Review: Lies Sleeping by Ben Aaronovitch

I have a confession to make; I’m hooked on Ben Aaronovitch’s crime-fighting, fantasy series. What’s more, I have a sneaking suspicion that the Peter Grant stories may be based on truth. Somewhere out there, a group of wizards runs around London, solving supernatural crime for the Metropolitan Police Force….

NW by Zadie Smith

It took me five years to pick up a copy of NW and now I’ve finally cracked it open I wish I hadn’t waited. One of the best novels I’ve read this year, it follows four Londoners; Natalie, Leah, Felix and Nathan. They all grew up on the same fictional council estate, but as adults lead very different lives.

Five Books That Go Bump in The Night

Happy Halloween! In the last few decades we’ve seen traditional tales turned on their head. Witches, wizards, warlocks and all manner of creatures have climbed out of the darkness to become heroes in their own adventures.

Not a fan of gore? Read this for Halloween

Halloween reading doesn’t get much better than this. Among Others is a novel for anyone who’d love to find Narnia in their wardrobe.

Author Jo Walton has woven a fantasy landscape where fairies can be seen by select believers. Set in the late 1970s in the UK, this is a genre-mash-up that mixes boarding school, coming of age stories and a big dollop of magic.

Sugar Money by Jane Harris

This terrifying tale of exploitation was shortlisted for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction. Loosely based on a real story, it describes an escape attempt made by a group of slaves in 1765. Tragically, they weren’t making a bid for freedom. Conditions in Grenada were so horrific under the invading British they aimed to return to their far-from-kind French former owners.

How to Stop Time by Matt Haig

I’m sure you’ve met those annoying, smug people who can’t resist saying “the book’s better”, when you mention novels’ movie adaptations. Now I have to make a confession. Nine times out of ten, that awful person is me. If you’re exactly the same, I’d recommend picking up How to Stop Time by Matt Haig.

Wychwood by George Mann

Leave the lights on while reading this story of ritual magic, deep, dark woods and gruesome murder.