by Dr Gwen Adshead and Eileen Horne — Well written, moving accounts by a forensic psychiatrist, exploring the backgrounds of criminals and their motivations for committing crimes.
Author: Nanni
White City
by Kevin Power — Moving and well written story of family dysfunction, the corruption of wealth and a life shattered by a series of poor decisions.
Skelton’s Guide to Suitcase Murders
by David Stafford — Funny, quirky, clever, entertaining and well written historical crime fiction. Book 2 in the Skelton’s Guide series
Early Morning Riser
by Katherine Heiny — Shines with intelligence and warmth. Beautifully written exploration of love, marriage and the meaning of fidelity.
Murder in the Cloister
by Tania Bayard — Atmospheric mystery set in 1399 in a French convent. Featuring feminist writer Christine de Pizan, who really worked under King Charles VI.
Lullaby Beach
by Stella Duffy — A rich, engrossing novel about women’s lives, abusive relationships, lifelong trauma, and speaking out.
Rags of Time
by Michael Ward — Politics, religion, commerce and science collide in this intriguing, fast-paced historical mystery set in London in 1640. First of a trilogy.
Exit
by Belinda Bauer — Unusual, well plotted and well written British crime; a highly readable/page turner that’s intriguing and funny.
The Course of Love
by Alain de Botton — The love story of a fictional couple serves as an argument for enlightened romantic pessimism: don’t marry for love, marry someone you like.
The Strange Adventures of H
by Sarah Burton — A wonderfully written, bawdy, vivid, thrilling romp set to a backdrop of plague, fire, brothels and playhouses.
Murder at the Ritz
by Jim Eldridge — Murder at the Ritz is a well-written, well-paced police procedural set in London in 1940, to the backdrop of blackouts and German bombings.
The Moonflower Murders
by Anthony Horowitz — Moonflower Murders is a marvelous, intriguing, page-turning, fun puzzle that’s fiendishly complex yet very readable.
Legacy of Death
by Judith Cutler — Legacy of Death has all the ingredients of a 19th century sensational mystery novel, with a 21st century ethos and style. Book 2 in a series.
Ask No Questions
by Claire Allen — Realistic and gripping psychological thriller; fast paced, tense and tightly plotted. When everyone is hiding something, who can you trust?
Journal of the Plague Year
by Daniel Defoe — An intimate, readable, day-to-day account of life in London during the plague of 1665, remarkably similar to life during a pandemic today.
Ministry for the Future
by Kim Stanley Robinson — There’s no magic bullet for the climate. We may need a complete rectification of our values, lifestyles and social structures.
Just Ignore Him
by Alan Davies — A glimpse into the lifelong effects of terrible childhood events. Just Ignore Him is a a beautiful, unforgettable, sad, funny and brave book.
Don’t You Want Me
by Richard Easter — Race riots, royals and gender bending. No, it’s not 2020. It’s 1981 and there’s a serial killer at large in this indy British crime novel.
Extraordinary Hope
by Jessica Ryn — Plenty of sugarcoating in this feelgood novel about the homeless, junkies, alcoholics and people with mental health problems.
Life Sentences
by Billy O’Callaghan — A long and unrelenting story of miserable poverty, hard work and bare survival. It’s miserable to read, too, despite often lyrical prose.