The Stranger on the Stairs is a dark and disturbing tale of how injustice and corruption can affect so many lives.

The prologue describes a violent and horrific scene from the past, where a young mother is murdered while her seven year old daughter is in the vicinity. The story proper starts twenty years later when a woman bumps into an attractive man in a bookshop. The budding relationship is cut short when police visit her home to inform her that he is a murderer and recently released prisoner, and, of course, there are safeguarding issues involved.

Other central characters include a criminal solicitor focusing on a pro bono case and a traumatised young woman who questions some of the decisions she made when she was a child. All three are connected to the released prisoner in some way.

The story is set in an affluent part of London, mostly, and the family life of the characters is laid out, demonstrating the supportive and caring aspects as well as the judgemental sides. At times this is a tad tedious until the real purpose of the book kicks in: a legal thriller. It is fascinating to learn how British justice works, the intricate legal documents and the way forensic evidence is collected and used.  

An emotive read that is scarily realistic about justice, primarily. But it also features a thread about the bonds between mothers and their children that lasts even when they are not around. Tense and touching, a great read. Don't forget to read the Author's Note at the end to put the book into its full context.

Published by Random House Cornerstone, Century on 23 April 2026.
​Advance review copy supplied by the publisher.

Palm houses were Victorian concepts where people could observe another kind of life within a safe space. This is how I see  this book. 

The book opens where the narrator goes  to a London pub with her old friend and colleague, Putnam, who has just lost his job and, as expected, is not happy about it. There are plenty of gripes and office gossip where the narrator, Laura, mostly listens and observes.  Their friendship story is interspersed with sections of Laura's past, with an unsavoury teenaged exploitative episode with a famous person, her best friend from school, and the strained relationship with her mother.

This is a character study based on human connections. Friendships, brief romantic associations, work colleagues, flat mates, neighbours, family - and in each case Laura's main role is that of a passive observer. Now in her thirties, there is still that sense of observing life rather than any decisive living. But as far as her friend Putnam is concerned, she is the good listener and supportive friend he needs to see him through his dark times. Although at the end of the book they still go to the pub to gripe and gossip. Laura is the stability that he needs.

On a personal note, I like how Laura was brought up in Merseyside, where I am from, with mentions of living in the Wirral (where I was born) and visits to Liverpool and Warrington. The descriptions of these places is quite nostalgic for me. Beautifully done, too.

This short tale is written in an engaging style, which makes reading it an absorbing pleasure despite having no action to speak of. A book that stays with the reader and reinforces the comfort of friendship, no matter how quiet and mundane it appears to be.

Published by Pan Macmillan, Picador on 2 April 2026.
​Advance review copy supplied by the publisher.

A complex mystery opens up when a young woman, who is about to become engaged, goes missing. Her last sightings are thought to be on a bridge in the rural village of Arnakeldy, in an area of west Ireland. It must be pointed out that this is a fictional place, sadly.

This is the third book in the Cal Hooper trilogy which features a loveable hero in Hooper, who moved to the village three and half years ago after retiring from his job as an American police officer. He looks for a peaceful retirement where he spends his time renovating his cottage, a bit of woodwork, growing a few vegetables on his land and the occasional pint in the local pub. But the villagers find a way in roping him in to missing persons cases and other disagreements. But he finds that things are not straight forward, as was the case in the previous two books: The Searcher and The Hunter.

This is an intimate study of life in a small community, full of loyalty as well as gossip and resentment. The characters are quirky and likable -  except for the ones who aren't. There are also five dogs who serve as companions and sheepdogs as well as showing friendship, trust and bonding, and are actually the real main stars in the story. Love them. The village is beautiful and also foreboding with the dark ominous mountains and treacherous fog. I loved reading the descriptions of the landscape.

This is a hefty book, with just under five hundred and thirty pages, but it is always a compelling read. There are festering generational issues between families and signs of corruption in the wealthy landowners. The hub of all the gossip and news are the pub and the general shop, just like a soap opera. Which, in a way is exactly what this is, but better and deeper. The writing is superb and immersive, the story, engrossing. I will really miss Cal Hooper. He is the kind of man who makes a great friend and would call you over to his home for a fry-up, and encourage you to bring your dog as well. Excellent book.

Published by Penguin General UK, Fig Tree, Hamish Hamilton, Penguin Life, Viking on 2 April 2026.
​Advance review copy supplied by the publisher.

It is a hundred years since this unprecedented workers' strike took place. Nothing like this happened before or since and profoundly changed Britain and industrial relations, making Trade Unions become more political rather than militant activists and set the scene for the Labour party power. It divided society in social class terms between the workers and the employers and it was a defining moment in British social history.

This fascinating book starts with a list of the main characters, mostly politicians and rich employers as well as members of the aristocracy, including the current monarch, King George V. This is followed by a timeline of the significant events and serves as a useful reference guide. The book relays the background to the General Strike, how the issues with the miners influenced the whole country and how the strike grew exponentially. 

It makes a great read. It is a well sourced book, with plenty of quotes from documents, newspapers and private journals and shows how even the newly formed BBC acted as a kind of government propaganda device. It is never a dry account either, being informative as well as somewhat entertaining at times, the book kept my attention throughout. Highlights include how Oxford University students helped to unload the food from the ships in the docks, politicians daughters working in canteens and becoming drivers, and many wealthy people learn to drive trains and work in the railways.

​In a similar vein to the attitudes and effects of the World Wars, the General Strike was a great leveller, where middle class people had a taste of working class life. Realising that it would be a temporary thing, many of them saw it as a bit of an adventure to contribute to manual and menial work. Unlike the First World War though, it only lasted for nine days.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book; essential for anyone interested in British history. Well written and could only be improved if more views from the strikers themselves or their families were included, although it's understandable why they are not. Highly recommended.

Published by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc on 26 March 2026.
​Advance review copy supplied by the publisher.

This is quite the revenge book. Two women seek revenge for their perceived slights and set about creating the ultimate life-changing and humiliating acts possible. But before they figure it all out, there are some misconstrued theories and loss of trust.

The story opens with a party consisting of petty competitive friends who all live in an affluent part of north London. When tragedy strikes it seems as if the wife didn't know her husband at all. The other central character is a successful playwright whose play is shown on television to great acclaim. However, she soon receives criticism as does her placid geography teacher husband. She also has a bitter, selfish and awkward mother to deal with.

It was when I read about the playwright's mother that I realised that this book is a dark satire. The list of her nasty traits is truly over the top and she is an uncomfortable caricature, although not entirely implausible or unrecognisable. There is no one likeable in this story. Everyone is arrogant, selfish, privileged and entitled.

This is a fun read, although I didn't think it was about generationational conflict as the marketing comments suggested - simply two similar women of different ages. What they do have in common is that they are both self-absorbed and  narcissistic. There are a few stretches of the imagination in a couple of the events, but that's okay because it was a sparky read, intense and carefully detailed.

A story about resentment, dysfunctional families and psychological control. Just like other John Lanchester books, it is very good.

Published by Faber & Faber on 12 March 2026.
Advance review copy supplied by the publisher.

For those of us who love traditional British biscuits, this book is a must-have for your cookery bookshelf. All the popular and best of British biscuits are there: chocolate biscuits, digestives, flapjacks, Viennese whirls, macaroons, ginger snaps, Florientines, tiffin...the yummy list goes on.

The book is essentially a recipe book, but it includes a brief history of most of the biscuits, and I love the history of food. The recipes are clearly laid out and easy to follow, with suggestions for making them vegetarian or gluten free if possible. Also includes a few fancy biscuits like sea salt praline biscotti and sour cherry and pistachio cookies as well as savoury biscuits and crackers. All of the ingredients are readily available in typical supermarkets.

​Like Collister's previous National Trust book, Book of Pies, the design is similar so they would look great on the shelf next to each other. With a bright pastel cover and lovely illustrations by Louise Morgan, this is a rustic style of a book that would look good in a farmhouse style of kitchen. The pages are colourfully bordered and often feature a pattern that is reminiscent of gingham tablecloths or picnic rugs. All very nostalgic.

Nothing beats making your own biscuits with fresh produce. And remember - every cup of tea needs a biscuit.

Published by Collins Reference in collaboration with National Trust Books on 12 March 2026.
​Advance review copy supplied by the publisher.

What a dream it would be to find that you have inherited a huge country home in the lovely area just outside Bath in Somerset. And an even bigger surprise if you hadn't spoken to the person for sixteen years. But of course, there's always a catch.

This is what happens in this story. A young woman, Imogen, who lives in nearby Bristol with her partner, finds herself the new owner of a magnificent building, complete with its own private wood. It was the former home of a successful artist who died following a fire, which destroyed her latest collection. Imogen stayed there when she was a child with her now dead mother, who both needed protection from their abusive father and husband. He is in prison for her murder.

There are a quite a few suspicious goings on including smashed security gates, shadowy intruders and odd objects that re-appear. There are secrets to be discovered and suggestions of murder. Plus the old gorgeous first love living round the corner as well as some eccentric older folk.

Written in the first person from the woman who inherits the house, and the artist over the span of fifty years, plus a few chapters from Imogen's sister, written in the third person - who inherited nothing,  this tale covers many perspectives. It is an easy read despite the odd red herring and the rather tenuous connections to murders that may have happened. What starts as an atmospheric psychological thriller turns into a whodunnit with some odd characters and a couple of likeable ones, such as Imogen and the lovely labrador, called Solly, that she inherited with the house. 

There are some issues of violence and abusive relationships although these are not graphic. The story also covers themes of friendship, envy, trust, memory and mystery. Worth a read.

Published by Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House on 12 March 2026.
Advance review copy supplied by the publisher.

A breezy and informative look at the strange ways people died in the Early Medieval Period, or the Dark Ages.

This book starts by giving an historical background to the era, not just in Britain but all over the world, even for countries such as China who did not have a 'Dark Ages' at this point. It serves as a great context to see where the world was in terms of beliefs and levels of scientific developments. The strange deaths begin after this introduction.

The deaths are discussed thematically as opposed to chronologically, which results in many pointers to other chapters and a bit of repetition. It could be a little confusing to those not familiar with English history as the narrative loses its flow. However, the aim of the book is to focus on the strange deaths of the time. These are grouped topically under eight chapters and include typical burials, deaths related to food, executions and diseases, for example. Besides deaths from  warfare, childbirth and the expected sources, some of the more bizarre deaths, such as ancient zombies and methods of torture, the 'strange ways' are rather limited.

The writing style is youthful with references to modern culture and television programmes, with a couple of trigger warnings - which is a bit odd considering the title of the book especially as there is not much gruesomeness. One exception is a torture method devised by the Vikings, the 'Blood Eagle', where the authors commentary says 'What kind of mindset comes up with the Blood Eagle? Does that person need a hug?' 

The book would make a good introduction to the Dark Ages and history in general. There are no new concepts or theories to dwell over but it is a fun and witty account of the period suitable for young people new to the subject.

Published by Pen & Sword History on 28 February 2026.
​Advance review copy supplied by the publisher.

The appeal of a book like this is that it is something I can really identify with. Like many people I suppose, I have often wondered what I would do if I stumbled across a bag full of money. Would I hand it in to the police, keep it for myself, share it among friends and family, give it to charity, ignore it or hide it away somewhere?

This is the dilemma of this story. Six friends stay at a cottage at New Year's eve in the Yorkshire Dales. They go for a hike when a storm comes and they take shelter in a cave, where they find a backpack stuffed full of used bank notes. There is more than a million pounds there. At first they decide that they should hand it to the police but as time goes on, five of the six friends think that they should keep it.

​The story immediately made me think of the book by Scott Smith, A Simple Plan, which is set in the United States, and the author acknowledges this in the notes. However, besides the initial premise, the story takes a completely different route as things are not the same in Britain and we don't to pay for medical treatment. We do have other debts though.

This really is a thriller. A fast paced read where each character has something to hide despite their best attempts to hide it. And all the way though I'm asking myself 'what would I do in this situation?' There is also deceit between the friends and each one looks like the guilty one at some point. There is tension that slowly builds, tight writing, with themes of friendship, trust, obsession, ambition, isolation, honesty and morality. The perfect psychological thriller.

Published by  Bonnier Books, Zaffre on 26 February 2026.
​Advance review copy supplied by the publisher.

A book that demonstrates  the many forms of passion: spiritual, sensual and earthly human.

​The story opens in Rome in the 1950s where a young man completes his training as a Roman Catholic priest. After serving in the Second World War he feels deep guilt about the things he has done and seeks atonement, the Church the place to do it. His first placement as a priest is in a village called Monks Kirby in north-east Warwickshire, England. Here he meets a vibrant and progressive female theology teacher and they begin a long friendship that eventually turns to romantic love.

The next chapters focus on another young man who discovers that his grandmother has a scandalous past. Then the story follows her, Margaret, starting with a failed relationship with a married man that left her heartbroken. She then visits Rome to train in theology. She takes in the sightseeing and the arts of the city, particularly the religious sculptures, but also the masculine perfection in the statue of  Michelangelo's 'David'. It is no coincidence that the priest in the tale is also called David and is also a beautiful, perfect man.

The story is told in two timelines, from the 1950s onwards detailing their relationship, and in modern day from 2018 where Margaret is elderly and suffering from dementia. The chapters are clearly dated but the points of view flip between the characters and locations often, which leads to a little confusion. However, the most confusing aspect is the lack of inverted commas for speech, the author choosing one dash at the beginning of the speech. I'm not sure where the talking ends and someone else's thoughts have taken over.

This is a moving story about sacrifice, faith, compromise, prejudice, modernity and guilt. There are passages of poetic exposition and gritty sexuality. The characters are complex, showing great strength while having human vulnerabilities. They are likable and admirable, people I'd like to know. Captivating with plenty to think about. Recommended. 

Published by Pan Macmillan, Picador on 19 February 2026.
​Advance review copy supplied by the publisher.