Amy Tintera: The worst wife, Transworld, upcoming March 2027

The worst wife is a funny, twisted mystery set in Austin, Texas which of course was the initial reason why I read this proof with my close connection to this city.  

Charlotte, the third trophy wife of  wealthy George, several decades younger than him, makes no bones about loving her husbands credit cards more than him. When he is nowhere to be found after their famous lake house party, she panics as her background is not exactly bleach clean which would make her a possible suspect if she needed to involve the police. George's family is not too thrilled about his disappearence either  having their own reasons. A perfect summer read in my opinion, had great fun reading this funny, unbloody mystery.  

 Sarah Hilary: The cutting stone, Vintage, coming April 2027

Thanks to an electronic early proof,  I was able to read the second book in the DS Joe Ash series, The Drowning Place was an unusual, great mystery. Set in the Peak District, DS Joe Ash is the only survivor of a terrible bus accident which haunts him to this day.  What Sarah Hilary pulls off brilliantly in what could have been tricky is that DS Ash still sees and talks to the ghost of his best friend Sammy. He and his boss Laurie Bower are called to investigate the murder of Godfrey Hume who treated Laurie's sister as a counselor for her addiction.  I found the second book much darker and the trail of suspects sometimes confusing but this is a very original series with a great emphasis on psychological aspects. 

 Mary Lawsom; Solace in Winter. Chatto & Windus/ Vintage, pub date: November 2026 / I read the proof

I absolutely loved this book and it also made me cry,  probably the book of the year that pulled at my heart the most. Mary Larson has been longlisted for the Booker twice and I can see why,  not having read anything by her before. I feĺl in love with her writing and "Solace in winter" which is set in a small town called Solace in Canada in 1969, when fate crosses the life paths of an old man, an injured dog, a wounded American draft dodger and a young mother who is also a nurse. It is a tale of human kindness, decency, love, jealousy and how life can change in a second for better or worse when we least expect it.  I did not want this novel to stop, wanting to know badly how life continues for the main protagonists. It was such a treat to read this book, highly recommend. 

 Patricia Wolf: Hero, Embla Books, I read the eBooks 

On of my recent discoveries are crime novels by Patricia Wolf, set in the Australian outback featuring DS Lucas Walker who in this novel is back home in Queensland after a huge fallout with his corrupt superiors.  He is still icking hus wounds.

When the body of a young man is found hanging upside down from a tree in his new posting in Katima, everything seems to point to suicide but Walker doesn't buy it. I really like the character of DS Wolf, stubborn and not one to get scared off easily by superiors who hate his guts and moral code. His investigation is sidelined when the Cricket hero Caden Conroy is found murdered in his mansion and Walker is the first on the ground. 

Patricia Wolf is an excellent writer who with Jane Harper, Garry Disher and Chris Hammer is one of my favorite Australian  crime authors.  I like returning to this series, HERO is a clever story with many twists, another atmospheric case to be solved by very likeable detective. 

 Lucy Foley: Murder at the Grande Alpine Hotel, Agatha Christie, a Miss Marple Mystery, Harper Collins, 9780008694821, hardback 

As a fan of Agatha Christie, I am a sucker for newly created follow up novels of Miss Marple by current authors, Lucy Foley being the latest one. She has done a fine job with her cast of characters who are all taking a vacation in the early 1950ties when a heavy snow storms grounds everyone in a  grand Swiss hotel: a high caliber British politican and his beautiful wife, a friend from the war who is so unlike himself, a Hollywood actress who happens to be the mistress of the politican, a mysterious doctor and of course Miss Marple, her friend Mrs Bantry and her secretary Diana. When the first male corpse is found and the police cannot get to the hotel due to weather conditions, a French detective on vacation and Miss Marple start to look into the murder. Great, old fashioned Miss Marple fun and vibes throught the novel.

 Sebastian Faulks: Farewell to Eden, Hutchinson Heinemann,9781529153231, c format paperback 

I have never read anything by Sebastian Faulks before but "Farewell to Eden" touched me deeply.   Loved his storytelling  and the character of Philip Deval, an English soldier who experienced WWII, survived Normandie and is sent on a peace keeping mission of the British mandate in Palestine giving this book a very human face of an individual overcoming suffering and loss, or so it seems. 

A constant melancholie hovers over the novel even when Philip starts his private life as a teacher at a girls school in England in 1951. There are several passages in the book which will stick with me; additionally it helped refreshed my memory of historical facts  how the state of Israel was established. Very taken by this wonderful book which will be on my shelf of favorite 2026 reads. Highly recommend.

 Lauren Hough: Monster of a Land: On the Road in Search of Modern America, Pantheon, Penguin Random House Usa

Lauren Hough embarks on a road trip thru modern America with her pitbull Husky mix Woody,  inspired by Steinbecks Travels with Charlie which happens to be one of my favourite books but this is were all similarities stop. Lauren is a gay, 6 foot tall former airforce woman, barkeeper, cable guy and now bestseller author. Her trip from Austin/ Texas around the US in her old rebuilt 2001 Dodge van is a sobering analysis of a very broken country, told in her witty, sarcastic, honest writing,  mixed with her own colorful story. No sugar coating there. 

  What really got to me was the hopelessness and poverty she encounters in previous thriving little communities but also the help she receives from unlikely strangers when stranded. It's a great social study, mixed with personal life experiences which makes "Monster of a Land" a great read. Loved this very different road trip. 

 Laura Sheperd-Robinson: The Art of a Lie, Mantle, paperback 

 "The Art of Lie" is one of the best historical crime novels I have read as of late. Great story, learned a lot about London in the mid 18th century, how society functioned, how many women were independent shopkeepers but yet had virtually  no rights once married and how easy it was to trap windowed women into parting with their money. Loved the main protagonists, widow Hannah Cole who owns a confectionery shop  with her husband who is found murdered.  Hannah discovers that he had 

 secret dealings as the case is being investigated by no one less than Henry Fielding who makes an appearance as the investigating magistrate. Such a twisty wonderful historical crime novel,  where we early know who is the killer which makes it that much more interesting. Highly recommend. Sadly not out in German yet.

 Bokyeong Sunim: One day a cat came to me, Timeless Zen Wisdom from a Cat & Its Monk, Profile books, 

If you are a cat lover and interested in Buddhist wisdom and philosophy,  this is the book for you.

 When a cat shows up near the temple in the mountains where Korean monk Boyyeong Sunim has moved to from the city, he is first intriged by this creature but slowly starts to grow fond of the cat. Of course if you have or had a cat, all whar follows sounds very familiar. Reflecting on

his developing relationship and their growing closeness, incorporating Buddhist teachings, makes this a wonderfully wise and soothing little gem of a book. 

 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 who call themselves First Ladies. How much is based on how these churches  work and how rich they are is probably not so far from reality. 

Lots of gossipy female bitchiness, sex, back stabbing,  religous falsehood and competition amongst the wives of these pastors and the churches male domiance provide the base for this often funny novel.  I skipped thru the book, as I said, not really my reading taste, too predictable,  but i can see the appeal to younger female readers. 

 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. 

 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.

 Hannah Rothschild: The Baroness. The search for Nica, the rebellious Rothschild, Virago

If you love biographies about unusual women and jazz, this is it. Hannah Rothschild's biography about the black sheep in her family, her great-aunt Nica, who had it all, a handsome husband, children and a trust fund, only not to give a damn, running off to New York after hearing Thelonious Monk's revolutionary music. She became one of the most important supporters for jazz musicians and Thelonious especially until his death, known as the baroness in the NewYork jazz scene. I found the biography absolutely fascinating and entertaining, really well researched, including the history of the Rothschild family. An extraordinary life of a rebellious character, loved it!