Yannick Murphy is an author whose works delve into the complexities of human relationships and the inner lives of characters. Her prose is known for its sensitivity and its ability to capture the subtle nuances of emotion and thought. Murphy focuses on exploring themes of identity, memory, and the search for meaning in everyday life. Her style is often poetic and evocative, offering readers a profound and engaging literary experience.
The collection features luminous stories that explore the complexities of ordinary lives and the unforeseen paths to personal redemption. Each narrative delves into the intricacies of human experience, revealing how even the simplest situations can be fraught with tension and uncertainty, ultimately highlighting the unexpected sources of hope and salvation available to individuals.
In the cold October of 1917 Margaretha Zelle, alias Mata Hari, the infamous exotic dancer, sits in a prison cell in Paris awaiting trial on charges of espionage; the penalty, death by firing squad. As she waits, Mata Hari tells stories - much like Scheherazade in The 1001 Nights - to buy back her life from her interrogators. She spins tales of native lovers and fragrant Javanese jungles; she tells of the ugly disintegration of her family. Then, in flight from her brutal husband, Margaretha reinvents herself: she becomes the temple dancer Mata Hari - dressed in veils, admired by Diaghilev, performing for the crowned heads of Europe. Tender, subtle and intensely erotic, Murphy's retelling of an iconic story is a haunting portrait of love and treachery.
A hunting accident leaves a veterinarian's eldest son in a coma, disrupting the family's daily life in rural New England. As the veterinarian grapples with maintaining stability and seeks the man responsible, an unexpected visitor arrives with a request that challenges the family's bonds. This situation tests the father's patience and humor, compelling both parents to redefine their understanding of family amidst their trials.
'A dark, menacing book... a literary thriller of the highest order' Julia Crouch 'THIS IS THE WATER is this year's GONE GIRL: unexpected, immersing, challenging and up-to-the-minute relevant. A must read' Manda Scott This is a novel about a woman. About a mother. About a marriage. About a murder. In the brightly lit public pool the killer swims and watches. Amongst the mothers cheering on their swim team daughters is Annie. Watching her two girls race, she's thinking of other things. Her husband's emotional distance. Her lost brother. The man she's drawn to. Then she learns a terrible secret. Now her everyday cares and concerns seem meaningless. Annie knows she has to act. Above all, she must protect her children. Compulsively readable, it takes readers on a journey where none could guess the final outcome.
In den unvergesslichen Siebzigerjahren in New York lebt die dreizehnjährige Smitty mit ihrer Mutter und Geschwistern in einem heruntergekommenen Apartment. Der Vater, ein erfolgloser Filmemacher, hat die Familie wegen einer anderen Frau verlassen, während die Mutter versucht, die Kinder durchzubringen. Die Großmutter ist alkoholabhängig, was die Situation nicht erleichtert. Doch Smitty schafft sich eine eigene fantasievolle Welt, in der sie Freundschaft mit einem litauischen Hotdog-Verkäufer und einem Polizeipferd schließt. Wenn das Geld knapp wird, fischt sie Münzen aus dem Glücksbrunnen oder die Kassiererinnen im Supermarkt "vergessen" das Kassieren. In diesem Viertel muss jeder auf seine Weise überleben. Eines Tages verschwindet Smittys Vater spurlos, und ihr Bruder begibt sich auf die Suche, die ihn bis nach Spanien führt. Der heiße, stickige Sommer in New York vergeht, und Smittys Schicksal bleibt ungewiss. Vor dem bunten Panorama der Stadt entfaltet sich das Porträt einer ungewöhnlichen Familie im Überlebenskampf und das Bild einer aufregenden Zeit. Der Roman verbindet lyrische und poetische Elemente mit schonungsloser Offenheit und hinterlässt einen bleibenden Eindruck.