Whether you’re looking for an absorbing story to escape into, a gripping thriller that keeps you guessing, or a novel that offers a fascinating glimpse into another time and place, this month’s selection has plenty to tempt you. From unsettling mysteries and dark crime to stories of resilience, relationships and unexpected twists, these books each offer something a little different.
So, if you’re searching for your next good read, settle in and take a look at our latest reviews. You might just discover the book you didn’t know you were looking for.
CYGNET RIVER by Sharron Martin
Set in Ireland in 1975, Sharron Martin’s novel is a lovely, engaging read that combines family drama, romance and a fascinating glimpse into a time when a woman’s independence could be taken away simply because of the circumstances of her marriage.
Kitty Devlin appears to have everything she could want: a respected doctor for a husband, two children and a comfortable home in a rural Irish community. That all changes dramatically when her husband disappears with his receptionist, leaving Kitty with a typed note, empty bank accounts and the stigma of being a ‘deserted wife’. Suddenly, she is expected to cope without financial security or the support of the community she once felt part of.
What makes Kitty’s story particularly compelling is the historical setting. Cygnet River highlights just how few rights women had in 1970s Ireland. Divorce was not an option, and a woman abandoned by her husband could find herself trapped in a deeply conservative society where the shame and judgement fell on her rather than the man who had walked away. Kitty’s struggle to rebuild her life, provide for her children and ultimately protect her family gives the story plenty of emotional weight.
The author also captures the power that the Church and social expectations held over everyday life. Kitty’s choices are scrutinised, her relationships are judged and even her attempts to create a new life come with consequences. There is a real sense of how suffocating those restrictions must have been, particularly when there were so few avenues for a woman to assert her independence.
Yet this isn’t a heavy or depressing read. Kitty is an appealing character, and watching her gradually discover her own strength is one of the most satisfying aspects of the story. Alongside the difficult circumstances, there are friendships, relationships, secrets and unexpected twists that keep the story moving.
Cygnet River is ultimately a story about resilience, courage and finding a way forward when life changes in ways you never expected. It is also a reminder of just how much has changed for women in the past 50 years – and how easily we can forget that some of the freedoms we now take for granted were simply not available to women like Kitty.
LIT by Anna Woods
What happens when you can no longer trust your own memories, your own instincts – or even the person closest to you? That is the unsettling question at the heart of LIT, Anna Woods’ compelling debut novel.
Set in Auckland, LIT introduces us to Gin, an architect whose carefully constructed life is beginning to unravel. Her architectural practice, shared with her girlfriend Clary, is struggling financially, while Gin is also dealing with mounting personal debts. But it is the disappearance of Billy, Clary’s former partner and the third member of their practice, that casts the longest shadow. Presumed dead for several years, Billy should be firmly in the past. Until Gin starts seeing glimpses of him.
Is she imagining things? Is stress and guilt getting the better of her? Or could Billy really have returned?
Rather than relying on constant action, the novel draws you into Gin’s increasingly uncertain world, where nothing quite feels as it should. There is a nagging feeling that something is being concealed, and the more Gin tries to make sense of what is happening, the more questions arise.
At its heart, LIT is about control – and the subtle, insidious ways it can operate within relationships. The author explores gaslighting, manipulation and emotional dependence. The story unfolds in a recognisable New Zealand environment, making the increasingly disturbing events feel all the more immediate.
Gin’s vulnerabilities, decisions and perceptions make her difficult to second-guess, which adds another layer of tension as the story progresses.
LIT is a slow-burn thriller, but don’t mistake that for a lack of pace. The author steadily tightens the screws, allowing suspicion and paranoia to build until the tension becomes almost impossible to ignore. There are secrets beneath the surface, relationships that aren’t quite what they appear to be and enough twists to keep you wondering where the story is heading.
BLOOD, RUST AND STEEL by Stuart MacBride
Retirement is supposed to be a time for putting your feet up, taking things a little easier and perhaps discovering a new enthusiasm for gardening. But Roberta Steel has never been one for doing things the conventional way.
After 30 years policing Aberdeen’s criminal underworld, Acting Detective Inspector Steel is finally approaching retirement. Unsurprisingly, her final weeks on the job turn out to be anything but peaceful.
When a body is discovered in a wheelie bin, Steel sees an opportunity to go out with one last big case. Unfortunately, that’s just the beginning as she finds herself dealing with a violent protest, political manoeuvring, drugs, suspicious government officials and an ex-colleague who desperately needs her help.
She is blunt, abrasive, stubborn and certainly not someone who worries too much about following the rules. As retirement looms, there is also a more reflective side to Steel, as she faces the prospect of losing a career that has defined much of her adult life.
Her relationship with the members of her unconventional team adds another layer to the story. There is plenty of banter, plenty of bad behaviour and more than a little Scottish profanity, but there is also genuine loyalty and affection. It gives the novel a warmth that sits unexpectedly well alongside the darker elements.
MacBride also captures Aberdeen beautifully, creating a bleak, gritty backdrop for a story in which nobody seems entirely trustworthy and trouble is never far away. The result is classic Scottish crime fiction with a distinctly irreverent edge.
FOR ALL THE DEAD GIRLS by Sherryl Clark
Some thrillers are frightening because of the crimes at their centre. Others are frightening because they make you realise just how close their world is to our own. For All the Dead Girls falls firmly into the latter category.
Sherryl Clark’s latest novel sees private investigator Lou Alcott taking on what initially appear to be separate cases. A missing woman, a vulnerable mother and child in a dangerous domestic situation and a series of increasingly disturbing murders soon begin to reveal connections that Lou can’t ignore.
At the heart of the story is SYB, a shadowy group operating in the darkest corners of the internet. What begins online soon becomes terrifyingly real, and when Lou finds herself the target of the group’s vicious campaign, the investigation becomes intensely personal.
The Melbourne heatwave provides an atmospheric backdrop to the story. As temperatures rise, so does the tension, and the author creates a palpable sense of unease as Lou is stalked, threatened and forced to constantly look over her shoulder. There is little opportunity to catch her breath, with firebombed safe houses, car chases and increasingly dangerous encounters keeping the pace brisk.
The novel looks at how hatred can spread through online communities, where anonymity can embolden people to say and do things they might never dare to do face-to-face.
Lou is tough, determined and prepared to put herself in danger to help others, but the threats against her feel genuinely frightening. Her determination to keep going, even as the danger escalates, makes her a character you can’t help but become invested in.
There is also a strong sense of urgency running through the novel. Lou and her team aren’t simply trying to solve a mystery – they’re racing against time to work out who is behind SYB and how far the organisation reaches. The more they uncover, the more disturbing the picture becomes.
For All the Dead Girls is gritty, confronting and fast-paced, but it is also a thought-provoking read. Beneath the twists and tension is a chilling examination of the darker side of the internet and the very real consequences of hatred directed towards women.