#1 International bestselling novel set in 1920s Ceylon, about a young Englishwoman who marries a charming tea plantation owner and widower, only to discover he's keeping terrible secrets about his past, including what happened to his first wife, that lead to devastating consequences Nineteen-year-old Gwendolyn Hooper is newly married to a rich and charming widower, eager to join him on his tea plantation, determined to be the perfect wife and mother. But life in Ceylon is not what Gwen expected. The plantation workers are resentful, the neighbours treacherous, and there are clues to the past - a dusty trunk of dresses, an overgrown gravestone in the grounds - that her husband refuses to discuss. Just as Gwen finds her feet, disaster strikes. She faces a terrible choice, hiding the truth from almost everyone, but a secret this big can't stay buried forever....

The Reading Desk team nominates 3 books each month from the many that are collectively read. The 3 nominees are put forward on a social media and within our network of reviewers to select that month's winner. Each monthly nominated book will go forward to the Annual Awards Competition. The annual awards will be judged by a panel of globally recognised reviewers and authors, chaired by Peter Donnelly. Panel members will be revealed shortly. We have responded to a number of feedback suggestions that this feature from The Reading Desk would support authors and their activities to promote and market their books. We also hope that it is a mechanism to bring the writing community together. We hope you enjoy and support the community.

SEPTEMBER BOOK OF THE MONTH WAS AWARDED TO KATE SIMANTS FOR LOCK ME IN

The Reading Desk team nominates 3 books each month from the many that are collectively read. The 3 nominees are put forward on a social media and within our network of reviewers to select that month's winner. Each monthly nominated book will go forward to the Annual Awards Competition. The annual awards will be judged by a panel of globally recognised reviewers and authors, chaired by Peter Donnelly. Panel members will be revealed shortly. We have responded to a number of feedback suggestions that this feature from The Reading Desk would support authors and their activities to promote and market their books. We also hope that it is a mechanism to bring the writing community together. We hope you enjoy and support the community.

AUGUST BOOK OF THE MONTH WAS AWARDED TO KEVIN BARRY FOR NIGHT BOAT TO TANGIER

The Reading Desk team will nominate 3 books each month from the many that are collectively read. The 3 nominees will be put forward on a social media poll to the wider writing community to vote for that month's winner. Each monthly nominated book will go forward to the Annual Awards Competition. The annual awards will be judged by a panel of globally recognised reviewers and authors, chaired by Peter Donnelly. Panel members will be revealed shortly. We have responded to a number of feedback suggestions that this feature from The Reading Desk would support authors and their activities to promote and market their books. We also hope that it is a mechanism to bring the writing community together. We hope you enjoy and support the community.

JULY BOOK OF THE MONTH WAS AWARDED TO ADRIAN MCKINTY FOR THE CHAIN

The Reading Desk team will nominate 3 books each month from the many that are collectively read. The 3 nominees will be put forward on a social media poll to the wider writing community to vote for that month's winner. Each monthly nominated book will go forward to the Annual Awards Competition. The annual awards will be decided by a mainly external panel of globally recognised reviewers and authors, chaired by Peter Donnelly. We have responded to a number of feedback suggestions that this feature from The Reading Desk would support authors and their activities to promote and market their books. We also hope that it is a mechanism to bring the writing community together. We hope you enjoy and support the community.

JUNE BOOK OF THE MONTH WAS AWARDED TO ALEX NORTH FOR THE WHISPER MAN