Abir Mukherjee: The Burning Grounds, Harvill Secker, hardbsck, pub date: Nov 2025

I happily devoured the proof of Abir Mukherjee's upcoming "The Burning Grounds" featuring Sam Wyndham, detective of the English Imperial Police in Calcutta in the 1920ties and his friend and former colleage Suren Banerjee, one of my favorite historical detective series.

When Sam is called to the burning grounds to find a wealthy patron of the arts with his throat slit,  just about to be cremated, the investigation leads him surprisingly to the world of the movies and a rising film star while Suren is called in by his family to search for his missing cousin, a female photographer. 

 The writing takes you into an India still ruled by the British but with increasing  resistance by the Indian people. Sam, with his distaste for his fellow countrymen still has his own demons to squash, substituting whiskey for opium. The plot is airtight as usual although I kind of guessed correctly towards the end....  I absolutely adore this atmospheric series with its personable detective duo and its many colorful, questionable  characters.

 Shari Lapena: She did not see it coming, Transworld, 9780857506207, c format, July publishing

Lapena writes solid bestseller crime novels and her upcoming "She did not see it coming" did not disappoint, i read a netgalley proof. 

When reliable Brydon Frost does not pick up her daughter from daycare or return home later, her husband Sam knows something is very wrong. She has seemingly vanished as all her possessions are at home, her car in the garage.  As the police become involved the apparently perfect family and closest friends are all under scrutiny. 

A pacy psychological thriller  with a tight plot,  really enjoyed it. Great beach read. 

 Kathy Wang: The Satisfation Cafe, Abacus/Little Brown, 9781668068922, pub date July 2025

Kathy Wang's " The Satisfaction Cafe" came to me via a netgalley proof, thanks Little Brown and immediately drew me in with every page. 

Wang's writing and the composition of the  novel reminded me a lot of Ann Pratchett's  or Anne Tyler's work as Wang portraits the seemingly unexcited life of Joan Liang's:  from being the unimportant,  yet intelĺigent Taiwanese daughter who got lucky to become a Stanford student, to marrying husband no 1 who we know on page 2 will not survive that marriage.  Marriage no 2 to wealthy, older Bill is the true turnaround in Joan's life with many unexpected developments. I really became very fond of Joan as a character, her resilience through all the curveballs life throws at her, her love for Bill and motherhood until finally realizing her dream at a late stage in her life. Really loved Kathy Wang's excellent writing and this moving story.

 Hayley Scrivenor: Dirt Town, Pan Macmillan, paperback,

"Dirt Town" was the  CWA New Blood Dagger Award 2023 winner and totally deserves the prize. This stunning debut held me in its grip from start to finish,  painting an unsettling portrait of a small town in Australia and a handfull of people, all connected one way or another to the disappearance of a girl. 

When 12 year old Esther Bianchi disappears, detective Sarah Michaels and a colleague are assigned to the case, interviewing those closest to her:

There is her friend Lewis who claims to have seen her with a strange man, a  boy whose own life is overshadowed by a disturbing family life and a bully of a father.

Her best girlfriend Ronnie is determined to find her friend, no matter what.

Esther's distraught mother Constanze, comforted by her best friend Shel, is stunned when her husband is arrested in connection with their daughters disappearance. 

It's one of my favorite crime novels  this year,  with well plotted characters,  completely unexpected developments painting a disturbing  story of seemingly ordinary people told from Sarah's, Ronnie's, Lewis' and Constanze's view. I will definitely keep this author and her skilled writing on my radar! If you like Jane Harper and Gary Disher this is for you.

 Tahir Shah: The caliphs house. A year in Casablanca. Paperback,  Bantam 

I guess what attracted me to this book was the craziness of someone who bought a ruin of a house in Casablanca and moved his entire family from London to Morocco. 

This is exactly what writer Tahir Shah did,  trying to bring a former palace back to its former splendour while living in a single room with 2 adults and 2 children on site, with undergoing renovations.

The full blast of a very different mentality and way of doing things  in Morroco  tests the family constantly, particularly the three guardians that came with the house and the "jinns" who took up residence in the empty house. Jjinns are mischievous, evil spirits by the way who rule the house. I wanted to tear my hair out several times and  felt like shaking the author telling him to get out of there. Still, the book absolutely fascinated me, as did the perseverance by Tahir or his amazing family history that connects him to Morroco. It felt great to get to the last pages seeing his dream come true and was happy I went along on the ride as a reader. 

 Holly Jackson: Not quite dead yet, Michael Joseph, July 2025, c format paperback, 9780241753699, I read a proof, thank you Michael Joseph

"Not quite dead yet" is a very pacy, unusual thriller. We know from the start there will be no happy end as Jet Mason will be dead within a week. Someone tried to kill her but left her with an inoperable head injury that will kill her within 7 days. Jet is determined to find out who wants her dead and receives help from her best friend from childhood, Billy,  whose father is part of the investigative policeforce dealing with the crime.  

I know this book will find many happy readers, Holly Jackson is a very successful YA author with a BBC and Netflix series and a huge flollowing. 

And this is exactly my problem with the book, the protagonist Jet does not strike me as a grown 27 year old woman but comes across  very YA-ish setting the tone of the thriller. Perhaps this is what the author intended but it did not appeal to me.  The crime plot is sound and unusual, however 75 % in I kind of knew who the villain was as the options very limited. 

 Vanessa Lillie: Blood Sisters, Penguin Random House US/ Berkeley,  hardback 

 A Cherokee lesbian archelogist who works for the bureau of Indian affairs is the protagonist in " Blood sisters" setting the tone for this unusual mystery. Syd Walker is called back home to her Oklahoma reservation to assist in solving a mysterious find of a human skull and the disappearance of two women. Old nightmares about the disapperance of her sister Emma and a brutal attack followed by unresolved family issues resurface when she returns.  

The novel addresses the rising number of violence against native American women,  the disappearance of many and the lack of investigagion by the police but the  constant anger flares of Syd were a little over the top undermining the seriousness of the issues in my view.  An unusual mystery for sure with many twist and turns.

Joanna Miller: The Eights, Figtree, hardback

 Enjoyed " The Eights"  by Joanna Miller immensly. A novel about a group of four women, pioneers,  to be allowed to study at Oxford University in 1920. About the bond between them, the tough conditions and courage they needed to persevere with their studies, the ghost of WWI casting a shadow over their own biographies. Dora, Beatrice, Otto and Marianne felt like very good friends when I finished the book. Perfect mix of historical fiction and women fighting for their right to lead self determined lives.  

 Irvin Yalom: Becoming myself, paperback, Piatkus,

I have read several of Irvin Yalom's books, nonfiction and fiction, and admire his ground breaking work in existential and group psychotherapy. "Becoming myself" is his memoir which I greatly enjoyed, what an example of a life well lived.  

He is the first US born child of poor, uneducated Russian Jews growing up in a rough neighbourhood in Washington DC. Being somewhat of a nerd, he exceĺs in school and sets his sights on becoming a doctor. Gaining entry into Stanford medical school is the beginning of an astonishing career, always dedicated to serving his patients,  the guiding light in his research and experiments.  I found the book occasionally  a little too longwinded for non medical readers,  nevertheless this does not diminish this outstanding memoir.  I marvel at the amount of work he still does even at an advanced age, dedicated to his patients but never forgetting to make time for recreation and fun. Add his family life with 4 children and his long marriage to his wife Marilyn, a professor herself, and  their dedication to one another,  and one has to fight feeling inferior.  An astonishing life journey..

 Eliana Ramage: To the Moon and back, 9781529939583 , Transworld UK,  publishing September 2025, c format paperback

Eliana Ramage's debut novel (which is hard to believe) "To the Moon and back" is an astonishingly accomplished novel reminding me a lot of Louise Erdrich. 

I loved her writing, she had me in tears towards the end,  causing a flood of emotions as the family story over three decades and the misery caused by the Indian Child Welfare act unfolds.  

At the heart of this book is Steph Harper, of Cherokee descent, whose passion is science, dreaming of becoming an astronaut. Coming of age and raised with her younger sister Kayla on her mother's reservation, she is also discovering that she is gay. Told from Steph's, Della's - Stephs first love - and Kayla's perspective, this 448 page long story is a story about ambition, sacrifice and love in all its variations, between mothers and daughters and grandmothers, sexual love, friendships and the deep set human need to belong...one of the best books I read this year! The author has an MFA from the Iowa Writers' Workshop and uses many historical facts of Native American history in hef novel

 S.M.Govett: Believe, Michel Joseph, publishing June 2025, 9780241707340 hardbeck, available as ebook

The author was a solicitor before turning to writing, has written mainly YA novels, this is her debut crime novel.

The story is told alternately by a female detective, Stratton, and Natalie, who had been raped by her boss suffering only to see him declared innocent in a trial. Natalie is a solicitor herself, has bravely moved on only to find herself in a simi,ar position 10 yrs later when her husband Ryan, her soulmate,  is accused of the same crime. The question of whom to believe, seen from the acused, the wife's and the police's  side drives the novel to the last page. 

I found the beginning a bit slow but the story soon gathers momentum using psychological angles,  with a surprise development towards the end. An accomplished debut.

 Elaine Feeney: Let me go mad in my own way, 9781787303485, Vintage, publishing May 2025

When I picked up Elaine Feeney's " Let me go mad in my own way" from my proof pile, I  had no idea how much I would love this new literary novel by the Booker longlisted author. The characters and the story are still with me, an incredibly strong, emotional story set in West Ireland, such exquisite writing. Definetely one of my favorite books this year.

 Claire O'Connor moves back to the West of Ireland after the break up with Tom Morton, to care for her dying father, a harsh, often brutal  man who dominated her family's life. When her father dies, she stays on in her family home trying to rebuilt her life as a university teacher. But the demons of her childhood and her grandparents resurface casting a long shadow on the present, particularly when Tom moves near her. I was very absorbed in this novel, from start to finish, highly recommend!

 Rory Clements: Evil in High Places, 9780241728178, pub date: August 2025

"Evil in High Place" by Rory Clements was a real surprise discovery for me, terrific historical thriller, plausible plot, set during the winter Olympics 1936 in Nazi Germany, with a very likeable protagonist, detective Stefan Wolff. He is called in to investigate the disappearance of a famous actress, Elena Lang who is rumored to have an affair with Goebbels. With the Nazi's firmly in place, his clash with officials is almost a certainty as Wolff's politics are not the same and his investigation is to be kept quiet.  

At times I was reminded of Volker Kutscher's superb novels, whose books are all set during the Nazi period in Germany. Very much enjoyed this captivating, atmospheric thriller, portraying  what it is like to live and to investigate in a totalitarian country. Thanks for the proof Penguin, out in August!

 Isabel Allende: My name is Emilia del Valle, Bloomsbury UK, 9781526683359, hardback, upcoming, pub date: May 2025

Isabel Allende's large body of work is proof of her mastery at storytelling. "My name is Emilia del Valle" is set around the turn of the 19th century blending together a strong female character, Emilia del Valle, with historical facts, a civil war in Chile with an uprising of suppressed  citizens against the wealthy aristocratic society, and naturally a love story as a backdrop. It' s a solid Isabel Allende novel but for me personally, apart from a few chapters, it was a little too predictable and not as strong as "The wind knows my name" which I loved. 

 Scott Turow: Presumed Guilty, Swift Press, 9781800754515, C format paperback

Scott Turow is a legend when it comes to legal thrillers, been a fan ever since reading " Presumed Innocent". Unlike thrillers with lots of action, Turow's thing is not a quick thrill, he builts up his plots and characters slowly, the trials in his novels rely on fine details as you would expect a lawyer to argue and research his defense. 

Rusty Sabich, a judge and lawyer who featured in Presumed Innocent, has to present his future stepson in a murder indictment. Aaron has been charged with the murder of his girlfriend Mae. It needs 534 pages until you have your answer, an incredibly smart, atmospheric and brilliant suspence novel which I absolutely recommend. 

 Rob Rinder: The Protest, Cornerstone, 9781529934755, hardback, ebook available, pub date: June 19, 2025

I am a fan of the hugely enjoyable courtroom mysteries by Rob Rinder , featuring the British court systems,  law firms,  "the Chambers", and particularly young barrister Adam Greene who has to do the sleuthing work for his fellow senior barristers pre and during trial. "The Protest" was just as captivating as the previous one, The Suspect and The Trial and enlightening how the British court system works.

When famous artist Max Bruce collapses during the opening of his exhibition at the Royal Academy, it is soon clear he was killed by cyanide poisoning. The supposed killer, a young activist, insists on being innocent despite crushing evidence. As always it takes Adam and his team until the last  pages literally to come up with the true killer. Loved it! Thanks for the proof Cornerstone..

 Lisa See: The Flower Net, Random House, ebook 9781588366672

Flower Net has been out for some time but i only just discovered this terrific crime series set in the US and China. 

Flower Net features an unlikely duo of detectives: Chinese detective Liu Hulan, a Red princess, meaning she was born into a by now wealthy high cadre family, and district attorney David Stark in Los Angeles. When the son of the US ambassador to China is found murdered on the same day as the son of a Chinese oligarch, wheels are set in motion to request the two of them in an unparalleled concerted investigation. I loved learning about the differences, politics and etiquettes Stark has to observe when he joins Hulan in Chin . A great crime novel, will definately read the other 2 in the series.

 Laura Barnett: Birth, Death and Marriages, 9780857529725,  large format paperback, Doubleday, pub dat: June 25

If you loved the film "Four weddings

and a funeral" , this is as close as you can get with a book. I had such a good time following Zoe, Rachel, Rob, Al, Yas and Indie over the course of a year, with everything that happens to this former close knit university gang, now approaching  40, ending with a birth, a marriage and a death. Although I am not the target group agewise,  it felt so comforting returning to this novel,  feeling almost part of this group of friends.

This could have turned into a smaltzy book but Laura Barnett does a fine job of writing what happens as you grow older with your friends, enduring tragedy, secrets, all the craziness of life and love together.  Loved it, thanks for the early proof Doubleday.

 Abdulrazak Gurnah: Theft, Bloomsbury, pub date: March 2025, hardback 9781526678645

"Theft" by Abdulrazak Gurnah is his first book after winning the Nobel Prize in 2021. A native of Zanzibar and Tansania, his new book is set in Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar in the 1990. His gentle, incomparable voice tells the story of  the interwoven lives of Karim, self -assured and born into a wealthy household, beautiful, intelligent and gentle Fauzia and subservient Badar, who is less lucky in life, a servant in Karim's parents household but also a relative.

The narrative follows them thru coming of age until they settle  on Zanzibar as now adults, still friends despite their very different backgrounds. Gurnah's writing is beautiful, atmospheric when it comes to describing the living conditions in post colonial Africa.  I particularly fell in love with Badar as a character, his innocence yet down- to-earth attitude. A gem of a book,  just what you would expect from the maestro.

 Katy Hays: The Vipers, Bantam UK, 9780857505972, c format paperback, March 2025 pub date

The Vipers in this case  are a filthy rich family, the Lingates,  whose controlled image to the outside world was disrupted by the questionable accidental death of Sophie Lingate in Capri 30 years ago. Helen, her only daughter will be sole heir to the family fortune, tightly controlled by her father and uncle, and is starting to question what really happend to her mother. When her assistant Lorna disappears, the family unity begins to unravel.

I found the novel highly constructed, throw in a jetset setting on the island of capri and a questionable death followed by an equally constructed ending. Not my type of thriller even Hay's previous book The Cloisters became a bestseller.

 Nicola Williams: Killer Instinct, Hamish Hamilton, 9780241568088, pub date: July 10, 2025

I was very taken by Nicola Williams first legal thriller, " Until Proven Innocent" and was not disappointed by her second book,  a twisted story called" Killer Instinct"  set in the British court system featuring barrister Lee Miller which is just as terrific.

When Dean Carter, a very respected Junior Clerk working in the same chambers as Lee,  is accused of murdering their controlling, manipulating boss Tom Mannon, he requests Lee to defend him. I had very little knowledge of how the British legal system works but this thriller is a fab introduction and a very gripping story full of intrigue, politics and the psychology of defense. A great read and a new voice to watch,  publishing July 2025, I was able to enjoy an early proof.

 C.J.Box: Three Inch Teeth, 9780593331347,, hardback, Putnam /US

I enjoy CJ Box's Joe Pickett series, this is the 24th book about the Wyoming game warden. It is a bit of a mix of western and thriller, bad guys chasing good guys who do not always end up winning.

 With a grizzly bear on the loose killing Joe's daughters fiance and  Dalles Cates, a serious piece of work Joe helped put behind bars, out of prison seeking revenge, I found this episode at times a bit far stretched but nevertheless a thrilling solid Joe Pickett read. 

 Patrick Bringley: All the beauty in the world, 9781529924596, Vintage/PRH, paperback

The first gem of a book I finished in 2025,  stumbled  upon when reading reviews.

 When Patrick Bringley's brother Tom dies of cancer at 26, his world comes to a stop and he knows he could not go back to his old job.  Seeking out beauty and peace as his healing method, he applies for a job at the Metropolitan Museum of Art as a  guard.  

So begins his healing journey. His observations of people visiting the museum, the life stories of fellow guards, the solace and beauty of art are a wonderful read.  To be part of his overcoming grief thru a quiet life and the love of his own young family is heartwarming.  Food for thought, beautifully written, illuminating descriptions of the art on display at the Met and museum life, loved it!