Ready to get stuck into a good novel this summer? Here’s our selection of five recently-published fiction paperbacks to take to the beach.
The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine Alexander McCall Smith (Anchor, June 14, 2016)
Part of the “No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency” series, McCall Smith’s latest release is accessible to those who aren’t familiar with previous stories. The novel features the agency’s director, Precious Ramotswe, as she agrees to take a holiday. However, as usual, she can’t help but get involved with a case… A twist on classic crime fiction, the author creates fun and likeable characters with plots that will keep you turning the pages.
Undermajordomo Minor Patrick deWitt (HarperCollins, June 21, 2016)
If you like your holiday reading to challenge and surprise you, deWitt’s long-awaited follow-up to The Sisters Brothers should be in your suitcase. A reimagination of classic folk tales, Undermajordomo Minor is a dark, twisting and quirky love story that keeps the reader on their toes.
“May Day,” Gretchen Marquette (Graywolf Press, May 3, 2016)
Marquette’s debut collection is making ripples in the poetry world. “May Day” investigates both hope and helplessness, nature and relationships. Perfect for the beach, the large white pages bring clarity to the text, enabling the reader to take their time to fully digest each piece.
Slade House David Mitchell (Random House, June 28, 2016)
With the same foreboding sensation as the Eagles’ Hotel California, David Mitchell’s Slade House is a warped-reality trip through a haunted house. Readers do not need to have read Mitchell’s The Bone Clocks (in whose world Slade House takes place) but those that have will enjoy the novel all the more.
The Invisible Library Genevieve Cogman (Penguin, June 14, 2016)
The novel marks Cogman’s fantasy debut with her spy heroine Irene, employed by the mysterious organisation known only as “The Library”. With this fast-paced, intriguing and imaginative novel, Cogman will please both bibliophiles and fantasy fans.
