There are a few authors who have us leaping for joy when we see a new release … and Lisa Jewell is right at the top of that list. Gripping, engrossing, disturbing, her books are thrillers with heart-thumping, unexpected twists that just take your breath away. Her latest, Invisible Girl, is about a missing girl, an invisible man, and how we often look in the wrong places for bad people and not noticing the real predators who walk freely among us in plain sight. Century
The pay checks are huge. The work exciting. The drinks flow. But people sneak into the bathroom for a hit of cocaine, people sleep under desks, and sexual harassment is rife. The Boy’s Club by Erica Katz is set in a corporate Manhattan law firm … a place where if you don’t turn a blind eye, the boys’ club is a dangerous place to be. Orion
The thrills just keep on coming. Shari Lapena (The Couple Next Door, A Stranger in the House … LOVE her books) has just released The End of Her, which is tension filled, fast paced, edge-of-your seat. A recently married and new mum of twin may be struggling with the disorienting effects of sleep deprivation, but knows one thing is certain … she has everything she ever wanted. Until a woman from her husband’s past arrives and makes a horrifying allegation about his first wife. He always claimed her death was an accident – but she says it was murder. This one’s an all-nighter. Penguin
A missing patient is a hospital ward’s worst nightmare, and the disappearance of a newborn baby from a maternity ward in a New York hospital creates a city-wide emergency. Then another kidnapping, and a stabbing, take place … rumours and accusations fly, and a midwife teams up with a sceptical NYPD detective to solve the case. But the truth is far more twisted than either of them could ever have imagined. The Midwife Murders by James Patterson and Richard DiLallo is a thrill-a-minute paperback read. Arrow Books
Mark Billingham‘s Sleepyhead was released in August 2001, flew straight onto the top ten best seller list, and was the biggest selling debut novel of the year. Cry Baby – the 17th book in the Tom Thorne series – is its prequel. It’s set way back in 1996, when Thorne a young detective, haunted by the moment when he ignored his instincts, and how that led to a horrific crime. Now on his first case – that of a young boy who’s gone missing while playing in the woods- and Detective Sergeant Tom Thorne is not going to let anything get in the way of him solving the crime. Another great read from another favourite author. Little, Brown
Time for a little light relief from murder, mayhem and mystery. Hello Greta. She’s flawed. She’s jocular. And she’s played the part of the funny fat friend her entire life. But she’s hiding insecurities behind her big smile – because size doesn’t matter when you’re having fun, right?. Warm and wonderfully moving, Carmel Harrington’s My Pear-Shaped Life, shows us that, like Greta’s about to discover, sometimes the best moments in life come when everything’s gone a bit pear-shaped. HarperCollins Publishers
I want to speak to the manager
You’re such a Karen. The memes are taking over the internet … and two real life Karens have got together to offer thoughts on how and when to be a Karen and how and how and when to shut up. Covering any sticky situation South Africans may find themselves in, The Karen Book of Rules has do’s and don’ts for everything from braais, WhatsApp groups and Zoom calls to the navigating the queue at Woolies. With quotes from local Karens, including honorary Karen Tannie Evita, who has written the foreword, this tongue-in-cheek etiquette guide will not only make you laugh out loud, but will also help you do the right thing, and do it right. After all, sometimes you might actually need to speak to the manager. Written by Karin Schimke (who lives in Cape Town and once had a straight blond Karinfringe that reached her chin), and Karen Jeynes (who’s written for stage, radio, film and online), this book will help Karens everywhere to use their power for good. Follow @thekarenrules on Instagram to join the conversation. nb Publishers
