Writer Louise Beech looks back on the events that led to the day her mother wrote down her last words, then jumped off the Humber Bridge. She missed witnessing the horror herself by minutes. Louise recounts the pain and trauma of her childhood alongside her love for her siblings with a delicious dark humor and a profound voice of hope for the future.

Eighteen Seconds

Beech, Louise

Literature & Fiction

Mardle Books

When nine-year-old Rose is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, Natalie must use her imagination to keep her daughter alive. They begin dreaming about and seeing a man in a brown suit who feels hauntingly familiar, a man who has something for them. Through the magic of storytelling, Natalie and Rose are transported to the Atlantic Ocean in 1943, to a lifeboat, where an ancestor survived for 50 days before being rescued. This simply unforgettable debut celebrates the power of words, the redemptive energy of a mother’s love—and what it really means to be brave.

How to Be Brave

Literary

Orenda Books

A missing boy. A missing book. A missing husband. A woman who must find them all to find herself. On the night Bernadette finally has the courage to tell her domineering husband that she’s leaving, he doesn’t come home. Neither does Conor, the little boy she’s befriended for the past five years. Also missing is his lifebook, the only thing that holds the answers. With the help of Conor’s foster mum, Bernadette must face her own past, her husband’s secrets and a future she never dared imagine in order to find them all. Exquisitely written and deeply touching, The Mountain in My Shoe is both a gripping psychological thriller and a powerful and emotive examination of the meaning of family … and just how far we’re willing to go for the people we love. ‘Deft and full of emotions’ Irish Times ‘It is a brilliantly creative work of fiction’ We Love this Book (The Bookseller) ‘A fabulous, exquisitely written novel that tugs at the soul … incredibly moving’ David Young ‘Full of beautiful descriptions, images and observations … hauntingly poignant, with a relentless tension and pace’ Katie Marsh ‘A moving and powerful book’ Jane Lythell ‘A rich, psychologically profound novel about overcoming adversity … It’s a masterpiece’ Gill Paul ‘Louise Beech masterfully envelops us in two worlds separated by time yet linked by fierce family devotion, bravery and the triumph of human spirit. Wonderful’ Amanda Jennings, author of In Her Wake ‘Dark, compelling and highly thought-provoking … a fascinating page-turner that wrenches at your insides’ Off-the-Shelf Books ‘A wonderful, nuanced book probing the damages wreaked by absence and neglect, while exploring the power of love and hope … and what it means to be truly “home”. It made me laugh and cry by turns. I loved it’ Melissa Bailey ‘An exquisite novel. Darkly compelling emotionally charged. And I LOVED it!’ Jane Isaac

The Mountain in My Shoe

Genre Fiction

‘Quirky, darkly comic, but always heartfelt, this original and sad story has wonderful characters and will linger long in your memory’ Sunday Mirror ‘A Stirring novel, beautifully written’ Irish Times A devastating memory emerges … that changes everything, in this dark and moving novel by the bestselling author of How To Be Brave and The Lion Tamer Who Lost ‘Like a cold spider, the memory stirred in my head and spun an icy web about my brain. Someone else crawled in. I remembered’ Thirty-one-year-old Catherine Hope has a great memory. But she can’t remember everything. She can’t remember her ninth year. She can’t remember when her insomnia started. And she can’t remember why everyone stopped calling her Catherine-Maria. With a promiscuous past, and licking her wounds after a painful breakup, Catherine wonders why she resists anything approaching real love. But when she loses her home to the devastating deluge of 2007 and volunteers at Flood Crisis, a devastating memory emerges … and changes everything. Dark, poignant and deeply moving, Maria in the Moon is an examination of the nature of memory and truth, and the defences we build to protect ourselves, when we can no longer hide… ‘Part psychological thriller, part love story and fans of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine will love it’ Red Magazine ‘A beautiful and compassionate read’ Prima Magazine ‘Beech’s exploration of the effects of childhood trauma keeps the reader intrigued until the end’ Mary Ellen Quinn, Booklist ‘As heartbreaking as the book ends up being, it’s a title worth wading into and rolling with’ Book Riot ‘Beautifully constructed, laugh-out-loud funny in places, and achingly sad in others. It’s such a beautifully told story of loss and gain. Equal parts Victoria Wood, Alan Bennett and John Irving, all rolled up into an emotive, heart-breaking story. I completely fell in love’ John Marrs ‘A beautiful, and heart-achingly touching read’ LoveReading

Maria in the Moon

NOMINATED FOR SAPERE BOOKS POPULAR ROMANTIC FICTION AWARD AT THE 2019 RNA AWARDS A heartbreaking, breathtakingly beautiful love story with a tragedy at its heart, from the critically acclaimed author of Maria in the Moon and Call Me Star Girl ‘Beech eloquently conveys their feelings and longings and sets atmospheric, vividly drawn scenes that transport the reader from grey and damp England to the searing heat of the lion reserve …The Lion Tamer Who Lost will touch the most hardhearted of readers with its persuasive, well-drawn and memorable characters’ Daily Express 'A devastating, tender and powerful story love story, beautifully and bravely told. You will lose your heart to this book. I adored it’ Miranda DickinsonBe careful what you wish for… Long ago, Andrew made a childhood wish, and kept it in a silver box. When it finally comes true, he wishes he hadn’t… Long ago, Ben made a promise and he had a dream: to travel to Africa to volunteer at a lion reserve. When he finally makes it, it isn’t for the reasons he imagined… Ben and Andrew keep meeting in unexpected places, and the intense relationship that develops seems to be guided by fate. Or is it? What if the very thing that draws them together is tainted by past secrets that threaten everything? A dark, consuming drama that shifts from Zimbabwe to England, and then back into the past, The Lion Tamer Who Lost is also a devastatingly beautiful love story, with a tragic heart… ‘A stirring novel, beautifully written, reminiscent of the early work of Maggie O’Farrell’ Irish Times  ‘Fans of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine will love it’ Red Magazine  ‘An excruciatingly passionate love story … In its surprising turns and lovely particulars … A beautiful text’ Foreword Reviews ‘This book really got under my skin as a beautiful portrait of love, loss and longing’ Irish Sunday Independent 'An incredible, poignant piece of work. Louise Beech had cemented her place as one of Britain’s finest modern storytellers’ John Marrs 'A beautiful, honest and tender love story that I won’t forget for a long time …Their love had me trapped in its spell, their tragic moments had me sobbing like a baby … A Triumph’ Fionnuala Kearney ‘A beautifully crafted book’ Carol Lovekin ‘Louise Beech has totally blown me away with her storytelling’ Madeleine Black ‘I adored this beautiful and inspiring book’ Kate Furnivall ‘Already one of my favourites of 2018’ LoveReading   ‘Storytelling at its finest. Louise Beech is a beguiling wordsmith. Prepare to be hooked’ Amanda Prowse ‘Digs deep emotionally, but is funny and feel-good, too’ Fiona Mitchell ‘A stunning and very brave book’ Gill Paul ‘The setting alone makes this book worth a read’ S. E. Lynes ‘Heartfelt and wry’ Ruth Dugdall ‘Louise Beech is a natural-born storyteller with an elegance about her writing that never fails to move me’ Michael J. Malone ‘There are times when you finish reading a book and know that part of it will stay with you always. This will be one of those books’ Claire Allan  ‘It put me in mind of John Irving. It’s that feeling of being in the hands of a master storyteller and just trusting him or her so completely’ Laura Pearson   ‘Vivid, passionate and exquisitely told, this love story will live on in my heart for a very long time to come. A poignant, surprising and all-consuming read’ Katie Marsh

The Lion Tamer Who Lost

<div>A taut, emotive, devastating dark and all-consuming psychological thriller, reminiscent of&nbsp;Play Misty for Me&nbsp;... from the critically acclaimed author of&nbsp;Maria in the Moon&nbsp;and&nbsp;The Lion Tamer Who Lost... &nbsp; WINNER of Best magazine''s&nbsp;BIG Book of the Year 2019 &nbsp; LONGLISTED for Guardian''s NOT THE BOOKER PRIZE ''A complex and layered tale that charmed me as a much as it traumatised me. An atmospheric, haunting and beautifully written page turner!''&nbsp;C L Taylor ''Noirish psychological thriller with fascinating, disturbing characters. Compelling, twisty, and seriously addictive. EXCELLENT''&nbsp;Will Dean ''As twisty and deadly as barbed wire, this book will leave you breathless''&nbsp;Erin Kelly Stirring up secrets can be deadly ... especially if they''re yours... Pregnant Victoria Valbon was brutally murdered in an alley three weeks ago - and her killer hasn''t been caught. Tonight is Stella McKeever''s final radio show. The theme is secrets. You tell her yours, and she''ll share some of hers. Stella might tell you about Tom, a boyfriend who likes to play games, about the mother who abandoned her, now back after fourteen years. She might tell you about the perfume bottle with the star-shaped stopper, or about her father ... What Stella&nbsp;really&nbsp;wants to know is more about the mysterious man calling the station ... who says he knows who killed Victoria, and has proof. Tonight is the night for secrets, and Stella wants to know everything... With echoes of the&nbsp;Play Misty for Me, Call Me Star Girl&nbsp;is a taut, emotive and all-consuming psychological thriller that plays on our deepest fears, providing a stark reminder that stirring up dark secrets from the past can be deadly... ''It''s a slow burn at first until it twists and turns at a head-staggering rate to a devastating climax. Original, moody and totally gripping''&nbsp;Claire Allan ''Louise Beech blasts into the world of thriller writing with this moody and tense tale. With secrets, lies and plenty of twisty turns, it''s story is dark and it''s setting eerie and evocative. Definitely one where you might look over your shoulder more than once while reading!''&nbsp;Fionnuala Kearney ''An original story and beautifully written, so atmospheric ... Dark, mesmerising and utterly devastating''&nbsp;SJI Holliday ''Beech has used her unique flair and constructed a crime fiction story that will have you frantically turning the pages until you get to the end''&nbsp;Michael Wood ''It''s EXTRAORDINARY - tense, twisted and utterly compelling, written with such raw beauty and unflinching honesty''&nbsp;Miranda Dickinson ''A thriller with heart, passion and twists that will surprise even the most astute readers''&nbsp;John Marrs ''With&nbsp;Call Me Star Girl, Louise proves that she can blow us all away with her writing powers - in whatever genre she chooses''&nbsp;Jack Jordan ''A Smart, complex and beautifully written psychological thriller, with a raw intensity at it''s heart. Twisty, addictive and completely compelling, this powerful story will keep you hooked and leave you haunted''&nbsp;Best Magazine ''Call Me Star Girl&nbsp;is a unique psychological thriller which is packed with tension and suspense ... A Dark and atmospheric read which sends shivers down your spine''&nbsp;Margaret Madden,&nbsp;Irish Independent ''Part psychological thriller, part literary noir and part tragic family drama, its multiple strands slowly merge to reveal a captivating truth''&nbsp;Heat Magazine ''MUST READ''&nbsp;Daily Express ''An elegant and powerful writer who uses language in all its unique glory ... Beech''s novels will stand out in any crowd''&nbsp;Crime Squad ''Psychologically unsettling and with a sting in the tail, it''s another cracker published by Orenda Books''&nbsp;Russel McLean</div>

Call Me Star Girl

When iconic musical&nbsp;Dust&nbsp;is revived twenty years after the leading actress was murdered in her dressing room, a series of eerie events haunts the new cast, in a bewitching, beguiling, moving and terrifyingly dark psychological thriller... &nbsp; 'A delicate supernatural thriller of love, loss, murder and the dangers that come with getting what you wish for. Quite lovely in a dark, dark way'&nbsp;Sarah Pinborough &nbsp; 'Ghost story, murder mystery, romance. This mesmerising and entertaining book has it all...' Emma Curtis &nbsp; 'Haunting, provocative, and true to Beech's style: packed with pain and heart'&nbsp;Jack Jordan &nbsp; _________________________________ &nbsp; A haunted theatre A murdered actress Three cursed teenagers A secret that devastates them all... The Dean Wilson Theatre is believed to be haunted by a long-dead actress, singing her last song, waiting for her final cue, looking for her killer... Now&nbsp;Dust, the iconic musical, is returning after twenty years. But who will be brave enough to take on the role of ghostly goddess Esme Black, last played by Morgan Miller, who was murdered in her dressing room? Theatre usher Chloe Dee is caught up in the spectacle. As the new actors arrive, including an unexpected face from her past, everything changes. Are the eerie sounds and sightings backstage real or just her imagination? Is someone playing games? Is the role of Esme Black cursed? Could witchcraft be at the heart of the tragedy? And are dark deeds from Chloe's past about to catch up with her? Not all the drama takes place onstage. Sometimes murder, magic, obsession and the biggest of betrayals are real life. When you're in the theatre shadows, you see everything. And Chloe has been watching... &nbsp; ________ &nbsp; 'A bold, original concept brilliantly executed ... I adored it' John Marrs &nbsp; 'A delicate and mesmerising thriller' Matt Wesolowski &nbsp; 'Dark and haunting ... further cements Louise Beech as one of the most original and exciting authors of the moment' Claire Allan &nbsp; 'Loads of twists and turns as the tension ramps up to breaking point' Gill Paul &nbsp; 'This book is about believing in yourself and finding out that you had the power all along' Madeleine Black &nbsp; 'It kept me reading until my eyes hurt and kept me thinking about it long after I'd finished' Fionnuala Kearney &nbsp; 'A work of almost tangible atmosphere and authenticity ... poignant and layered' S. E. Lyne

I Am Dust

When the mother of an autistic young man hires a call girl to make him happy, three lives collide in unexpected and moving ways ... changing everything. A devastatingly beautiful, rich and thought-provoking novel that will warm and break your heart... ''One of the best writers of her generation''&nbsp;John Marrs, author of The One ''A brilliant premise, executed beautifully ... such a moving, tender and unexpected read'' Catherine Isaac, author of Messy, Wonderful Us ''I guarantee you will not read anything like it this year ... you will fall in love with this book''&nbsp;Miranda Dickinson, author of Our Story ''Incredibly moving, gripping, and full of heart ... The novel everyone will be talking about this year''&nbsp;Gill Paul, author of The Secret Wife _______________ Sebastian James Murphy is twenty years, six months and two days old. He loves swimming, fried eggs and Billy Ocean. Sebastian is autistic. And lonely. Veronica wants her son Sebastian to be happy ... she wants the world to accept him for who he is. She is also thinking about paying a professional to give him what he desperately wants. Violetta is a high-class escort, who steps out into the night thinking only of money. Of her nursing degree. Paying for her dad''s care. Getting through the dark. When these three lives collide - intertwine in unexpected ways - everything changes. For everyone. A topical and moving drama about a mother''s love for her son, about getting it wrong when we&nbsp;think&nbsp;we know what''s best, about the lengths we go to care for family ... to survive ...&nbsp;This Is How We Are Human&nbsp;is a searching, rich and thought-provoking novel with an emotional core that will warm&nbsp;and break your heart. _______________ ''Every now and then you read a book that takes your breath away. This is How We Are Human does just that ... you feel from the first page to the last'' Liz Fenwick, author of The River Between Us ''A writer of beautiful sentences, and they are in abundance. This sensitive subject is treated with the utmost care'' Nydia Hetherington, author of A Girl Made of Air ''Such a complex and emotive book'' Claire King, author of The Night Rainbow ''It had me gripped from the start and changed the way I see the world. Beautiful, bold and compelling&nbsp; - another fearless story from Beech''&nbsp;Katie Marsh, author of Unbreak Your Heart ''A searching, rich and thought-provoking novel with an emotional core''&nbsp;LoveReading&nbsp; ''This book is just what the world needs right now''&nbsp;Fiona Mills, BBC ''Oh, Sebastian, I''ll never forget him. Heart is always at the core of Louise''s books and this one is no exception''&nbsp;Madeleine Black, author of Unbroken ''What a brave and prejudice busting story this is ... brava''&nbsp;S. E. Lynes, author of Can You See Her ''A convincing, bittersweet tale of misplaced kindness, a myriad types of vulnerability, and unexpected consequences ... All the stars and more''&nbsp;Carol Lovekin, author of Wild Spinning Girls ''A tender, insightful read''&nbsp;Michael J. Malone, author of A Song of Isolation ''An exceptional book that will make you laugh, cry and feel better for having read it'' Audrey Davis, author of Lost in Translation ''The most exquisite and moving story I have read in a very long time''&nbsp;Book Review Café ''I don''t know of another writer who portrays characters so true, flaws and all ... mesmerising, the characters are beautiful but, more importantly, they''re REAL''&nbsp;J. M. Hewitt, author of The Quiet Girls For fans of Maggie O''Farrell, David Nicholls, Ali Smith and JoJo Moyes.

This Is How We Are Human

Review\n"Nothing Else is a beautiful, heartbreaking, uplifting novel that is utterly mesmerizing and unforgettable. A Louise Beech novel isn't just a novel, it's an experience. Emotion pours from the page, capturing the senses and bringing the characters fully to life" —Vikki Patis, author, The Girl Across The Street\n‘One of the best writers of her generation’ John Marrs, author of The One on The Is How We Are Human\n‘A brilliant premise, executed beautifully … such a moving, tender and unexpected read’ Catherine Isaac, author of Messy, Wonderful Us, on This Is How We Are Human\n"Completely mesmerising from the off ... beautifully written, it will stay with you a long while after reading." —Prima\nA professional pianist searches for her sister, who disappeared when their parents died, aided by her childhood-care records and a single song that continues to haunt her … the exquisite new novel from the author of This Is How We Are Human\n‘Utterly beautiful … I couldn’t put it down’ Iona Gray\n‘Louise Beech has a rare talent … she doesn’t just move the reader, she breaks their heart and mends it again’ Fiona Cummins\n‘The best one yet … I’m still in tears of heartbreak and joy’ S E Lynes\n'Like the notes of a nocturne, Nothing Else will leave you profoundly touched by its beauty' Nydia Hetherington\n–––––––––––––––––––––––––––\nHeather Harris is a piano teacher and professional musician, whose quiet life revolves around music, whose memories centre on a single song that haunts her. A song she longs to perform again. A song she wrote as a child, to drown out the violence in their home. A song she played with her little sister, Harriet.\nBut Harriet is gone … she disappeared when their parents died, and Heather never saw her again.\nWhen Heather is offered an opportunity to play piano on a cruise ship, she leaps at the chance. She’ll read her recently released childhood care records by day – searching for clues to her sister’s disappearance – and play piano by night … coming to terms with the truth about a past she’s done everything to forget.\nAn exquisitely moving novel about surviving devastating trauma, about the unbreakable bond between sisters, Nothing Else is also a story of courage and love, and the power of music to transcend – and change – everything.\n–––––––––––––––––––––––––––\n‘One of the best writers of her generation’ John Marrs\n‘A story of childhood trauma, survival, the fragility of memory, and of love that survives decades … I loved it’ Gill Paul\n‘A touching, beautifully written work of literary fiction ... pure perfection’ Michael Wood\n'A beautiful, heartbreaking, uplifting novel' Vikki Patis\n‘Another brilliant tale of love and hope’ Fionnuala Kearney\n'Powerful, mesmerising and honest … I loved every word' Carol Lovekin\n‘A tender and beautiful story about the loving and unbreakable bond between sisters’ Madeleine Black\n*****\n‘Wonderful prose’ Shelley’s Book Nook\n‘Emotional, poignant, delightful’ Bobs and Books\n‘A masterpiece of emotional artistry, as spectacularly tender as it is disquieting, this book will stay with you long after you finish it’ Bookly Matters\n‘This is another beautiful, lyrically written story, made even more perfect with the musical themes throughout’ Karen Reads\n‘Beautifully written, in that style that is so typical of this author, and which never fails to draw its reader in’ From Belgium with Booklove\n‘Madame Beech has done it again ... both touching and heartbreaking’ Mrs Loves To Read\n‘This is such a beautiful book – incredibly tender, it’s like an extended piece of the most beautiful classical music you ever heard’ Tea Leaves and Reads\n‘This is a story, at its root, of love and loss, and lost time, but one that testifies to the power of truth and the endurance of love … her best yet’ Blue Book Balloon

Nothing Else: The exquisitely moving novel that EVERYONE is talking about…

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