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Todd has to work with the mayor to ensure viola’s safety.

Newton is a new city, the dream of the visionary barnaby vine: a pluralistic society living in social and racial harmony. the city is run by austin swope, a brilliant lawyer and fixer and was built by earl wooten, a successful black construction engineer. at the outset, swope and wooten seem to epitomise the harmonious relations between black and white, as well as being beneficent overseers of their community. their sons teddy – a genius misfit – and joel – cool and handsome – are best buddies, despite the fact that joel has been more distracted since he started having sex with his beautiful blonde girlfriend, susan truax. but there are signs of cracking in the infrastructure and all it takes for the whole house of cards to collapse is one ‘malignant drop of suspicion’, and the paranoia and fear that lie so close to the surface break out. when austin picks up on a rumour that earl may be about to be offered the job he has been promised as official first man of the city, he sets in train a series of events that will devastate the three families at the centre of the story, and bring about a tragedy of classical proportions. set in 1973, with vietnam still a raw wound and the hum of watergate in the background, the new city is a parable of america’s coming-of-age in the second half of the century as well as being nothing less than a discourse on the nature of human frailty.

‘his most accomplished and moving novel yet’ lisa jewell ’emotionally high-voltage’ metro from the author of the man i think i know *** strangers living worlds apart. strangers with nothing in common. but it wasn’t always that way… kerry hayes is single mum, living on a tough south london estate. she provides for her son by cleaning houses she could never afford. taken into care as a child, kerry cannot forget her past. noah martineau is a successful barrister with a beautiful wife, daughter and home in fashionable primrose hill. adopted as a young child, noah never looks back. when kerry contacts noah, the sibling she lost on the day they were torn apart as children, she sets in motion a chain of events that will change both of their lives forever. by turns funny and moving, half a world away is a story that will stay with you long after you read its final page. *** readers love half a world away! ‘these are people who matter, situations one can believe. most readers will find themselves caring very much. a life-affirming read.’ vine ‘it isn’t easy, it is heart-wrenching, but, oh, is it worth reading. i can’t recommend this book highly enough.’ vine ‘how have i not read a mike gayle book before? i want to give this book all of the starts in the universe. i cried my eyes out at the end. it is touching, heart-wrenching and thought-provoking.’ netgalley ‘this story is raw and beautiful and sad. it puts lots of things into perspective and makes you think about what is important in life. beautifully written, easy to read and will certainly bring tears to your eyes. a must read.’ netgalley ‘this is a beautiful, beautiful book. it’s about family, about class, about love, about choices and sacrifice. it’s about letting go and learning to hold on. it’s optimistic and heartbreaking and funny and emotional. it’s the kind of book that will stay with you, long after you finish it. buy it, read it, love it – and hang on to those tissues, you’ll need them.’ netgalley authors love half a world away! ‘mike gayle has such a talent for delving into hearts, minds and contemporary issues. half a world away is supremely poignant, uplifting and heartwarming in equal measure – as well as being a real page-turner.’ sophie kinsella, author of surprise me ‘mike has a prodigious talent for writing completely relatable characters who draw you into their world and tug at your heart strings. half a world away is an absolute triumph and a joy to read. once again mike tackles complex and thorny issues with a confident and compassionate hand.’ ruth hogan, author of the keeper of lost things ‘half a world away is heartbreaking and beautiful, full of poignant moments and characters you fall for from page one. i couldn’t put it down.’ libby page, author of the lido

When harry, along with his best friends ron and hermione, go back for their third year at hogwarts, the atmosphere is tense. there’s an escaped mass murderer on the loose, and the sinister prison guards of azkaban have been called in to guard the school.