Based on a True Story

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - "Driving, wild and hilarious" ( The Washington Post ), here is the incredible "memoir" of the actor, gambler, raconteur, and Saturday Night Live veteran. Don't miss Norm's new Netflix special, Hitler's Dog, Gossip & Treachery When Norm Macdonald, one of the greatest stand-up comics of all time, was approached to write a celebrity memoir, he flatly refused, calling the genre "one step below instruction manuals." Norm then promptly took a two-year hiatus from stand-up comedy to live on a farm in northern Canada. When he emerged he had under his arm a manuscript, a genre-smashing book about comedy, tragedy, love, loss, war, and redemption. When asked if this was the celebrity memoir, Norm replied, "Call it anything you damn like." Praise for Based on a True Story "Dostoyevsky by way of 30 Rockefeller Center . . . the best new book I've read this year or last." -- The Wall Street Journal "This book is absurd fiction. . . . Scathing and funny." -- The New York Times "Hilarious and filled with turns of phrase and hidden beauty like only a collection of Norm Macdonald stories could be." -- Esquire "Raucous . . . a hilarious, innovative work." -- A.V. Club "Part personal history and part meta riff on celebrity memoirs, the book, it quickly becomes clear, is also just partly true (and all hilarious)." -- Vulture "Very, very, very funny Thanks, Norm, for letting me be part of this Booker Prize-for-literature-quality effort." --David Letterman "Norm is brilliant and thoughtful and there is sensitivity and creative insight in his observations and stories. A lot of comics over the years have been compared to Mark Twain, but I think Norm is the only one who actually matches the guy in terms of his voice and ability. I seriously f**king love Norm Macdonald. Please buy his book. He probably needs the cash. He's really bad with money." --Louis C.K., from the foreword "Norm is one of my all-time favorites, and this book was such a great read I forgot how lonely I was for a while." --Amy Schumer "I always thought Normie's stand-up was the funniest thing there was. But this book gives it a run for its money." --Adam Sandler "Norm is one of the greatest stand-up comics who's ever worked--a totally original voice. His sense of the ridiculous and his use of juxtaposition in his writing make him a comic's comic. We all love Norm." --Roseanne Barr "Norm Macdonald makes me laugh my ass off. Who is funnier than Norm Macdonald? Nobody." --Judd Apatow "Norm Macdonald is more than a triple threat--he's a septuple threat. He is smart, funny, wry, rakish, polite, rakish . . . no, wait. He is polite, insightful, and . . . aaaaah . . . warm. No. He's exciting. Yeah. Exciting You never know what he'll do. Okay, then make that unpredictable. Add that up. He's amazing." --Alec Baldwin "Norm is a double threat. His material and timing are both top-notch, which is unheard of. He is one of my favorites, both on- and off-stage." --Dave Attell "Letterman said it best: There is no one funnier than Norm Macdonald." --Rob Schneider

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - "Driving, wild and hilarious" ( The Washington Post ), here is the incredible "memoir" of the actor, gambler, raconteur, and Saturday Night Live veteran. Don't miss Norm's new Netflix special, Hitler's Dog, Gossip & Treachery When Norm Macdonald, one of the greatest stand-up comics of all time, was approached to write a celebrity memoir, he flatly refused, calling the genre "one step below instruction manuals." Norm then promptly took a two-year hiatus from stand-up comedy to live on a farm in northern Canada. When he emerged he had under his arm a manuscript, a genre-smashing book about comedy, tragedy, love, loss, war, and redemption. When asked if this was the celebrity memoir, Norm replied, "Call it anything you damn like." Praise for Based on a True Story "Dostoyevsky by way of 30 Rockefeller Center . . . the best new book I've read this year or last." -- The Wall Street Journal "This book is absurd fiction. . . . Scathing and funny." -- The New York Times "Hilarious and filled with turns of phrase and hidden beauty like only a collection of Norm Macdonald stories could be." -- Esquire "Raucous . . . a hilarious, innovative work." -- A.V. Club "Part personal history and part meta riff on celebrity memoirs, the book, it quickly becomes clear, is also just partly true (and all hilarious)." -- Vulture "Very, very, very funny Thanks, Norm, for letting me be part of this Booker Prize-for-literature-quality effort." --David Letterman "Norm is brilliant and thoughtful and there is sensitivity and creative insight in his observations and stories. A lot of comics over the years have been compared to Mark Twain, but I think Norm is the only one who actually matches the guy in terms of his voice and ability. I seriously f**king love Norm Macdonald. Please buy his book. He probably needs the cash. He's really bad with money." --Louis C.K., from the foreword "Norm is one of my all-time favorites, and this book was such a great read I forgot how lonely I was for a while." --Amy Schumer "I always thought Normie's stand-up was the funniest thing there was. But this book gives it a run for its money." --Adam Sandler "Norm is one of the greatest stand-up comics who's ever worked--a totally original voice. His sense of the ridiculous and his use of juxtaposition in his writing make him a comic's comic. We all love Norm." --Roseanne Barr "Norm Macdonald makes me laugh my ass off. Who is funnier than Norm Macdonald? Nobody." --Judd Apatow "Norm Macdonald is more than a triple threat--he's a septuple threat. He is smart, funny, wry, rakish, polite, rakish . . . no, wait. He is polite, insightful, and . . . aaaaah . . . warm. No. He's exciting. Yeah. Exciting You never know what he'll do. Okay, then make that unpredictable. Add that up. He's amazing." --Alec Baldwin "Norm is a double threat. His material and timing are both top-notch, which is unheard of. He is one of my favorites, both on- and off-stage." --Dave Attell "Letterman said it best: There is no one funnier than Norm Macdonald." --Rob Schneider

ALL FAMILIES HAVE SECRETS. BUT IT'S THE LIES THAT CAN KILL. The compelling new novel about power, money and lies from the author of Anatomy of a Scandal. ‘A timely and compelling study of family guilt. Sarah Vaughan's finest novel yet' MICK HERRON ‘Vaughan’s novels are not just screenplay drafts: her cool, careful prose is a pleasure to read' TELEGRAPH ‘Expertly plotted and crackling with tension, this is dysfunctional family psychodrama at its unputdownable best’ GUARDIAN ‘This is talented Vaughan's sixth novel and cements her place as one of our finest thriller writers' DAILY MAIL ‘The gap between public image and private life is the theme of this clever novel…Intriguing’ THE TIMES ‘Sarah Vaughan doesn’t miss a beat in this intricate family thriller … As the jeopardy builds, so does the brilliant characterisation' SAINSBURYS MAGAZINE ‘Shades of King Lear in this gripping tale of three daughters coming together to celebrate the 70th birthday of their mother … A notably, well-written, thoughtful thriller, strong on family dynamics’ MAIL ON SUNDAY ‘Vaughan elegantly toys with readers’ expectations as she parcels out details about Eleanor's family and relationships and explores themes of class, power, and the magpie-like nature of authorship…a canny, suspenseful tale' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY ‘Packed with twists and oozing with menace, this sharp-edged tale is a taut triumph’ CRIME MONTHLY ‘Gripping’ CLOSER A lavish 70th birthday party. A body found on a storm-lashed beach. And a secret that someone is dying to tell... Famed children’s author Dame Eleanor Kingman has summoned her family and friends to her exquisite manor house on the cliffs. They're celebrating her birthday – and her latest number one bestseller in her series of books based on a mother fox and her cubs. But the night before the party, Eleanor receives an email: an email that threatens to expose the lie she’s kept up for over half a century. Someone knows her secret. Is it her estranged literary agent? Is it her ex-husband, to whom she no longer speaks? Is it the nanny she fired all those years ago, who always did have a knack for storytelling? Or is it one of her three daughters, all of whom have a stake in the publishing empire she has built... With a TV crew arriving to film a documentary of her life, Eleanor needs to find out who sent the email – and preserve her multimillion-pound career. But when push comes to shove, and it's time to tell the truth – will anyone actually believe her?

ALL FAMILIES HAVE SECRETS. BUT IT'S THE LIES THAT CAN KILL. The compelling new novel about power, money and lies from the author of Anatomy of a Scandal. ‘A timely and compelling study of family guilt. Sarah Vaughan's finest novel yet' MICK HERRON ‘Vaughan’s novels are not just screenplay drafts: her cool, careful prose is a pleasure to read' TELEGRAPH ‘Expertly plotted and crackling with tension, this is dysfunctional family psychodrama at its unputdownable best’ GUARDIAN ‘This is talented Vaughan's sixth novel and cements her place as one of our finest thriller writers' DAILY MAIL ‘The gap between public image and private life is the theme of this clever novel…Intriguing’ THE TIMES ‘Sarah Vaughan doesn’t miss a beat in this intricate family thriller … As the jeopardy builds, so does the brilliant characterisation' SAINSBURYS MAGAZINE ‘Shades of King Lear in this gripping tale of three daughters coming together to celebrate the 70th birthday of their mother … A notably, well-written, thoughtful thriller, strong on family dynamics’ MAIL ON SUNDAY ‘Vaughan elegantly toys with readers’ expectations as she parcels out details about Eleanor's family and relationships and explores themes of class, power, and the magpie-like nature of authorship…a canny, suspenseful tale' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY ‘Packed with twists and oozing with menace, this sharp-edged tale is a taut triumph’ CRIME MONTHLY ‘Gripping’ CLOSER Alavish 70th birthday party.Abody found onastorm-lashed beach.Andasecret that someoneis dying to tell... Famed children’sauthor Dame Eleanor Kingman has summoned her familyand friends to her exquisite manor house on the cliffs. They're celebrating her birthday –and her latest number one bestsellerin her series of books based onamother foxand her cubs. But the night before the party, Eleanor receivesan email:an email that threatens to expose the lie she’s kept upforover halfacentury. Someone knows her secret.Isit her estranged literaryagent?Isit her ex-husband, to whom she no longer speaks?Isit the nanny she firedall those yearsago, whoalways didhaveaknackforstorytelling? Orisit one of her three daughters,all of whomhaveastakein the publishing empire she has built... WithaTVcrewarriving to filmadocumentary of her life, Eleanor needs to find out who sent the email –and preserve her multimillion-pound career. But when push comes to shove,andit's time to tell the truth –willanyoneactually believe her?

ALL FAMILIES HAVE SECRETS. BUT IT'S THE LIES THAT CAN KILL. The compelling new novel about power, money and lies from the author of Anatomy of a Scandal. ‘A timely and compelling study of family guilt. Sarah Vaughan's finest novel yet' MICK HERRON ‘Vaughan’s novels are not just screenplay drafts: her cool, careful prose is a pleasure to read' TELEGRAPH ‘Expertly plotted and crackling with tension, this is dysfunctional family psychodrama at its unputdownable best’ GUARDIAN ‘This is talented Vaughan's sixth novel and cements her place as one of our finest thriller writers' DAILY MAIL ‘The gap between public image and private life is the theme of this clever novel…Intriguing’ THE TIMES ‘Sarah Vaughan doesn’t miss a beat in this intricate family thriller … As the jeopardy builds, so does the brilliant characterisation' SAINSBURYS MAGAZINE ‘Shades of King Lear in this gripping tale of three daughters coming together to celebrate the 70th birthday of their mother … A notably, well-written, thoughtful thriller, strong on family dynamics’ MAIL ON SUNDAY ‘Vaughan elegantly toys with readers’ expectations as she parcels out details about Eleanor's family and relationships and explores themes of class, power, and the magpie-like nature of authorship…a canny, suspenseful tale' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY ‘Packed with twists and oozing with menace, this sharp-edged tale is a taut triumph’ CRIME MONTHLY ‘Gripping’ CLOSER A lavish 70th birthday party. A body found on a storm-lashed beach. And a secret that someone is dying to tell... Famed children’s author Dame Eleanor Kingman has summoned her family and friends to her exquisite manor house on the cliffs. They're celebrating her birthday – and her latest number one bestseller in her series of books based on a mother fox and her cubs. But the night before the party, Eleanor receives an email: an email that threatens to expose the lie she’s kept up for over half a century. Someone knows her secret. Is it her estranged literary agent? Is it her ex-husband, to whom she no longer speaks? Is it the nanny she fired all those years ago, who always did have a knack for storytelling? Or is it one of her three daughters, all of whom have a stake in the publishing empire she has built... With a TV crew arriving to film a documentary of her life, Eleanor needs to find out who sent the email – and preserve her multimillion-pound career. But when push comes to shove, and it's time to tell the truth – will anyone actually believe her?

ALL FAMILIES HAVE SECRETS. BUT IT'S THE LIES THAT CAN KILL. The compelling new novel about power, money and lies from the author of Anatomy of a Scandal. ‘A timely and compelling study of family guilt. Sarah Vaughan's finest novel yet' MICK HERRON ‘Vaughan’s novels are not just screenplay drafts: her cool, careful prose is a pleasure to read' TELEGRAPH ‘Expertly plotted and crackling with tension, this is dysfunctional family psychodrama at its unputdownable best’ GUARDIAN ‘This is talented Vaughan's sixth novel and cements her place as one of our finest thriller writers' DAILY MAIL ‘The gap between public image and private life is the theme of this clever novel…Intriguing’ THE TIMES ‘Sarah Vaughan doesn’t miss a beat in this intricate family thriller … As the jeopardy builds, so does the brilliant characterisation' SAINSBURYS MAGAZINE ‘Shades of King Lear in this gripping tale of three daughters coming together to celebrate the 70th birthday of their mother … A notably, well-written, thoughtful thriller, strong on family dynamics’ MAIL ON SUNDAY ‘Vaughan elegantly toys with readers’ expectations as she parcels out details about Eleanor's family and relationships and explores themes of class, power, and the magpie-like nature of authorship…a canny, suspenseful tale' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY ‘Packed with twists and oozing with menace, this sharp-edged tale is a taut triumph’ CRIME MONTHLY ‘Gripping’ CLOSER Alavish 70th birthday party.Abody found onastorm-lashed beach.Andasecret that someoneis dying to tell... Famed children’sauthor Dame Eleanor Kingman has summoned her familyand friends to her exquisite manor house on the cliffs. They're celebrating her birthday –and her latest number one bestsellerin her series of books based onamother foxand her cubs. But the night before the party, Eleanor receivesan email:an email that threatens to expose the lie she’s kept upforover halfacentury. Someone knows her secret.Isit her estranged literaryagent?Isit her ex-husband, to whom she no longer speaks?Isit the nanny she firedall those yearsago, whoalways didhaveaknackforstorytelling? Orisit one of her three daughters,all of whomhaveastakein the publishing empire she has built... WithaTVcrewarriving to filmadocumentary of her life, Eleanor needs to find out who sent the email –and preserve her multimillion-pound career. But when push comes to shove,andit's time to tell the truth –willanyoneactually believe her?