New releases may slow down as we get to the end of the year, but November is still full of a multitude of exciting releases for us to enjoy. Here are the twenty I’m most looking forward to:
Return to the DallerGut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee
Published November 1st by Wildfire Fantasy Fiction, Magical Realism, Fantasy Comedy, Translated Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: || THE NO.1 KOREAN BESTSELLER WITH OVER A MILLION COPIES SOLD ||
It has been a year since Penny first walked through the doors of DallerGut Dream Department Store, and surviving a year at the store means one thing . . . She is now an official employee of the dream industry! She can finally take the express commuter train to the Company District, where all the dream production companies are located and discover how all raw dream materials and testing equipment are produced.
But the Company District is not quite what she expected, it hides the darker underbelly of the magical industry that Penny thought she was a part of.
Penny discovers the Civil Complaint Center, full of people filing complaints about their dreams. She also learns about the regular customers who have stopped coming to the store. As she gets to the bottom of each complaint, she begins to expand her horizons, transforming from just selling dreams to understanding what lies in the hearts of their lost regulars.
Return to the DallerGut Dream Department Store delves deeper into the dream industry and its customers. Why do some of them buy a dream and never return? Will Penny and her colleagues be able to bring their regulars back?
Published November 5th by Hodderscape Fantasy Fiction, Fairy Tale, High Fantasy, Cosy Fantasy, Fantasy Comedy
BOOK DESCRIPTION: SMALL FORTUNES. BIG FEELINGS.
‘Joyful, heartwarming and utterly charming’ AMÉLIE WEN ZHAO ‘The warmest, loveliest book’ SANGU MANDANNA ‘Will soothe your heart’ SARAH BETH DURST A cozy fantasy about trying to find yourself – and finding a family instead. Perfect for fans of Legends and Lattes, A Psalm for the Wild-Built and The House in the Cerulean Sea.
Fleeing a troubled past, immigrant fortune teller Tao roams the dusty countryside with only her mule for company, telling small fortunes, for small prices. Big fortunes come with big consequences . . . which she knows from bitter experience.
It’s a lonely life, until she encounters an ex-mercenary and a (semi) reformed thief, who recruit her into their desperate search for a lost child. Soon, they’re joined by a baker with a knead for adventure, and – of course – a slightly magical cat.
Tao sets down a new path with companions as big-hearted as her fortunes are small. But as her friends break down her walls, the shadows of her past close in. Now, Tao must decide whether to risk everything to save the family she never thought she could have . . .
A Lively Midwinter Murder (A Three Dahlia’s Mystery) by Katy Watson
Published November 5th by Constable Mystery, Crime Fiction, Cosy Mystery
BOOK DESCRIPTION: The Three Dahlias mysteries take a festive turn in this irresistible slice of cosy crime, when a corpse appears in the snow before a Christmas Eve wedding outside a secluded Scottish castle.
First comes love… and then comes murder.
A high society Christmas Eve wedding at a secluded Scottish castle sounds like the perfect winter getaway for the three Dahlias – until a dead body wearing a wedding dress and a stolen diamond necklace turns up in the snow outside the family chapel, and the bride and groom are suddenly the prime suspects in a murder case…
Published November 7th by Head of Zeus Historical Fiction, Thriller, War Story, Historical Mystery
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Men steal everything. Now we want our share.
1922. Twenty-four-year-old Eleanor Mackridge is horrified by the future mapped out for her – to serve the upper classes or find a husband. During the war, she found freedom in joining the workforce at home, but now women are being put back in their place.
Until Eleanor crosses paths with a member of the notorious female-led gang the Forty Elephants: bold women who wear diamonds and fur, drink champagne and gin, who take what they want without asking. Now, she sees a new future for herself: she can serve, marry – or steal.
After all, men will only let you down. Diamonds are forever.
In Poor Girls, Clare Whitfield exposes the criminal underbelly of 1920s London – but this isn’t a morality tale, it’s an adventure for the willingly wicked.
Published November 5th by Crooked Lane Books Suspense, Domestic Fiction, Thriller
BOOK DESCRIPTION: It’s 1998, and female students are going missing at Southern State University in North Carolina, but freshman Jessica Fadley, once a bright and responsible student, is going through her own struggles. Just as her life seems to be careening dangerously out of control, she suddenly disappears. Twenty-four years later, Jessica’s sister Lindsey is desperately searching for answers and uses the momentum of a new chart-topping true crime podcast that focuses on cold cases to guide her own investigation. Soon, interest reaches fever pitch when the bodies of the long-missing women begin turning up at a local lake, which leads Lindsey down a disturbing road of discovery. In the present, one sister searches to untangle a complicated web of lies. In the past, the other descends ever deeper into a darkness that will lead to her ultimate fate. This propulsive and chilling suspense is a sharp examination of sisterhood and the culture of true crime.
Published November 7th by Michael Joseph Thriller, Mystery, Susepense, Crime Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: The problem with telling tales is that you might get caught out by the twist: discover the most original literary thriller of 2024, from the author of the sensational Eight Detectives
‘The master puppeteer of literary crime’ Janice Hallett
‘Today’s greatest exponent of playful detective fiction’ Guardian
—– Six friends gather at a country house for a birthday weekend. They decide to play a game.
All six names go in a hat. Choose two, and imagine one murdering the other.
Write it down. Type it up. Read it out.
Points are given for making the murders sound convincing.
Of course, when given such a task, it’s only natural to use what you know.
Secrets. Grudges. Affairs.
But once you’ve put it in a story, that secret is out.
So with each fictional murder, someone gets a motive for a real one.
Which leads to the most important question:
When a real murder comes, will you be able to spot it in time?
Published November 7th by Orion Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Psychological Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: A new job. A new home. A new start.
It’s all Anna wants.
But in a closed rural community, strange traditions and a suspicion of outsiders mean everything is not as it seems.
Three teenage girls have vanished at the annual Gathering as they reach their sixteenth birthday. No one seems to be investigating. And a fourth girl begs Anna for help, fearing that she will be next to disappear.
Everyone has secrets. Anna is watching everyone. But who is watching Anna?
An unpredictable and wild page-turner, with shocks, surprises and a killer twist for a finale.
Victim (Blix & Ramm, 5) by Thomas Enger and Jorn Lier Horst
Published November 7th by Orenda Thriller, Mystery, Crime Fiction, Crime Series, Hardboiled
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Buried sins Brutal revenge…
Two years ago, Alexander Blix was the lead investigator in a missing person’s case where a young mother, Elisabeth Eie, was kidnapped. The case was never solved.
Blix’s career in law enforcement is now over, but her kidnapper is back, leaving evidence of Elisabeth’s murder in Blix’s mailbox, as well as hints that there are other victims.
At the same time, Emma Ramm has been contacted by a teenage girl, whose stepfather has been arrested on suspicion of killing a childhood friend. But there is no body. Nor are there any other suspects…
Blix and Ramm can rely only on each other, and when Blix’s fingerprints are found on a child’s drawing at a crime scene, the present comes uncomfortably close to the past.
A past where a victim has found their own, shocking form of therapy.
And someone is watching…
Shocking, relentless and unbearably tense, Victim marks the return of the international bestselling, blockbuster Blix & Ramm series from two of Norway’s finest crime writers.
Published November 7th by Transworld UK Literary Fiction, Humrorous Ficton, Pensioners in the Pages
BOOK DESCRIPTION: “Emperor penguins defy the odds, and I shall too.”
Still fiery and feisty at eighty-seven, Veronica McCreedy, the very first Penguin Ambassador, is determined to prove that nothing is impossible when you put your mind to it.
Eileen, Veronica’s ever-patient assistant, is content taking care of other people. But when a new adventure calls, it makes her question everything…
Ten-year-old, penguin-obsessed Daisy can’t wait to be reunited with Mrs McCreedy in her huge house by the sea for the school holidays.
When they discover that the local Sea Life Centre is under threat, the unlikely trio are determined to save it and the penguins that live there.
Inspired by the penguins and fuelled by Darjeeling tea and finger sandwiches, they embark on an epic fundraising walk. But soon, their mission becomes so much more and it might just lead each of them to a new beginning…
Published November 7th by Sunbird Stories Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Historical Fantasy, Fantasy Fiction, Adventure Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Young and beautiful Gytha Godwinson is the envy of England when her father Harold seizes the country’s crown in early 1066. But soon, treachery tears her house apart, and triumph turns to terror. An evil star appears, heralding the end of an era and a new beginning for Britain. Her family and the country seem cursed. Yet even as she suffers loss, betrayal and humiliation, Gytha is determined to regain what is rightfully hers.
In a stunning re-telling of 1066, international bestselling author Ellen Alpsten has created a captivating new heroine in Gytha Godwinson. Witness the end of England’s ancient house, the demise of a cursed kingdom and the emergence of a new empire: ‘The Last Princess’ bridges between myth and modernity.
Published November 7th by Penguin UK Historical Fiction, Thriller, Political Ficiton, War Story
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Hitler had two fortune tellers.
One predicted his rise to power, the other aimed for his demise. Berlin, 1940: Hitler’s army is on the rise. When he requests Edith Creutzen become his personal fortune teller, she’s left no choice but to accept.
Day by day, their work intensifies, and soon Edith realises the extent of her power. Hitler trusts her implicitly, but what if she were to lead him astray? Joining forces with the resistance, she begins to guide Europe’s most dangerous man right into the hands of British Intelligence.
But there’s one person in the way: Hitler’s enigmatic right-hand man, by whom Edith can’t help but be intrigued. Is he friend or foe, and would he still care for her if he knew where her loyalties lay?
Armed with courage and conviction, Edith sets out to change the course of history. But the price of success is high, and the closer she gets, the more she stands to lose… Inspired by true events, this is the incredible story of one woman’s fight to overturn Hitler.
The Undoing of Violet Claybourne by Emily Critchley
Published November 7th by Zaffre Gothic Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Historical Fiction, Historical Msytery, Coming-of-Age Story
BOOK DESCRIPTION: A dark, captivating novel of family secrets, desperate ambition and the deepest betrayal . . .
TO BECOME ONE OF THEM, SHE WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES.
1938. Gillian Larking is used to blending in and going unnoticed, until she is befriended by her new roommate at boarding school, the vibrant and spirited Violet Claybourne. As the Christmas holidays approach, Gilly can’t believe her luck when Violet invites her to spend them at her home, the crumbling Thornleigh Hall.
At Thornleigh, Gilly is dazzled by the family’s faded grandeur, and above all by Violet’s beguiling older sisters who seem to accept her as one of their own. But following a terrible incident in the house’s grounds, Gilly begins to realise the Claybourne sisters aren’t quite what she thought they were. And if she’s to survive in their world, she may have to become just like them . . .
‘Atmospheric and gripping . . . an ideal read for winter days’ Good Housekeeping
Published November 7th by Hodderscape Historical Fantasy, Romantic Fantasy, Contemporary Fantasy, Fantasy Series, Adventure Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: AN IMPOSSIBLE LOVE. AN ENCHANGED LEGACY. A DANGEROUS DISCOVERY.
The stunning conclusion to Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling What the River Knows. A lush immersive historical fantasy set in Egypt filled with adventure, and a rivals-to-lovers romance like no other!
1885, Egypt: Inez Olivera is left reeling from her cousin Elvira’s murder, and her mother’s betrayal, and when Tío Ricardo issues an ultimatum about her inheritance, she’s left with only one option to consider.
Marriage to Whitford Hayes.
Former British soldier, her uncle’s aide de camp, and one time nemesis, Whit has his own mysterious reasons for staying in Egypt. With her heart on the line, Inez might have to bind her fate to the one person whose secret plans could ruin her.
Published November 12th by Del Rey Dark Fantasy, Fantasy Ficiton, Magical Realism
BOOK DESCRIPTION: A dark, lyrical fantasy blending the world of the Fae with the stories mothers tell to keep their daughters safe – and the consequences of disregarding the truth, no matter how sinister.
Gemma lives with her mother in an isolated antique shop in Michigan, near a small patch of woods that conceals an enchanted gateway to fairyland. She knows she’s not supposed to go into the woods – her mother Virginia has warned her multiple times about the monsters that lurk there – and yet defiantly, curiously, she goes anyway.
Virginia understands her daughter’s defiance. She knows the lure of the woods all too well. Her own mother warned her about the monsters that resided there, and she also did not listen. Until a witch cursed her true love, Ash – Gemma’s father – into the form of a beast in the days before Gemma’s birth. And if Virginia cannot break the curse before her daughter turns fifteen, Ash will eat Virginia’s heart and Gemma will belong to the witch. So Virginia will do whatever she can to protect her daughter – even if it means stealing Gemma’s memories away.
But everything changes when Gemma inadvertently gets too close to the truth, and the witch steals Virginia away instead. Now it is up to Gemma to venture deep into Fae lands to try and rescue her mother and break the curse.
Told in alternating viewpoints between Gemma and Virginia, this lyrical novel is not only a tale of a girl’s fantastical quest through a darkly magical fairyland, but also an examination of the complex bonds of love and resentment that lie between parents and their children.
Published November 14th by Tor Fantasty Riction, Romantic Fantasy, Fairy Tale
BOOK DESCRIPTION: From internationally bestselling author Mary E. Pearson, The Courting of Bristol Keats is the first book in her debut adult fantasy series, filled with forbidden romance, deadly faerie curses and pulse-pounding action.
‘Mary E. Pearson is the new queen of Faerie‘ – Stephanie Garber, bestselling author of Once Upon a Broken Heart
After losing both their parents, Bristol Keats and her sisters struggle to stay afloat in their small, quiet town of Bowskeep. When Bristol begins to receive letters from an ‘aunt’ she has never heard of, who promises to help, Bristol reluctantly agrees to meet her – and discovers that everything she thought she knew about her family is a lie. Her father might even still be alive. Not killed but kidnapped by terrifying creatures and taken to another realm – the one he is from.
Desperate to save her father and find the truth, Bristol journeys to a land of gods, fae and monsters. Pulled into a dangerous world of magic and intrigue, she makes a deadly bargain with the fae king, Tyghan. But what she does not know is that he is the one who drove her parents to live a life on the run. And he is just as determined as she is to find her father – dead or alive . . .
A heart-wrenching love story that spans worlds and decades, The Courting of Bristol Keats by Mary E. Pearson explores second chances – the ones we are denied and the ones we refuse to give – and the lines we cross that may never be forgiven.
The City and Its Uncertain Walls by Haruki Murakami
Published November 19th by Harvill Secker Magical Realism, Fantasy Fiction, Horror Fantasy, Translated Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTON: STEP INTO THE CITY
When a young man’s girlfriend mysteriously vanishes, he sets his heart on finding the imaginary city where her true self lives. His search will lead him to take a job in a remote library with mysteries of its own.
When he finally makes it to the walled city, a shadowless place of horned beasts and willow trees, he finds his beloved working in a different library – a dream library. But she has no memory of their life together in the other world and, as the lines between reality and fantasy start to blur, he must decide what he’s willing to lose.
A love story, a quest, an ode to books and to the libraries that house them, The City and Its Uncertain Walls is a parable for these strange times.
Published Novmber 21st by Pan Macmillan Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Holiday Ficiton
BOOK DESCRIPTION: From bestselling author Ruth Kelly, The Ice Retreat is a spine-tingling thriller set in the world of controversial wellness treatments. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell and Sarah Pearse.
HEALER?
Meet Hollie Jenson, presenter of the smash-hit docu-series Bad Medicine, which exposes the perils of extreme therapies. Her next target: a new retreat run by wellness guru Ariel Rose, who claims to have discovered the secret to healing pain through her three-day ice rebirth treatment.
LIAR?
Acting on a mother’s plea to find her son, who vanished soon after his stay, Hollie ventures into the Swiss mountains where the retreat occupies a former observatory. There she will search for the boy, and hopes to expose Ariel as the charlatan she believes her to be.
KILLER?
As the isolation of the valley sets in, Hollie finds herself in an increasingly dangerous situation. There is much more to the retreat than meets the eye, and she must confront explosive secrets from her own past if she is to ever make it out alive . . .
‘A breathtaking thriller with an evocative setting and some excellent twists – Ruth Kelly at her best.’ – Catherine Cooper, author of The Chalet
Published November 21st by Harper Voyager Fantasy Fiction, Dark Fantasy, Romantic Fantasy, Fairy Tale, Romance Novel
BOOK DESCRIPTION: ⚔️Step into the Coliseum at the Spartan War Academy where monsters are made, immortality is won, and even a god can die…⚔️
Alexis Hert isn’t a hero, and she certainly isn’t a god. All she’s ever been is a survivor.
But the Fates disagree.
When a blood test leads to her admittance at the Spartan War Academy, she’ll have to do more than merely survive.
Alexis will have to claim her birthright: immortality.
But immortality is a privilege, one earned in the crucible of the academy, where the heroes are villains and classrooms battlegrounds. While gladiators Achilles and Patro, her demanding mentors, hone her into a warrior, Augustus and Kharon, her professors and the brooding heirs to the underworld, haunt her steps and her thoughts.
Because where there are gods, there are bound to be monsters, and there is more than one hunting Alexis…
Published November 28th by Michael Joseph Fantasy Fiction, Contemporary Fantasy, Coming-of-Age Story, Translated Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: DISCOVER THE KOREAN BESTSELLER AND STEP INTO A MAGICAL WORLD WHERE ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE
An uplifting and healing gift of a book that asks would you trade your life for another one? —-
On the first day of the monsoon an old ramshackle building appears. This is The Rainfall Market. Inside you will find magical bookstores, hairdressers, perfumeries and anything your heart desires.
But you cannot enter without an invitation.
Serin, who lives in a small flat with her mother and dreams of a bigger, better life, can’t believe her luck when she receives a ticket inviting her to step inside The Rainfall Market.
Once inside she will have the opportunity to swap her life for a new one. A better one.
Accompanied by Isha the cat and followed by a mysterious shadow, Serin tentatively steps inside. There she is told she has just one week to choose the perfect life and find true happiness.
However, there is a catch.
If she doesn’t find her dream life, she’ll be trapped inside the market forever . . .
Published October 14th, 2021 by Michael Joseph Ghost Story, Horror Fiction, Gothic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Suspense, Supernatural Fiction
Welcome to my review for this unsettling gothic thriller. Thank you to Michael Joseph Books for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
********
ABOUT THE BOOK:
FEEL SHIVERS DOWN YOUR SPINE WITH THIS CHILLING AND GRIPPING GHOST STORY SET ON A FAR-FLUNG SCOTTISH ISLAND . . .
‘Wonderfully atmospheric, genuinely eerie’ GUARDIAN ‘Gripping, chilling and very, very satisfying’ DAILY MAIL ‘A ghost story that kept me guessing’ SUSAN STOKES-CHAPMAN ‘Perfect for a cold winter’s night’DAILY MIRROR ‘It will chill you to the bone’ ANITA FRANK ‘If you’re looking for a chilling tale as we head towards Halloween, you’ve found it’ HEAT _________
When Elspeth arrives on a remote Scottish island to become nanny to a young child, she hopes to bond with her. Until she learns that, for reasons no one will explain, Mary has not spoken for months.
And the girl’s silence is not the only mystery.
Hypnotic lullabies drift down empty corridors. Strange dolls appear in abandoned rooms. And as the nights draw in, darker questions arise . . .
What happened to Mary’s late twin, William? Why did their previous nanny disappear so suddenly?
And is the whistling Elspeth hears at night just the storm outside?
Or is somebody coming for her . . . ?
********
MY REVIEW:
As it’s spooky season I decided to finally read The Whistling. It follows Elspeth who has taken up the position of nanny on the remote Scottish island of Skelthsea. Her new charge, Mary, is a troubled child who hasn’t spoken a word since the sudden death of her twin brother, William, and the disappearance of their former nanny. No one will speak of what happened, and in a desperate attempt to help her charge, Elspeth searches for answers. But the islanders remain defiantly silent. And then there’s the strange whistling that Elspeth hears at night. Is the house haunted? Or is there a more human explanation for what’s happening at Iskar House.
Chilling, eerie and unsettling, this gothic tale was definitely a book you need to read in the daytime. I decided to listen to it on audiobook and from the opening pages I was hooked. Skillfully written and expertly choreographed, Rebecca Netley has created a sensational debut. Also woven into the narrative is a heart-rending exploration of loss and grief that adds depth, while the remote setting merges with the atmosphere of unease to create a gloriously ghostly tale.
Elspeth is a fascinating protagonist who was easy to like, while young Mary is a heartbreaking and unsettling youngster that I couldn’t make my mind up about. The background characters are equally compelling and there’s a real sense of this small island closing ranks to protect their own.
Dark, spine-tingling and addictive, The Whistling is the perfect read for spooky season.
Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Rebecca Netley grew up as part of an eccentric family in a house full of books and music, and these things have fed her passions.
Family and writing remain at the heart of Rebecca’s life. She lives in Reading with her family and an over-enthusiastic dog, who gives her writing tips.
Rebecca is a writer of long and prize-winning short fiction. The Whistling, Rebecca Netley’s debut novel won the Exeter Novel Prize and was longlisted for the Michael Ondaatje Prize. The Whistling has been adapted for stage.
I’m a bit late with sharing this month’s list of anticipated books, but it’s a fantastic month of new releases with some of my most anticipated books of the year being released.
Here are the ones I’m most anticipating:
Edith Holler by Edward Carey
Published October 3rd by Gallic Books Historical Fiction, Gothic Ficiton, Fairy Tale, Coming-of-Age Story
BOOK DESCRIPTION: ‘An extraordinary achievement’ A. L. Kennedy
Edward Carey’s witty and entrancing story of a young woman trapped in a ramshackle English playhouse – and the mysterious figure who threatens its very survival.
Norwich, 1901. Edith Holler spends her days among the eccentric denizens of the Holler Theatre, warned by her domineering father that the playhouse will literally tumble down if she should ever leave.
Fascinated by tales of the city she knows only from afar, young Edith decides to write a play of her own about Mawther Meg, a monstrous figure said to have used the blood of countless children to make the local delicacy, Beetle Spread. But when her father suddenly announces his engagement to a peculiar woman named Margaret Unthank, Edith scrambles to protect her father, the theatre, and her play – the one thing that’s truly hers – from the newcomer’s sinister designs.
Teeming with unforgettable characters and illuminated by Carey’s trademark illustrations, Edith Holler is a surprisingly modern fable of one young woman’s struggle to escape her family’s control and craft her own creative destiny.
A Pirate’s Life For Tea (Tomes & Tea 2) by Rebecca Thorne
Published October 3rd by Tor Fantasy Fiction, Romance Novel, Romantic Fantasy, Lesbian Literature, Gay Ficiton, Fantasy Series
BOOK DESCRIPTION: The heart-warming sequel to Rebecca Thorne’s instant Sunday Times bestseller, Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea. For fans of Bookshops & Bonedust and Our Flag Means Death.
Queer pirates will discover if enemies actually can become lovers . . .
Kianthe and Reyna are hunting for dragon eggs to save their hometown. To secure their prize, they must strike a deal with the local lord – who in turn wants Serina, notorious river pirate, and scourge of his supply chains. Surely, they can handle one small abduction in the name of justice?
Begrudgingly, the couple join forces with Bobbie, one of the lord’s constables. Bobbie is determined to capture Serina, but lawmaker and lawbreaker have a complicated history – and it might jeopardize everything. As Bobbie and Serina become reacquainted, Kianthe and Reyna watch this relationship-wreck from afar. Luckily, matchmaking is Reyna’s favourite pastime. The dragon eggs may just have to wait.
Take a break with this gloriously cosy sapphic fantasy rife with mischief and steeped in fun.
Published October 3rd by Doubleday Magical Realism, Urban Fiction, Literary Fiction, Translated Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: The sensational Korean bestseller For fans of WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR IS IN THE LIBRARY and THE ALCHEMIST _______________________-
Welcome to the Marigold Mind Laundry where we wash away the stains from your heart.
After young Jieun accidentally misuses her powers, causing her beloved family to vanish, she lives a million restless lives in search of them.
Overnight, in the village of Marigold on top of a hill, she conjures up her Mind Laundry, where she cleanses painful experiences from the heart, transferring them into stains on a T-shirt and turning them into dazzling red petals.
We meet five wounded souls: a frustrated young filmmaker; a tortured social-media influencer; a distraught mother who has discovered her husband’s other family; a young woman two-timed by her lover, and Yeonghui, a victim of bullying, who works as a delivery man to escape his pain in routine.
After washing the pain and ironing their creases, Jieun discovers an astonishing revelation that will change her life.
As we laugh, wonder and grow, MARIGOLD MIND LAUNDRY shows how we too can tap into the positivity and magic that lies in us all.
Published October 3rd by Del Rey Romance Novel, Romantic Fantasy, Paranormal Fantasy, Contemporary Fantasy, Cozy Fantasy, New Adult Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: A cosy and spicy spellbinding fantasy romance, about a kitchen witch cursed to hurt anyone who falls for her. Perfect for fans of Talia Hibbert and The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
Dina Whitlock knows her way around a pastry recipe. As a skilled kitchen witch, she runs her very own London café, serving magic-infused pastries to her loyal customers. But only a select few friends know about her magical abilities or the hex that has plagued her love life. It’s hard to fall in love when your partner is guaranteed to have a string of bad luck.
Scott Mason is back from traveling the world and is excited to begin his new job as a curator at the British Museum. After leaving London to heal from a brutal breakup two years ago, Scott only now realizes how much he missed out on. Now that his best friend’s wedding is right around the corner, Scott is determined to be the most amazing best man ever, but he doesn’t expect to be bewitched by the maid of honour, who also happens to be the owner of his new favourite café and, perhaps more surprisingly, a witch.
After a weekend in the countryside full of peculiar hedge mazes, palm readings by candlelight, and a midnight Halloween ritual, there’s no denying the chemistry between them. But there’s just one problem: The hex still holds, and Dina knows that Scott is in danger.
Can Dina break the spell before it breaks both their hearts?
Published October 3rd by Oneworld Historical Fiction, Magical Realism
BOOK DESCRIPTION: A searingly original novel about sisterhood, art, and a community of women who refuse to be silenced.
‘A gripping and spellbinding novel about a sisterhood ripped apart by violence, narrated by a ghostly chorus. An unforgettable debut.’ Brit Bennett, author of The Vanishing Half
Nine-year-old Graciela is raised in the shadow of El Salvador’s Izalco volcano, until the day she is taken to the capital city by the country’s fearsome – and fearsomely superstitious – dictator, who believes her to be a muse capable of foreseeing the future.
There, Graciela meets Consuelo, the sister she never knew existed. Consuelo is everything she is not – volatile, dreamy and teenaged – yet despite their differences, the sisters form an unlikely bond. When the dictator’s brutality is finally unleashed, El Salvador is forever changed. Graciela and Consuelo survive the massacre, but most of their community are not so lucky.
From San Salvador to Los Angeles, Paris to San Francisco, the sisters create a new future for themselves. But the story of those they left behind is not yet over. Their voices, once just a whimper, now shout louder than ever. Listen.
The Restaurant of Lost Recipes (The Kamogawa Food Detectives 2) by Hishashi Kashiwai
Published October 3rd by Mantle Literary Fiction, Psychological Thrillers, Women Sleuths, Translated Ficiton
BOOK DESCRIPTION: The Restaurant of Lost Recipes, translated from Japanese by Jesse Kirkwood, is the second book in the bestselling, mouth-watering Japanese sleuthing series for fans of Before the Coffee Gets Cold, and follows on from The Kamogawa Food Detectives.
Tucked away down a Kyoto backstreet lies the extraordinary Kamogawa Diner. Running this unique establishment are a father-daughter duo who serve more than just mouth-watering feasts.
The pair have reinvented themselves as ‘food detectives’, offering a service that goes beyond traditional dining. Through their culinary sleuthing, they reconstruct beloved dishes from the memories of their customers, creating a connection to cherished moments from the past.
Among those who seek an appointment is a one-hit wonder pop star, finally ready to leave Tokyo and give up on her singing career. She wants to try the tempura that she once ate to celebrate her only successful record. Another diner is a budding Olympic swimmer, who desires the bento lunch box that his estranged father used to make him.
The Kamogawa Diner doesn’t just serve meals – it revives lost recipes and rekindles forgotten memories. It’s a doorway to the past through the miracle of delicious food.
The Peepshow: The Murders at 10 Rillington Place by Kate Summerscale
Published October 3rd by Bloomsbury True Crime, Murder Biographies, Serial Killers
BOOK DESCRIPTION: ‘Once more, Kate Summerscale shatters our preconceptions of a classic crime’ Val McDermid
‘A gripping account of murder, misogyny and spectatorship’ Sarah Waters, author of Fingersmith
From Britain’s top-selling true crime writer and author of Sunday Times #1 bestseller THE SUSPICIONS OF MR WHICHER…
London, 1953. Police discover the bodies of three young women hidden in a wall at 10 Rillington Place, a dingy terrace house in Notting Hill. On searching the building, they find another body beneath the floorboards, then an array of human bones in the garden. But they have already investigated a double murder at 10 Rillington Place, three years ago, and the killer was hanged. Did they get the wrong man?
A nationwide manhunt is launched for the tenant of the ground-floor flat, a softly spoken former policeman named Reg Christie. Star reporter Harry Procter chases after the scoop. Celebrated crime writer Fryn Tennyson Jesse begs to be assigned to the case. The story becomes an instant sensation, and with the relentless rise of the tabloid press the public watches on like never before. Who is Christie? Why did he choose to kill women, and to keep their bodies near him? As Harry and Fryn start to learn the full horror of what went on at Rillington Place, they realise that Christie might also have engineered a terrible miscarriage of justice in plain sight.
In this riveting true story, Kate Summerscale mines the archives to uncover the lives of Christie’s victims, the tabloid frenzy that their deaths inspired, and the truth about what happened inside the house.
‘A forensic reappraisal of a grimy episode in postwar British history … Shocking, impeccably researched, lucidly written and always utterly compelling’ Graeme Macrae Burnet, author of His Bloody Project
‘A masterclass in true crime storytelling … As relevant now as it was in the 1950s’ Jennie Godfrey, author of The List of Suspicious Things
Identity Unkown (Kay Scarpetta Book 28) by Patricia Cornwell
Published October 8th by Sphere Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Medical Thriller, Crime Series
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Summoned to an unnerving, abandoned theme park to retrieve a body, Dr Kay Scarpetta is devastated to learn that the victim is a man she once loved. While teaching in Rome during the early days of her career, Scarpetta had a love affair with acclaimed astrophysicist Sal Giordano that led to a lifelong friendship.
The murder scene is bizarre, with a crop circle of petals around the body, and Giordano’s skin is strangely red. Scarpetta’s niece Lucy believes he was dropped from an unidentified flying craft. Scarpetta knows an autopsy can reveal the dead’s secrets, but she is shocked to find her friend seems to have deliberately left her a clue.
As the investigators are torn between suspicions of otherworldly forces, and of Giordano himself, Scarpetta detects an explanation closer to home that, in her mind, is far more evil . . .
Published October 10th by Michael Joseph Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Contemporary Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: The #1 New York Times Bestseller
‘Stunning. So interesting, clever, educational and moving. One of the best books I’ve read in recent times’ GILLIAN McALLISTER ‘A timeless classic from one of our great storytellers’ CHRIS WHITAKER
‘Had me absolutely captivated . . . I loved all the questions this novel raised about who gets to tell which stories and how complex that can become. Jodi Picoult is a genius’ JENNIFER SAINT
‘You’ll fall in love with Emilia Bassano, the unforgettable heroine based on a real woman that Picoult brings vividly to life. Book clubs will embrace this rich, inspiring story’ KRISTIN HANNAH
‘A blend of historical fiction and modern-day settings, the novel gives us timelines that intertwine and surprise. Picoult has done her research’ HARPER’S BAZAAR
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What if the greatest writer of all time isn’t who we think he is? What if he isn’t even a he? Step back four hundred years and discover the female author who hid behind the mask of the man we know as William Shakespeare . . .
In Elizabethan London, young Emilia Bassano is a ward of English aristocrats. Her education has endowed her with a sharp wit and a gift for storytelling, but still she is allowed no voice of her own.
Forced to become a mistress to the Lord Chamberlain, who oversees the theatre, Emilia discovers the power of stories to beguile audiences. Secretly, she forms a plan to bring a play of her own to the stage – by paying an actor named William Shakespeare to front her work.
In modern-day Manhattan, playwright Melina Green finds a woman’s voice is still worth less than a man’s. But, inspired by the life of her ancestor Emilia Bassano, Melina takes a lesson from history and submits a play under a male pseudonym . . .
Moving between Elizabethan England and modern day Manhattan, By Any Other Name is a beautifully written, compelling novel that explores the theme of identity and the ways in which two women, centuries apart―one of whom might just be the real author of Shakespeare’s plays―are both forced to hide behind another name to make their voices heard.
Published October 10th by Doubleday UK Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Crime Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Discover the new gripping and atmospheric thriller from the global No.1 bestselling author of The Girl on the Train and A Slow Fire Burning.
‘A masterpiece! Gorgeous and chilling, and I couldn’t put it down.’ SHARI LAPENA ‘The best Paula Hawkins yet, by a tense and haunting mile.’ LEE CHILD ‘An atmospheric, stylish puzzle box of a thriller’ – LIZ MOORE
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She no longer sleeps when the tide is out, she only rests when the sea separates her from the land. When she knows no one can sneak up on her.
Eris, an island with only one house, one inhabitant, one way out.
Unreachable from the Scottish mainland for twelve hours each day.
Once home to Vanessa. A famous artist whose notoriously unfaithful husband disappeared twenty years ago.
Now home to Grace. A solitary creature of the tides, content in her own isolation.
But when a shocking discovery is made in an art gallery far away in London, a visitor comes calling.
Published October 10th by Harper Collins UK Thriller, Suspense, Gothic Fiction, Horror Fiction, Supernatural Ficiton
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Chilling and beautifully written … C.J. Cooke’s finest novel yet’ Emilia Hart, bestselling author of Weyward
Four hundred years separate them.
One book binds them.
Glasgow 2024: Clem waits by her daughter’s hospital bed. Erin was found on an idyllic beach in Fynhallow Bay, Orkney with catastrophic burns and only one memory: her name is Nyx.
But how did she get these burns? And how did her boyfriend end up burned alive?
Orkney 1594: accused of witchcraft, Alison Balfour awaits trial. The punishment? To be burned alive.
Separated by four hundred years but bound by the Book of Witching, two women stand imperilled. Can they unlock a centuries-old mystery? And will Fynhallow Bay give up its secrets before someone else dies?
Published October 10th by Michael Joseph Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Crime Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Six friends. One remote hotel. A long-overdue reunion. Welcome to The Hitchcock Hotel…
‘Fans of Knives Out, Agatha Christie, and (of course) Alfred Hitchcock, rejoice! The Hitchcock Hotel is cool, classy – but such fun; reverent – yet so original.’ A.J. FINN
‘As twisty as a Hitchcock film’ ALEX MICHAELIDES
‘A scream from start to finish’ JANICE HALLETT
— Alfred Smettle adores Hitchcock.
And who better to become founder, owner and manager of The Hitchcock Hotel, a remote, sprawling Victorian house sitting atop a hill in the beautiful White Mountains, New England. There, guests can find movie props and memorabilia in every room, round-the-clock film screenings, and an aviary with fifty crows.
For the hotel’s first anniversary, Alfred invites the five college friends he studied film with. He hasn’t spoken to any of them in sixteen years. Not after what happened. But who better to appreciate Alfred’s creation?
His guests arrive, and everything seems to go according to plan. Until one glimpses someone standing outside her shower curtain.
Another is violently ill every time she eats the hotel food. Then their mobile phones go missing.
You should always make the audience suffer as much as possible, right?
The guests are stuck in the middle of nowhere, and things are about to get even worse. After all, no Hitchcock set is complete without a dead body.
Dark As Night (An Arora Investigation, 4) by Lilja Siguardardottir
Published October 10th by Orenda Books Crime Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Crime Series, Suspense, Noir Ficiotn, Icelandic Noir. Romance Novel
BOOK DESCRIPTION: ‘A terrific tale with twist after twist … Lilja Sigurdardottir is fast becoming my favourite Icelandic crime writer’ The Times Book of the Month
When Áróra receives a call telling her that a child she’s never met is claiming to be her missing sister reincarnated, she is devastated … as ridiculous as the allegations might seem. For three years she has been searching for her sister without finding a single clue, and now this strange child seems to have new information.
On the same day, Icelandic detective Daníel returns home to find a note from his tenant, drag queen Lady Gúgúlú, giving notice on her flat and explaining that she has to leave the country. Daníel is immediately suspicious, and when three threatening men appear, looking for Lady, it’s clear to him that something is very wrong…
And as Iceland’s long dark nights continue into springtime, that is just the very beginning…
Twisty, intricately plotted and atmospheric, Dark as Night is the highly anticipated fourth book in the addictive An Áróra Investigation series, as Áróra and her friends face unimaginable danger and extraordinary experiences that may change everything, forever…
Published October 10th by Pushkin Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Young Adult Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: FROM THE AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF BEARMOUTH, COMES THIS HAUNTINGLY MAGICAL NEW NOVEL, HAILED BY READERS AS A MODERN CLASSIC______
‘Hauntingly beautiful’ Hannah Gold, author of The Last Bear
‘The Twelve reads like a modern classic, with echoes of Alan Garner, Marcus Sedgwick, and C.S. Lewis.’ Essie Fox
‘Dark, dreamy, surreal and beautiful.’ Katya Balen, author of October, October______
It’s supposed to be a treat for Kit, a winter holiday by the coast with her sister Libby and their mum. But when Libby vanishes into thin air, and no one else remembers her, Kit is faced with a new reality – one in which her sister never existed.
Then she meets Story, a local boy who remembers Libby perfectly. Together they embark on a journey beyond their wildest imagination into a world steeped in ancient folklore. Can Kit and Story uncover the secret of the Twelve and rescue Libby before Time runs out?
Published October 10th by Black & White Publishing Fairy Tale, Gothic Ficiton, Fantasy Fiction, Historical Fantasy
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Kier Sealgair is the only daughter of a family of seal hunters. But as catches decline and the seals are dying the seal hunters and fishermen of the small town are struggling. Kier cannot kill and in hard times she is a burden to her family, especially now that her father is ailing. Her only friend is Fie, son of the town’s tailor, living with the knowledge that his father hoped for a daughter.
Near the town, high on the cliffs, is Erskine Manor. Servants come from the manor to the town to buy supplies but the family is never seen and rumours abound about them. Did the Lord kill the Lady? Are the five towers of the manor for the five daughters? Are the children of the manor even human, or are they taloned and spine-toothed monsters set to roam the overgrown walled grounds?
And then one day a woman arrives in Fie’s shop wanting an impossibly expensive dress for one of her daughters. She can only be Lady Erskine. And later, on the rocky shore Kier meets the same woman who offers her a bargain, one that could save Kier’s father.
The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells by Rachel Greenlaw
Published October 10th by HQ Famtasy Fiction, Magical Realism, Contemporary Fantasy, Romance Novel, Contemporary Romance
BOOK DESCRIPTION: There is an old tale that weaves through the mountain town of Woodsmoke.
It whispers of a stranger who appears as the snow falls, only to disappear in spring.
Leaving behind a broken heart…
Carrie Morgan expects trouble when she returns to Woodsmoke after ten years.
What she does not predict is the beautiful stranger who walks into her life with the first frost and with whom Carrie begins to fall in love.
Bound to her family’s book of spells and a deep magic that flows from the mountains, Carrie’s family warn that her new love is a curse who will disappear when the frost thaws.
If Carrie is to embrace the power a Morgan woman carries, she must trade something in return.
Published October 10th by Bantam Literary Fiction, Medical Fiction, Biographical Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: ‘I laughed. And I cried. And then I thought about the meaning of life. A jewel of a book.’ JOJO MOYES
‘The bravest book you’ll read all year.’ JODI PICOULT
From Number One bestselling author Sophie Kinsella, an unforgettable story – by turns heartbreaking and life-affirming – of a renowned novelist facing a devastating diagnosis and learning to live and love anew.
‘What Does It Feel Like? is fiction, but it is my most autobiographical work to date. Eve’s story is my story.’ ― Sophie Kinsella
Eve is a successful novelist who wakes up one day in a hospital bed with no memory of how she got there. Her husband, never far from her side, explains that she has had an operation to remove the large, malignant tumour growing in her brain.
As Eve learns to walk, talk, and write again ― and as she wrestles with her diagnosis, and how and when to explain it to her beloved children ― she begins to recall what’s most important to her: long walks with her husband’s hand clasped firmly around her own, family game nights and always buying that dress when she sees it.
Recounted in brief anecdotes, each one is an attempt to answer the type of impossible questions recognizable to anyone navigating the labyrinth of grief. This extraordinary novella is a celebration of life, shot through with warmth and humour – it will both break your heart and put it back together again.
‘Why did I write such a personal book? I have always processed my life through writing. Hiding behind my fictional characters, I have always turned my own life into a narrative. It is my version of therapy, maybe. Writing is my happy place, and writing this book, although tough going at times, was immensely satisfying and therapeutic for me.’ – Sophie Kinsella
Published October 10th by Simon & Schuster Romance Novel, Romantic Comedy, Comedy Drama, Holiday Novel
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Bella is living her best life in Wynbridge, with her beloved Spaniel, Tink. She’s found a way to keep the house she inherited from her grandparents while expanding her dream business – Away With the Fairies – and she’s ecstatic that Christmas is on the horizon!
In fact, everything is perfect until family friend, Catherine Connelly asks Bella if she’d be willing to rent part of the house to freelance author, Jude who is researching the history of the Connelly Clan and Wynthorpe Hall ahead of turning his findings into a book. The plan had been for Jude to stay at the hall, but he can’t cope with the chaos and Bella reluctantly agrees to open her door to him.
Initially, the pair clash but then friendlier feelings begin to grow and Bella finds herself wondering if Jude could become more than just another guest before it’s time for him to leave. That is, until he announces he has no time for Christmas!
With her favourite time of the year suddenly in jeopardy, will Bella ever feel like she’s home for Christmas?
Published October 10th by Dialogue Books Gothic Fiction, Historical Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Welcome to Curdle Creek. We’re dying to make you feel at home.
Osira, a forty-five-year-old widow, is an obedient follower of the strict conventions of Curdle Creek, an all-Black town in rural America governed by a tradition of ominous rituals designed to keep the residents safe.
Curdle Creek has one particularly strict policy: one in, one out.
And one day, it is Osira’s turn.
Forced into the great unknown. The sinister reality of her birthplace unravels around her. As she comes face-to-face with those she believed were lost, Osira must reckon with all she has ever been told and confront the insidious cruelties of inheritance.
Published October 17th by Sphere Gothic Ficiton, Horror Fiction, Ghost Story
BOOK DESCRIPTION: ‘Powerful, haunting and truly terrifying’ CHRIS WHITAKER, author of We Begin at the End
‘Beautifully written and epically scary’ ROSIE ANDREWS, author of The Leviathan ‘Carly Reagon is one to watch’ C. J. COOKE, author of A Haunting in the Arctic
DISCOVER THE GHOST STORY THAT WON’T LET YOU GO . . .
Kyle can barely remember his grandfather. So when they inherit his old house – a damp, secluded tower on the edge of a Welsh mountain village – Kyle and his wife, Lydia, feel they are moving into the home of a stranger.
From the start, Lydia hates the house: the disturbing paintings in the attic, the hostility of the locals, the peculiar light that pours through the kitchen window. Kyle thinks Lydia needs a break from London, from the nightmares and the panic attacks. But over the coming weeks, Lydia’s sense of dread only becomes more insistent, whilst Kyle is drawn to the house in ways he cannot explain.
Yet as winter approaches, cutting them off, the house must become their refuge. For outside, on the mountain, something is calling to them.
Something that has waited decades, and wants to be let in.
Published October 17th by Doubleday UK Psychological Thriller, Domestic Fiction, Literary Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: **Soon to be a major Netflix TV series, starring Gong Yu and Seo Hyun-jin**
Read the gripping international feminist satire for fans of KIM JIYOUNG BORN 1982, CONVENIENCE STORE WOMAN and YELLOWFACE.
‘So this is the world we live in, where even spouses can be rented’
Meet Noh Inji: thirty years old, five wedding rings so far, and she’s never once been in love.
When Inji takes a job at Wedding & Life, the popular matchmaking service, she never imagines her role will be with NM, their secretive marriage division that rents out ‘field spouses’ for a fixed period to their elite clientele. Just like a real marriage, Inji’s assignments involve a wedding, some sex and a spot of housework. It’s all tailored exactly to the client’s desires – no legal battles, no fights, no emotional baggage.
In no way is Inji interested in finding real love, because accidents happen when you mistakenly assume that you are somehow special.
When one of Inji’s old husbands, a mysterious high-profile music producer, requests her back for another year of marriage, Inji’s own dark past will begin to unravel – as well as the sinister underbelly of the NM management, who will stop at nothing to preserve their reputation – and that of their wealthiest clients …
Published October 17th by Hodderscape Fantasy Fiction, Mystery, Crime Fiction, Romantic Fantasy
BOOK DESCRIPTION: ‘An absolute joy to read’ TJ Klune ‘A whip-smart, lusciously atmospheric adventure’ Frances White ‘Fantastic and fresh’ Wesley Chu
In Belle Epoque Paris, a monster is murdering powerful men. Stopping it may be a woman’s job.
When the Gendarmes ask the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena for help, they don’t expect them to send Samantha Harker.
She’s a researcher, more used to papercuts than knife fights. Sam is also the daughter of Dracula’s killer and can see into the minds of monsters. It’s a perilous power, one that could help her crack this case ─ or have her thrown into an asylum.
Dr Helena Moriarty is Sam’s reluctant partner, the Society’s finest agent who has forged a formidable path in her notorious father’s shadow. Professor Moriarty is in hiding, but he still makes his presence known: Hel’s partners have a way of dying in mysterious circumstances.
From Paris’ glittering opera house to its darkest catacombs, the investigation pits Sam and Hel against magic, monsters, and men. And beneath their tenuous partnership, something else is growing . . .
But is trusting Hel the key to solving the murders? Or is Sam just another pawn in a Moriarty game?
With characters drawn from the worlds of Dracula and Sherlock Holmes, Strange Beasts is a twisty puzzle box of a historical fantasy ─ perfect for fans of Freya Marske, Theodora Goss, and Gail Carriger.
Published October 17th by Tor Fantasy Fiction, Fairy Tale, Romantic Fantasy, Poetry, Short Stories
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Dazzling stories of love, magic and betrayal . . .
A sensational collection from internationally bestselling author Olivie Blake.
Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, the spirit tethered to a magical bridge rapidly approaches burnout – and craves her freedom. Elsewhere, Congress enacts a complex auditing system designed to un-waste your youth. We also follow a banished fairy, as she answers a Craigslist ad. And we meet a Victorian orphan, who gains literacy for her occult situationship. In another time and place, a multiverse assassin contemplates the one who got away.
Escape the slow trudge of mortality with these magical ruminations on life, death and the love (or revenge) that outlasts both. This collection also features modified fairy tales, contemporary heists, absurdist poetry and at least one set of actual wedding vows.
Januaries is collection of new and existing short stories from the internationally bestselling author Olivie Blake.
Published October 22nd by Titan Mystery, Historical Mystery, Festive Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: 18 festive stories of murder and mystery in the grand tradition of Christmas crime fiction, from the masters of the genre.
Including the New York Times bestselling JT Ellison, USA Today bestseller Sam Carrington, Sunday Times bestseller C.L. Taylor, and many more…
The award-winning Marie O’Regan and Paul Kane invite you to a festive gathering of bestselling, critically acclaimed and award-winning writers in tribute to classic crime stories.
From locked room mysteries on Christmas Eve to devilish whodunits and tales of simmering rivalries unfolding at the dinner table, these eighteen seasonal tales will delight and shock at every twist and turn.
So, unwrap the presents, pour a mug of mulled wine and follow the bloodstained footprints through the freshly fallen snow as winter descends and darkness lurks in the shadows.
Featuring stories by:
Fiona Cummins Angela Clarke A. K. Benedict Susi Holliday J. T. Ellison David Bell Sarah Hilary Claire McGowan Tina Baker Sam Carrington Liz Mistry C. L. Taylor Helen Fields Russ Thomas Tom Mead Vaseem Khan Samantha Hayes Belinda Bauer
Published October 22nd by Hodderscape Fantasy Ficiton, Fairy Tale, Romantic Fantasy, Fantasy Series, Coming-of-Age Story
BOOK DESCRIPTION: The #1 Sunday Times bestseller is back with a festive winter treat, set in the world of the bestselling Caraval series! With gorgeous interior illustrations by Rosie Fowinkle.Snowflakes are falling.Invitations are arriving.And holiday magic is swirling in the Capital City of the Meridian Empire.It’s Great Holiday Eve Eve. Scarlett Dragna is planning a spectacular Holiday celebration for the city.Donatella is searching for the perfect gift. Julian is looking ridiculously handsome in green.And Legend . . .Well, sadly Legend is not a fan of the Great Holiday. Tella is hoping her perfect gift will change his mind. Unfortunately, she hasn’t found this perfect gift just yet. But it is Great Holiday Eve Eve . . . surely there’s some holiday magic swirling around.Welcome, welcome back to the world of Caraval, where even holidays are not as they seem.Set after Stephanie Garber’s #1 New York Times bestselling Caraval series, this delightful novella will take readers on the ultimate holiday adventure, full of clockwork boys, poisoned candy, impish snow globes, merriment, and-if Tella gets her way-love.Complete with gorgeous illustrations, this is the perfect edition for collectors, readers, dreamers, and lovers of holiday magic.
Published October 22nd by Hodder & Stoughton True Crime, Biography
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Ten wrongful conviction cases. Twenty-one innocent people. Framed tells ten stories with a truth more shocking than fiction.
John Grisham, the master of the legal thriller, teams up with Jim McCloskey, who has dedicated his life to exonerating innocent people, to uncover stories that shine an astonishing light on miscarriages of justice. All the cases in this book are simply extraordinary. And all are true. Joe Bryan suffered the unbearable tragedy of his wife’s murder, only to be tried and found guilty of the crime himself – despite being 120 miles away at the time it was committed.
Clarence Brandley spent nine years on Death Row, coming to within six days of execution, before new evidence cleared him of all charges.
And in the case of the Norfolk Four, police and prosecutors continued to arrest innocent people until not one but four men were behind bars.
Impeccably researched and told with page-turning conviction, in Framed, these cases are finally laid bare. Most importantly, they show how truth can prevail and how freedom can be won when all seems lost.
‘Each of these stories is told with astonishing power. They are packed with human drama, with acts of shocking villainy and breathtaking courage. But these are more than just gripping true stories – they are a clarion call for reforming the tragic flaws in our criminal justice system’ David Grann, New York Times bestselling author of Killers of the Flower Moon
Published October 24th by HQ Thriller, Mystery, Dark Comedy, Psychological Thriller, Suspense, Crime Fiction, Crime Series
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Sweetpea TV series starring Ella Purnell coming out on Sky Atlantic in October!
Readers LOVE C J Skuse
‘Perfect for fans of a snarky narrative’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I absolutely loved it’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sweetpea is coming home at last…
Newly married, with a loving family surrounding her, everything’s coming up roses for ex-serial killer Rhiannon Lewis, right?
Wrong.
Her husband has just been shot, and the daughter she left behind in the UK is desperately ill. She’s got no choice but to flee the States and return home, back to her roots, where she’s in danger of being recognised and arrested at any moment.
Only nothing is quite as it seems…
With a series of bad choices in front of her, and the authorities right behind, Rhiannon’s in a hell of a hole and she needs to dig herself out of it pronto. But help can come from the most unlikely places. And even more unlikely people…
Published October 24th by Zaffre Mystery, Satire, Dark Comedy, Suspense, Thriller, Psychological Thriller
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Marina is a divorced mother of three preschoolers. Lilah is a shy and lonely librarian. Opal is a broke post-menopausal fitness guru.
These three strangers have nothing in common-except for the man who’s been lying to all of them. And who they are now holding hostage in a basement.
EAT, SLAY, LOVE is a book about making friends, finding joy, and discovering the woman you really are . . . though sometimes, becoming your best self involves committing abduction and murder.
Published October 24th by Orenda Thriller, Mystery, Dark Comedy, Noir Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: A top saleswoman at a Finnish sauna company must outwit the police and a murderer when her boss is found dead … in a sauna. A darkly funny, tense new thriller from ‘The funniest writer in Europe’ (The Times)
‘The best comic crime novel you’ll read this year’ Abir Mukherjee
‘Showcases Antti’s trademark deadpan humour and crime plots focused on intriguingly quirky individuals. An utter delight’ Vaseem Khan
‘Just what you want from Antti Tuomainen, the brilliant moulding of apparent mundanity into a which-way-now thrill ride, with humour drier than a desert snake’s belly’ Ian Moore
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Saunas, love and a ladleful of murder…
A cold-blooded killer strikes at the hottest moment: the new head of a sauna-stove company is murdered … in the sauna. Who has turned up the temperature and burned him to death?
The evidence points in the direction of Anni Korpinen – top salesperson and the victim’s successor at Steam Devil.
And as if hitting middle-age, being in a marriage that has lost its purpose, and struggling with work weren’t enough, Anni realizes that she must be quicker than both the police and the murderer to uncover who is behind it all – before it’s too late…
From the international bestselling author of The Man Who Died and The Rabbit Factor, comes a darkly funny, delightfully tense new thriller that showcases humanity at its most bare – in middle age, suspected of murder and, of course, in a sauna…
Murder at the Christmas Emporium by Andreina Cordani
Published October 24th by Zaffre Mystery, Cozy Mystery
BOOK DESCRIPTION: The brand new Christmas murder mystery from the author of The Twelve Days of Murder. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Alexandra Benedict and Janice Hallett’s The Christmas Appeal.
Christmas shopping can be murder.
It’s Christmas Eve at the Emporium, a bespoke gift shop hidden in the depths of London’s winding streets, where a select few shoppers are browsing its handcrafted delights.
But when they go to leave, they find the doors are locked and it isn’t long before they realise this is no innocent mix-up. The shoppers have been trapped here by someone who knows their darkest secrets, who will stop at nothing until they have all been unwrapped – and there is a gruesome gift waiting in Santa’s grotto . . .
For those that survive the night, it will be a Christmas to remember.
Everyone This Christmas Has A Secret by Benjamin Stevenson
Published October 24th by Michael Joseph Mystery, Thriller, Crime Fiction, Humorous Fiction, Holiday Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: ‘Fun and diverting, with a plethora of red herrings’New York Times
My name is Ernest Cunningham.
I’m not a detective. I just happen to have a knack for what makes mysteries – and murderers – tick. I’d hoped, this Christmas, that any killers out there might be willing to take a break for the holidays.
I was wrong.
So here I am, backstage at the Christmas show of world-famous magician Rylan Blaze, whose benefactor has just been murdered. From the magician’s assistant to the hypnotist, my suspects are all professional tricksters. Masters in the art of misdirection.
My clues are even more of a mystery:
A suspect covered in blood, with no memory of how it got there. A murder committed without setting foot inside the room where it happens. And an advent calendar. Because, you know. It’s Christmas.
Solving the murder is the only gift I want this year. But can I catch a killer, and make it home for Christmas alive?
Published October 24th by HQ Thriller, Suspense, Domestic Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: A sumptuous, shocking, steamy thriller set in the vineyards of California’s Napa Valley. What happens when the husband you thought died years ago shows up alive?
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Ten years ago, June’s beloved husband drowned on their honeymoon. Josh’s body was never found. Now, a decade later, June is finally ready to move on. She owns a natural wine bar in Brooklyn and is engaged to a patient, supportive man named Kyle. She’s excited to begin a new chapter in her life, enjoy a picture-perfect wedding, and start a family.
But out of the blue, she sees…him. Josh, her first husband. Is this just a hallucination from the guilt June carries about finally moving on, or is it possible that her husband never died in the first place?
June tries to forget about this vision, chalking it up to grief and nerves, but soon enough, she stumbles across a website for a winery in Napa, and the owner in the photo is identical to her dead husband. With her upcoming wedding looming and a fiancé who’s already worried she hasn’t left her past behind, June flies to Napa for answers. But she’s not prepared for all the secrets she’s about to unlock, because everything she thought she knew about her first love is a lie.
Till Death Do Us Part is a simmering, page-turning thriller brimming with revelations, betrayals, and shocking twists.
Published October 24th by Bantam Fantasy Fiction, Dark Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Gothic Fiction, Ghost Story, Paranormal Fantasy
BOOK DESCRIPTION: ‘Saturated with violence, desire, and power. It’s a book with blood on its lips, and I loved it completely.’ ALIX E. HARROW
‘Alexis Henderson is one of the best Gothic writers out there.‘ HANNAH WHITTEN
‘Dark academia stunner infused with Henderson’s signature style – it’s lush, atmospheric, imaginative and impossible to put down.’ RACHEL HARRISON
‘A modern-day Anne Rice, Henderson has a gift for creating a world engorged with desire and death.’ THE NEW YORK TIMES
Lennon Carter’s life is falling apart.
Until she gets a mysterious phone call inviting her to sit the entrance exam for somewhere very few have heard of – Drayton College, a school of magic hidden in a secret pocket of Savannah.
Lennon has been chosen because – like everyone else at the school – she is special. She possesses the innate gift of persuasion: the ability to wield her will like a weapon and to use it to control others and, in rare cases, matter itself. After passing the gruelling exam, Lennon must now learn how to master this devastating power. While persuasion takes a heavy toll on her body and her mind, she is captivated by all that surrounds her – her studies, Drayton’s lush, moss-draped campus, her brilliant classmates and, most of all, by Dante, the charismatic adviser who both intimidates and enamours her.
But as Lennon becomes more adept at wielding her uncanny abilities, she uncovers more about the unsettling history of Drayton and Dante’s tragic and violent past, and is increasingly disturbed by what she finds.
For it seems that the ultimate test is to embrace absolute power without succumbing to corruption and darkness . . . and it’s a test she’s terrified she is going to fail.
Published October 24th by William Morrow Horror Fiction, Thriller, Lesbian Literature
BOOK DESCRIPTION: The Other Black Girl meets Midsommar in this spine-chilling, propulsive psychological adult debut from highly acclaimed author Vincent Tirado, in which a married couple moves into a gated “community” that slowly creeps into a pervasive dread akin to the social horror of Jordan Peele and Lovecraft County—We Came to Welcome You cleverly uses the uncanny to illuminate the cultish, shocking nature of systemic racism.
Where beauty lies, secrets are held…ugly ones.
Sol Reyes has had a rough year. After a series of workplace incidents at her university lab culminates in a plagiarism accusation, Sol is put on probation. Dutiful visits to her homophobic father aren’t helping her mental health, and she finds her nightly glass of wine becoming more of an all-day—and all-bottle—event. Her wife, Alice Song, is far more optimistic. After all, the two finally managed to buy a house in the beautiful, gated community of Maneless Grove.
However, the neighbors are a little too friendly in Sol’s opinion. She has no interest in the pushy Homeowners Association, their bizarrely detailed contract, or their never-ending microaggressions. But Alice simply attributes their pursuit to the community motto: “Invest in a neighborly spirit”…which only serves to irritate Sol more.
Suddenly, a number of strange occurrences—doors and stairs disappearing, roots growing inside the house—cause Sol to wonder if her social paranoia isn’t built on something more sinister. Yet Sol’s fears are dismissed as Alice embraces their new home and becomes increasingly worried instead about Sol’s drinking and manic behavior. When Sol finds a journal in the property from a resident that went missing a few years ago, she realizes why they were able to buy the house so easily…
Through Sol’s razor-sharp tongue and macabre sense of humor, Tirado explores the very real pressures to assimilate with one’s surroundings to “survive,” while also asking the question: Is it survival when you’re no longer your true self? Because in Maneless Grove, either you become a good neighbor—or you die.
The Many Ghosts of Donahue Byrnes by Laura McLoughlin
Published October 24th by Black & White Publishing Literary Fiction, Contemporary Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Not all guests know when to check out . . .
A young waitress at a country hotel finds herself with a decades’ old mystery to solve – one she hopes will help rid the hotel of its most troublesome guests. Its ghosts.
***
When Ballinadrum Hotel’s elderly owner Donahue Byrnes dies, twenty-two-year-old Mia Anne Moran discovers the spectral rumours that have long plagued the place are all too true. Meanwhile, Donahue’s son, Cormac, wants to sell up as soon as possible but finds his plans thwarted by the ghostly goings on.
Propelled by the belief that Donahue Byrnes intended to entrust her with the task, Mia strikes a deal with Cormac. She will act as concierge to the dead – keeping the hotel’s ghosts in line, as Donahue did previously – and in return, Cormac will sell the business in its entirety, ensuring the future of both the building and its employees.
But what drew Mia’s errant charges to Ballinadrum Hotel in the first place? If she can work out that, she might be able to send them on their way at last. Life is rarely straightforward though – especially when it involves the dead – and as Mia tries to solve the hotel’s ghostly conundrum, she begins to find hers changed in ways she couldn’t have anticipated . . .
Published October 24th by HQ Mystery, Crime Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Humorous Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: It takes an organised mind to solve a well-planned crime …
❄️❄️❄️
Alice Beeton never meant to wind up single and childless on the wrong side of fifty. Like her distant relative Mrs Beeton – yes, that Mrs Beeton – she had hoped to have her own spic-and-span household by now. In reality, she lives in an immaculate but dingy basement flat in a rather shabby block in Kensington with Agatha, her fiercely intelligent, if rather over-territorial, corgi-Jack Russell cross.
Now Alice runs the Good Household Management Agency, providing discreet domestic staff to extravagant townhouses and sprawling country piles. So when Camille Messent calls in urgent need of a new housekeeper, Miss Beeton sends out new hire Enya. She’s rather forward but she does come with impeccable references and is fluent en français.
But in the early hours of New Year’s Day, Alice is rudely awakened with the news that Enya has been found dead. As the intriguing, if somewhat scruffy, Detective Rigby struggles to drum up an adequate investigation and the wealthy family and their party guests close rank, Miss Beeton takes it upon herself to solve the crime…
Published October 24th by Bloomsbury Fantasy Ficiton, Historical Fantasy
BOOK DESCRIPTION: From the internationally bestselling and prize-winning author of Piranesi and Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, an enchanting and haunting Christmas short story
**Named a book to look out for in 2024 by the Sunday Times, Guardian and BBC**
**A small hardback edition featuring an afterword by the author**
‘A church is a sort of wood. A wood is a sort of church. They’re the same thing really.’
Nineteen-year-old Merowdis Scott is an unusual girl. She can talk to animals and trees – and she is only ever happy when she is walking in the woods.
One snowy afternoon, out with her dogs and Apple the pig, Merowdis encounters a blackbird and a fox. As darkness falls, a strange figure enters in their midst – and the path of her life is changed forever.
‘Like Hilary Mantel, Clarke has made the very notion of genre seem quaint’ Guardian ‘A miraculous and luminous feat of storytelling’ Madeline Miller
Published October 29th by Sphere Psychological Thriller, Suspense, Serial Killers
BOOK DESCRIPTION: We assume we can spot a psychopath from across the room…
Nineteen years ago, Ruth-Anne Baker’s childhood friend was murdered by convicted killer, Ethan Oswald. With Oswald dead and the case closed, everybody tells Ruth it’s time to move on – but she believes there is more to the story.
And only the wilfully ignorant or easily duped would fall for their charms.
When another young girl goes missing from their small town, Ruth becomes convinced that Oswald had an accomplice, someone the police overlooked.
If no one has told you this yet – it’s not quite that simple.
So begins a journey that will draw Ruth across continents and perilously close to three women, each connected to Oswald in a different way. The deeper she delves, the more she suspects one of them knows the truth. About her childhood friend. About the missing girl. And, perhaps most dangerously of all, about Ruth herself…
Blending blisteringly taut suspense with a moving exploration of the ways in which violent crime ricochets through the lives of those left behind, Leave the Girls Behind is a darkly beautiful read that will linger long after you’ve turned the final page, for fans of Bright Young Women and Notes on an Execution.
Published September 12th, 2024 by Michael Joseph Historical Fiction, Domestic Fiction
Welcome to my bookish thoughts on Circus of Mirrors, which was the SquadPod Book Club pick this month. Thank you to Michael Joseph for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
********
ABOUT THE BOOK:
A Cabaret dancer falls in love as political tensions rise and the city becomes increasingly dangerous not only for herself, but also for her lover . . .
Perfect for fans of Cabaret and The Whalebone Theatre
‘Julie Owen Moylan writes about mid-20th century women like no-one else’ Laura Price
‘Sexy, electrically stylish, and beautiful – a gorgeous story about sisterhood, and a glamorous, evocative passport to a period we all long to get lost in’ Daisy Buchanan
—-
BERLIN, 1926: After the death of their parents, sisters Leni and Annette only have each other. Desperate, but dreaming of better days, Leni finds work at a notorious cabaret: the Babylon Circus.
From the dancer’s barely-there costumes, to the glimmering mirrors that cover the walls, the Babylon Circus is where reality and fantasy merge. For Leni, it’s an overwhelming new world, and she’s happiest hiding in the shadows.
Until she meets the cabaret’s resident pianist, Paul. And so begins a tentative love affair that will play out over the next forty years.
But, in a city whose divisions will define a century, can a love born within the feverish walls of the Babylon Circus ever survive?
And can the bond between Leni and Annette – tugged in opposite directions of their own – also endure?
In Berlin, two sisters dared to dream of a better life – but where in this dark and dazzling city will they find their true home?
********
MY REVIEW:
Sexy, stylish, dazzling and evocative, Circus of Mirrors is Julie Owen Moylan’s best book yet. Set in Berlin, the story begins in 1926 when nineteen-year-old Leni and her younger sister, Annette, are living on the street following the death of their parents. Desperate for a way to put a roof over their head, Leni finds a job at the Babylon Circus, a strange and intense place where fantasy blends with reality. And it is there that Leni meets Paul, the resident pianist, and begins an all-consuming romance. But, the course of true love doesn’t run smooth for these lovebirds, and we follow Leni and Annette as they – and their city – experience some of their most tumultuous years in a story of survival, strength, self-discovery, love, dreams and regret.
I’ve been a fan of Julie’s book ever since her brilliant debut and her books are always a big event on the SquadPod’s calendar. So I was very excited when we were offered the chance to read Circus of Mirrors. Expertly written, intricately woven and perfectly paced, this book is flawlessly crafted and her meticulous research is evident on every page.Babylon Circus and the city of Berlin feel like characters in their own right and are brought to life in vivid technicolour. A city of conflict that is inextricably linked to much of twentieth century history, Berlin is made alive once again on these pages, making me feel like I’d stepped back in time. But that history is a mere backdrop as the lives of the characters take centre stage, Julie breathing life into them so evocatively that it felt like they were in the room with me. I was in her thrall as she wove her magnificent tale around me and I lost myself in it completely.
One of my favourite things about Julie’s books is how she writes women who are flawed, complex, conflicted and nuanced. These women are recognisable and reliable, reflecting parts of ourselves back at us as we read. She makes us understand them and their actions, even when they aren’t likeable, and Annette was a great example of this. Rebellious, selfish and aggrieved at the things she’s lost or doesn’t have, Annette is someone it would be a nightmare to know in real life, but we can understand her feelings and behaviour because of the things she’s gone through. And in an exploration of how people can experience the same thing with different outcomes, Leni is the polar opposite of her sister. While Annette rebels, Leni is dutiful and responsible, giving up her own freedom to raise her young sister when their parents died and continuing a life of servitude over pursuing her own desires. It is these differences that slowly build a wall of resentment and misunderstanding between them that neither one can breach, though at times they do try. It was heartbreaking to read but wonderfully written.
And I can’t review this book without talking about the romance between Leni and Paul. Their love story has to be one of my favourites I’ve ever read, primarily because it was so refreshing to see the good guy get the girl. I loved seeing him as the romantic lead instead of the more typical problematic male. Yes, Leni and Paul had their ups and downs, but the obstacles in their relationship come from outside forces and I was rooting for them at every step.
Enthralling, moving and simply unforgettable, this is a must for all your TBRs.
Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮
********
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Julie Owen Moylan is the author of three novels: That Green Eyed Girl, 73 Dove Street and Circus of Mirrors.
Her debut novel That Green Eyed Girl was a Waterstones’ Welsh Book of the Month and the official runner up for the prestigious Paul Torday Memorial Prize. It was also shortlisted for Best Debut at the Fingerprint Awards and featured at the Hay Festival as one of its TEN AT TEN.
73 Dove Street was recently named as one of Waterstones’ Books of 2023 and a Daily Mail Historical Fiction Book of the Year.
As a filmmaker Julie won the Celtic Media Award for her graduation film “BabyCakes” before going on to win Best Short Film at the Swansea Film Festival.
Her writing and short stories have appeared in a variety of publications including Sunday Express, The Independent, New Welsh Review and Good Housekeeping.
She has a Masters in Filmmaking and an additional qualification in Creative Writing & English Literature. Julie is an alumna of the Faber Academy.
Welcome to my list of Emma’s Anticipated Treasures for September. It’s a great month, with books from stone of my favourite authors such as Louise Swanson, M. J. Arlidge, Julie Owen Moylan and Richard Osman.
Here’s what’s on my list:
Lights Out by Louise Swanson
Published September 5th by Hodder & Stoughton Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller
BOOK DESCRIPTION: When darkness is everywhere, nowhere is safe…
A state of emergency has been declared in the UK. From now on, at 8pm every night, all electricity cuts out. The Government promises it’s a temporary measure. They promise they are always thinking of your safety.
But for Grace, the darkness is anything but safe.
Someone is coming into her house under its cover every night while she lies in bed upstairs, too terrified to sleep. Someone who knows her past, who knows why she has more reason to fear the dark than most…
And every morning she wakes to a new message from the intruder:
I have you in my sights. Love, The Night
But how can Grace escape, when there’s nowhere safe left to hide?
Published September 5th by Orion Mystery, Thriller, Psychological Thriller
BOOK DESCRIPTION: A skull looks up at Jennie from the trench, but it’s not the chalk-white bone and grimacing teeth that send her reeling. It’s the heart-shaped gold pendant, its delicate chain snapped in two. The necklace Hannah never took off. It can’t be Hannah. But it is.
When Jennie Whitmore arrives at her school reunion, she immediately regrets her decision. Why would she choose to surround herself with people who were never nice to her? Who still aren’t, even now she’s a police officer? The only person who truly looked out for her all those years ago was charming, beautiful Hannah.Until the day she disappeared.
Jennie is ready to finally put White Cross Academy behind her, the old school building demolished the morning after the party. But with the demolition comes a call: a teenage girl’s remains have been found on the grounds.
The instant drop in Jennie’s gut tells her that the remains might be Hannah’s, but when she’s called in to examine them, the truth becomes undeniable. Hannah didn’t run away and abandon Jennie thirty years ago; in fact, she never left White Cross at all.
Suddenly, Jennie has a murder to solve. The murder of her best friend. But can she do so before her colleagues discover just how closely connected she is to the victim? Before a mystery stalker makes good on his threats to silence her for good?
The Reunion is a gripping mystery perfect for fans of THE SANATORIUM, Lucy Foley, and Ruth Kelly.
Published September 5th by Oneworld Publications Suspense, Literary Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: CLOVE HAS SPENT YEARS BUILDING THE PERFECT LIFE. IT’S ABOUT TO COME CRASHING DOWN.
An unexpected letter from her mother threatens to pull Clove back to a life she’s left behind, in this thrilling novel from an explosive new talent
To the outside world, Clove has it all. Thanks to her lies, she’s landed the life of her dreams, complete with a kind, reliable husband, two adorable children, a stable family home. So what, if silencing the memories of her own abusive childhood means racking up a little credit card debt or obsessing about her wellness routine? Nothing to see here.
But then a letter arrives from a women’s prison in California – a letter that threatens to expose the secrets of a past she has worked so hard to hide. Soon, Clove will become caught up in a dangerous game of cat and mouse with the very people she thought she had outrun. No amount of shopping, green juice or meditation can help her avoid the defining day of her life forever.
Brave, hilarious and full of surprising twists, Madwoman is a story about violence, recovery, and Clove’s refusal to be defined by her worst experiences.
‘A truly stunning read – this is my book of the year.’Ella Berman
Published September 5th by Michael Joseph Thriller, Suspense, Mystery, Police Procedurals
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Six people land on a desert island ready to make their reality show debut.
The contestants are hungry to prove themselves. The stakes are high and losing is not an option. But three weeks and eighteen episodes later, five of the six contestants sit in a Portuguese police station, and none of them are winners.
Because twelve million people were watching when Rhys Sutton died on camera, and someone must pay for the crime.
The best friend, the rival, the girlfriend, the lover, and the sworn enemy are left standing. And of course, no-one is talking. But how do you keep secrets when the world has been watching?
Especially when, just a day before his murder, Rhys was the most hated man on television.
Published September 5th by Doubleday UK Historical Fiction, Fairy Tale, Adventure Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: For fans of THE TRAVELLING CAT CHRONICLES, THE CAT WHO SAVED BOOKS and SHE AND HER CAT, discover the award-winning bestselling Japanese novel that has become an international sensation in this utterly charming celebration of the healing power of cats.
A cat a day keeps the doctor away …
On the top floor of an old building at the end of a cobbled alley in Kyoto lies the Kokoro Clinic for the Soul. Only a select few – those who feel genuine emotional pain – can find it.
The mysterious centre offers a unique treatment for its troubled patients: it prescribes cats as medication.
Get ready to fall in love: – Bee, an eight-year-old female, mixed breed helps a disheartened businessman as he finds unexpected joy in physical labour; – Margot, muscly like a lightweight boxer, helps a middle-aged callcentre worker stay relevant; – Koyuki, an exquisite white cat brings closure to a mother troubled by the memory of the rescue kitten she was forced to abandon; – Tank and Tangerine bring peace to a hardened fashion designer, as she learns to be kinder to herself; – Mimita, the Scottish Fold kitten helps a broken-hearted Geisha to stop blaming herself for the cat she once lost.
Brimming with feline comfort and warmth, we see how the company of a wise and satisfied cat never lets us down when we need it most in this irresistible celebration of our furry friends.
Published September 5th by Hodder & Stoughton Romance Novel, Episolatory Novel, Contemporary Romance
BOOK DESCRIPTION: A REASON TO LIVE. Still grieving the death of her best friend, Erin knows she needs to start living – but has no idea how. Then she loses her favourite book, a heavily annotated and containing her friend’s final words to her.
A REASON TO LOVE. When James finds Erin’s note-filled book in his local community library, it sparks a life-changing conversation. He writes his own message back, and soon they are locked in an anonymous book exchange, with no idea who the other person in the margins might be.
A REASON TO FORGIVE? But Erin and James have a shared history that neither of them realise. How will Erin react when she discovers the other writer isn’t a stranger at all – but the person she once swore she’d never forgive?
A story of second chances and new beginnings, this is a love letter to books – and a love letter to love.
Published September 5th by Jonathan Cape Mystery, Thriller, Literary Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: From Rachel Kushner, Booker Prize finalist and two-time National Book Award finalist, comes a new novel about a seductive and cunning American woman who infiltrates an anarchist collective in France
‘The most exciting writer of her generation’ BRET EASTON ELLIS
‘Reinvents the spy novel in one cool, erudite gesture’ HERNAN DIAZ
‘Compulsively readable… Kill Bill written by John le Carré’ OBSERVER
Sadie Smith – a thirty-four-year-old American undercover agent of ruthless tactics and bold opinions – is sent by her mysterious but powerful employers to a remote corner of France. Her mission: to infiltrate a commune of radical eco-activists influenced by the beliefs of an enigmatic elder, Bruno Lacombe, who has rejected civilisation, lives in a Neanderthal cave, and believes the path to enlightenment is a return to primitivism.
Sadie casts her cynical eye over this region of ancient farms and sleepy villages, and finds Bruno’s idealism laughable, but just as she is certain she’s the seductress and puppet master of those she surveils, Bruno Lacombe is seducing her with his ingenious counter-histories, his artful laments, his own tragic story.
Beneath this taut, dazzling story about a woman caught in the crossfire between the past and the future lies a profound treatise on human history. Creation Lake is Rachel Kushner’s finest novel yet – a work of high art, high comedy and irresistible pleasure.
Published September 5th by Transworld Gothic Ficiton, Horror Fiction, Southern Gothic, Supernatural Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Discover the gothic horror phenomenon that is sweeping across Europe, with over 2 million copies sold
‘RIVETING, TERRIFYING…JUST ABSOLUTELY GREAT’ STEPHEN KING
As the dark and menacing waters of the local river submerge Perdido, a small town in the south of Alabama, the Caskeys – a family of rich landowners – must confront the tide of damage caused by the flood. Led by Mary-Love, the powerful matriarch, and by Oscar, her devoted son, the family must pick itself back up. But what they haven’t anticipated is the sudden appearance of Elinor Dammert – a mysterious but seductive young woman with a troubling past. Her sole ambition appears to be to infiltrate the very heart of the Caskey clan…
Published September 5th by Del Rey Science Fiction, Space Opera, LGBT Literature, Science Ficiton Comedy
BOOK DESCRIPTION: A dying universe. A search for answers. An adventure at the end of a trillion lifetimes.
When the home worlds finally achieved the technology to venture out into the stars, they found a graveyard of dead civilisations. What befell these worlds is unknown. All they know is that they are the last ones left – and whatever came for the others will one day come for them.
Scout is an Archivist who scours the dead worlds of the cosmos for their last gifts: interesting technology, cultural rituals – anything left behind that might be useful to home and their survival. During an excavation on a lifeless planet, Scout unearths something unbelievable: a surviving message from an alien who witnessed the world-ending entity thousands of years ago.
Now Scout, their brother and their sometimes-fearless, space-faring cat, Pumpkin, must race to save what matters most.
Published September 5th by MacLehose Press Short Story, Urban Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Is three days with a cat enough to change your life?
The troubled and anxious of Tokyo are desperate to find out. They all have their problems – and they all want to believe that a feline companion from a unique pet shop can help them find a solution. But there are rules: they must be returned after three days, and they must always sleep in their own familiar blankets.
In The Blanket Cats, we meet seven such customers, including a couple struggling with infertility, a middle-aged woman on the run from the police, and two families in very different circumstances simply seeking joy.
But like all their kind, the blanket cats are mysterious creatures with their own unknowable agendas, who delight in confounding expectations. And perhaps what their hosts are looking for isn’t what they really need.
Three days may not be enough to change your life. But it might be enough to change how you see it.
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Would you know if you lived next door to a serial killer? Based on her smash hit tour, Emma Kenny – psychologist and true crime expert – reveals the chilling true stories of killers who hide in plain sight.
Taking readers on a journey into the dark side of humanity, Emma Kenny explores the ingredient list of experiences that turns regular people into murderous monsters, looking at crimes that shook the world.
From Ted Bundy to Joanna Dennehy, Richard Trenton Chase to Aileen Wuornos and many more besides, Emma explores the crime scenes and criminal minds of some of the most notorious serial killers of our time. She also unveils shocking stories of lesser-known killers that even the most dedicated true crime fan will be surprised by.
What unites all of these killers is the ability to slip into society. They look just like you and me. Some were married or parents, conscientious neighbours, teachers or fixtures of their community. Join Emma in this compelling exposé of their depraved world to understand what motivates them and what they look for in a victim. Then maybe you’ll be able to spot the serial killer next door...
Published September 12th by Michael Joseph Historical Fiction, Domestic Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: ‘Sexy, electrically stylish, and beautiful – a gorgeous story about sisterhood, and a glamorous, evocative passport to a period we all long to get lost in’ Daisy Buchanan
‘Julie’s best novel yet’ Georgina Moore _________
BERLIN, 1926: After the death of their parents, sisters Leni and Annette only have each other. Desperate, but dreaming of better days, Leni finds work at a notorious cabaret: the Babylon Circus.
From the dancer’s barely-there costumes, to the glimmering mirrors that cover the walls, the Babylon Circus is where reality and fantasy merge. For Leni, it’s an overwhelming new world, and she’s happiest hiding in the shadows.
Until she meets the cabaret’s resident pianist, Paul. And so begins a tentative love affair that will play out over the next forty years. But, in a city whose divisions will define a century, can a love born within the feverish walls of the Babylon Circus ever survive? And can the bond between Leni and Annette – tugged in opposite directions of their own – also endure?
In Berlin, two sisters dared to dream of a better life – but where in this dark and dazzling city will they find their true home?
The Torments (The Annie Jackson Mysteries, Book 2) by Michael J. Malone
Published September 12th by Orenda Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Contemporary Horror, Horror Thrillers, Hard-boiled Mystery, Book Series
BOOK DESCRIPTION: ‘A tense, creepy page-turner’ Ian Rankin, New Statesman
Hiding from the world in her little white cottage on the shores of a loch, Annie Jackson is fighting to come to terms with the world of the murmurs, a curse that has haunted female members of her family for centuries.
While she is within the ancient, heavy stone of the old dwelling, the voices merely buzz, but the moment she steps outside the door they clamour to torment her all over again, bringing with them shocking visions of imminent deaths.
Into this oasis comes her adoptive mother, Mandy McEvoy, begging for Annie’s help. Mandy’s nephew Damien has gone missing, after dropping off his four-year old son at his mother’s home.
Unable to refuse, but terrified to leave her sanctuary, Annie, with the help of her brother Lewis, is drawn in to a secretive, seductive world that will have her question everything she holds dear, while Lewis’ life may be changed forever…
The second book in the critically acclaimed Annie Jackson Mysteries series, The Torments is both a contemporary gothic thriller and a spellbinding mystery that deeps deep into a past that should, perhaps, remain undisturbed…
Published September 12th by Viking Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Crime Series, Humorous Fiction, Literary Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: FROM THE #1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB
A brand new series.
An iconic new detective duo.
And a thrilling new murder to solve . . .
—–
Steve Wheeler is enjoying retired life. He does the odd bit of investigation work, but he prefers his familiar habits and routines: the pub quiz, his favourite bench, his cat waiting for him when he comes home. His days of adventure are over: adrenaline is daughter-in-law Amy’s business now.
Amy Wheeler thinks adrenaline is good for the soul. As a private security officer, she doesn’t stay still long enough for habits or routines. She’s currently on a remote island keeping world-famous author Rosie D’Antonio alive. Which was meant to be an easy job . . .
Then a dead body, a bag of money and a killer with their sights on Amy have her sending an SOS to the only person she trusts. A breakneck race around the world begins, but can Amy and Steve stay one step ahead of a deadly enemy?
Published September 12th by The Borough Press Mystery, Crime Fiction, Humorous Ficiton, Urban Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: ‘Delicious’ JOJO MOYES
‘Very funny… I inhaled it’ JOE LYCETT
‘Taut, pacy, seamless… a huge pleasure to read’ MARIAN KEYES
‘I was immensely grateful that despite the gruesome way my husband died, he’d done it with his clothes on.’
Anthony Wistern is wealthy beyond imagination. Fragrant wife, gaggle of photogenic children, French chateau, Cotswold manor, plethora of mistresses, penchant for cutting moral corners, tick tick tick tick tick tick.
Unfortunately for him, he’s also dead. Suddenly poised to inherit his fortune, each member of the family falls under suspicion.
And that’s when everything comes crashing down…
‘Still not over Succession? A dysfunctional family with four inheritance-obsessed children gives the Roy clan a run for its money, with a murderous twist’ SUNDAY TIMES STYLE
Living is a Problem (The Skelfs, 6) by Doug Johnstone
Published September 12th by Orenda Mystery, Suspense, Crime Fiction, Crime Series, Humorous Fiction, Women Sleuths
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Drones, gangland vendettas, a missing choir singer, disturbances in the cemetery, PTSD, panpsychism, and secrets from the past … This can ONLY mean one thing! The Skelfs are back, and things are as nail-biting, tense and warmly funny as ever!
‘Hurroo! The Skelfs — Edinburgh funeral directors and part-time private eyes — are back … the persistence of love in the Skelf household, no matter what fate flings at it, is reassuring and life-affirming’ The Times Book of the Month
_______________
The Skelf women are back on an even keel after everything they’ve been through. But when a funeral they’re conducting is attacked by a drone, Jenny fears they’re in the middle of an Edinburgh gangland vendetta.
At the same time, Yana, a Ukrainian member of the refugee choir that plays with Dorothy’s band, has gone missing. Searching for her leads Dorothy into strange and ominous territory.
And Brodie, the newest member of the extended Skelf family, comes to Hannah with a case: Something or someone has been disturbing the grave of his stillborn son.
Everything is changing for the Skelfs … Dorothy’s boyfriend Thomas is suffering PTSD after previous violent trauma, Jenny and Archie are becoming close, and Hannah’s case leads her to consider the curious concept of panpsychism, which brings new danger … while ghosts from the family’s past return to threaten their very lives.
Funny, shocking and profound, Living Is A Problem is the highly anticipated sixth instalment of the unforgettable Skelfs series – shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Best Scottish Crime Novel and Theakston Old Peculier Crime Book of the Year – where life and death become intertwined more than ever before…
Published September 12th by Renegade Books Historical Fiction, Mythology
BOOK DESCRIPTION: ‘A beautiful weave of history, myth and storytelling by one of our most exciting new classicists’ DAN SNOW Steeped in ancient magic, dark divinity and wild ways, Goddess with a Thousand Faces takes you on a historical journey like no other…
Blending mythological retellings with historical research, Goddess with a Thousand Faces traverses the world and transports through time to bring ten formidable and inspiring ancient goddesses to life. Meet Artemis, the Greek goddess of the wilderness, never without her bow and arrow; Sedna, Inuit goddess of the ocean, guarding the icy waters and all its creatures; Isis, Egyptian goddess of healing, who dwells by the River Nile, just to name a few…
Jasmine Elmer explores these goddesses of our past, uncovering their truths, their rebellion and their freedom. For too long, they have been written out of history; lost to the sands of time and stamped into silence. Goddess with a Thousand Faces restores these women to their glory.
Pour over this treasure trove of myths, legends and mighty goddesses. Hear the messages echoing through the ages and see yourself in the faces of these icons. For while their stories might ancient, today they are more important – and more powerful – than ever.
A treasure trove of beautiful storytelling and ancient wisdom, perfect for fans of Love in Colour by Bolu Babalola and Storyland by Amy Jeffs.
Somewhere Beyond the Sea (Cerulean Chronicles, 2) by T. J. Klune
Published September 12th by Tor Fantasy Fiction, Romantic Fantasy, Romance Novel, Contemporary Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Gay Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: A magical house. A secret past. A summons that could change everything.
This is the hugely-anticipated sequel to TJ Klune’s The House in the Cerulean Sea, a cosy-fantasy triumph and a New York Times bestseller.
Arthur Parnassus has built a good life on the ashes of a bad one. He’s headmaster at an orphanage for magical children, on a peculiar island, assisted by love-of-his-life Linus Baker. And together, they’ll do anything to protect their extraordinary and powerful charges.
However, when Arthur is forced to make a public statement about his dark past, he finds himself fighting for those under his care. It’s also a fight for the better future that all magical people deserve. Then when a new magical child joins their island home, Arthur knows they’ve reached breaking point. The child finds power in calling himself a monster, a name Arthur has tried so hard to banish to protect his children. Challenged from within and without, their volatile family might grow stronger. Or everything Arthur loves could fall apart.
Somewhere Beyond the Sea is a story of resistance, lovingly told, about the daunting experience of fighting for the life you want to live and doing the work to keep it.
Published September 12th by Wildfire Gothic Fiction, Ghost Story, Horror Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Folklore
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Spring, 1985. Twelve year old Phoebe MacDonald’s world is falling apart.
She has just buried her parents, a fire at their family home claiming both in a freak accident. Now she must leave Scotland, the only place she has ever known, and go to live with her uncle Louis and aunt Maude in their home in the Welsh woods.
As spring turns to summer, Phoebe falls slowly into the rhythm of life with her eccentric guardians in their curious home. But there is no one her age in the nearby village, and she is lonely until she meets a strange girl, Gwyneth, who wanders the surrounding forest barefoot and alone.
Outsiders both, the two girls form a strong bond, though nobody else seems to believe that Gwyneth is real. Phoebe knows better, and soon with her new friend’s help, she begins to see the woods for what they truly are – a place of magic and wonder, where the line between life and death is blurred. Where spirits roam and secrets fester.
Something happened here, a lifetime ago. A wrong that yearns to be put right. The answer is within Phoebe’s grasp, but will revealing it put her in grave danger?
For the woods hold a dark truth, and some will do anything to keep it in the shadows.
Published September 12th by One More Chapter Historical Ficiton, Historical Romance, Romance Novel, War Story
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Kehinde must put everything on the line to find herself during a time of war.
Lagos, 1939
With the announcement of World War Two and a change that sends shockwaves through her family, Kehinde is forced to put aside her dreams of writing and become the third wife of Mr Ogunjobi.
Kehinde makes her peace by selling snacks at a small market. When she gets the chance to assist the leader of the Lagos Women’s Market Association, fighting for the rights the British are trying to take away, Kehinde finally feels useful again.
But if her husband finds out he’ll abandon her.
Can Kehinde find the courage to fight for herself and the other women of Lagos? Or will she remain a caged bird, a parlour wife, forever.
A poignant story of a young Nigerian woman, living with the consequences of a war her country didn’t choose.
Published September 12th by Black & White Publishing Mystery, Thriller, Suspense
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Merry lives a simple life. For work, she writes cryptic crossword puzzles. For pleasure, she swims in the icy cold sea. And in between she keeps a careful eye on her neighbour, Lucas Manning, the son of her late best friend Julia.
One day Lucas’s wife reports him missing. Merry has known Lucas his whole life; he would never walk out like this. Bad things have always hovered around the Manning family. Lucas’s abusive criminal father disappeared decades ago, and his brother Sean is in jail. But Lucas is different. A good man. He was the one who turned Sean in to the police, after all. Although Sean has spent every day since professing his innocence.
As she begins to dig into Lucas’s life, Merry forms an uneasy alliance with a private investigator doing the same. Gareth was hired by Lucas’s employers, who are also desperate to locate him – and the sensitive work project he has absconded with. Merry might be a cryptic crossword mastermind, but reading people is hard. Was she wrong about Lucas? Did the wrong brother go down all those years ago? This is no straightforward disappearing act: something much more sinister is at play. But as she get closer to the truth, Merry must confront her own dark past with the Manning family, which she has fought so long to keep buried. Who can she trust with her secrets?
Published September 12th by Harper Collins UK Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Fairy Tale,Horror Fiction, Supernatural Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Chilling and uncanny folk suspense in a novel of twisted sisterhood and dark secrets.
Some places are cursed.
An isolated village
A twisted sisterhood
A dark secret that festers in silence
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1978. When teenager Rina Pine is abandoned by her hippy mother in the isolated village of Sorrow Spring and forced to live with her elderly aunt, she quickly realises no one is coming to rescue her.
Rina finds herself trapped amidst a community of women beholden to the past, who believe in the protective powers of the local spring. When a child goes missing and a young mother is killed, she is drawn into the dark and sinister truth flowing through the sacred waters that give the village its name.
Rina is about to learn what it truly means to be a daughter of Sorrow Spring…
Published September 12th by Avon Cozy Mystery, Fantasy Fiction, Magical Realism, Romantic Fantasy, Supernatural Fiction, Contemporary Horror, Horror Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: One new owner. One hot barista. And one seriously weird coffee shop…
Adele is down on her luck. She’s just failed her last musical theatre, and it now looks like the bright lights of Broadway are behind her for good. So, when the opportunity comes up to take over a Brooklyn coffee shop, finally it feels like at last things are going her way.
The only issue is the coffee shop comes with strings attached in the form of one very grumpy (but roasting hot) barista, Ben. He’s worked there for years and he’s not about to move on just because there’s a new owner in town.
But soon it’s not only Ben who’s smouldering, because strange things are happening with the old coffee roasting machine in the basement, with roaring flames and weird noises that seem to come from nowhere. She’d ask Ben for help, but he never seems to be around when there’s a problem to fix. And to add to it all, now some of the regular customers are nowhere to be seen…
Trouble is brewing for Adele and, before she knows it, she’s in a whole latte trouble…
Published September 12th by Bedford Square Publishers Domestic Ficiton
BOOK DESCRIPTION: ‘A gorgeous and funny story about family and acceptance’ Nina Pottell (Prima) ‘Laugh out loud funny yet poignant at heart’ Frances Quinn, author of That Bonesetter Woman __________
Twenty-nine-year-old teacher Emily needs her father to believe her life is a success. He may have walked out on the family when she was a child and let her down when she needed him most, but her life is perfect despite him.
Or it was until last Friday, when her fiancé dumped her. Now she’s facing a frighteningly empty future, and she’s unravelling at work. And just when she thought things couldn’t get worse, her father turns up on her doorstep.
Ed knows he’s got it wrong, and he wants to make amends, even if his motives aren’t entirely selfless. What better way to do that than to show Emily how much he cares about her wedding? He’ll even shell out for the dress if that’s what it takes.
Emily can’t bear to tell her father that her life has fallen apart. So she doesn’t. Before she knows it, they’re planning – and booking – a wedding that’s totally perfect.
Published September 17th by Daphne Press Fantasy Fiction, Romantic Fantasy, Fairy Tale, Folklore, Dark Fantasy, Lesbian Literature
BOOK DESCRIPTION: A sharp-tongued folklorist and her academic rival must solve their mentor’s murder in this lush sapphic fantasy romance from the New York Times bestselling author of A Far Wilder Magic.
Lorelei Kaskel, a folklorist with a quick temper and an even quicker wit, is on an expedition with six eccentric nobles in search of a mythical spring of untold power. The king wants to harness the fabled water source from which magic flows to secure his reign, and Lorelei is determined to prove herself and to make her dream come true: to become a naturalist, able to travel freely to faraway lands.
The expedition gets off to a harrowing start when its leader―Lorelei’s beloved mentor―is murdered in her quarters aboard their ship. The suspects are her five remaining expedition mates. The only person Lorelei knows must be innocent is her longtime academic rival, the insufferably gallant and maddeningly beautiful Sylvia von Wolff. Now in charge of the expedition, Lorelei must find the spring before the murderer strikes again―and a coup begins in earnest.
But other dangers lurk in the dark: forests that rearrange themselves at night, rivers with slumbering dragons hiding beneath the water, and shapeshifting beasts out for blood. As Lorelei and Sylvia grudgingly work together to uncover the truth―and resist their growing feelings for each other―they discover that their leader had secrets of her own. Secrets that make Lorelei question whether justice is worth pursuing, and if this kingdom is worth saving at all.
The Butcher Game (Dr Wren Muller Book 2) by Alaina Urquhart
Published September 17th by Zando Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Fiction. Crime Ficiton, Police Procedural, Horror Ficiton, Crime Series
BOOK DESCRIPTION: From the New York Times bestselling author and cohost of chart-topping true crime podcast Morbid comes the thrilling book two in her national bestselling series, told from the dueling perspectives of a notorious serial killer and a medical examiner seeking justice.
Destruction follows the ruthless serial killer, Jeremy Rose, the Bayou Butcher, as he heads north to evade capture for his horrific crimes. As he seeks safe harbor with a former friend, he remains focused on unfinished business with forensic pathologist Dr. Wren Muller, the only target who’s ever escaped him–twice. But not this time. He’s determined to make Wren suffer, and he’s promised to make her play by his own twisted rules.
Still in shock over the harrowing encounter with her old nemesis, Wren is on forced medical leave in New Orleans, attempting to mend the deep scars of her traumatic past. But with growing evidence that Jeremy is leaving a fresh trail of mutilated victims across Massachusetts, Wren realizes the best way to heal is to renew her pursuit of this vicious killer. She sets her sights on Jeremy, only to discover that she may have walked directly into his trap. As their twisted cat-and-mouse game rachets up to a violent clash of good versus evil, Wren prepares to sacrifice everything to bring Jeremy to justice.
With intense true-to-life details from autopsy technician and Morbid podcast cohost, Alaina Urquhart, The Butcher Game is a gripping addition to the New York Times bestselling Dr. Wren Muller series.
Published September 19th by Michael Joseph Mystery, Fantasy Fiction, Horror Fantasy, Horror Ficiton, Supernatural Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Dark academia meets horror in this gripping fantasy series which is perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo’s NINTH HOUSE.
‘All the Devils is eerie, intense, and mysteriouswith immersive world building and mythology. The fast pace kept me turning pages, and I’d follow Jae pretty much anywhere’ Stacia Stark, bestselling author of the Kingdom of Lies series — HELL IS EMPTY AND ALL THE DEVILS ARE AT RAVENSWOOD ACADEMY . . .
Mourning the sudden death of her sister, Andy Emmerson knows she must come to terms with a life without Violet. But on the day of the funeral Andy is shocked to discover one thing: the person in that casket is not her sister.
Violet is alive.
Convinced her sister’s elite boarding school is covering up the truth, Andy enrols at Ravenswood Academy to discover what really happened and find Violet.
The school is as beautiful and haunting as the students within it and Andy learns that it’s not just good grades that drives these pupils. Something much darker is at play.
After discovering a cryptic note from her sister, Andy must follow a set of clues to unlock the truth. This will bring her into contact with secret societies, ancient magic, demons and monsters. And a charming senior named Jae Han who has his own reasons for finding out what happened to Violet . . .
Soon Andy realizes the price she must pay to bring her sister home is darker and more dangerous than she ever could have imagined.
Published September 19th by Viking Drama, Soap Opera, Coming-of-Age Story
BOOK DESCRIPTION: A hopeful, healing novel about new friendships, old loves, and the very human desire to leave a mark on the world, from the Pulitzer Prize-winning, Booker-shortlisted author
It’s autumn in Maine, and the town lawyer Bob Burgess has become enmeshed in an unfolding murder investigation, defending a lonely, isolated man accused of killing his mother. He has also fallen into a deep and abiding friendship with the acclaimed writer, Lucy Barton, who lives nearby in a house next to the sea. Together, Lucy and Bob talk about their lives, their hopes and regrets, and what might have been. Lucy, meanwhile, befriends one of Crosby’s longest inhabitants, Olive Kitteridge, now living in a retirement community on the edge of town. They spend afternoons together in Olive’s apartment, telling each other stories. Stories about people they have known – “unrecorded lives,” Olive calls them – reanimating them, and, in the process, imbuing their lives with meaning.
Brimming with empathy and pathos, TELL ME EVERYTHING is Elizabeth Strout operating at the height of her powers, illuminating the ways in which our relationships keep us afloat. As Lucy says, “Love comes in so many different forms, but it is always love.”
Before We Forget Kindness (Before the Coffee Gets Cold, 5) by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Published September 19th by Picador Time Travel, Contemporary Fantasy, Psychological Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: The million-copy bestselling series.
In the fifth book in the sensational Before the Coffee Gets Cold series translated from Japanese, the mysterious Tokyo café where customers arrive hoping to travel back in time welcomes four new guests:
– The father who could not allow his daughter to get married – A woman who couldn’t give Valentine’s Day chocolates to her loved one – A boy who wants to show his smile to his divorced parents – A wife holding a child with no name . . .
They must follow the café’s strict rules, however, and come back to the present before their coffee goes cold.
Another moving and heartwarming tale from Toshikazu Kawaguchi, in Before We Forget Kindness our new visitors wish to go back into their past to find closure and comfort so they can embark on a beautiful future.
Catch up on the rest of the series with Before the Coffee Gets Cold, Tales from the Cafe, Before Your Memory Fades and Before We Say Goodbye.
Published September 19th by Pan Macmillan Fantasy Fiction, Contemporary Fantasy, Paranormal Romance
BOOK DESCRIPTION: It’s time to rediscover her magic . . .
With found family, a dash of romance and an uplifting message about self-love, Rewitched is a cosy autumnal fantasy that will leave readers spellbound.
Belladonna Blackthorn hasn’t lost her magical spark, but she hasn’t seen it in a while either. Balancing work at her beloved London bookshop, Lunar Books, with handling her toxic boss and concealing her witchcraft from those around her – Belle is burnt out. Perfecting the potential of her magic is the last thing on her mind.
But, when her thirtieth birthday brings a summons from her coven and a trial that tests her worthiness as a witch, Belle risks losing her magic for ever. With the month of October to fix things and signs that dark forces may be working against her, Belle will need all the help she can get – from the women in her life, from an unlikely mentor figure and even from an (infuriating) coven watchman who’s sworn to protect her . . .
‘I was completely charmed by this delightful and endearing novel about rediscovering your spark’ – Sarah Beth Durst, author of The Spellshop
Published September 19th by Constable Mystery, Crime Fiction, Thriller, Humorous Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: A twisty and wickedly funny murder mystery
Welcome to Aberfal Boys High School. Independent jewel of academic and sporting excellence in the South-west — until the headmaster is murdered in his study. And now the Year Seven School Mums’ WhatsApp Group really do have something to talk about…
Clare Withoutani: OMG have you heard about Newhall?!!! Becky Rupertsmum: Helen-Louise just texted. Can’t believe it. Asha: Not heard anything. What’s happened? Pam Geoffreysmum: What’s he done this time? They’re going co-ed, aren’t they? I knew this would happen. Clare Withoutani: Can’t believe it, Becky. I’m in shock. Pam Geoffreysmum: Are we going co-ed? Becky Rupertsmum: No, Pam. Newhall died. Pam Geoffreysmum: Oh GOD. Seriously??!! Can’t believe it. So sad. He’ll be such a loss to the school. The boys will be devastated. Will the school be offering grief counselling? Rose Oliversmum: Anyone know what pages they’re meant to do for chemistry? Ollie’s homework diary says ‘do questions 1-4’ but no page numbers!
As the resulting police investigation reveals more and more of Aberfal’s long-hidden secrets the list of suspects who wanted the headmaster dead grows by the day. And far from being a glittering jewel of exclusivity and excellence, it would appear Aberfal Boys High School is rotten to its core…
Published September 26th by Magpie Gothic Fantasy, Fairy Tales, Mythology, Coming-of;Age
BOOK DESCRIPTION: YOU’LL WANT TO BE ONE. UNTIL YOU KNOW THEIR SECRETS.
After sixteen-year-old Emily’s father tragically dies, she is forced to live with the only family she has left, an aunt and grandmother in the heart of Savannah, Georgia in a house as beautiful as it is mysterious.
But all is not what it seems with the Bell family; they’re hiding a magical secret.
When Emily meets the alluring Wyn, she forms a connection that feels like it was always meant to be. As the spark between them grows more powerful, her life takes an exhilarating and terrifying turn; but every step closer to him, takes her a step further away from her family.
Emily will find out that blood is always thicker than water…
Published September 26th by Oneworld Publications Fantasty Fiction, Fairy Tales, Mythology, Dark Fantasy
BOOK DESCRIPTION: From the author of House of Salt and Sorrows comes the breathtaking fairy tale retelling readers have been waiting for
When death calls, she must answer.
Hazel has always known she was different from her siblings. A thirteenth child, she was promised at birth to Merrick, the god of death.
Under his care, Hazel learns the art – and magic – of healing. Word of her extraordinary gift spreads throughout the kingdom. But all gifts come with a price. When Death claims a soul for himself, it is Hazel who must end their suffering… permanently.
Soon, destiny brings her to the royal court where she meets Leopold, an infuriatingly alluring prince with a disdain for everything and everyone. Here, Hazel faces her biggest dilemma yet: to carry out her duties or follow the urges of her own heart. Can she go against the will of Death himself to save someone who is marked to die?
Published September 26th by Black & White Publishing Historical Fiction, Suspense, Thriller, Crime Fiction, Medical Thriller, Medical Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Inside the grand walls of Edinburgh’s nineteenth-century scientific institutions, anatomists began to map the secrets of the human body in order to discover new medical innovations.
But to the horror of the local population, a shortage of bodies soon led to the gruesome act of graveyard bodysnatching, a heartless crime that would soon spread like a disease throughout the city. And when stealing cadavers turns to murder, Burke & Hare became two of the most notorious serial killers of their time.
This is the story of those grim events, told for the first time through the eyes of Susan and Helen (Nelly), two women caught up in those horrific matters.
Published September 26th by Michael Joseph Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Domestic Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: We’re all so busy, caught up in life’s moments, big and small . . .
The flight attendant working a shift on her birthday. The mother struggling alone with two young children. The newlyweds excited about their tropical honeymoon . The overworked father missing his kid’s big show. The young man returning from his best friend’s funeral. The ER nurse wondering what retirement will bring.
All strangers. All unsuspecting. Each with a life heading in a particular direction – or so they imagine.
Because an elderly woman is about to step into each of their paths. In just a few words, she will make a prediction, tying herself to all of them. And, in being bound to her, these disparate strangers will all face similar existential dilemmas. .
Who is this woman? Is she a genuine clairvoyant? A charlatan? The answer to prayers, or a harbinger of nightmares?
What she will prove to be is an agent of chaos, fraying relationships, putting entire futures into doubt and causing the most ordered of lives to unravel in the most unexpected of ways . . .
Published September 26th by Michael Joseph Greek Mythology, Folklore
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Pre-order the final book in Stephen Fry’s acclaimed internationally bestselling Greek myths series telling the story of The Odyssey – can a hero find his way home?
Sometimes the hardest journey is the way back home . . .
Wily Odysseus, King of Ithaca, has won Troy for the Greeks – after a decade of brutal, bloody warfare. But now this warrior remembers he is a husband and father – and his gaze turns longingly towards home.
Setting sail with a small fleet, Odysseus dreams of soon lying in the arms of his beloved wife Penelope, and of teaching his son Telemachus the ways of a warrior. However, the gods laugh at the foolish hopes of mortals. Angered by this upstart, Poseidon – God of the ocean realms – curses our hero to wander the seas for ten long years.
Encountering one-eyed giants, six-headed monsters, terrible storms, titanic whirlpools, hypnotic sirens, seductive witches and jealous goddesses, Odysseus is tempted and tormented beyond any man’s endurance.
Yet he is no mere mortal – and the lure of his wife and son draws him, step by step, stroke by stroke, ever closer to home and his ultimate destiny . . .
A tale of love and longing, return and redemption, home and hope, Stephen Fry’s Odyssey weaves the final threads of the story begun in the worldwide bestseller, Mythos, into an astonishing and mesmerising tapestry for the ages.
Published September 26th by Verve Books Contemporary Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: An unflinching and emotionally insightful debut about cultural identity, homesickness, love and loss.
In the five years following his brother’s death, Aaron has built himself a life of solitary routines. After moving from Dublin to Boston, and illegally overstaying her visa, Róisín has done the same.
When the two meet on a night out, they each find in the other something missing in their lives. A semblance of home.
Their relationship is complicated by their disparate religious backgrounds – Aaron is Jewish; Roísín is atheist – and by the harsh realities of everyday life. Just as they’re pushed to their breaking point, Roísín realises she is pregnant.
Placeholders is a poignant story of loneliness corrected and the transformative power of love. The next fix for fans of Sally Rooney, Nick Hornby, David Nicholls, Louise Kennedy and Coco Mellors.
Published August 15th, 2024 by Michael Joseph Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Crime Fiction
Welcome to my review for the The Liars, the unnerving thriller by Katherine Fleet, which was one of the SquadPod Featured Books in August. 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 BOOK:
EAD THE INTENSE, EVOCATIVE DESTINATION THRILLER FOR FANS OF LUCY CLARKE AND WILL DEAN
Two sisters. One missing girl. An island full of secrets . . .
‘Compelling and utterly transportive, a scorching summer read’ LUCY CLARKE
‘Beautiful writing and characterisation and a gripping plot. Such an atmospheric read ‘ SARAH PEARSE
—- I thought I saw her today. Down by the water. It was her hair I noticed. Do you ever see her, Lex? Does she haunt you too?
I haven’t been back to Eos since I first met my step-sister, Lex. It’s been twenty-five years since that summer. Since we went from strangers to sisters. Since Abigail went missing.
Since we told the first lie.
Now we’re back together on the island. So much has changed since we were teenagers. We’ve both tried to move on from the past – from each other. But the island won’t let us escape our secrets.
Only me and Lex know the truth about Abigail. We’ve been living a lie for so long. And if the truth comes out – neither of us will survive it . . .
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MY REVIEW:
A cold case that has never been solved. Teenage friendship and insecurities. A sun-soaked summer of memories and secrets. A missing girl. The Liars has all this and more, making it the perfect scorching summer thriller.
Still haunted by memories of the sun-soaked summer she met Lex, Zoe hasn’t returned to Eos for twenty-five years. That summer wasn’t just one of teenage fun, friendship and insecurities, it was also when a girl went missing and her two friends swore to keep a dark secret forever. But now, Zoe is back for her step-father’s funeral and finds that the ghosts of that summer never left the island. And they’ve been waiting for her to return…
Atmospheric, intense, unnerving and addictive, this escapist thriller is not to be missed. Told in dual timelines, Katherine Fleet has packed a lot into these pages: heartbreak, grief, friendship, insecurity, anxiety, envy, secrets, lies, romance, and self-discovery. Her writing is skillful and captivating, a sense of uneasiness and foreboding woven through the story while darkness simmers beneath the surface. There is also a strong sense of place, Fleet transporting me to the island of Eos so evocatively that I could feel the sun rays hitting my skin, hear the waves and smell the suncream. From the start we know that something bad happened twenty-five years ago. A secret that Zoe and Lex had vowed to always hide and was so terrible it tore them apart. Chills ran down my spine and I was on the edge of my seat as I tried to guess what had happened to Abigail.
Zoe narrates the story in both timelines, offering the reader a glimpse into her psyche and showing us the other characters through her lens. This obviously makes it a biased account of events, but you get the sense that Zoe is a reliable narrator. Fleet’s characterisation is spot on, perfectly capturing the bittersweet teenage years with all their rebellion, angst, confusion and insecurity. She also perfectly captures the dynamics of teenage female friendships with all their drama, rivalry and jealousy.
So if you’re looking for a suspenseful and intriguing read you can escape with this summer, The Liars is for you.
Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Katherine Fleet is a writer and author coach for The Novelry. As a journalist, she wrote for The Guardian, Sunday Times, Red, Stella and Grazia. She lives in a Cotswold valley with her two rescue dogs, where she writes and coaches full-time. A trip to the small Greek island of Paxos was the inspiration for The Liars.
Published June 6th, 2023 by Michael Joseph Romance Novel, Contemporary Romance, Domestic Fiction, New Adult Ficiton, Coming-of-Age Story
Here’s my bookish thoughts on Talking at Night, the heartwarming debut which was one of our SquadPod Featured Books in July. 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 BOOK:
THE LOVE STORY THAT WILL KEEP YOU AWAKE AT NIGHT
‘A beautiful love story. I devoured it’ JOJO MOYES Gave me One Day vibes’ LIBBY PAGE ‘Basically impossible to put down’ BOBBY PALMER ‘Deeply romantic’ LAURA BARNETT ‘Beautiful and very clever’ FEARNE COTTON
‘Stunning, tender and true’ GOOD HOUSEKEEPING SUMMER READING INCLUDED IN THE INDEPENDENT’S ‘BEST ROMANTIC SUMMER READS’
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Will and Rosie meet as teenagers.
They’re opposites in every way. She overthinks everything; he is her twin brother’s wild and unpredictable friend. But over secret walks home and late-night phone calls, they become closer – destined to be one another’s great love story.
Until, one day, tragedy strikes, and their future together is shattered.
But as the years roll on, Will and Rosie can’t help but find their way back to each other. Time and again, they come close to rekindling what might have been.
What do you do when the one person you should forget is the one you just can’t let go?
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MY REVIEW:
Tender, heartfelt and affecting, Talking at Night is a deeply beautiful love story. It follows Rosie and Will, who meet as teenagers and have an instant connection. The pair are total opposites: Rosie is the stereotypical ‘good girl’ and overthinks everything, and Will is the wild and unpredictable best friend of her twin brother. It is clear from the start that this is more than teenage infatuation, but, before their relationship gets the chance to start, tragedy strikes, destroying any chance of a future together. What follows is a memorable will they/won’t they love story that will make even the most cynical person believe in soulmates.
Oh, my heart. I’d heard that this book was emotional but I was still unprepared for how it wreaked havoc on my emotions. Debut author Claire Daverley’s writing is simple but beautiful, allowing the characters and the story to shine in her exploration of love, friendship, loss and grief. Achingly human, acutely observed, and deeplymoving, this character-driven romance has much more depth than your average, lighthearted love story. Real love isn’t all hearts and rainbows, and Daverley isn’t afraid to show that, exploring the flawed, painful side of love alongside the joy and laughter. But those things are still there. After all, this is a story about true love; that all-consuming, red-hot, soulful love that is impossible to resist. It feels like a very fresh and modern romance, revealing how bittersweet love can be. After all, the path to true love rarely runs smooth, and it’s certainly a bumpy journey for Rosie and Will. But will it be worth it in the end?
Rosie and Will are very real, three-dimensional characters who I found likeable and relatable. Their romance gets off to a rocky start after a tragedy and we wonder if they will ever truly find their way back to one another. They try not to, seeing other people and severing contact on and off over the years, but they can never forget each other or completely let go and always find themselves drawn back together. We go on this journey with them, Daverley opening them up and revealing their innermost thoughts and feelings. And I felt every emotion alongside them, leaving me wrung out but heartened when it was all over.
Passionate, poignant, heartwarming and compelling, Talking at Night is a glorious debut you won’t forget. Highly recommended.
Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰
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MEET THE AUTHOR:
Claire Daverley was born in 1991 and has been writing stories ever since she was six years old.
After graduating with a degree in Fine Art from The University of Oxford, she began a career in publishing, writing about books by day, but penning her own by night, on trains and in the light of the early mornings.
She has spent most of her life in Hertfordshire, but now lives in Scotland by the sea with her husband and spaniel.
Her debut novel, Talking at Night, has sold in twenty-four countries to date.
Published July 18th, 2024 by Michael Joseph Historical Fiction, Historical Romance
Welcome to my review for this charming, witty and sassy novel, which was the SquadPod Book Club book for July. Thank you Michael Joseph for the copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
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ABOUT THE BOOK:
‘Romance and scandal abound in this compelling period drama . . . Recommended for all lovers of Regency historical fiction’ LAURA SHEPPERSON, author of The Heroines
‘Warm and witty, with a wonderful cast of quirky characters whose company I found irresistible’ JESSICA BULL, author of Miss Austen Investigates
‘A glittering comedy with spiky wit, an eye for social critique, and (of course) a terrific sense of irony’ TOM MEAD, author of Death and the Conjuror and The Murder Wheel
‘Rich with scandal, romance and social mores . . . a total delight!’ ANITA FRANK, author of The Lost Ones and The Good Liars
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A single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife… But why would he choose her?
Summer 1841. It is marriage season in the county of Wickenshire, and Miss Amelia Ashpoint isn’t sure she can face yet another ball. But now that she has reached the grand age of three-and-twenty, time is (apparently) running out. Her father is anxious to secure her a husband and has set his sights on Mr Montgomery Hurst of Radcliffe Park.
Only, Mr Hurst has just announced his engagement to somebody else.
To the great consternation of Wickenshire, a community that thrives on gossip, the county’s most eligible bachelor is about to marry not only an unknown stranger – but a widow with three children, odd manners and no ancestry to speak of. Society is appalled and intrigued.
Meanwhile, Amelia Ashpoint has no interest in marriage at all. But in this town, it is clear that nobody’s business is their own. And while society has high expectations for Amelia, her heart is drawing her in a very different direction . . .
A love letter to Jane Austen and Elizabeth Gaskell, The Trouble with Mrs Montgomery Hurst is a witty novel of manners and gossip, class and family, scandal and romance.
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MY REVIEW:
Witty, fun, gossipy and addictive, The Trouble with Mrs Montgomery Hurst is a glorious Regency comedy of manners. Katie Lumsden’s sensational debut, The Secrets of Hartwood Hall, was one of my top reads of last year so I was excited to dive into her sophomore novel. I went into it blind, expecting another Victorian gothic mystery, and was pleasantly surprised by this piece of Victorian uplit.
Set in the fictional county of Wickenshire in 1841, this is a story of family, romance, society, gossip and scandal. It follows Amelia, the eldest daughter of the wealthy Ashpoint family. Amelia is not your average 19th century heroine and has vowed never to take a husband. Despite this, her father hopes to secure her marriage to Mr. Montgomery Hurst, but his hopes are quashed when Mr. Hurst announces his engagement at the first ball of the marriage season. The gossip fires are ablaze as all of Society wonders who his mystery bride-to-be could be. Tongues wag further when it is revealed that not only is the new Mrs. Hurst a stranger, but also a widow and mother of three young children. The scandal! How could a gentleman choose such an unsuitable bride? And what will become of Miss Ashpoint now?
Katie Lumsden has knocked it out of the park once again with this magnificent tale. She brings her fictional world to life in vivid technicolour with her exquisite period prose, cleverly choreographed plots and ebullient characters. I lost myself completely in this book, captivated by the people and their lives. It is lively and upbeat, but also touches on serious topics from that time such as sexuality, gender and illegitimacy. These are all handled sensitively but honestly, woven into the narrative seamlessly alongside the secrets, drama, romance and laughter. It gave me wholesome Bridgerton vibes and feels ripe for a sequel.
I was captivated by the book’s cast of quirky, compelling characters. Its heroine, Amelia Ashpoint, is not your average 19th century heroine, and that is why I loved her so much. Spiky, headstrong and plain-speaking, she prefers reading books to dancing, doesn’t fit into the strict gender roles available to her, vows never to take a husband, and is struggling to find her place. But she is kind hearted, likeable, and so fun to read. The eponymous Mrs. Hurst was another fascinating character. Only we know very little about her and are given only breadcrumbs of information about her history and character, keeping us guessing what she might be hiding. I also really liked Diggory, Amelia’s older brother. There were also some great stuck up and unlikeable characters who added to the drama and authenticity.
So if you’re looking for a different kind of lighthearted and escapist read this summer, then look no further than this charming, elegant and sassy novel.
Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰
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MEET THE AUTHOR:
From Katie’s Website: Right, so, hello!
Hi, I’m Katie and I like books. I like to read books, write books and talk about books on the internet. When I am not speaking rapidly about Victorian literature and historical fiction on YouTube, I also write novels and work as a freelance editor.
I chiefly write historical fiction, both novels and short stories. My debut novel, The Secrets of Hartwood Hall, was published in spring 2023, by Penguin Michael Joseph in the UK and by Dutton in the US.
My second novel, The Trouble with Mrs Montgomery Hurst, will be published by Penguin Michael Joseph in the UK in July 2024
It’s hard to believe, but we’re halfway through the year already. And the first month of the second half of 2024 is an incredible month for new releases. There are 50 books on this list and it was honestly difficult to get it down to that many.
So, here’s the books out in July that I’m most anticipating:
The Moonlight Market by Joanne Harris
Published July 2nd by Gollancz Fairy Tale, Fantasy Fiction, Romantic Fantasy, Romance Novel, Contemporary Fantasy, Paranormal Fantasy, Urban Fantasy
BOOK DESCRIPTION: ‘A sparkling modern fairytale… like reading champagne’ NATASHA PULLEY
The wait is over… Million-copy bestseller Joanne Harris is back with her first fantasy novel in 6 years – and this time it’s a love story.
Orphaned, lonely, and lost in his photography work, Tom has no intention of falling in love. And yet, love finds him in the shape of beautiful Vanessa, who lives a dangerous double life in the heart of London’s King’s Cross.
Tom’s pursuit of Vanessa leads him to discover an alternate world, hidden amongst the streets and rooftops of London – and inhabited by strange and colourful beings. In this mysterious realm, two ancient factions – one of night, one of day – have waged war for centuries over a forbidden love and a long-lost prince of sun and starlight.
But when Tom finds a secret market that appears only in moonlight, where charms and spells are bought with memories, he starts to wonder whether he’s been here before…
Romeo and Juliet meets Neil Gaiman in this spellbinding modern fairytale of fae courts, forbidden love, magical wars, lost princes, and secret worlds hidden just out of sight in the cavernous shadows of contemporary London – perfect for fans of V.E. Schwab and Samantha Shannon.
Published July 2nd by Scribner Contemporary Fiction, Literary Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: From the author of the Read with Jenna Bonus Pick A Little Hope, an uplifting and emotionally resonant novel set in a Delaware beach town about a local restaurant owner at a turning point.
Three generations of Schmidts have run their family’s beachfront restaurant and Jack has been at the helm since the death of his father. Jack puts the demands of the restaurant above all else, with a string of failed relationships, no hobbies, and no days off as proof of his commitment to the place. He can’t remember the last time he sat on the beach, or even enjoyed a moment to himself.
Meanwhile, the DelDine group has been gradually snapping up beloved eateries along this stretch of coast and are pursuing Jack with a very generous offer to take Schmidt’s off his hands.
Jack craves companionship and maybe even a family. He wonders if closing the door on the restaurant might open a new window for him. But who would he be without Schmidt’s, and can he trust DelDine’s claims that they will continue to employ his staff and honor his family’s legacy?
When he receives startling news from the past, Jack begins to reshape his life and forge unexpected new friendships. But will he really let go of the very things that have defined him?
Published July 2nd by Hodder & Stoughton Suspense, Horror Fiction, Psychological Thriller
BOOK DESCRIPTION: The worst thing ever to happen on Hemlock Circle occurred in Ethan Marsh’s backyard.
On 15 July 1994, ten-year-old Ethan and his best friend Billy fell asleep in a tent on a manicured lawn in a quiet New Jersey cul-de-sac. But in the morning, Ethan woke up alone – the tent had been sliced open with a knife, and Billy was gone. Never to be seen again.
Thirty years later, Ethan has returned to his childhood home, still desperate for answers. Who took Billy?
Every night, he’s kept awake by strange disturbances on the street, happening under the cover of darkness. Are they still out there?
This isn’t a bad neighbourhood. These aren’t bad people. Are they?
Published July 4th by Michael Joseph Fairy Tale, Historical Fiction, High Fantasy, Mythology, Adventure Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: ‘A stirring, addictive and intoxicating tale. . . Casati’s Babylonia has cemented her as one of the most skilled and exciting writers of historical fiction’ BEA FITZGERALD, author of GIRL, GODDESS, QUEEN
‘An astounding achievement, one of the most vivid, powerful works of historical fiction I have ever read. . . I was utterly swept up in the world of this novel, in the passions and power struggles of its fascinating protagonists, all of whom completely captured my heart‘ ELODIE HARPER, author of The Wolf Den _____
There are whispers of her fame, in the land long since turned to dust. The Queen who rose from nothing – and changed everything . . .
Ancient Assyria, 9th century BC.
An orphan is raised on the outskirts of a brutal empire. Heir to a tragic prophecy, Semiramis dreams of wielding power and escaping her destiny.
Far away, a reluctant prince walks the corridors of his gilded palace in a city built by the gods. Ninus would rather spend his days in books and poetry than conquering the world of men. But when he meets Onnes, a broken, beautiful warrior, something awakens in them both. And as they grow into young men, their friendship deepens into something fiercer still.
That is until Semiramis arrives.
A savage love soon erupts between them all, even as a dark threat to the kingdom mounts. And before long, all three will be forced to learn the lesson of the gods – in Babylonia, you must bend the world to your will.
Published July 4th by Orenda Books Gothic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Suspense, Thriller, Adventure Fiction, Gay Ficiton
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Set in the buried streets of Georgian London and the outrageous underworld of the molly houses, a carpenter hiding a double life searches for a traitor who is betraying the secrets of the mollies. The visceral, raucous, tender and enchanting historical thriller by the award-winning author of The Spirit Engineer.
‘A rare gem of a novel. Gloriously gritty … a darkly thrilling romp in 18th century London that simmers with sinister menace and illicit temptation’ Susan Stokes-Chapman
‘Really very, very good’ Stephen Fry
***WINNER OF THE HWA DEBUT CROWN*** _________________
The only sin is betrayal…
It is the year 1715, and Thomas True has arrived on old London Bridge with a dangerous secret. One night, lost amongst the squalor of London’s hidden back streets, he finds himself drawn into the outrageous underworld of the molly houses.
Meanwhile, carpenter Gabriel Griffin struggles to hide his double life as Lotty, the molly’s stoic guard. When a young man is found murdered, he realises there is a rat amongst them, betraying their secrets to a pair of murderous Justices.
Can Gabriel unmask the traitor before they hang? Can he save hapless Thomas from peril, and their own forbidden love?
Set amidst the buried streets of Georgian London, The Betrayal of Thomas True is a brutal and devastating thriller, where love must overcome evil, and the only true sin is betrayal…
Published July 4th by Orion Thriller, Mystery, Crime Fiction, Psychlogical Fiction, Adventure Fiction, Crime Series
BOOK DESCRIPTION: A city on the brink. A mother on the edge. A nightmare that only DI Helen Grace can end. Sometimes, the darkest secrets hide in plain sight…
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
A gang war grips the city, and the police force is under fire from all sides. But Detective Inspector Helen Grace defies direct orders as she becomes drawn to the case of a missing teenager.
LOST BUT NOT ALONE
Naomi’s mother is desperate for help – and Helen is her only hope. Keeping the investigation secret, she finds a disturbing trail of questions – and more who have vanished off the streets…
WILL THEY FIND HER IN TIME?
Sometimes, the truth hides in plain sight. But proving it is another matter entirely. The clock is ticking – and the only person looking for Naomi is about to meet her match.
Published July 4th by Quercus Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Crime Fition
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Author of the Costa-prizewinning, world-wide bestseller The Tenderness of Wolves, Stef Penney, returns to her snow-covered heartland in this tense mystery set in a small Scandinavian town.
Nordland. A region in the Norwegian Arctic; a remote valley that stretches from the sea up to the mountains and glaciers.
It is May in what was once a prosperous mining community. The snows are nearly gone and it’s a time of spring and school-leavers’ celebrations – until Daniel, a popular teenage boy, goes missing. Conflicting stories circulate among his friends, of parties and wild behaviour.
As the search for Daniel widens, the police open a disused mine in the mountains. They find human remains, but this body has been there for decades, its identity a mystery.
Everyone in this tight knit, isolated community is touched by these events: misanthropic Svea, whose long life in the area stretches back to the heyday of the mines, and beyond. She has cut all ties with her family, except for her granddaughter, Elin, an outsider like her grandmother. Elin and her friend Benny, both impacted by Daniel while he was alive, become entangled in the hunt for answers, while Svea has deep, dark secrets of her own.
Published July 4th by Century Mystery, Thriller, Crime Fiction, Adventure Fiction, Superhero Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Breaking the Dark, the first book in the brand-new Marvel Crime series, introduces fans to a grittier, street-level side of the Marvel Universe, and will continue with original novels featuring fan-favorite characters like Luke Cage, written by S.A. Cosby, and Daredevil, written by Alex Segura. _____________
‘Absolutely perfect’ Booklist ‘The pace doesn’t let up, the characters never once slip. Tricksy, endlessly interesting and pure entertainment, don’t miss this one.’ Gillian McAllister ‘The perfect blend of psychological thriller and supernatural chiller. Lisa’s huge army of fans will love it.’ Mark Edwards _____________
Meet Jessica Jones: a private investigator and retired super hero based out of Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan, who goes from job to job as a hard living, rough talking, loner.
And then a wealthy Upper East Side woman pays her a visit. Amber Randall is concerned about her twin sixteen-year-olds, Lark and Fox, who have acted and looked very different since they returned from spending the summer with their British father in the UK. She tells Jessica that her children have unnaturally perfect skin for teenagers and have lost all the tics and habits that made them who they were. They are not Lark and Fox, she tells Jessica. Something has happened to them.
To find out more, Jessica travels to Essex to talk to their father and once there meets Belle who is living a curiously isolated existence in a run-down farmhouse with her guardian Debra. Jessica knows that Lark and Fox had spent the summer with Belle―but can this unworldly teenager really be responsible for Lark and Fox’s new personas?
Jessica soon discovers that, behind Belle and Debra, evil geniuses are playing a dangerous game with technology in order to make the world a “better place”, not caring who gets hurt, maimed or even killed in the process. Can Jessica stop them from wreaking destruction on a whole generation of young people?
Nothing is certain in Lisa Jewell’s gripping and most imaginative novel yet.
Published July 4th by Orion Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Humorous Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Crime Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Hannah’s love life? Dying. Career? Dead. New pen pal? Deadly.
Hannah Wilson can’t text her ex again – it’s too sad. She can’t snap back at the new boss who took her promotion either – she’ll be fired. But what she can do is write a series of furious letters to William Thompson, arrested for the murders of multiple women he got close to.
You’re a monster, I hope you know that.
I want you to listen when I tell you that I’ll never be able to go on a date again without thinking of you. Every moment I will wonder whether he wants to love me or murder me.
Hannah’s shocked when William writes back, each response more surprising than the last. And as communication tips from curiosity to obsession, Hannah has to wonder if William might be innocent, and whether she even wants him to be…
Published July 4th by Hodder & Stoughton Thriller, Mystery, Crime Fiction, Dark Humour
BOOK DESCRIPTION: ‘Can you come round?’ Dad says tremulously. ‘Of course. Are you OK? Is it Mum?’ ‘No!’ He almost shouts it. ‘Just come quickly. The garden…the…body… we need you, Penny.’ For women of Penny’s generation, being on hand for elderly parents is just part of life. But for Penny, things have become a little more serious…
When she receives a frantic phone call from her parents one night, with express instructions NOT to call the police, Penny rushes over at once. But they haven’t had a fall. They haven’t forgotten their computer passwords. They’ve killed someone. And his body is lying in the garden, right next to the rose bushes. Everyone is capable of murder. They just need to meet the right person.
Published July 4th by Bantam Thriller, Suspense, Psychlogical Thriller, Crime Ficiton, Domestic Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: ⭐ The White Lotus meets Lucy Foley’s The Guest List in this chilling, sun-soaked thriller about three vengeful women, a beautiful island resort, and the darkest of secrets. ⭐
‘A sublime thriller, an absolute scorcher. I loved it!‘ – ANDREA MARA, No. 1 bestselling author of No One Saw a Thing
‘A whip-smart, fun, and stylish novel – I raced through it.‘ GILLIAN McALLISTER, No.1 bestselling author of Wrong Place, Wrong Time
Best friends Darcy, Camilla and Kate have just landed in to the Maldives for a luxury holiday at the exclusive Sapphire Island Resort.
They can’t wait for ten days of scorching sun, crystal-clear waters, white-sand beaches – and the chance to put a traumatic shared past behind them.
But what awaits them is a murderous revenge plot that none of them saw coming.
Published July 4th by Bloomsbury Publishing Historical Romance, Biographical Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: ‘Living with him was like living at the centre of the universe. It was electrifying and humbling, blissful and destructive, all at the same time.’
Paris, 1936. When Dora Maar, a talented French photographer, painter and poet, is introduced to Pablo Picasso, she is mesmerized by his dark and intense stare. Drawn to his volcanic creativity, it isn’t long before she embarks on a passionate relationship with the Spanish artist that sometimes includes sadism and masochism, and ultimately pushes her to the edge.
The Paris Muse is the fictionalized retelling of this disturbing love story, as we follow Dora on her journey of self-discovery and expression. Set in Paris and the French Riviera, where Dora and Pablo spent their holidays with their glamorous artist friends, it provides a fascinating insight into how Picasso was a genius who side-stepped the rules in his human relationships as he did in his art. Much to Dora’s torment, he refused to divorce his wife and conducted affairs with Dora’s friends. The Spanish Civil War made him depressed and violent, an angst that culminated in his acclaimed painting ‘Guernica’, which Dora documented as he painted.
As the encroaching darkness suffocates their relationship – a darkness that escalates once the Second World War begins and the Nazis invade the country – Dora has a nervous breakdown and is hospitalized.
Atmospheric, intense and moving, The Paris Muse is an astonishing read that ensures that this talented, often overlooked woman who gave her life to Picasso is no longer a footnote.
Published July 4th by Dialogue Books Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Coming-of-Age Story
BOOK DESCRIPTION: What if the price of moving forward is losing the only family you’ve ever known?
Summer, 1987. On the sweltering streets of the dying New England mill town of Swift River, sixteen-year-old Diamond Newbury is desperately lonely. It’s been seven years since her father disappeared, and while her mother is determined to move on, Diamond can’t distance herself from his memory. When Diamond receives a letter from a relative she has never met, she unearths long-buried secrets of her family’s past and discovers a legacy she never knew she was missing. The more she learns, however, the harder it becomes to reconcile her old life with the one she wants to lead.
So begins an epic story spanning the twentieth century that reveals a much larger picture of prejudice and love, of devotion and abandonment – and will change Diamond’s life forever.
Published July 4th by Manilla Press Suspense, Thriller, Domestic Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: A brilliant, cinematic and gripping family drama sure to cause a stir in the book clubs and living rooms everywhere, THE DIVORCE explores the unravelling of a marriage from first the wife, then the husband’s point of view, as the picture becomes more nuanced and long-held secrets are unearthed . . .
There are two sides to every story . . .
Together for more than thirty years, Bea and Niklas live a comfortable life in Stockholm. But one evening, following a trivial argument, Niklas disappears. Weeks pass before it emerges that he has met someone else. To Bea’s horror, he insists they must divorce.
But is this divorce really coming out of the blue? Is the person who does the leaving always the one at fault? What emerges once you begin scratching the surface?
Published July 4th by Tor Romantic Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Romance Novel, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, Thriller, Supernatural Ficiton, Dystopian Ficiton
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Set in an alternate day New York filled with monsters, The Wren in the Holly Library is a dark, spicy romantasy loosely inspired by Beauty and the Beast – perfectfor fans of V.E. Schwab and Leigh Bardugo.
She stole from a monster . . . now she must pay the price
Street thief Kierse should have known something wasn’t right. Now she’s trapped in a library ― with a monster. She can’t run. She can’t hide. And this man – this being, filled with terrible power and darkness ― is well within his rights to kill her.
By trespassing, Kierse has broken the fragile peace treaty between monsters and humans. But instead of killing her, Graves does the unexpected: he offers her a job. A chance to find out who she really is.
Kierse has always known she’s different. That she can do things a little better, a little faster. And there’s that sense she has when danger is only a breath away. But if the old tales are true, there are worse things in the world than monsters.
Like a threat more ancient than legend. Like Graves. Or like Kierse herself . . .
From bestselling author K. A. Linde comes the start of an addictive dark romantasy series where monsters live among humandkind, and ancient secrets threaten to destroy everything . . .
Pre-order here*
Cursed Under London by Gabby Hutchinson Crouch
Published July 4th by Farrago Romantasy, Historical Fantasy, Supernatural Fiction, Magical Realism
BOOK DESCRIPTION: The hilarious first novel in a cosy and inclusive historical romantasy series by the writer of Horrible Histories
Two strangers.
Two Londons.
Two hearts that won’t stop beating…
In an alternative Elizabethan London, Fang awakes from his death to discover he is not quite human anymore. In fact, despite having somehow acquired the power of immortality, he’s also not quite vampire, zombie, werewolf or any of the other supernatural beings who roam the twin cities of Upper London and its underground counterpart, Deep London.
A jaded traveller from the Ming Empire, Fang is desperate to find a way to reverse the spell and get on with being dead when he stumbles upon Lazare de Quitte-Beuf, a theatrical Frenchman who is afflicted with the same mysterious condition. Thrown together by the curse they share, the two men set out to undo the strange magic that binds them. As they are drawn further into the shadowy world of Deep London, they unearth a dangerous plot which they appear to be right in the middle of…
And, surely, when in grave danger, the worst thing they could do would be to fall in love, wouldn’t it?
Published July 4th by Simon & Schuster UK Literary Fiction, Contemporary Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Bryony doesn’t actually mind being single. So she doesn’t understand why she keeps seeing (ok, sleeping with) Ed, who is perfectly fine, but also only okay. After developing the ick on their fifth date, she resolves to end things – only to receive a call the next day telling her Ed has died.
Worse yet, he seems to have represented her to his family and friends as his great love. Obviously, it would be cruel to correct them. Then she’s invited to the funeral. It would be equally rude to refuse… right?
Before she knows it, Bryony has been drawn in by the charisma and chaos of Ed’s eccentric family and tangled in a web of her own lies. She’s been guilted into signing up to his sister’s pyramid scheme, she’s in far too deep with several of his nearest and dearest – and to make matters worse she’s experiencing a lot of physical symptoms that are becoming harder and harder to ignore…
Probably Nothing is the answer to just how far sheer awkwardness can take someone. Peppered with Lauren Bravo’s irresistible wit, it explores the relatable modern cults of wellness and people-pleasing, and digs into the eternal dilemma: life is short – so should you settle for perfectly fine?
Published July 4th by Harper Collins UK Romance Novel, Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy
BOOK DESCRIPTION: ‘Super sweet, seriously spicy, laugh out loud funny – and if you’re obsessed with BookTok you will feel completely seen and heard. Lindsey Kelk is the Taylor Swift of romance writing – she makes me PROUD to be a romance reader!’ DAISY BUCHANAN
‘I really loved it … What’s great about Lindsey’s main characters is you stick to them like glue from the very first page, you feel you know them, you root for them from the off’ JUSTIN MYERS, THE GUYLINER
She’s a small-town schoolteacher, he’s a hotshot creative director. Together, it’s hate at first sight.
Sophie Taylor has a secret and Joe Walsh is the last person she’d tell. He’s devilishly handsome, incredibly hot – and far too sure of himself.
But Sophie desperately needs his help.
Because she’s not just hiding something small. She is Este Cox, the mysterious romance author the entire world is desperate to unmask.
When a trip to the countryside means sharing a cottage with only one bed, it’s a short step to sharing a whole lot more besides… Can Sophie trust Joe with the truth – and be herself?
A once-in-a-generation story. A novel you’ll never forget.
From the New York Times bestselling author ________________________
Some said it was tragic, what happened to the Van Laars.
Some said the Van Laars deserved it. That they never even thanked the searchers who stayed out for five nights in the freezing forest trying to help find their missing son.
Some said there was a reason it took the family so long to call for help. That they knew what happened to the boy.
Now, fifteen years later, the daughter the family had in their grief has gone missing in the same wilderness as her brother. Some say the two disappearances aren’t connected.
Published July 4th by Zaffre Mystery, Suspense, Crime Fiction, Thriller, Police Procedural
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Perfect for fans of Belinda Bauer and Ruth Ware, DEAD MILE is the most relatable locked-room mystery you’ll ever read, set on a gridlocked motorway during rush hour
Friday afternoon, and the traffic is bloody murder.
Sergeant Belinda ‘Billy’ Kidd is driving home from the airport, jet-lagged and ready to resign from a career that has left her traumatised. Menopause has robbed her confidence too – now she’s a traffic cop who’s afraid to drive. When brake lights haemorrhage up the motorway, the cars grind to a halt. Moments later she finds a dead driver in a black sedan.
He has a metal skewer in his neck. But how? The killer can’t have left the scene without being spotted by the dozens of witnesses – so he must still be there, among them. If the traffic jam stays put, they’re all in danger; if the traffic clears, she’ll lose her suspect. The clock is ticking, but she doesn’t know how fast.
Published July 4th by Fourth Estate Historical Fiction, Domestic Fiction, Coming-of-Age Story, Political Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: It is the summer of 1969 and Rome is awash with glamour and intrigue. Teddy Huntley Carlyle is fresh off a plane from Texas with a new husband in tow and a new life on the horizon. After some wayward years of bad men and bad decisions, she’s promised herself a fresh start. In Rome, Teddy will be good. She will wear the right clothes and the perfect lipstick and she will charm her husband’s colleagues at the Embassy.
And Teddy is good, until the Fourth of July, when her new life explodes with the fireworks above her head. She is caught on camera in the arms of the American ambassador just moments after spotting a man from the darkest corner of her past across the room. There it is: the evidence of her depravity on film. Trying to recover the photographs and keep her reputation intact, Teddy descends into the dark underbelly of the city… but is she in over her head?
Published July 4th by Bloomsbury Publishing Historical Ficiton, Romance Novel, Humorous Fiction, Historical Romance, War Story
BOOK DESCRIPTION: London, 1944. The air raid sirens are blaring, the bombers are hovering. England has been at war with Germany for four years, and there’s no sign of peace coming. Dot Gallagher, newly arrived from Liverpool to offer her services as a nurse, hurries from her Red Cross hostel to the tube station to join the crowds of people taking shelter. A group of GIs have started dancing around a wind-up gramophone, and it doesn’t take long for Dot to join them. As she jives along with one of the American soldiers, he tells her about Rainbow Corner, a social club in Piccadilly for US troops. There is always a demand for dance hostesses there, women who know how to jitterbug and rock’n’roll, to dance with the soldiers. Would Dot like to apply?
As Dot discovers, Rainbow Corner is like no other place, an oasis in London where, once inside, the constraints of wartime Britain disappear. There is no rationing, all luxuries are available, including a constant stream of donuts, chewing gum and cola. There are restaurants and cafes, boxing matches and movies, and, much to Dot’s delight, a huge dance hall. Rather like an Embassy, Rainbow Corner is essentially a plot of America in central London.
It is there that Dot becomes firm friends with many of the other hostesses, and in particular with Lilly, who works for the Colonel.
Meet Me at Rainbow Corner follows the lives of Dot, Lilly and their friends, as they dance the nights away, fall in and out of love, and navigate the horrors of war. Lilly goes on a secret mission with her Colonel to France, and Dot becomes pregnant and returns to Liverpool. When the war is over, they are re-united, having travelled by boat to the US with countless other war brides to meet their repatriated fiancés again. Along the way, they uncover a case of inside espionage and learn the true meaning of love.
More Days at the Morisaki Bookshopby Satoshi Yagisawa
Published July 4th by Manilla Press Literary Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: THE EMOTIONAL AND LIFE-AFFIRMING NEW NOVEL FROM THE INTERNATIONALLY BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF DAYS AT THE MORISAKI BOOKSHOP TRANSLATED FROM JAPANESE BY ERIC OZAWA
In Tokyo, there is a neighbourhood with the highest number of bookstores in the world. It is called Jimbocho where book lovers can browse to their heart’s delight and where hunters of first editions or autographed copies prowl the bookcases.
The Morisaki bookshop, a small family-run shop, is so packed with books that barely five people can fit inside. Books crowd the shelves and invade every corner of the floor; when a customer arrives, the owner, Satoru, immediately pops out from behind the counter. Recently, his wife Momoko has joined him, and often, in her free time after work, their niece Takako also helps out.
For the first time, the girl does not feel lonely; she has new friends and new rituals to keep her company: the annual Jimbocho festival, the café around the corner, or an unexpected visitor. Because, as she has discovered, a bookstore is populated not by the characters contained in the books, but also by those who frequent it. And those stories create bonds.
As a sign of gratitude, Takako gives her aunt and uncle a trip, promising to look after the shop while they are away. Everything seems to be going swimmingly, but then why is Satoru behaving so strangely? And what does that woman with the red umbrella want who has appeared at the end of the street? How many other stories, emotions, and treasures does the Morisaki bookshop hold? Loved by thousands of readers worldwide, More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is a story of hope, friendship and the healing power of books. Will we see you in the bookshop this summer?
Published July 11th by Bantam Historical Ficiton, Fairy Tale, Myths, Supernatural Fiction, Adventure Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: ‘A gorgeous historical novel about the legend of female poisoner Giulia Tofana, brimming with rich detail and intrigue.’ C. J. COOKE, author of The Lighthouse Witches
Rome, 1656
In the shadowy backstreets of the Eternal City lies an apothecary – a place for women to take their heartbreaks and troubles. Herbs for childbirth. Tarot readings to tell their fortunes. An undetectable poison that can kill in four drops.
Alongside her circle of female poisoners, Giulia Tofana dispenses her deadly potion to free the downtrodden women of the city from their abusive husbands.
But even in a time of plague, it does not go unnoticed when the men of Rome begin to fall like flies.
With a newly elected Pope hell-bent on ridding the city of heretics and witches, and the Holy Office of the Inquisition on her tail, Giulia is in more danger than ever. . .
How far will she go for the women who need her help?
Published July 11th by Viking Historical Ficiton, Biographical Ficiton, Political Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: FROM THE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED AUTHOR OF CECILY
‘Elegant and propulsive . . . I had to fight myself to put it down’ A.K. Blakemore ‘History at its most powerful: intimate and personal, visceral and devastating’ Jennifer Saint ‘Family dynamics at their most fierce – timeless and brilliant!’ Kate Sawyer
——
1461. Through blood and battle Edward has gained England’s throne – king by right and conquest – eighteen years old and unstoppable. Cecily has piloted his rise to power and stands at his shoulder now, first to claim the title King’s Mother.
But to win a throne is not to keep it and war is come again. As brother betrays brother, and trusted cousins turn treacherous, other mothers rise up to fight for other sons. Cecily must focus her will to defeat every challenge. Wherever they come from. Whatever the cost.
For there can be only one King, and only one King’s Mother.
From the Wars of the Roses to the dawn of the Tudor age, this is a story of mothers and sons; of maternal ferocity and female ambition – of all they can build and all they can destroy.
Published July 11th by Viper Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Domestic Fiction, Women Sleuths
BOOK DESCRIPTION: ‘A fresh new voice in crime fiction’ – JANICE HALLETT ‘Funny, sad, witty and very engaging’ – EMMA CURTIS ‘Darkly funny and deftly plotted’ – ALICE CLARK-PLATTS
Everyone needs a hobby…
Things haven’t been going well for Beth. Her husband has left her for one of her friends. Her fellow school mums judge her for swearing too much and not shifting the baby weight. And now she’s stuck in A&E after her son fell off the climbing wall on the first day of school.
In fact, things haven’t been going well for Beth since Charlotte died – her best friend, a favourite at the school pick-ups and the only person to ever run an interesting PTA meeting. But after being hit by a car while on an ill-timed evening jog, Charlotte is no longer there to help Beth pick up the pieces of her increasingly difficult life.
That is, until Beth discovers that Charlotte left her toddler alone in the house during that fatal run. The Charlotte she knew would never do something so irresponsible, and suddenly Beth is questioning whether Charlotte’s death was really an accident. With a newfound purpose and a glass of wine in hand, it’s time for Beth to uncover what really happened to her best friend. And what better place to start than the circle of chatty school mums, who can’t be as perfect as they pretend. But which of them is hiding something? Beth’s determined to find out. Once she’s put the kids to bed, of course…
Published July 11th by Picador Coming-of-Age Story, LGBT Literature, Gay Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: ‘You know those books that you take with you everywhere? That you won’t stop talking about to your friends? That bring it all back? That change you? Anyone’s Ghost is that book’ – Junot Diaz, author of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
IT TOOK THREE CAR CRASHES TO KILL JAKE
The lonely life of fifteen-year-old Theron David Alden is transformed when he meets Jake. Older, cooler, more confident and startlingly beautiful, Jake likes the same bands, the same drugs, and has the same drive to oblivion.
Over the course of two decades, Theron and Jake get high, drift apart, and are brought hurtling back together, until a final collision tears them apart forever.
Theron wants Jake, and he wants to be Jake. But is Jake brave enough to want him back?
A gorgeous modern love story about the lives that change us, and the loves that haunt us, Anyone’s Ghost will break your heart.
Hell’s Bells (Professor Eustace Rose Mystery 2) by Jill Johnson
Published July 11th by Black & White Publishing Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Women Sleuths
BOOK DESCRIPTION: After a nerve-racking investigation, Professor Eustacia Rose’s life is returning to normal. She is finally back teaching at UCL and her relationship with Matilde is blossoming. But when a man is found dead with a needle in his neck, and a disturbing painting of Eustacia links her and the body, her fragile peace suddenly begins to crumble.
At work, there’s another threat for Eustacia to deal with. A PhD student is desperate to get access to her poisonous plant collection and begins to stalk her. When she refuses to help him, he starts buying illegal synthetic plant toxins from an unknown source then turns up dead. Once again, Eustacia is the link.
With no leads and the body count rising, Eustacia, now firmly in the frame, is left with no choice but to investigate the deaths in earnest herself, however dangerous it may become.
Published July 11th by Tor Fantasy Fiction, Romantic Fantasy, Romance Novel
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Perfect for fans of Travis Baldree and TJ Klune, The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst is a cosy fantasy tale full of stolen spellbooks, unexpected friendships, sweet jams and even sweeter romance.
‘Reading this book was like sitting in the sun . . . a warm, peaceful delight of a novel’ – Katherine Arden, author of The Bear and the Nightingale
Every home needs a little magic . . .
Kiela has always had trouble dealing with people, and as librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, she hasn’t had to.
She and her assistant, Caz, a sentient spider plant, have spent most of the last eleven years sequestered among the empire’s precious spellbooks, protecting the magic for the city’s elite. But a revolution is brewing and when the library goes up in flames, Kiela and Caz steal whatever books they can and flee to the faraway island where she grew up. But to her dismay, in addition to a nosy – and very handsome – neighbour, she finds the town in disarray.
The empire has slowly been draining power from the island, and now Kiela is determined to make things right. But opening up her own spellshop comes with its own risks – the consequence of sharing magic with commoners is death. And as Kiela starts to make a place for herself among the townspeople, she realizes she must break down the walls she has kept so high . . .
From award-winning author Sarah Beth Durst, The Spellshop is a cottagecore cosy fantasy following a woman’s unexpected journey through the low-stakes market of illegal spell-selling and the high-risk business of starting over.
Published July 16th by G.P. Putnam’s Sons Romance Novel, Contemporary Romance
BOOK DESCRIPTION: “I love, love, love Lizzy Dent.”–Emily Henry, #1 New York Times bestselling author
Olive Stone is about to spend four weeks in Italy with the most beautiful man she’s ever hated.
When Olive Stone and her Italian pseudo-celebrity chef father fell out fourteen years ago, annoyingly handsome Leo Ricci slipped right in as his surrogate son and sous-chef. No one is more surprised than Olive when her father wills her his beloved (and now failing) restaurant. Or that his dying wish was for Olive and Leo to complete his cookbook…together.
She’s determined to sell the restaurant. Leo is determined to convince her not to. As they embark on four weeks in Italy, traveling from Sicily to Tuscany to Liguria, they’ll test each other as often as they test recipes. But the more time Olive and Leo spend together, the more undeniable their attraction grows. Olive finds herself wondering whether selling the restaurant might be running away, and what it might be like to try Just One Taste of Leo Ricci. Because he isn’t who she expected, and this trip might reveal more about who Olive is than she’s ready for.
Published July 16th by Orion Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Literary Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: A missing persons mystery, a serial killer thriller, and an epic love story – with a unique twist on each…
* * * * *
Late one summer, the town of Monta Clare is shattered by the abduction of local teenager Joseph ‘Patch’ Macauley. Nobody more so than Saint Brown, who is broken by her best friend’s disappearance. Soon, she will eat, sleep, breathe, only to find him.
But when she does: it will break her heart.
Patch lies in a pitch-black room – all alone – for days or maybe weeks. Until he feels a hand in his. Her name is Grace and, though they cannot see each other, she takes him from the darkness and paints their world with her words. In this hopeless place, they fall in love.
But when he escapes: there is no sign she ever even existed.
To find her again, Patch charts an epic search across the country. And, to set him free, Saint will shadow his journey: on a darker path to hunt down the man who took them.
Even if finding the truth means losing each other forever…
The Black Bird Oracle (All Souls Book 5) by Deborah Harkness
Published July 16th by Headline Fantasy Fiction, Romantic Fantasy, Thriller, Supernatural Fiction, Paranormal Fiction, Fantasy Series
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Diana Bishop journeys to the darkest places within herself – and her family history – in the highly anticipated fifth novel of the beloved Number One Sunday Times bestselling All Souls series.
The first shadows fall on a Friday afternoon when a single, dying raven lands on the pavement in front of Diana Bishop, harbinger of an invitation that reads, ‘It’s time you came home, Diana’.
Diana is a witch and scholar; her husband Matthew Clairmont, a vampire. Their intense love for one another awoke the dark powers within her and dissolved the Covenant between the three species – Witch, Daemon and Vampire – that live alongside humans. Now, the governing Congregation has decided it must test the magical powers of their seven-year-old twins, Pip and Becca. Concerned with their safety, Diana decides to forge a different path for her family’s future and travels to Ravenswood, the Proctor family home.
There, Diana begins a new era, becoming her great aunt Gwyneth’s pupil in higher magic. It’s time to confront her family’s past – and her own, inescapable desire for greater power.
Number One bestselling author Deborah Harkness returns to her beloved All Souls world with a triumphant novel that sweeps back to the Salem Panic and illuminates Diana’s family history in new and thrilling ways.
The Trouble with Mrs Montgomery Hurst by Katie Lumsden
Published July 18th by Michael Joseph Historical Fiction, Historical Romance
BOOK DESCRIPTION: A single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife… But why would he choose her?
Summer 1841. It is marriage season in the county of Wickenshire, and Miss Amelia Ashpoint isn’t sure she can face yet another ball. But now that she has reached the grand age of three-and-twenty, time is (apparently) running out. Her father is anxious to secure her a husband and has set his sights on Mr Montgomery Hurst of Radcliffe Park.
Only, Mr Hurst has just announced his engagement to somebody else.
To the great consternation of Wickenshire, a community that thrives on gossip, the county’s most eligible bachelor is about to marry not only an unknown stranger – but a widow with three children, odd manners and no ancestry to speak of. Society is appalled and intrigued.
Meanwhile, Amelia Ashpoint has no interest in marriage at all. But in this town, it is clear that nobody’s business is their own. And while society has high expectations for Amelia, her heart is drawing her in a very different direction . . .
A love letter to Jane Austen and Elizabeth Gaskell, The Trouble with Mrs Montgomery Hurst is a witty novel of manners and gossip, class and family, scandal and romance.
Le Fay (The Morgan Le Fay Book 2) by Sophie Keetch
Published July 18th by Magpie Historical Fantasy, Fantasy Fiction, Fairy Tales
BOOK DESCRIPTION: The second instalment in the feminist retelling of the story of the formidable and misunderstood villainess Morgan le Fay, nemesis of the sorcerer Merlin
‘Keetch is a masterful storyteller who strikes the perfect balance between the intimate and the epic. Le Fay is truly a story to savour.’ Rosie Talbot, author of Sixteen Souls
‘They should fear me, the power I possessed, and the bright, ravenous rage that now fuelled my every breath… Even I did not know what I was capable of.’
Lady Morgan surveys her life at Camelot: she is safe, valued for her intelligence, and has the love and respect of her brother King Arthur, despite a growing conflict with Queen Guinevere.
It’s not enough. For, between the strict rules of court, a vengeful husband determined to snatch their son away, and a jealous rival in sorcerer Merlin, Morgan desires freedom. And when a face from her past arrives, igniting old memories and new desires, the future she is planning becomes fraught with danger.
Morgan must break the shackles of expectation to seek true happiness. In doing so, she discovers dark new powers that promise control of her life is within reach. But it’s at the risk of destroying everything…
‘A richly imagined tale of feminine power and defiance, of righteous rage and revenge, of love won and lost.’ Nikki Marmery, author of Lilith
Published July 18th byPenguin UK Fantasy, Mythology, Romantic Fantasy, Greek Mythology, Coming-of-Age Story, Religious Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: The second fierce, fresh and gloriously romantic YA Greek myth re-imagining, from Bea Fitzgerald, growing TikTok superstar and Sunday Times bestselling author of GIRL, GODDESS, QUEEN.
Love caused this war. At least, that’s what the stories will say.
When Cassandra’s patron god, Apollo, offers her the gift of prophecy – and all the power that comes with it – she seizes the opportunity. But when she fails to uphold her end of the agreement, she discovers just how very far she has to fall. No one believes her visions. Which all seem to be of one girl – and she’s going to start a war. Helen fled Sparta in pursuit of love – though that’s proving more elusive than she’d hoped. Far from home, Helen’s navigating all the politics and backstabbing of the Trojan court.
And one princess seems particularly intent on driving her from the city. . .
But when war finally strikes, it’s more than the army at their walls they must contend with. Cassandra and Helen might hold the key to reweaving fate itself – especially with the prophetic strands drawing them ever closer together.
But how do you change your future when the gods themselves are dictating your demise?
Published July 18th by Doubleday UK Literary Fiction, Contemporary Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: From the prize-winning author of WAHALA, a powerful de-colonial retelling of MANSFIELD PARK, exploring identity, culture, race and love ____________ When Funke’s mother dies in an accident in Lagos, she’s sent to live with her maternal family in England. Against a backdrop of condescension and mild neglect, sensible Funke strives to fit in, determined to become one of them.
Free-spirited Liv has always wanted to break free of her joyless family, to be nothing like them. Fiercely protective of Funke, she at last has an ally. The two cousins give each other what they need most: love.
But the past casts long shadows and the choices made by their mothers haunt them, shaping the trajectory of their adult lives. Can they escape their legacy?
Witty, warm, hugely entertaining, ThisMotherlessLand bridges three decades and two continents, delving into the thorny territories of race and culture and belonging. At its heart is a story about love and how it can make the difference between surviving and thriving.
Published July 18th by Simon & Schuster UK Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Crime, Mystery
BOOK DESCRIPTION: AND THEN THERE WERE NONE meets THE TRAITORS
Five beautiful couples. One deadly game. Who will escape alive?
Lyla Santiago has spent months working on a research project that could be the key to getting a permanent job in her field. So, she can’t really drop everything to go to a desert island with her actor boyfriend Nico to film One Perfect Couple, a new reality TV show that Nico is sure will lead to his big break – can she?
Two weeks later, Lyla finds herself boarding a boat to an isolated luxury resort in the Indian Ocean.
The rules of the game are simple. Ten strangers have to survive together on the island – and the last couple standing scoops the prize. There will be sun, sea, laughs and plenty of flirting. What could possibly go wrong?
But when a huge tropical storm cuts them off from everything, the group must band together. As tensions run high and fresh water runs low, Lyla realises that someone is playing this game for real – and they’ll stop at nothing to win.
Ten might have arrived, but who will survive to the end?
Published July 18th by Abacus Crime Fiction, Thriller
BOOK DESCRIPTION: FORGET WHAT YOU THINK YOU KNOW THIS IS NOT THAT CRIME NOVEL
You know Penny Coyne. The little old lady who has solved multiple murders in her otherwise sleepy village, despite bumbling local police. A razor-sharp mind in a twinset and tweed.
You know Johnny Hawke. Hard-bitten LAPD homicide detective. Always in trouble with his captain, always losing partners, but always battling for the truth, whatever it takes.
Against all the odds, against the usual story, their worlds are about to collide. It starts with a dead writer and a mysterious wedding invitation. It will end with a rabbit hole that goes so deep, Johnny and Penny might come to question not just whodunnit, but whether they want to know the answer.
A cross-genre hybrid of Agatha Christie and Michael Connelly, The Cracked Mirror is the most imaginative and entertaining crime novel of the year, a genre-splicing rollercoaster with a poignantly emotional heart.
Published July 18th by HQ Romance Novel, Contemporary Romance, Coming-of-Age Story
BOOK DESCRIPTION: If Maggie is living her best life, why doesn’t it feel like she’s in the right place?
From the outside, Maggie Lemon has a perfect life. But she and her husband have been trying for a baby for five years and she’s exhausted. She’s seen countless fertility experts and followed dozens of diets and homeopathic recommendations, and even gave up her dream restaurant in London when doctors suggested the stress might be too much. And now her estranged aunt has died, leaving her hotel in Provence to Maggie.
It’s been years since Maggie visited Le Figuier. There’s a lot of work to be done and she knows she should sell it. But when a disgraced Hollywood actor hiding out at the hotel lends a hand, the load feels a lot lighter. Is it just the chemistry with this handsome stranger, or is it starting to feel like Maggie might finally be in the right place?
‘I’m a huge fan of all of Sophia’s books but this is my new favourite…it helped me remember that the sun will come again. Summer holiday read simply doesn’t do it justice!’ Cleo Watson, author of Whips
Published July 18th by HQ Literary Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Medical Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: A razor-sharp, bleakly funny exploration of mental health crises, the societal pressures on young women, and toxic sexual and romantic relationships from one of the most exciting new literary voices. Perfect for fans of Sorrow and Bliss or Cleopatra and Frankenstein.
‘Sharp and uncompromising… Everyone I Know is Dying is a book that demands to be read’ Joe Gibson, author of Seventeen
‘I read every page obsessively… sharp and witty and so delicately crafted’ Elvin Mensah, author of Small Joys
When she’s having sex with her boss, Iris likes to have the lights on so he can see how much younger she is than his wife. She likes watching her colleagues eat unhealthy lunches at their desk while her stomach aches with emptiness. She likes coasting at work knowing she’s going to land a big promotion anyway.
So why when it arrives does she find herself sprawled on her hallway floor, crying uncontrollably? Why, instead of a sense of triumph, does a crippling depression threaten to overwhelm her? Why does the support and stability of her family and friends feel so suffocating? And why, torn between her flatmate George – good, kind, reliable George – and cold, indifferent Patrick, does she only seem capable of making choices that cause her pain?
Published July 18th by Serpent’s Tail Literary Fiction, Contemporary Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: ‘A gem of a book about mothers and daughters, about being Black and working class in today’s London. Beautiful writing, taut with emotion, poetry and insight’ Priscilla Morris, Women’s Prize shortlisted author of Black Butterflies
For a year, the three of them live in the flat below Earl’s on the Blossom View Estate.
Livia, who has been running for long enough to think her past might never catch up with her. But now she’s been forced to catch her breath and face the daughter she left behind.
Mickey, who is angry: about having a mother who left, a father who died, about the mess she’s made of her life. And with no other place to go, she’s forced to need the very person who abandoned her.
And Summer, whose new grandmother is weird, and whose mum is always sad or out looking for men to distract her. Left to roam, she seeks refuge with new friends, ones who are willing to give her the attention that Mickey won’t. But who are these kind strangers, and will they keep her safe?
When the year ends, the family of three becomes two. Burning with hope and desire, this is a debut novel about motherhood, class and race, which sings a soulful song about the damage we do to the people we love most.
Published July 18th by Headline Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction,LGBTQ Literature
BOOK DESCRIPTION: ‘I haven’t been this swept away by a piece of historical fiction since Maggie O’Farrell’s Hamnet’ Jess Walter, bestselling author of Beautiful Ruins
Paris, 1720. The Hospice of La Salpêtrière is overrun with ‘difficult’ women.
Halfway around the world, on the American frontier, French settlers are in want of wives. At the asylum, a list is drawn up: eighty-eight women of childbearing age to be shipped to New Orleans. Among them are Charlotte, Geneviève and Pétronille – a sharp-tongued orphan, an accused abortionist and a rumoured madwoman.
They make the voyage over the ocean, knowing nothing of the harsh and extraordinary lives that await them, or how they will come to love and betray each other time and again in this wild and beautiful land.
Bold, thrilling and startling intimate, PELICAN GIRLS is a powerful vision of female friendship, identity and desire, and the choices women make in their unshakeable will to survive. For readers of Barbara Kingsolver, Lauren Groff and The Book of Goose by Yiyun Li.
‘A tale of female friendship unlike any I’ve come across before, Julia Malye’s inspired-by-a-true-story Pelican Girls is as incredible a feat of research as it is a daring work of fiction’ Elle’s Best (and Most Anticipated) Fiction Books of 2024
Published July 18th by Orenda Crime Fiction, Literary Fiction, New Adult Fiction, Coming-of-Age Story, Romance
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Sixteen-year-old Frieder’s plans for the summer are shattered when he fails two subjects. To be able to move up to the next year in the Autumn, he needs to resit his exams. So instead of going on holiday with his family, he now faces the daunting and boring prospect of staying at his grandparents’ house, studying with his strict and formal step-grandfather.
On the bright side, he’ll spend time with his grandmother Nana, his sister Alma and his best friend Johann. And he meets Beate, the girl in the beautiful green swimsuit…
The next few weeks will bring friendship, fear and first love – one grand summer that will change and shape his entire life.
A number-one bestseller in Germany and winner of the German Booksellers Prize, One Grand Summer is a moving, beautiful and profound novel about relationships and respect that captures those exquisite and painful moments that make us who we are…
WINNER of the German Booksellers Prize and over two years on the German bestseller list.
Published July 18th by Penguin UK Crime, Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Thriller
BOOK DESCRIPTION: ‘The perfect holiday read’ KIA ABDULLAH ‘A great read’ CATHERINE COOPER ‘Kept me up late into the early hours’ ALI LOWE ‘A wonderful twisty read’ AVA GLASS ___________________________________
Three years ago, bride-to-be Aoife died at her own hen party.
Now the hens have returned to the villa where that terrible weekend unfolded.
They long for closure. But the moment they step back inside, old wounds open and tensions begin to rise.
Everyone has a different version of what happened that night.
Published July 18th by Bantam Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Women Sleuths
BOOK DESCRIPTION: The unputdownable new thriller from the ‘queen of the one-sit read’ and No.1 bestselling author of Everyone Here is Lying
Nothing ever happens in sleepy little Fairhill, Vermont.
The teenagers get their kicks telling ghost stories in the old graveyard. The parents trust their kids will arrive home safe from school. Everyone knows everyone. Curtains rarely twitch. Front doors are left unlocked.
But this morning all of that will change.
Because Diana Brewer isn’t lying safely in her bed where she belongs. Instead she lies in a hayfield, circled by vultures, discovered by a local farmer.
How quickly a girl becomes a ghost. How quickly a town of friendly, familiar faces becomes a town of suspects, a place of fear and paranoia.
Someone in Fairhill did this. Everyone wants answers.
Published July 18th by Faber & Faber Crime Fiction, Psychological Thriller
BOOK DESCRIPTION: ‘This book was brilliant! . . . Rita is so complex and intriguing. I binged it!’ 5* reader review ‘Powerful . . . a first class thriller.’ 5* reader review ‘I could not put this down.’ 5* reader review
Rita Marsh is a good person.
By day, she runs a care home, looking after the elderly and infirm.
By night, she’s a vigilante, posing online as young girls and snaring the men who prey on them, exposing them for what they are.
Rita has successfully kept her two lives separate for years. But when an old classmate returns from her past, her two worlds start to collide. With both of her selves unravelling, Rita will have to choose between justice and revenge.
Is she a force for good – or will she become someone to fear?
A Case of Mice and Murder (The Trials of Gabriel Ward Book 1) by Sally Smith
Published July 18th by Raven Books Mystery, Suspense, Cozy Mystery, Historical Mystery
BOOK DESCRIPTION: ‘I loved it! … A whiff of Shardlake and a pinch of Rumpole. The plotting is brilliant and it’s a joy for any lover of literature . or justice’ S.J. BENNETT, author of THE WINDSOR KNOT
When barrister Gabriel Ward steps out of his rooms at exactly two minutes to seven on a sunny May morning in 1901, his mind is so full of his latest case – the disputed authorship of bestselling children’s book Millie the Temple Church Mouse – that he scarcely registers the body of the Lord Chief Justice of England on his doorstep.
But even he cannot fail to notice the judge’s dusty bare feet, in shocking contrast to his flawless evening dress, nor the silver carving knife sticking out of his chest. In the shaded courtyards and ancient buildings of the Inner Temple, the hidden heart of London’s legal world, murder has spent centuries confined firmly to the casebooks. Until now.
The police can enter the Temple only by consent, so who better to investigate this tragic breach of law and order than a man who prizes both above all things? But murder doesn’t answer to logic or reasoned argument, and Gabriel soon discovers that the Temple’s heavy oak doors are hiding more surprising secrets than he’d ever imagined…
The first in a brand-new series introducing a wonderfully eccentric sleuth, perfect for fans of T.E. Kinsey, S.J. Bennett and Richard Coles. Gabriel Ward will return in 2025..
Published July 18th by Orion Crime Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Short Stories
BOOK DESCRIPTION: For one weekend every July, thousands of readers descend on the historic English town of Harrogate, Yorkshire in pursuit of mysteries, mischief and murder. In Murder in Harrogate, ten of the world’s best known crime and thriller writers come together in honour of the world’s largest festival of crime writing, the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival.
From a missing person case inspired by Agatha Christie’s infamous disappearance at the Old Swan Hotel to a murdered Macbeth to a vicious parkrun assault, these razor sharp stories are a testament to the festival’s rich history, stretching over two decades.
Curated and edited by former festival chair and award-winning author Vaseem Khan, contributors include Ann Cleeves, Mark Billingham, M.W. Craven, Elly Griffiths, Abir Mukherjee, Clare Mackintosh, Steve Cavanagh, Janice Hallett, Vaseem Khan, and Ruth Ware.
Published July 25th by Headline Historical Fiction, Historical Romance
BOOK DESCRIPTION: ‘A heart-warming tale about resilience, friendships and family, and the inestimable power of the written word’ RUTH HOGAN
‘A heart-warming depiction of strong female friendships tested by suffering – Annie Lyons really is the queen of the wartime saga’ CLARE CHAMBERS ________
Can two young women and one book change the course of war…?
1940. Whip-smart librarian Peggy Sparks is determined to make sure that her brother Joe returns from the frontline to their London home, which they share with their beloved mother and grandmother. So when she is offered a once-in-a-lifetime job at the heart of the war effort, Peggy jumps at the prospect of making a real contribution to her country.
But when she finds herself working under the fanciful socialite Lady Marigold Cecily, Peggy discovers that those around her are more keen on dancing at the Café de Paris than on ending the war. Writing accounts of her daily life is the only thing keeping Peggy’s hopes alive. But when she finds her inner-most thoughts accidentally published by the Ministry of Information, Peggy realises she needs Marigold’s help to save her job, and to bring her brother home . . .
From the author of The Air Raid Book Club comes a powerful tale of unexpected friendship, community and two remarkable women who change the course of the war. Full of heart, emotion and drama, it is the perfect uplifting story for fans of Kate Thompson and Natasha Lester.
Published July 30th by Bloomsbury Publishing Romance Novel, Contemporary Romance, Domestic Fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Every great love story deserves a great ending. ‘I’ve never read a story quite like this deeply moving, complex novel’ Jodi Picoult, the global bestseller
‘An epic love story and a sweeping family saga, The Days I Loved You Most is beautifully constructed and so poignant. Perfect for lovers of Anne Tyler, Claire Lombardo and Emma Straub. The New England setting stole my heart’ Georgina Moore, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Garnett Girls
Joseph and Evelyn’s New England beach homes have been side by side for generations. And in the summer of 1941, on the shores where they were raised, these two childhood friends fell in love.
Now, more than sixty years later, Joseph and Evelyn gather their three grown children to share the staggering news: in one year’s time, they will end their lives on their own terms. She has received a diagnosis and he cannot – will not – live without her.
As the couple comes to grips with their fate, they reckon with the joys and regrets, the laughter and the sorrow that brought them to this moment. And they create new memories to cherish with each of their children before they’re gone.
But as their final days draw closer, they must confront the stark reality of everything they have put in motion. Will they – can they – go through with their plan?
This unforgettable debut is a joyful celebration of life and a deeply romantic love story. The Days I Loved You Most is a moving tribute to the enduring power of love in all its guises.
Welcome to my list of most anticipated books out in March. It’s another jam-packed month, with highly anticipated books from authors such as Bobby Palmer, Doug Johnstone, C. L. Taylor and Freya Sampson.
The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden
Published March 7th by Century Historical Fiction, Historical Fantasy,Horror Fantasy, Fantasy Fiction, Ghost Horror, Science Fiction
SYNOPSIS: The sweeping new novel from New York Times bestselling author Katherine Arden.
‘A wonderful clash of fire and ice … A book you won’t want to let go of.’ Diana Gabaldon ‘A spectacular tour de force … I love this book so much and want everyone to read it!‘ Naomi Novik ‘Darkly beautiful and deeply humane … The Warm Hands of Ghosts will stir your heart, and settle into your bones.’ Ava Reid ‘Visionary, imaginative and brilliantly written.’ Anthony Horowitz ‘This exquisite novel took me over like a haunting … One of the best historical fantasies I’ve ever read’ Emma Törzs ______________
World War One, and as shells fall in Flanders, a Canadian nurse searches for her brother believed dead in the trenches despite eerie signs that suggest otherwise in this gripping and powerful historical novel from the bestselling author of The Bear and the Nightingale.
January 1918. Laura Iven has been discharged from her duties as a nurse and sent back to Halifax, Canada, leaving behind a brother still fighting in the trenches of the First World War. Now home, she receives word of Freddie’s death in action along with his uniform -but something doesn’t quite make sense. Determined to find out more, Laura returns to Belgium as a volunteer at a private hospital. Soon after arriving, she hears whispers about ghosts moving among those still living and a strange inn-keeper whose wine gives soldiers the gift of oblivion. Could this have happened to Freddie – but if so, where is he?
November 1917. Freddie Iven awakens after an explosion to find himself trapped under an overturned pillbox with an enemy soldier, a German, each of them badly wounded. Against all odds, the two men form a bond and succeed in clawing their way out. But once in No Man’s Land, where can either of them turn where they won’t be shot as enemy soldiers or deserters? As the killing continues, they meet a man – a fiddler – who seems to have the power to make the hellscape that surrounds them disappear. But at what price?
A novel of breath-taking scope and drama, of compulsive readability, of stunning historical research lightly worn, and of brilliantly drawn characters who will make you laugh and break your heart in a single line, The Warm Hands of Ghosts is a book that will speak to readers directly about the trauma of war and the power of those involved to love, endure and transcend it.
Published March 7th by Hutchinson Heinmann Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction
SYNOPSIS: ‘The Tower is such a vivid, visceral read, you feel you’re locked in the tower alongside the characters, acting out a royal family drama. I am moved and impressed‘ TRACY CHEVALIER
They are imprisoned, but not contained.
Three women cross a loch. It is 1567, one of them is pregnant, two of them fretful. The boat takes them to Lochleven castle in the middle of the water. Awaiting them are courtiers braying for blood, hellbent on keeping one of them under lock and key: Mary Queen of Scots.
In the tower, Mary’s maids Frenchwoman, Cuckoo and watchful Scot, Jane are her only allies, and the chamber their entire world. A new reality sets in where they are at the mercy of not only their keepers, but of raging Scotland itself.
In the outside world, Mary’s kin, Queen Elizabeth claims she can do little but write. Downstairs, the shrewd jailor-courtier Margaret Erskine places her daughter-in-law Agnes in the chamber as her pair of eyes. Hope seems futile until the bewitching Lady Seton arrives. Seton’s power shifts everything in the tower and soon a plan is hatched.
But which of them will risk it all to save their mistress? Which woman loves her queen best? The Tower is a triumphant story of desire, grit, God-given power and wiles from a striking new voice in historical fiction.
Published March 7th by Duckworth Historical Fiction, Historical Thriller, Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Women Sleuth
SYNOPSIS: A twisty Victorian mystery featuring quick-witted detective Eliza Mace
In the first of a thrilling new Victorian detective series, Eliza Mace, on the cusp of adulthood, is battling for her independence. Stuck in a crumbling manor house in the Welsh borders in the 1870s, she is thwarted by powers that conspire to protect, control and deceive her. But when her father goes missing in mysterious circumstances, Eliza’s determination to uncover the truth is unstoppable.
Joining forces with the charismatic new police constable, Dafydd Pritchard, she sets out to solve the case, but that’s no easy task. Her father has run up debts in town and beyond, and there are many who bear him a grudge. As she searches for evidence, Eliza exposes dark secrets that threaten to tear her world apart…
Published March 7th by Chatto & Windus Political Fiction, Literary Fiction
SYNOPSIS: ‘A warm, sweet love story, and a thought-provoking examination of the British slave trade and its legacy’ MARIAN KEYES
**A STYLIST UNMISSABLE BOOK FOR 2024**
They already share a surname. But will they share a future?
When Layla and Andy first meet, they can’t believe they have the same surname. It feels like fate, almost too romantic to be true.
But Sera, Layla’s best friend, has her doubts about Andy. As the pair fall deeper and deeper in love, Sera becomes more and more vocal about Layla settling down with a white boy. And then, only a few weeks before their wedding, Layla makes a devastating discovery about their shared name.
What seemed like a fairy-tale romance is rapidly derailed. In part propelled by Sera’s rising anger, Layla begins to uncover parts of her history and identity that she had never imagined — or, perhaps, had simply learnt to ignore. And now, she faces an impossible choice, between past and future, friendship and marriage, the personal and the political.
Published March 7th by Pushkin Vertigo Thriller, Mystery, Crime Fiction
SYNOPSIS: Ida is a self-confessed serial killer of predatory men. She feels no remorse for her victims, but has decided she needs psychiatric help… if only to lay the groundwork for an insanity plea if she gets caught. Clarissa is a celebrity psychotherapist, the best in her field, a familiar face on television and in glossy magazines. For her, every patient is special-someone only she can save. When Ida walks into Clarissa’s consulting room one day, the therapist doesn’t know that they share a dark secret, buried in both their pasts. As Ida’s therapy begins, and Clarissa starts to probe the deepest recesses of her mind, a game of cat and mouse begins. Will Clarissa realise the truth before it’s too late? When Ida becomes Clarissa’s patient, a cat-and-mouse game begins in which nobody plays by the rules. The kind of game that never ends well…
Published March 7th by Serpent’s Tail Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Contemporary Fiction
SYNOPSIS: ‘Irresistible – a funny, sexy romp that’s also smart, even wise’ Kirkus starred review
‘ Pure elegance, subtlety and wit. A triumph of a novel’ – Francesca Segal, author of Mother Ship
It is 1954, and prostitution is legal in the tropical haven that is Verona Island. Here, among gangsters and corrupt lawmen, Lila Gulliver runs a brothel that promises her exclusive clientele privacy and discretion. When nineteen-year-old Carità, beautiful and blind since birth, comes to her door seeking employment, Mrs Gulliver sees a business opportunity and takes a chance. Carità is mesmerising, sharp and a mystery to her employer, always holding herself at a distance.
One night, the son of a wealthy judge patronises Mrs Gulliver’s establishment, immediately falling madly in love with Carità. This is Ian Drohan – young, idealistic and cushioned by wealth and family connections. Mrs Gulliver mistrusts him, and worries for Carità’s future. Carità, on the other hand, is fearless, headstrong and a force of nature that Mrs Gulliver is always several steps behind.
A dazzling drama filled with sex, wry wit and literary references, Mrs Gulliver follows two women who have nothing to lose in their fight for agency on an island too ready to dismiss them.
Published March 7th by Footnote Press Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction
SYNOPSIS: ‘Only Kiyoko Murata can convey this world’ YOKO OGAWA, author of The Memory Police, Yomiuri Shibun
The year is 1903, and tenacious and spirited Aoi Ichi is sold to the most exclusive brothel in Kumamoto, Japan, becoming the protégée of Shinonome, the oiran, or the highest-ranking courtesan.
Through Shinonome’s teachings, fifteen-year-old Ichi begins to understand the intertwined power of sex and money. Education for a courtesan extends beyond the art of seduction, and as Ichi is taught to read and write she develops a voice that refuses to be dampened by the brothel’s rigid hierarchy.
Outside the cloistered world of the red-light district, rumours of local worker strikes grow, and as the seasons change in Kumamoto, Ichi, Shinonome and their fellow courtesans begin to wonder how they might redistribute the power and wealth of the brothels among themselves.
Critically acclaimed veteran writer Kiyoko Murata creates in stunning detail the harsh yet vibrant lives of women in a red-light district at the turn of the twentieth century. Based on real-life events, A Woman of Pleasure is a testament to the bonds between women and the power of owning one’s language and freedom.
I Promise It Won’tAlways Hurt Like This by Clare Mackintosh
Published March 7th by Sphere Memoir
SYNOPSIS: ‘Truly the best and most insightful book about grief I have ever read’ – Joanna Cannon
Grief is universal, but it’s also as unique to each of us as the person we’ve lost. It can be overwhelming, exhausting, lonely, unreasonable, there when we least expect it and seemingly never-ending. Wherever you are with your grief and whoever you’re grieving for, I Promise It Won’t Always Hurt Like This is here to support you. To tell you, until you believe it, that things will get easier.
When bestselling writer Clare Mackintosh lost her five-week-old son, she searched for help in books. All of them wanted to tell her what she should be feeling and when she should be feeling it, but the truth – as she soon found out – is that there are no neat, labelled stages for grief, or crash grief-diets to relieve us of our pain. What we need when we’re grieving is time and understanding. With 18 short assurances that are full of compassion – drawn from Clare’s experiences of losing her son and her father – I Promise it Won’t Always Hurt Like This is the book she needed then.
‘A book dripping with a compassion that can only truly be laid out on the page by a Survivor of the Trenches of Grief . We need now, perhaps more than ever, beacon-makers like Clare to help guide us through our darkness’ – Greg Wise
‘That Clare has used her own devastating experience to help others who are going through something similar is a brave and hugely laudable thing to do. A book that is both heart-breaking in its honesty and uplifting in its compassionate approach, it is beautifully written and offers – implicit in the title – hope’ – Alan Titchmarsh
‘A true lifeline if you think no one else can possibly understand how you feel’ – Jill Mansell
‘Beautiful, heart-breaking and yet overwhelmingly hopeful’ – Mike Gayle
‘Written with honesty, realism, deep personal insight and hope’ – Child Bereavement UK
‘A salve for broken hearts. Readers who’ve been touched by loss will find comfort in these pages.’ – Publishers Weekly
SYNOPSIS: ‘Tracy King’s memoir is heartbreaking and hopeful…An incredible true story of survival and forgiveness.’ TIM MINCHIN
‘Impossible not to read in one sitting.’ – Stylist, Best books for 2024
‘What would you do if you began to suspect the events of your childhood didn’t happen as you remembered them? In this evocative memoir, Tracy King confronts the stories we all tell ourselves in order to live.’ HELEN LEWIS
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When you have nothing, you cling to whatever gives you hope.
Put yourself in Tracy King’s shoes. Growing up in an ordinary council estate outside Birmingham; a house filled with creativity, curiosity and love, but marked by her father’s alcoholism and her mother’s agoraphobia.
By the time she turns twelve her father has been killed, her sister taken into care and her mother ensnared by the promises of born-again Christianity.
This isn’t the stuff of cult documentaries; this is the story of an ordinary family trapped in a broken system. It’s a story that could happen to anyone without the tools to transform their circumstances. And it’s the story of how Tracy found her way out.
A shocking, inspiring and ultimately hopeful memoir that holds up a mirror to the everyday realities of living in poverty, it is also a testament to the power of books and to learning to question our world.
Published March 12th by Orion Humorous Fiction, Domestic Fiction
SYNOPSIS: ‘Hilarious, heartwarming and delightfully refreshing’ CAROL KIRKWOOD
‘Will put a twinkle in your eye and a spring in your step. Fabulous fun!’ VERONICA HENRY
‘Wickedly funny and utterly engaging. Sylvia is our queen!’ ALEX BROWN
‘Joyful, feel-good fun with a feisty heroine you can’t help but love!’ FANNY BLAKE Growing older doesn’t just mean growing wiser. But it does mean a lot of fun…
When 63-year-old Sylvia finds her husband in bed with another woman, she’s shocked and furious . . . at first. But by the time her head stops spinning, Sylvia realises she hates the retirement community she’s living in – it’s for old people. And she certainly doesn’t feel old!
So, she enlists the help of her best friend, glamorous 70-year-old widow Evie, and the pair flee to Manhattan to start a new life in the city that never sleeps. Sylvia’s husband may have lost her life savings, but they’re scrappy and determined – and they weren’t born yesterday…
Before long, Sylvia is reviving her wedding planning business and even finds herself back in the dating game! And no matter what her meddling daughter thinks, it’s her time now – and she’s determined that in this glorious second act, the best is yet to come!
Hilarious, heartwarming and utterly feel-good, Sylvia’s Second Act is perfect for fans of Heartburn by Nora Ephron, Grace & Frankie, and Sex and the City.
Published March 14th by Headline Contemporary Fiction, Literary Fiction
SYNOPSIS: ‘Powerful’ JOANNA GLEN ‘Beautiful’ KATE SAWYER ‘A triumph’ JENNIE GODFREY The eagerly awaited new novel from Bobby Palmer, author of the critically acclaimed debut Isaac and the Egg.
If you stood before sunrise in this wild old place, looking through the trees into the garden, here’s what you’d see:
A father and son, a fox standing between them.
Jack, home for the first time in years, still determined to be the opposite of his father.
Gerry, who would rather talk to animals than the angry man back under his roof.
Everything that follows is because of the fox, and because Jack’s mother is missing. It spans generations of big dreams and lost time, unexpected connections and things falling apart, great wide worlds and the moments that define us.
If you met them in the small hours, you’d begin to piece together their story.
Published March 14th by Orenda Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Hadboiled, Crime Fiction, Noir Fiction, Police Procedural, Crime Series, Supernatural Fiction
SYNOPSIS: An investigative reporter gives up her job when her young twins are killed in a fire, but when she stumbles across the body of a missing teenager, she’s thrust into a chilling investigation that will leave no one unscathed…
‘An extraordinary debut: intriguing, unsettling, heavy on atmosphere and with a formidable leading lady … Suzy Aspley is one to watch’ Mari Hannah
‘A gripping piece of contemporary gothic, Crow Moon signals the arrival of a hugely promising new talent’ Kevin Wignall
‘A nerve-tingling thriller that both enchants and terrifies. Aspley weaves sinister folklore into a tense murder investigation that has you looking over your shoulder as you turn each page’ Eve Smith
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When the crow moon rises, the darkness is unleashed…
Martha Strangeways is struggling to find purpose in her life, after giving up her career as an investigative reporter when her young twins died in a house fire.
Overwhelmed by guilt and grief, her life changes when she stumbles across the body of a missing teenager – a tragedy that turns even more sinister when a poem about crows is discovered inked onto his back…
When another teenager goes missing in the remote landscape, Martha is drawn into the investigation, teaming up with DI Derek Summers, as malevolent rumours begin to spread and paranoia grows. As darkness descends on the village of Strathbran, it soon becomes clear that no one is safe, including Martha… Both a nerve-shattering, enthralling and atmospheric thriller and a moving tale of grief and psychological damage, Crow Moon is a staggeringly accomplished debut and the start of an addictive, unforgettable series.
Published March 14th by Bantam Press Thriller, Mystery, Romantic Comedy
SYNOPSIS: ‘Dark comedy and darker thrills’ – ALEX MICHAELIDES ‘A world-class whodunit’ – STEPHEN KING ‘Edgy, thrilling, twisty – I loved it!’ – LIANE MORIARTY
Am I a murderer? You tell me . . .
You probably already know about me. Lucy Chase, the woman who doesn’t remember murdering her best friend.
You all think I did it. That’s OK, I get it. Being found wandering the streets covered in her blood wasn’t a great look.
Believe me, I’m as frustrated as you are. I’d love to know if I’m a murderer – it’s the sort of thing you really should know about yourself, isn’t it?
And now, thanks to true-crime podcast Listen for the Lie, I finally have the chance to find out. But will I be able to live with myself if it turns out it was me?
And if it wasn’t, will digging into the secrets of the night I forgot make me the next target of whoever did?
Perfect for fans of HOW TO KILL YOUR FAMILY by Bella Mackie, NONE OF THIS IS TRUE by Lisa Jewell and MURDER IN THE FAMILY by Cara Hunter.
The Best Way To Bury Your Husband by Alexia Casale
Published March 14th by Viking Dark Comedy, Suspense
SYNOPSIS: ‘A darkly comedic story . . . I loved it’ JESSE SUTANTO, author of Dial A for Aunties
‘Poignant and funny, dark and searing’ ANDREA MARA, author of No One Saw a Thing
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Four new friends. Four dead bodies. One big problem . . .
Sally never meant to cave her husband’s head in with a skillet. Or at least she didn’t until suddenly, she did.
But Sally isn’t the only woman in town being pushed to breaking point. When coincidence brings four strangers together, a surprising solidarity is formed.
So can they find the best way to bury their husbands – and get away with it?
Darkly funny and with a big beating heart, The Best Way to Bury Your Husband takes four very different women, one unexpected friendship and several spades to unravel a complex issue with a light touch in this irresistible must-read.
Published March 14th by HarperNorth Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Domestic Fiction, Horror Ficiton, Coming-of-Age Story
SYNOPSIS: ‘A compulsive, didn’t-see-it-coming thriller’ ABIGAIL DEAN, international bestselling author of Girl A
One twin vanished. One twin reappeared.
‘A fantastic debut – unpredictable, tense and absorbing’ ROSE CARLYLE, #1 international bestselling author of The Girl in the Mirror
‘Dark and creepy . . . in the most compelling way. A proper page-turner’ KATY BRENT, bestselling author of How to Kill Men and Get Away with It
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When Eden is rescued from the lake, her mother Lucy has a second chance.
No one knows why the 14-year-old Eden almost drowned on her way home from school. But now she’s safe, Lucy can start being a good mother. The mother she should have always been, before the loss of Eden’s twin during the pregnancy consumed Lucy, all those years ago.
But when Eden wakes up in hospital, she claims that Eden isn’t her name. That her name is Eli – the name Lucy had reserved for the unborn twin.
Could it be that all this time, Lucy’s grief has been misplaced?
Eden, it seems, is the twin who’s really disappeared . . .
Published March 14th by Hutchinson Heinmann Literary Fiction, Political Fiction, Contemporary Fiction
SYNOPSIS: From the Olivier award-winning playwright of Prima Facie Suzie Miller comes her first novel, where power, patriarchy and morality diverge.
‘This is not life. This is law.’
Tessa Ensler is a brilliant barrister who’s forged her career in criminal defence through sheer determination. Since her days at Cambridge, she’s carefully disguised her working class roots in a male-dominated world where who you know is just as important as what you know. Driven by her belief in the right to a fair trial and a taste for victory, there’s nothing Tessa loves more than the thrill of getting her clients acquitted.
It seems like Tessa has it made when she is approached for a new job and nominated for the most prestigious award in her field. But when a date with a charismatic colleague goes horribly wrong, Tessa finds that the rules she’s always played by might not protect her, forcing her to question everything she’s ever believed in . . .
Published March 14th by Bloomsbury Publishing Thriller, Mystery, Psychological Thriller, Domestic Fiction
SYNOPSIS: A brilliantly compelling domestic suspense from a rising star of the crime fiction world, and the man behind BBC/Netflix smash hit, You Don’t Know Me
Sophie King is missing.
Her parents, Harry and Zara, are distraught; for the last seventeen years, they’ve done everything for their beloved only daughter and now she’s gone.
The police have no leads, and Harry and Zara are growing increasingly frantic, although they are both dealing with it in very different ways. Increasingly obsessed with their highly suspicious neighbour who won’t open the door or answer any questions, they are both coming to the same conclusion. If they want answers, they’re going to have to take the matter into their own hands.
But just how far are they both prepared to go for the love of their daughter?
Published March 14th by Simon & Schuster UK Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Crime Fiction, Legal Thriller, Urban Ficiton, Coming-of-Age Story
SYNOPSIS: From the internationally bestselling author of Quicksand, a brilliant, gut-wrenching story of childhood friends torn apart by gang violence and class differences.
Dogge is from affluent Rönnviken in Stockholm. Billy lives in the concrete towers of Våringe, a few hundred yards across a highway but a world apart. They met as six-year-olds at Rönnviken’s playground and have been unlikely best friends ever since. From the outside, Dogge looks privileged: he lives in a large home and there is plenty of money—at first. But his parents are addicts whose negligence becomes a form of abuse. Meanwhile, Billy’s family are poor first-generation immigrants unable to escape the no-go zone where they live. But their cramped apartment is nonetheless a bastion of love.
When gangs tighten their grip on Våringe, a ruthless small-time boss seeks recruits and both Dogge and Billy become runners by the time they’re twelve. Fast cash, easy access to drugs, and the dream of gaining status draw them in. But when Billy wants to leave the gang and finds himself trapped, the boys must face the violent rules of the adult game they tried to play.
When children commit horrible crimes, who bears the responsibility? With piercing prose and a breathless sense of urgency, Deliver Me is at once a poignant portrayal of the power of friendship and a shattering depiction of what happens when society fails to protect those that need it most. What does justice mean for these lost children and is the law capable of delivering it?
Published March 14th by Doubleday Historical Fiction, Literary Ficion
SYNOPSIS: Sometimes the truth lies in the things you cannot see.
In 1830 a young novice called Catherine Labouré was granted a vision of the Virgin Mary. Nearly 200 years later, Sister Anne is also waiting for a sign. Which is why she accepts a mission to go to a tiny community on an island just off the coast of Brittany. Her only companion there is a sceptical, chain-smoking older nun who just wants to be left in peace.
On the island she meets Hugo, the son of a devout family who prefers to look for the meaning of life amid the stars; Madenn, a grandmother whose daughter was killed in a crash and who finds meaning in routine; Isaac, Madenn’s grandson, an otherworldly teenager who doesn’t fit in but who befriends Hugo, and Julia, a sickly child. If anyone needs a miracle, it is her.
But it is not Sister Anne who receives a vision. Instead it is Isaac who is found on a promontary, transfixed, unable to utter more than the words ‘I see’. The event soon becomes headline news and the world descends on the small island, opening old wounds and unleashing a chain of events none of them could have foreseen.
SYNOPSIS: New York Times bestselling author Daisy Goodwin returns with a story of the scandalous love affair between the most celebrated opera singer of all time and one of the richest men in the world. ‘An extraordinary, vivid, and skilful re-imagining of a modern Greek legend’ – Victoria Hislop
In the glittering and ruthlessly competitive world of opera, Maria Callas is known simply as la divina: the divine one. With her glorious voice, instinctive flair for the dramatic and striking beauty, she’s the toast of the grandest opera houses in the world. Yet her fame has been hard won: raised in Nazi-occupied Greece by a mother who mercilessly exploited her, Maria learned early in life how to protect herself.
When she meets the fabulously rich shipping magnate, Aristotle Onassis, her isolation melts away. For the first time in her life, she believes she’s found a man who sees the woman rather than the legendary soprano. Desperately in love, Onassis introduces her to a life of unbelievable luxury, mixing with celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.
And then, suddenly, it’s over. The international press announce that Onassis will marry the most famous woman in the world, former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, leaving Maria to pick up the pieces.
In this remarkable novel, Daisy Goodwin brings to life a woman whose extraordinary talent, unremitting drive and natural chic made her a legend. But it was only in confronting the heartbreak of losing the man she loved that Maria Callas found her true voice.
‘I gulped it down… the brilliantly persuasive portrayal of a woman negotiating the demands of her art with an intense emotional life is so compelling’ – Elizabeth Buchan
The Collapsing Wave (The Enceladons Trilogy, 2) by Doug Johnstone
Published March 14th by Orenda Suspense, Science Fiction, Adventure Fiction, Alternative History
SYNOPSIS: Ava, Lennox and Heather make contact with alien Sandy and head for a profound confrontation … The awe-inspiring, exquisitely moving sequel to The Space Between Us, as seen on BBC Two’s Between the Covers.
_________________
Six months since the earth-shattering events of The Space Between Us, the revelatory hope of the aliens’ visit has turned to dust and the creatures have disappeared into the water off Scotland’s west coast.
Teenager Lennox and grieving mother Heather are being held in New Broom, a makeshift US military base, the subject of experiments, alongside the Enceladons who have been captured by the authorities.
Ava, who has given birth, is awaiting the jury verdict at her trial for the murder of her husband. And MI7 agent Oscar Fellowes, who has been sidelined by the US military, is beginning to think he might be on the wrong side of history.
When alien Sandy makes contact, Lennox and Heather make a plan to escape with Ava. All three of them are heading for a profound confrontation between the worst of humanity and a possible brighter future, as the stakes get higher for the alien Enceladons and the entire human race…
Sequel to the bestselling The Space Between Us, The Collapsing Wave is an exquisite, epic first-contact novel, laced with peril and populated by unforgettable characters, and the awe-inspiring book we all need right now…
Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White by Amelie Wen Zhao
Published March 14th by Harper Voyager Fantasy Fiction, High Fantasy, Romantic Fantasy, Fairy Tale, Adventure Ficiton, Coming-of-Age Story
SYNOPSIS: The epic sequel to Song of Silver, Flame Like Night. A fast-paced, riveting YA fantasy inspired by the mythology and folklore of ancient China.
Years ago, the Elantian colonizers invaded Lan’s homeland and killed her mother in their search to uncover the Last Kingdom’s greatest the location of its legendary four Demon Gods. Lan’s mother devoted her life to destroying the Demon Gods, and Lan is determined to finish her mission. Yet, there are others searching for the gods, too.
Zen knew his soul was forfeit the moment he made a deal with the Demon God known as the Black Tortoise, but he’s willing to lose himself if it means saving the Kingdom–and the girl–he loves. But to crush the colonizers who have invaded his land he needs more power than even a single Demon God can provide. He needs an army. And he knows exactly where he can find it–in the undead army his great grandfather lead decades ago.
The Elantians may have stolen their throne, but the battle for the Last Kingdom has only begun.
Published March 19th by Quercus Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Science Fiction, Alternative History
SYNOPSIS: ‘Rebecca Serle is a maestro of love in all its forms’ – GABRIELLE ZEVIN, author of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
‘Everything you could wish for in a love story – beautifully told, effortlessly romantic, and surprising in the very best of ways’ – HOLLY MILLER, author of What Might Have Been
Daphne has never left her love life to chance. The truth is, she can’t. . . Every time she meets a man, a note will arrive. On it, a name and a date. An expiration date.
Without fail, Daphne has always known when her next relationship will end. So when a note arrives with only a name on it: Jake, she is sure this is it. Finally, her own happy ever after.
But is it. . .? Because Daphne has another secret, and this one has the power to break Jake’s heart. Will their love story have an expiration date, or is fate on Daphne’s side at last?
A heartbreaking and emotional read from the queen of unexpected love stories.
Published March 21st by Bantam Press Historical Fiction, Fantasy Fiction, Historical Fantasy, Fairy Tale, Mythology, Greek Mythology,
SYNOPSIS: From an unmissable new voice comes the powerful and epic story of mythology’s darkest heroine
‘Delightfully devastating’ Bea Fitzgerald, author of Girl, Goddess, Queen
‘A fiery and dramaticnovel, starring one of mythology’s most notorious women, this is a fascinating descent into darkness‘ Jennifer Saint, author of Ariadne
‘Full of thwarted love and dark magic . . . Vivid and powerful, this is a book with teeth‘ Luna McNamara, author of Psyche and Eros
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Shunned. Persecuted. Tormented. Medea longs for a different life. Since childhood, she has been separated from her sister, shunned by her mother, and persecuted and tormented by her brother and father. All because of a unique and dangerous talent: witchcraft.
Fierce. Powerful. Sorceress. But when a dashing young hero, Jason, arrives to claim the famed Golden Fleece that her father fiercely protects, Medea sees her opportunity for escape. Her offer to help Jason overcome the trials set by her father sets in motion a journey that will test every ounce of her strength, magic and loyalty; a journey that will see her battle monsters, dethrone kings and fall in love.
When faced with the ultimate betrayal, Medea is driven to an act of desperation so brutal it rips apart the lives of everyone involved…
Published March 21st by Orion Mystery, Susspense, Thriller, Historical Mystery
SYNOPSIS: The thrilling and unputdownable new novel from bestselling author of The Clockwork Girl, Anna Mazzola!
‘Vividly alive with menace, magic, and mystery’ESSIE FOX
‘Exceptional. Anna Mazzola’s finest work yet’ ELODIE HARPER
Rome, 1659.
Months after the plague has ravaged Rome, men are still dying in unnatural numbers, and rumour has it that their corpses do not decay as they should. The Papal authorities commission prosecutor Stefano Bracchi to investigate, telling him he will need considerable mettle to reach the truth.
To the west of the Tiber, Girolama and her female friends are at work, helping other women with childbirths and foretelling their futures. Elsewhere in the city, a young wife, Anna, must find a way to escape her abusive husband. But in a city made by men for men, there are no easy paths out.
Stefano’s investigation at the Tor di Nona prison will introduce him to horror, magic and an astonishing cast of characters. He will be left wondering if certain deeds should remain forever unpunished…
The Book of Secrets is inspired by real events that took place in 17th century Italy.
Published March 21st by Pan Macmillan Historical Fiction, Fantasy Fiction, Historical Fantasy, Fairy Tale, Mythology, Norse and Viking Mythology
SYNOPSIS: A must-read for fans of Circe, Song of the Huntress recasts the folklore behind the Wild Hunt into a dark, feminist fantasy set amidst the legends and beauty of ancient Britain.
Britain, 60 AD. Hoping to save her lover and her land from the Romans, Herla makes a desperate pact with the Otherworld King. She becomes Lord of the Hunt and for centuries she rides, reaping wanderers’ souls. Until the night she meets a woman on a bloody battlefield – a Saxon queen with ice-blue eyes.
Queen Æthelburg of Wessex is a proven fighter, but after a battlefield defeat she finds her husband’s court turning against her. Yet King Ine needs Æthel more than ever: the dead kings of Wessex are waking, and Ine must master his bloodline’s ancient magic if they are to survive.
When their paths cross, Herla knows it’s no coincidence. Something dark and dangerous is at work in the Wessex court. As she and Æthel grow closer, Herla must find her humanity – and a way to break the curse – before it’s too late.
‘Striking, bold and beautifully written’ – Angela Slatter, author of The Briar Book of the Dead
Published March 21st by Corvus Contemporary Ficiton, Romantic Fiction, Paranormal Romance, Contemporary Horror, Psychological Fiction
SYNOPSIS: ‘Grips your emotions from the very first page … a love story not to miss’ Holly Miller What if your soulmate could only ever be the love of your afterlife?
The first time Emery’s heart stops, she is only five years old…
Emery is born with a heart condition that means her heart could quite literally stop at any moment. The people around her know what to do – if they act quickly enough there will be no lasting damage, and Emery’s heart can be restarted. But when this happens, she is briefly technically dead.
Each time Emery’s heart stops, she meets Nick. His purpose is to help people adjust to the fact that they are dead, to help them say goodbye, before they move on entirely. He does not usually meet people more than once – but with Emery, he is able to make a connection, and he finds himself drawn to her.
As Emery’s life progresses, and she goes through ups and downs, she finds that a part of her is longing for those moments when her heart will stop – so that she can see Nick again.
This is the story of two fated lovers who long for each other, but are destined never to share more than a few fleeting moments – because if they were to be together, it would mean the end of Emery’s life.
Published March 21st by Michael Joseph Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Crime Fiction
SYNOPSIS: ‘The Haven is a smart, fierce thriller about an unravelling family, a corrupted utopia, and the wild hearts of teenage girls. I couldn’t look away’ Lauren Beukes, internationally bestselling author of The Shining Girls
The Haven is a taut and propulsive story of a family in crisis, a shattering of innocence, and a savage fight for survival. I couldn’t put it down. – Sunday Times bestselling author Karen Perry ‘Wow – what a book. I could not put it down.’ READER REVIEW
Sixteen year old Cass Sawyer wakes up in the woods with a head injury. She has no recollection of what happened.
But she recognises where she is. The Haven. The idyllic, off-grid retreat her parents claimed would heal their broken family.
As Cass searches the now deserted buildings, memories begin to trickle through.
Her father’s erratic behaviour. Her mother’s pleas that they go back to town. The Haven’s charismatic, free-spirited leader. The strange girls that hang on his every word.
And a nagging feeling: that Cass has done something terribly wrong.
What happened at The Haven? Where is Cass’s family? And will they ever escape?
Published March 21st by Trapeze Literary Fiction, Humorous Fiction
SYNOPSIS: “Genuinely new, bold and fascinating. Anoushka Warden is a true talent.” – Deborah Frances-White, author of The Guilty Feminist Maybe fannies and long-term love just don’t work well together . . .
Hers used to work perfectly. It found her fingerings, orgasms and love. But now, as she moves into her thirties completely committed to Serious Boyfriend Number Three…
It can’t get wet. It hurts. It might be broken. Surely there must be some way to get it going again?
Setting off on a desperate quest to fix her fanny, there’s no limit to what she’ll try. But nothing seems to be working…
What becomes of happily-ever-after for a woman who can’t stand sex with the best guy ever?
I’m F*cking Amazing is a hilariously frank, sharp and relatable tale of love, sex, pain and self-determination from a brilliant new voice in fiction, Anoushka Warden
Published March 21st by Viking Journalistic Writing, Violence and Crime in Society
SYNOPSIS: Three women. Three blazing stories of violent resistance. Three complicated paths to justice.
Brittany Smith, a young Alabama woman, killed a man she said raped her in her home, but was denied a self-defense claim.
Angoori Dahariya led a gang in Uttar Pradesh, India, dedicated to avenging victims of domestic abuse.
Cicek Mustafa Zibo fought in a thousands-strong all-female militia that battled ISIS in Syria.
Each woman has been criticised for their actions by those who believe that violence is never the answer; yet each has transmuted a story of pain into a story of power.
In this intimate, shocking and rigorous investigation, award-winning journalist Elizabeth Flock examines the lives of three women who chose to use lethal force to gain power, safety, and freedom when the institutions meant to protect them – government, police, courts – utterly failed to do so. In luminous prose, Flock asks searching questions about cultures in which violence seems like the only means of survival, where deeply ingrained ideas about masculinity have helped breed the unsafe conditions that women face.
Can women’s acts of vengeance help to create lasting change in misogynistic and paternalistic systems, or will they ultimately hurt their cause? The novelistic accounts of these three women offer profound insights into the quest for understanding what a society where women have real power might look like.
Published March 26th by Quercus Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Literary Fiction, Humorous Ficiton, Crime Series
SYNOPSIS: The biggest debut of 2024 and a hilarious mystery with a killer hook. Perfect for fans of Knives Out and Only Murders in the Building. FRANCES ALWAYS SAID SHE’D BE MURDERED… SHE WAS RIGHT.
In 1965, seventeen-year-old Frances Adams was told by a fortune teller that one day she’d be murdered. Frances spent the next sixty years trying to prevent the crime that would be her eventual demise. Of course, no one took her seriously – until she was dead.
For Frances, being the village busybody was a form of insurance. She’d spent a lifetime compiling dirt on every person she met, just in case they might turn out to be her killer. In the heart of her sprawling country estate lies an eccentric library of detective work, where the right person could step in and use her findings to solve her murder.
When her great-niece Annie arrives from London and discovers that Frances’ worst fear has come true, Annie is thrust into her great-aunt’s last act of revenge against her sceptical friends and family. Frances’ will stipulates that the person who solves her murder will inherit her millions.
Can Annie unravel the mystery and find justice for Frances, or will digging up the past lead her into the path of the killer?
Publsihed March 28th by Avon Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller
SYNOPSIS: The only way to stop a stalker is to become one yourself…
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer…
Alexandra, Lucy, Bridget, River and Natalie. Five friends who wish they’d never met. Because the one thing they have in common is the worst thing in their lives: they are all being stalked.
When one of their group is murdered, days after their stalker is released from prison, time stands still for them all. They know their lives could end just as brutally at any moment – all it takes is for the people they fear the most to catch up with them.
When the group receive a threat that one of them will die in ten days’ time, the terror that stalks their daily lives becomes all-consuming. But they know they don’t want to be victims anymore – it’s time to turn the tables and finally get their revenge.
Because the only way to stop a stalker is to become one yourself…
The multimillion bestseller returns with her most propulsive and addictive book yet. A chilling and terrifyingly real thriller that will keep you up all night – and looking over your shoulder for days to come…
Published March 28th by Hemlock Press Mystery, Suspense, Pyshcological Fiction, Crime Fiction, Coming-of-Age Story
SYNOPSIS: *The breathtaking new novel from the bestselling author of Girl A*
Marty told the reporters that she saw it happen. She saw the gunman enter the hall. She saw her mother die trying to protect them all.
That’s the version of Day One Marty wishes was true.
But strange inconsistencies in her story begin to surface. Details that don’t add up. Questions she can’t answer.
The story ignites. Amidst the media frenzy, conspiracy theorists become obsessed with exposing what really happened. And at the epicentre of it all is a small community changed forever. Survivors crushed by guilt. Families torn in half. Outsiders consumed by the hunt for truth.
Each has their own version of Day One. Each must grapple with this tragedy, even as fanatics question whether it ever really happened at all.
But what did Marty really see?
And why would she lie?
As events spiral out of control, the true story is revealed, piece by shocking piece. Day One is an unflinching and heart-breaking exploration of our obsession with tragedy – and what it really means to live it.
The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton
Published March 28th by Raven Books Thriller, Mystery, Science Ficiton, Supernatural Fiction, Contemporary Fantasy, Dystopian
SYNOPSIS: Solve the murder to save what’s left of the world. ‘A mind-bending, genre-blending, boy-that-ending mystery unlike any I’ve ever read’ A. J. FINN ‘I loved it’ C. J. TUDOR ‘An absolute blast’ BENJAMIN STEVENSON ‘Wildly inventive’ M. W. CRAVEN ‘Believe the hype’ ALICE BELL ‘Extraordinary’ WILL DEAN
Outside the island there is nothing: the world destroyed by a fog that swept the planet, killing anyone it touched. On the island: it is idyllic. 122 villagers and 3 scientists, living in peaceful harmony. The villagers are content to fish, farm and feast, to obey their nightly curfew, to do what they’re told by the scientists.
Until, to the horror of the islanders, one of their beloved scientists is found brutally stabbed to death. And they learn the murder has triggered a lowering of the security system around the island, the only thing that was keeping the fog at bay.
If the murder isn’t solved within 107 hours, the fog will smother the island – and everyone on it.
But the security system has also wiped everyone’s memories of exactly what happened the night before, which means that someone on the island is a murderer – and they don’t even know it.
The outstanding new high-concept murder mystery from the Sunday Times bestselling and Costa Book Award winning author of The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. An ingenious puzzle, an extraordinary backdrop, an audacious solution.
Leave No Trace ( Kat & Lock Book 2) by Jo Callaghan
Published March 28th by Simon & Schuster UK Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Crime Fiction, Police Procedural, Crime Series, Science Fiction
SYNOPSIS: DCS Kat Frank and AIDE Lock return in the provocative new thriller from the author of In the Blink of an Eye.
‘A smart, agile, immaculately plotted and moving thriller that is unswervingly gripping and scary, and at the same time beautifully tender and humane’ NICCI FRENCH ‘Chilled me to the bone and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. Callaghan writes with such intelligence; interspersing humour with moments of utter heartbreak’ NIKKI SMITH
One detective driven by instinct, the other by logic. It will take both to find a killer who knows the true meaning of fear . . .
When the body of a man is found crucified at the top of Mount Judd, AIDE Lock – the world’s first AI Detective – and DCS Kat Frank are thrust into the spotlight as they are given their first live case.
But with the discovery of another man’s body – also crucified – it appears that their killer is only just getting started. With the police warning local men to be vigilant, the Future Policing Unit is thrust into a hostile media frenzy as they desperately search for connections between the victims. But time is running out for them to join the dots and prevent another death.
For if Kat and Lock know anything, it’s that killers rarely stop – until they are made to.
The Mind of a Murderer (Dr Olivia Winter Book 1) by Michael Wood
Published March 28th by One More Chapter Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Crime Fiction, Police Procedural, Crime Series
SYNOPSIS: The best person to understand a serial killer is one of his victims.
Meet Dr Olivia Winter.
‘I was hooked from the first page… mind-blowing and gripping. I am eagerly awaiting the next instalment’ Angela Marsons ‘Chilling, unnerving [and] pacey’ John Marrs ‘A searingly intense, utterly captivating character-driven thriller, and destined to be one of 2024’s most memorable pieces of crime fiction’ B P Walter ‘Perfectly paced – intriguing and relentless through to a pitch perfect conclusion’ Will Shindler
A DARK PAST
Dr Olivia Winter is a forensic psychologist whose job is to understand the minds of serial killers. There’s only one monster she can’t understand, her father.
A NEW IDENTITY
Notorious and brutal, he held a reign of terror until he was caught. His nine-year-old daughter was supposed to be his last victim, but she survived.
A SERIAL KILLER WHO WILL STOP AT NOTHING
Now, a serial killer is stalking the streets of London. As the body count rises, the police need Olivia’s help to profile him before he can strike again. But to do so, she will need to confront her own demons…
Published March 28th by Michael Joseph Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Horror Fiction, Ghost Story
SYNOPSIS: GET READY FOR THE SCARIEST READ OF 2024 – a gripping new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Cold Cases
********* April and Eddie have taken a wrong turn.
They’re on a long dark road, late at night, and they see a woman up ahead, clearly in trouble.
They stop and pick her up. It’s only once she’s in the car that they see the blood.
And then they see the headlights, and at last, the woman speaks, her voice faint. “I’m sorry, he’s coming.” Ingeniously plotted and heartstoppingly terrifying, are you ready to uncover the secret of Murder Road?
Published March 28th by Pan Macmillan Thriller, Pscyhological Thriller
SYNOPSIS: The Trade Off from Sandie Jones – the author of the Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick, The Other Woman – is an addictive, page-turning psychological thriller about how far a journalist will go to get the story. Everyone has a price. What’s yours?
Would you print a lie across a front page?
For Stella, Deputy Editor of The Globe, the choice has always been clear. There is no stone she will leave unturned in her pursuit of the best story. It’s what she’s built her reputation on.
For Jess, The Globe’s rookie reporter, the story stops when the truth does. But she knows that the dirty tricks of the tabloids will be hard to overturn.
And when the subject of the story Jess is working on pays the ultimate price, she suspects that the paper may have had more to do with it than they’re letting on . . .
What price would you pay to uncover the truth if someone is prepared to kill to bury it?
Published March 28th by Harper 360 Historical Romance, Mythology, Fairy Tale, Saga, Romance Novel, Adventure Fiction, Greek Mythology, LGBTQ Literature
SYNOPSIS: ‘As I read Orphia and Eurydicius I imagined the muses beside Elyse John, focussing her mind and guiding her hand. The writing is poetic and evocative, and the story will thrill readers who have long suspected something is missing from the classics of Greek Myth.’ Pip Williams, author of The Dictionary of Lost Words
Their love transcends every boundary. Can it cheat death? Orphia dreams of something more than the warrior crafts she’s been forced to learn. Hidden away on a far-flung island, her blood sings with poetry and her words can move flowers to bloom and forests to grow … but her father, the sun god Apollo, has forbidden her this art. A chance meeting with a young shield-maker, Eurydicius, gives her the courage to use her voice. After wielding all her gifts to defeat one final champion, Orphia draws the scrutiny of the gods. Performing her poetry, she wins the protection of the goddesses of the arts: the powerful Muses, who welcome her to their sanctuary on Mount Parnassus. Orphia learns to hone her talents, crafting words of magic infused with history, love and tragedy. When Eurydicius joins her, Orphia struggles with her desire for fame and her budding love. As her bond with the gentle shield-maker grows, she joins the Argonauts on their quest for the Golden Fleece. Facing dragons, sirens and ruthless warriors on the voyage, Orphia earns unparalleled fame, but she longs to return to Eurydicius. Yet she has a darker journey to make – one which will see her fight for her love with all the power of her poetry.
Published March 28th by Zaffre Literary Fiction, Contemporary Fiction
SYNOPSIS: ‘Brimming with hope, heart and intrigue’ JESSICA RYN
‘What a beautiful, compelling book! . . . I loved it’ HEMA SUKUMAR
‘A real hug of a book’ HAZEL PRIOR
You can choose your home, but you can’t choose who lives next door . . .
Twenty-five-year-old Kat Bennett has never felt at home anywhere, especially not in crumbling Shelley House. The other residents think she’s prickly and unapproachable, but beneath her tough exterior, Kat is plagued by guilt from her past and looking for somewhere to belong.
Seventy-seven-year-old Dorothy Darling has lived in Shelley House for longer than anyone else, and if you believe the other tenants, she’s as cantankerous and vindictive as they come. Dorothy may spend her days spying on the neighbours, but she has a closely guarded secret herself – and a good reason for barely leaving her home.
When their building faces demolition, sworn enemies Kat and Dorothy become unlikely allies in their quest to save their historic home; and even less likely detectives when they suspect that foul play is coming from within Shelley House . . .
Published March 28th by Cornerstone Contemporary Romance, Coming-of-Age Story
SYNOPSIS: Two epic love stories. One impossible choice. The stunning new novel from Paige Toon.
Six summers ago
Liv and Finn meet working in a bar on the rugged Cornish coastline, their futures full of promise. When a night of passion ends in devastating tragedy they are bound together inextricably. But Finn’s life is in LA with his band, and Liv’s is in Cornwall with her family – so they make a promise. Finn will return every year, and if they are single they will spend the summer together.
This summer
Liv crosses paths with Tom – a mysterious new arrival in her hometown. As the wildflowers and heather come into bloom, they find themselves falling for one another. For the first time Liv can imagine a world where her heart isn’t broken every year.
Now Liv must make an impossible choice. And when she discovers the shocking reason that Tom has left home, she’ll need to trust her heart even more . . .
The Good, the Bad and the Aunties by Jesse Sutanto
Published March 28th by HQ Mystery, Romance Novel, Contemporary Romance, Dark Comedy, Domestic Fiction
SYNOPSIS: ‘Another on point mix of humour, chaos and quirky fun’ Katy Brent, How to Kill Men and Get Away With It
The laugh-out-loud new novel from the bestselling author of Dial A For Aunties, winner of the Comedy Women In Print Prize 2021
It’s Chinese New Year, a time to celebrate…
Fresh from their honeymoon, Meddy and Nathan meet the Aunties in Jakarta for a family celebration. Amid the festivities, an old flame of Second Aunt’s arrives with extravagant gifts. Unfortunately, not all the presents were meant for them.
NOT the time to start an all-out war.
The most important gift goes missing, putting Meddy and the Aunties in the middle of a feud between Jakarta’s most powerful business moguls – and in great danger. To save her loved ones, Meddy must organise a search party, a break-in and a kidnapping. It might sound like an impossible mission– but with the Aunties by her side, nothing is impossible… just complicated.
Praise for Jesse Sutanto and Dial A For Aunties:
‘Had me laughing aloud within its first five pages. Charming, hilarious and heartfelt’ Emily Henry, New York Times bestselling author of Beach Read
Published March 28th by Avon Mystery, Dark Comedy, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Contemporary Romance
SYNOPSIS: ‘A masterclass in murder. Millie is the serial killer you never knew you needed in your life.’ LM Chilton
Are you on a date that doesn’t feel right?
Can’t shake that creepy guy at the bar?
Worried you’re being followed home?
Message M.
After one too many terrifying encounters, Millie Masters sets up a hotline for women who feel unsafe walking home alone at night: Message M.
But very quickly she realises that there’s much more to be done to help the women who call in. Because the men just do it again the next night, and the next, and the next…
And when her own sister is assaulted on a night out, the temptation to take the law into her own hands becomes too much to resist.
Because M can also stand for murder…
A deliciously dark, hilariously twisted serial killer thriller with a villainous female lead. Perfect for fans of Bella Mackie’s How to Kill Your Family, Oyinkan Braithwaite’s My Sister, the Serial Killer, or anyone who enjoyed watching You.
Published March 28th by Michael Joseph Contemporary Romance, Domestic Fiction, Literary Fiction
SYNOPSIS: ‘An absolute delight. A lovely novel full of warmth, courage and heart,Jenny Quinn is a heroine you’ll cheer for every step of the way’ A J Pearce, bestselling author of Dear Mrs Bird
‘A charming, heartfelt and uplifting novel about love, family and the emotive power of home baking.I loved every minute of it!’ Libby Page, bestselling author of The Lido
‘Perfectly baked, utterly delicious, and completely moreish. Mrs Quinn is destined to become the nation’s favourite’ Clare Pooley, bestselling author of The Authenticity Project
–
Mrs Quinn is the unlikely star of Britain’s favourite baking show, but could her newfound stardom cause her biggest secret to unravel?
Jennifer Quinn has a secret. Her love of baking has just won her a spot as a contestant on a primetime TV show. It’s only the second time in fifty-nine years that she’s kept something from her beloved husband Bernard.
She’s about to be whisked into an unfamiliar world of cameras, timed challenges and celebrity judges. She could be in with a chance of being crowned the best baker in Britain.
But, as Mrs Quinn’s quiet ambitions turn into unexpected stardom, the other secret she’s been keeping is in danger of resurfacing. It was supposed to stay hidden forever.
Will Mrs Quinn rise to the challenge? Or, will her success become a recipe for disaster?
Published March 28th by Manilla Press Historical Fiction, Domestic Fiction
SYNOPSIS: ‘LOVED it. Tightly-plotted elegance, 50s glamour and suspense. Put it on your lists’ Jessie Burton
A dark and dazzling debut from a beguiling new voice – for fans of Beautiful Ruins and Lessons in Chemistry.
Lois Saunders thought that marrying the right man would finally cure her loneliness. But as picture-perfect as her husband is, she is suffocating in their loveless marriage. In 1951, though, unhappiness is hardly grounds for divorce – except in Reno, Nevada.
At the Golden Yarrow, the most respectable of Reno’s ‘divorce ranches’ Lois finds herself living with half a dozen other would-be divorcees, all in Reno for the six weeks’ residency that is the state’s only divorce requirement. They spend their days riding horses and their nights flirting with cowboys, and it’s as wild and fun as Lake Forest, Illinois, was prim and stifling. But it isn’t until Greer Lange arrives that Lois’s world truly cracks open . . .
Gorgeous, beguiling, and completely indifferent to societal convention, Greer is unlike anyone Lois has ever met – and she sees something in Lois that no one else ever has. Under her influence, Lois begins to push against the limits that have always restrained her. But how much can she really trust her mysterious new friend? And how far will she go to forge her independence, on her own terms?
Set in the glamourous, dizzying world of 1950s Reno, THE DIVORCEES is a dark, riveting page-turner and a dazzling exploration of female friendship, desire, and freedom.
‘I straight up loved it. It’s so stylish, so elegant, each sentence a delectable little treat . . . and the nods towards darkness and things unravelling are so thrilling and chicly done’ Elizabeth Macneal, bestselling author of The Doll Factory
The Chain: The Relationships That Break Us , the Women Who Rebuild Us by Chimene Suleyman
Published March 28th by W&N Biography, Autobiography
SYNOPSIS: In January 2017, Chimene Suleyman was on her way to an abortion clinic in Queens, New York with her boyfriend, the father of her nascent child. It was the last day they would spend together. In an extraordinary sequence of events, Chimene was to discover the truth of her boyfriend’s life: that she and many other women had been subtly, patiently and painfully betrayed.
In this spellbinding memoir, she exposes one man’s control over many women and the trauma he left behind, and celebrates the sisterhood that formed in his wake despite – and in spite of – him. Exploring how women are duped every day by individuals, she interrogates how society itself continually allows this to happen. She demonstrates that, no matter how intelligent, educated or self-aware they might be, over time a woman can be played into performing the age-old role of giver and nurturer: self-sacrificing and subordinate.
Both a devastating personal testimony and a searing indictment of persistent misogyny, The Chain is a book for any woman who has questioned her relationship and buried her doubts, for any woman who can’t quite identify the source of her unease and for any woman who has been sheltered by the fierce protection of her female friends.
