Legend Press

'Very powerful writing. Sophie draws her reader in immediately and combines wit and poignancy to very powerful effect… Excellent.' --Katie Fforde'This is a beautifully written book… The characters are quite simply brilliant.' --Vanity Case Books'An extraordinary story…A born storyteller with a gift for characterisation, she writes with warmth, lovely earthy detail and a pathos which keeps a lump lodged in the throat…echoes of Victoria Wood.' --The Daily Mail'a brave, bold, warm, rich, amusing, engaging novel' --Hello! MagazinePhilippa Smith is in her forties and has a beautiful newborn baby girl. She also has no husband, and nowhere to turn. So she turns to the only place she knows: the beginning.Retracing her life, she confronts the daily obstacles that shaped her very existence. From the tragic events of her childhood abandonment, to the astonishing accomplishments of those close to her, Philippa learns of the sacrifices others chose to make, and the outcome of buried secrets.Philippa discovers a celebration of life, love, and the Golden era of television. A reflection of everyday people, in not so everyday situations.

'Wildest of All is a sex-and-death struggle spanning generations, portraying three women in search of an authentic life. It's a sharp and compelling tale that doesn't flinch from the big questions.' Thomas LegendreThe Donnelly family are a tight-knit bunch, but when one of their own dies suddenly, the mother, the daughter-in-law, and the daughter, despite being united in grief, are each sent hurtling in wildly different directions.From the churches of Glasgow to the nightclubs of London, can they find their way back to each other before it's too late? And in the wake of a parent’s death, who exactly is responsible for looking after whom?Lynch brings us an emotive journey, following Sissy, Anne and Jude as they navigate the roles of motherhood and family in the wake of the loss of a husband, father and son.What Reviewers and Readers Say:'A deeply moving and thought-provoking story about family ties, what breaks them, what heals and the wounds we all pick up as life swirls on.' Lucy Cavendish'P.K. Lynch does it again with her second novel, demonstrating her skills as an author with real depth to her writing.' Matt Bendoris'P. K. Lynch’s second novel is both disturbing and exhilarating, filled with joy and pain, humour and bitterness, and a group of characters who live, breathe, and illuminate Sissy Donnelly’s world in the aftermath of her father’s death. Wildest Of All delivers a magical and moving climax for readers of the modern world.' Ruby McCann'A terrific read. I have nothing but envy for anyone who begins this book, because they have it all to come.' Roy Williams

SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2018 POLARI PRIZE'Life affirming and triumphant' Mark A. Radcliffe'Vivid and touching… this book left me haunted long after I put it down' Umi SinhaThe heat is oppressive and storms are brewing in Brighton in the summer of 1982. Little Gold, a boyish girl on the brink of adolescence, is struggling with the reality of her broken family and a home descending into chaos. Her only refuge is the tree at the end of her garden.Into her fractured life steps elderly neighbour, Peggy Baxter. The connection between the two is instant, but just when it seems that Little Gold has found solace, outsiders appear who seek to take advantage of her frail family in the worst way possible. In an era when so much is hard to speak aloud, can Little Gold share enough of her life to avert disaster? And can Peggy Baxter, a woman running out of time and with her own secrets to bear, recognise the danger before it’s too late?What Reviewers and Readers Say:‘A tender, beautifully paced and deeply moving debut… Little Gold herself is a wonderful centrepiece… and in Peggy Baxter, Rogers has offered up one of the most engaging heroines I have read in a very long time. This is a book about individual struggle that manages to be both life affirming and triumphant.’ Mark A. Radcliffe, author of Gabriel's Angel‘Such a wonderfully moving and atmospheric novel, full of very real and very touching relationships. A brilliant portrayal of the pain and wonder of leaving behind childhood, beautifully evocative of a Brighton summer in the 1980s.’ Catherine Hall, author of Days of Grace‘Reminiscent of Scout Finch, Little Gold is a great addition to literature’s endearing child characters. Vivid, touching, sad and frightening, this book exposes the dark underbelly of 1980s Brighton and left me haunted long after I put it down.’Umi Sinha, author of Belonging‘A gripping and yet tender novel, and the characters of Peggy Baxter and Little Gold are brilliantly handled. I was rooting for Little Gold from the start, and fascinated and moved by Peggy’s story. Brighton is so vividly depicted, too. It’s a great first novel.’ Bethan Roberts, author of My Policeman‘Opening Allie Rogers’ Little Gold I found myself engrossed in a vibrant, moving tale of one family’s struggle to get by. This is a book about survival, about the pluck and power of a singular child and the fundamental importance of friendship.’ Alison Smith, author of Name All the Animals'Little Gold is a step back in time, into a rich world with complex characters on meaningful inner journeys thatare quietly intriguing.' Hannah Hohman, ForeWord Reviews

Shortlisted for an Amazon Rising Star AwardLonglisted for the Guardian Not the Booker prize 2016Selected for WHSmith Fresh Talent 2017Wilven does a masterful job of keeping his readers as off-balance as his protagonist… an intense and satisfyingly off-beat examination of a man lost in a landscape of unresolved grief and his heroic fight to find his way back home.' — Melissa DeCarlo, author of The Art of Crash LandingVince stops taking his lithium when he finds out about his partner's pregnancy. As withdrawal kicks in, he can barely hold his life together.Somewhere between making friends with a blackbird in the back garden and hearing his dead son's footsteps in the attic, he finds himself lost and alone, journeying through a world of chaos and darkness, completely unaware of the miracle that lies ahead.Featuring a foreword from Dr Eleanor Longdon; Dr Longden's TED talk, Learning From the Voices in my Head, was featured on the front page of The Huffington Post and has been named by The Guardian newspaper as one of 'the 20 online talks that could change your life.'; It has been viewed over 3m times and translated into 36 languages.

Shortlisted for the Amazon Rising Star Award'The wartime mood evokes shades of Michael Chabon's Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay… A complex, well-crafted and absorbing debut that points to a promising future.' --Big IssueWhen we first meet Bobby, he is a shy, 12-year-old magician who falls in love with his best friend.William is consumed with self-hate and drinks to escape the memories of his father's sadness and his mother's death.Myles is writing letters to a mother he has never met.Three different people from three different times each explore the dark side of relationships, search for beauty in sadness and try to bear the burden of guilt from living in a world we are powerless to fix.

Jane has the ideal life: loving husband, beautiful house and delightful son. Her fashionable dinner parties are perfect – and so are her secret assignations with her neighbour's husband, Jay.
From Tracey and her ‘New Money’ lottery winnings to eccentric artist Philip and his pornographic portraits, the residents of North London's most privileged enclave The Square are a very satisfied bunch.
To raise money for communal fencing, the Residents' Association decides to hold a Talent Show, produced by Jane and hosted by TV celebrity Alan Makin. But when the show lurches into public disarray, reputations are shattered and everyone has to learn to live with a far less glossy reality than before.

Longlisted for the Guardian Not the Booker prize 2016
'An astonishing tour de force!' — The Daily Mail
'Book of the Year!' — Clio Gray, Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction-shortlisted author
A striking debut from the winner of the 2015 Luke Bitmead Bursary
BookMuse Recommended Read
My new shrink asks me, 'What things do you remember about being very young?' It's like looking into a murky river, I say. Memories flash near the surface like fish coming up for flies. The past peeps out, startles me, and then is gone…
Amanda secludes herself in her bedroom, no longer willing to face the outside world. Gradually, she pieces together the story of her life: her brothers have had to abandon her, her mother scarcely talks to her, and the Wacky Man could return any day to burn the house down. Just like he promised.
As her family disintegrates, Amanda hopes for a better future, a way out from the violence and fear that has consumed her childhood. But can she cling to her sanity, before insanity itself is her only means of escape?

Patrick Owen managed seven years at Highfields
Secondary School without punching a pupil in the face.

Unknowingly drawn into a war against his own pupils,
Patrick’s patience finally snaps as he finds himself the number one target with the boy the school just can’t
seem to expel.

When one of his Art students needs his help, she unwittingly pulls Patrick further into the line of fire,
altering their lives forever.

With the media circling and rumours of his involvement
reaching new highs, Patrick must escape the world he lives in, or face the consequences.

'A beautiful maze of hidden pasts, family ties and fairytales' --Jen Campbell, author of The Bookshop Book'A thoughtful novel. Parkin creates authentic, interesting characters' --Carys Bray, Costa-shortlisted author of A Song for Issy Bradley'A great read' --The SunIt is autumn time and on a peaceful Cornish beach, Finn and his sister Ava defy planning regulations and achieve a childhood dream when they build themselves an illegal beach hut. This tiny haven will be their home until Ava departs at Midwinter for a round-the-world adventure.In the town, local publican Donald is determined to get rid of them. Still mourning the death of his wife, all he wants is a quiet place where he can forget the past and raise his daughter Alicia in safety. But Alicia is wrestling with demons of her own.As the sunshine fades and winter approaches, the beach hut stirs old memories for everyone. Their lives become entwined in surprising ways and the secrets of past and present are finally exposed.

In 2043, the climate has finally changed.The planet is ravaged by violent storms and failing crops and much of the world is now uninhabitable. Amidst a world of hungry and desperate people, the Department of Environmental Justice have been tasked with finding and executing those who have denied climate change.On the eve of the 14th storm, Broderick and Malley are asked to hunt the leader of a stirring rebellion, but something feels wrong. Broderick is shut off and interested only in exacting revenge. Malley is sceptical, and thinks their latest target is more politically-motivated than their employer is letting on. Their journey is upended by Fionnuala, a young and idealistic runaway who is hopeful for the future and desperate to save the target. Together, the three of them must learn to adapt to the climate and the polarised groups if they are to survive.'Rarely have I seen satire and dystopian literature combined to such compelling effect' Jack Fennell'A howling keen of a novel that asks timely questions of us as readers and citizens' Grainne Murphy'Brutally vivid and disturbingly plausible' Juliet Conlin'Exciting, intriguing, and propulsive, and with a stark and salutary message at its heart' Donal Ryan'Over the last decade a new canon of Irish speculative fiction has emerged — and with The 14th Storm, Mooney has now added his own significant contribution' Niall Bourke

‘Right up there with C J Sansom… A brilliant historical thriller’ Philip Gwynne Jones‘Thoroughly engaging… beautifully written’ Zoe Sharp‘Engaging and compelling’ Mark Ellis‘A rollicking tale with just the right pinches of sex and humour’ Shots MagazineFinding the battered body of a young boy was not unusual in Bloody Mary’s cruel England. However, the stabbed tongue, a false seal and strange letter implicate Princess Elizabeth, threatening to bring down the Tudor Dynasty.Doctor John Dee and his secret apprentice, Margaretta, using his brilliant mind and her strange abilities, embark on a perilous journey to solve this brutal murder. Before their work can really begin, another body is found.As Dee and Margaretta delve deeper into their investigation, they uncover a web of deceit, political intrigue and treachery that threatens to engulf them both. When more bodies are discovered and arrests are made, time is running out. With rumours of witchcraft and treason swirling around them, can they untangle the mystery before it’s too late?‘The beginning of a wonderfully different Tudor crime fiction series’ Alis Hawkins‘A wonderful debut’ Jules Swain‘Absolutely spellbinding… alive with atmosphere and realism’ Chris Lloyd

'Heartbreakingly beautiful… so much more than a novel—it’s a how-to guide for appreciating the preciousness of life in all its imperfect and transient beauty' Christina Dalcher, bestselling author of VOXWhat if you could stay young forever?What if you never had to grow old?Ben has no qualms about signing up for the Evergreens project, a controversial new trial. But are the promises of life without ageing too good to be true?Sophie has no doubt that they are. And sixty-five years down the line, she gets the chance to find out.With Ben in hospital, unresponsive and ageing rapidly before her very eyes, can Sophie uncover the dark secret at the heart of the Evergreens project — and save Ben’s life in the process?'A sweeping tale about what it is to be human; heartbreaking and affirming' Bethanys Bookshelf

'Isaac twists terror with fear and confusion and I couldn't put it down' Rebecca Bradley'[A] perfectly plotted thriller' Anne CoatesIn the suburban town of Hampton, the peaceful night air is shattered by the sound of gunfire. Outside a local pub, five are feared dead and the murderer has fled the scene.DCI Helen Lavery works alongside the counter terrorism unit to investigate. Who is behind the mass shooting? Why target this town?Meanwhile, Helen is preparing for the trial of Chilli Franks, an organised crime boss who has a grudge against her family. But when Chilli’s nephew befriends her son, and suggestions are made about Chilli’s involvement in the shooting, past fears clash with the present.Under the spotlight of the world’s media, Helen finds herself in a race against time to solve the case, protect her family and track down the killer before they strike again.'An authentic, powerful and gripping police procedural' Joy Kluver'Jane Isaac's finest novel yet; an addictive page-turner. DCI Lavery is an outstanding creation' Michael Wood'Brimming with tension, suspense and colourful characters' A A ChaudhuriBOOKS BY JANE ISAACDCI Helen LaveryBook 1: An Unfamiliar MurderBook 2: The Truth Will OutBook 3: A Deathly SilenceBook 4: Evil IntentBook 5: In the ShadowsDI Will JackmanBook 1: Before It's Too LateBook 2: Beneath the AshesBook 3: The Lies Within

Dan and Anya Moorcroft have decided to get a divorce. Together, they’ve done it all. Two kids, three owned houses, four rented flats, fifty-something holidays, and one affair apiece. Now, after fifteen years together (nine of them married) they’re on the brink.But as they go through couples’ mediation, revisiting and rediscovering their shared history in sessions surrounded by lawyers and paperwork, are they about to find something that’s worth saving? Or are they going to reaffirm their decision to end things for good?Each section of the book is a focus area for the divorce mediation process: sex, home, money, family, us. Through this, the novel explores how marriage is built on bonds between people and the experiences they share. It goes back in time to reveal Dan and Anya’s past. And then returns to the present day as they work out their future.

'A warm and wonderful story' Adele ParksIt’s the heatwave summer of 1976 and 14-year-old would be poet Jackie Chadwick is newly fostered by the Walls. She desperately needs stability, but their insecure, jealous teenage daughter isn't happy about the cuckoo in the nest and sets about ousting her.When her attempts to do so lead to near-tragedy — and the Walls’ veneer of middle-class respectability begins to crumble — everyone in the household is forced to reassess what really matters.Funny and poignant, Cuckoo in the Nest is inspired by Fran Hill’s own experience of being fostered. A glorious coming of age story set in the summer of 1976.'Fresh, authentic and darkly funny. I absolutely loved it' Ruth Hogan, bestselling author of The Keeper of Lost Things'Vivid, funny, nostalgic and utterly charming' Veronica Henry'Laugh out loud funny, yet heartbreakingly sad' Frances Quinn'Totally evokes a seventies childhood' Joanna Nadin'This made my soul sing! Witty, poignant and full of heart' Jessica Ryn

'A plump and cheerful romp through royal corridors and bedrooms' Tunku Varadarajan, The Wall Street JournalKim is not your average member of Her Majesty’s palace staff — but then he shouldn’t be on the staff at all. He’s in fact a Sun staff reporter who’s wormed his way into Buckingham Palace to pick up every bit of dirt and gossip that he can lay his hands on.Along the way, Kim is faced with many surprising aspects of Palace life that even he didn’t see coming.Based on the true story of the tabloid hack who became a Queen’s footman, Palace Rogue is a charming, uplifting and utterly outrageous story of love and secrets — all of it set in the heart of one of the world’s most famous houses.

‘A very accomplished novel’ Louis de Bernieres, author of Captain Corelli's Mandolin‘Hard to put this book down’ Sofka Zinovieff‘An epic, page turning story, of longing and bravery… a must read’ Nadia MarksCalliope is a young schoolmistress in the village of Molyvos when Hitler’s army invades Greece in 1941. Recruited by the Germans to act as their liaison officer, Calliope’s wartime duties bring her into close contact with Lieutenant Lorenz Umbreit, the Wehrmacht commander. Despite being an active member of the Greek Resistance, her friendship with the German blossoms against all odds, in a fishing village seething with dread and suspicion.Arrested Song is a haunting, sumptuous novel, weaving the private and the historic into a vivid tapestry of Greek island life. Spanning over three decades, it chronicles the story of an extraordinary woman and her lifelong struggle against tyranny.‘Compelling’ Dean Kalimniou‘Wonderful’ Anna Porter‘Beautifully written’ Carol P Christ‘One of the best novels I’ve read about modern Greece… a truly original work’ Diana Farr Louis‘I savoured every word’ Peter Barber

Silas Marner George Eliot — “Silas Marner”, is the story of its title character, a weaver who when falsely accused of theft retreats to a life of exile focusing on his work in solitude and the amassing of gold from his earnings. After carrying on this way for a period of fifteen years Silas returns one day to his cottage to find his stash of gold stolen. While deeply depressed by the loss of his treasure, Silas soon finds consolation in the unexpected adoption of a lovely young girl, Eppie.

Jonathan Swift’s masterpiece is the finest satire in the English language. Shipwrecked traveller Lemuel Gulliver finds himself washed ashore in Lilliput, a kingdom populated by tiny people. Fascinated by their exotic visitor, the Lilliputians enlist Gulliver’s services in their bitter civil war. But Gulliver becomes the object of a court intrigue and has to make a hasty escape. On his next voyage, his ship is blown off course to Brobdingnag, whose giant inhabitants strike him as horrific and occasionally revolting. A third voyage takes him to Laputa, a floating island occupied by pedantic scientists and philosophers. Finally, he encounters a society of rational horses, the Houyhnhnms, and witnesses the appalling behaviour of their servants the Yahoos, a group who are in many ways disturbingly similar to man at his most bestial.

The Castle of Otranto is considered to be the first «Gothic» novel — that is, containing a combination of tropes, like hidden passages, haunted paintings, mysterious sounds, skeletal ghosts, ancestral curses, and unexplained deaths, that essentially invented the genre later made famous by authors like Edgar Allan Poe, Bram Stoker, or Henry James. Walpole made a point of creating a novel that blends supernatural elements with more realistic depictions of characters and events.
The plot centers around Manfred, the lord of Otranto Castle, who has just witnessed the death of his son under mysterious circumstances, just as his son was about to be married. Manfred is thrust into a galloping and melodramatic series of events that lean heavily on the supernatural.
Walpole initially published The Castle of Otranto under a pseudonym, claiming that his work was a translation of an ancient Italian manuscript. This framing, along with the purposely archaic writing style, gives the supernatural airs of the novel a decidedly authentic flavor. In later editions Walpole acknowledges his authorship.
Otranto remains a fast-paced and familiar read, thanks to the variety of recognizable tropes it introduced and made popular.