The Blasphemer

Shortlisted for the 2010 Costa Novel Award, an astonishing, ambitious and masterful new novel, with echoes of Birdsong, that reads at the pace of a thriller.

SHORTLISTED FOR THE COSTA NOVEL AWARD & A RICHARD & JUDY BOOK CLUB PICK

He had always been scared of flying.

SHORTLISTED FOR THE COSTA NOVEL AWARD & A RICHARD & JUDY BOOK CLUB PICK

FOR FANS OF ATONEMENT, BIRDSONG, IN MEMORIAM AND ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE

'A book that won't leave your fingernails intact...a terrifically exciting and thought-provoking must-read' DAILY MAIL

'A great achievement...To take on the First World War and make it fresh is remarkable.' MELVYN BRAGG

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On its way to the Galapagos Islands, a light aircraft ditches into the sea. As the water floods through the cabin, zoologist Daniel Kennedy faces an impossible choice – should he save himself, or Nancy, the woman he loves?
In a parallel narrative, it is 1917 and Daniel’s great-grandfather Andrew is preparing to go over the top at Passchendaele. He, too, will have his courage tested, and must live with the moral consequences of his actions.

When Daniel returns to London, the past and the present collide, as Daniel tries to make sense of something he saw while swimming to safety that he cannot explain. Indeed nothing will make sense - either for Daniel or his great-grandfather - until they prove themselves capable of altruism, and deserving of forgiveness.

It is a question of courage. It is a question of love. It is a question of having the faith to endure...
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Readers say:

'Really gripping ... I recommend it very warmly to anyone who likes an involving, intelligent, thoughtful and thought-provoking read.'

'A beautifully constructed and written novel with some very fine touches and linked themes...quite remarkable for a first work'

'The author treats the reader with intelligence and offers an intricate tale with convincing, flawed characters making difficult choices and dealing with the consequences'

'Really superb...Usually I feel you have to choose a book that is ether a page turning immersive read OR has beautiful writing and thought provoking themes. It is rare to find a book that provides both. The Blasphemer is that book.'