JONATHAN BUCKLEY

This is a startling breakthough novel from Jonathan Buckley, acclaimed author of "Ghost MacIndoe" and "So He Takes the Dog". It will be up for every prize going: a gripping, utterly compelling book whose themes hit home and hard for the baby boom generation. Dominic Pattison's life is one of level contentment: his marriage has proved happy and durable; his business, too, is successful. And then Sam Williams, a builder and ex-squaddie, enters his life. Sam claims to be his son. Yet is Sam who he says he is? After almost thirty years, Dominic can remember little of the affair with Sam's mother. His instinct is to recoil from this aggressive and volatile stranger, who could, with just a few words, take his life apart. But Sam refuses to be dismissed. With its deft switches of sympathy between menaced 'father' and rebuffed 'son' and its exploration of the intricacies of memory, "Contact" will resonate long with its readers.

The Rough Guide to Tuscany and Umbria provides detailed accounts of every sight, from the monuments of Florence, Siena and Assisi to the treasures of tiny Umbrian towns such as Montefalco and Spello. There are insightful reviews of accommodation and restaurants, helping you to enjoy the much-famed Italian dishes on offer. There are also practical tips on a host of activities, from attending Spoleto Festival to walking in the Monti Sibillini

"The Rough Guide to Florence" is the ultimate pocket handbook to one of the world's great cities. Features include: expert commentary on the wealth of attractions, from the cathedral dome to the Uffizi, and from Michelangelo's David to the flea market; incisive reviews of the best hotels, restaurants, bars, clubs and designer shops; day-trips to Fiesole, Pisa and Siena; and full-colour maps for the whole city, plus plans of galleries and monuments.

Including accounts of every sight and attraction from Stonehenge to the Eden Project, this guide offers reviews of the best options for eating, drinking and sleeping for every pocket. It also provides detailed background on subjects as diverse as King Arthur, Dracula and the Notting Hill Carnival. Practical coverage of England's best walks are included, from the Pennine Way to the South West Coast path.