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Audio Books Beat the Backlist book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: Butter by Asako Yuzuki

Published February 29th, 2024 by 4th Estate
Crime Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Fiction, Translated Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

WINNER OF WATERSTONES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024

SHORTLISTED FOR THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS DEBUT NOVEL OF THE YEAR 2025

THE NUMBER 1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

A BBC BETWEEN THE COVERS BOOK CLUB PICK

‘A full-fat, Michelin-starred treat’ THE SUNDAY TIMES

‘I have been glued to Asako Yuzuki’s new novel Butter’ NIGEL SLATER

The cult Japanese bestseller about a female gourmet cook and serial killer and the journalist intent on cracking her case, inspired by a true story, and translated by Polly Barton.

There are two things that I can simply not tolerate: feminists and margarine.

Gourmet cook Manako Kajii sits in Tokyo Detention Centre convicted of the serial murders of lonely businessmen, who she is said to have seduced with her delicious home cooking. The case has captured the nation’s imagination but Kajii refuses to speak with the press, entertaining no visitors. That is, until journalist Rika Machida writes a letter asking for her recipe for beef stew and Kajii can’t resist writing back.

Rika, the only woman in her news office, works late each night, rarely cooking more than ramen. As the visits unfold between her and the steely Kajii, they are closer to a masterclass in food than journalistic research. Rika hopes this gastronomic exchange will help her soften Kajii but it seems that she might be the one changing. With each meal she eats, something is awakening in her body, might she and Kaji have more in common than she once thought?

Inspired by the real case of the convicted con woman and serial killer, “The Konkatsu Killer”, Asako Yuzuki’s Butter is a vivid, unsettling exploration of misogyny, obsession, romance and the transgressive pleasures of food in Japan.

buy here

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MY REVIEW:

Food and murder. The perfect recipe for a great read.

Manako Kaji is a convicted serial killer who used a dating service to pick her victims, who she seduced with her delicious home cooking. Her case captured the nation’s imagination but she has always refused to speak to the press. Until journalist Rika Machida sent her a letter asking for her recipe for beef stew. After all, she may not want to talk about her case, but Manako will always talk about food. What follows is a mesmerising story about food, sex, murder, misogyny and obsession that is impossible to forget. 

Captivating, mysterious, sensuous, quirky and uncompromising, Butter is a magnificent debut. This cult Japanese bestseller was a highly  anticipated read for me. I finally read it with my book club last year and seeing all the hype on bookstagram had me even more excited to finally experience it for myself. I wasn’t disappointed. Asako Yuzuki is a masterful storyteller who has created a love letter to good food mixed with mystery, wit, tension, murder and feminist rage. A feast for your senses, food plays a huge role and there are an array of mouthwatering descriptions of food that made my stomach rumble. Asako also looks at the role food plays in sensuality and pleasure, exploring how eating can be a sensual experience or used to seduce, as Manako did with her victims. But it also explores Japan’s beauty culture and obsession with being slim, leading to lots of criticism of Manako’s curvier appearance and Asako explores the societal expectations and sexism that accompany it. 

The characters in this book are richly drawn and unforgettable. The two main characters are strong and formidable women who I loved reading. Rika was likeable and easy to root for, and her hunger to interview Manako and fascination with the case was relatable to this true crime aficionado. Meanwhile Manako herself is an unsettling character that lingers in your mind. And knowing she’s based on the real serial killer, ‘The Konkatsu Killer’, only makes her all the more terrifying. 

I devoured this darkly delicious thriller hungrily, reading it in under a day. It’s easy to see why it took  the literary world and bookstagram by storm and has received numerous awards. I can’t wait to read more from Asako.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

Thank you to 4th Estate for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Asako Yuzuki (柚木 麻子, Yuzuki Asako) is a Japanese writer. She won the All Yomimono Prize for New Writers and the Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize. Asako has been nominated multiple times for the Naoki Prize, and her novels have been adapted for television, radio, and film.

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ABOUT THE TRANSLATOR:

Polly Barton is a writer and Japanese translator based in Bristol. In 2019, she won the Fitzcarraldo Editions Essay Prize, and her debut book Fifty Sounds , a personal dictionary of the Japanese language, was published in the UK by Fitzcarraldo Editions in April 2021. In 2022, Fifty Sounds was shortlisted for the 2022 Stanford Dolman Travel Book of the Year.

Her translations have featured in Granta, Catapult, The White Review and Words Without Borders and her full length translations include Spring Garden by Tomoka Shibasaki (Pushkin Press), Where the Wild Ladies Are by Aoko Matsuda (Tilted Axis Press/Soft Skull), which was shortlisted for the Ray Bradbury Prize, and There’s No Such Thing as an Easy Job by Kikuko Tsumura (Bloomsbury).

Her new book, Porn: An Oral History , will be published by Fitzcarraldo Editions (UK) in March 2023 and La Nave di Teseo (Italy).

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxx

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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: Eye For An Eye by M. J. Arlidge

Published July 20th, 2023 by Orion
Legal Thriller, Crime Fiction, Thriller

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

OUR MOST NOTORIOUS CRIMINALS HAVE HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT.
UNTIL NOW…

‘Emily’ is a devoted single mother.
‘Jack’ starts a new job in a new town.
‘Russell’ may be falling in love.

They all share the same secret:
none of them are who they say they are.

They are among only nine criminals in the UK who have been granted lifelong anonymity, for their own safety, because of their terrible crimes.

But what if someone exposed their true identities to the families of their victims, who are desperate for revenge?

Probation officer Olivia Campbell is caught in the crossfire of this unprecedented crisis – and as the hunt for the mole behind it all intensifies, so too does the search for the vigilante killers let loose by the leaks…

Everyone is a suspect. Anyone could be a killer.
Who deserves justice? And who gets to decide?

#EyeForAnEye

buy here

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MY REVIEW:

There are only nine criminals in the UK who have been granted lifelong anonymity. It is for their own safety, because of how terrible their crimes were. But what would happen if someone exposed their true identities to the families of their victims? 

As soon as I read that heart-stopping synopsis I knew I had to read this thriller. Of course, I will also read anything that M. J. Arlidge writes. And this standalone thriller is sensational. Malevolent, suspenseful, harrowing, emotive and thought-provoking, I was in Arlidge’s thrall from the start. Terror oozes from the first page, and there is a harrowing sense of foreboding throughout. There’s a huge cast of characters but it never feels confusing, seamlessly moving between them as we are taken on a journey filled with vengeance, danger, fear and fury.

This book will make you question your own moral compass and forces you to confront your own sense of what justice looks like. Should those who commit terrible crimes live safely in secrecy or should the families of their victims be allowed vengeance? It’s not an easy moral dilemma. After all, my instinct is to say they should never be released from prison and if they are, their fate should be up to their victims’ families. 

There are two sides to every story and Arlidge explores the shades of grey that exist in every situation, writing with nuance as he dissects the crimes and their repercussions. He also humanises these ‘evil’ children, allowing us to see past their atrocities, connect with them and condemn the vigilante justice. But then he flips the script, showing us the pain, rage and devastation of the victims’ families and how they feel let down by the justice system. In the middle of all this is Probation Officer Olivia Campbell, the woman who is caught in the crossfire between perpetrators and victims. Olivia is racing against the clock in a desperate search to find the mole who leaked the information and hunting down the vigilantes who are hell-bent on revenge.

A twisty thriller that will keep you on your toes until the last page, this is a must-read.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

M. J. Arlidge is the international bestselling author of the Detective Helen Grace Thrillers, including Pop Goes the Weasel and his debut, Eeny Meeny, which has been sold in twenty-five countries. He lives in England and works in television.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Audio Books Beat the Backlist book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2025

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The Lamplighters Bookshop by Sophie Austin

Published March 13th, 2025 by Harper Fiction
Historical Fiction, Romance Novel, Historical Romance, Gaslamp Fantasy

*I listened to this book on Bookbeat. Click here for 60 days free listening with my affiliate code*

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

The Netgalley Historical Fiction Book of the Year 2025!!

Every book tells a story. Every heart hides a secret.

‘What’s not to love?! Nineteenth century York, bookshops and brilliant characters!‘ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

In the shadowy aisles of the Lamplighter’s Bookshop, secrets lie as thick as the dust…

When Evelyn Seaton answers an advertisement for an assistant at a forgotten bookshop in York, she is not the only one with something to hide.

There she meets the enigmatic and prickly William Morton, an aspiring writer keeping secrets of his own. But when the walls that Evelyn has built around herself start to crumble, there is only one person she can turn to.

As the layers are brushed away, can Evelyn and William find the courage to write the next chapter of their story?

BUY hERE

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MY REVIEW:

Atmospheric, delightful, romantic and compelling, The Lamplighter’s Bookshop is a truly gorgeous debut. And that ending! My heart has still not recovered. I can see why this was voted as historical fiction book of the year on Netgalley last year.

The story follows Evelyn Seaton, who is at home with her mother, Cecilia, when the police arrive one evening and tell them that they must leave their home. Her father has gambled away everything they have and they are there to seize it all. So they go to York to stay with the only family member they have, Cecelia’s Aunt Clara. With nothing to their name, Evelyn decides she must go against her mother’s wishes and get a job, answering an advertisement for an assistant at a forgotten bookshop. It is in this shadowy bookshop that she meets William Morton, a mysterious and prickly aspiring writer who, like Evelyn, is keeping secrets to protect himself. The pair try to deny their attraction, but when Evelyn’s life begins to fall apart all over again, William is the only one she can turn to. Can they find the courage to give into their true feelings?

Sophie Austin reveals herself as a writer to watch with this magnificent debut. Her storytelling and imagery is so evocative, bringing the world and characters she’s created to life so vividly that it felt like I was walking the cobbled streets of nineteenth century York, wandering the shadowy aisles of the bookshop, and living every moment alongside the characters, who are ebullient and memorable. A story about love, secrets and betrayal, Ms. Austin keeps her reader guessing what secrets most of the characters are hiding. I was on tenterhooks trying to guess what they were hiding and wondered what would happen when they were finally truthful with each other and their secrets were revealed. 

Evelyn is a fantastic protagonist. Not only is she likeable and easy to root for, she’s feisty, intelligent, resourceful, determined and fiercely independent. I was rooting for her from the start as she tried to navigate this scary new reality she’d been thrust into whilst also trying to deal with the heartache of her father’s betrayal. Evelyn also comes up against societal expectations from her mother and others that get in her way, but she finds ways to overcome them at every step, intent on making life better for herself and her mother.  Another character I really enjoyed was Aunt Clara. She was snarky, sharp and witty, lighting up the pages in every scene while also offering sage advice to Evelyn and Cecilia. 

As this is a romance, I obviously need to talk about our potential lovebirds. I’m a sucker for an enemies to lovers trope, which was masterfully executed by Ms. Austin. There’s an immediate spark between Evelyn and William but they try to deny it and spend their time disagreeing instead. I loved this quarrelsome pair and their verbal sparring. Their will they/won’t they aspect of their relationship created tension and gave me something to root for. Plus, I knew the pay off would be amazing if they did finally give into their feelings. Something I also liked was what a great character William was in himself. He’s enigmatic, complicated and flawed, and I was as desperate to work him out as Evelyn, keeping me rooted to my chair and turning the pages.

A heartwarming and wonderful debut, I can’t wait to see what’s next from Ms. Austin.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

Thank you Harper Collins for sending me a proof copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Originally from London, Sophie Austin is a historical fiction novelist who now lives in Sweden. Her debut novel, THE LAMPLIGHTER’S BOOKSHOP (coming March 2025) is a turn of the century tale of rivalry, redemption, and love set under the darkening skies of York in 1899. Sophie loves spending time in Victorian England, both in her writing and in her reading, and you can step back in time with her via her website or her Instagram page. When Sophie isn’t writing historical fiction she works as a Senior Creative Writer for a blocky video game writing articles, scripts and more about mining, crafting and surviving

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2026

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: Witch Trial by Harriet Tyce

Published February 26th, 2026 by Wildfire
Thriller, Legal Thriller, Supernatural Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

TWO TEENAGE GIRLS. ONE MURDERED CLASSMATE.
AND A MODERN-DAY WITCH TRIAL THAT WILL DIVIDE THE NATION . . .

‘Mind-bending and brilliant’ LISA JEWELL
‘Deliciously twisted. . . Genius’ CLAIRE DOUGLAS
‘An utter masterpiece’ SOPHIE HANNAH
‘Impeccable plotting’ FINANCIAL TIMES
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When 18-year-old Christian Shaw is found dead in an Edinburgh park, the city reels – and the shock only deepens when police charge her best friends, Eliza Lawson and Isobel Smyth, with her murder.

As their trial begins and headlines scream for justice, rumours of bullying spiral into something darker: whispers of rituals, obsession, and a teenage pact gone wrong.

But then the girls take the stand – revealing a chilling defence no one saw coming – and the jury must question everything: the motives, the evidence, even their own judgement.

Who’s telling the truth? Who can be trusted?
And what really happened to Christian Shaw?

Let the Witch Trial begin . . .

BUY HERE

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MY REIVEW:

Schoolgirls Eliza Lawson and Isobel Smyth are accused of murdering their friend Christian Shaw. This book follows their trial. But it isn’t told through the eyes of the accused, their lawyers or even the victim’s loved ones. This story is primarily told by a juror, heart surgeon Matthew Phillips, who sees the trial as the perfect chance to escape from his troubled life. But he becomes increasingly obsessed with the case and begins to unravel, making us question if we can really believe what he’s telling us. Add in the connections to witchcraft and the historic witch trials, and you’ve got an addictive and heart-pounding thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

From its dark and intriguing prologue to one of the best endings I’ve ever read, Witch Trial had me completely hooked. With her exquisite prose, clever plotting and stunning revelations, Harriet Tyce held me in her thrall. I love it when a book takes you in a different direction than you were expecting, and Harriet did that time and again with this story. I enjoyed the glimpse into what it is like to be a juror in a trial and some of my favourite parts of the book were the scenes between the jurors when they are alone together or trying to navigate the legalities of being a juror when they go against their personal instincts or needs. I also liked that we were never given any information that they didn’t know, putting us in Matthew’s shoes and making us question everything the way he did. 

I love a thriller that keeps you guessing so I loved how although we know the identity of the accused killers they remain elusive and we only have the same evidence as the jurors to decide if they are guilty, raising the suspense and keeping me on tenterhooks. I also loved the supernatural element that is intricately woven into the story. Eliza and Isobel are accused of practicing witchcraft and there are references and parallels with the historic witch trials that took place in Edinburgh, the city the book is set in. These elements helped to create the dark atmosphere and sense of danger that permeated the story. It also made us question not only the sanity of the accused, but also of Matthew, as he’s drawn deeper into the occult as the case goes on.  But the part that elevated this book from great to sensational was that surprise triple twist ending that Harriet pulls off with such finesse. It is truly one of my favourite endings of all time and changed how I perceived the entire story. Well played, Ms. Tyce.

An outstanding thriller that will have your heart racing and mind whirling, add this to your TBR now! 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

Thank you Wildfire for sending me a proof copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Harriet Tyce was born and grew up in Edinburgh. She graduated in English from Oxford University in 1994, and after gaining legal qualifications worked as a criminal barrister for nearly ten years. After leaving the law she started writing, gaining a distinction in an MA in Creative Writing (Crime Fiction) from the University of East Anglia in 2017.

Harriet has written four novels, Blood Orange, The Lies You Told, It Ends At Midnight and A Lesson in Cruelty. She lives in north London with her husband, children, and two dogs.

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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

Audiobook Review: In Bloom by Liz Allan

Published March 12th, 2026 by Sceptre
Literary Fiction, Coming-of-Age Story

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

An Observer Best Debut Novelist 2026

The Bastards aren’t afraid of anything.

It’s the mid-nineties, and in the small, shitty coastal town of Vincent, four girls – each hailing from single-mother, multi-sibling families, form a band: The Bastards. Friends since they were children, they consider themselves ‘forgettable girls’ – distracted, disillusioned, and desperate to escape the fates of their mothers.

Winning the Battle of the Bands is their ticket out – they might not have talent, but they can play three chords and scream until their vocal folds burst out of their throats – and nobody wants it more than them.

But when lead singer Lily Lucid quits, and accuses their idolized music teacher of sexual assault, the three remaining girls are left with nothing. They’ll do anything to keep their dream alive, even if it means sacrificing school, Lily and their mothers. But how far out of control can they spin before there’s no turning back?

buy here

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MY REVIEW:

1994. Vincent, Australia is a small, shitty coastal town that is the capital of teen pregnancies and absent fathers. Four girls from single-mother families looking for a way to be noticed and get out, decide to form a band. And if they can win the Battle of the Bands then they will get their dream. But when their lead singer, Lily, quits the band and accuses their music teacher of sexual assault, everything falls apart. The three remaining girls have nothing left but a desperate dream they are trying to keep alive. But just how far are they prepared to go to do that?

Gritty, grungy, absorbing and immersive, this was a phenomenal debut. Liz Allan has been named one of the Observer’s Best Debut Novelist of 2026 and it’s easy to see why after reading this. Heartbreaking, haunting and raw, it is exquisitely written, richly observed and perfectly paced, the short chapters kept me turning the pages and I devoured the book in one sitting. An electric and emotional coming-of-age story,  it also explores a number of issues including friendship, family, class struggles and sexual assault. It is as mysterious as it is heartfelt, the tension keeping me on the edge of the seat as I overflowed with rage or devastation. I felt every emotion alongside these girls and felt wrecked when it was all over.

I was about the same age as these girls in 1994 and I loved the nostalgia of this story. Liz Allan perfectly captures the feeling of the era and made me feel like I’d stepped back in time to the 90s. I loved all of the small details that made it feel authentic, especially the music references. They were wonderfully written, real and easy to root for, taking me back to the uncertainty of my teenage years. The story moves between the present (1994) and flashbacks to when they were still a foursome and their friendship with Lily was intact, the truth about why Lily left their band slowly unfolding piece by piece.

An outstanding debut from an author who is one to watch, this is a must-read.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

Thanks to Sceptre and Negtalley for my copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dr Liz Allan is an Australian writer and teacher living and working in the United Kingdom. Her debut novel, IN BLOOM, will be published in the USA in January 2026 and in the UK March 2026.

Liz has a PhD in Creative Writing and a Masters in Teaching from The University of Adelaide. She will be the Elisabeth Maynard Writer in Residence at Frensham School, NSW Australia, April-June 2026.

Her short story, Solastalgia, won the Newcastle Short Story Award 2025 and her short story, Our Voices, Fierce won the Rachel Funari Prize for fiction in 2018. Her stories have been shortlisted and longlisted for numerous other awards. 

Liz is represented by Angelique Tran Van Sang at Felicity Bryan Associates in the UK, and Alison Lewis at Francis Goldin Literary Agency in the US.

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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The House Saphir by Marissa Meyer

Published November 6th, 2025 by Faber & Faber
Mystery, Paranormal Fiction, Myths, Young Adult Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

The ghost of Bluebeard. A handsome count. A con artist in over her head.

Mallory Fontaine is a fraud. She’s descended from witches, and pretends to be one, although her only magic is the ability to see ghosts. She can barely make a living – but Count Armand Saphir will pay a fortune if she can rid him of his murderous ancestor’s ghost.

Now death has returned to the House Saphir, and Mallory is almost certain the killer is mortal. To have any hope of Armand’s payment, she’ll need to solve the murder, banish the ghost and keep passing as a witch.

Still, that’s easy compared to her biggest challenge: trusting her heart. Especially when her heart’s desire could be the murderer himself.

buy here

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MY REVIEW:

Mallory Fontaine is a fraud. Though she descends from witches, she doesn’t have powers, although she pretends she does. The only thing she can do is see ghosts. And that isn’t going to help her make a living. Until Count Armand Saphir learns of her ability and offers to pay her a fortune if she can rid his house of the ghost of his murderous ancestor, Count Bastien Saphir. But as Mallory tries to rid House Saphir of Bastien’s ghost, death returns. And Mallory is almost certain the killer is mortal. Now, in order to receive the money she was promised, Mallory must solve the murder as well as banishing the ghost and keeping up the pretence that she is a witch. And there is another complication: Mallory is falling for Armand.

Gothic, dark, suspenseful and forbidding, The House Saphir is an alluring cocktail of ghosts, witches, folklore, love and murder. Marissa Meyer is a name I’ve heard, but I was intrigued by the idea of a romantasy that is merged with traditional French folklore. And who could resist those gorgeous spredges? Evocatively written, meticulously researched, cleverly choreographed and filled with dark humour, Meyer held me in her thrall from start to finish. Before I read this book I only vaguely knew of Bluebeard, a nobleman who murdered his wives. Meyer brought his story to life in vivid technicolour, making this malevolent character feel utterly real and terrifying even though he is a spectre. His ominous presence looms over every page, as even the Ghost Wives are terrified of encountering him again.

Sassy, sarcastic, likeable and easy to root for, Mallory is a great protagonist, even if she isn’t always truthful. Charming, wealthy and mysterious, Armand is a compelling character and love interest. I was suspicious of his motives from the start but could see how Mallory began to fall for his allure. But would this turn out to be a mistake? I couldn’t decide and was on tenterhooks as I waited to discover the truth. But by far my favourite characters were the mischievous Ghost Wives – the Count’s victims who now also haunt House Saphir. They were so fun to read while also inspiring real fear at the thought of coming into contact with their murderer once more.

An entertaining retelling that will have you hooked, I highly recommend this book.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thank you to Libro.fm for providing me with a complimentary audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Marissa Meyer is the #1 New York Times-bestselling author of The Lunar Chronicles, Heartless, The Renegades Trilogy, and Instant Karma, as well as the graphic novel duology Wires and Nerve. She holds a BA in Creative Writing from Pacific Lutheran University and a MA in Publishing from Pace University. In addition to writing, Marissa hosts The Happy Writer podcast. She lives near Tacoma, Washington, with her husband and twin daughters.

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Audio Books Beat the Backlist book reviews

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell

Published July 18th, 2013 by Cornerstone
Suspense, Domestic Fiction, Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Mystery

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

An unforgettable story about a family with a terrible secret. From the #1 bestselling author of The Family Upstairs and None of This is True comes a new edition of The House We Grew Up In, with a brand new introduction from Lisa Jewell!

‘Unputdownable’ RED
‘Simply stunning’ Daily Mail
‘Fantastically gripping’ HELLO!
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When a tragedy breaks a family apart, what can bring it back together?

The Birds seem to be the perfect family: mother, father, four children, a charming cottage in the country.

But one Easter weekend, something happens – something so unexpected, so devastating, that no one can bring themselves to talk about it.

The family shatters, seemingly for good.

Until, years later, they are forced to return to the house they grew up in, and to confront what really broke the family apart . . .

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

One of my 2026 goals is to read more of my TBR. Specifically, the backlist books by authors that have languished on my shelves for far too long. Lisa Jewell is one of my favourite thriller authors, but I’m ashamed to say I didn’t start reading her books until 2019, which means I have her huge backlist of books still to enjoy. So, when I was looking for a mood read I decided it was time to dive into that backlist, and finally read The House We Grew Up In.

The Birds seem like the perfect family: mum, dad, four children and a charming country cottage. But all of that changes one Easter weekend when tragedy strikes. And instead of coming together, it fractures them completely; each family member retreating into their own, private grief and torment over what happened. Now, the family is being forced back together for the first time in years after the death of matriarch Lorelei, and must confront the tragedy that tore them apart.

My heart is totally destroyed after this book. Compelling, tense and twisty, I was not prepared for the heartrending emotion that is woven into this story. I expected a fast-paced thriller and heart-stopping twists, but instead Lisa delivers a steadily paced, moving story where the twists are teased out slowly. It is expertly written, cleverly plotted and perfectly paced, moving seamlessly between dual timelines with extracts  from emails from Lorelei and her online sweetheart, Jim, peppered throughout. I was on tenterhooks from start to finish, eager to discover whatever dark secrets this family held.

So, let’s talk about the Birds. This is a very character-driven story so having captivating and richly drawn characters is vital. Obviously, we know Lisa writes fantastic characters, but her talent for writing characters really shines in this book. We get to know each member of the Bird family in detail over the course of the book, all of their imperfections and fears exposed as we peel away the fractured layers of this family. They are all complex, flawed, real. Lorelei isn’t your typical matriarch. She loves her children and being a mother, but she’s also very quirky. And after the tragedy she spirals, her ‘quirks’ of keeping objects because she feels they have sentimental value becoming a full-blown hoarding disorder that ends up with her house being uninhabitable. Each member of the family deals with both the tragedy and Lorelei in their own way, but it is eldest daughter, Megan, who challenges it most and I really felt for her. She was probably my favourite character and my heart hurt for all that she went through. 

A must-read for your TBR.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lisa Jewell was born in London in 1968.

Her first novel, Ralph’s Party, was the best- selling debut novel of 1999. Since then she has written another twenty novels, most recently a number of dark psychological thrillers, including The Girls, Then She Was Gone, The Family Upstairs, The Family Remains and The Night She Disappeared, all of which were Richard & Judy Book Club picks.

Lisa is a New York Times and Sunday Times number one bestselling author who has been published worldwide in over thirty languages. She lives in north London with her husband and two daughters.

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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2026

BOOK REVIEW: Dead in the Water by John Marrs

Published January 20th, 2026 by Thomas & Mercer
Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Thriller

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

From the multi-million copy bestselling author comes a chilling tale about life flashing before your eyes―including terrifying scenes you don’t remember.

When Damon survives a near-drowning, his life flashes before his eyes. Every memory is crystal clear―except one. A dead boy. A face he can’t place. A moment he doesn’t remember living. At first he tells himself it’s a trick of the mind. But everything else he saw was real. So why not this?

With his waking life stalked by the disturbing scene, confusion quickly turns to obsession. Desperate for answers, Damon digs into his fractured past, and becomes convinced that the only way to remember…is to die again. And again. And again. When he meets a perfect stranger who’s all too willing to help, the stage is set for his dice with death.

But if this is what it takes to uncover the truth, maybe some memories are better left buried…

buy here

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MY REVIEW:

John Marrs has been one of my favourite thriller authors ever since I read The One in 2018. I’ve read almost all of his books and each one is a riveting rollercoaster ride that keeps me on the edge of my seat. His latest offering, Dead in the Water, continues his perfect run, showcasing why he’s a thriller author I’ll always recommend.

When Damon survives almost drowning his life flashes before his eyes. One of the things he sees is a dead boy he doesn’t recognise but for some reason he thinks he killed him. He tells himself it was just a trick of the mind. But as he struggles to move past his near-death experience, he is haunted by what he saw. He doesn’t know if what he’s seeing is real or a fabrication of his imagination, and he worries he’s going mad. 

Damon begins to delve into his fractured past, sure that it is the only way to find out the truth. But the only way he can get there is to die again. So he enlists the help of a stranger who is willing to help. But is the stranger telling the truth about their motives? As he dies again and again, long-buried memories begin to resurface. But as more of those memories haunt him, Damon begins to wonder if some things are better left buried after all…

I love dark, twisty, nerve-shredding thrillers that you can’t put down. And John Marrs delivers again with this bingeable book. Starting out with a trademark chilling prologue that sets the scene for what is to come, John had me in his thrall from start to finish and I devoured it in under a day. The writing is razor sharp, the plot expertly choreographed and intricately woven, the twists surprising, and the characters richly drawn and fun to read. Damon is a likeable protagonist who is easy to root for, but there’s a sense of unreliability because of his hidden memories that adds to the suspense. I loved seeing the return of one of my favourite characters from one of John’s previous books. Don’t worry, I don’t give spoilers. But I will say that readers of his backlist are in for a real treat.

Thriller lovers, order this one now because it’s going to be one of your 2026 highlights. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

Thank you to John Marrs and Netgalley for sending me a copy of the audiobook, and to Tandem for my physical copy in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

John Marrs is an author and former journalist based in London and Northamptonshire. After spending his career interviewing celebrities from the worlds of television, film and music for numerous national newspapers and magazines, he is now a full-time author. His books include No1 bestseller and Netflix series The One, The Passengers, award winning What Lies Between Us and The Good Samaritan.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2026 Squadpod Squadpod Book Club Squadpod Featured Books

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK REVIEW: My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney

Published January 27th, 2026 by Pan Macmillan
Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Suspense

My Husband’s Wife was one of our SquadPod Featured Books in February.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

The Sunday Times bestselling author of Beautiful Ugly is back with a psychological masterpiece that will leave you questioning everything you know about love, identity and revenge.

Eden Fox, an artist on the brink of her big break, sets off for a run before her first exhibition. When she returns to the home she recently moved into – Spyglass, an enchanting old house in the pretty seaside village of Hope Falls – nothing is as it should be. Her key doesn’t fit. A woman, eerily similar to her, answers the door. And her husband insists that this stranger is his wife.

One house. One husband. Two women. Someone is lying.

Six months earlier, a reclusive Londoner named Birdy, reeling from a life-changing diagnosis, inherits Spyglass. This unexpected gift from a long-lost grandmother brings her to Hope Falls. But then Birdy stumbles upon a shadowy London clinic that claims to be able to predict a person’s date of death, including her own. Secrets start to unravel and, as the line between truth and lies blurs, Birdy feels compelled to right some old wrongs.

My Husband’s Wife weaves a tangled web of deception, obsession and mystery that will keep you guessing until the last page. Prepare yourself for the ultimate mind-bending marriage thriller and step inside Spyglass – if you dare – to experience a story where nothing is as it seems.

buy here

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MY REVIEW:

Alice Feeney has done it again! Heartsoppingly tense, unsettling, cryptic and immersive, My Husband’s Wife is an outstanding thriller and possibly her best book yet. 

It follows Eden Fox, who has recently moved to Spyglass, an enhancing old house in Hope Falls, Cornwall, with her husband, Harrison Woolf. They are hoping their move will be the fresh start they both need and it seems like life is starting to look up. But when she returns after her usual evening run nothing is as it should be. Her key doesn’t work and a woman who is eerily similar to her answers the door saying she lives there. Harrison insists the stranger is his wife and claims to have never seen Eden before. Eden desperately tries to prove her identity, sparking a chain of events that uncover long-buried secrets, deception and betrayal.

I always know when I pick up one of Alice’s books that I’m in for a treat. A thriller powerhouse, I know I’ll get an exquisitely written, twisty, layered and pacy thriller that will keep me on the edge of my seat. This was all that and more. It’s like Spaghetti Junction – the different storylines and threads interweave in unexpected ways, and it’s brimming with suspense, twists and turns. The narrative is told from multiple perspectives and moves seamlessly between timelines as Alice drops clues like breadcrumbs for us to follow. But nothing is what it seems in this book and everyone is possibly an unreliable narrator – keeping me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. And that final line! I can’t get it out of my head.

One of the things that Alice always does well is writing charismatic, flawed and relatable characters who are fun to read whether we like them or not. The abundance of unreliable narrators means there are no clear heroes or villains, ramping up the tension and making me second guess everything they said and did. My favourite character was Birdy, a reclusive woman from London who returns to Hope Falls following life-changing diagnosis and unexpected inheritance. Birdy was the comedic relief in the book and although we know there are things she’s hiding, I did feel like I could trust her more than a lot of the other characters.

A must read for anyone who loves clever and riveting thrillers.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

Thanks to Pan Macmillan and Bookbreak for sending me a proof copy of the book and to Libro.fm for providing me with a complimentary audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Alice Feeney is a New York Times million-copy bestselling author of novels including His & Hers, Sometimes I Lie, Rock Paper Scissors and Daisy Darker. Her books have been translated into over thirty-five languages, and have been optioned for major screen adaptations, with His & Hers currently in production for Netflix, produced by Jessica Chastain, and starring Tessa Thompson and Jon Bernthal.

Alice was a BBC journalist for fifteen years. Her seventh novel, Beautiful Ugly, will be published around the world in January 2025.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2026

Book Review: Welcome to the Neighbourhood by Jane Fallon

Published January 15th, 2026 by Michael Joseph
Mystery, Domestic Fiction, Humorous Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

The darkly comic, addictive new novel about friendship and envy from the bestselling author of JUST GOT REAL and GETTING RID OF MATTHEW

NO ONE’S SECRETS ARE SAFE…

Kitty thought moving to London would spice up her life. Unfortunately, she ended up on Ashdown Close, where the hottest topic of gossip is a missed bin collection.

That was before the arrival of Sian and Rich at number 8. They are cool and glamorous, and Kitty is perfectly willing to be dazzled by their company.

But when she spots a mysterious woman furtively leaving their house, she realises they might not be the magnetic couple she thought. Aided and abetted by best friend Grace, Kitty feels she needs to investigate.

Do Sian and Richard really have something to hide, or are Kitty and Grace just being nosy neighbours?

And if they are, perhaps they are not the only ones.

Because on this street’s nobody’s business might just turn out to be everybody’s business . . .

buy here

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MY REVIEW:

Kitty is almost forty and in a stale relationship. She needs to make changes to her life and shake things up. So, she accepts a new job and moves to London, sure it will be the new start she needs. But Grace ends up on Ashdown Close, where nothing remotely interesting ever happens, and she only has one friend, Grace, who isn’t really someone she would choose to hang out with if she had other options. But Sian and Rich move to the neighbourhood. Glamorous and cool, they offer Kitty a glimpse of the exciting life she’d hoped for. However, when she sees a woman sneaking out of their house one day, it looks like Rich is having an affair. Kitty and Grace decide to investigate further. But as secrets come to light it begins to look like things aren’t quite what they seem…

Jane Fallon is known as the ‘queen of revenge comedy’ for good reason, so I knew that Welcome to the Neighbourhood would be the perfect book to help beat the January blues. And I was right. Funny, warm, light-hearted, chaotic and addictive, this was a joy to read from start to finish. And once I started reading I couldn’t stop. Told from multiple perspectives with extracts from the neighbourhood WhatsApp chat peppering the narrative, I was quickly caught up in the lives of the residents of Ashdown Close. 

As a woman of a similar age to Kitty I can relate to her feelings of struggling to make friends in middle age. It’s hard to meet people you can become friends with at this stage in life. I loved the burgeoning friendship between Kitty and Sian, but did feel bad for Grace, even if she could get a little much at times. All of the characters were charismatic, relatable and real, making it feel like I could be Kitty and this could be my neighbourhood. Jane Fallon’s skillful writing, expert plotting and clever twists had me immersed in the mayhem of Ashdown Close and I devoured the book in under a day.

Darkly funny, heartwarming and utterly captivating, this is a must for your TBR.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

Thank you to Michael Joseph for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jane Fallon is the multi-award-winning television producer behind shows such as This Life, Teachers and 20 Things to Do before You’re 30. Her debut novel “Getting Rid of Matthew’ was published in 2007 and became a Sunday Times Top Ten Bestseller as have her subsequent books ‘Got You Back’, ‘Foursome’, ‘The Ugly Sister’, ‘Skeletons’, ‘Strictly Between Us’,’My Sweet Revenge’, ‘Faking Friends’ and ‘Tell Me a Secret’

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