by Ike Hamill — Maine, winter and fungi combine into a fast-paced, terrifying horror thriller that you won’t be able to forget. Fungi are weird. And scary.
The Thorn Birds
by Colleen McCullough — Life on a big Australian farm in the early 20th century and an engaging love story. Readable and enjoyable.
No Simple Death
by Valerie Keogh — No Simple Death is a fairly standard police procedural, but it grabbed my attention from the first page and kept it to the last.
The Devil in the Marshalsea
by Antonia Hodgson — A voyeuristic trip to the Marshalsea Prison in the 19th century. With murder and intrigue, well written and gripping.
The Narcissist You Know
by Joseph Burgo — Understanding narcissistic behaviour helps you handle narcissists and self-centred people. Spot the signs and learn when to move away.
The Goldfinch
by Donna Tartt — The Vox called it: “a hollow, thematically empty book filled with hollow, psychologically empty characters”… I fully agree.
The Gifts of Imperfection
by René Brown — Nauseating, mommy-soaked, goody-goody, goddy-goddy saccharine from a 21st century Stepford wife. Is this what feminism has come to?
Extinct
by Ike Hamill — Another cracking good read from Ike Hamill that will keep you up reading into the early hours – and awake for even longer
Sanctuary
by Celina Grace — Book 8 in the excellent Kate Redman series, Sanctuary is a credible story with interesting, well-rounded characters and a satisfying plot.
It’s All in Your Head
Excellent and easy-to-read essay on psychosomatic illness, including case stories of psychogenic symptoms and illness.
Death at the Theatre
by Celina Grace — Book 2 in the historical mystery series, Miss Hart and Miss Hunter Investigate
The Mandibles: A Family, 2029–2047
by Lionel Shriver — An intelligent, beautifully written and brutally observed dystopian novel about an economic crash and the effect of money on people.
You Can’t Make Old Friends
by Tom Trott — Classic noir detective fiction; a [British] homage to Chandler et al. Funny, pacy, with a great sense of place.
The Mysterious Benedict Society
by Trenton Lee Stewart — A clever book for and about clever kids. Enjoyable for adults too. Uncondescending, imaginative, fast-paced and full of surprises.
Finished With Life
by Scott Bartlett — A novel of ideas including climate change, multiverses, freedom, family ties and family responsibility, artificial intelligence and more…
Holding
by Graham Norton — Tragedy and mystery in an Irish village. A strong plot, bursts of humour and interesting, well rounded characters.
Big Brother
by Lionel Shriver — A clever, thought-provoking novel about fat and dieting and about whether adults should feel or take responsibility for their siblings.
The Wicked Boy
by Kate Summerscale — Wonderfully researched, beautifully written account of true crime in the 19th century. Vivid depiction of the era, events and people.
Penhallow
by Georgette Heyer — A dysfunctional family of mostly unlikeable people. When one of them is finally bumped off, everyone is a suspect.
We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves
by Karen Joy Fowler — A tremendous, unforgettable, beautifully written and funny book about family and grief that delivers a profound emotional effect.