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Weekend British Book Deals + Hay Festival
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Each spring, the small, bookshop-filled market town of Hay-on-Wye in Wales becomes the epicenter of the literary world as it welcomes authors, thinkers, and book lovers from around the globe. From May 22 to June 1 this year, the Hay Festival returns with more than 600 events, including conversations with acclaimed writers, performances, debates, and family-friendly activities—all set against the scenic backdrop of the Brecon Beacons.
This year’s lineup includes appearances from Michael Sheen, Alexander McCall Smith, Joanne Harris, and Ruth Jones (who, in addition to creating and starring in Gavin & Stacey, is also the author of books like Love Untold and Us Three).
Can’t make it to Wales? You can still enjoy a number of author interviews and festival highlights on the Hay Festival YouTube channel. You can also use Google Maps to take a stroll around the town (link HERE), or check out a short tour video from The Telegraph HERE.
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British eBooks on Sale Today
As always, a short disclaimer on the sale listings - the overwhelming majority of our readers are US-based, so sale availability may vary outside of the US (it’s up to the publisher/author if they wish to coordinate sales internationally). Deals can disappear at any time, but all e-books were $2.99 or less at time of writing.
The Cancer Man by Arton Baleci - When embittered critic Emet Gordon investigates a suspicious self-help seminar, he uncovers a deadly scam—and ignites something far more dangerous.
Desperate Measures by Simon Farrant - When a murder case hits dangerously close to home, DI Suzy Hunter is drawn into a chilling web of crime where love, family, and survival collide.
Bizarre Scotland by David Long - From echo chambers and alien-friendly cities to seaweed planes and spy schools, this offbeat guide dives deep into Scotland’s strangest stories. Discover the weird, wild, and wonderfully unexpected side of Scotland—far beyond tartan, haggis, and Highland games.
The Myth of Bloody Mary: The First Queen of England by Linda Porter - This bold biography reclaims Mary Tudor from myth, revealing the fiercely intelligent, misunderstood queen who ruled England with courage and conviction.
The Black Hunger by Nicholas Pullen - As John Sackville awaits death in his cell, he pens a final, harrowing tale of forbidden love, ancient horrors, and a journey into the heart of darkness itself.
The Second Chance Book Club by Stephanie Butland - When struggling September inherits a house from a woman she’s never met, she uncovers long-buried family secrets—and a chance to build a life she never imagined.
The Botanist by MW Craven - When his friend is accused of an impossible murder and a killer known as The Botanist begins striking high-profile victims with poetic precision, Washington Poe is dragged into a week of locked-room horrors he wants no part of—but can't walk away from.
A Court of Betrayal by Anne O’Brien - In 14th-century England, young heiress Johane de Geneville is thrust into the heart of rebellion and betrayal—and must fight for her life when her powerful husband's downfall threatens to destroy everything.
Touch Not the Cat by Mary Stewart - When her father dies mysteriously, Bryony returns to her ancestral home—where family secrets, silent messages, and a deadly maze await.
The Norfolk Theatre Murders by Judy Daykin - When a woman vanishes and a body turns up beneath a theatre stage, Detective Sara Hirst must unmask a killer hiding behind costumes, lies, and a script no one dares to change.
The Sisters: The Saga of the Mitford Family by Mary S. Lovell - The Mitford sisters dazzled and divided a nation—Communist, Fascist, Duchess, and bestselling author—each shaped by the turbulent ideologies of the 20th century.
Operation Tulip by Deborah Swift - In Nazi-occupied Holland, British agent Nancy Callaghan risks everything to infiltrate the SS—while back home, the man who loves her launches a daring mission to bring her home.
A Few Print Book Deals…
Print books aren’t sold as cheaply as ebooks (due to higher production/delivery costs), so for these we look for books priced at $10-12 or less at time of writing.
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson - Ursula Todd is born, dies, and lives again—over and over—each time with a chance to change her fate and perhaps the fate of the world.
The Birthday Mystery by Faith Martin - When a birthday party at a grand country house turns deadly, travelling cook Jenny Starling must solve the murders before she’s next on the menu.
The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris by Evie Woods - Edie Lane thought she was chasing a dream job in Paris—but instead finds herself in a magical French bakery where the real recipe is for transformation.
You Don’t Want to Know by Lisa Jackson - Two years after her son vanished, Ava returns home to uncover the truth—but as her memories resurface, so do terrifying questions about what really happened.
The Seaside Murders by Helena Dixon - In 1941, Miss Jane Treen returns to her seaside hometown to investigate a beachside murder—but with spies, secrets, and a one-eyed cat in tow, catching the killer won’t be smooth sailing.
Jane Austen’s England: Daily Life in the Georgian & Regency Periods by Roy & Lesley Adkins - Jane Austen’s England reveals the gritty, vibrant realities of Regency life beyond the drawing room—where war, hardship, and social change shaped everyday survival.
Monty Python Speaks by David Morgan - Featuring a foreword by John Oliver, Monty Python Speaks is the definitive oral history of the comedy troupe that redefined funny and sparked a global comedy revolution.
The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde - In a world where magic is fading fast, 15-year-old Jennifer Strange must face prophecies, dragons, and the return of Big Magic—before it’s too late.
“Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity or registering wrongs.”
Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre
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