Great reads
BOOKS EDITOR FANNY BLAKE PICKS THE BEST NEW BOOKS OUT THIS MONTH AND TALKS TO BRILLIANT STORYTELLER JODI PICOULT
QUIRKY PLEASURE
TODAY WILL BE DIFFERENT BY MARIA SEMPLE (W&N) ON THE DAY ELEANOR FLOOD RESOLVES TO IMPROVE HER LIFE IN ALL AREAS, EVERYTHING POSSIBLE GOES WRONG AND SABOTAGES HER RESOLUTIONS – FROM HER BULLIED SON TO HER MISSING HUSBAND, AND A VISITOR FROM THE PAST. WILD, WACKY AND FUN.
GHOST STORY
THIN AIR BY MICHELLE PAVER (ORION) A MOUNTAINEERING ATTEMPT ON KANCHENJUNGA IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF AN EARLIER EXPEDITION IS FRAUGHT WITH SUPERSTITION AND TERROR. AS THE TENSION MOUNTS SO DOES THE OVERWHELMING DREAD. CHILLING IN EVERY SENSE.
COMIC DELIGHT
HAG-SEED BY MARGARET ATWOOD (HOGARTH) IN THIS INSPIRED AND WITTY REIMAGINING OF The Tempest, DISMISSED THEATRE DIRECTOR FELIX PHILLIP TEACHES SHAKESPEARE IN A MEN’S PRISON, AND PLANS TO STAGE The Tempest AS A VEHICLE FOR HIS REVENGE.
SPINE-CHILLING CRIME
OUT OF BOUNDS BY VAL MCDERMID (LITTLE BROWN) THE DNA OF A TEENAGE JOYRIDER MAY HOLD THE KEY TO A 20-YEAR-OLD UNSOLVED MURDER. DCI KAREN PIRIE IS ON THE CASE. A THRILLING, CONVOLUTED PLOT TWISTER THAT SHOWS MCDERMID IS DUBBED “QUEEN OF CRIME” FOR GOOD REASON.
CRIMINALLY GOOD
THE DEVIL’S FEAST BY MJ CARTER (FIG TREE) LONDON, 1842. THE PRESTIGIOUS REFORM CLUB IS DESPERATE TO COVER UP A GRUESOME DEATH ON ITS PREMISES. CAPTAIN WILLIAM AVERY IS APPOINTED TO DISCOVER IF THERE’S BEEN FOUL PLAY. I LOVE THIS MYSTERY SERIES – IT JUST GETS BETTER AND BETTER.
GALLIC CHARM
FRENCH RHAPSODY BY ANTOINE LAURAIN (GALLIC) DR ALAIN MASSOULIER RECEIVES A LETTER 33 YEARS TOO LATE, OFFERING HIS ERSTWHILE BAND A RECORDING CONTRACT. OVERCOME WITH NOSTALGIA, HE SETS OUT TO TRACK DOWN HIS FORMER CO-MUSICIANS. WITTY, NOSTALGIC – I WAS COMPLETELY CHARMED.
FEMINIST SCI-FI
THE POWER BY NAOMI ALDERMAN (VIKING) WHEN WOMEN DEVELOP THE POWER TO ELECTROCUTE PEOPLE AT WILL, KILLING THEM IF NECESSARY, THE WORLD LOOKS A VERY DIFFERENT PLACE. IF YOU ENJOY MARGARET ATWOOD’S DYSTOPIAN FICTION, THIS STRONG, SUBSTANTIAL NOVEL IS FOR YOU.
BLOOD-CURDLING TALES
THE TRAVELLING BAG BY SUSAN HILL (PROFILE) FOUR GHOSTLY STORIES REVOLVING AROUND A DISAPPEARING RESEARCH ASSISTANT, A STRANGE NEW COLLEAGUE, A CHARITABLE ACT AND A LONELY BOY. SUSAN HILL PROVES YET AGAIN THAT SHE REALLY IS THE MASTER OF THE SUPERNATURAL.