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The Phantom of the Opera: In English Translation (Fast Track Classics Ser.)
by Gaston LerouxThe classic Gothic novel that inspired the blockbuster musical There is a ghost in the Paris Opera House. Singers, dancers, and stagehands have all seen him lurking in the shadows of the set, and each describes his face differently. Some say it is on fire, others that it is bare bone, and a terrified few say that he has no face at all. Outsiders dismiss the stories as theatrical superstition, but soon the phantom will reveal himself—and the Opera will never be the same. A crew member is found hanged, and every denizen of the theater is quick to blame the phantom. More deaths follow, until the phantom is forced to make himself known in the most spectacular manner possible. But when the mysterious ghost begins to admire a beautiful singer, it is the beginning of something magnificent: a love story as heartfelt and tragic as any opera ever staged. This ebook features a new introduction by Otto Penzler and has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices. &“The wildest and most fantastic of tales.&” —The New York Times Book Review
The Phantom of the Opera: In English Translation (Haunted Library Horror Classics)
by Gaston LerouxThe first in the Haunted Library Horror Classics series presented by the Horror Writers Association. An unabridged edition of the novel that inspired the famous Andrew Lloyd Weber musical. Deep beneath the Paris Opera House, a masked man lives in silence...Every night at the Palais Garnier, hundreds of guests sit on the edge of velvet-covered seats, waiting for prima donna La Carlotta to take the stage. But when her voice fails her, La Carlotta is replaced with unknown understudy Christine Daaé, a young soprano whose vibrant singing fills every corner of the house and wins her a slew of admirers, including an old childhood friend who soon professes his love for her. But unknown to Christine is another man, who lurks out of sight behind the heavy curtains of the opera, who can move about the building undetected, who will do anything to make sure Christine will keep singing just for him...This curated edition of The Phantom of the Opera, based on the original 1911 English translation by Alexander Teixeira de Mattos, brings an iconic story of love and obsession to today's readers and illuminates the timeless appeal of Leroux's masterpiece.
The Phantom: A Paranormal Romance (Rise of the Warlords #3)
by Gena Showalter"One of the premier authors of paranormal romance. Gena Showalter delivers an utterly spellbinding story!"—Kresley Cole, #1 New York Times bestselling authorNew York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter returns with The Phantom, the third book in her pulse-pounding Rise of the Warlords series, featuring a vengeful harpy and a callous torture master locked in a battle to the death. As the son of a war god, Roux Pyroesis has suffered unending pain—he&’s caused it, too, dispatching his foes with alarming ease. Now he&’s tasked with cutting out the heart of a powerful queen who rules an ancient prison realm inhabited by the most vicious immortal females in existence.Blythe the Undoing is a decorated harpy warrior determined to annihilate Roux, the invader who killed her beloved consort. Nothing will stop her. Even if she must trap herself for eternity by sneaking into the brutal realm and taking the crown, pitting herself against the merciless male she&’s sworn to despise.Having never known desire, Roux is ill prepared for the stunning beauty who challenges him at every turn. For the survival of his army, duty comes first. Always. But what happens when the flames of Blythe&’s hatred burn out and she craves him, too…but only one of them can live?Don't miss the rest of the Rise of the Warlords series: Book 1: The Warlord Book 2: The Immortal Book 3: The Phantom Book 4: The Wrath - Coming Feb 2024!
The Philosophy of Love
by Rebecca RyanWhat is love? Is it something spiritual or wholly physical? Can our feelings be explained and quantified? Or are we all actually two halves of a whole? Ask Alice and Luke and you&’d receive vastly different answers. Despite her world having been recently dismantled by a messy break-up, Alice would tell you that love is the most important – albeit ineffable – human experiences. But when she once again crosses paths with her old school nemesis, Luke, he challenges this. Luke is a scientist and he&’s certain love can be measured and explained – just like everything else. So the two decide to make a bet: they&’ll each venture back into dating and if one of them falls in love, Alice wins, if not, then Luke does. But can anyone win when you&’re playing with emotions?
The Phoenix
by Rhonda Nelson*Confidential*Ranger Security Employee file #153 Name: Jay Weatherford, aka the PhoenixSpecialty: Getting out of really hot situations...and creating new ones!Subject (Jay Weatherford) was nicknamed "the Phoenix" after walking out of a burning building unscathed. He's Ranger Security's newest recruit, and assigned to Case File #8765-locating the heir to the Betterworth Chocolate fortune, Truffles (dog).Working for the competition is Charlie Martin...and she has a grudge against Ranger Security. This could complicate the investigation. Getting under each other's skin is one thing. Getting under each other-in the hot, sexy and naked way-is another!The situation is heating up, and fast. Our man is fireproof.Charlie Martin, however, is not....
The Phoenix
by Ruth SimsAt 14, Kit St. Denys brought down his abusive father with a knife. At 21 his theatrical genius brought down the house. At 30, his past--and his forbidden love--nearly brings down the curtain for good in this compelling Victorian saga of two men whose love transcends time and distance.
The Phoenix Bride: A Novel
by Natasha Siegel&“Poetic, romantic, and steeped in seventeenth-century London, The Phoenix Bride is historical fiction at its best.&”—Mackenzi Lee, New York Times bestselling author of The Gentleman&’s Guide to Vice and Virtue A passionate tale of plague, fire, and forbidden love from the acclaimed author of Solomon&’s CrownIt is 1666, one year after plague has devastated England. Young widow Cecilia Thorowgood is a prisoner, trapped and isolated within her older sister&’s cavernous London townhouse. At the mercy of a legion of doctors trying to cure her grief with their impatient scalpels, Cecilia shows no sign of improvement. Soon, her sister makes a decision born of desperation: She hires a new physician, someone known for more unusual methods. But he is a foreigner. A Jew. And despite his attempts to save Cecilia, he knows he cannot quell the storm of sorrow that rages inside her. There is no easy cure for melancholy.David Mendes fled Portugal to seek a new life in London, where he could practice his faith openly and leave the past behind. Still reeling from the loss of his beloved friend and struggling with his religion and his past, David is free and safe in this foreign land but incapable of happiness. The security he has found in London threatens to disappear when he meets Cecilia, and he finds himself torn between his duty to medicine and the beating of his own heart. He is the only one who can see her pain; the glimmers of light she emits, even in her gloom, are enough to make him believe once more in love.Facing seemingly insurmountable challenges, David and Cecilia must endure prejudice, heartbreak, and calamity before they can be together. The Great Fire is coming—and with the city in flames around them, love has never felt so impossible.
The Phoenix Code
by Catherine AsaroThe Nebula Award–winning author &“continues to dazzle us with brilliance in combining science, romance and adventure.&” —Romantic Times MIT professor Megan O&’Flannery is one of the world&’s leading research scientists on artificial intelligence for androids. Most of her work consists of working with computer simulations, so when the company MindSim gives Megan an opportunity to work with an android, she jumps at the chance. Hidden and secret, an underground compound in the Nevada desert offers Megan a spectacular lab where she can live and work, mostly alone except for robotic assistants—and the android. Although it appears physically indistinguishable from a human man, Megan realizes she has a lot of work ahead if he is ever to think and act like a human, let alone the superspy that MindSim wants him to be. She loosens the controls on his behavior, allowing the android—who soon chooses the name Ander—the freedom of more independent thought. However, when Raj Sundaram, the reclusive genius of robotics, arrives at the compound to work with the android, Ander&’s behavior takes a strange turn, causing Megan to distrust Raj. As Ander&’s development spins out of control, he throws the project into chaos, going rogue even as he becomes stronger—and more dangerously human. &“This novel is clearly science fiction first with a dynamic climax that will stun the unsuspecting audience who will fail to break The Phoenix Code before Ms. Asaro reveals the ending of this keeper.&” —Painted Rock Reviews &“Cinematic energy and the ease and confidence of a seasoned bestseller.&” —SFReviews.net
The Phoenix Encounter
by Linda CastilloNew York Times bestselling author Linda Castillo, brings readers a heart-pounding story of suspense where no one is who they seem.Agent Robert Davidson never recovered from the horror of watching the woman he loved die in a war-ravaged country. But he thought he could handle returning to Rebelia on a mission. Only nothing could have prepared him for the shock of finding Lily still alive--with a child.With Lily's and her son's life in danger, Robert must set aside his jealousy--and desire--in order to protect her and the boy. Except there is one more secret yet to be revealed--which will change Roberts's life forever.Previously Published.
The Phoenix Keeper
by S. A. MacLeanSet in a magical zoo teeming with mythical beasts from dragons and unicorns to kelpies and krakens, The Phoenix Keeper is a fierce joy of a cozy fantasy novel with a soul-restoring queer romance at its heart, for fans ofThe House in the Cerulean Sea and Legends and Lattes. As head phoenix keeper at a world-renowned zoo for magical creatures, Aila's childhood dream of conserving critically endangered firebirds seems closer than ever. There's just one glaring caveat: her zoo's breeding program hasn't functioned for a decade. When a tragic phoenix heist sabotages the flagship initiative at a neighboring zoo, Aila must prove her derelict facilities are fit to take the reins. But saving an entire species from extinction requires more than stellar animal handling skills. Carnivorous water horses, tempestuous thunderhawks, mischievous dragons... Aila has no problem wrangling beasts. But mustering the courage to ask for help from the hotshot griffin keeper at the zoo's most popular exhibit? Virtually impossible. Especially when that hotshot griffin keeper happens to be her arch-rival from college: Luciana, an annoyingly brooding and insufferable know-it-all with the face of a goddess who's convinced that Aila's beloved phoenix would serve their cause better as an active performer rather than as a passive conservation exhibit. With the world watching and the threat of poachers looming, Aila's success is no longer merely a matter of keeping her job... She is the keeper of the phoenix, and the future of a species– and her love life– now rests on her shoulders.
The Phoenix Keeper: The romantasy debut everyone’s talking about
by S. A. MacLeanAs head phoenix keeper at a world-renowned zoo for magical creatures, Aila's childhood dream of conserving critically endangered firebirds seems closer than ever. There's just one glaring caveat: her zoo's breeding program hasn't functioned for a decade. When a tragic phoenix heist sabotages the flagship initiative at a neighbouring zoo, Aila must prove her derelict facilities are fit to take the reins.But saving an entire species from extinction requires more than stellar animal handling skills. Carnivorous water horses, tempestuous thunderhawks, mischievous dragons... Aila has no problem wrangling beasts. Inspiring zoo patrons? That's another story. Mustering the courage to ask for help from the hotshot griffin keeper at the zoo's most popular exhibit? Virtually impossible.Especially when that hotshot griffin keeper happens to be her arch-rival from college: Luciana, an annoyingly brooding and insufferable know-it-all with the grace of a basilisk and the face of a goddess who's convinced that Aila's beloved phoenix would serve their cause better as an active performer rather than as a passive conservation exhibit.With the world watching and the threat of poachers looming, Aila's success is no longer merely a matter of keeping her job... She is the keeper of the phoenix, and the future of a species now rests on her shoulders. There's just one thing she has to remember: she is also not alone.Against an epic fantasy backdrop teeming with all your favourite mythical beasts from dragons and unicorns to kelpies and krakens, The Phoenix Keeper combines the cozy fantasy stakes of TJ Klune and Travis Baldree with the heartwarming contemporary romance of Alice Oseman and Casey McQuiston.
The Phoenix King
by Aparna VermaIn a kingdom where flames hold magic and the desert hides secrets, an ancient prophecy comes for an assassin, a princess, and a king. But none are ready to face destiny-and the choices they make could burn the world."If we carry the burdens of our fathers, we'll never know what it means to be free."For Elena Aadya Ravence, fire is yearning. She longs to feel worthy of her Phoenix god, of her ancestors who transformed the barren dunes of Sayon into a thriving kingdom. But though she knows the ways and wiles of the desert better than she knows her own skin, the secrets of the Eternal Flame elude her. And without them, she'll never be accepted as queen.For Leo Malhari Ravence, fire is control. He is not ready to give up his crown-there's still too much work to be done to ensure his legacy remains untarnished, his family protected. But power comes with a price, and he'll wage war with the heavens themselves to keep from paying it.For Yassen Knight, fire is redemption. He dreams of shedding his past as one of Sayon's most deadly assassins, of laying to rest the ghosts of those he has lost. If joining the court of flame and serving the royal Ravence family-the very people he once swore to eliminate-will earn him that, he'll do it no matter what they ask of him.But the Phoenix watches over all and the fire has a will of its own. It will come for all three, will come for Sayon itself....and they must either find a way to withstand the blaze or burn to ash.The first in an action-packed debut epic fantasy trilogy, The Phoenix King is "a captivating adventure from a gifted new voice" (Peter V. Brett).'The kind of book you sit down with to read one chapter and end up spending the whole day on. Come for the science fantasy worldbuilding and stay for the characters you just can't get out of your head'Vaishnavi Patel, New York Times bestselling author of Kaikeyi'Vast and fascinating . . . A satisfying slow-burn romance only enhances the political machinations. This exciting fantasy promises good things from the series to come'Publishers Weekly'Verma seamlessly blends fantasy with sci-fi . . . A highly recommended read'Fantasy Hive
The Phoenix King (The Ravence Trilogy #1)
by Aparna VermaThe fate of a desert kingdom rests in the hands of a princess desperate for power and an assassin with a dark secret, in this action-packed debut of fire magic and ancient prophecy from a stunning new voice in fantasy."A CAPTIVATING ADVENTURE." —Peter V. Brett The Ravani kingdom was born of a prophecy, carved from unforgiving desert sands and ruled by the Ravence bloodline: those with the power to command the Eternal Fire. Elena Aadya is the heir to the throne—and the only Ravence who cannot wield her family&’s legendary magic. As her coronation approaches, she will do whatever it takes to prove herself a worthy successor to her revered father. But she doesn&’t anticipate the arrival of Yassen Knight, the notorious assassin who now claims fealty to the throne. Elena&’s father might trust Yassen to be a member of her royal guard, but she is certain he is hiding something. As the threat of war looms like a storm on the horizon, the two begin a dangerous dance of intrigue and betrayal. And the choices they make could burn down the world."Characters you just can&’t get out of your head.&” —Vaishnavi Patel, NYT bestselling author of Kaikeyi "Elegant and intelligent storytelling...an exhilarating adventure perfect for fans of S.A. Chakraborty." —Library Journal "A riveting page turner." —Booklist "This exciting fantasy promises good things from the series to come." —Publishers Weekly
The Phoenix Project
by Jacquelyn FrankHeld captive, Amara is subjected to bizarre experiments that test the limits of her sanity. But nothing prepares her for being locked away—naked—with a sexy ex-cop. . .after they've been pumped full of drugs that increase their sexual appetites to animalistic intensity. . .
The Phoenix Takes Revenge: Volume 1 (Volume 1 #1)
by Xiao ZhuPo"I'd rather be ungrateful than ungrateful!" [How can a top assassin be the golden girl of the House of Generals who has been beaten to death?] Yun Weiyang, a single whip strike had scared the world out of its wits! There was no such thing as cowardice or admission of defeat in Missy Yun's dictionary! Let's see how she takes every step she takes, carefully planning, smacking away her direct sister, pummeling up her father, and kicking away the scumbag! Since ancient times, there had been a saying: A person who had obtained a dragon fountain would possess supernatural ability. They would have a peerless beauty that could touch the heavens. They would be able to look down upon the heavens! He wanted to see how she would walk to the top of this era step by step. From now on, she would be a phoenix descending from the heavens, haughty and overbearing! Join Collection
The Phoenix Takes Revenge: Volume 2 (Volume 2 #2)
by Xiao ZhuPo"I'd rather be ungrateful than ungrateful!" [How can a top assassin be the golden girl of the House of Generals who has been beaten to death?] Yun Weiyang, a single whip strike had scared the world out of its wits! There was no such thing as cowardice or admission of defeat in Missy Yun's dictionary! Let's see how she takes every step she takes, carefully planning, smacking away her direct sister, pummeling up her father, and kicking away the scumbag! Since ancient times, there had been a saying: A person who had obtained a dragon fountain would possess supernatural ability. They would have a peerless beauty that could touch the heavens. They would be able to look down upon the heavens! He wanted to see how she would walk to the top of this era step by step. From now on, she would be a phoenix descending from the heavens, haughty and overbearing! Join Collection
The Phoenix of Love (March Madness #355)
by Susan SchonbergThe Ice Princess And The Dashing MarquisIgnorant of her childhood marriage, Olivia Wentworth was uncertain she could ever put her troubled past behind her, though the Marquis of Traverston seemed determined to convince her otherwise.John Marston, the fourth Marquis of Traverston, was finally ready to claim his bride. Yet he too must put the past to rest if he is ever to win the trust and love of the coldly beautiful woman that Olivia has become.
The Phyllis A. Whitney Collection Volume Four: The Turquoise Mask, The Trembling Hills, and The Quicksilver Pool
by Phyllis A. WhitneyThree romantic novels of suspense from the New York Times–bestselling “Queen of the American gothics” (The New York Times). The Turquoise Mask: Manhattan illustrator Amanda Austin is summoned to her grandfather’s Santa Fe hacienda to get to know distant relatives of her late mother, who died years ago under mysterious circumstances. But once there, everyone greets her like an unwelcome guest. After a little investigating, she begins to fear the real reason she was invited . . . The Trembling Hills: In 1906, Sara Bishop is off to San Francisco to win back her childhood sweetheart, Ritchie Temple. Her mother, however, is not only concerned with her daughter’s pursuit of an elusive romance, but also with the city itself—and the secret she and Sara’s father buried there years ago . . . The Quicksilver Pool: After the Civil War, Lora, a young Confederate bride moves north to live with Wade, her Union soldier husband, in his Staten Island mansion. Waiting for her there are a bitterly unwelcoming family and the shadows of Wade’s past.
The Phyllis A. Whitney Collection Volume One: Hunter's Green, Dream of Orchids, and The Winter People
by Phyllis A. WhitneyThree spellbinding romantic thrillers from the New York Times–bestselling and Edgar Award–winning &“master of suspense&” (Mary Higgins Clark). Now in one volume: Three of the most haunting novels by the &“queen of the American gothics&” (The New York Times). Hunter&’s Green: When Eve North returns to Athmore, it&’s to win back the love of her estranged husband, Justin. But she&’s dangerously unaware of the secrets in the sprawling English estate—and the motives of those who protect them, including Justin&’s brother, who once preyed on Eve&’s emotions; Justin&’s manipulative new fiancée; and Justin himself. Eve&’s only ally appears to be the old family gardener who has carved from the green-black yew a magnificent chessboard, both a topiary masterpiece and a warning. Dream of Orchids: Laurel York has come to Key West at the request of her estranged father, expecting to heal old wounds with the celebrated author. Instead, she&’s greeted with the unexpected: her father&’s cold reception, two weird stepsisters, and whispers of a woman&’s bizarre death in a greenhouse full of orchids. The only one pleased with her presence is her father&’s mysterious collaborator. But in a house of bad blood and family secrets, trusting the wrong person could cost Laurel her life. The Winter People: Manhattan art curator Diana Blake is looking forward to finally meeting her husband Glen&’s family. Unfortunately, when she arrives at the lakeside Victorian mansion in the snowy Jersey hills, the greeting is as ice-cold as the frozen Gray Rocks Lake where Glen&’s mother mysteriously drowned. But it&’s Glen&’s twin sister who casts the most sinister shadow. Because it&’s here in dark halls of High Towers, where a strange sibling rivalry will draw Diana into a chilling and inescapable game of family secrets. This trio of atmospheric psychological thrillers once again proves why Phyllis A. Whitney &“is, and always will be, the Grand Master of her craft&” (Barbara Michaels).
The Phyllis A. Whitney Collection Volume Three: Window on the Square, Thunder Heights, and The Golden Unicorn
by Phyllis A. WhitneyThree haunting novels of romantic suspense from the New York Times–bestselling and Edgar Award–winning &“Queen of the American gothics&” (The New York Times). A trio of spellbinding thrillers from &“the Grand Master of her craft&” (Barbara Michaels) and a &“superb and gifted storyteller&” (Mary Higgins Clark). Window on the Square: Megan Kincaid lives in a house of secrets on Washington Square in New York City. Hired by romantic and wealthy Brandon Reid as his stepson&’s caretaker, she knows the boy&’s violent history—one the Reid family has tried to bury. But their mysterious past runs deeper and more dangerous than she realized. Now, as Megan slowly unravels the truth behind a tragic murder, she&’s torn between a child she must save, a man she&’s come to love, and the desire to run for her life. Thunder Heights: Camilla King has received a startling invitation: Her wealthy and estranged grandfather wants her to return to the mansion on the Hudson where her mother suffered a mysterious death. Camilla complies, partly to meet the family she never had, and partly because of whispers of an inheritance. But a series of suspicious accidents lead Camilla to fear that her homecoming may be a carefully designed trap—the same one her own mother fell prey to many years ago. The Golden Unicorn: After the death of her adoptive parents, Courtney Marsh is determined to uncover her past. The only clues are a unicorn pendant she&’s had all her life and a newspaper clipping about a prominent yet reclusive East Hampton family. Under the guise of a reporter, she&’s arrived at the Rhodes&’s mansion to find the truth of her heritage. But the more Courtney discovers, the more she fears—because hers is a legacy of murder that has yet to play its final hand.
The Phyllis A. Whitney Collection Volume Two: Woman Without a Past, The Red Carnelian, and Feather on the Moon
by Phyllis A. WhitneyA trio of romantic spellbinders from a New York Times–bestselling and Edgar Award–winning &“master of suspense&” (Mary Higgins Clark). Three atmospheric psychological thrillers from the undisputed &“Queen of the American gothics&” (The New York Times). Woman Without a Past: Popular mystery novelist Molly Hunt has just made a stunning discovery: She&’s the daughter of South Carolina blue bloods and was kidnapped as an infant from their plantation in Charleston. But her birth family is a strange brood and meeting them is not the happy reunion she expected. It&’s only when Molly finds a letter from her late father that she comes to realize how much danger she&’s in—and what it will take to escape the shadows of Mountfort Hall alive. The Red Carnelian: Linell Wynn, copywriter for Chicago department store Cunningham&’s, can put a clever spin on everything. But she&’s at a loss for words when, after closing time, she finds the manager&’s corpse in a window display. Considering her volatile history with the victim, she&’s the number one suspect—until a second murder throws the store detective for a loop and plunges Linell into the investigation. Now she&’s working after hours to find a killer, and she has more to lose than her job. Feather on the Moon: It&’s been seven years since Jennifer Blake&’s daughter vanished, but she&’s never given up hope of finding her. Then comes the call from a wealthy dowager a continent away who believes the girl living in her own home could be Jennifer&’s long-lost child. When Jennifer arrives at the sprawling Vancouver Island estate she must navigate a maze of threatening secrets if she&’s to find her daughter—and solve the most shattering mystery of all, locked away in the shadows of Radburn House.
The Physics of Sunset
by Jane VandenburghA novel that concerns adultery between a married Jewish architect and an almost-divorced poet--in Berkeley, no less--had better have a sense of humor about its subject. Fortunately, The Physics of Sunset does.
The Piano Man
by Marcia Preston"Dear Stranger, You don't know me, but you are my hero. My husband, Mason, received your son's heart. You have given him a new life." With the tragic death of her teenage son, Claire O'Neal lost more than Nathan-she lost her direction. Now, three years after his death, her life remains flat and hopeless. But with the unexpected discovery of a forgotten letter, written by the wife of the man who received Nathan's heart,Claire feelss as if she has been given a chance to connect again with her son According to the letter, Mason MacKinnon is a talented violinist and happily mareried. Perhaps, if she could meet him, Nathan's death would finally have some meaning. But when she finds Mason, he is playing piano in a seedy bar, a cynical, chain -smoking man, down on his luck and in no mood for Claire. What has happened to him in the years since his wife wrote to Claire? How dare he abuse the precious gift given to him by Claire's son? Saving a man who has lost his family, his illustrious career and his will to livbe is no easy task, but Claire is driven with a purpose that borders obsession. And as two lost, lonely people learn to find hope once again, they grow to understand that life holds beautiful music still comes straight from the heart. With a clear eye, acclaimed author Marcia Preston shows how our lives can be connected in strange, unexpected and sometimes wonderful ways.
The Piano Teacher
by Janice Y. K. LeeIn the sweeping tradition of The English Patient, a gripping tale of love and betrayal set in war-torn Hong Kong In 1942, Will Truesdale, an Englishman newly arrived in Hong Kong, falls headlong into a passionate relationship with Trudy Liang, a beautiful Eurasian socialite. But their love affair is soon threatened by the invasion of the Japanese as World War II overwhelms their part of the world. Will is sent to an internment camp, where he and other foreigners struggle daily for survival. Meanwhile, Trudy remains outside, forced to form dangerous alliances with the Japanese-in particular, the malevolent head of the gendarmerie, whose desperate attempts to locate a priceless collection of Chinese art lead to a chain of terrible betrayals. Ten years later, Claire Pendleton comes to Hong Kong and is hired by the wealthy Chen family as their daughter's piano teacher. A provincial English newlywed, Claire is seduced by the heady social life of the expatriate community. At one of its elegant cocktail parties, she meets Will, to whom she is instantly attracted-but as their affair intensifies, Claire discovers that Will's enigmatic persona hides a devastating past. As she begins to understand the true nature of the world she has entered, and long-buried secrets start to emerge, Claire learns that sometimes the price of survival is love.
The Piano Tuner: A Novel
by Chiang-Sheng KuoThis bestseller and winner of every major literary award in Taiwan is an elegiac novel about love and loss, broken dreams and desolate hearts—and music: "A delightful read."—Ha Jin A widower grieving for his young wife. A piano tuner concealing a lifetime of secrets. An out-of-tune Steinway piano. A journey of self-discovery across time and continents, from a dark apartment in Taipei&’s red-light district to snow-clad New York. At the heart of the story is the nameless narrator, the piano tuner. In his forties, he is balding and ugly, a loser by any standard. But he was once a musical prodigy. What betrayal and what heartbreak made him walk away from greatness? Long hailed in Taiwan as a &“writer&’s writer,&” Chiang-Sheng Kuo delivers a stunningly powerful, compact novel in The Piano Tuner. It&’s a book of sounds: both of music and of the heart, from Rachmaninoff to Schubert, from Glenn Gould to Sviatoslav Richter, from untapped potential to unrequited love. With a cadence and precision that bring to mind Thomas Mann&’s Death in Venice, Kazuo Ishiguro&’s Nocturnes, and Yasunari Kawabata&’s Snow Country, this short novel may be a portrait of the artist as a &“failure,&” but it also describes a pursuit of the ultimate beauty in music and in love.