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WENDY HOLDEN

THE DEVIL AND THE DARK WATER by Stuart Turton (Raven £16.99)

STUNNING historical fantasy set at sea in the 17th century. Evil stalks the decks of a Dutch East Indiaman, leaving gory death and a sinister symbol behind it.

Unlikely detectives Arent and Sammy join forces with aristocratic Sara to tackle the mystery. Holmes and Watson meets Treasure Island.

THE BOY IN THE FIELD by Margot Livesey (Sceptre £17.99)

IN THIS superb family drama, a badly injured teenager is found in a field by three siblings. They start their own investigation into who, how and why, but it leads them to unsuspected places, including their own lives. Best and cleverest character is Lilly the family dog.

V FOR VICTORY by Lissa Evans (Doubleday £14.99)

IT’S all boarding houses and bomb shelters in this brilliant comedy drama. Vee and Noel (a kind of 1940s Adrian Mole) are posing as aunt and nephew, but who are they really?

Packed with wonderful characters and so full of wartime atmosphere you can practically hear the sirens.

JEEVES AND THE LEAP OF FAITH by Ben Schott (Hutchinson £13.99)

THIS cracking homage to P.G. Wodehouse is set in 1930s Cambridge and abounds with varsity high spirits.

Bertie and Jeeves face t he dark f orces of t he Oswald Mosley-esque ‘Blackshorts’ and need all their spiff to overcome them. Aunts, drones and fiancées all figure.