THE LAST PASSENGER by Will Dean selected for the Spring W H Smith Book Club with Richard and Judy

THE LAST PASSENGER by Will Dean is one of six titles selected for the ever popular Spring W H Smith Book Club with Richard and Judy.

The titles selected for the Book Club include bonus content exclusive to W H Smith and are available both in W H Smith stores across the UK and online. There is also a podcast series to accompany the selection hosted by Richard and Judy themselves, which features interviews with the Book Club authors and more.

The other Spring titles are: OVER SHARING by Jane Fallon, WEYWARD by Emilia Hart, BRIGHT YOUNG WOMEN by Jessica Knoll, NO ONE SAW A THING by Andrea Mara, and THE TRIAL by Rob Rinder.

THE LAST PASSENGER is Will’s third standalone novel and was published in the UK in May 2023, while Emily Bestler Books (Simon & Schuster) published in the US. It was a Financial Times ‘Best Summer Books of 2023’ pick and received glowing reviews from readers and critics alike.

The W H Smith Book Club with Richard and Judy describes the novel as: ‘A tale not so much of the unexpected, but the impossible. Picture this. You’re on a giant ocean-going liner (much bigger than the Titanic) steaming from Southampton to New York. The voyage has only just begun; you and over a thousand fellow passengers are enjoying their first evening meal on board. Everyone drifts off to bed and the great ship settles for the night. You wake next morning to find everyone – everyone; passengers AND crew – have vanished. It’s just you. And the great ship steams on… utterly engrossing, from the first page to the last.’

Richard Madeley on THE LAST PASSENGER: ‘In many ways THE LAST PASSENGER is a classic “locked room” mystery; a sort of literary conjuring trick where the impossible seems to have happened. There is simply no way you will guess the answer to the central conundrum until you get to the end. No way. Unless you cheat! And what a riddle!’

Judy Finnigan on THE LAST PASSENGER: ‘Just what the HELL has happened? You’ll get a huge kick finding out.’

Lucy Swinburn, W H Smith’s group trading director for books, commented: ‘We love teaming up with Richard and Judy as they carefully select each new collection for the book club, which has been a platform for so many bestsellers and debut novels. We’re delighted with the books that have been chosen by them for spring, with every author new to the W H Smith Book Club, and we’re excited to share this fantastic selection of recommended reads with our customers.’

Will is currently working on his fourth standalone novel, THE CHAMBER, a tense and suspenseful locked-room thriller – this time set in a hyperbaric chamber. Hodder will be publish in the UK in June 2024, with Emily Bestler Book set to publish in the US in August 2024.  

About Will Dean

Photo credit: Rosalind Hobley

Will Dean grew up in the East Midlands, living in nine different villages before the age of eighteen. After studying law at the LSE, and working many varied jobs in London, he settled in rural Sweden with his wife. He built a wooden house in a boggy forest clearing and it’s from this base that he compulsively reads and writes.

Will’s first standalone novel, THE LAST THING TO BURN, was a word-of-mouth sensation reviewed positively by readers and media alike. It was shortlisted for Thriller Book of the Year at the Fingerprint Awards 2022, Crime Novel of the Year at the Theakston Old Peculier Awards 2022 and the Goldsboro Books Glass Bell Award 2022 and was longlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger Award 2022.

Praise for THE LAST PASSENGER

‘A new high-water mark in high-concept thrillers… astonishing.’ – Ian Rankin

‘Lord SAVE us! What a ROLLERCOASTER of a read THE LAST PASSENGER by Will Dean is! The twists! The turns! The hairpin bends! It’s utterly compulsive reading.’ – Marian Keyes

‘THE LAST PASSENGER is exceptional. Great premise, vivid characters, and truly, deeply, unbelievably tense.’ – Emma Flint

‘Will Dean’s THE LAST THING TO BURN is one of the most terrifying thrillers I’ve read in years, so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on his latest, THE LAST PASSENGER. The premise is excellent… Supernatural explanations aside, this seems an impossible trick for a writer to pull off satisfactorily, but Dean, who also writes the excellent Tuva Moodyson crime series, makes it work. I won’t tell you how, because it would spoil this mile-a-minute, bite-your-nails-to-the-quick ride of a novel, but I will tell you to trust this writer, because I guarantee you’ll enjoy where he takes you. Extra kudos for the final twist, which brought me great pleasure.’ – Alison Flood, The Observer, ‘Thrillers of the month’

‘If you think the notion of the “high concept” thriller has been fully exsanguinated, think again. In Dean’s new novel, a luxury liner adrift without a crew in the mid-Atlantic has one passenger, Caz Ripley, left on board, dealing with a Mary Celeste-like mystery. Irresistibly compelling fare.’ – The Financial Times, ‘Best Summer Books of 2023: Crime’

‘The narration is breathless and brisk, with a tiny suspenseful hook to keep you guessing, and reading on, at the end of each chapter. A number of strange and troubling things will go wrong for these unfortunate people before they’re hit by a giant plot twist. Get your bowl of popcorn.’ – The New York Times

‘This thriller is perfect if you’re addicted to cruising – or indeed if you can’t imagine anything worse… Will Dean’s ingenious plot developments will keep you, like Caz, guessing wildly, and Jenny Funnell’s narration keeps belief suspended until the very end – and indeed beyond it.’ – Christina Hardyment, The Times, ‘The best audiobooks for summer 2023’

 

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Meliz Berg serves up a second helping with DINNER TONIGHT from Ebury Press

We are delighted to announce that DINNER TONIGHT, the second cookbook from cook, food writer and bestselling author Meliz Berg, has been snapped by Ebury Press, to be published in hardback and ebook on 27 June 2024. Publishing Director Laura Higginson bought world all language rights from Juliet Pickering; an American edition will be published by Interlink Books on 11 June 2024.

DINNER TONIGHT is a celebration of flavour and the simple joy of cooking. Whilst Meliz adores the process that goes into creating the traditional Turkish-Cypriot recipes that she grew up with, our busy lifestyles often mean that we need meals that require minimal prep and cooking time. In answer to this, Meliz has created easier, shortcut versions of some of her most beloved family recipes – including traditional dishes such as börek, dolma and manti – without ever compromising on the authentic flavour of the recipes in question. 

Meliz’s hit blog and Instagram page, Meliz Cooks, is loved for its easy-to-follow recipes, addictive combinations of flavours and spices, and for highlighting the melting-pot of beautiful cuisines evident in Cyprus. Meliz has over 730k loyal followers across social media and her first book, MELIZ’S KITCHEN, was an instant No.1 Sunday Times Bestseller.

‘I am so proud of DINNER TONIGHT and I genuinely feel like anyone can cook from this book, any day and every day of the week,’ said Meliz. ‘The recipes are all a celebration of flavour and the simple joy of cooking. The variety of recipes is vast, and I’ve also created easier, shortcut versions of some of my most beloved family recipes, giving them a little twist without ever compromising on the authentic flavours and ingredients true to me and my Turkish-Cypriot heritage.’

On behalf of Ebury Press, Laura Higginson said: ‘Meliz is such an exciting voice, we’re delighted she is following up her Sunday Times Bestselling first cookbook MELIZ’S KITCHEN with DINNER TONIGHT. We were proud to publish MELIZ’S KITCHEN, which was Meliz’s love letter to her traditional family recipes passed down through her family. The response from homecooks around the UK seeing recipes so familiar and personal to them in that cookbook was amazing. In DINNER TONIGHT Meliz has so cleverly preserved all the flavour and nostalgia while doubling down on ease and solution cooking – molasses, halloumi, sumac, lemon, mint… all that deliciousness in 30-minutes, in one tray, in one pot slow-cooking away. An essential every-day cookbook.’

Juliet Pickering added: ‘I’m delighted to be working with Meliz and Ebury on another game-changing cookbook full of the delicious food that Meliz is celebrated for. Since MELIZ’S KITCHEN, Meliz has further built an incredibly popular platform and is a regular on This Morning, and we’re so pleased to bring another book to tired cooks (like me!) who relish the opportunity to eat something a bit different but also want dinner on the table ASAP. Meliz is a genius with flavour, and it’s a win every time!’

About Meliz Berg

Meliz Berg is a home cook, recipe developer and food writer. Due to her Turkish Cypriot heritage, Meliz grew up in a household where her parents combined both traditional Cypriot and multi-cultural London living. Her mother’s influence has been fundamental in her cooking, and Meliz is very passionate about developing the family recipes of her childhood which for years had only been passed down through oral tradition.

Meliz studied Music at Masters Level, taught it at secondary school for eight years, then started a recipe blog after the birth of her first child, documenting the traditional Cypriot dishes that she was introducing to him. After taking a break from teaching, Meliz decided to pursue her passion for food and the blog progressed into a very successful Meliz Cooks Instagram page, where her recipes are cooked and shared by her followers from all over the world. Meliz has gained a supportive following due to her easy-to-follow recipes, addictive combinations of flavours and spices, sympathetically highlighting the melting-pot of beautiful cuisines from across the Mediterranean, Balkans and Middle East evident in Cyprus, and her dazzling, colourful displays of food. Her recipes have featured in Co-Op Food and Asda Good Living Magazine, as well as for Good Homes and the Guardian, and she regularly works as a recipe developer and campaigner for Sainsburys. She has also appeared on This Morning to share her recipes.

MELIZ’S KITCHEN was published in June 2022 and became a Number 1 Sunday Times bestseller.

Praise for DINNER TONIGHT

‘Lots of people write very good recipe books, but I'm not sure there's anyone else who makes me want to actually cook and eat their food quite as much as Meliz. She has a gift of creating accessible and ludicrously delicious recipes influenced by her Turkish Cypriot heritage (and this glorious yet little known cuisine) that are instant household hits. I just want to eat her food all of the time. This would be my desert island cookbook.’ – Leyla Kazım

Praise for MELIZ’S KITCHEN

One of ‘The Food Programme’s Books of 2022’

‘Having built up a loyal online following, Berg has now set her Turkish-Cypriot recipes to paper. Encompassing everything from sharing plates and salads to syrup-drizzled pastries, the selection includes classics such as stuffed vine leaves, slow-roasted lamb shoulder and Cypriot-style pasta bake.’ – National Geographic, ‘Five of the best new cookbooks for summer 2022’

‘Having never really explored Turkish-Cypriot food before, Berg has inspired me as she makes it look so easy…With MELIZ’S KITCHEN, Berg has created an experience that is exciting and feels deeply personal, and it will help many cooks broaden their food outlook and try something new.’ – Pip Ellwood-Hughes, Entertainment Focus

‘MELIZ’S KITCHEN is a celebration of Turkish-Cypriot cuisine and the vibrant flavours that influence it. Whether you’re a fan of Middle Eastern or Mediterranean food or you’re on the hunt for family-friendly midweek meals and lavish comfort dishes, this refreshing debut is for you.’ –Jessica Lockyer-Palmer, Happy Foodie

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Six Blake Friedmann titles selected as The Bookseller’s Season Highlights

We are delighted to share that a fine array of six Blake Friedmann authors have been picked by The Bookseller in their Spring/Summer Buyers’ Guide Season Highlights. Three of our authors’ titles were selected in the Fiction guide, and a further three in the Non-Fiction guide.

Top Row: GROW WHERE THEY FALL by Michael Donkor (Fig Tree); THEY THOUGHT I WAS DEAD by Peter James (Pan Macmillan); PASSIONTIDE by Monique Roffey (author photo: Marcus Bastel).
Bottom Row: NEWBORN by Kerry Hudson (Chatto & Windus); MY FAMILY MEALS by Grace Mortimer; EVERY KIND OF PEOPLE by Kathryn Faulke (Fig Tree).

The nominated titles in fiction are: GROW WHERE THEY FALL, the stunning second novel by Michael Donkor (Fig Tree, 7 March); the much-anticipated THEY THOUGHT I WAS DEAD: Sandy’s Story by Peter James, which spins off from the bestselling Roy Grace series to uncover the long-speculated mystery of Sandy’s disappearance (Pan Macmillan, 9 May); and PASSIONTIDE, a powerful new Caribbean-set novel by Costa Prize winner Monique Roffey (Harvill Secker, 27 June).

In Non-Fiction, the titles selected are: NEWBORN by Kerry Hudson, her beautiful memoir detailing her experience of building a family without a blueprint to work from (Chatto & Windus, 1 February); EVERY KIND OF PEOPLE, a heartbreaking and uplifting debut memoir by a community care worker (Fig Tree, 11 July); and MY FAMILY MEALS by Grace Mortimer, a fresh collection of simple but delicious five-ingredient recipes (HQ, 18 July).

The Bookseller is the UK’s weekly trade magazine for the publishing industry: their biannual Buyer’s Guides, listing almost every book publishing in the UK, are highly influential catalogues, used by bookshops to select stock they want to order; by the press looking for books to feature and review, and authors to interview; and by other literary enthusiasts who want to know what’s coming out when and what to get excited about.

Congratulations to all of our authors whose upcoming publications have been selected!

Penguin SA to publish Sally Andrew’s Tannie Maria cookbook

Sally Andrew, creator of the inimitable Tannie Maria, will publish her first cookbook with Penguin Random House South Africa (PRHSA) in May 2024. RECIPES TO DIE LIVE FOR features recipes from Sally Andrew’s first four murder mystery novels, as well as some tantalising new additions.

RECIPES TO DIE LIVE FOR is not only a celebration of Tannie Maria's delectable recipes but of her philosophy, of South Africa’s Karoo region and of life itself, Andrew explains. ‘I am so excited about RECIPES TO DIE LIVE FOR. It is the most beautiful book I have ever seen. The food styling, the design and the photographs are spectacular.’

The cookbook is a collection of the recipes Tannie Maria (the unforgettable agony aunt with a knack for righting wrongs with a recipe) has shared with readers in her column in the Klein Karoo Gazette. In the four novels – RECIPES FOR LOVE AND MURDER, TANNIE MARIA AND THE SATANIC MECHANIC, DEATH ON THE LIMPOPO and THE MILK TART MURDERS – Tannie Maria has won hearts and whetted appetites with mouth-watering creations, including the famous Venus Cake, Muesli Buttermilk Rusks and even Spekboom Ice Cream.

PRHSA’s Lifestyle Publisher, Beverley Dodd, says: ‘Spiced with enjoyable sayings from the four novels and seasoned with photographs of the food and the beautiful Karoo, RECIPES TO DIE LIVE FOR is as warm and witty as Tannie Maria herself, guaranteed to delight fans and newcomers to the series.’

The book showcases more than 80 recipes, including vegetarian and vegan options. Many of the dishes are slow foods and traditional South African recipes, but there are also quick meals and new inventions. Whether you are craving a Karoo lamb pie or a vetkoek with mince, or are lus for a melktert or koeksister, you will find it among Tannie Maria’s gastronomic delights. As Sally sums it up so succinctly: ‘Enjoy cooking. Enjoy eating. Enjoy life. Why not?’

The Tannie Maria book series titles are all bestsellers in South Africa – regularly in the Top 5, with THE MILK TART MURDERS shooting straight to the top of the combined fiction and non-fiction charts on publication in March 2022. It also won the 2023 Nielsen SA Book Award for Fiction.

The first in the series, RECIPES FOR LOVE AND MURDER, was recently adapted for television to great acclaim. Acorn TV hold distribution rights to the series for the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, while Multichoice holds rights for Africa. Following the pick-up by Japan’s Mystery Channel, the first season has now sold in 94 countries. A second series was recently announced, and is due to start filming in April 2024.

Sally is currently working on the next instalment in the Tannie Maria series, with more details to be announced soon.  

 

About Sally Andrew

Sally Andrew is the best-selling author of the Tannie Maria Mysteries series. She lives in a mud-brick house on a nature reserve in the Klein Karoo with her artist partner, a giant eland, and a secretive leopard. She also spends time in the wilderness of southern Africa and the seaside suburb of Muizenberg. She has a Master’s in Adult Education from the University of Cape Town. Before settling down to write full time, she was a social and environmental activist.

Her first novel, RECIPES FOR LOVE & MURDER: A Tannie Maria Mystery was a Kirkus Best Book of 2015, A Wall Street Journal Best Mystery Book 2015, The Bookseller Fiction editor’s Choice 2015 and A Good Housekeeping Book of the Month.

Her work has been translated into thirteen languages.

 

Praise for the Tannie Maria series

‘Vivid, amusing and immensely enjoyable… A triumph.’ – Alexander McCall Smith

‘Take a pinch of Alexander McCall Smith, a dash of Diane Mott Davidson, and add a smidge of the wild veld and you’ll get a taste for this lekker story (that’s “delicious” in Afrikaans). While the tone is heartfelt, Andrew doesn’t shy away from the realities of spousal abuse or the shadow of South Africa’s tumultuous history. With a fascinating setting, engaging characters, and a full complement of drool-worthy recipes, this is sure to leave readers craving more.’ – Library Journal, starred review

‘An intriguing mystery in an exotic locale, a work of enormous charm.’ – Wall Street Journal

‘A delightful debut, tender and funny. The mystery takes on the worldwide problem of abused women while revealing both the beauties and problems of South Africa. And the recipes will make you want to drop everything and start cooking.’ – Kirkus, starred review

‘Utterly delicious, to the very last morsel.’ – Deon Meyer

‘Chock full of good food and interesting characters.’ – Kerry Greenwood, author of the PHRYNE FISHER and CORINNA CHAPMAN series

 

Visit Sally’s website

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