THE BEST NEW FICTION
The Motion Of The Body Through Space Lionel Shriver The Borough Press £16.99
Identity politics, extreme exercise and tattoos are among the fads skewered in Shriver’s tale of ageing Boomers. It centres on Serenata and Remington, whose marriage is rock-solid. Until, that is, Remington is ignominiously fired and gets bitten by the triathlon bug just as Serenata, a lifelong runner, is benched by arthritis. It sometimes feels more soapbox than human drama, but its comedic sendup of cultural foibles is unflagging. Hephzibah Anderson Like A House On Fire Caroline Hulse Orion £14.99
The Foy family are variously struggling with debts, divorce and a fiery ten-yearold, but they’re all determined to keep it together for their matriarch, Margaret. Despite having just been diagnosed with cancer, Margaret is bent on making a success of her anniversary party – which she’s decided should have a murder-mystery theme. Naturally, plans immediately go awry in this charming, breezy comedy of manners. A joy. Eithne Farry
Tsarina Ellen Alpsten Bloomsbury £16.99
This debut tells the extraordinary story of an illiterate but beautiful peasant girl who grows up to marry Peter the Great. With its sprawling canvas and huge cast, it rivals a Russian winter in length, but it’s an entertaining romp through the endless intrigue, violence and debauchery of court life – and may well catch the eye of judges for this year’s Bad Sex in Fiction Award. Simon Humphreys
Beneath The Streets Adam Macqueen Lightning £8.99
Private Eye journalist Macqueen’s excellent debut thriller takes us back to 1976, a time of very British scandals. Former rent boy Tom Wildeblood investigates the murder of a teenage boy at the Hampstead ponds, but when his leads point towards a senior politician, he soon realises his own life is in danger. Tom is a thoroughly likeable hero and the seedy allure of the period is convincingly rendered, while the plot skilfully mixes fact with fiction. John Williams