you you’re doing it wrong?
Claire Hendricks is a hapless 30-something true crime fan treading water in the gig economy working as a medium. When she is invited to an old university friend’s country pile to provide entertainment for a family party, her best friend Sophie tags along. In fact, Sophie rarely leaves Claire’s side, because she’s been haunting her ever since she was murdered at the age of 17.
We’ll be sure to share more information as we have it (e.g., the cover). North American rights to the novel have also gone to Knopf.
GoyaLiT, an imprint of Jumbo Verlag, has released a fourth audiobook omnibus in Ben Aaronovitch‘s Die Flüsse von London series! IHR AUFRITT, PETER GRANT collects the seventh and eighth novels in the series: DIE GLOCKE VON WHITECHAPEL (LIES SLEEPING) and EIN WEISSER SCHWAN IN TABERNACLE STREET (FALSE VALUE). Narrated once again by the excellent Dietmar Wunder, here’s the synopsis…
DIE GLOCKE VON WHITECHAPEL
Constable und Zauberlehrling Peter Grant steht vor seiner größten Herausforderung: Das Schicksal Londons steht auf dem Spiel. Der gesichtslose Magier, verantwortlich für grauenvolle übernatürliche Verbrechen, ist zwar endlich demaskiert und auf der Flucht. Doch er verfolgt einen perfiden Plan, der ganz London in den Abgrund stürzen könnte. Um den Gesichtslosen zu stoppen, muss Peter all seine magischen Kräfte aufbieten und einen bösen alten Bekannten kontaktieren: Mr Punch, den mörderischen Geist des Aufruhrs und der Rebellion.
EIN WEISSER SCHWAN IN TABERNACLE STREET
Peter Grant, unser Lieblings-Bobby und Zauberlehrling, ist suspendiert und zumindest für eine Weile kein Bobby mehr. Dafür wird er in Zukunft im Privatleben umso mehr gefordert sein, was ihn zu gleichen Teilen mit Panik und Begeisterung erfüllt. Um nicht untätig herumzusitzen und Nägel zu kauen, heuert er bei der Serious Cybernetics Company an, dem neuesten Projekt des Internet-Genies Terrence Skinner. Und prompt holt die Magie ihn wieder ein. Denn in den Tiefen der SCC ist ein Geheimnis verborgen, eine geheime magische Technologie, die zurückreicht bis weit ins 19. Jahrhundert, das Zeitalter von Ada Lovelace und Charles Babbage. Und die brandgefährlich ist für die Welt.
The other three double-audiobooks are: GESTATTEN: PETER GRANT, IHR EINSATZ, PETER GRANT, and PETER GRANT ERMITTELT.
The best-selling print and eBook editions of the series are published in Germany by DTV.
The Rivers of London series is published in the UK by Gollancz, in North America by Del Rey (1-3), DAW Books (4-) and Subterranean Press (novellas); the series has also been published widely around the world. The latest novel is the #1-bestselling AMONGST OUR WEAPONS.
Here’s the English-language synopsis for LIES SLEEPING…
Martin Chorley, aka the Faceless Man, wanted for multiple counts of murder, fraud and crimes against humanity, has been unmasked and is on the run.
Peter Grant, Detective Constable and apprentice wizard, now plays a key role in an unprecedented joint operation to bring Chorley to justice.
But even as the unwieldy might of the Metropolitan Police bears down on its foe, Peter uncovers clues that Chorley, far from being finished, is executing the final stages of a long term plan.
A plan that has its roots in London’s two thousand bloody years of history, and could literally bring the city to its knees.
To save his beloved city Peter’s going to need help from his former best friend and colleague – Lesley May – who brutally betrayed him and everything he thought she believed in. And, far worse, he might even have to come to terms with the malevolent supernatural killer and agent of chaos known as Mr Punch…
The Czech edition of TALES FROM THE FOLLY is now available! Published by Argo as HISTORKY Z ROZMARU, it is a collection of short stories set in Ben Aaronovitch‘s Rivers of London world. Here’s the synopsis…
Další výprava do světa Řek Londýna, tentokrát ve sbírce povídek! Ben Aaronovitch svůj fantastický svět dosud představoval v románech, novelách a komiksových příbězích. Už léta však mimo tento hlavní proud píše kratší i delší povídky, v nichž rozvíjí dílčí nápady, popisuje dosud opomíjené osudy, vypráví anekdoty, které doplňují mozaiku jedné z nejpodmanivějších sérií současnosti. S Peterem Grantem, Abigail, agentkou Reynoldsovou, Nightingalem i Tobiasem Winterem z německé obdoby londýnského Rozmaru se zde vydáme zjistit, co skrývá dálniční čerpací stanice uprostřed noci, kdo stále bloumá mezi regály populárního londýnského knihkupectví, co přesně se stalo s řekou Lugg… Každý tento střípek je doplněný autorovým úvodem a pro snadnější orientaci se u něj udává, ve které fázi série se odehrává.
The collection also includes an introduction by Charlaine Harris (which also appears in the Czech edition.)
TALES FROM THE FOLLY is published by JABberwocky (UK/North America eBook and print), Subterranean Press (US special edition) and Orion (UK audio).
Here’s the English-language synopsis…
Return to the world of Rivers of London in this first short story collection from #1 Sunday Times bestselling author, Ben Aaronovitch. Tales from the Folly is a carefully curated collection that gathers together previously published stories and brand new tales in the same place for the first time.
Each tale features a new introduction from the author, filled with insight and anecdote offering the reader a deeper exploration into this absorbing fictional world. This is a must read for any Rivers of London fan.
Join Peter, Nightingale, Abigail, Agent Reynolds and Tobias Winter for a series of perfectly portioned tales. Discover what’s haunting a lonely motorway service station, who still wanders the shelves of a popular London bookshop, and what exactly happened to the River Lugg…
With an introduction from internationally bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse series, Charlaine Harris.
This collection includes: – The Home Crowd Advantage – The Domestic – The Cockpit – The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Granny – King of The Rats – A Rare Book of Cunning Device – A Dedicated Follower of Fashion – Favourite Uncle – Vanessa Sommer’s Other Christmas List – Three Rivers, Two Husbands and a Baby – Moments One, Two and Three
‘[F]ans of the series who will no doubt find plenty of enjoyment and satisfaction in these bite-sized adventures… A special shoutout also to Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, who gave an awesome performance as Peter Grant. While I mostly read the print versions of the books in the Rivers of London series, the few times I was fortunate to listen to the audiobooks, I always enjoyed his work. There’s no doubt about it, he is the voice of this series.’ — Bibliosanctum
‘The stories here are smart, snappy, and self-contained. They’ll keep you turning pages, for sure — they’re full of sizzle… they’re great fun, and a great way to get to know some of our favourite folks a little better. My only real complaint is that there aren’t enough of them — I would happily have devoured twice as many… this was a joy to read. It hits all the right notes. The humour, the pathos, the intelligence and the wry commentary of Grant are all very welcome…’ — Sci-Fi & Fantasy Reviews
‘For any devotee of the Met’s smallest specialist policing unit and the magical world that Aaronovitch has built with such success, TALES FROM THE FOLLY is an essential addition to the bookshelf and will amply repay a close reading in search of interesting snippets while you revel in the longer stories. This is certainly one world I can’t get enough of.’ — Crime Review
Argo has published all of Ben’s Rivers of London books in Czechia, to date.
Today, we wanted to share the news (in case you missed it) that 
