Author:James Montague
'Passionate and moving and provides further evidence of the universality of football' Jonathan Wilson, FourFourTwo
The definitive story of the Middle East's unstoppable rise to football superpower, and the road to the Qatar World Cup
When James Montague first began covering football in the Middle East two decades ago, people asked him what future there could possibly be for the beautiful game in one of the most volatile regions in the world. In the years that followed, it would become one of the biggest stories in global sport, from the from revolutionary ultras of the Arab Spring and the takeover of some of the world's biggest clubs by the Emirati super rich, to Qatar's controversial journey towards hosting the 2022 World Cup finals.
The only Western journalist covering the story on the ground from the very beginning, James Montague tells the definitive tale of the region's rise to ultimate power player in the global game in a fully revised and updated edition. Travelling to every country in the Middle East and meeting fans, players, workers and campaigners, he paints an unforgettable picture of football in a controversial, vibrant and surprising new world.
A vibrant account of sport in the world's most volatile region
—— GQPassionate and moving and provides further evidence of the universality of football.
—— Jonathan Wilson , Four Four TwoAn excellent book, which is so, so much more than a book about sport or football; it is also a travelogue and a treatise on the politics of the Middle East.
—— IndependentA courageous, amusing and informative work
—— TelegraphA charming love story
—— Choice MagazinePeter Crouch is a comedy genius
—— Daily MailOne of the funniest human beings on the planet
—— Romesh RanganathanVery funny on almost every page, wonderfully self-deprecating and very sharp on the ludicrous behaviour of the modern player
—— Sunday TimesI'm not a big book reader, I'm just not. And I've skimmed through this already and thought 'I'm gonna really, really, really, really like this. Seriously, I'm really gonna like it
—— Chris MoylesI've never read a sports book before, but it is really funny
—— Alex JonesGood footballers come and go but comedy genius - that's for life
—— Johnny VaughanI've read a good number of books by footballers, both for business and pleasure, and this is easily one of the best, mainly on the grounds that it's incredibly funny
—— Ben Machell , The Times MagazineOne of the funniest books ever
—— ShortlistIncredibly funny
—— Jilly CooperEndearing and very funny
—— Choice MagazineFull of terrific anecdotes and unexpected confessions
—— Daily Express'McGrath covers the rise and fall of Frank Vandenbroucke with sensitivity and not sensationalism... from winning Liège-Bastogne-Liège to doping and addiction, suicide attempts, court appearances and his death, no stone is left unturned when delivering the truth about 'cycling's great wasted talent'
—— Cyclist'Poignant, painful but utterly riveting...covered with careful sensitivity by McGrath, painted in all its grey complexity with an absence of judgment. A captivating read'
Irish Independent
A chillingly vivid thriller in a fantastic setting - you can almost feel the icy Alpine wind on your face as you turn the pages.
—— T M Logan, bestselling author of THE HOLIDAYA tense page-turner.
—— Sunday Times Style magazineOne of the most eagerly awaited debuts of the year.
—— Sunday Express magazineThe nail-biting suspense and spooky atmosphere of Sarah Pearse's thrilling debut novel kept me reading until late in the night. I loved Sarah's masterful descriptions of the Alpine setting, the creepy history of the hotel, and the growing sense of danger as the hapless characters are cut off from the outside world by a massive storm . . . just as the realisation dawns that a deranged killer is on the loose.
—— Ann Gosslin, author of THE SHADOW BIRD and THE DOUBLETense, claustrophobic and chilling in every sense of the word.
—— Tammy Cohen, author of WHEN SHE WAS BADDark and suspenseful - I had shivers running down my spine as I read this chilling thriller.
—— Good HousekeepingAn addictive, creepy and twisting read. The perfect gothic story for a cold February night.
—— StylistAn eerie, atmospheric novel that had me completely on the edge of my seat.
—— Reese Witherspoon, for Reese's Book Club[A] menacing, creepy debut [...] There are echoes of Hitchcock and du Maurier, but Pearse has her own distinctive, emotional voice - one to be admired.
—— Daily MailTense, chilling and full of surprises.
—— Sun, Pick of the WeekLocked-room mysteries a la Agatha Christie are proving to be very popular right now, and this one doesn't disappoint.
—— PrimaThis atmospheric chiller has a few shocks up its sleeve.
—— Crime MonthlyA mix of whodunnit and psychological thriller with hints of horror, this fine debut [...] is smartly structured and often powerful.
—— Sunday TimesSpooky, chilling and claustrophobic.
—— ObserverThis impressive debut is a twist on the classic locked-room mystery in a wonderfully eerie Gothic setting. Its sharp prose builds suspense through a series of twists that will send an Alpine chill up your spine, building to an unpredictable finale. This clever, compelling thriller deserves to be a bestseller and marks out Sarah Pearse as one to watch.
—— Sunday Express S MagazineWant a book that's going to leave you chilled to the bone? This is it!
—— Fabulous MagazineSarah Pearse's chilling debut is making waves. The Sanatorium certainly has an eerie, cinematic appeal [...] With whispers of The Shining in setting and The Girl on the Train in pace.
—— Vanity FairI absolutely loved The Sanatorium - it gave me all the wintry thrills and chills. It was just wonderful.
—— Lucy Foley, bestselling author of THE HUNTING PARTY and THE GUEST LISTGenuinely scary and deliciously atmospheric, and one of the best books of 2021, this international bestseller is guaranteed to give you goosebumps.
—— Woman & HomeWhat a page-turner! Like Agatha Christie crossed with Scandi noir, and doing with Swiss mountains what Jane Harper books do with the Australian outback. Loved it, and can't wait for the next Elin book!
—— Andrea Mara, author of ALL HER FAULT