Summer is still in full swing, offering the perfect excuse to escape into a good book under the shade of a leafy tree or while lounging on a sandy beach. Whether you’re craving a thrilling mystery, a gripping psychological drama, or a captivating journey through history, these five standout reads have you covered.
THE CLOSE UP, PIP DRYSDALE
A tale of ambition, heartbreak, and danger that fans of the author are devouring!
Zoe Ann Weiss once dreamed of becoming a celebrated writer, but life in Los Angeles hasn’t gone according to plan. Three years after her debut thriller flopped, Zoe finds herself stuck in a flower shop job with a looming 30th birthday, relentless pressure from her agent, and an overwhelming case of writer’s block.
Everything changes when Zoe crosses paths with her old flame, Zach Hamilton. Now a Hollywood star and tabloid favourite, Zach is nothing like the struggling bartender she fell for years ago. As their romance rekindles – albeit under the radar – Zoe’s creative spark is reignited, and her long-delayed second novel finally begins to take shape.
But fame comes with a dark side. Photos of Zoe and Zach leak online attracting the attention of a sinister stalker. To Zoe’s horror, this obsessed fan starts recreating violent scenes from her debut novel – a story that ends in tragedy. Who should Zoe trust?
Be prepared for the steady build before an unexpected ending!
NO ONE WILL KNOW, ROSE CARLYLE
Reeling from the sudden tragic death of her fiancé and with no friends or family to help her, Eve Sylvester is left without any means to support herself. When she learns she is pregnant, she desperately needs to find a way to provide for her baby. As luck would have it, she meets a woman who works for a wealthy couple looking for a nanny. They are also willing to let her live on their island with her child.
Julia and Christopher Hygate have the picture-perfect life – loads of money, an estate on a secluded island, and a baby on the way.
When they meet Eve Sylvester, they know she is the exact person they should hire to be their son’s nanny.
Is the job offer too good to be true? Why would the Hygates hire Eve when she has no prior nannying experience? Why must Eve stay out of sight? And what’s with the mysterious yachts coming in and out of the Hygate’s private marina?
A fabulous, twisty and suspenseful novel from #1 internationally bestselling author of The Girl in the Mirror.
THE GLASSMAKER, TRACY CHEVALIER
Starting off in Renaissance Italy in 1486, The Glassmaker follows the journey of Orsola, the daughter of a master glassblower in Murano, the heart of Venetian glassmaking. Her life is intricately tied to her father’s workshop, where she dreams of mastering the craft herself – a path forbidden to women in a time when tradition and patriarchy rule.
When tragedy strikes and her father’s legacy is threatened, Orsola must navigate a labyrinth of societal expectations, artistic ambition, and personal sacrifice. Her determination to break into the male-dominated world of glassmaking challenges not only the norms of her community but also her own beliefs about identity and self-worth.
The author magically plays with time – the idea of skipping stones, time and those in and on Murano aging differently to terra firma is interesting and wonderful. We follow Orsola and her family as they live through creative triumph and heart-breaking loss, from a plague devastating Venice to soldiers stripping its palazzos bare, World Wars to changing consumer patterns – from the domination of Murano and its maestros to the transformation of the city of trade into a city of tourists. In every era, the Rosso women endeavour to keep their work and their bonds alive.
At its heart, The Glassmaker is a story of courage and defiance, exploring the delicate balance between tradition and innovation, love and ambition, and the fragile beauty of human connections. Fans of historical fiction and readers who appreciate stories of strong, determined women will find this novel an inspiring and captivating read.
A DEATH IN CORNWALL, DANIEL SILVA
Daniel Silva offers a masterful blend of art, intrigue, and danger for his readers with the return of Gabriel Allon, the legendary art restorer and former spy.
Now living a quieter life in Venice with his family, Allon has stepped away from the shadows of espionage to focus on art restoration. However, his peaceful retirement is interrupted when an old friend from Cornwall calls on him to investigate the murder of Dr Charlotte Blake, a renowned Oxford professor. Blake had been researching the origins of a looted Picasso painting, a pursuit that put her in the crosshairs of powerful figures desperate to keep its history buried.
Drawn back into the high-stakes world he left behind, Allon assembles a team of operatives to uncover the truth behind the murder and recover the priceless painting. The investigation spirals into a dangerous game of deception and greed, taking readers from the rugged cliffs of Cornwall to Corsica’s sunlit shores, and finally, to an explosive climax near the heart of British power.
Whether you’re a long-time fan of Gabriel Allon or new to Silva’s work, A Death in Cornwall showcases the author’s talent for crafting intelligent and gripping thrillers.
FIRE AND BONES, KATHY REICHS
Forensic anthropologist Tempe Brennan is ready for some desperately needed time off with her long-distance love interest but Tempe’s expertise is urgently required when a fire in Washington DC leaves at least four un-identified dead. The fire site is in Foggy Bottom, a neighbourhood with a colourful history. In addition to the bodies found in the ashes, she finds another victim – a tiny woman – packed into a potato sack that dates back to Prohibition. Tempe teams up with a new ally, tele journalist Ivy Doyle. Delving into the past, the duo learns that back in the 30s and 40s the home was the hangout of a group of bootleggers and racketeers known as the Foggy Bottom Gang. Though interesting, this fact seems irrelevant – until the son of one of the gang members is shot dead at his farm in Virginia.
When another Foggy Bottom Gang-linked property burns to the ground, claiming one more victim, what might have been coincidence starts to look more like targeted attacks. As she and Ivy dig deeper, Tempe finds her every move since coming to Washington has been anticipated in advance. And every path forward brings with it a lethal threat.
