Reviewed by one of the most voracious readers we know and a long-time friend of Books & Company. Thank you, Lotte!

‘I really liked ‘My lovely Wife’ and I have to say that ‘For Your Own Good’ is also a brilliant thriller. Teddy is ‘Teacher of the Year’ at Belmont, a prestigious private school. Teddy’s resentment towards the privileged students and their parents knows no bounds and he feels entitled to exercise his judgment as he sees fit - it is for their own good! The first murder victim is the mother of one of the students and she wasn’t even the intended victim….and so the story goes.

A delightful mix of fun and thriller, the dark comedy aspect made me laugh and turn the pages even quicker to see what would happen next.

It’s a great read and the plot twists - there are many- are excellent.”

Happy Reading!

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‘This is the first book in a historical fiction series that spans hundreds of years and several generations.

In the 16th century France, Minou Joubert finds herself embroiled in the beginnings of the Wars of Religion between the Huguenots and Catholics. Between that and receiving a mysterious message letting her know her life is in danger, she enters a world of secrets and conspiracies she must navigate to save her life and protect her loved ones.

The plot keeps you on your toes the entire time, making it completely impossible to put it down. Beyond being a really well-constructed story, Kate Mosse conveys a narrative that presents the complicated historical and political backgrounds with nuance and balance, without making it too complex to follow.

Moreover, this book has all the classical aspects of adventures but puts women and their stories and actions in the epicenter of the action. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series, ‘The City of Tears.

Happy reading! ‘

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Two years ago 39 year old Clemency Burton-Hill, radio broadcaster, author of the beautiful and inspirational ‘Year of Wonder’ (a long time staff favorite here at Books & Company) and a lover of all things Bach, suffered a devastating brain hemorrhage leaving her without sight, speech and mobility.

She has spent the last two years working her way back and this past week the BBC sent out a gem of a program called ‘Planet Bach’ where Burton-Hill discovers 'the mighty consolation of playing the music of Bach every day’ through the stories of people from all over the world - different countries, cultures, ages and backgrounds - who all practice this ‘everyday Bach’ as others would practice yoga, meditiona or exercixse.

You can find the program at the link in our bio. It isn’t long but is sure to stay with you.

As for ‘Year of Wonder’, all we can say is that it is the perfect gift for the music lover in your life.

In the book, Clemency Burton-Hill chooses one piece of music for each day of the year, with a short explanation about the composer to put it into context, and brings the music alive in a modern and playful way.

As the author says : 'The only requirements for enjoying classical music are open ears and an open mind.'

Happy listening and happy sunny Monday!

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One of the (many) perks of working in an independent bookshop is that you get to meet the enthusiastic and lovely publisher reps who travel the globe showcasing the many new and exciting books coming your (our)way.

We hope that the easing of restrictions will allow us to once again meet in person.

Until then, here is a review of our ‘Book of the Week’ by Elena from Bloomsbury publishing. Hope to see you soon!

‘In July I read This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron, the author of our bestselling Cinderella is Dead and I really loved it! Briseis is a black teenager who lives in Brooklyn and has been adopted by two wonderful mums. She has a special power over plants. When they move to the countryside because Bri inherited a house with a secret garden, a lot of her past gets uncovered and mystery and danger wait behind the corner. There is a lot of Greek Mythology which is super cool and a cast of diverse characters and intriguing plants.

Definitely a five star read! ‘

Review by Elena Bianco, International Sales Manager, Bloomsbury Publishing

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