Fans of the TV series and book Slow Horses will enjoy Mick Herron’s latest offering…
Fiction
1. The Secret Hours by Mick Herron is published in hardback by Baskerville
THE SECRET HOURS by Mick Herron is out! 🕵️🎉
'I doubt I'll read a more enjoyable novel all year' Paula Hawkins
‘Never has a work of popular fiction delighted me more’ The Spectator
‘One of his best books yet’ Daily Telegraph
Grab a copy: https://t.co/2GFKut0m1h pic.twitter.com/ODyo3Af8js— David Higham Books (@DHAbooks) September 14, 2023
A break-in followed by an adrenaline-fuelled chase through Devon woods propels this tightly and satisfyingly plotted story into action. It then focuses on Monochrome – an inquiry into the secret service which is going nowhere. Suddenly, a file appears and a witness comes in to testify about the goings-on in Berlin just after the fall of the wall. Avoiding plot spoilers, things get even more intricate. Safe to say Herron’s trademark humour is woven in throughout, and it’s clear who some of the digs are aimed at. Big issues come under the spotlight: who owns your data, identity, loyalty, truth and realpolitik, but all the characters feel human and individual. Though it’s described as a standalone and can easily be read as such, lovers of the Slough House series will pick up on some familiar characters being illuminated in new ways.
9/10
(Review by Bridie Pritchard)
2. The Wake-Up Call by Beth O’Leary is published in hardback by Quercus
Only two weeks to go until THE WAKE-UP CALL publishes!
The glowing reviews are coming in and we know you're going to love it 🤩
Don't forget to pre-order a copy so it lands on your doorstop on pub day: https://t.co/xHgtunpYIK pic.twitter.com/GjzW6hi6gc— Quercus Books (@QuercusBooks) September 12, 2023
Beth O’Leary, the queen of complicated relationships, is back. The backdrop of this two-handed tale is a formerly popular hotel, failing in the wake of lockdown. Artistic Izzy, grasping at straws to save the hotel and her job, sets herself the mission to return a lost wedding ring and in the process receives a large reward. Stoic Lucas is more methodical, but finds himself in competition with Izzy to return the remaining rings in the lost property box, hoping that another monetary reward will save the hotel from closing. Izzy and Lucas are loyal to the hotel yet somehow rub each other the wrong way. O’Leary keeps the enemies-turned-lovers story fresh by exploring events from both sides, and the short chapters keep the story moving like a rom-com film.
9/10
(Review by Rachel Howdle)
3. Edge Of Here: Stories From Near To Now by Kelechi Okafor is published in hardback by Trapeze
The short story ‘Councilwoman’ is dedicated to the memory of Jill Dando and all the other people who had their lives snatched away for attempting to get to the truth. 🩷 pic.twitter.com/ptxCS3vMlL
Advertisement— Kelechi (@kelechnekoff) September 14, 2023
The clues are found in your imagination when it comes to Kelechi Okafor’s debut short story collection. Merging the worlds of Yoruba cosmology and science-fiction, Okafor poses a series of questions to readers about the way we choose to live our lives. Using eight stories – all with thoughtfully written non-prescriptive endings – the book flips contemporary black womanhood on its head through ancient and ultramodern tales that explore the themes of love, mental health, race, grief, and spirituality. Okafor has fun foreseeing the innovation of technology and allows herself to be surprised by the boldness of her imagination, and it shows. This is the perfect book for those who aren’t afraid to be challenged by fiction.
8/10
(Review by Yolanthe Fawehinmi)
Non-fiction
4. The Bone Chests by Cat Jarman is published in hardback by William Collins
Here it is, my next book:
THE BONE CHESTS - out 14/9/23 with @williamcollins!
The extraordinary story of the six mortuary chests in Winchester cathedral.
Perched high up on the stone choir in the heart of the cathedral, the chests contain 1400 years of remarkable history: pic.twitter.com/zOzWqOMVpW— Dr Cat Jarman FSA💀 (@CatJarman) June 23, 2023
The Bone Chests provides an engaging, readable history of England’s pre-Conquest monarchs, from famous figures such as Alfred the Great and Aethelred the Unready, to long-forgotten kings Cynegils and Centwine, linked through the story of the chests reputed to contain some of their bones in Winchester Cathedral. It is a period that previous centuries have looked to for inspiration but has more recently fallen out of public consciousness, and for that alone the book is worth reading. But unlike Cat Jarman’s previous outing – the excellent River Kings – it lacks a clear, overall argument, with the theme of how living rulers used the mortal remains of their predecessors for political purposes fading in and out of focus and leaving the book as, mainly, a straightforward account of ancient kings and queens.
7/10
(Review by Christopher McKeon)
Children’s book of the week
5. Beneath by Cori Doerrfeld is published in hardback by Scallywag Press
Beneath by @CoriDoerrfeld encourages children to think about what lies beneath the surface in people's hearts and minds. Through empathy, Finn learns to cope with his own emotions as well as support others. This is a lovely story for FS & KS1.@Scallywagpress pic.twitter.com/sh4CbzfzyI
— Kate Heap: Scope for Imagination (@KateHeap1) September 13, 2023
Beneath is the sweet tale of young Finn, who’s in a grumpy mood. His grandfather wants to help him get out of his funk, so he takes him for a walk – encouraging him all the while to think about what’s beneath. This spans everything from the roots under their feet, to fish in the sea, and even what’s inside other people’s heads. The powerful lesson gets children outside of their own head and thinking about what’s around them, while teaching emotional intelligence. There’s a nice message behind it and children will no doubt enjoy the tale – but in the crowded world of picture books, the storyline and illustrations perhaps don’t allow it to stand out from the crowd.
7/10
(Review by Prudence Wade)
Book charts for the week ending September 16th
Hardback (Fiction)
1. The Last Devil To Die by Richard Osman
2. Nineteen Steps by Millie Bobby Brown
3. The Secret Hours by Mick Herron, Mick
4. Holly by Stephen King
5. So Late In The Day by Claire Keegan
6. In Memoriam by Alice Winn
7. The Fraud by Zadie Smith
8. Once Upon A Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber
9. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
10. Before We Say Goodbye by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
(Compiled by Waterstones)
Hardback (Non-fiction)
1. Politics On The Edge by Rory Stewart
2. The Diary of A CEO by Steven Bartlett
3. 5 Ingredients Mediterranean by Jamie Oliver
4. Scattershot by Bernie Taupin
5. The Abuse Of Power by Theresa May
6. Oh Miriam! by Miriam Margolyes
7. Fearless by Trinny Woodall
8. Freddie Mercury: A World Of His Own
9. Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson
10. Abroad In Japan by Chris Broad
(Compiled by Waterstones)
Audiobooks (Fiction & non-fiction)
1. The Last Devil To Die by Richard Osman
2. Politics On The Edge by Rory Stewart
3. Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson
4. The Diary Of A CEO by Steven Bartlett
5. None Of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
6. The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith
7. Oh Miriam! by Miriam Margolyes
8. Atomic Habits by James Clear
9. Holly by Stephen King
10. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
(Compiled by Audible)
