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.
A Good Father
by Catherine Talbot — Des is a good father. He loves his wife and children more than anything. So much that he’s determined to take care of them, once and for all.
The Forsyte Saga
by John Galsworthy — An incisive depiction of the decline of the Victorian era and the rise of the Modern era, and a gripping multi-generational family saga.
Die Alone
by Simon Kernick — Action-packed distraction. A serial killer politician faces an ex-cop duo determined to stop him. But he’s not going down without a fight…
In defense of zombie novels
The best zombie novels invite us to think critically about the collective, about society and about our role in preserving it.
The First Days
by Rhiannon Frater — As The World Dies Book 1. Great story, characterization and dialogue, tense plotting and emotional impact… and the best ever opening scene.