Kathryn Stockett: The Calamity Club, Penguin, Hardback

Kathryn Stockett of "The Help"  fame has written a new,  very different but equally page-turning bestseller, I can easily see this as a movie. 

The novel is very long, a doorstopper with 653 pages, guaranted escapism, has several strong female characters but at the same time a serious subject at heart: the  social, religious and racial injustice and bigotry of the US South in the 1930is when everyone was hit by the big Depression. I thought it had some length in the middle but probably because I was añnoyed with some characters of an otherwise often very funny novel.  Of the three protagonists, gutsy, warm-hearted Birdie, tough Charlie and spunky Meg, little Meg stole my heart. A great read with historical, atmospheric background, a story of sisterhood, perseverance, hyprocrisy and love. 

 Louise Penny: The Black Wolf, Minotaur Books, paperback 

I am a longstanding fan of Louise Penny's  Three Pines / Inspector Amande Gamache series, the Black Wolf being a continuation of the previous The Grey Wolf which I was not so enthusiastic about. The Black Wolf is  much better with a plausible, realistic topicbat its heart, i,e. what happens if there is a water shortage in  one country when the neighbouring one has plenty and also the invasion of US into Canada. Although the plot of whodunnit confused me at times.

Overall verdict: solid continuation of the series without me being wild about the last two but maybe that happens after so many episode.

 Maggie O'Farrell: Land, Tinder Press, large paperback

"Land" is probably my favorite literary read of the year so far, what a magnificent novel. I read it in episodes, I had to take breaks a few times as I  literarly felt the weight and cruelty of life in 1865 Ireland and what it ment for Tomas and his family, after the great hunger, but still casting its shadow on everyone's existence.

O' Farrell's imagination is extraordinary, the story of Tomas and his wife Phina, Liam, their oldest boy who turns against his father, Enda, the willful, gifted eldest daughter, sweet Rose and Eugene, who cannot speak but has special abilities, it's such a vivid, at times magical tale as one follows their heartbreaking and difficult life path, it completely swallowed me while I was reading and is still in my head now.  It's a book about hardship, tragedy, bravery but mostly about love and resilience, absolutely loved it.

 Chris Hammer: Legacy, Wildfire, ebook available and other format

 Chris Hammer's thrillers are mostly set in  the Australien outback and I am a big fan, particulary of his Nell Buchanan series. 

Legacy  features journalist Martin Scarsden who is on the run after a bomb blew up at the launch of his Mafia critical book. Someone wants him dead. He is hiding in a very desolate town in the outback receiving help from the most unlikely characters and gets sucked into resolving some terrible events from the past. 457 pages of a thrilling plot, excellent writing, colorful characters and atmospheric descriptions of the land make Legacy a solid escape read. 

 Chris Chibnall: The Parkwood Murders, Penguin, ebook available, hardback

Chris Chibnall of Broadchurch fame, has started a series with detective Nicola Bridge as the main protagonist with a complicated private life plus several strong side characters. 

The first book "Death at the White Heart"  was excellent. It took me a while to warm up to "Parkwood Murders", the name of a resort where a former manager is found dead in the pool. Bridge and her team are sent to investigate while also trying not to unsettle the guest.  It's a  solid whodunnit which eventuelly grabed me and has great potential for more episodes of Bridge and her team.

 William Boyd: Cold Sunset, Viking, 9780241761106, large format paperback, pub date: September 3, 2026

For me, any new publication by William Boyd is a joy but I am particulary taken by his Gabriel Dax series, starting with Gabriel's Moon, just finished the proof of the third and latest, "Cold Sunset" which totally delivers. Boyd has such a wide spectrum in his work, I am always in awe. Gabriel Dax leads a double life as a travel writer and spy since he got sucked into that profession in Gabriel's Moon. Not only are the plots great, but the sixties setting and the Cold war makes Cold Sunset particularly attractive. Boyd is one of my favorite authors and I wholeheartedly urge you to read the Gabriel spy novels, they are clever, fun and hook you completely.

 A.E.Goldin: Death on the Pearl River, Pushkin Press, pubdate: September 2026,

I loved this historical crime novel, particularly the protagonist Ben Canaan, who comes from a East end Jewish family.  The story is set in London during the time of the opium trade and moves on to Hong Kong and China where Ben is sent by the foreign office to solve a string of murders. All victims are tied to prominent trading firms and the Pearl river. It is full of good old fashioned suspense, tightly plotted with many twists and turns. If you are looking for a Sherlock Holmes type of mystery in exotic settings,  this is a great choice. The second book in a series, to be continued, looking forward to it. I read the proof.