New Book Releases: August 2017

These exciting books are about to be released by Penguin Random House in August 2017:

INTERNATIONAL FICTION:

A State of Freedom by Neel Mukherjee

What happens when we attempt to exchange the life we are given for something better?

Can we transform the possibilities we are born into?

A State of Freedom prises open the central, defining events of our century – displacement and migration – but not as you imagine them. Five characters, in very different circumstances, from a domestic cook in Mumbai, to a vagrant and his dancing bear, and a girl who escapes terror in her home village for a new life in the city, find out the meanings of dislocation, and the desire for more.

Set in contemporary India and moving between the reality of this world and the shadow of another, this novel of multiple narratives – formally daring, fierce but full of pity – delivers a devastating and haunting exploration of the unquenchable human urge to strive for a different life.

A Stranger in the House by Shari Lapena

Why would you run scared from a happy home?

You’re waiting for your beloved husband to get home from work. You’re making dinner, looking forward to hearing about his day.

That’s the last thing you remember.

You wake up in hospital, with no idea how you got there. They tell you that you were in an accident; you lost control of your car whilst driving in a dangerous part of town.

The police suspect you were up to no good. But your husband refuses to believe it. Your best friend isn’t so sure. And even you don’t know what to believe…

Darien: Empire of Salt  by C.F. Iggulden

Twelve Families. One Throne. Welcome to the Empire of Salt.

The city of Darien stands at the weary end of a golden age. Twelve families keep order with soldiers and artefacts, spies and memories, clinging to a peace that shifts and crumbles. The people of the city endure what they cannot change.

Here, amongst old feuds, a plot is hatched to kill a king. It will summon strangers to the city – Elias Post, a hunter, Tellius, an old swordsman banished from his home, Arthur, a boy who cannot speak, Daw Threefold, a chancer and gambler, Vic Deeds, who feels no guilt – and Nancy, a girl whose talent might be the undoing of them all.

As the sun sets, their arrival inside the walls will spark a series of explosive events. Before the sun returns, six destinies will have been made – and lost – in Darien.

Don’t Close Your Eyes by Holly Seddon

Robin and Sarah weren’t the closest of twins. They weren’t even that similar. But they loved each other dearly. Until, in the cruellest of domestic twists, they were taken from one another.

Now, in her early 30s, Robin lives alone. Agoraphobic and suffering from panic attacks, she spends her days pacing the rooms of her house. The rest of the time she watches – watches the street, the houses, the neighbours. Until one day, she sees something she shouldn’t.

And Sarah? Sarah got what she wanted – the good-looking man, the beautiful baby, the perfect home. But she’s just been accused of the most terrible thing of all. She can’t be around her new family until she has come to terms with something that happened a long time ago. And to do that, she needs to track down her twin sister.

But Sarah isn’t the only person looking for Robin. As their paths intersect, something dangerous is set in motion, leading Robin and Sarah to fight for much more than their relationship…

Final Girls by Riley Sager

Each girl survived an unthinkable horror. Now someone wants them dead… They were the victims of separate massacres. Three strangers bound by similar traumas grouped together by the press. When something terrible happens to Lisa, put-together Quincy and volatile Sam finally meet. Each one influences the other. Each one has dark secrets. And after the bloodstained fingers of the past reach into the present, each one will never be the same.

 

Frieda Klein 07: Sunday Morning Coming Down by Nicci French

It’s always darkest before the light. In the chilling seventh instalment of the bestselling, critically acclaimed Frieda Klein series, evil circles close to home.

Psychotherapist Frieda Klein’s home is her refuge. Then she returns to find it has become a crime scene. Beneath the floorboards the police have found the body of a man she had hired to help protect her.

The message from the killer is clear: you’re mine.

But when those closest to Frieda begin to be targeted the picture becomes more confused, the patterns uncertain.

And unless Frieda can find and stop whoever is threatening her friends and family her love and loyalty could come at a fatal cost..

Here and Gone by Haylen Beck

Audra has finally left her abusive husband. She’s taken the family car and her young children, Sean and Louise, are buckled up in the back. This is their chance for a fresh start.

Audra keeps to the country roads to avoid attention and finds herself on an empty road in

Arizona, far from home. She’s looking for a safe place to stay for the night when she spots something in her rear–view mirror. A police car is following her and the lights are flickering. Blue and red.

As Audra pulls over she is intensely aware of how isolated they are. Her perfect escape is about to turn into a nightmare beyond her imagining…

Dark secrets and a heart-pounding race to reveal the truth lie at the heart of this page turning thriller.

How to Stop Time by Matt Haig

‘The first rule is that you don’t fall in love. There are other rules too, but that is the main one. No falling in love. No staying in love. No daydreaming of love. Because otherwise, of course, you slowly lose your mind…’

Tom Hazard is a history teacher living a quiet suburban life in a Cathedral town in England. He likes his job but has no real friends, spends his time on the internet or playing the piano, and pushes away anyone who tries to get close to him. But Tom has a secret. He suffers from progeria, a condition that causes the body to age ten times slower than normal. He looks 40 but is actually 408. He won’t die for another few centuries. In his lifespan he has had time to learn 13 languages, has become an expert at fighting and piano playing, but all of this has a cost. He must change his identity every few years to avoid discovery. And as he has learned the risks of love and the pain it can cause, he has turned away from other people. How to Stop Time is his story.

Leopard at the Door by Jennifer McVeigh

Stepping off the boat in Mombasa, eighteen-year-old Rachel Fullsmith stands on Kenyan soil for the first time in six years. She has come home.

But when she reaches the family farm at the end of the dusty Rift Valley Road, Rachel finds that much has changed. Her father has moved his new lover and her strange son into the family home. And Michael, the handsome Kikuyu boy from her childhood, has started to look at her differently.

When rumours of violence between the Mau Mau freedom fighters and British soldiers start to grow, Rachel is faced with a terrible dilemma. Can she be her father’s daughter, and be true to herself? And what if choosing one means losing the other?

The Lost Girl by Carol Drinkwater

Lizzie, the only daughter of celebrated war photographer Kurtiz Ross and her ex-husband Oliver, went missing four years ago. Arriving in Paris following an unconfirmed sighting, Oliver rushes to find her while Kurtiz waits, praying for a reunion. Neither could ever have imagined that by the end of the night the city will have been torn apart by terror – and that their daughter may be among the dead.

As sirens wail and news rolls in, Kurtiz finds comfort in Marguerite Courtenay – a glamorous former actress with her own sad past. As Marguerite distracts Kurtiz with stories of her life in post-war Provence, and begins to reveal secrets of her own, Kurtiz must confront her own ghosts and face up to home truths – truths which lead her back into her own past and Marguerite’s.

Rizzoli & Isles 12: I Know a Secret by Tess Gerritsen

I have a secret.

And someone wants to make sure I never tell…

In a house decorated with horror movie posters, a young woman’s body is found. She lies on her bed, two bloodied objects clutched in her palm. Detective Jane Rizzoli and Forensic Pathologist Maura Isles are called to the murder scene, but even faced with this gruesome sight they are unable to identify the immediate cause of death.

Their investigation leads them to a high-profile murder case that was seemingly solved years before. But when another body is found in horrific circumstances, the link between the two bodies is clear. Was the wrong person sent to prison? Is the real killer out there right now, picking off new targets?

One woman knows the killer is coming for her next. She’s the only one who can help Rizzoli and Isles catch him.

But she has a secret that she has to keep…

The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde by Eve Chase

Present day: Applecote Manor captivates Jessie with the promise of hazy summers in the Cotswolds – the perfect escape for her troubled family. But strange rumours surround the estate…

1959: Teenage Margot and her three sisters arrive at Applecote to find their uncle and aunt still reeling from their daughter Audrey’s disappearance five years before.

Exploring old secrets and new temptations stretches the bonds between sisters to breaking point, and Audrey’s absence haunts every moment of the stifling summer. Until one night ties them tighter than ever – because even thicker than the blood they share is the blood they will have one their hands…

Step back in time for a richly evocative mystery, vividly contrasting the beauty of a Cotswolds summer with the violence which shatters it.

The Walls by Hollie Overton

Single mom Kristy Tucker works as press agent for the Texas Department of Corrections – handling everything on death row, from inmate interviews to chronicling the last moments during an execution. Her job exposes Kristy to the worst of humanity and it’s one that’s beginning to take its toll.

So when Kristy meets Lance Dobson, her son’s martial arts instructor, she believed she finally found her happy ending. She was wrong.

Kristy soon discovers that Lance is a monster. Forced to endure his verbal and physical abuse, Kristy is serving her own life sentence… unless she’s willing to take matters into her hands. Perfectly poised to exploit the criminal justice system she knows so well, Kristy sets out to get rid of Lance – permanently.

The Walls explores domestic violence, the morality of murder and how far one woman will go to protect her family.

INTERNATIONAL NON-FICTION:

Believe Me by Eddie Izzard

The stand-up comedian of his generation. Star of stage and screen.

Tireless supporter of charity. Runner. Political campaigner. Fashion icon. Human. There is no one quite like Eddie Izzard.

This is the story of how a boy who wanted to become a professional footballer and win the lead in Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat found comedy. Affecting, witty and nothing less than rousing, readers will, as Eddie himself says, ‘look at my life and say, ‘If that idiot transvestite can run a whole bunch of marathons, play the Hollywood Bowl, and travel across France with a French-speaking tour, then what’s holding me back?”

Make Your Bed by William H. McRaven

Admiral William H. McRaven has been in the Navy for 37 years and in 2014 made a speech about the ten life-changing principles that he learned during those years. The video of his speech went viral reaching ten million views and now his inspiring book, Make Your Bed, has taken the US by storm.

He spoke about how these ten essential lessons helped him overcome challenges during his naval career and throughout his life; he explained how anyone can use these basic lessons to change themselves, and the world, for the better.

Told with great humility and optimism, this timeless book provides simple and universal wisdom, practical advice, and words of encouragement that will inspire readers to achieve more, even in life’s darkest moments.

Pathways to Possibility by Rosamund Stone Zander

In this powerful and inspiring book, family systems therapist and executive coach Rosamund Stone Zander invites readers to shed the childhood stories that hold us back, and enter a realm of true maturity and fulfilment, where limitless growth becomes possible.

As children, we develop stories about how the world works, most of which get improved upon and amended over time. But some do not, even as we mature in other ways. Opinionated, self-centred and fear-driven, these child stories are the source of the behavioural and emotional patterns that hold us back. When we learn to identify and rewrite these stories, limitless growth becomes possible.

In her groundbreaking and inspiring new book, Rosamund Stone Zander shows us that life is a story we tell ourselves, and that we have the power to change that story. She illuminates how breaking old patterns and telling a new story can transform not just our own lives, but also our relationships with others whether in a marriage, a classroom, or a business. Finally, she demonstrates how, with this new understanding of ourselves and our place within an interconnected world, we can take powerful action in the collective interest, and gain a sense of deep connection to the universe.

This galvanizing book expands our notions of how much we can grow and change, whether we can affect others or the world at large, and how much freedom and joy we can experience. Stimulating and profound, it is the perfect companion to her beloved first book, The Art of Possibility.

 

SOUTH AFRICAN FICTION:

A Gap in the Hedge by Johan Vlok Louw  

When Karl wakes up in a dilapidated house on the outskirts of a South African mining town, he does not know who or where he is, but it’s clear that the townsfolk know him.

Next door lives a ten–year–old boy, Henry. Henry’s father is a violent drug-dealer, his mother helpless in protecting them against him.

A gap in the hedge between the two houses allows Henry to slip into Karl’s yard, and Karl and Henry strike up a gentle friendship as glimpses of Karl’s troubled past and his time in the army emerge.

When a drug deal goes wrong, Henry’s mother is killed. His father unceremoniously dumps her body in a disused mineshaft, but a murder investigation ensues after the body is discovered.

All is not as it seems, however, and in a powerful climax the real connection between Henry and Karl is revealed.

Bad Seeds by Jassy Mackenzie

After a dramatic sabotage attempt at a nuclear research centre near Jo’burg, PI Jade de Jong is hired by the likeable Ryan Gillespie to track down a missing employee believed to be involved. The target of her search is Carlos Botha, a skilled operative who may represent a major threat to national security.

Jade traces Botha to a rundown motel in the West Rand, but she’s not the only one looking for him. Someone has put a hit out on Botha. Jade is forced into an uneasy alliance with him in order to learn more. As she unearths the research centre’s dark secrets, she discovers the threat is so extreme its ramifications could reach across the globe. Closer to home, if Botha learns who she really is, the consequences may be deadly.

Die laksman se dogter by Gerda Taljaard (Afrikaans)

Die vertrek waarin ek my opgestopte voëltjies in glaskissies uitgestal het, het ek ontruim. Ek het die voëleiertjies en -neste, asook kassette met opnames van voëlgeluide in bokse gepak. Dit het my te veel aan Pa laat dink, en aan hom wou ek nie dink nie. Want dan het ek vir Annalisa gehaat, en ’n ma mag haar kind nie haat nie.

Hulle is onder ’n kareeboom in die agtererf besig om na ’n janfiskaal te kyk wanneer haar tronkdokter-pa by Rosaria bieg dat ook hý ’n tipe laksman is. By Pretoria–Sentraal, waar hy die gehangdes se doodsertifikate uitreik, dien hy soms ook die genadeskoot toe. Maar sê nou van daardie tereggesteldes was onskuldig? wonder Rosaria.

Nou, jare later, en kort ná die raaiselagtige dood van haar dogter Annalisa, onthou Rosarie die nonnetjiesuil wat sy en haar aweregse dogter grootgemaak het. Dit was voor Annalisa se rockmusiek van haar ’n kultusfiguur gemaak het, en voordat sy haar rug op haar ma gedraai het.

Rosaria se worsteling strek verder terug as haar kind se dood. Haar verlede word verder oopgeruk wanneer Annalisa se dogtertjie haar verskyning maak – ’n kleinkind waarvan Rosarie nooit geweet het nie.

Maar hoe het haar dogter gesterf? En hoe naby aan ’n laksman is Rosaria self?

SOUTH AFRICAN NON-FICTION:

South Africa Can Work by Frans Rautenbach

What will it take to turn South Africa around? In this insightful and provocative book, Frans Rautenbach proposes a complete overhaul of policy thinking, and provides fresh arguments that effectively address South Africa’s unemployment, race problems and lack of education.

He weighs the pros and cons of rent-seeking, the free market, affirmative action, unions, decentralisation and other issues, and in doing so tackles such contentious topics as racism and white privilege, political correctness, state funding of education, and mounting evidence that trade unions substantially suppress employment growth.

In South Africa Can Work, Rautenbach argues, for example, that the only antidote to foster growth and prosperity is free enterprise, which has, significantly, not been tried here; that tripartite, corporatist negotiations to manage the economy of a country (as in the Netherlands, Sweden or Germany) have invariably failed in multi-ethnic societies like South Africa; and that countries – whether rich, middle income or poor – where the bulk of university funding comes from the private sector not only have higher-quality, but also significantly more accessible, tertiary education.

Written by a labour lawyer with a proven track record in his field, South Africa Can Work speaks effectively to a cross-section of readers of all disciplines, and brings sorely needed good news.

Smartwoman by Sylvia Walker

While some women seem to excel at making their money work for them, others battle from pay day to pay day. With this book, we tap into what these ‘smartwomen’ know and what the rest of us can learn from them. Smartwoman will provide insight into how your personal view of money impacts on your financial behaviour, an understanding of who is competing for your money, and why it is often so difficult to find money to invest.

It also examines major life events, such as marriage and divorce, and how clever financial decisions can have a major impact on us in the long term. Smartwoman will show the reader how she can take control of her financial life by spending smarter, tackling debt and setting goals. It takes money to make money, and ‘smartwomen’ understand the universal principles behind growing wealth, how the financial markets work and what investment alternatives are available.

Smartwoman is a must-read for every woman, at any age, who is serious about obtaining financial independence and building solid, long-term wealth.

Boereverneukers by Izak du Plessis (Afrikaans)

Boereverneuker, -s, kwaksalwer, bedrieër; ook spottend vir prokureur gebruik.

Hulle is sjarmant, galant, elegant, belese, berese, gelowig, bedagsaam, selfversekerd, hiperintelligent… en jy kan nie help om van hulle te hou nie. Maar eintlik is hulle glibberige gladdebekke wat jou in ’n ommesientjie platsak gaan laat. Want hulle lieg, bedrieg, gee voor. Hulle verdraai, verdoesel, verduister, verwoes. En as jy jou oë uitvee, is jy nie net jou geld kwyt nie, maar ook jou reputasie en status, terwyl die gladdebek lankal soos mis voor die môreson verdwyn het. Sommige van hulle is so goed dat hulle selfs bewonder word ten spyte van hul verfoeilike skelmstreke.

Boereverneukers vertel die stories van Afrikaanses wat van die grootste skelmstreke gepleeg het. Van die karakters is minder bekend, maar ander het byna mitiese status in die Afrikaanse psige verwerf, soos die kubuskoning Adriaan Nieuwoudt, die pynmasjienman Gervan Lubbe, die kamma-pediater André Esterhuizen, die Hertzogville-profeet David Francis en die beesbaron Arnold Smit. Selfs die ikoon van die Afrikanerdom, president Paul Kruger, het vir hom ’n plekkie in die annale van Boereverneukers geskrop.

Dalk help hierdie stories jou om vir jouself te lag, aan te gaan met jou lewe en voortaan versigtiger te wees as jy dalk al die slagoffer van ’n boereverneuker was

Dwarsklap by Piet Matipa  (Afrikaans)

“Ek verstaan nie hoekom mense verbaas is dat ek ’n verhouding met Afrikaans het nie. ‘Jy praat mooi Afrikaans.’ Hy behoort tog nie aan ’n groepering mense nie. Hy behoort aan wie hom praat. Taal is niemand s’n nie. Dit is almal s’n. Almal is eienaars van die taal. Taal het nie kleur nie; al praat swart mense Zulu, het hulle nie eienaarskap van die taal nie. ’n Wit mens of bruin mens kan dit sy eie maak. Afrikaans was nog nooit ’n taal van die onderdrukker nie. Dit was nog altyd ’n taal vir almal; dit is net jammer die onderdrukker het dit gebruik. Lank leef Afrikaans…”

– Piet Matipa, Dwarsklap

Piet Matipa is jonk, swart, gay en Afrikaans. Sy rubrieke in Beeld is baie gewild omdat dit aan ’n sonderlinge lewensuitkyk uitdrukking gee. Hy praat vanuit ’n perspektief wat jy nie sommer in Suid-Afrika kry nie. Sy siening van die wêreld is gevorm deur interessante bestemmings waar sy lewenspad aangedoen het. As skolier aan Hoërskool Waterkloof en student aan die Pukke het Piet uitgeblink. Sy skryftande is geslyp as joernalis in Beeld se misdaadkantoor en as sepieskrywer vir 7de Laan, waar hy steeds werksaam is. Nie sleg vir iemand wat in ’n kinderhuis grootgeword het nie!

Afrikaans het sy lê op ’n unieke manier in Piet se mond gekry. En vir één ding deins hy nie terug nie: dit is om sy mond verby te praat. In Dwarsklap laat Piet hom uit oor aangeleenthede wat alle Suid-Afrikaners raak. Misdaad en taxi-bestuurders is groot klippe in die skoen. Wenke oor gewigsverlies word gegee, en ook hoe om ’n ontkleedanser by ’n henneparty te kry. En oor liefdesavonture kan jy vir Piet min vertel, veral wanneer sosiale media betrokke is.

’n Hoogs vermaaklike boek wat die donkerte van die lewe in ligte skakerings laat glim.

 

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