Exhibits his talents at their provocative best

Nevil Shute's books always have a real hero...intensely romantic along with the realism, intensely real along with the romanticism, and peculiarly absorbing

Scrupulous, pitch-perfect. With heart-pounding force, Dunmore builds up a double narrative of suspense

Magnificent, brave, tender . . . with a unique gift for immersing the reader in the taste, smell and fear of a story

A masterpiece. An extraordinarily powerful evocation of a time of unimaginable fear. We defy you to read it without a pounding heart and a lump in your throat

A beautifully written and deeply moving story about fear, loss, love and honesty amid the demented lies of Stalin's last days. I literally could not put it down

Dunmore chillingly evokes the atmosphere of Soviet suspicion, where whispered rumours and petty grievances metastasise into lies and denunciation. A gripping read

Meticulous, clever, eloquent. An absorbing and thoughtful tale of good people in hard times

A remarkably feeling, nuanced novel that satisfies the head as well as the heart. This does not read like a retelling of history, but like a draught of real life. With her seemingly small canvas, Dunmore has created a universe

Dunmore's genius lies in her ability to convey the strange Soviet atmosphere of these very Soviet stories using the most subtle of clues

Storytelling on a grand scale

This cleverly constructed novel will have, deservedly, widespread popular appeal, especially, perhaps, with young female readership

A beautifully written book with moments of real sadness, hope, laughter, tragedy and joy, which make you appreciate all the little things you love, as your eyes brim with tears

A beautifully-crafted, heart-breaking look at love and loss

Another must is If I Stay by Gayle Foreman, which deals with deep, universal emotions and unpicks the truth about moving on after unspeakable loss - a fresh and compelling piece of work

A heartbreaking and beautifully written novel that should be a must-read for everyone. I doubt anyone who reads this will get to the end dry-eyed. Stock up the tissues!

If I Stay makes you appreciate what you have, all that you've lost and all that might be

A beautifully written book with moments of real sadness, hope and joy