About this Event
Join us at Waterstones York for our first book event of 2026 with the author of Pagans, James Alister Henry.
Step into an alternate 21st Century England, where the Norman conquests never took place and now a world full of multiple Gods and religions comes with a host of new problems. With beautfully crafted prose and excellent world building, this is your opportunity to meet a promising new author with a vivid and creative imagination.
Our doors will open at 6.45pm for customer entry to the event.
Lite refreshments will be served and the evening will include a question and answer session between James and the audience, followed by a book signing.
Tickets:
General Admission £6
Book and Ticket £14
Book of the Month! Pagans is our book of the month for February. Keep your recepit and claim a free hot drink in any Cafe W.
About the book: Pagans by James Alistair Henry
TWO COPS. ONE KILLER. HUNDREDS OF GODS.
21st Century London.
The Norman conquest never happened.
The ancient tribes of Britain remain undefeated.
But murders still have to be solved.
The small, mostly unimportant, island of Britain is inhabited by an uneasy alliance of tribes – the dominant Saxon East, the beleaguered Celtic West, and an independent Nordic Scotland – and tensions are increasing by the second. Supermarket warpaint sales are at an all- time high, mead abuse shortens the lives of thousands, and social media is abuzz with conspiracy theories suggesting the High Table’s putting GPS trackers in the honeycakes.
Amid this febrile atmosphere, the capital is set to play host to the Unification Summit, which aims to join together the various tribes into one ‘united kingdom’. But when a Celtic diplomat is found brutally murdered, his body nailed to an ancient oak, the fragile peace is threatened. Captain Aedith Mercia, daughter of a powerful Saxon leader, must join forces with Celtic Tribal Detective Inspector Drustan to solve the M**der – and stop political unrest spilling onto the streets.
But is this an isolated incident? Or are Aedith and Drustan facing a serial killer with a decades-old grudge? To find out, they must delve into their own murky pasts and tackle forces that go deeper than they ever could have imagined.
Set in a world that’s far from our own and yet captivatingly familiar, Pagans is “The Bridge” meets “Vikings”, exploring contemporary themes of religious conflict, nationalism, prejudice... and the delicate internal politics of the office coffee round. Gripping and darkly funny, Pagans keeps you guessing until the very end.
Accessibility notes:
Our shop has step free access from the street.
We have two customer bathrooms (baby changing facilities are on the ground floor).
A customer lift is available and the customer cafe (located on the first floor) closes at 5pm.
Waterstones staff will be on hand throughout the event to support with queries and queue management throughout.
Unfortunately, there is no access for cars down Coney Street until 6.30pm this includes Taxis.
Please telephone or email the shop if you require assistance on the day.
Telephone number 01904 620 784
Email: [email protected]
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Waterstones, 15 Coney Street, York, United Kingdom
GBP 4.00 to GBP 14.00
