May 2025
Maisie vs Antartica - Jack Jackman
A fab adventure story for middle grade readers - this is the first of a new series. It's filled with humour (it made me laugh out loud several times) and a touch of mystery. This would be a great book to read aloud and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to Maisie's next adventure to The Himalayas which publishes in the middle of August.
Claire
Maisie thinks her dad is the most boring person in the world. For fun he likes to do origami (but only basic triangles) or jigsaw puzzles of a cloudless sky (yep, every piece is blue). He writes cool-sounding books like How To Wrestle A Crocodile and How To Defuse A Bomb, but he's never actually done any of the awesome things he writes about.
But Maisie has to admit weird things happen around Dad. Unexplainable things...When childcare falls through and Dad has to take Maisie to Antarctica to research his next book, How To Survive In Antarctica, Maisie realises there is definitely something unusual about Dad... Maisie is determined to find out the truth about her dad.
What she doesn't realise is that she'll discover some things about herself and what it really means to be a hero along the way. One thing is for sure - it's going to be the adventure of a lifetime!
Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books - Kirsten Miller
We loved it! A timely and thought provoking book about book banning, censorship, freedom of expression and the transformative power of literature in a small Southern fictional town in Georgia. Provoked an interesting discussion amongst our book club members.
Claire and Alan
IT’S TIME TO RISE UP In Troy, Georgia, local woman Lula Dean has campaigned to cleanse the town’s reading habits. All the ‘disgusting’, ‘pornographic’ and downright ‘un-American’ books have been removed from public spaces.
Now, the townspeople are only allowed to read ‘appropriate’ books from Lula’s personal lending library. But a small group refuse to be told what they can and cannot read and, unbeknownst to Lula, her personal collection is slowly restocked with banned books: literary classics, gay romances, Black history, spell books, and more. One by one, each person who borrows the books from Lula’s library find their lives changed in unexpected ways.
And as they begin to reveal their new selves, it’s clear that a showdown is fast approaching – one that will change the town of Troy forever …
Leave No Trace - Jo Callaghan
This is the second thriller from the author of The Theakstons Crime Novel of the Year 'In the Blink of an Eye' and features the same crime fighting duo. Having enjoyed the first novel so much, this was a little like returning to a familiar friend. Another compelling case and written again with heart and humour - gripping!
Claire
When the body of a man is found crucified at the top of Mount Judd, DCS Kat Frank and AIDE Lock – the world’s first AI detective – are thrust into the spotlight with their first live case. But when they discover another man dead – also crucified – it appears that the killer is only just getting started.
When the Future Policing Unit issues an extraordinary warning to local men to avoid drinking in pubs, being out alone late at night and going home with strangers, they face a hostile media frenzy. Whilst they desperately search for connections between the victims, time is running out for them to join the dots and prevent another death. And if Kat and Lock know anything, it’s that killers rarely stop – until they are made to.
The Homemade God - Rachel Joyce
Rachel Joyce does it again! Her observations of family are spot on and this is a wonderful family saga complete with a large dollop of intrigue, set in a stunning part of the world. The memorable characters are richly drawn and the novel focuses on the relationship between the three siblings - how they grow up together and the events that transpire to make them grow apart. Can they find a way to move forward and heal their wounds and come to a greater understanding about their father and each other?
Claire
There is a heatwave across Europe.
Goose and his three sisters gather at the family's house by Lake Orta in Piedmont, Italy. Their father, a famous artist, has recently remarried a much younger woman and decamped to Italy to finish his masterpiece. Now he is dead and there is no sign of a painting.
Although the siblings have always been close, as they search for answers over that summer, the things they learn - about themselves, their father and their new stepmother - will drive them apart before they can come to any kind of understanding of what their father's legacy truly is. Extraordinarily compelling, at heart this is a novel about sibling relationships and those hairline cracks that can appear within a family: what what happens when they splinter, and what it would take to mend them.
Lost Voices of the Falklands War - Max Arthur
This is one of the best books I have read. An account of courage and sacrifice, honest and at times harrowing - these are the voices of those who were prepared to give everything for the people of The Falklands, many suffering injury and hardship, and all witness to the loss of close friends and comrades.
A popular choice for Books, Blokes and Beer.
Alan
On 2 April 1982, Argentina invaded and occupied the Falkland Islands. Britain was quick to mobilise a task force to recover its territory, but the ensuing conflict, lasting over two months, would cost the British military 255 lives, seven ships and many aircraft. From the initial Argentine landing on South Georgia, to dynamic combat on land, sea and air, Britain faced extreme adversity.
However, despite the harsh realities of battle, the British task force maintained morale through humour, camaraderie and the close bonds they formed in the crucible of war. Lost Voices of the Falklands War is the definitive oral history of the conflict, compiled by historian Max Arthur. Through a series of interviews, Arthur delivers a raw, unfiltered account of the violence and the emotional toll it took on the soldiers, sailors and airmen that fought.
This is the true story of the heroes of the Falklands war, in their own words.
April 2025
Welcome to Glorious Tuga - Francesca Segal
This is the first novel in a trilogy and I thoroughly enjoyed being transported to the tropical island of Tuga. It's pure escapism - warm, relaxing, intriguing and joyful. Definitely another one to pack into your suitcase for Summer. Book 2 is out soon...count me in!
Out in paperback 5th June.
Claire
Zoologist Charlotte Walker has crossed the world to research rare tortoises on the remote island of Tuga. Officially, she’s there for conservation.
But the reality is more complicated, for Charlotte has long believed she has a connection to this isolated paradise. While coming to understand an endangered species, she’d hoped she might finally understand the truth about herself. She’ll have little time for self-discovery, however.
The close-knit community has never had a vet before, and the islanders are determined to tempt her from her tortoises and onto their farms. Can she salvage her career (and the catastrophe of her personal life) before her year on the island is up?’
We All Live Here - Jojo Moyes
A new Jojo Moyes novel is a sort of lovely indulgence... just curl up in a cosy chair and get reading. Moyes writes warmly and with humour, I really enjoyed spending time with the chaotic blended Kennedy family - likeable characters and an easy read. Great for a holiday - make room in your suitcase!
Claire
Welcome to the Kennedy household: Lila wrote a bestseller about keeping your marriage alive, before discovering her ex was playing happy families with another woman. A woman she sees everyday at school pick-up.
Bill, her stepdad, moved in after Lila’s mum died. He’s kind, old-fashioned and driving her absolutely nuts. Celie, Lila’s eldest, hates school.
Hates it so much she’s stopped going. Her mother’s fine with that – because she doesn’t know yet. Violet is nine and sings age-inappropriate rap songs, laughs at fart jokes and Lila dearly hopes she’ll never, ever change.
And Truant the dog, who has just bitten the American actor who’s suddenly landed on the Kennedys' doorstep. This is Gene – Lila’s estranged father, and no one’s idea of a role model. He walked out on Lila and her mum years ago – and wherever he goes domestic discord follows.
Because Gene’s presence changes things in unexpected ways. Soon the girls discover a kindred spirit in a man always chasing life’s joy. Bill even loosens up.
And Lila finds herself, astonishingly, dating. Something is happening to the Kennedy household – but what is it?And will it break, or save, their family?
Skandar and the Skeleton Curse - AF Steadman
It's difficult to come up with new superlatives for the Skandar series. It's such a fantasatic read, compelling from start to end. But don't take my word for it - if you haven't discovered this world of magic and flying bloodthirsty unicorns, get reading and be ready for the ride of your life!
Alan
As Skandar and his friends begin their fourth year at the Eyrie, the Island’s unicorns are struck by a terrible curse that threatens to change everything.
Between a Commodore determined to eliminate the spirit element for good, and a sister hellbent on revenge, nowhere is safe for Skandar. As more and more unicorns are affected by the curse, the clock is ticking for Skandar and his quartet, who find themselves literally racing for their lives. Can they stop the curse in its tracks before the Island is lost for ever?
Out in paperback 08 May 25
The Household- Stacey Halls
A fascinating book, so well researched and well told. Although, it is an historical fiction it is based to a large degree on real events, and people. A gripping tale, which juxtaposes prison with country life, good with evil, philanthropy with greed.
Alan
1847, Shepherds Bush. Charles Dickens' home for fallen women is about to open its doors. Part refuge, part reformatory, the house and its location are top secret, and Martha Gelder and Josephine Nash among its first inmates.
But faced with the chance to redeem themselves, how badly do they want it?Across town, in her Piccadilly mansion, Dickens' friend, the millionaire Angela Burdett Coutts, receives news that turns her orderly world upside down. Her stalker has been freed from prison, and she knows it's only a matter of time before their nightmarish game resumes once more.
As the women's worlds collide in ways they could never have expected, they will discover that freedom always comes at a price .
March 2025
The Sirens - Emilia Hart
A perfect blend of mythology, mystery and history. Set in a dual timeline and told from various points of view this was an engaging and slightly supernatural read. Hart manages to weave together stories from the different timelines which helps build suspense and in a similar manner to her debut novel 'Weyward', as the story unfolds, her focus is very firmly on the strength of women.
Claire
Lucy is running from what she’s done – and what someone did to her.
There’s only one person who might understand: her sister Jess. But when Lucy arrives at her sister’s desolate cliff-top house, Jess is gone. Lucy is now alone, in a strange town steeped in rumour.
Stories of men disappearing without a trace. A foundling discovered in a sea-swept cave. And women’s voices murmuring on the waves… As Lucy searches for her sister, those voices get ever louder.
They tell of two sisters, two centuries ago, bound and transported across the world. A world where men always get their way. A world that is at once distant, and achingly familiar.
Are these voices luring Lucy closer to her sister? Or will the secrets of the past pull them both under?
Crescendo - Joanna Howat
Local author Joanna's novel is a family saga set in North Yorkshire. Leyburn even makes an appearance on page 2!
When tragedy strikes and life changes suddenly and dramatically, family members react very differently and struggle to make sense of what has happened. I enjoyed being involved in Jamie and Caz's efforts to rebuild their lives and their attempts to construct a meaningful future in the face of their loss.
Claire
'Crescendo' by Joanna Howat is available to purchase in the shop priced £10.99
Open When... - Dr Julie Smith
This is a great book to refer to when the stresses of life inevitably take their toll. It's a little bit like having clinical psychologist Dr Julie sitting opposite you with a cuppa. Her advice is down to earth, helps move you forward just like a trusted friend or companion. You can dip in and out depending what you need help with - a really useful toolkit for life's ups and downs. Dr Julie has an amazing ability to communicate with clarity and make a seemingly difficult situation more manageable. I think many people would benefit from her insight and wisdom by having this book at their fingertips.
Claire
Feeling overwhelmed? Open when… stress takes over. Facing self-doubt? Open when… imposter syndrome strikes. Lost your direction? Open when… you need fresh motivation.
This is the book for life's twists and turns, when being human starts to get complicated.
Within this book are a series of Open When style letters from Dr Julie to help navigate the moments of overwhelm, confusion or self-doubt that we all face when life gets messy. Offering calm, clarity and a laser focus on the best way forward, each personal letter is followed by real-time tools that will help you re-frame the situation and decide on your next move. Every chapter covers a new scenario; universal problems that each of us will likely face at some point.
Gozzle - Julia Donaldson
A heart warming story by legend Julia Donaldson and beautifully illustrated by award winning Sara Ogilvie. This is a delightful tale about family and would make a great gift for Easter to accompany the chocolate eggs!
Claire
It's springtime. Bear has woken up hungry and finds a lost egg outside his cave.
Breakfast? No! Out hatches Gozzle, a very sweet little gosling who is convinced that Bear must be her daddy – and that she should be able to climb, dig and eat honey just like him. Follow Bear on his journey from reluctant carer to parent in this heartwarming and joyous picture book about what home and family truly mean.
February 2025
The Wager - David Grann
This is an extraordinary true tale of courage, tenacity and the very real problem of trying to maintain military order in a non military scenario. This book shows that real life can be far stranger and challenging than any imagined story.
Well researched and written - it is gripping.
Alan
His Majesty’s ship the Wager left England in 1740 on a secret mission during an imperial war with Spain. While chasing a Spanish treasure-filled galleon, the Wager was wrecked on a desolate island off the coast of Patagonia. The crew, marooned for months and facing starvation, built a flimsy craft and sailed for more than a hundred days, traversing 2,500 miles of storm-wracked seas.
They were greeted as heroes. Then, six months later, another, even more decrepit, craft landed on the coast of Chile. This boat contained just three castaways and they had a very different story to tell. The thirty sailors who landed in Brazil were not heroes – they were mutineers.
The first group responded with counter-charges of their own, of a tyrannical and murderous captain and his henchmen. While stranded on the island the crew had fallen into anarchy, with warring factions fighting for dominion over the barren wilderness. As accusations of treachery and murder flew, the Admiralty convened a court martial to determine who was telling the truth.
The stakes were life-and-death—for whomever the court found guilty could hang.
The Hidden Hand - Stella Rimington
A great read, this book has twists and turns, is full of character and has a sense of realism that one should expect from the former head of MI5. A real page-turner.
Alan
A historic institution is hiding a very modern threat. Li Min, a Chinese student, is forced by her government to transfer from Harvard to Oxford University, where she is recruited to an elite Chinese study centre based out of St Felix’s College.
Meanwhile, the centre’s newly recruited head stumbles on its more sinister purpose: recruiting Chinese and sympathetic British students to steal high-value research and intellectual property.
Unsure who at the university he can trust, he turns to CIA agent Manon Tyler for help.
But as Li and another Chinese-American student are drawn deeper into a deadly game, will Manon be able to penetrate the heart of St Felix’s secrets in time to save them?
Alvesdon - James Holland
This book is a must for those who want to know what it was like for families around the outbreak of WWII. James Holland really does know his stuff, as a noted historian and author this book brings together the events of the first year of the war with the human story of those at the front and those who kept Britain going. It is engaging, immersive, dramatic and poignant.
Alan
Even at home, the war is never far away…The village of Alvesdon has been home to the Castells for generations. But the year is 1939 and the peace and tranquillity there is about to be shattered once more by the storm clouds of war in Europe.
As three generations of the family gather, they must all face the prospect of their lives being transformed beyond recognition the moment Britain declares war on Germany. When the inevitable happens and Britain finds itself at war, the younger members of the family and farm workers are called up to fight and those who remain must battle to keep the home fires burning and the farm afloat.
The gentle certainties of rural life are replaced by the urgent clamour of war, in the air, at sea and on land, where events unfold with dizzying rapidity and unexpected consequences
Nesting - Roisin O'Donnell
I urge you to read this book! We were lucky enough to hear Roisin read an extract form her book, and it gave me goosebumps! Nesting is an important book; tender yet raw. It is tense, thought provoking and heart-pounding. It illustrates one woman's resilience and determination to survive and yet it is ultimately hopeful. I couldn't put it down!
Claire
On a bright spring afternoon in Dublin, Ciara Fay makes a split-second decision that will change everything.
Grabbing an armful of clothes from the washing line, Ciara straps her two young daughters into her car and drives away. Head spinning, all she knows for certain is that home is no longer safe. This was meant to be an escape.
But with dwindling savings, no job, and her family across the sea, Ciara finds herself adrift, facing a broken housing system and the voice of her own demons. As summer passes and winter closes in, she must navigate raising her children in a hotel room, searching for a new home and dealing with her husband Ryan’s relentless campaign to get her to come back. Because leaving is one thing, but staying away is another.
What will it take for Ciara to rebuild her life? Can she ever truly break away from Ryan’s control – and what will be the cost?Tense, beautiful, and underpinned by an unassailable love, hope and resilience, this is the story of one woman’s bid to start over.
The List of Suspicious Things - Jennie Godfrey
This is an important book covering themes of racism , mental health, domestic violence ... but also love, friendship, courage and community against a backdrop of the Yorkshire Ripper murders. The characterisation is so strong and the storyline so compelling that this is a gripping and emotive book. A book that everyone should read.
Alan (and Claire for the second time!)
Yorkshire, 1979. Maggie Thatcher is prime minister, drainpipe jeans are in, and Miv is convinced that her dad wants to move their family Down South. Because of the murders.
Leaving Yorkshire and her best friend Sharon simply isn't an option, no matter the dangers lurking round their way; or the strangeness at home that started the day Miv's mum stopped talking. Perhaps if she could solve the case of the disappearing women, they could stay after all?So, Miv and Sharon decide to make a list: a list of all the suspicious people and things down their street. People they know.
People they don't. But their search for the truth reveals more secrets in their neighbourhood, within their families - and between each other - than they ever thought possible. What if the real mystery Miv needs to solve is the one that lies much closer to home?
Hunt for the Golden Scarab - M.G. Leonard
This is a fabulous adventure story, with time travel and mystery solving thrown in for good measure! Exciting stuff - a great new series for middle grade readers. I look forward to the next adventure!
Claire
Sim and his mum never live anywhere long. When dangerous strangers appear one night, Sim discovers why.
His mum has been keeping secrets: she has the power to open doors in time. Running for their lives, Sim and his friends are determined to outwit the sinister Council of Keys and be the first to find Nefertiti’s lost tomb and a powerful door to Ancient Egypt. They must piece together long-hidden clues if they are to solve the mystery of her golden heart scarab.
Can they find it before the Council finds them?
January 2025
Beautiful Ugly - Alice Feeney
Oh my word! I devoured this gripping novel in a day! If you like dark thrillers with some breathtaking twists then I urge you to give this book a try. I couldn't put it down!
It publishes at the end of the month.
Claire
Author Grady Green is having the worst best day of his life. Grady calls his wife as she’s driving home to share some exciting news.
He hears Abby slam on the brakes, get out of the car, then nothing. When he eventually finds her car by a cliff edge, the headlights are on, the driver door is open, her phone is still there . .
. but his wife has disappeared. A year later, Grady is still overcome with grief and desperate to know what happened to Abby.
He can’t sleep, and he can’t write, so he travels to a tiny Scottish island to try to get his life back on track. Then he sees the impossible: a woman who looks exactly like his missing wife.
The Snow Child - Eowyn Ivey
THis has been on my TBR pile for a while and I took the advantage of the recent snow to immerse myself in the snowy wilderness and beauty of Alaska. A charming magical read, full of heartbreak and hope. Ivey's writing is beautifully atmospheric and takes its inspiration from a Russian fairy tale. If you haven't read it, I urge you to give it a try - not sure why I waited so long really!
Claire
Alaska, the 1920s.
Jack and Mabel have staked everything on a fresh start in a remote homestead, but the wilderness is a stark place, and Mabel is haunted by the baby she lost many years before. When a little girl appears mysteriously on their land, each is filled with wonder, but also foreboding: is she what she seems, and can they find room in their hearts for her?
Holmes and Moriarty - Gareth Rubin
I'll admit straight out that I am a fan of Sherlock Holmes stories, but not always of authors continuing stories of another writer's creation. However, this was a book equal to that of ACD - a brilliant and well worked story, with alternating narratives from Watson and Moran (Moriarty's sidekick). With an epic backdrop, this thriller mystery is a fabulous read. Quite the three pipe problem.
Alan
Two adversaries. One deadly alliance. Together, can they unlock the truth? Sherlock Holmes and his faithful friend, Dr John Watson, have been hired by actor George Reynolds to help him solve a puzzle. George wants them to find out why the audience who comes to see him perform every night are the same people, only wearing disguises.
Is something sinister going on and, if so, what? Meanwhile, Holmes’ archenemy, Professor James Moriarty is having problems of his own. Implicated in the murder of a gang leader, Moriarty and his second, Moran, must go on the run from the police in order to find out who is behind the set-up. But their investigation puts them in the way of Holmes and Watson and it’s not long before all four realise that they are being targeted by the same person.
With lives on the line, not just their own, they must form an uneasy alliance in order to unmask the true villain. With clues leading them to a hotel in Switzerland and a conspiracy far greater than any of them expected, who can be trusted – and will anyone of them survive?
We Solve Murders - Richard Osman
This is my first experience of Mr Osman's writing, as Alan has enjoyed the Thursday Murder Club books. I have to say I wasn't disappointed in this new series! A fab father and daughter in law team, great suspense, adventure, thrills and spills, all wrapped up in Richard Osman's warmth and wit. If cosy crime is your thing, why not give it a try?
Steve Wheeler is enjoying retired life.
He does the odd bit of investigation work, but he prefers his familiar habits and routines: the pub quiz, his favourite bench, his cat waiting for him when he comes home. His days of adventure are over: adrenaline is daughter-in-law Amy’s business now. Amy Wheeler thinks adrenaline is good for the soul.
As a private security officer, she doesn’t stay still long enough for habits or routines. She’s currently on a remote island keeping world-famous author Rosie D’Antonio alive. Which was meant to be an easy job .
. . Then a dead body, a bag of money and a killer with their sights on Amy have her sending an SOS to the only person she trusts.
A breakneck race around the world begins, but can Amy and Steve stay one step ahead of a deadly enemy?
Frank and Red - Matt Coyne
This is an absolute hug of a book! Such a moving story, with wonderfully observed characters that you can't help but love. It made me laugh and cry. Warm hearted, uplifting and full of hope - what's not to like?
Claire
Sometimes, the friend you need is the one you never saw coming. Frank and Red are a mess.
Frank is a grumpy old curmudgeon. A recluse whose only company is the 'ghost' of his dead wife, Marcie. He is estranged from his friends, his son, and the ever-changing world beyond his front gate.
And then Red moves in next door. Red is six. A boy struggling to adjust to the separation of his mum and dad, a new school, and the demonic school bully.
Red is curious, smart, he never stops talking, and he's got a trampoline. From the moment Red's blonde mop appears over the top of the fence that divides their two gardens, the unlikeliest of friendships is born. .
. . And it is a friendship that will change both of their lives forever.
Once a Monster - Robert Dinsdale
The myth of the Minotaur becomes a saga over many centuries as a dark, mysterious past mingles with innocent hope for the future. A story of redemption against all the odds - this vividly drawn novel is engrossing.
Alan
London, 1861: Ten-year-old Nell belongs to a crew of mudlarks who work a stretch of the Thames along the Ratcliffe Highway. An orphan since her mother died, leaving Nell with only broken dreams and a pair of satin slippers, she spends her days searching for treasure in the mud in order to appease her master, Benjamin Murdstone.
But one day, Nell discovers a strange body on the shore. Nearly seven feet tall, the creature has matted hair covering his legs, and on his head is the suggestion of horns. Nell's fellow mudlarks urge her to steal what she can, but as she ventures closer the figure draws breath – and Nell is forced to make a decision that will change her life for ever .
Maude Horton's Glorious Revenge - Lizzie Pook
Thriller, adventure and mystery books all in one. This is a great tale that stretches from London to the Arctic and back again. An exciting and daring adventure turns dark with the treachery of those at the highest levels.
A riveting read!
Alan and Claire
London, 1850. Constance Horton has disappeared and her sister Maude is determined to find out what’s happened. She discovers that Constance has disguised herself as a boy and boarded a ship bound for the Arctic, but when the ship returns without her the truth about her fate is buried by sinister forces.
To find answers – and deliver justice for her sister – Maude must step into London’s dark underbelly, and into the path of dangerous, powerful men. The kind of men who seek their fortune in the city’s horrors, from the hangings at Newgate to the ghoulish waxworks of Madame Tussaud’s. It is a perilous task.
But Maude has dangerous skills of her own . . .
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