Oh my … what a treat. If you loved Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies as much as we did, you’re going to drop everything to dive into Big Little Truths. A decade ago, the friendships of Celeste, Jane and Madeline were made at the Pirriwee Primary school gates … now the frazzled friends are worried about their hormonal teens. Or they would be if they weren’t so distracted by their own problems … a landmark birthday that’s about to land a bombshell, a rock-solid marriage suddenly crumbling, a mother-in-law asking awkward questions about the past. And then there’s the mystery of who sent the school principal a freshly severed finger. And the one, big, ugly truth hiding in their midst. Cancel all plans, settle down on the pool lounger and enjoy! Penguin
The gals from the Martini Club are back … Maggie Bird and her group of former spy friends, each living a quiet, anonymous life in a small seaside town. But their peaceful lives are shattered after a murder at the local resort, and the disappearance of their friend. A trail that leads to Amsterdam, a husband desperate to help find his wife, and a network of ruthless assassins, plus old secrets and shifting loyalties … Tess Gerritsen’s The Shadow Friends is all spies and thrills and suspense. Penguin
Franschhoek Cellar Statue de Femme Sauvignon Blanc 2026 … all expressive tropical aromas with Cape gooseberry, grapefruit and pineapple fruit flavours balanced by a lively acidity … a perfect option for a hot Summer. Serve it well chilled … it pairs beautifully with grilled halloumi, lemon chicken, avocado salad, and seafood pasta dishes. R115 a bottle.
Post divorce, Frankie moves into a glam London neighbourhood, her flatmate Blue, a beautiful Persian cat. When Blue returns one night, from his evening stroll, with ‘help me’ scratched into his collar, Frankie roots out his old Cat Cam collar. What slowly begins as a voyeuristic fascination with her neighbours and the secrets they’re hiding soon turns into a quest for the truth that threatens to bring terror to her doorstep. Nine Lives by Catherine Steadman is a tremendous psychological thriller. Quercus
High in the Swiss Alps, the luxurious Grand Alpine Hotel draws all sorts of guests. Like the notorious actress, the high-flying politician, the reserved political wife, the reckless friend, the shrewd doctor. When one enters a gondola alive, dead by the time it reaches the top of the mountain, it’s clear there’s a killer in their midst. And watching it all … Miss Marple. Set in the 1950s, published 50 years after Agatha Christie’s last Miss Marple novel, Murder At The Grand Alpine Hotel is described as the publishing event of the year … the authorised Miss Marple mystery by bestselling author Lucy Foley. Brilliant! Harper Collins
Three wildly different women. One big problem. Their impossible mother-in-law, Nancy. When an unexpected crisis hits the family business, the sisters-in-law find themselves navigating stormy waters. Forced to confront messy truths about marriage, motherhood, succession and family loyalty, the three women soon realise their greatest strength might just be each other. Sinéad Moriarty’s The In-Laws is a sharp, funny, and relatable novel about surviving the family you didn’t choose. Sandycove, Penguin
The Hill – luxurious, exclusive, safe. But even on the most desirable street, there’s a dark side. Someone’s breaking into the Cheshire homes one by one, looking, it appears, for something or someone in particular. Over the border in Wales, the body of an estate agent is pulled from the lake. The two cases collide in Other People’s Houses by Clare Mackintosh, a DC Ffion Morgan thriller, in which people will pay a high price to keep their secrets behind closed doors. Sphere
Sister Francis is an unlikely nun. She’s sixty, sweary, drives like a lunatic and smokes like a chimney. And she runs the Blessed Assumption Boys Club. Four best friends from the local council estate … little to do but get up to no good. After a run-in with local bullies, the friends discover Sister Francis’ forgotten club. Set in early 1980s, Matt Coyne’s The Trouble With Sister Francis is funny, heart-warming, heartbreaking … all unlikely heroes, quiet rebellions, fierce loyalty and unexpected hope. Wildfire
These, and more fab reads, from Exclusive Books.
