This month’s 10 books to read right now!
Book of the month
THE CITY OF TEARS by Kate Mosse
The second book in Mosse’s The Burning Chambers series, this is the author at her best: it’s thrilling, atmospheric, immersive. Transporting the reader to 16th-century France, the book opens in the gilded streets of Paris, where a royal wedding is about to take place. An invitation to attend comes for Minou and her husband Piet, but what she doesn’t know is that her family’s oldest enemy will be there. At more than 500 pages, it’s an ideal winter read.
Romcom with depth RESCUE ME by Sarra Manning
Romance and dogs – what’s not to love? When Margot and Will both fall for Staffie pup Blossom at the animal shelter, they agree to share her care – but things get difficult once they realise they can’t stand each other. This uplifting love story is full of humour and the characters (especially Blossom!) are wonderful.
Twisty thriller
THE THERAPIST by BA Paris
Paris is back on the form that made her debut, Behind Closed Doors, such a hit. After Alice moves into a fancy gated community with her partner Leo, she discovers that the previous owner, therapist Nina, was killed there. As she tries to find out what happened, her neighbours tighten ranks to keep their secrets.
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Powerful and moving love story THE PROPHETS by Robert Jones, Jr
Set on a plantation in the Deep South, this tells the moving story of an illicit relationship between two young men, who find an escape from the brutal world of their masters in each other’s arms. The writing is beautifully evocative – a book you’ll be thinking about long after you’ve finished it.
Historical novel with heart THE SMALLEST MAN by Frances Quinn
I haven’t come across a character I’ve loved as much as Nat Davy for a long time. Nat is a dwarf who is given as a gift to new Queen of England Henrietta Maria (wife of Charles I) in 1625. While the period detail is fascinating, it’s Nat’s journey to overcome perceptions and achieve big things that makes this debut so good.
Compelling read GIRL A by Abigail Dean
Lex and the other Gracie children grew up in captivity, abused by their parents, until she managed to escape one day and get help. Years later, after her mother dies in prison, Lex returns to the ‘House of Horrors’ to confront her past and her estranged siblings. This haunting, bruising drama has a gut-punch of a twist.
Family drama
THE ART OF FALLING by Danielle Mclaughlin
At the heart of this lyrical novel is Nessa, a middle-aged woman betrayed by her husband and struggling to hold on to her sense of self. Her salvation is an exhibition she’s organising at the gallery where she works – until a woman shows up to lay claim to the artist’s most famous artwork.
Gripping page-turner THE SURVIVORS by Jane Harper
Australian author Harper’s debut, The Dry, won a host of awards when it came out in 2017. Her latest, set in a small Tasmanian coastal town, is the same mix of brooding atmosphere and clever plotting. When a woman is found dead on the beach, it reopens a cold case about a teenager who went missing 12 years before.
Mothers and daughters THE PUSH by Ashley Audrain
Blythe is determined to do things differently from her own mum, but after her daughter, Violet, is born she starts to fear there is something very wrong with her. Weaving together the voices of three generations of women, this chilling tale barrels along towards a dark, thought-provoking ending.
Quirky crime fiction EXIT by Belinda Bauer
This darkly funny crime novel has possibly the most unique concept I’ve come across: 75-year-old Felix is part of a network called the Exiteers, who sit with people who have chosen to end their lives. Except on his most recent mission, something goes wrong and Felix finds himself on the run for murder. For fans of Kate Atkinson’s Jackson Brodie books.
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Join GH’S online book club
Each month, we pick a book for members to read and discuss together. It’s free to join and there’ll also be lots of book chat, reviews, exclusive short stories, interviews with authors and book giveaways. The book for this month is The Other Passenger by Louise Candlish.
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