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About the Author

Joanne Harris is the author of seven previous novels—Chocolat, Blackberry Wine, Five Quarters of the Orange, Coastliners, Holy Fools, Sleep, Pale Sister, and Gentlemen & Players; a short story collection, Jigs & Reels; and two cookbook/memoirs, My French Kitchen and The French Market. Half French and half British, she lives in England.

Praise for Gentlemen and Players…

“[A] gripping psychological thriller. . . . [Harris] cleverly keeps the reader guessing till the very last chapter.
-Express

“Fun with a neat twist ... it’s a bit like A.J. Wentworth squaring up to the talented Mr. Ripley.”
-The Independent

“[A] tense, perspective-shifting narrative ... [A] page-turning climax that ... avoids the easy out of a tidy ending.”
-Tampa Tribune

“A strong psychological mystery.”
-Times Educational Supplement

“Harris pulls it all off . . . Book groups of the world, watch out.”
-The Guardian

“The gold standard for this year’s best mystery...[GENTLEMEN AND PLAYERS] left me breathless...a delightful read.”
-Salon.com

“[An] enjoyable mystery romp.”
-Sunday Times (London)

“A cunning, high-brow cat-and-mouse tale ... [W]ill keep even the sharpest readers off-guard.”
-Florida Times-Union

“A complex, well-crafted murder mystery, with its author’s trademark blend of wit, wisdom and magic.”
-Time Out London

“Riveting . . . The checkmate is a bold stroke -- so audacious as to send readers, including this one, backtracking.”
-Houston Chronicle

“[A] masterful literary thriller.”
-Fort Myers (Fla.) News-Press

“Far darker than Chocolat author Harris’s previous books, this canny page-turner comes with a satisfying twist.”
-Mail on Sunday

“A literary gobstopper with an aniseed heart.”
-Independent

“[Harris] turns to the literary thriller, with stunning results . . . This is one hypnotic page-turner.”
-Booklist (starred review)

“[A] disturbing yet strangely rewarding morality tale . . . Not every chess game ends with a checkmate.”
-Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“[A] clever story of obsession and revenge . . . .[Harris] has scored another success.”
-Daily Telegraph (London)

“Don’t start this one late in the evening, unless you plan to stay up all night. It’s that gripping.”
-Seattle Times

“One of those rare books that grips and holds you . . . [B]oth socially important and vastly entertaining.”
-Chicago Tribune

“Perfect escapist reading for deep winter.”
-Hartford Courant

“With GENTLEMEN & PLAYERS Harris has tapped an unsuspected talent for writing sophisticated, absorbing suspense.”
-Daily News

“Irresistible . . . Constantly surprising and wickedly fun.”
-Washington Post Book World

“Very good indeed.”
-Bookseller (London)

“Best of all is a dazzling climactic twist . . . . its last move is a winner.”
-New York Times Book Review