This Lovely City: The most inspiring and hopeful historical fiction novel of 2020 and a BBC Two Between the Covers book club pic

*As seen on the new BBC TWO TV book club Between the Covers*Longlisted for the HWA Debut Crown AwardIndie Book of the Month for March selected by the Booksellers AssociationOne of OBSERVER’S 10 best debut novelists of 2020 / WOMAN & HOME Best of 2020 / EVENING STANDARD Best books of 2020 / MAIL ON SUNDAY 2020 Highlights / I Best of 2020* * * *‘Full of life and love . . . it made my heart soar and should be on every Londoner’s shelf’ Stacey Halls Sunday Times bestselling author of The Familiars ‘The writing is wonderful; London’s energy runs right through it; the characters leap off the page. I was truly sad to leave them behind’ Adam Kay Observer‘Convincing and involving’ Sunday Times‘Fans of Zadie Smith and Andrea Levy won’t want to miss Louise Hare’s enthralling debut novel’ Elle* * *The drinks are flowing.The music is playing.But the party can’t last.With the Blitz over and London reeling from war jazz musician Lawrie Matthews has answered England’s call for help. Fresh off the Empire Windrush he’s taken a tiny room in south London lodgings and has fallen in love with the girl next door. Lawrie has poured his heart into his new home - and it’s alive with possibility. Until one morning he makes a terrible discovery.As the local community rallies fingers of blame are pointed at those who had recently been welcomed with open arms. And before long the newest arrivals become the prime suspects in a tragedy which threatens to tear the city apart.Atmospheric poignant and compelling Louise Hare’s debut shows that new arrivals have always been the prime suspects. But also that there is always hope.* * *MORE PRAISE FOR THIS LOVELY CITY: ‘I loved loved loved it’ Cathy Rentzenbrink Sunday Times bestselling author of The Last Act of Love ‘Full to the brim with such complete joys and heart-aching tragedies . . . you can feel the warmth and colour emanating from the pages’ Magic Radio Book ClubThis Lovely City a top-notch historical fiction delves into the life of an African American in the aftermath of World War II. The narrative short-listed for its evocative portrayal of a detective noir unravels a mystery that puts the city's unity to the test.For fans of Janice Hallett (The Christmas Appeal) Elly Griffiths (The Locked Room) Amy Chua (The Golden Gate) Vaseem Khan (The Dying Day) and Richard Coles (A Death in the Parish).