Edinburgh Gliterary Lunch, 23rd November 2026

A Knock at the Door
Louise Candlish

The Author

Louise Candlish the internationally bestselling author of 18 novels, including The Only Suspect, winner of 2024 Ned Kelly Award, and Our House, winner of the British Book Award for Crime, and Thriller Book of the Year.  Following her smash-hit TV drama adaptation of Our House, Louise’s TV brand is soaring with two major new adaptions of The Only Suspect (ITV) and The Heights (Channel 5).  Louise lives in London.

The Book

When three-year-old Tippi Macklin goes missing on a weekend break with her parents, her face appears in newspapers around the world, sparking endless debate and conspiracy theories.  Wealthy and glamorous, Jed and Gabby never give up hope that Little Tippi will be found.

Eighteen years later, a young woman arrives at their door claiming to be their lost girl.  She has a new name, a new history and some startling evidence to support her claim.  Can she really be Tippi – or is she an imposter?

A DNA test will prove her identity one way or another but when the results come back it seems the mystery has only just begun….

Praise for Louise Candlish

‘‘A poignant family drama… Full of suspenseful moments and didn’t see them coming twists’”. Adele Parks

“Candlish is at the top of her game. Each chapter delivers until the unexpected and gripping reveal. It should come with a safety warning: you might get carpet burns from the number of times Candlish pulls the rug from under your feet. Domestic noir at its brilliant best.” John Marrs

Belgrave Road
Manish Chauhan

The Author

Manish Chauhan’s short story Pieces was shortlisted for the BBC National Short Story Award.  His work has also been shortlisted for the Galley Beggar Short Story Prize and the Exeter Short Story Competition.  Early excerpts of Belgrave Road were longlisted for the Curtis Brown First Novel Award and shortlisted for the Daniel Goldsmith First Novel Prize.  This is his debut novel and one to watch.

When not writing, Manish works as a finance lawyer and now based in London although originally from Leicester.  He aims to reach readers who enjoy the works of Monica Ali and Aravind Adiga.

The Book

Mira’s days are filled with duty and are light on freedom.  Living in a new country, with a husband she barely knows – and whom she fears she’ll never love – Mira is desperate to discover all that her new life in England might offer.

And then there’s Tahliil, the quiet, beautiful man she sees at work each day.  With a depth in his eyes and a face full of questions, he’s the first person in this new world to listen to Mira’s hope for all she yearns to become.

But beyond their lunchtime encounters, the pair couldn’t lead more different lives; the duties that bind them and the homes they are trying to build threaten to subsume them.  As Mira and Tahliil navigate the deep and turbulent waters of their new worlds, can they find a way to be together, and will finding eachother set them free?

Praise for Manish Chauhan

‘‘A tender tale of love beyond borders.”  The Guardian