Marks the return of Nicholas Newman, the architect protagonist of the bestselling The Amethysts, which the critics called 'unforgettable'. Played out in the arena of football, Pearl is a compelling story in which the past rises to dominate the present and perhaps the future. Nicholas Newman, affluent, successful, but emotionally unresolved, is a reluctant discoverer of events which took place during the Second World War. Placed under huge moral pressure by the terms of a dead friend's bequest, he stumbles upon a secret that directs the violence on the football terraces of Europe. One of his clients holds the key. Johan Pearl -- 'the Black Pearl' -- a Dutch international footballer has commissioned Newman to design his house. With the plans comes extraordinary violence and Nicholas Newman is once again at the centre of a psychological mystery that he can only resolve by examining his own life.

About the Author
Novelist, broadcaster and freelance journalist Frank Delaney was born in the south of Ireland in 1942. His radio programmes have included Bookshelf and the language series Word of Mouth on Radio 4. He regularly appears on TV, having made arts and history documentaries for the BBC, including The Celts, and features in the Book Show on Sky News.

Reviews
The Amethysts: 'The fusillade of shocks, and the crescendo of menace and confusion are contrived brilliantly. The pace rarely flags. Taut, tense and full of threatening emotional power.' Daily Telegraph 'Effortlessly hooks the reader. This mix of John Fowles-cum-Ian McEwan turns flammable.' Guardian 'The action pans across Europe with pace and verve, but all the time resonant with dark undertones... gripping.' The Times 'A psychological thriller as harrowing as it is absorbing... powerful, almost poetic prose style... always intense, emotional and uninhibited. This novel may prove unforgettable.' Sunday Telegraph 'Elegantly written and compellingly plotted.' Sunday Times 'A compelling novel, written with pace, verve and imagination.' Mail on Sunday



Book Information
ISBN 9780002258296
Author Frank Delaney
Format Hardback
Page Count 400
Imprint HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
Weight(grams) 660g