The Last Murder at the End of the World, Stuart Turton – Book Review

Stuart Turton seem to have a knack for creating original murder mysteries which traverse genres. His stand-out debut The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle used a time-travel mechanic and executed it brilliantly. His follow-up delved into historical fiction, and this new release offers us a murder mystery in the world of science-fiction and survival, set against a unique dystopian landscape.

Funny Story, Emily Henry – Book Review

Emily Henry never fails to deliver when I want to feel better about the world. Her humorous writing, sarcastic banter and engaging characters always hit the spot.

This book isn’t my favourite of hers, but it definitely provides the right mixture of warm, syrupy goodness. It’s about Daphne, who finds herself in her early thirties, unceremoniously dumped by her fiancé Peter who runs off with his childhood friend Petra. In a strange town with nowhere to live, Daphne ends up moving in with her ex-fiancé’s new girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend – got that? He’s called Miles, and to save some face, the two thrown-together flatmates decide to tell their respective ex-partners that they’re happily dating.

I liked the premise, but this book isn’t really about fake-dating. The two develop real feelings for each other quite quickly, and overall they’re actually really respectful of each other’s boundaries and problems. There’s a lot of talk of weddings, but I was disappointed that a wedding never really materialised – I would have loved an Emily Henry wedding, with the fake-date trope on top!

But, ultimately, this book does raise itself above dating tropes. It’s actually quite an emotive story of a woman at a crossroads in her life. Getting dumped after her fiancé’s bachelor party isn’t a great start, but throughout the story she discovers a new place, friendships, and love in equal measure. The Lake Michigan location is brought to life beautifully, with the characters kayaking on the lake, watching the sunsets, visiting farm shops and drinking at bars in barns.

For me, it did feel at times that things fell a little too perfectly – but that’s romance. This was ultimately a heartwarming, uplifting story which is guaranteed to melt hearts.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. 4/5.

Happiness Falls, Angie Kim – Book Review

Angie Kim’s eagerly anticipated sophomore novel delivers more of what she’s become known for. It’s a multi-layered, well-researched, character-driven tale wrapped around a missing person mystery.

Adam Parson is missing. His family don’t call the police straight away; through a series of miscommunications and assumptions, the alarm isn’t raised. An adult man can’t just go to the park and disappear, can he?

“That’s what makes true missing-person cases the ultimate mystery, the broadest and deepest: when you hear someone’s vanished, you not only don’t know the who/how/why-dunit, but you also don’t even know what in hell it could be.”

Murder Road, Simone St. James – Book Review

It’s 1995 and April and Eddie are on their honeymoon, driving to an idyllic lakeside hotel in Michigan. But, they’re not going to make it to their destination. Instead, they take wrong turn and end up picking up a hitchhiker on the deserted Atticus Line.

What they don’t realise is that the woman they’ve picked up is bleeding out from a stab wound and, despite doing what they can and racing to the local hospital, she will die. And the newlywed couple will become embroiled in a decades-long small-town murder mystery as the prime suspects in the case.

The Fury, Alex Michaelides – Book Review

Alex Michaelides’ third novel is perhaps his cleverest yet. A Greek tragedy imbued with drama plays out on an idyllic Greek island. The narrator speaks directly to the reader, drawing you into his compelling narrative – but can he be trusted? An intriguing blend of a dramatic Greek tragedy and a classic Agatha Christie-style locked room mystery.

The Collected Regrets of Clover, Mikki Bramer – Book Review

Mikki Bramer’s sentimental debut is a poignant ode to living life to the full.

It’s about Clover Brooks, a death doula living in New York city. She spends her time providing comfort, companionship and support to people in their final days, but she doesn’t really have her own support network. The bustling New York city full of life works perfectly as the backdrop for this quiet story of a life dictated by death.

Notes On A Murder, B. P. Walter – Book Review

The title and description of this book don’t really give much away about the premise. They make it sound a little like a locked-room thriller, but in fact it’s much more of a slow burn psychological story.

It’s told through two timelines twenty years apart, from the perspective of Oliver. In the first timeline, he’s on holiday with his parents when he meets Alistair and starts an intense summer fling, before the two are drawn into something deeper by a charismatic stranger who invites them to his isolated island villa for dinner with a twist.

Leave The World Behind, Ruman Ali – Book Review

Ruman Ali’s unique disaster novel has become a bit of a sensation, with a recent Netflix adaptation starring Denzel Washington. It’s garnered plenty of praise from literary critics, but also received a fair amount of criticism from reviewers for its abstract, overwritten prose.

I’m sitting somewhere in the middle on this one. On starting this book, I did need some time to adjust to the writing style. Particularly in the first few chapters there’s some verbose, graphic descriptions – from the characters’ genitals to grocery lists – which really didn’t feel necessary and added very little to the story. But I pressed on, I adjusted and, ultimately, I enjoyed this surreal tale.

The Hacienda, Isabel Canas – Book Review

This 2022 debut novel has already garnered a lot of praise, with comparisons to Mexican Gothic and Rebecca. And, I have to agree, if you liked those books, you will probably love The Hacienda.

Set in 1800s Mexico, the book follows Beatriz as she enters a new marriage in a bid to save her family from poverty and humiliation after her father was executed by the government. She wants a home to call her own, and her new husband, Rudolfo, offers her that in the form of Hacienda San Isidro.

The Future, Naomi Alderman – Book Review

Like the author’s successful 2016 dystopian thriller The Power, The Future is an ambitious novel, which aims to shine a new light on real-world issues. It weaves together drama and political intrigue through a dystopian lens. This time, it’s set in the near future and introduces the reader to three tech billionaires who, with the Covid-19 pandemic behind them, are making sure that they’re more prepared for the world’s next big catastrophe.