Lucy

★★★★★ Paul Pickering is the natural heir to Grahame Green and Evelyn Waugh. In Lucy, his latest novel, he sets the scene with a burning man running naked through the rubble of Berlin on the last day of WWII. What follows is a thoroughly engrossing read.

All of the key elements we have come to expect are here to relish once more – bewildered central characters adrift in danger-filled locations, cultural clashes and political scheming, religious discord, brutal murders, dark personal secrets, and mysterious love interests.

This is a tense, complex, darkly humorous, and ultimately thought-provoking story, with a strong sense of both time and place, and an intriguing cast of multi-national characters, who are not all they may seem.

-- Kevin Cowdall

★★★★ This wasn’t a standard novel about war, as you would find in the historical fiction genre. A very thought-provoking book at its best, with ideas and concepts explored around the what-ifs about the future and the consequences around them. Amid everything going on in the world currently, this was a little terrifying to read, given the conditions some parts of the world are living in. A good look at human nature and how it can be twisted for the wrong reasons.

* Annie the Ink Drinker *

★★★★★ Lucy stands out not just for its beautiful narrative, but also for its capacity to evoke deep reflection and empathy. Paul Pickering has created a timeless piece of literature that resonates on multiple levels, making it a must-read for anyone who appreciates finely crafted, emotionally rich fiction. Highly recommended for those seeking a novel that is as intellectually stimulating as it is emotionally satisfying.

-- Jo C * NetGalley *

★★★★★ A very good and very important book, especially with the current genocide happening in Gaza. It’s very dark but I would definitely recommend.

-- Lizzy Lahue * NetGalley *

★★★★★ What an exciting book! I loved it! Great characters, great story, and great writing. Pick this one up on publication day!

-- Pamela Higgins * NetGalley *

J. G. Ballard once described Paul Pickering’s work as “truly subversive”. This would certainly be an apt description of his latest novel, in which he picks apart the morality of war and the creation of the State of Israel in the context of the rise and fall of Nazi Germany. At the heart of this absurdist narrative is a love square between four protagonists … But the dark heart of the story is unsettling.

-- Justin Warshaw * T