Quite Ugly One Evening - Chris Brookmyre

Description

'The plot is breathtaking, the setting beautiful and the characters are written with genuine depth. And smack bang in the middle of this Succession-meets-The Traitors novel is Brookmyre's most iconic character: the monumental Jack Parlabane. Irrepressible, acerbic and positively rubbing this hands with glee. Absolutely brilliant' M. W. Craven

'Brookmyre at his twisted best... Laugh out loud and perfectly conceived. What a bloody triumph' Helen Fields

An Atlantic voyage. A family at war. A secret worth killing over.

Reporter Jack Parlabane thrives on chasing stories in unlikely places, and where could be less likely than a fan convention on a cruise liner celebrating a contentious Sixties TV series? But unlike the media family exploiting their show's renewed relevance, he's not there to stoke controversy: he's there to solve a murder.

Already in deep water with his employer, Jack desperately needs a win, and solving this decades-old mystery could be it. Problem is, he's in the middle of the Atlantic, and someone onboard has already killed once to keep their secret.

And that's not even the tricky part. No, the tricky part is definitely the dead body locked in a stateroom with him, covered in his blood. Now Jack has to solve two murders, otherwise the only way he's getting off this ship is in handcuffs - or in a body bag.

Quite Ugly One Evening is a zeitgesty locked-room mystery that sees the return of rogue journalist Jack Parlabane thirty years after his first appearance in Quite Ugly One Morning.

Review

I recently read the first Jack Parlabane book which is 30 years old. So I was familiar with the main character. Now he is older he has matured, but not in all ways, although that is to the benefit of the reader in the main. 

I had no problem with Jack, I liked his with quick thinking and charm. What I did have a problem with was the many characters who I could not get straight in my head, particularly those with unusual but explained names. I decided to read on and not let it bother me. In the end the Agatha Christie style twist ending meant I wouldn't have had a scooby of working it out anyway. 

There was also a lot of detailed descriptions of the layout of the ship. Some were necessary for the plot but a lot of it seemed to be wasted words. It seemed like there was a lot of down time for Jack where admittedly he was "working" but nothing was happening. 

I haven't read the books in between the first and this one, so maybe I am missing something but it felt like a standalone book to me. Having said that the knowledge of Jack as a younger man did give the character more depth for me.

By the end of the book I was really enjoying it, but felt I had to wade through a lot to get there. I'm giving this book 3 out of 5 stars.

My thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review. This book is published on 7 May 2026.

A Deadly Episode - Anthony Horowitz

 

Description

The Word is Murder, the first book in the Hawthorne series, is being made into a major feature film.

The actors have been cast, the script written, and filming has already started in Hastings.

But when Hawthorne and Anthony visit the set, they find a far from happy family.

The director’s pretentious, the screenwriter’s an eco-warrior, the two stars hate each other, and the producer has run out of money.

And things are about to get much, much worse.

In the middle of shooting, the actor playing Hawthorne is stabbed – which leaves the real Hawthorne with no choice. He has to step in and investigate his own murder.

Because the killer may not have got the right man. Was it Hawthorne himself who was meant to be the target?

A Deadly Episode is a wild ride through a world that the author knows only too well, and the most personal case Hawthorne has had to deal with so far.

Review

I've read the first and the fifth book in this series before reading this latest novel. Although the subject of the first book is being made into a film in this one, I think you could read it as a standalone. However, you would miss the depth that you get with knowing about the characters of Hawthorne and Horowitz previously.

I was reading along quite happily, enjoying the writing style as usual. About half way through the book it switches to a Hawthorne's first ever case, and I felt very put out. A whole new set of characters appeared and it was like reading another book. It actually hindered me picking it up again, because it felt like it was too much effort.  Luckily I did get back to the book and just as I had forgotten all about the original plot of the book because I had become immersed once more in the writing, we were taken back to it. I was rewarded with a very twisty ending and overall the book was great. 

I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. My thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review. This book is published on 23 April 2026.

Yesteryear - Caro Claire Burke

 

Description

'EVERYONE IS GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THIS BOOK' BELLA MACKIE

'NIGHTMARISH, SHOCKING, BRILLIANT' STYLIST

'THE BOOK THAT WILL BE EVERYWHERE' INDEPENDENT

'INTELLIGENT, INCISIVE, INSANELY READABLE' JENNIE GODFREY

'BOLD, BITING. WILL LEAVE YOU GASPING' NITA PROSE

‘WICKEDLY FUNNY, FRIGHTENINGLY PERCEPTIVE' ABIGAIL DEAN

'INVENTIVE, ADDICTIVE, A WILD RIDE' ASHLEY AUDRAIN

'SHOT THROUGH WITH HUMOUR, LACED WITH DARKNESS' CLARE MACKINTOSH

'THE STEPFORD WIVES MEETS THE HANDMAID'S TALE' HANNAH DEITCH

'My name is Natalie Heller Mills, and I was perfect at being alive…'

Natalie lives a traditional lifestyle – and has the social media accounts to prove it. Her charming farmhouse on her working ranch is artfully cluttered, her husband is a handsome cowboy, her homemade sourdough boules are each more beautiful than the last. So what if there are nannies and producers and industrial-grade ovens behind the scenes? What Natalie’s followers don’t know won’t hurt them.

Then, one morning, Natalie wakes up in a strange, horrible version of reality. Her home, her husband, her children—they’re all familiar, but something’s off. Is this a hoax? A reality show? A test from God? Natalie knows just two things for sure: this isn't her perfect life, and she must escape, by any means possible.

NOW BEING ADAPTED INTO A MAJOR FILM STARRING ANNE HATHAWAY

Review

I don't know what to say about this book, because if I say too much it will spoil your reading of it.

Natalie is an Instagram influencer. She didn't use to be. It's taken her a lot of hard work and training to be this real online, even if she isn't this real offline. All her family are involved as she portrays the perfect traditional lifestyle on her ranch.

We see the "before" Natalie as she realises her husband Caleb is not who she thought he was and she needs to create a life for him to live. With support from her wealthy Father in law she has the means to create that life, and now the medium to show it to the world via Instagram. 

When Natalie wakes up one morning and doesn't recognise her home or her children, she wonders if someone is playing a reality TV show trick on her. It is her home, but without all the mod cons she hides from the real world. She has the right number of children, but not quite the same ones. As her life in 1805 begins she decides she has to escape from it. The real trad wife life is not for her it seems.

I really enjoyed the influencer parts of this book and the glimpse behind the "reality". Natalie is quite a character and not one I warmed to. Once it flipped to 1805 I got a bit lost and didn't enjoy it so much. I got my reward at the end, and all I can say is "wow!" What a premise for a book. Looking back there are some deep themes and a lot more under the surface of the superficial influencer tag.

I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. My thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review. This book is published on 9 April 2026.

It's Not What You Think - Clare Mackintosh

 

Description

YOU THINK YOU KNOW THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE

Nadeeka is certain Jamie is having an affair. She knows the tell-tale signs.

She’s been here before.

YOU THINK YOU KNOW WHO YOU CAN TRUST

When Jamie claims to be at work late, she knows he’s lying. He’s with another woman, and she’s determined to catch him in the act.

YOU THINK YOU KNOW HOW THE STORY ENDS

But when Nadeeka arrives home to confront him, Jamie can't explain himself. The house has become a crime scene…

Jamie is dead.

IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK

Review

It certainly wasn't what I thought!

The book begins with Nadeeka desperate to get home to "catch out" her partner as she is sure he is cheating on her. When she gets home she finds a crime scene and Jamie dead.

I really began to think this was going to be straightforward read, even after the first twist. But then doubts were sown in my mind and I wasn't sure anything about anymore. I eagerly read on and then there was another twist and I stayed reading until 2am in the morning to finish the book. My heart was in my mouth with what I was reading, willing everything to be okay, but I just had to know how it ended.

There were parts of the book I didn't enjoy reading, but they were unfortunately very true to life. To say more would really spoil the twist. I did enjoy the characters Nadeeka and Lauren. Two strong women but always second guessing themselves.  Lauren is also trying to plan a wedding at the same time as running a murder investigation. It was those little insights into their world that made the book so readable despite the subject matter.

I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. It's certainly a unique plot to me.

My thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review the book is published on 26 March 2026

When I Kill You - B A Paris

 

Description

Nell Masters is certain someone is following her. The hairs on the back of her neck rise when she travels to and from work, there are silent calls to her office, and a huge bouquet of flowers arrives without a card. And Nell has a reason to be looking over her shoulder, because she has a secret that she’s hiding from everyone in her life, including her new partner, Alex. But Alex also has secrets of his own.

Fourteen years earlier, when Nell went by the name Elle Nugent, she witnessed a student, Bryony Sanders, getting into a stranger’s car. When Bryony was found murdered, Elle became obsessed with finding the person responsible. She was convinced she knew who it was and her fixation with Brett Parker, the man she accused, led her down a dangerous path …

Now, Nell tries to convince herself that this unnerving feeling of being watched is all in her mind. Has someone from her past discovered her new identity? Has the stalker become the stalked? Or is there something even more deadly at play?

Review

Another brilliant read from B A Paris.

Nell Masters used to be called Elle Nugent fourteen years ago. So why did she change her name? and what is she hiding from?

The first part of the book goes between what happened fourteen years ago and the present day. The chapters are clearly labelled so there is no mistaking which timeline you are reading about. In the present day Elle is convinced she has a stalker who is someone from her past. Woven between the chapters are excerpts from a notebook written by we presume the stalker and they all end with the same words "When I Kill You".

Part two of the book is all set in the present day, and my suspicions of who was writing the notebook were all over the place. The writing is so good that every word spoken and action taken could have so many meanings, leading me to change my mind constantly. What could be seen as suspicious actions by people close to Nell mean anyone could be her stalker.

A great read which from the beginning of part two had me not wanting to put the book down unless I really had to. A satisfying read from start to finish.

I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. My thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review. The books is published on 12 March 2026.

If I Had my Time Again - Linda Green

 

Description

The magical, heartbreaking and life-affirming new novel from Richard & Judy BESTSELLER Linda Green. Perfect for fans of Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library, Mike Gayle and Ruth Jones! 🤍✨

'Wonderfully executed, unique, clever and hilarious... Linda Green is absolutely at the top of her game.' Mike Gayle

How would you live your life differently, if you had a second chance?

Emily, Carl and Jules have all ‘gone before their time’. After dying on the same day in Halifax, West Yorkshire, they each wake up in a room in a hotel on the outskirts of town. They’re instructed to meet in the basement headquarters of film production company ‘End Credits’, where no-nonsense producer Suzi tells them their lives have been secretly filmed and they must edit their own biopic before they are able to move on.

There are only three rules: they can’t prevent their own deaths or anyone else’s, they can't kill anyone but they can make a director's cut - one change which will alter everything that comes after.

With the chance to undo their regrets and explore life’s infinite possibilities, what will they choose?

Description

Having read another book by the author and looking at the book cover and the blurb, I thought I was in for a really funny read. So it came as a surprise to me that the author began the book with a trigger warning for suicide and baby loss. I do think the subjects were dealt with well in the book, I just wasn't expecting it.

Three people meet in the "afterlife" and it's not all floating clouds and angels. Instead they are in rooms on the top floor of a hotel. In order to move on they have to watch and then edit their life story, and also do a director's cut of a favourite film. 

There was quite a bit of humour which appealed to me, but you need to be of a certain age for most of it to make sense. I also hadn't watched two of the favourite films that they chose to edit and so I skipped a lot of that part. I also felt that it was slightly too long a book. Once we had gone through the life films going back to see them described again but with the edits was a little tedious to get through, although I did like the edits.  I think this would make an excellent film. The concept of the three people replaying their lives would work better on film. 

Whilst we did get a glimpse into of the lives of each of the three people, I never felt that I really got to know them or what made them tick. Despite the serious subjects covered it felt more like a sitcom.

I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. My thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review. This book is published on 13 March 2026.

Golden Girls on the Run - Judy Leigh

 

Description

Thelma and Louise meets The Golden Girls in the BRAND NEW laugh-out-loud, relatable read from MILLION COPY bestseller Judy Leigh! Perfect for fans of Dawn French and Caroline James! 🍷✨❤️

Age is just a number. Trouble is a lifestyle.

When octogenarian sisters-in-law Sadie and Bronagh find themselves at the centre of a scandalous (and slightly explosive) bake-off fiasco, there’s only one thing to do – steal Sadie’s grandson’s gleaming red Ferrari and make a run for it.

Sadie is the practical one, all cardigans and contingency plans. Bronagh treats rules as loose suggestions – especially if mischief or wine is involved.

What begins as a quick getaway across Ireland soon spirals into a wild, cross-country adventure filled with fake identities, unexpected friendships, and more than a few brushes with the law.

Sadie and Bronagh may be on the run, but what they find at the journey’s end might just be what they were missing all along…

A heartwarming, hilarious tale of rebellion, rediscovery, and the true meaning of family.

Review

This is obviously a far fetched tale and as long as you are on board with that from the beginning you will be grand. 

There's trouble at a local bake off in Ireland, when a policeman is assaulted by Bronagh. What to do but go on the run the from the law in a "borrowed Ferrari"! So begins the tale of Bronagh and Sadie who are in their 80s and their escape to Devon to escape the long arm of the law.

Plenty of escapades along the way to Devon made Bronagh and Sadie very likeable if not a little unbelievable. When it was just Bronagh and Sadie I got along fine, but when the other many family members became more involved, I was confused as who was related to who and how. I just read along and decided not to care about it. Overall I liked the book but there were times it was overly descriptive for me and not a lot happened. 

This is a follow on book to The Vintage Village Bake Off. The author helpfully explains at the beginning of the book the crossover and the characters. You could easily read this as a standalone. 

I'm giving this book 3 out of 5 stars. My thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review. This book is published on 6 December 2026.