Bad Publicity by Bianca Gillam – When Andie lands her dream job as a senior book publicist, she’s ready to take the publishing world by storm. Until her first day, when she discovers that her biggest author is Jack Carlson. The boy who ruined her life in university. Who she hasn’t spoken to in five years. Who is still infuriatingly hot and now incredibly successful. And who she has to travel with on a book tour, part of a campaign she cannot mess up if she wants to keep her job. One month on tour with Jack, visiting some of the most romantic spots in Europe. Oh boy! Bloomsbury
I Bet You’d Look Good in a Coffin by Katy Brent – Kitty Collins is a serial killer. She doesn’t want to kill. It’s just so hard to resist. Some men really, really deserve it. Men like Blaze Bundy, an anonymous influencer spreading misogyny online. He’s making it very hard for her to control her murderous urges. Meanwhile she’s in the South of France to watch her mother marry a man Kitty’s never met. She should be drinking cocktails and focusing on her tan, not plotting a murder. But a woman’s work is never done. Surely one more teensy little kill wouldn’t hurt, would it? Harper Collins
Nesting by Roisin O’Donnell – One afternoon, Ciara Fay makes a split-second decision that will change everything. Grabbing an armful of clothes from the washing line, she straps her two young daughters into her car and drives away. Head spinning, all she knows for certain is that home is no longer safe. But with dwindling savings, no job or family close by, and her husband’s relentless campaign to get her back, Ciara finds herself adrift, facing a broken housing system and the voice of her own demons. Leaving is one thing … staying away is another. Simon & Schuster
Also … The Ex Effect by Jo Watson – Thirteen years ago, Ash was planning the night of her life with her high school boyfriend, Logan. They were madly in love, wild about each other, and had been waiting patiently for this moment. It was going to be perfect. That is, until it went down in very unsexy flames. Logan disappeared and Ash was left, quite frankly and very inconveniently, sexually cursed. After years of disastrous dating and even more disastrous sex, she’s almost given up. But some seriously flirtatious emails with a work associate Maximillian Adam offers her hope. Because if rumour is to be believed, Maximillian Adam might just be God’s sexual gift to women. Great fun! Headline
The Last Days of Kira Mullam by Nicci French – Nancy had a breakdown. But she’s okay now … she and her boyfriend have moved into a new flat, she’s doing her breathing exercises and doctor-prescribed pills. Then her new neighbour is found dead by suicide. But Nancy saw her the day before, and doesn’t believe she was suicidal. The police, Nancy’s boyfriend and the neighbours think Nancy’s vulnerable and don’t believe her instincts. But what if she’s right! Simon and Schuster
Making a Killing by Cara Hunter – In 2016, eight-year-old Daisy Mason vanished from her Oxford home. Her disappearance made the national press and the final culprit shocked everyone. DCI Adam Fawley remembers the case well, he arrested Daisy’s mother for murder himself. But Daisy’s body was never found. Now, forensic evidence at a current murder scene calls the whole case into question. DCI Adam Fawley and the team are brought back in to investigate. And they all have one question. What really happened to Daisy Mason? HarperCollins
Other People’s Houses by Clare Mackintosh – When the body of an estate agent is found in an upturned kayak on a lake, DC Ffion Morgan quickly realises the accident has been staged. There’s no love lost between Ffion and estate agents, but who hated this one enough to want her dead? Over the border in Cheshire, DS Leo Brady has his own property nightmare on his hands. The Hill is the kind of place where owners relish people gawking at their multi-million pound homes but now someone is breaking and entering their houses one by one. Ffion and Leo are about to learn that people will pay a high price to keep their secrets behind closed doors. Even on the most desirable street, there’s a dark side! Little Brown
Dead Man’s List by Karen Rose – When a mutilated body is found in the desert outside San Diego, any number of people could be on the suspect list. The victim, local councillor Brooks Munro, was a hated figure. And those who abducted him and his prized Ferrari went to extreme lengths to cover their tracks and wipe out any witnesses. As the investigation goes deeper, a blackmail scheme worth millions of dollars is uncovered. Brooks had been forcing money from his wealthy acquaintances, and had kept a list of their wrongdoings as protection – to be revealed on his death. But now he is dead. Where’s the list? Who was helping with the extortion scheme? And who would kill to stop the blackmail and prevent the list becoming public? Headline
Raise a glass to the teetotallers, and those of us taking a breather from alcohol, with the newly-launched Van Hunks Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Wine. This non-alcoholic sparkling wine has aromas of strawberries and ripe plums, while its soft effervescence and fresh summer fruit flavours lead to a lingering finish. With less than 0.5 per cent alcohol, it’s crafted using traditional winemaking methods and advanced de-alcoholisation to preserve its natural flavours. This is more than just a stand-in for the real thing – it’s a lovely alternative. R120 Details: vanhunksdrinks.co.za
For these and more brilliant book club reads, visit exclusivebooks.co.za
