By Stephen Spotswood

I’ve just read Murder under her skin which follows Fortune Favours the Dead. These books are set in post-WWII USA. Will and Ms Pentacost are two of the most unlikely characters to ever to be drawn as detectives, but detectives they are and they don’t fit that post war mould of what a woman must be. I fell in love with irreverent, feisty, hilarious Will. She reminded me of a wiser, older version of Flavia de Luce from Alan Bradley’s series.

By Janice Hallett

An amateur theater group starts a fundraising campaign when their director tells them that his granddaughter is in need of a very expensive drug to cure her of cancer. Someone is murdered and the chief inspector has asked two of his detectives to go through the emails that have been circulating prior to the murder. The book is told through the emails and the texts send between the detectives. This is an original, fun, baffling and twisty tale.

by Kimberley Belle

Alex is a professional influencer who hires the perfect personal assistant. But maybe not so perfect? The twists surprised me (a seasoned who dunnit afficiano) and I found the characters interesting, the plot fast moving and the dialogue intelligent. A great read!

By Jane Harper

I love all of Jane Harper books; The Dry, Force of Nature, The Lost Man, The Survivors and most recently, Exiles. Aaron Faulk, a Federal Inspector, has come to the small town where his close friend’s family is celebrating the arrival of their latest child. While there a woman disappears and he is drawn into the lives of the people of the town. Harper’s writing is sharp, intelligent, witty and wise. Another winner for me!

by Audrey Magee

Amid the backdrop of the raging Irish Civil War, two foreigners, one English, one French, come to a remote island off the coast of Ireland. Most of the islanders are wary of the two, some welcome them and still others are indifferent to them. Regardless, the two remain locked in their colonial history by disregarding the people upon whose land they trod. I loved this thoughtful, wise book – the simple dialogue is razor sharp and the story slowly shines a light on the lasting effects of colonialism.

by Emily Austin

Gilda, who can’t stop thinking about death, goes to the local Catholic church in response to a flyer for free therapy. Father Jeff assumes she’s here for a job interview and hires her to replace his recently deceased receptionist, Grace. Gilda isn’t even Catholic and is too embarassed to correct him so she takes the job. Grace’s old friend has been trying to reach her through the church’s email adddress so Gilda, who feels sorry for her, responds pretending to be Grace. What harm can it do? Turns out Grace’s demise is suspicious and the police come around asking questions. I loved Emily Austin’s ability to lay bare what disconnection and loneliness feel like. And, of course, she does it all with humour and gentleness.

By Richard Osmann

The Thursday Murder club reconvenes to chase down and solve some cold murder cases. Richard Osmann has created a cast of characters that are easy to love and I always look forward to new novels in this mystery series. They’re all great fun!

By Julia Glass

Vigil Harbor is a small coastal town in the US that is feeling the effects of a changing climate. Julia Glass creates a host of characters that are all grappling with the devastating cost of our disregard for the earth. She writes with compassion, wisdom and wit as she explores how people navigate their lives in a shattering world.

By Celeste Ng

This is the story of the love Margaret, a Chinese American poet, has for her twelve year old son, Bird, that is in conflict with her resolve to right the wrongs of a society that has rendered a whole people invisible. Bird’s father is a former linguist professor who now shelves books in a university library. Bird has been taught to keep his head down and not ask questions about why his mother left them when he was nine years old. This is a beautifully written examination of what happens when a society ignores injustices in the name of a greater, undefinable “good” and the power of art to raise awareness. Another amazing novel by Celeste Ng!

By Jamie Mason

How does a stolen, 400 year old painting come to hang in the hallway of fourteen year old Carly Liddell? It’s a secret that can no longer be kept when the video that captures her fending off an attacker at her front door goes viral. What happens next will get your head spinning and Jamie Mason will keep it that way until this great thriller ends. Loved it!