Andrew Nicoll

`A triumph of tone, very moving, completely convincing' - ANDREW MARR `A Baltic Brief Encounter' - INDEPENDENT Every morning, Mayor Tibo Krovic stops off at the local cafe on his way to work. He drinks his Viennese coffee with extra figs, leaves a bag of sweets for the owner, and then continues on to his office. There he awaits the arrival of his secretary: the beautiful, married, but lonely, Agathe Stopak. In the respectable town of Dot, there is nothing the good Mayor Tibo can do about his love for Mrs Stopak. Until one day Agathe accidentally drops her lunch into the fountain and a family tragedy is revealed. In that moment, everything changes. The Good Mayor is a magical story of fate and chance, of loss and love.

Otto Witte was once many things. But now, sitting in his caravan, drinking what's left of his coffee (dust), listening to the Allies rain their bombs on his city, he is simply scared. And so he's decided to write the story of his life. It is an extraordinary story, a story about how, with the help of his friends (and a camel), an acrobat of Hamburg became the King of Albania, and fell in love along the way.

Luciano Hernando Valdez is his Latin American nation's most celebrated novelist and he's suffering from writer's block. So far his latest great work comprises the words 'The scrawny yellow cat crossed the road'. He's tried all his usual tricks to get back on track - he's had a few debates with his trusty colleagues at the university, he's had an affair with the banker's wife, nothing will work. Until he meets Caterina. Beautiful, young and one of his biggest fans, she has idolised him since she was a child and he has inspired her to write. Convinced that falling in love with her, spending every minute he can alongside her, moulding her to his world, will unlock something and enable him to write, he pursues her and soon enough, he falls headlong into her arms. But it's only a matter of time before he murders her.

‘A triumph of tone, very moving, completely convincing’ – ANDREW MARR‘A Baltic Brief Encounter’ – INDEPENDENTEvery morning, Mayor Tibo Krovic stops off at the local café on his way to work. He drinks his Viennese coffee with extra figs, leaves a bag of sweets for the owner, and then continues on to his office. There he awaits the arrival of his secretary: the beautiful, married, but lonely, Agathe Stopak. In the respectable town of Dot, there is nothing the good Mayor Tibo can do about his love for Mrs Stopak. Until one day Agathe accidentally drops her lunch into the fountain and a family tragedy is revealed. In that moment, everything changes. The Good Mayor is a magical story of fate and chance, of loss and love. An international bestseller, published in 23 countries, this stunning novel will be loved by fans of Joanne Harris (Chocolat), Louis de Bernieres (Captain Corelli's Mandolin) and William Boyd (Love is Blind). PRAISE FOR THE GOOD MAYOR:'One of the best books I've ever read . . . It had a humour and lightness of touch that hooked me from the first page to the last' – Daily Telegraph'An extraordinary achievement – original and profoundly creative' – Scotsman'The delicious writing takes it into a rare league' – The Sun'A story of love, dreaming and loss . . . you will not be disappointed.' – Andrew Marr, Observer'An exuberant, whirlwind read, with a glint of steel beneath the frothy plot.' – Guardian'Clearly the handiwork of a master storyteller.' – Financial Times'A literary novel and gorgeously written, old-fashioned romance.' – The Australian Women’s Weekly'Told with fantastical detail, delightful insights and a touch of humour, this fairy tale-ish romance is a genuine treat.' – Publishers Weekly