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The Silence in Between by Josie Ferguson
£9.99
Available
Product Ref. (e.g. ISBN, SKU)
9781804992739
Published:
01 May 2025
Format:
Paperback
Number of pages:
352 pages
Dimensions:
197x128x26mm
Weight:
0.242kgs
Author:
Lisette lives in East Berlin but brings her new-born baby to a hospital in West Berlin. Under doctor's orders, she goes home to rest, leaving the baby in the care of the hospital. But overnight the border between East and West closes, slicing the city - and the world - in two. With a city in chaos and armed guards ordered to shoot anyone who tries to cross, her situation is desperate. Lisette's teenage daughter, Elly, has always struggled to understand the distance between herself and her mother. Both live for music but while Elly hears notes surrounding every person she meets, for her mother - once a talented pianist - the world has gone silent. Perhaps Elly can do something to bridge the gap between them. What begins as the flicker of an idea turns into a daring plan to escape East Berlin, find her baby brother, and bring him home.
Based on true stories, discover the perfect page-turning summer read for fans of All the Light We Cannot See, In Memoriam and Alone in Berlin
SHORTLISTED FOR WATERSTONES DEBUT FICTION PRIZE
ONE OF INDEPENDENT'S BEST HISTORICAL FICTION OF THE YEAR
'A hauntingly beautiful exploration of love, family and societal unrest all set against the backdrop of the Berlin Wall' Glamour
'A tautly plotted, deeply involving novel that packs a real emotional punch … I can't recommend this novel highly enough' Laura Barnett, bestselling author of The Versions of Us
_____
Imagine waking up and a wall has divided your city in two. Imagine that on the other side is your new-born baby and there is now now no way of getting to him...
Lisette is in hospital with her baby boy. The doctors tell her to go home and get some rest, that he'll be fine.
When she awakes, everything has changed. Because overnight, on 13 August 1961, the border between East and West Berlin has closed. Lisette is trapped in the east, while her baby is unreachable in the west. But this is not the first time she has lived in a divided city.
.
Lisette's teenage daughter, Elly, has always struggled to understand the distance between herself and her mother. Both have lived for music, but while Elly hears notes surrounding every person she meets, for her mother the music has disappeared. Can Elly now find a way to bridge the silence?
Set across two timelines - the Second World War and the tumultuous events of 1961 - The Silence in Between explores the unbreakable bonds of family, the resilience of women, and the lengths they will go to protect the ones they love.
______
PRAISE FOR THE SILENCE IN BETWEEN:
'An emotionally resonant debut full of music and menace' Mail on Sunday
'Rooted in real stories, The Silence in Between is a reminder of how seismic political events shape ordinary lives' Independent
'A haunting and compassionate account of war's legacy, the atrocities inflicted on ordinary German women and their extraordinary resilience' Observer
'Without a doubt one of the best books I have read this year… I can't recommend this book enough'
Abbey Rowlinson, bookseller review
'Absolutely heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. A must-read'
Dominika, bookseller review
'An incredible book full of heartbreak, hope, unbreakable love… I don't think this book will ever leave me.'
Hayley, bookseller review
'I cannot tell you how wonderful this book is...If you are a lover of historical fiction like me, then this is a must read!' 5-star reader review
'Best historical fiction book of the year - even ever' 5-star reader review
'I couldn't put it down' 5-star reader review
'A tribute to the unbreakable bonds of family, the healing capacity of love...I loved it' 5-star reader review
'A masterclass in storytelling' 5-star reader review
About the Author: Born in Sweden to a family of writers and readers, Josie Ferguson moved to Scotland when she was two. She returned to Sweden in her twenties, where she completed a vocational degree in Clinical Psychology (MSc). Upon graduating, she moved to London to pursue a career in publishing, something she had dreamed about since delving into fictional worlds as a child, hidden under the duvet with a torch. She later moved to Asia in search of an adventure and a bit more sun and currently works as a freelance book editor in Singapore, where she lives with her husband and two young children. While training to become a clinical psychologist, Josie learned about the complexity of human nature, something she explores as a writer. She believes books about the past can change the future and she aspires to write as many as possible. The Silence in Between is her debut.
| Number of pages | 352 |
|---|
We will despatch your order as quickly as we can. If, for whatever reason, a product is out of stock we will contact you to discuss the likely delivery time or an alternative product.
| First Item | 2 Items & Over | |
|---|---|---|
| UK | £3.75 | £5.00 |
| EU | £15.00 | £30.00 |
| USA & Canada | £30.00 | £50.00 |
| Rest of the World | £45.00 | £60.00 |
| Collect in Store | free | free |
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