This week's new releases offer something for every reader's bedside table. They include a tale of obsession and belonging, the race to save our cultural heritage, and psychotherapist Philippa Perry's first foray into fiction.
1. The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout - 9/10
This is Elizabeth Strout at her best; she brings her characters to life in a way no other author can, and The Things We Never Say is no exception. Her latest novel centres on Artie Dam, a 57-year-old history teacher striving to stimulate the minds of Massachusetts high schoolers. While Artie has a seemingly perfect marriage, he confronts his feelings of loneliness and wrestles with monumental secrets that could shatter his family. Strout has an unnerving talent of giving readers a window directly into the psyche of her protagonists, who are just so human and ordinary. The Things We Never Say is beautiful, bittersweet and relatable, and is bound to stay with readers long after they finish.
The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout is published in hardback by Viking, priced £18.99 (ebook £9.99). Review by Storm Newton.
More Bookclub Reads
- A Deadly Episode, How To Age and more
- Yesteryear, London Falling and more
2. Shrink Solves Murder by Philippa Perry - 8/10
Psychotherapist Philippa Perry's debut novel puts the spotlight on shrink Pat Phillips and one of her clients, Henry Clayton, who didn't turn up for his appointment as he was found dead on a beach. Pat's shock turns to anger when the police tell her it was suicide, especially as the body was found close to notorious Beachy Head, East Sussex. Pat turns from psychotherapist to detective, determined to prove it was murder. With the help of her intrepid friend Pritchard Knowles, they unearth clues the police have missed, much to the annoyance of Detective Sergeant Amanda Stevens, who continues to insist it was suicide. Pat has another battle on her hands, objecting to plans for a spa and golf complex next to her cottage, but the woman behind the scheme suddenly offers to help find Henry's killer, unearthing some clues. Shrink Solves Murder is an easy-to-read murder mystery from an author whose books have been translated into more than 40 languages – and just happens to be a real psychotherapist.
Shrink Solves Murder by Philippa Perry is published in hardback by Hutchinson Heinemann, priced £18.99 (ebook £8.99). Review by Alan Jones.
More Book Reviews
- Porcupines, The Age Code and more
- Permanence, To The Moon And Back and more
3. Hunger And Thirst by Claire Fuller - 6/10
Sticky with dread, this haunting, disturbing ghost story from Claire Fuller is a tough read at times. Having been in and out of children's homes, Ursula lands a job at an art school delivering the post. Here the 16-year-old meets Sue, an inventive, budding horror movie director who can't keep a secret, and Sue's aggressive, mostly drunk boyfriend Vincent, who's found an abandoned house they turn into a squat. Decades later, now a celebrated sculptor, Ursula watches a documentary about what happened to the three of them there. Incredibly wrought, Ursula's fear and desperation to escape the night life in the squat imploded, is so thick it's almost chewable. But Fuller's cast of sad and troubled characters are tricky to root for, although the twist is a nasty wrench at the end. Although tremendously atmospheric and visually powerful, you do feel the need to wash Hunger And Thirst off you somehow once you've finished it.
Hunger And Thirst by Claire Fuller is published in hardback by Fig Tree, priced £18.99 (ebook £8.99). Review by Ella Walker.
4. How To Kill A Language by Sophia Smith Galer - 8/10 (Non-fiction)
Languages are more than just a method of communication, they are entire world views – so what is lost when one passes into extinction? Today languages are dying at an unprecedented rate, smothered by globalisation, migration and political choices. Sophia Smith Galer's excellent new book is about all these things. It is about Omani camel herders and the Jewish diaspora and the rights of indigenous Americans. It is about war and identity. Above all it is about her grandmother, and the Emilian dialect she carried from Italy to London. Smith Galer combines the roles of linguist, journalist and memoirist superbly: sandwiched between moving accounts of her grandmother's two native tongues, eight other endangered languages are explored. Linguistic detail sits comfortably alongside sympathetic interviews with the people keeping each tongue alive: languages are the community of their speakers, and Smith Galer appreciates one cannot be considered without the other. This heartfelt book informs, moves and inspires.
How To Kill A Language by Sophia Smith Galer is published in hardback by William Collins, priced £22 (ebook £12.99). Review by Joshua Pugh Ginn.
Find Your Next Favourite Book
Whether you prefer the weight of a hardback or the convenience of digital libraries, there are so many places to find your next favourite read (or listen).
Physical Books
Waterstones keeps track of the bestselling books, and you can find the most popular new releases at Amazon, too. Collectors, and those after first editions, should take a peek at AbeBooks - you might discover a rare gem!
eBooks
For those who want a library in their back pocket, it's well worth picking up an Amazon Kindle, or a Kobo eReader. For cheap ebook deals straight to your inbox, have a browse of BookBub. They're always sharing the latest deals, and some titles are even free.
Audiobooks
Amazon-run Audible is offering a free 30-day trial of its standard tier which also includes unlimited access to podcasts. Or the 30-day trial at BookBeat provides a block of 20 hours to use on anything in their library of more than a million books.
Free Books
Don't forget about your local library! Many offer more services than just books, with apps such as Libby and BorrowBox providing access to audiobooks, eBooks and magazines.
5. Once Upon A Journey by Nick Butterworth - 9/10 (Kids' Corner)
The quintessentially British children's picture book series from award-winning author and illustrator Nick Butterworth returns. Khaki-clad park keeper Percy invites us back into his magical world – this time after transforming an old car into a makeshift sailing machine, ready to whisk his animal friends away on a charming holiday adventure. But when Percy forgets to put the brake on and the car rolls into a pond while they're setting up camp, their trip takes an unexpected turn. What will they do? Quaint, gentle and consistently engaging, Once Upon A Journey is a delightful addition to the beloved Percy collection, complete with a fold-out page that brings Butterworth's detailed illustrations vividly to life.
Once Upon A Journey by Nick Butterworth is published in hardback by HarperCollins Children's Books, priced £12.99 (ebook £5.99). Review by Holly Cowell.
Prices correct at time of publication.
