BOOKS OF THE WEEK
The Future by Naomi Alderman
Hardback by Fourth Estate, £20 (ebook, £9.99). Review by Rachel Howdle.
It’s the not-too-distant future and the end of the world is looming. Civilisation is now at the mercy of three corporations that control consumerism, social media and even the weather. The rich are ready and have bunkers waiting – the rest who have seen what’s coming are planning how to survive. In The Future, Naomi Alderman has made a terrifying cataclysmic event seem horrifyingly palpable. What makes it an incredible page-turner though is being witness to a group of women in the tech industry, and a survival expert, standing up against the billionaires of the world. From former cult members to disillusioned youth, there is a glimmer of hope in this book that will have you racing towards the end.
Resurrection Walk by Michael Connelly
Hardback by Orion, £22 (ebook, £11.99). Review by Emily Pennink.
The Lincoln Lawyer and Harry Bosch have joined forces again to work on yet another seemingly non-winnable case. This time retired LAPD homicide detective Bosch is tasked with helping his half-brother Mickey Haller to secure the freedom of a young mother locked up for the fatal shooting of her husband, a sheriff’s deputy. The case is fraught with danger and there is more than a whiff of corruption in the Californian air. As ever, there is an uneasy feeling that life is teetering on the edge of catastrophe – and no one, not even Bosch, is safe. It may be a slightly formulaic genre but this is another slick blockbuster of a legal-detective thriller from a master of his craft.
The Fake Wife by Sharon Bolton Hardback by Orion, £20 (ebook, £4.99). Review by Amanda De Beer.
The Fake Wife is a psychological suspense novel that draws you in and constantly surprises you. We’re introduced to Olive, who is dining alone at a restaurant, and a stranger, who sits down at her table and pretends to be her wife. The game turns dangerous, with secrets and lies unfolding. The more we learn about Olive’s life and marriage to MP Michael Anderson, the more the façade slips, and a tangled web start to unravel. Kidnapping, murder, stolen jewels and retribution are woven through the novel. Although it starts slowly, and some of the decisions Olive makes are baffling, her flawed character is one you can connect with. A good read with great characters that will shock and keep you turning the pages.
Taking Back My Power by Georgia Harrison Hardback by Renegade Books, £18.99 (ebook, £11.49). Review by Charlotte McLaughlin.
In her debut book, former Love Island and The Only Way is Essex star Georgia Harrison speaks to the younger generation, inspiring hope for change and warning of the dangers of social media. She does not shy away from her struggles after reporting Stephen Bear for sharing intimate footage of her online, or the impact of navigating a legal system that requires a proof of intent to cause distress in revenge porn cases. Bear, a winner of Celebrity Big Brother, was jailed earlier this year but Harrison’s journey does not end there. Her eloquence during the court case propelled her into campaigning on sexual violence and working with MPs on the Online Safety Act.