Charles Lambert's 'extremely engaging' literary thriller, ANY HUMAN FACE will be launched at Notting Hill's charming Travel Bookshop on 3 July at an event also featuring Forward-listed poet Simon Barraclough. The novel, Charles Lambert's second, follows a British man living in Rome who is drawn into a mystery when he finds a collection of photographs among the possessions of an ex-lover.
 
Ahead of the launch the book has received its first broadsheet review in the UK, with John O'Connell in the Guardian praising the novel's 'atmosphere and psychological insight.' Henry Sutton of the Mirror commented that the book is 'very well-written' and an array of bloggers have joined in the praise, Scott Pack has written that 'Lambert is really very good indeed.' The American in Italia magazine continued the acclaim writing that 'Lambert's novel provides powerful insight into the sinister nature of Italian power, and into human solitude.'

ANY HUMAN FACE is Charles Lambert's second novel and was published by Picador in the UK in May 2010. His debut LITTLE MONSTERS, published by Picador (UK) in March 2008, was longlisted for the IMPAC prize and selected as one of Good Housekeeping's 'Seven Great Reads' for April 2008. His earlier unpublished work drew the praise of Beryl Bainbridge who commented that 'Charles Lambert is a seriously good writer, one deserving of encouragement and recognition.' Charles Lambert also won an O. Henry Award for the title story of his short story collection THE SCENT OF CINAMMON (Salt 2008).

Simon Barraclough's debut poetry collection LOS ALAMOS MON AMOUR (Salt) was shortlisted for the Forward Prize for Best First Collection and was praised by John Green of the Times Literary Supplement for its 'torrential energy'. His latest pamphlet BONJOUR TETRIS is just published by Penned in the Margins. His work has also been broadcast many times by BBC Radio 4 and Radio 3, on The Verb and the Film Programme.
 
Follow all of Charles Lambert's latest news on his blog

For a map showing the location of The Travel Bookshop click here  

Read Rob Spence’s blog review here.

More Praise for Charles Lambert:
 
'Charles Lambert writes as if his life depends on it. He takes risks at every turn.'
--Hannah Tinti author of THE GOOD THIEF
 
'A very interesting writer who could one day attain classic status.'
--Maggie Gee
 
'Lambert's third novel is a sophisticated literary thriller set on the seamier fringe of Rome's gay scene, a magnet for the lonely and displaced located a long way off the tourist trail.'
 -- John O'Connell, Guardian