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The First Day of Spring
The First Day of Spring
Oct 11, 2024 7:19 PM

Author:Nancy Tucker

The First Day of Spring

The gripping and dark book club debut with a compelling voice at its centre.

*THE GUARDIAN 2021 BEST CRIME AND THRILLER PICK*

'Gorgeously written' PANDORA SYKES

'I loved this book' CLARE MACKINTOSH

'A darkly dazzling debut . . . gripping' LISA JEWELL

'Sharp-edged and highly discussable' BOOKLIST

___________

'So that was all it took,' I thought. 'That was all it took for me to feel like I had all the power in the world. One morning, one moment, one yellow-haired boy. It wasn't so much after all.'

Chrissie knows how to steal sweets from the shop without getting caught, the best hiding place for hide-and-seek, the perfect wall for handstands.

Now she has a new secret. It gives her a fizzing, sherbet feeling in her belly. She doesn't get to feel power like this at home, where food is scarce and attention scarcer.

Fifteen years later, Julia is trying to mother her five-year-old daughter, Molly. She is always worried - about affording food and school shoes, about what the other mothers think of her. Most of all she worries that the social services are about to take Molly away.

That's when the phone calls begin, which Julia is too afraid to answer, because it's clear the caller knows the truth about what happened all those years ago.

And it's time to face the truth: is forgiveness and redemption ever possible for someone who has killed?

______________

'Perceptive and compassionate' GUARDIAN

'A stunning debut' WASHINGTON POST

'Compulsively readable' ASHLEY AUDRAIN

'Compelling . . . stunningly powerful' GRAZIA

'An unforgettable narrative voice' PAULA HAWKINS

'An extraordinary and heart-rending novel' OBSERVER

'This is outstanding . . . so powerful' TRACY FENTON

'A gripping, unsettling debut novel' ABIGAIL DEAN

______________

Readers love The First Day of Spring . . .

*****'A powerful, distressing, haunting, but ultimately brilliant read'

*****'Such a heartbreaking and powerful psychological drama that will stay with me for a long time'

*****'An incredible book'

*****'A thought provoking, dark and compulsive read... Highly recommend'

*****'You DO NOT want to miss The First Day of Spring!'

Reviews

An extraordinary and heart-rending novel'

—— Observer

Dark, brilliantly observed and ultimately a tale of love winning the day.

—— The Sunday Telegraph

An intriguing, moving novel that will make you question assumptions you have about modern life

—— Tracy Chevalier, author of 'A Single Thread'

Superb...deservedly longlisted for this year's Women's Prize for Fiction

—— Daily Mail

A moving portrait of a family struggling against time. This book is ultimately about redemption-about the unexpected importance of neighbours, lovers, and friends, and the ways in which we can re-envision our lives for the better

—— Lucy Tan, author of What We Were Promised

So sharply, so utterly brilliant that I found myself holding my breath while reading it, dazzled by Fuller's mastery and precision.

—— Lauren Groff, author of 'Fates and Furies'

With sensitivity and intelligence, Fuller unpicks the relentless complexity of the modern world

—— The Guardian

'The way she writes (with empathy but never sentimentality) moves my heart'

—— Elizabeth Day, author of Magpie

Fuller is excellent at description, and capturing the twins' awkward interactions with the world. The fate of the illiterate and weak-hearted Jeanie once she loses everything that is safe is particularly unsettling

—— The Sunday Times

It's merciless in its observation of casual cruelty and merciful in its observation of casual kindness and family love

—— Richard Curtis

Unsettled Ground is another sly psychological treat from Claire Fuller, who just keeps on getting better with each book

—— Laline Paull

These memorable characters will worm their way into your head and heart and the descriptions of the landscape are beautiful.

—— Jo Finney, Good Housekeeping

An atmospheric thriller that's both heartbreaking and heartwarming

—— Red

Tender, unusual... these memorable characters will work their way into your head and your heart

—— Good Housekeeping

Fuller's prose is darkly elegant, her eye for character astute and humane, and her sense of place vividly atmospheric -- here is a writer of great skill, sensitivity and subtlety

—— Lucy Atkins, author of Magpie Lane

Claire Fuller strikes the perfect balance between beauty and melancholy, in this relevant and powerful exploration of isolation and life on the fringes of society

—— Clare Mackintosh, author of Hostage

Unsettled Ground shares with Fuller's previous works themes of closely guarded family secrets and homes built upon shaky foundations

—— Financial Times

This literary thriller is as moving and poignant as it is compelling

—— Express

These memorable characters will worm their way into your head and heart the descriptions of the landscape are beautiful

—— Good Housekeeping

An intensely twisty thriller guaranteed to keep you guessing until the very end - perfect for weekend reading.

—— New Magazine

A suspense builder - shocking lies and unforgivable betrayals emerge as a desperate search for a child ensues.

—— Woman's Own

Secrets are uncovered at every twist and turn of this domestic thriller, in which you're thrust into the action from the very first page. A gripping, intricately written story that's easy to devour.

—— Heat

Sharp, sophisticated, and full of suspense - everything you need for a perfect summer read.

—— Cara Hunter, bestselling author of CLOSE TO HOME

All Her Fault is a brilliant premise, wonderfully executed . . . a taut, superbly designed suspense novel.

—— Business Post

This book is excellent. Pacy and clever and intriguing.

—— Eithne Shortall, author of THREE LITTLE TRUTHS

All my greatest fears on the page and yet I couldn't stop reading. Congratulations, Andrea Mara, you evil genius.

—— Sarah Breen, co-author of OH MY GOD, WHAT A COMPLETE AISLING

Someone has taken Marissa's child; the fun in this fiendishly twisting narrative is trying to work out who that might be.

—— Irish Independent

This is a book which would probably reward a second reading, perhaps a few months later, when the details have faded a little from memory. It's really that good.

—— Irish Examiner

I was completely blown away by this genre-defying masterpiece. Part thriller, part philosophical rumination on what makes us human, and with a dash of theoretical physics; this is an absolute must-read

—— Sarah Bonner , author of Her Perfect Twin

The Anomaly is a brilliant balancing act of a novel, a fantastic rush and ride that works on myriad levels, at various depths, and in a multitude of styles. It's a precise and erudite literary treat, a comedic sociopolitical-religious skewering of these contemporary times, a philosophical-scientific-mathematical dive into the puzzles of possibility, space, and time, and an ingenious thought experiment that lends itself easily to ad infinitum analysis and dissection. It's also entirely grounded in human nature. Le Tellier's pointillistic characters are, like all of us, buffeted by desires, seeking love, striving, aging, making good and bad decisions, choosing the right or wrong paths, believing they know and understand themselves, utterly trusting in free will. Highly intelligent, ironic without cheap cynicism, The Anomaly is an immensely fun novel, an immersive experience that leaves the reader analysing everything anew

—— Cherise Wolas , author of The Resurrection of Joan Ashby and The Family Tabor

The year has only just begun but I will be surprised if I read something as astonishing as The Anomaly in the next 12 months

—— Scotsman

It's dizzying, exhilarating, brilliant!

—— Nicholas Carreau , Europe 1

An intoxicating mix of the magical and life's big questions

—— Financial Times

Hervé le Tellier's new novel is an exquisite, insane surprise. Quite simply astounding

—— Le Journal du Dimanche

An addictive page-turner, The Anomaly flirts with thriller and science fiction, and mirrors the best televisions series in its very effective orchestration of suspense. Filled with fascination existential and metaphysical questions, this is an effective, funny and discreetly melancholy novel

—— Le Monde

A brilliant, extremely inventive book. Like an astounding screenplay for an American blockbuster, written by a Frenchman who is having fun with it

—— Olivia de Lamberterie , France 2

Hervé le Tellier has written an impossible novel. It's a thriller but also a fantasy. A choral novel, which is also surrealist. An adventure, a page turner, a bestseller, but also an experimental, highly literary work

—— Frederic Beigbeder , Le Figaro Magazine

A delight. Intricate, ingenious, propulsive - but also affecting, with numerous moments that are terribly poignant along with its puzzles and winks

—— i

How would society respond to the inexplicable? This is the question the author tries, with intelligence, elegance and humour, to answer. Hervé le Tellier has written a frank and gripping novel with complex, moving characters. You won't be able to put it down!

—— Claire Bitaudeau , Librairie Millepages

Effervescent playfulness . . . Hilariously deadpan

—— Guardian

The novel is a tour de force which both dives into the personal lives of several characters and at the same time gives a group perspective on an international event which verges on science fiction. The taut rhythm of the investigation keeps the reader on tenterhooks

—— Toute La Culture

The situations are mad, but the questions they raise, far less so. Such is the profundity of this astonishing book: it makes light of itself, lending an air of fantasy to the fates of its characters, while Hervé le Tellier holds a mirror up before us

—— Le Figaro

A master of one-touch characterisation. Le Tellier's genius is in making the unimaginable feel authentic

—— Metro

Le Tellier, throughout this flight, deposits on the tarmac his stunned reader, ready to applaud

—— L'Opinion

Le Tellier is a masterful writer and his staggering story verges on thriller and science fiction

—— Version Femina

Somewhere between fable and science fiction, it's a fascinating novel

—— La Depeche du Midi

The novel weaves a surprising story out of several narrative threads which give Hervé le Tellier the opportunity to touch on as many literary genres as he does themes, in a biting and often funny critique of the start of the 21st century

—— En Attendant Nadeau

Excellent...at once zeitgeisty, intelligent, and entertaining

—— Charlie Hebdo

Fantastic...The Anomaly wears its name well: it's rare in France that a work combines the best of American TV series with an impeccable mastery of the French psychological novel

—— Elle France

Dizzying, compelling

—— RTE Guide

Mind-bending. Herve Le Tellier's emotional and intellectual rollercoaster is well worth the ride

—— The Times Literary Supplement

A delightfully confounding thriller . . . Le Tellier's prose is beautifully efficient and capable of quiet devastation

—— London Review of Books

Compelling . . . A disturbing and complex tale about dysfunctional mother-daughter relationships. It's not always an easy read but it's absolutely one you won't be able to put down

—— Culturefly

Included in 'Books for 2021'

—— Sun

The mother of all thrillers! Like The Girl on the Train - but better!

—— Daily Mail

Utterly mesmerising. Ashley Audrain's powerful debut novel explores the challenges of motherhood and the terrifying isolation of being trapped within a sinister truth that no-one else believes.

—— Fiona Valpy, bestselling author of The Beekeeper's Promise

One of the most anticipated novels of this year . . . fast-paced, it has the ability to distract you from anything. Exactly what we need right now

—— Grazia

Written with an unflinching eye and a stylistically sharp, tight economy The Push is a single-sitting read, as suspenseful as any thriller, as thoughtful as any literary novel, with an almost physical force behind each of its turns and revelations. By the end, the reader will feel wrung out in the way only the best of books leaves you. Audrain's debut is a stunning, devastating novel and, frankly, one hell of a way to start a year of reading

—— Toronto Star

Included in 'Books to Watch 2021'

—— Evening Standard

Hooks you from the very first page and will have you racing to get to the end

—— Book Club Selection , Good Morning America

Included in 'Best New Books'

—— New York Post

This is a sterling addition to the burgeoning canon of bad seed suspense, from an arrestingly original new voice

—— Publishers Weekly

This taut and tense hurricane of a debut is best devoured in one sitting

—— Newsweek

This dazzling debut mixes page-turning suspense with a psychological drama

—— Working Motheer

Once you start in on this story, it becomes difficult to control yourself. A twisted, tight, and exhilarating drama

—— Goop

This psychological thriller about a mother's bond with her daughter will keep you turning pages

—— Woman's Day

This nuanced book challenges the notion of nature versus nurture, and whether a mother's love is enough. It's disturbing, painful and brilliant, holding a mirror up to society

—— Woman's Weekly

The Push is a thriller that is also a compelling examination of motherhood and of how trauma is passed down through generations

—— Herald

A tense, chilling dip into the dark side of motherhood . . . The Push is uncomfortable and provocative, like a train wreck that demands your gaze

—— Washington Post

The most tense, thrilling read that will chill and enthral in equal measure

—— Sun

Disturbingly brilliant . . . will render you speechless

—— Woman & Home 'Book of the Month'

A page-turning debut crafted with shrewd expertise - read it before the inevitable screen adaptation

—— Metro

Unflinching, moving and very, very powerful

—— Grazia

The clever and powerful psychological thriller everyone has been talking about . . . an unsettling, breathtaking and powerful read about obsession and our deepest fears that will stay with you long after you turn the final page

—— My Weekly

Audrain has the ability to mesmerise . . . heart-wrenching. A dark, pacy read

—— My Weekly

A compelling, visceral and bruising portrayal of motherhood that once read cannot ever be forgotten

—— Woman & Home

A chilling and beautifully written novel that will strike dread into the heart of any new parent. The ending gave me goosebumps

—— Mark Edwards, bestselling author of Here To Stay

A powerful debut about obsession and our deepest fears . . . will have you hooked

—— Living North

Exploring the dysfunctional lives of three generations of women, The Push deals with the way damage is handed down

—— Literary Review

A thought-provoking novel that delves deep into the emotional crevices of motherhood

—— Courier

Taut and gripping, this is a provocative look at motherhood

—— Psychologies

The Push is an unsettling and powerful read about obsession and our deepest fears that will stay with you long after you turn the final page

—— Eastern Daily Press

A gripping and vivid thriller . . . It's easy to understand why The Push has caught the attention of Hollywood film producers

—— Business Post

Compelling

—— The Herald

Remarkably told story which I couldn't put down. Deftly drawn characters...What a book! And the last line is creepy, haunting perfection

—— Christina Sweeney Baird, author of The End of Men

The danger that simmers throughout is so unbearably tense! A wonderful incisive look at maternal guilt ... the effect is staggering

—— Imran Mahmood

Fasten your seatbelt because this book is a face paced, page turning, psychological drama that will have you on the edge of your seat until the very last line

—— The Avondhu

Challenges the idyllic picture of motherhood, and will change what you know about being a mother. It is tenacious and really makes you think about what it's like when women aren't taken seriously

—— Female First

For fans of mum noir, The Push is an unsettling, breathtaking and powerful read about obsession and our deepest fears that will stay with you long after you turn the final page

—— Eastern Daily Press

This dark, psychological thriller offers such twists and turns that we start to doubt what we believe . . . And that sharp-intake-of-breath ending!

—— Manx Independent

I didn't sleep for a week after I finished it, but that's a small price to pay for a great book

—— Lauren Weisberger, author of The Devil Wears Prada

An unflinching examination of motherhood. Audrain lets no one in the Connor family off the hook, yet every character managed to elicit my sympathy. Brilliant, insightful, compassionate, and horrifying. I wish I could read it for the first time over and over. One of the best books I've read all year

—— Stephanie Wrobel

One of the most talked-about books of the year. This nuanced psychological book will make you question the notion of nature vs nurture. Disturbing, painful and brilliant

—— Woman & Home

This unsettling debut was so riveting it had me devouring pages and then reading slowly with widened eyes

—— Prima

Addictively readable . . . shines a disturbing light into the darkest recesses of motherhood

—— Daily Mail, Must Read Paperbacks

Compulsively readable

—— Daily Express

An unsettling, breathtaking and powerful read about obsession and our deepest fears that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.

—— Eastern Daily Press

A raw and visceral exploration of a mother-daughter relationship; a haunting and heartbreaking novel that will leave you thinking about it for days after you finish the last page

—— Female First
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