In our latest collection of book reviews, you’ll find books to captivate and surprise, diving into themes that range from haunting mysteries to intricate human relationships. There’s drama, and moments of introspection, drawing readers into worlds marked by unexpected turns and complex characters. Whether they’re probing hidden family secrets, exploring the thrill of new beginnings, or delving into gripping, tense scenarios, these novels offer readers the chance to escape into engaging, storytelling that’s perfect for any time of the year.
Long Island, Colm Tóibín
Colm Tóibín returns with Long Island, revisiting the life of Eilis Lacey. Now in her forties, Eilis lives with her husband Tony and their two teenage children. They live on a Long Island cul-de-sac, among Tony’s extended Italian-American family. It’s 1976, and despite decades of life in the U.S., Eilis still feels disconnected from her adopted home. Her carefully composed suburban life is shattered when a stranger knocks on her door with news that Tony has fathered the man’s unborn child, and the stranger declares that he won’t raise the baby – instead, he’ll leave it on Eilis’s doorstep.
Shocked, Eilis takes a stand and insists the child will not enter her home and delivers an ultimatum: if Tony brings the child into their lives, their marriage will be over. To escape the brewing storm, she decides to return to Ireland for her mother’s eightieth birthday, leaving the future of her marriage uncertain.
Eilis’s return to Enniscorthy stirs old emotions and unresolved tensions. During her last visit, she had a brief romance with Jim Farrell. In the years since, Jim has struggled to move on, though he has begun a quiet relationship with Nancy, Eilis’s former best friend and now a widowed business owner. Just as Jim and Nancy are planning their future together, Eilis’s sudden reappearance threatens to unravel their plans and reignite old feelings.
Secrets, secrets, secrets! Nearly every character, every plot twist, is filled with them. The story is full of these secrets, misunderstandings, and the consequences of emotional concealment. Tóibín explores themes of loyalty, identity, and belonging. As characters struggle to navigate complex relationships and hidden truths, each revelation adds weight to Eilis’s decisions and heightens the stakes. The narrative shifts between Eilis, Jim, and Nancy, adding layers of complexity.
The novel maintains the author’s signature exploration of ordinary lives with extraordinary depth. Eilis’s inner conflict – caught between her marriage and her roots – remains compelling, though the focus on other characters makes her feel more like a piece in a larger puzzle. It’s a novel about choices, consequences, and the delicate balance between the past and present.
To Sing of War, Catherine McKinnon
Catherine McKinnon’s To Sing of War is a beautiful exploration of love, loss, and moral ambiguity set against the tumultuous backdrop of World War II. Spanning three continents, the novel weaves together the lives of characters navigating personal dilemmas amid global conflict. It delves into themes of independence, interconnectedness, and the emotional toll of history, asking what it means to make a difference in a world burdened by war and hope.
The story unfolds in December 1944, focusing on three narrative threads. In New Guinea, Lotte Wyld, an Australian nurse, unexpectedly reunites with Virgil Nicholson, a soldier and former love interest, amid the dangers of the jungle campaign. In Los Alamos, physicists Miriam Carver and Fred Johnson
join Robert Oppenheimer’s team in a race to build the atomic bomb, confronting ethical conflicts as they grapple with the consequences of their work. Meanwhile, on the sacred island of Miyajima, Japan, Hiroko Narushima struggles to protect her family while awaiting news of her husband, a soldier on the battlefield. Each character is haunted by secrets, misunderstandings, and personal conflicts, adding depth to their journeys.
Lotte’s storyline captures the precarious nature of wartime relationships, as she and Virgil attempt to bridge their troubled past in the midst of relentless uncertainty. The vivid descriptions of the harsh jungle terrain mirror the tension between the two, as they exchange brief letters that hint at unresolved feelings. Similarly, in Los Alamos, Oppenheimer and his colleagues face their own struggles, balancing the idealism of ending war with the ethical weight of their invention. At the same time, Hiroko’s quiet strength and resilience reflect the emotional burdens carried by civilians during wartime.
What makes To Sing of War exceptional is its ability to portray both the grand scale of historical events and the intimate, personal battles fought by its characters. The novel shifts seamlessly between the public theatre of war and the private lives affected by it. The characters’ yearning for connection and independence reflects the universal tension between belonging and autonomy. As the story progresses, the spectre of death and destruction looms, casting a shadow over their choices.
McKinnon’s ability to blend historical detail with emotional nuance makes To Sing of War a compelling and thought-provoking read. At over 450 pages, it is long. It took a bit of time to get into the book but once there, the intricate character development and powerful exploration of love and war, keep the reader engaged. It’s a deeply moving novel that resonates long after the final page, reminding us of the fragile balance between hope and despair in times of conflict.
Weeping Angels, Riley Chance
Weeping Angels by Riley Chance is a gripping mystery-thriller that intertwines crime-solving with the deeply emotional topic of family violence. The novel follows journalist Grace (“Ace”) Marks, who becomes embroiled in a case involving Lauren Brown, the enigmatic owner of Weeping Angels – an agency dedicated to helping victims of abuse obtain protection orders. Lauren’s ambitious push for justice draws media attention and political heat, but when she suddenly vanishes, Grace’s investigative instincts kick in. Her mission to uncover Lauren’s whereabouts uncovers unsettling truths, making her question how well anyone really knew the woman behind the cause.
The book’s narrative alternates between a suspenseful investigation and a broader commentary on societal failures in addressing family violence. The author’s portrayal of Grace, a journalist with a nose for the uncomfortable truths society tends to ignore, adds both depth and urgency to the story. And, the layers of intrigue surrounding Lauren’s identity –whether “Lauren Brown” is even her real name – make this a fast-paced read that keeps you guessing.
Readers will also appreciate the novel’s nuanced critique of the justice system, which becomes a character in itself as Grace encounters bureaucratic hurdles and law enforcement apathy during her investigation. Lauren’s disappearance isn’t just a plot device but a metaphor for how victims of abuse can become invisible within institutional systems.
Riley Chance’s previous work was shortlisted for the Ngaio Marsh Awards, and Weeping Angels continues that tradition of blending social issues with engaging storytelling.
If you enjoy books that challenge the status quo while offering a thrilling plot, this one is worth adding to your reading list.
Our Holiday, Louise Candlish
A psychological thriller set against the backdrop of coastal England. The story explores the tensions between locals and wealthy second-home owners, delving into class dynamics and simmering personal conflicts. It follows two couples – Charlotte and Perry, and Amy and Linus – who hope to enjoy an idyllic holiday at their Dorset properties, only to find their paradise disrupted by escalating hostility from residents angry at outsiders occupying second homes that they only live in part time.
The book opens dramatically with a cliffside collapse, setting the stage for a slow-burn plot that connects social commentary with a mystery about betrayal and murder. The author skillfully weaves in social issues, such as housing inequality, while maintaining tension through interpersonal conflicts.
Our Holiday is an absorbing read, ideal for those who enjoy stories about fractured friendships and hidden resentments that spiral into dark consequences. It’s an engaging holiday read for fans of psychological thrillers.
The Midnight Feast, Lucy Foley
The Midnight Feast is a captivating mystery set along the Dorset coast, centred on the opening of a luxury wellness retreat called The Manor. The story’s tension builds through multiple perspectives and timelines, including journal entries and key moments before, during, and after a solstice celebration that turns deadly.
Francesca, the retreat’s owner, hosts the lavish event, but when a body is found the following day, secrets from the past unravel. The book plays with layers of deceit and hidden motives among characters like Francesca’s husband Owen and various guests, including Bella, a figure from the Manor’s past. Detective Inspector Walker adds a crime-thriller dimension as he investigates the tragedy.
The book reminded me of Big Little Lies and The White Lotus, combining opulent settings, personal drama, and eerie folklore elements. The novel’s short chapters make it a compelling, fast-paced read.
If you enjoy multi-POV thrillers packed with atmosphere, this one is worth adding to your reading list – perfect for a lazy weekend.
