My favourite books from this year…

A Beginner’s Guide to Breaking and Entering by Andrew Hunter-Murray

Al lives on the wrong side of the law – in other people’s houses. He has a pretty good set-up. He is not a squatter, or a thief (no way!) – he favours the term ‘interloper’. He lives his life by breaking and entering into homes, specifically the second homes belonging to the exceptionally wealthy. He takes pride in his work and conducts his business with great caution. He plays by the rules, his own, carefully curated set of rules, to ensure his own safety at all times. It’s all going so well. Until… Someone gets killed. Cue total panic and a mystery that takes Al out of his comfort zone, and into the hands of the law. He (and his new group of friends) must solve the puzzle in order to save one another.

A brilliant, brilliant book. It is truly hilarious yet moving, compelling and intriguing. Another corker by Andrew Hunter Murray – he is such a superstar!

 

The Missing Thread by Daisy Dunn

Drumroll…

Daisy had another book published this year!

The Missing Thread places women at the centre of history.

From poet Sappho, and Artemisia – the sole female commander in the Graeco-Persian Wars, Daisy’s book shows us 3000 years of history, told, for the very first time, through women.

Compelling and gripping, this is such an important book.

But don’t just take my word for it!

It has been reviewed and featured in The Times, The Telegraph,  The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker… And many more!

A superb read.

 

The End of Summer by Charlotte Philby

When Judy was young, she had several goals: to marry a wealthy man, to be successful, and to find happiness. Naturally, when one makes a list like that, problems aren’t far away (in fact, the problems simmer, deep within.) Judy doesn’t know that yet. One evening, on a quest to fulfil her dreams, she gatecrashes a smart cocktail party on the East Coast and meets Rory, the man of her dreams. But, she has a secret – her past.

Decades later, the press arrive on the doorstep of Francesca, Judy’s daughter, demanding to know what happened to her father, Rory. He died many years ago in suspicious circumstances. Now is the time to face up to what both women have been avoiding – their own problems and family secrets.

A sensational story, engaging and pacy, ideal for your book club. Charlotte Philby’s words are beautiful and beguiling, her descriptions are delightfully cinematic, and she is a truly gifted writer. I couldn’t put this book down.

(My copy was kindly sent to me, on my request, by the publisher to review.) 

 

Shy Creatures by Clare Chambers

Helen is an art therapist working at Westbury Park – a psychiatric hospital. It’s the mid-1960s, and we’re in Croydon. Helen is single, although she’s having an affair with Gil, a psychiatrist at Westbury Park. They get called out to see to a patient in his home. His name is William Tapping, and it’s William’s intriguing story that sparks Helen’s true passion.

Clare Chambers is one of our finest fiction writers, and ‘Shy Creatures’ holds a marvellous story at its heart, one that will stay with you for a long time.

 

100 Letters That Changed The World

Batsford publish such fascinating books, and ‘100 Letters That Changed The World’  is no exception. In this collection of letters, beautifully illustrated and annotated throughout, you can read the correspondence from the most significant figures of history.

Of note include the letter from Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn in which he declares his love for her – a love which eventually led to the dissolution of the monasteries; Oppenheimer’s go-ahead to begin research on the atomic bomb; and an un-sent letter from the Titanic.

Each letter is given rich contextual detail and comes illustrated with photographs of key figures, and imagery of other, relevant documents. An excellent book – one that you will make time for every evening after work.

 

The Proof of My Innocence by Jonathan Coe

Phyl has moved back into her family home with her parents. She would like to be a writer but it’s not going well. To make money, she is selling Japanese food at Heathrow. It’s all very hum-drum. Until family friend Chris comes to stay.

Jonathan Coe is a marvellous writer, and this is politico-novel is absolutely superb.

 

Day One by Abigail Dean

A school shooting shakes up Stonesmere, the fictional, picturesque village in the Lake District. One teacher dies while trying to protect a young child, and several children lose their lives in the shooting.

But there is more to it than meets the eye.

‘Day One’ is a very chilling read told from multiple perspectives: Marty Ward, the grown-up daughter of Mrs Ava Ward, the heroic teacher who protected her class and died; Trent Casey, the maddening conspiracy theorist who gets caught up in a storm of hatred and abuse online; and a few other characters, each of whom provides their take on what happened at ‘Day One’ – the primary school’s day of celebration.

Another gripping read from Abigail Dean – I cannot wait to read her next novel published next year!