Rachael English’s latest novel “Whatever Happened to Birdy Troy” (Hachette, £15.99) will transport you back to the post-punk era, with a tale centred around the non-existent girl band, The Diamonds. The story switches between the present day and the 1980s, encapsulating the trials and tribulations of being in a young band and the lingering effects years later, which will have you practically humming along to their melodies.
The chilling horror novel “The Gathering” by renowned British author CJ Tudor (Michael Joseph, £16.99) navigates the quiet Alaskan town of Deadhart where a young boy’s gory demise is pinned on the local vampires. As the town gets cornered from the rest of the world due to heavy snowfall, the lead investigator Barbara Atkins begins to suspect a deeper, darker secret. The book proffers a successful transition for Tudor to American settings.
“Percival Everett’s Erasure,” transformed into the multi-award-winning American Fiction, has a new companion “James” (Mantle, £20). ‘James’ presents a fresh reinterpretation of Huckleberry Finn, unveiling the narrative through the perspective of Jim, a slave. Everett’s protagonist displays a witty survival instinct laced with humour, navigating a dystopian society scarred by racism.
Rounding out the list is “I Hope This Finds You Well” by Natalie Sue (Borough Press, £13.99).
Jolene, a disenchanted individual in her thirties, can’t stand her job or her workmates. Yet, the fear of having to live again with her domineering Persian mother and emotionally distant father keeps her from quitting. A computer error at work grants her access to the private conversations of her colleagues. Now that she knows their true opinions about her and each other, should she use this knowledge to her benefit? Or will she regret intruding into their personal correspondences? A brilliant dark comedy that combines humour and emotion.
Reality Check, a book by Vicki Notaro (available for £13.99 from Penguin Sandycove), introduces us to Portia Daniels, a lady who prefers to stay out of the spotlight, in contrast to her popular family. Her mother, Dessie, is an Irish reality TV star, her sister, Vinnie, is a lifestyle influencer and model, and her younger sister, Ariel, is a TikTok sensation. As scandal engulfs the family at the same time as Portia’s romantic relationship collapses, the Daniels have to reassess their priorities. This captivating debut novel by the Irish journalist Notaro, which mixes Jackie Collins’ intricate drama and glamour with an Irish touch, will entertain you, irrespective of your views on reality television.
The Other Valley, written by Scott Alexander Howard and priced at £16.99 (Atlantic Books), sets us in a valley where time rather than geographical features define borders. Odile, a teenage girl, lives in a valley that exists twenty years behind the adjoining one, and twenty years ahead of the other. Though inter-valley travels are prohibited, controlled visits to see departed dear ones are occasionally permitted. When Odile notices future versions of her friend Edme’s parents in her proximity, she realises that Edme’s end is approaching. This revelation eventually alters the destiny of several people. The book, with its enchanting and arresting narrative, has rightfully been likened to Emily St John Mandel and Kazuo Ishiguro.
The Husbands, a novel by Holly Gramazio and sold by Chatto and Windus for £13.99, is another masterpiece you might enjoy.
Lauren returns to her residence one evening to discover an unfamiliar man insisting that he is her spouse. However, eerily, photographic evidence on her phone and confirmation from her relatives support his claim. The story takes a bizarre twist when, upon the man’s return from the attic, he is recognisably distinct. Lauren grasps this as a chance to experience numerous variant lives with different men. Yet, she is confronted with a challenge—how does she decide when to cease swapping amidst a limitless variety of charming, irritating or extraordinarily wealthy husbands? A humourous debut novel by an imaginative novelist.
“The Racket” is a novel written by Conor Niland (Sandycove, £20). As a teenager, Conor Niland had the potential to become one of tennis’s greats. Despite playing alongside titans like Serena Williams and Federer, and having competed in Wimbledon, he never quite made a name for himself on the global stage. His incisive and humorous memoir reflects the harsh truths of professional sports life and demonstrates his consistent affection for tennis.
Leigh Bardugo’s The Familiar (Penguin Viking, €16.99) is a captivating historical narrative featuring Luzia, a servant in a Madrid household, hiding her magical abilities to avoid drawing attention to herself. When her mistress learns of Luzia’s enchanting prowess, she recognises the potential for achieving societal recognition. However, they live in the times of the Spanish Inquisition—the era of proving one’s magical skills were for church and crown. Subsequently, Luzia, under the patronage of influential Don Victor, finds herself entangled in complex court politics.
In Andrew Hughes’ “Emma, Disappeared” (Hachette Ireland, £14.99), Emma Harte, a budding entrepreneur, mysteriously vanishes in Dublin. James, a library archivist, joins the search party. In an unexpected twist of romance, James falls for Libby – a feminist activist whilst grappling with his recent break up. The plot thickens when suspicions arise over how much James knows about Emma’s disappearance and the origin of the cryptic texts he receives. The storyline promises unexpected turns and an unpredictably unreliable narrator.
In “Real Americans” by Rachel Khong (Hutchinson Heinemann, £14.99), American society and culture is explored and dissected.
As the millennial epoch emerged, Lily Chen found herself as an unremunerated intern in a media organisation located in New York. Her life took a turn when she crossed paths with Matthew – a charming, handsome, and affluent gentleman. Even though she valued her self-sufficiency, Lily couldn’t decline the luxurious life Matthew presented. Two decades on, Nick, Lily’s adolescent son, initiates inquiries about their family history, which propels him on a journey towards their familial origins in China. This gripping narrative weaves the tale of their lineage, providing perceptive commentary on significant topics along the way.
“Richy Craven’s Spirit Level” (Eiru, £9.99) revolves around aimless Danny in his mid-20s, battling chronic anxiety. It reaches a new height when his best mate, Nudge, perishes in a car crash involving drunk driving, with Danny in the co-driver’s seat. Under the mysterious influence of alcohol, Danny can perceive Nudge’s ghost. He seeks a psychic’s help to decipher why Nudge’s spirit lingers, uncovering a peculiar occurrence among Dublin’s spectral population. With its endearing yet pragmatic tone, Spirit Level provides a heart-warming yet comical exploration of grief and companionship.
Claire Pollard’s “The Modern Fairies” (Chatto & Windus, £18.99) transports readers to the sophisticated gatherings of the 1680s Parisian gentry, away from the glittering court of Louis XIV at Versailles. This group of women and a few men, known as the “modern fairies”, draw their inspiration from the folk tales of their childhood to craft elaborate narratives. But, the formidable police chief Reynie, as formidable as any antagonist from a fairy tale, is bent on their downfall. Pollard paints a vivid picture of the intrigue, elegance, scandal, and menace of the 17th-century French era in this unapologetically risqué and savvy novel, which mirrors the dark appeal of the exotic chocolate savoured at the soirees of the modern fairies.
“Hunted by Abir Mukherjee” (Harvill Secker, £14.99) unveils another intriguing chapter in the world of literature.
Sajid Khan, a London resident, finds himself reeling when he finds out that his daughter Aliyah is purportedly in cahoots with a suicide bomber who has wreaked havoc at a mall in California. Despite accusations claiming the contrary, Sajid is firm in the knowledge that his daughter is neither a fundamentalist nor a killer. This drives him to venture to the United States to find Aliyah, but he soon discovers that he is being pursued by US law enforcement. This thrilling tale of intrigue and conspiracy marks the first stab at contemporary story-telling by acclaimed historical crime writer Abir Mukherjee and promises a wild ride rife with endless twists and turns.
“City of Light, City of Shadows”, a book penned by Michael Rapport and published by Bridge Street Press sheds light on Paris from the 1870s leading up to the First World War. This era, widely known as the Belle Époque, sees Paris blossom as a hotbed of advancements in various spheres, including art, science, and entertainment. The text paints a vivid picture of the glittery city’s highs and lows during this era, featuring a variety of influential figures such as author Émile Zola and feminist performer Marguerite Durand.
“D Is for Death” by Harriet F Townson (published by Hodder & Stoughton) revolves around Dora Wildwood’s adventures. Dora moves to London in 1935 to evade her unbearable fiance, only to be met with a murder mystery at the London Library. Blessed with keen observation skills and a knack for fashion, Dora takes matters into her own hands and embarks on a detective journey. The book is an absolute pleasure to read and a must for fans of vintage criminal tales.
“The Coast Road” by Alan Murrin (published by Bloomsbury), follows the story of Colette Crowley who, after instigating an affair with a married man, decides to return to her village in Donegal. The year is 1994 and Colette, still legally bound to her husband, is denied any contact with her children by her husband. Colette takes up a role as a creative writing teacher and solicits the assistance of her student, housewife Izzy Keaveney, to arrange meetings with her sons. Murrin eloquently brings 1990s Ireland to life, resulting in a profoundly compelling read.
“You Are Here” by David Nicholls (published by Sphere).
Marnie, a copyeditor with a distaste for hiking, unexpectedly finds herself traversing the Lake District with Michael, a geography teacher who enjoys solitude, after their shared friend departs a walking holiday prematurely. This narrative about two loners tackling the landscape of England could project sombreness but in the adept hands of author David Nicholls, the story is unexpectedly warm, beautifully crafted and often humorous. A delightful book to read on holiday, regardless of whether hiking is in the itinerary.
Hagstone, the debut novel of award-winning essayist Sinéad Gleeson (4th Estate, £16.99), is the tale of Nell, an artist living on a remote island off Ireland, struggling to earn a living. When invited by the Iníons, a secluded female community from a different part of the island, to contribute to a new artistic project, the curious and financially trapped Nell agrees. But she may live to regret her decision. The novel fascinatingly navigates what creating art entails while dishing up the suspense of a gripping thriller.
The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley (HarperCollins, £14.99) has hit the headlines even ahead of its official opening. The luxury wellness hotel – The Manor – and its enigmatic founder, Francesca Meadows, have sparked attention. But one early guest, Bella, does not buy into the hype. Having met Francesca 15 years earlier when The Manor was her familial home, Bella is haunted by the nocturnal parties of that time. The reader is presented with a mystery; someone will perish at the hotel’s solstice party, but who? Jumping between timelines and perspectives, Foley’s latest offering is a compelling mystery-thriller.
Penguin Fig Tree’s latest release is Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon (£14.99).
In the 5th century in Syracuse, regional ceramics artists, Lampo and Gelon, frequently visited their local quarry. This quarry held numerous Athenian captives. Being ardent followers of the author Euripides, the craftsmen were satisfied when the prisoners performed pieces from their fellow Athenian’s literature in exchange for water or olives. Nevertheless, merely a few sentences are unsatisfactory for Gelon, who takes the initiative to organise a comprehensive enactment of Medea within the premises of the quarry. Exceptionally influenced by actual events, Ferdia Lennon’s exceptional debut novel employs a distinct Irish dialect brilliantly rendering the antiquity with vibrant humour, and emotional resonance.