The Day of Creation (US Edition)Classic Ballard. Mesmerising. No one writes with such haunting impact William Boyd In parched, war torn central Africa, Dr Mallory watches his clinic fail and dreams of discovering a third Nile to make the Sahara bloom. During his search for water, an ancient tree stump is uprooted by a bulldozer and water wells up, spreading until it becomes an enormous river. With the once arid land now abounding in birds and beasts, the obsessed Mallory forges up

the policeman sent to investigate

his other deep commitment is to Clara

making a bit on the side in stolen lead ingots

Grasby begins to realise that everyone in Elderby is hiding something - and if he can't uncover the truth soon

trying to stay sane in a completely chaotic world makes life incredibly difficult

Social services

and the repercussions of history and faith

and they won't stop until they reach Rome itself

It is an unforgettable second novel from the author of The Icarus Girl

Gemma Robinson comes into Elliots life like a whirlwind

Late one summer evening

exposing the vicious underworld of Victorian London