The Book Guild Ltd

It’s 2023, and life in Cambridge is good for Chester “Cheshire” Sommer. He has it all; however, he can’t help but feel that he deserves… more. When a flawless version of himself begins speaking to him in dreams, Chester listens. Other Chester understands his hunger for power and his resentment towards his watchful younger sister, Faye. When Chester discovers the legend of a supernatural staircase hidden in the woods, he makes a wish that warps reality, causing Faye to vanish from his life and granting Other Chester a will of his own. Together, they chase fame and validation, convinced they’re destined for greatness. But ambition curdles into obsession, and perfection demands a terrible price. Chester soon discovers that wanting more than what came before can destroy everything that comes after.

Backstage Confidential lifts the curtain on West End Theatre from a viewpoint rarely heard: the wings. Beginning his career at seventeen, Eden Phillips rose to become London’s youngest head flyman before veering into acting, writing and publishing — yet always remained an observer of the theatre’s hidden world. With warmth and wit, he evokes backstage work in the 1960s and ’70s: rigging sets, working the flys, operating revolves and tackling the countless unseen tasks that keep a show running. Along the way he encounters an array of theatrical greats, from Sir Noël Coward, Sir John Gielgud and Dame Judi Dench to directors Hal Prince and Harold Pinter. A lively, humorous and affectionate insider’s glimpse into a golden age of British theatre.

The Battle of Towton, March 1461. In the aftermath of England’s bloodiest battle, Bethany Mortimer leaves Towton Hall, her beloved husband, and newly crowned Edward IV in search of those who continue their treachery. Making her way to Warwick Castle, she reunites with her loyal retainers to track those who would see the House of York destroyed. Still haunted by the slaughter at Wakefield just months earlier, Bethany embraces her new calling as a Yorkist spy. But as their journey unfolds, the stakes rise: a plot to abduct Edward’s only surviving brothers, Richard and George, threatens the very survival of the dynasty. Travelling Roman roads through hostile hamlets, Bethany and her companions cross a divided land. Their hunt leads them to Coventry, where the true culprits are unmasked and justice delivered. With enemies vanquished and Yorkist power secured, the realm prepares for a coronation unlike any before…

First among equals before the Norman Conquest, the ancient See of Winchester was soon overtaken by Canterbury, York and London following the defeat of the Anglo-Saxons at Hastings. Despite this, it retained its wealth and prestige through its geographical position and the bishop’s unrivalled proximity to kings at Westminster and archbishops at Lambeth – thanks to the diocese’s hold on the Thames’ south bank and its base at Southwark. This helped ensure that successive bishops were drawn from among the finest medieval administrators. Frequently serving as Chancellors or Treasurers of England, they had immense opportunity to influence the development of early English government. They played key roles in shaping an effective legal and financial system, in securing Magna Carta and in promoting an embryonic Parliament. A bishop of Winchester was present at most, if not all, major events under the Norman and early Plantagenet monarchs. The Winchester bishop’s removal of the hapless Edward II paved the way for the long and illustrious reign of his son, Edward III.

In a land torn by crusade and rebellion, honour is earned in blood. 1205. Richard Fitz Simon has fled England after his title was usurped, joining the Livonian Order of Swordbrothers – a German brotherhood of warrior-monks fighting to bring the word of God to the pagan frontier. After slaying the Lithuanian champion at the Battle of Rodenpois, Richard is celebrated by the Order and their Semigallian allies. Yet his position remains precarious. Jealous rivals question his right to stand among the brotherhood, and his master, Knight-brother Rudolf, is enraged by Richard’s disobedience. When dark secrets from Lübeck resurface, Richard also finds himself at odds with Bishop Albert, head of the Christian mission in Livonia. As he struggles to reconcile faith, duty and identity, he is drawn into a brutal world of suspicion, hardship and bloodshed. Sent on an expedition to build a castle deep in the wilderness, Richard soon sees tensions erupt – and the path he has chosen threatens to destroy everything he has fought to become.

When struggling author Dina falls through a portal into the mythical and forgotten land of Zagras, she’s thrust into a world of danger, magic and buried truths. With the help of Greg, a cynical, alcoholic centaur, and Drustan, a dethroned prince, Dina searches for a way home while trying to unravel how and why she ended up here. Hunted and haunted by mysterious beings, Dina’s journey leads her to The Library of the Untold; a vast and enchanted archive containing every story ever lived. There, she discovers her own book… but there’s a warning written by her future self. Dina must decide whether to return home or embrace the myth she’s become.

“Mendacem memorem esse oportet.” A liar should have a good memory. – QuintilianJune 1944: In the chaos following D-Day, a British Intelligence mission in Bordeaux ends in betrayal and death. Captain B.B. Harrison and his network are destroyed; the guilty walk free and the truth is buried beneath layers of deceit. December 1979: Amid Britain’s ‘Winter of Discontent’, sixteen-year-old Benedict Harrison lives in the shadow of family lies and forgotten stories. When he’s invited to stay with his infamous great-aunt, the artist Gail Miller, he steps into a world of secrets leading back to the war. Together, Gail and Benedict must unearth long-buried family secrets – but the key lies with one man: the moribund Victor Cross, a former spymaster. But can they uncover the truth before it’s too lat? n a story of betrayal, falsehood and fragile trust, Emilion explores how the lies we inherit shape who we become…

Gianni Angelini’s dedication, skill, resilience and adaptability have left an enduring mark on the field of cardiac surgery. From humble beginnings in Tuscany, his childhood dream of becoming an airline pilot was dashed by a congenital eye defect, which redirected him towards a career in medicine. Guided by his family’s modest background, this decision took him across continents and through some of the most challenging and rewarding experiences in modern healthcare. His steadfast leadership during the Bristol Babies Scandal reflected his deep commitment to patients and clinical excellence. This memoir is more than a chronicle of surgical milestones; it is a compelling collection of true stories, revealing the emotional and psychological realities of life as a surgeon. Honest, reflective and inspiring, it explores both mistakes and triumphs, offering rare insight into the human side of surgery. A Knife to the Heart reminds us that behind every mask lies a person with dreams, fears and an unwavering commitment to making a difference.

As a young, novice dance teacher, Aimee Friel’s first full-time job took an unexpected turn when she was asked to teach regular dance classes for young offenders at a Scottish prison. Many of her students were her own age, but their worlds couldn’t have been more different. Thrown into chaotic classes filled with cringeworthy chat-up lines, cheeky Glaswegian banter, and hilarious dad-dancing, Aimee embarked on a journey of growth alongside the young men in her classes. She faced challenges including impromptu drum sessions, a stolen safety alarm and the harsh realities of trauma, toxic masculinity and stigma. As trust built, so did transformation. Through comedic tea breaks, some difficult conversations and unexpected choreography, Aimee was drawn to the deeper roots of incarceration – from adverse childhood experiences to homelessness and substance misuse. Interwoven with personal reflection, including her own family’s struggle with addiction and trauma, The Prison Project challenges perceptions and asks what it really takes to make a difference in the lives of young people.

WWII Berlin. Freyja Bremer, a patriotic museum assistant, marries Kaspar Voigt, an ambitious SS scholar, to protect her father. Yet she is unaware her husband is instrumental in Himmler’s twisted quest for Aryan supremacy. As she strives to safeguard the priceless Priam’s Treasure from air raids, Freyja falls in love with Darien Lessing, an archaeologist who exposes the moral decay beneath the Regime’s myths. Her awakening drives her into perilous resistance – aiding a Jewish doctor and his wife, Darien’s sister – while uncovering Kaspar’s role in the SS’s darkest programmes, which subvert history to justify invasion, abduction and murder. As Berlin collapses into chaos and bloodshed, Freyja, caught between duty, deception and desire, must risk everything to preserve truth in a world built on lies. A heartbreaking yet triumphant love story, Fables & Lies shines light on lesser-known aspects of the Nazi Regime. It gives voice to the complex moral struggles of German women, the forgotten resistance of Gentiles married to Jews, the dangers of contested history, the evils of Himmler’s racial studies programme and the unsung bravery of German museum curators who saved their nation’s treasures.

A haunting tale of the ripples of war, the endurance of memory and the unbreakable threads of family. 1915. When the RMS Lusitania is torpedoed by a German U-boat off the Irish coast, young parents Anita and Elmore are torn from their happy lives. They survive, but amid the chaos their infant son, John, is lost. Grief drives Elmore to vengeance on the battlefields of France, where he is reported missing in action. Shattered and alone, Anita seeks solace across the Atlantic, carving out a fragile existence on her aunt’s Californian ranch and with the wealthy McKinneys in colonial Nassau, before finally settling in the shadows of New York’s skyline. Scotland, 1960. Twenty-two-year-old Charles is summoned to his grandfather’s deathbed and handed a mysterious package containing a child’s jacket and a bracelet. As curiosity turns to obsession, Charles embarks on a journey that will span decades, unravel a half-century-old mystery and lead him to a woman whose story was almost lost to time.

The hunters from the Roaring Bears’ tribe are away, and when they return they find their camp invaded by the fierce Crow’s Claw warriors. Their people are overpowered and held captive, but one young person, Ekri, manages to escape with a guide, Norak, and they set off to seek help from their friends in other tribes. With courage and deception, will they be able to outwit the notorious Crow’s Claw before it is too late and the Roaring Bears are destroyed?

Salamanca, 1812. Lord Wellington has triumphed over the French in battle, yet victory brings little peace. The Peninsular War rages on and a revelation of conspiracy threatens to shatter Britain’s fragile alliance with Spain. Colonel Thomas Mablethorpe, an intelligence officer for the War Office, feels wasted at his current assignment as a translator. So when a summons arrives from Army Headquarters, he seizes the chance to prove his worth once more. Resourceful, discreet and quietly relentless, Mablethorpe excels at one thing above all: solving problems. This time, however, the problem may be impossible. Someone within Wellington’s General Staff is a French spy. To expose the traitor, the Colonel must tread the perilous ground between three uneasy allies whilst travelling across a ravaged land scarred by years of war, where every friend might be an enemy, and every truth comes at a cost.

Christmas 1979. With the Yorkshire Ripper still at large, fear grips the north of England. At York District Hospital, porter Johnny Jewell’s quiet night shift is shattered when he discovers the body of a senior consultant hidden in the mortuary fridge. Suspicion falls uncomfortably close to home when Johnny realises his colleague has lied about his movements – and that he has unwittingly backed up the lie. As the police close in and dark secrets begin to surface, Johnny finds himself caught up in corruption and a dangerous attraction to the enigmatic new doctor, Juliet Fulton. But not everyone is convinced she is who she claims to be. By the early hours of Christmas morning, the body count is rising. As Johnny is hunted through the shadowy corridors of the hospital, one question remains: is he being lined up as the next victim?

London, 2012. Six lives collide in pursuit of love, lust, violence and redemption. Dan Trench is unravelling. When he’s not going through the motions of life, he’s pining after his ex-fiancée and getting into fights. His chaotic path crosses with Gareth Eary, an old friend turned high-flying stockbroker whose success is built on a painful secret – one that draws him into the orbit of billionaire hedge-fund boss Aurelius Blois. Gareth is offered a chance to change his life forever, but at a cost: dirty work and dangerous alliances. Meanwhile, Dan’s romance with investment banker Marianne Bleekman ends in heartbreak. In her absence, he disappears into the City’s violent underbelly. And now, with financial deceit and personal ruin playing out across investment-bank trading floors and underground fight clubs, everyone is clawing for survival. When greed, revenge and sexual violence reach a brutal climax, Dan must decide: will he find redemption in restraint, or in one final, devastating act?

Oxford, 2050. Britain is fractured. The Divide – a vast wall – splits the country from Kent to Cumbria. Families and lovers are torn apart. Civil war and economic collapse have left mistrust, propaganda and fear in their wake. Petrichor Jones, a specialist in Roman bronzes at the Ashmolean Museum, longs to see her sister Jasmine, who defected years earlier to Anglia. But Oxford, now capital of Wessex, is suffocating. Rumours swirl of the Dark Politic, a clandestine force controlling the media, and Petrichor begins to suspect her own boyfriend may be working against her. When she encounters the secretive Astronomy Club, she is drawn into a perilous underground network. With their help, she attempts the dangerous journey beneath the Divide. Along the way, she must decide who to trust, confront betrayal and risk everything to reunite with Jasmine. Love, resilience and rebellion collide in a world where freedom is fragile and lost innocence can never be regained.