Deesha Philyaw: The True Confession of First Lady Freeman, Doubleday, Jan 2027, i read a proof

I am clearly not the target group for this novel but had some fun with the bad ass attitude of First Lady Scharisse Freeman, heroine of the book,  wife of a pastor in one of the Black megachurches in the US. 

Lots of gossipy female bitchiness, sex, back stabbing,  falsehood, malea domiance form the base of this often funny novel.  I skipped thru the book, as I said, not my taste, too predictable,  but i can see the appeal for a younger audience.  

 Hannah Rothschild: Masterpiece, Penguin, coming Feb. 2027

"Masterpiece" is my kind of novel, historical, multi-layered and at the heart  art, the masterpiece by Piero della Francesca " Resurrection",  a story  spanning 500 years, told from the perspective of 4 very different characters. First the artist himself, then Mary Hutchinson who was part of the Bloomsbury set, a soldier, Anthony Clarke,  whose letters and actual actions during the second world war gave Rothschild the idea for this novel and Clarry, a young British conservator, involved in the preservation of the painting in Italy.. I absolutely loved all the character in this moving, fascinating story learning a lot about painting techniques in the 15th century. Loved it.

 Lily King: Heart the lover, Canongate, 

"Heart the lover" I read during the weekend, absolutely fell in love with this book and the protagonists Jordan, Sam and Yash and their friendship from student years into their late forties. 

 This heart-breaking lovestory / coming of age novel had me in tears towards the end. The three become very close during their student years and for two of them, it will be a deep, first love with all it's ups and downs and life changing consequences. I love Lily King's writing,  reaĺly liked Writers & Lovers but Heart the lover was even so much better.  Will not reveal more of this story that really grabbed me, tore at my heart and would not leave my brain.  Rightfully on the shortlist for the Women' prize.

 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" is 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 topic at its heart, i,e. what happens if there is a water shortage in  one country when the neighbouring one has plenty and also a likely invasion of the US into Canada. I found the plot of whodunnit confusing3 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 in a series.

 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.