A Dangerous Train of Thought

Faith Martin

FOR author and ghost hunter Arbuthnot ‘Arbie’ Swift, the invitation to a lavish weekend party at a manor house near the coast in Yorkshire is the chance to do a spot of fishing, indulge in a bit of cricket, and play a few games of billiards.

For his old friend and self-appointed ‘literary assistant,’ Miss Valerie (Val) Coulton-James, it’s a chance to dig out some much-needed material for Arbie’s next ghost-hunting book. What neither of them expected was to be thrust into the middle of yet another murder investigation…

Welcome to the third gripping Golden Age murder mystery from million-copy bestseller Faith Martin (pictured below) in a sparkling cosy crime series based in 1920s Oxfordshire which stars lovable gentleman ghost hunter Arbie and feisty vicar’s daughter Val, and is thrilling an army of devoted fans. For over 30 years, Martin has wowed us with her raft of classy books, writing under four different pen names and publishing over fifty novels. Feted for her smart and sassy DI Hillary Greene police series set in and around Oxford, and again using the dreaming spires of her home town for the brilliant Ryder and Loveday crime series, this seasoned author can’t put a foot wrong when it comes to enthralling and clever whodunits.

It’s spring of 1926 and Sir Bayard Cherville and his much younger wife, Lady Sybil, are hosting a sumptuous weekend party at their home, the imposing Cleeves Lea Manor which lies only six miles from the Yorkshire coast.

Sir Bayard, who likes to keep his beautiful wife under his watchful eye, is feeling rather smug and is particularly relishing the weekend ahead because he has a surprise planned… a surprise which he knows is not going to suit all the invited guests.

Among those attending are Sybil’s best friend from schooldays, Betty Rowe, from Woodstock, near Oxford, accompanied by her daughter Bernie who is longing for a weekend of fun. Widowed many years ago and still mourning the death of her son a year ago, Betty is fully aware that Sybil likes to get her own way.

Also on the guest list is Agnes Warren from Harrogate who is dubbed an ‘old maid’ even though she is only aged forty-seven and who ingratiated herself with Bayard by once bringing along the son of a Duke. Agnes is fully aware that she is socially awkward and nervous in company but on this visit, she is harbouring a delicious secret… a secret ‘beyond her wildest dreams.’

Meanwhile, another guest, Bill Endicott from York, a handsome young chancer who is enjoying the fact that his ‘scapegoat existence’ is currently ‘coming up roses’ knows that sometimes you have to do things which force you to ‘grit your teeth and grin and bear it.’ And then there’s the self-made and very wealthy Roger Potts-Gibbon and his wife Daphne, a gentle, genteel woman who loves her garden, her dogs and her husband (in that order).

Last but not least are Arbie and Val… invited because Lady Sybil is an avid reader of Arbie’s books and is eager to show him off to her distinguished guests. Arbie’s task is to investigate rumours of a local ‘ghost train spitting fire’ for the third instalment of his Gentleman’s Guide to Ghost-hunting but when the guests start dying, Arbie instead finds himself embroiled in a murder investigation and a house full of secrets. With time fast running out, will he and Val be able to uncover the truth?

There is so much to love about this dazzling new date with Arbie and Val, Martin’s detective duo extraordinaire, who bring with them murder most foul, a fine line in humour, red herrings galore, ingenious plotting, an exquisitely drawn cast of captivating characters, and – without the help of modern technology – some wonderfully entertaining, good old-fashioned sleuthing.

The tall, Valkyrie-like splendour of beautiful, down-to-earth Val, and the laidback, happy-go-lucky charm of Arbie, are making them the new dream team of cosy crime fiction while delivering the sort of clever, complex detective work made famous by the likes of Agatha Christie and the other big names of the Golden Age.

Add on an alluring hint of some ghostly goings-on, an enchanting North Yorkshire backdrop, Martin’s trademark razor-sharp and intensely humane character portraits, and a mountain of intriguing clues to process, and you have the kind of top-notch country house murder mystery that encourages you to think as well as to enjoy.
(HQ, hardback, £16.99)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: A murderous twist, robot power and a magic school

Enjoy a deadly twist on Louisa May Alcott’s 19^th century classic book Little Women, meet a bunch of scientists who can turn humans into robots that will never die, join a schoolboy on his first day at magic school and discover how a school trip to a Viking museum takes a weird turn in an eclectic selection of new children’s books

Age 12 plus
Beth is Dead
Katie Bernet

THE four famous March sisters – stars of Louisa May Alcott’s 19^th century classic book Little Women – are not quite as sweet as they have always seemed in a fabulous contemporary murder mystery retelling from US author and award-winning creative director Katie Bernet. In a gripping, twisting and turning spin on the universally loved story – in which Beth March has been found murdered after a New Year’s Eve party and all her sisters are now suspects – readers discover that the sisters aren’t the only ones with a story to tell. When Beth is found dead in the woods on New Year’s Day, her sisters vow to uncover her murderer. Suspects abound. There’s the neighbour, Theodore Laurence, who has feelings for not one but two of the girls, Meg’s manipulative best friend, Amy’s flirtatious mentor, and Beth’s heartbroken first love. But it doesn’t take the surviving sisters much digging to uncover motives that each one of the March girls had for doing the unthinkable. Jo, an aspiring author with a huge following on social media, would do anything to hook readers. Would she kill her sister for the story? Amy dreams of studying art in Europe, but she’ll need money from her aunt… money that’s always been earmarked for Beth. And Meg wouldn’t dream of hurting her sister… but her boyfriend might, and she will protect him at all costs.

Despite the growing suspicion within the family, it’s hard to know for sure if the crime was committed by someone close to home. After all, the March sisters were dragged into the spotlight months ago when their father published Little Women, a controversial bestseller about his own daughters. It seems that Beth could have been killed by anyone… Beth is Dead is a bold, daring and ambitious murder mystery take on a worldwide classic, featuring familiar characters in a thoroughly up-to-date setting, exploring the complications of sister relationships, and brimming with suspense, betrayal and electrifying plot twists. With a tragedy that threatens to rip apart the March family, Beth’s first-person account told through revealing flashbacks, and the parallel unfolding of Meg, Jo and Amy’s increasingly fraught investigation, it really would be a crime to miss it all!
(Scholastic, paperback, £8.99)

Age 11 plus
New You For Ever
Steve Cole and Chris King

CAN scientists turn humans into robots that will never die? In his frighteningly prescient and gripping new novel, internationally bestselling and award-winning author Steve Cole empowers youngsters to explore some of the many conundrums facing our contemporary world. Atmospherically illustrated by Chris King, published in Barrington Stoke’s dyslexia-friendly format and particularly suitable for readers aged 11 plus with a reading age of eight, New You For Ever is a scorching dystopian thriller which asks difficult questions about our planet’s direction of travel and comes up with some thought-provoking answers. The year is 2070, and the New You Foundation claim to have found the ultimate answer to the climate crisis. They want human beings to upload their memories and personalities into a Pleeka, a replica of their body that can live forever without needing food, using the Earth’s resources or creating waste. Millions are taking up the offer at an even younger age but are New You’s promises too good to be true?

A chance meeting with eco-influencer Tera Helstrom leads trainee journalist Anders Jones to the sinister truth behind the New You Foundation’s expensive marketing campaigns, but is it already too late for those who have made the choice to turn to Pleeka? Anders must risk everything to expose New You… Pitched perfectly for the 11 plus age group, and taking in topics such as humanity, creativity, AI and abuse of corporate power, New You For Ever is a true chiller-thriller sci-fi for young teens, empowering them to explore and question the main pitfalls facing the future world.
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Royal Institute of Magic: The Shadowseeker
Victor Kloss

COULD the first day of magic school be Ben Greenwood’s last? Immerse yourself in the second adventure of the extraordinarily entertaining Royal Institute of Magic fantasy series from born storyteller Victor Kloss who sadly died in 2016 aged 46 while writing the sixth and final book which was later completed with the help of his wife Tara and brother Darren. Two years after his parents mysteriously vanished without a trace, Ben Greenwood has discovered the Royal Institute of Magic and a hidden new world full of mind-blowing magic and fantastical creatures. The five departments of the Institute are Spellswords, Wardens, Traders, Scholars and Diplomats and, as an apprentice, Ben must master them all to become a full member. He has no idea what to expect when he begins his apprenticeship but he quickly realises his family history is going to make life difficult. On his very first day, a Shadowseeker – a mysterious and dangerous dark elf – surfaces, and Ben suspects the dark elves might be trying to capture him again in an effort to flush out his parents. When Ben renews his own search for his parents, he soon discovers they are closing in on a piece of Queen Elizabeth’s legendary armour – the only weapon strong enough to defeat the dark elf king once and for all – but it is guarded by something even more deadly than a Shadowseeker. 

A race against time follows, with Ben desperate to warn his parents they are walking into a death-trap, while somehow completing the first level of his apprenticeship and securing his place at the Royal Institute of Magic. Kloss lived in a small town in West Sussex where he built websites by day and by night, wrote stories full of fast-paced action and prodigious imagination for children who love secrets, danger and magic.  So if you thought that magic isn’t real, you’re going to get the surprise of your life on this thrill ride into an amazing world of mystery!
(Vinci Books, paperback, £9.99)

Age 8 plus
Imagination Island: Race to Rumble Ruin
Mel Taylor-Bessent and Alessandro D’Urso

DO YOU have what it takes to win the Race? Head back to the magical island where anything you imagine comes to life! Mel Taylor-Bessent, author of the much-loved The Christmas Carrolls, sets her creative powers loose on the third book of a thrilling illustrated and collectable fantasy action adventure series packed with the illustrations of Alessandro D’Urso. With friendship, humour, incredible world-building, and a colourful cast of characters who must complete a series of challenges to win very special Races, there is fun all the way on this new wild and wacky ride to Imagination Island. Ten-year-old Luca was once afraid of everything, but now he and his team-mates – all Protectors of Imagination Island  – have conquered two maps in the fabled Imagination Island, where anything they imagine comes to life. Now they have three more challenges to face in this THIRD leg of the Race! They must crack jokes in Laughter Lagoon, ride giant space hoppers along Silly String Street, and finally, join in a game of Sneak ’n ’ Seek in a crumbling Roman-style coliseum where, if you are found, you are turned to stone. Will Luca overcome his fears, will Om find the courage to speak for the first time, and who will lose and leave the Race… FOREVER? Young imaginations are guaranteed to run riot in Taylor-Bessent’s brilliantly inventive new adventure brought to vivid life by D’Urso’s vibrant illustrations. So hold on tight and get ready for magic, mayhem and daring challenges as you meet unforgettable whale gameshow host, Tallulah Beluga, and a pearl-obsessed flamingo. You won’t stop reading until the race is won!
(Farshore, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
The Accidental Vikings
Karen McCombie and Anneli Bray

A SCHOOL trip to the Viking Museum takes a weird turn in a fun (and cleverly educational!) adventure from Karen McCombie, bestselling author of over 90 books for children, and illustrator Anneli Bray. Alfie and Kat are excited about their school trip to the Viking Museum where they will be learning about life in Viking Britain. But what they didn’t expect was to be whisked back to a Viking village when they get separated from the rest of their group. Life-size Viking models around them start to come to life and at first Kat is sure they are being pranked for a TV game show. Trying to be sensible, she urges Alfie to play along, and they take part in Viking village life… cooking, weaving and even digging a toilet pit. But will they ever be able to find their way back home? Inspired by visiting the brilliant Jorvik Museum in York, McCombie’s all-action and highly imaginative time-slip romp – an exciting follow-up to The Boy Who Stole the Pharaoh’s Lunch – speaks volumes to children about unlikely friendships and the long history of diversity in Britain. With its strong curriculum links, and the clever balance of fascinating facts about Viking culture with McCombie’s rich and engrossing storytelling, The Accidental Vikings is published in Barrington Stoke’s dyslexia-friendly format and ideal for use in the classroom.
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
There are Mammals Everywhere
Camilla de la Bedoyere and Britta Teckentrup

PACK your rucksack and get ready to track down some amazing mammals of all shapes and sizes. There are Mammals Everywhere is the fifth title in a series of non-fiction books illustrated by bestselling artist Britta Teckentrup and teaches where in the world different sorts of mammals can be found, and the weird and wonderful things about them. Written by Camilla de la Bedoyere, who has an academic background in zoology, and vibrantly illustrated by Teckentrup, this beautiful book introduces young readers to fascinating facts about mammals and their habitats. See mammals climbing through canopies, scuttling through undergrowth, and even travelling underground! Follow a pride of lions across the savannah, spot a polar bear hidden in the Arctic snow and swing through the treetops with a family of gibbons. The combination of science and art provides an enchanting educational experience for curious minds while the exciting search-and-find feature invites youngsters to actively engage with the content, making learning about mammals an adventure. Drama, surprises and fascinating facts on every page!
(Big Picture Press, paperback, £8.99)

Age 7 plus
Boss of the Underworld:
Shirley vs the Huge Beast
Tor Freeman

HOW did a kid end up being the boss of the Underworld? It’s a kind of weird story and comes from the eclectic, electric imagination of award-winning author and illustrator Tor Freeman who goes above, beyond and a long way below in the second hilarious book in a fast-paced, funny, full-colour and accessible graphic novel series. Discover the fun and laughter for yourself as we meet up again with Shirley and find her falling down a hole into the Under-Underworld while following her giant cockroach companion George. Shirley never suspected she would end up there and she certainly never expected to be immediately crowned queen of the Under-Underworld. With Peels, a banana-skin royalist, Shirley travels across the junkyard of this new world to rescue George and confront the Huge Beast which has been terrorising the land. Fizzing with charm, energy and the silliest comedy this side of the Under-Underworld, this is one Boss that youngsters will be happy to obey!
(Hodder Children's Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
Sadie Jones and the Ball
Sally Nicholls and Ashley King

FAIRY tale heroes come in all shapes and sizes… and feisty, big-hearted kitchen maid Sadie Jones is definitely on the small side! Enjoy dancing to the tune of a delightful and dazzling twist on everyone’s favourite story of Cinderella in an enchanting new adventure from author Sally Nicholls and illustrator Ashley King. Everyone knows the story of Cinderella and how she and Prince Charming danced the night away at the ball. But what happened to all the other girls who were invited? Sadie Jones, the smallest kitchen maid in the palace, is furious when everyone else is left standing around with no one to dance with while Prince Charming and Cinderella have a wonderful time. Sadie is determined that no one should be left out so when Cinderella disappears and Prince Charming flounces off in a huff, it’s up to Sadie to save the day! Published in Barrington Stoke’s dyslexia-friendly format, this frothy frolic is perfect for all little fairy tale fans who want to join in the fun of what REALLY happened at Prince Charming’s ball!
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 4 plus
So This Is Love: Disney Colouring Book

CELEBRATE love in all its forms with over 80 gorgeous images to colour! Bring your favourite Disney characters to life as you colour in an array of heartfelt scenes featuring the different kinds of love… romantic love, family love, friendship and more. From Cinderella, Prince Charming and Mickey and Minnie Mouse to Simba, Mufasa and Lilo and Stitch, this cute selection of images is an inclusive celebration of love in all its forms. With intricate patterns, scenes of perfect partners and BFF fun, this book will entertain young colouring and Disney fans for hours.
(Studio Press, paperback, £10.99)

Age 3 plus
A Believer’s Guide to Unicorns
Jenni Desmond

FIND out everything there is to know about unicorns in this ethereally beautiful picture book from award-winning author and illustrator Jenni Desmond. Filled with fun, magic and soaring imagination, A Believer’s Guide to Unicorns reveals everything unicorn lovers need to know about their favourite mystical creatures. Unicorns live high up in the clouds, and though some readers may have never spotted one, there are plenty of magical clues that let true believers know they’re there. From bouncing on the clouds to make it snow, to zooming across the night sky like shooting stars, or whipping up a magical party storm, unicorns have lots of fun… and plenty of cheeky ways to say hello from high above! Cleverly created and designed, with a stunning palette of artwork, and an exquisitely imagined world of unicorns, this is destined to be a favourite book at bedtime!
(Hodder Children's Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Goldilocs
Ella McLeod and Rochelle Falconer

WRITER, performer, spoken word poet and actress Ella McLeod and talented illustrator Rochelle Falconer cast a magic spell with Goldilocs, an empowering new twist on a classic story! This colourful picture book will inspire young girls everywhere with its fun story and vibrant artwork. There are just three things that a girl who lives in Fairytale Land can be... First off, there’s a Witch but she should brew potions and Goldilocs would much rather make porridge. Then there’s an Evil Queen but she always wants more power, and as for a Princess waiting for a prince, that just sounds BORING! When Goldilocs tries to be the things she’s told a girl should be, she finds that none of them quite fit. But when she meets some bears who aren’t as scary as they seem, Goldilocs learns that being herself is what matters most. Packed with rhythm and rhyme, McLeod’s retelling breathes new life into a familiar tale while Falconer’s charming and cheeky illustrations will delight little readers.
(Scholastic, paperback, £7.99)

Age 2 plus
Wrapping Things
Linda Burgess and Hilary Jean Tapper

AUTHOR and illustrator team Linda Burgess and Hilary Jean Tapper have the chaos and cosiness of family life all wrapped up in this delightfully imagined picture book story about the arrival of a new baby. Rosie likes to wrap things up… her crayons, her toys, her kitten, a parcel for Granny, some baking, and some flowers. Rosie herself is wrapped up in a towel after her bath, her mother wraps up warm when she goes out in the cold, dark night, and Granny, who has come to stay, wraps up Rosie in her bed when she’s too upset to sleep by herself. It’s all been strange and disconcerting for Rosie but finally she meets the family’s brand new baby… all wrapped up in a cuddly blanket! The imaginative world of little Rosie takes centre stage in Burgess’s endearing and relatable story which is brought to life by Tapper’s adorable illustrations. A picture book classic in the making!
(Allen & Unwin Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age one plus
Love
Sophie Cashell and Axel Scheffler

WITH love, we can do anything! Author Sophie Cashell and Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler warm the hearts of readers young and old with this joyful picture book about love and kindness. ‘Love is a feeling that wraps you up tight, Like a hug when you're lonely or a light in the night. Love is a feeling that comes from the heart. It's easy to share it, come on – let’s start!’ With its warm text and playful animal characters, Love shows that sharing love and kindness is easy and fun… and makes our world a better place. Cashell’s beautiful, rhyming verse and Scheffler’s endearing animal characters are perfect for sharing messages of kindness, and a donation from every copy of Love sold goes to Three Peas, a charity which supports refugees who have had to flee their homes.
(Alison Green Books, board book, £7.99)

Evil Bones

Kathy Reichs 

WHEN several small animals are found mutilated, decorated and bizarrely displayed at various locations around Charlotte County in North Carolina, it seems only a matter of time before the sick perpetrator moves on to something more sinister.

And when a woman’s body is found disfigured and posed in the same disturbing manner, forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan faces a case that will test her to her limit… because of all the creatures in the world, only humans have the capacity for evil.

Evil Bones – a classy, clever, edge-of-the-seat thriller – is the amazing twenty-fourth high-stakes murder mystery in US author Kathy Reichs’ brilliantly authentic and addictive Temperance Brennan series which began with Déjà Dead in 1997 and, straight out of the blocks, won the Ellis Award for Best First Novel and became an international bestseller. Since then Reichs (pictured below) – herself a forensic anthropologist – has used her own experiences to bring her viscerally real thrillers to life and was a producer of Fox Television’s long-running, hit TV series, Bones, which is based on her work and her novels.

And her mastery of this superb medical science series retains its powerful appeal as we join Temperance (Tempe) in the midst of a hot summer in which small creatures – a rat, a rabbit, a squirrel and a skunk – have been turning up throughout the county. The dead animals have been nailed to trees, their skulls mutilated and distorted to look like faces in a death rictus.

But now the killer is upping the ante with each animal becoming a bigger and bigger species, and just as Tempe has taken temporary charge of her aimless, moody and high maintenance great-niece Ruthie, aged seventeen, she is called out to examine some remains that could be human.

Tempe visits the scene and discovers that the victim is actually a pet dog. As someone who has always found animal cruelty abhorrent, Tempe agrees to help track down the person responsible and is joined by an equally outraged ally in semi-retired homicide detective Erskine ‘Skinny’ Slidell who famously has ‘the personality of mouldy gouda, but good instincts.’ Needing a better understanding of possible motives, Tempe and Skinny seek help from a forensic psychologist. The doctor has no definitive answer but offers several possibilities, warning that the escalating pattern of aggression suggests they should expect even more macabre discoveries… and a shift in the killer’s focus to humans.

And then it happens... a woman is found disfigured and posed in a manner that mimics the animal killings. And soon, the case becomes personal for Tempe when Ruthie goes missing. It’s now clear that Tempe is being taunted. She is the target in a sick game that has her and Slidell racing against a ticking clock and facing a terrifying question… what is ‘pure evil’?

Reichs is at the top of her game in this heart-stopping and fast-paced tale of mystery and murder as stressed-out Tempe tackles a complex, dangerous and baffling case which puts not just her own life on the line but the safety of her beloved family. As always, the fascinating and macabre world of forensic anthropology plays a leading role in an addictive and all-round entertaining drama which sees Tempe caught up in a deadly cat-and-mouse game with a sadistic and unpredictable killer obsessed with the notion of ‘pure evil.’

And at the forefront of all the twisting and turning action stands the commanding figure of Tempe… dependable, super-intelligent, humane, acutely observant, wonderfully witty, and as steely and determined (excuse the pun!) as a dog with a bone.

Written with Reichs’ famously no-nonsense prose, eye-watering, authentic forensic detail, and a richly portrayed cast of characters – including some that have become as familiar to readers as they are to Tempe – Evil Bones will hook you in from the graphic opener to the high octane conclusion.
(Simon & Schuster, hardback, £20)

My Inner Child Wants to Murder Mindfully

Karsten Dusse

‘It’s never too late to have an unhappy childhood. It is also never too late to have a happy childhood.’

LAWYER turned murderer Björn Diemel is seeking his inner peace after some unfortunate (and some perhaps more fortunate!) killings so when his wise mindfulness coach points him in the direction of his ‘inner child,’ it might just be the solution to his problems.

Enjoy a truly ‘arresting’ start to your new year of reading by indulging in the sheer comic joy of My Inner Child Wants to Murder Mindfully, the hilarious follow-up to German lawyer and now novelist Karsten Dusse’s dark and sublimely entertaining crime debut, Murder Mindfully, which sold over two-and-a-half million copies and became a major Netflix series.

In a translation from the German by Florian Duijsens, which expertly picks up Dusse’s complex nuances and black humour, this new satirical gem once again achieves what might seem to be the impossible... the melding of a riotous killing romp with a perfectly authentic guide to the calming power of mindfulness.

Dusse (pictured left) has been writing for television formats for a number of years, and has won the German Television Award and the German Comedy Prize several times, and he has a ball with these murderously clever plots, using his legal background and eye for visual drama to dish up one restless man’s wicked and wellness-inspired dance of death.

There will be no more corpses… well, that’s the plan. With the help of his therapist, Joschka Breitner, lawyer Björn Diemel has mastered the principles of mindfulness and used them to improve his life. He quit his stressful job, started his own practice and really wants to stop murdering people. To this end, Björn now spends more time with his precious young daughter Emily and argues less – and usually more lovingly – with his estranged wife Katherina.

On top of all that, busy Björn is also running two mafia clans with ease after murdering the boss of one clan and locking the boss of the other in the basement of little Emily’s kindergarten (it was bought by Björn to ensure his child can keep her place there).

So why can’t Björn enjoy any of this, and why does he keep losing his temper? Unfortunately for him, his mafia prisoner Boris in the basement is getting restless, the parents’ committee at his Emily’s pre-school is clamouring for his attention, and to cap it all, he’s also being blackmailed.

To manage all this stress, Björn turns once again to Breitner, his trusty mindfulness coach, and learns about the (as yet) unmet needs of his inner child. And as he begins listening to this inner child, he discovers he is now able to comfortably blame his parents for everything from general irritability to several murders. Even better, his inner child is providing solutions, creative ways he can solve his problems… all of them. The trouble is, they involve murder.

My Inner Child Wants to Murder Mindfully is a triumph of twisted storytelling and scintillating satire as Dusse immerses readers deep inside the bizarre and brutal life of Björn... a life that should, in theory, be disturbing but instead dishes up a feast of unexpected feelgoods, eye-watering psychological insight, and humour with a deliciously dark and cynical flavour. To leaven all the chaos, bone-crunching violence and fast-paced action, each chapter begins with one of coach Breitner’s incisive mindfulness observations, a reminder of the stresses that bedevil modern life and that it was the author’s own rewards from practising self-help and mindfulness that inspired these razor-sharp satirical comedies.

With a host of useful meditation and mindfulness tips, suspense at every turn of the page, and a lead player with a killer line in comedy, it would be a crime to miss the fun! 
(Faber & Faber, paperback, £9.99)

Broken Kite

Timothy J. Lockhart

By guest reviewer Nicholas Litchfield,
editor of the Lowestoft Chronicle

A MISSING-PERSON case sweeps private investigator Wendy Lu into the murky underbelly of Virginia Beach, a city where the lost and desperate slip through the cracks and justice remains a rare commodity.

In Broken Kite, Timothy J. Lockhart’s second Wendy Lu novel, he exposes the grim realities of human trafficking and the narrow margin between survival and ruin. Lockhart (pictured below), both a lawyer and former Navy intelligence officer, brings the weight of lived experience to his fiction. 

Since his 2017 debut, Smith, he has earned a place among writers of lean and gritty mysteries with his stories marked by a tough procedural edge and emotional grit. Set in southeastern Virginia, Wendy Lu is a Chinese American ex-cop and Navy veteran who bears the scars of her past. Still haunted by the death of her former police partner and lover, Bobby, an event that led to her resignation and struggles with alcoholism, she is propelled by a need for redemption, often taking on cases long abandoned by others.

Her latest call comes from Wang Feng, owner of the Bamboo House and half-sister to the missing Wang Zheng. Zheng, once a promising student derailed by debt and isolation, is drawn into exploitation, from restaurant work to camgirl performances as ‘Lotus’, and eventually to the uncertain safety of ‘not completely legitimate’ massage parlours.

Zheng’s diary reveals a hopeful yet heartbreakingly lonely voice. Her first cam show earned only $63, but she believed she would ‘make more money as she got better – better, that is, in doing what her viewers would pay money to see.’ That loneliness echoes through every step of Wendy’s search.

Throughout the investigation, Wendy finds little support. Detective Carly Sherman, hawkish and fiercely territorial, and Michael Chen, a trafficking task force officer, offer only the barest help. Sherman remains sceptical, while Chen grudgingly respects Wendy’s persistence. For Wendy, the work always comes down to those who are left behind, and her stubborn empathy keeps her moving forward. As Wendy traces Zheng’s path, she moves through the blurred boundary between commerce and coercion. Few truly grasp what Zheng endured. Rebekah Ringgold, a seasoned camgirl, warns of the predatory men who circle these women, men with ‘yellow fever’ and no respect for boundaries. The most important rule, she insists, is to ‘never, ever give them any personal information’.

Zheng’s American alias, ‘Zoë’, leads Wendy to Tidewater Community College and Jim Lambert, whose easy manner may conceal darker motives. At the massage parlour, colleagues recall Zheng’s sudden disappearance and a string of clients, mostly older men and one imposing, bald foreign ‘boss’, hinting at something larger and more sinister beneath the city’s veneer. Wendy’s relationship with law enforcement underscores her position as both outsider and expert. Meanwhile, Vanessa, a sharp-witted lawyer, and Meihua, Wendy’s sister struggling with postnatal depression, serve as reminders of what’s at stake.

Tensions escalate when Ringgold is found murdered in her apartment, a stark sign that as Wendy gets closer to the truth, the danger only increases. The case becomes personal; every clue is a warning, and every step forward raises the threat to Wendy’s own life. Sherman, once dismissive, becomes an uneasy ally but, in the end, Wendy must rely on her own resolve and training.

Every encounter in Wendy’s search pulses with menace. Violence feels imminent, checked only by Wendy’s tenacity and refusal to yield. Her compassion and courage pull her deeper into dangerous territory, her drive for justice both a guide and a burden. The true force of this series entry lies in the raw humanity that pulses through every scene. Wendy Lu’s search for Zheng resists tidy conclusions as Lockhart leaves readers in a moral haze, wrestling with questions about justice and survival which persist long after the final page.

Taut and unsparing, yet anchored by hard-won empathy, Broken Kite is a bruising, deeply human noir... where the search for justice leaves its imprint on a woman who refuses to let the lost remain forgotten.
(Stark House Press, paperback, £11.95)

⬛Nicholas Litchfield is an English-born author and journalist who lives in Western New York. He established the Lowestoft Chronicle, a quarterly online magazine, in 2009. It publishes short stories, flash fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, interviews and artwork.(lowestoftchronicle.com)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Hooked on fishing, chaotic alpacas and a magpie girl

Join a world-renowned chef to get the right angle on fishing, meet a troubled boy coming to terms with grief, courage and madcap alpacas, discover a magical firebird and a girl who dreams of freedom, and learn the truth about some of history’s terrible traitors in a sparkling new year selection of children’s books

Age 8 plus
Hooked: Learning to Fish
Al Brown and Hope McConnell

YOU can never be too young – or too old – to take up a rod and learn how to fish! And who better to deliver that first inspirational ‘lesson’ for any would-be anglers than Al Brown, a well-known New Zealand chef and fisherman, much loved for his Auckland restaurants Depot  and Federal Delicatessen, his Best Ugly bagel shops, and his bestselling books Eat Up: Bach Edition, Go Fish and Stoked. So whether you want to fish for sprats from a wharf, walk up a stream with a fly rod or cast a line from a boat or kayak, there is a fishnet full of handy information inside this colourful book packed with the eye-catching illustrations of Hope McConnell. Learn how to tie knots, bait hooks, cast lures, and fillet and cook your catch. Brown has a lifelong love of fishing and Hooked includes ten of his most-loved fish recipes, some of them his Depot restaurant classics. Fishing, youngsters learn, is a terrific outdoors experience that is challenging but also super exciting… and the learning never ends as your knowledge builds with each adventure and every time you head out. Hooked is the perfect ‘catch’ for anglers of every age!
(Allen & Unwin Children’s Books, paperback, £14.99)

Age 9 plus
The Not-So Great Escape
Emma Green

IF a funny but moving story about laughter, coming to terms with loss, courage – and alpacas – tickles your reading fancy this January, then dive into a simply adorable children’s debut novel from proud alpaca owner Emma Green. Covering eternal themes like friendship, family, grief and therapy, Green explores the brick wall of uncertainty and unhappiness that has torn apart 12-year-old Hedley’s family life since his mum died in a car crash a year ago and he was propelled into therapy sessions. Hedley has always played it safe, especially since the night that changed his life for ever. But when his friend Aiden at the residential therapy activities centre steals an alpaca, Hedley is dragged on a runaway road trip that he did NOT sign up for… a trip that involves an accidental robbery, a night in a haunted wood… and becoming internet famous #AlpacaBandit. As the chaos builds, Hedley finds he isn’t just running from the police, he’s also running from the truth. And as his world comes crashing down, will Hedley play it safe, or take his biggest risk yet? Guaranteed to make you cry as well as laugh, The Not-So Great Escape is a very special debut which blends mischief, mayhem and fast-paced drama with some piercing emotional insights into family, friendship, coping with the death of a loved one, and finding the courage to keep on living and loving.
(Usborne Publishing, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Magpie Girl
Rowan Foxwood

DISCOVER a magical firebird that grants wishes, a girl dreaming of freedom, and an epic rescue mission in a fantastical world-building adventure from Rowan Foxwood whose writing is inspired by her love of mythology, fairy tales and folklore. A born storyteller, Foxwood brings us Magpie Girl, a beautiful and inventive reimagining of the phoenix and Baby Yaga myths, with added exhilarating themes of wanderlust, belonging and memory. Beware the firebird who grants wishes... they come at a terrible price. Lavender Wild is a magpie girl… she grows feathers, talks to birds and has a talent for finding lost things. But stuck in her tiny village, she wishes for freedom. So when her ex-friend Kit realises his dad has gone missing on the deadly firebird’s mountain, Lavender seizes the chance to set out with him on a rescue mission. Faced with earthquakes, daemons and witches, Lavender and Kit must rebuild their friendship to survive… because the firebird is rising, and only they can save everyone from its flames. A glorious melting pot of worldwide mythologies and fairy tales, this unforgettable and magical adventure is the perfect fantasy escape route from the chill winds of January!
(Usborne Publishing, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Clem Fatale Has Been Upstaged
Eve Wersocki-Morris and Honie Beam

GANGSTERS, gals, hoodlums and heists... welcome to the second book of a rip-roaring middle grade series set in the shadowy streets of 1950s London and teeming with madcap escapades and the unlikeliest heroes! Leading the charge through all the exhilarating villainy is fearless young crook Clem Fatale, the simply delightful creation of exciting author Eve Wersocki-Morris whose debut mystery novel, The Bird Singers, has been nominated for multiple awards. In her rollicking new outing in the summer of 1951, feisty Clem, the youngest crook in the city, and her best friend Gilbert are going to see their favourite musical double act, the Wade Sisters, perform at the London Palladium! But one half of the duo – Betty Wade – disappears. Her sister Judy hires Clem and Gilbert to find Betty and soon the pair are pulled into the dark side of the theatre scene, and into the orbit of a notorious criminal mastermind. It’s a race against time – and the gangsters of London – to get Betty back to the theatre. Will Clem be able to stage the rescue of a lifetime? Brimming with the characterful illustrations of Honie Beam, who is based in South Carolina, this high-octane and wonderfully theatrical adventure delivers fun, adventure, mystery, pulsating action and a brilliantly imagined cast of characters, from fast-talking dames and creepy crooks to lovable good guys. Add on a sparkling dialogue and a brilliantly imagined Fifties backdrop, and you have a series that is stealing every reader’s heart!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
Terrible Traitors (Horrible Histories)
Terry Deary and Martin Brown

THERE have always been traitors… people who are willing to switch sides, let down a friend and betray their country. Nothing could ever make YOU become a traitor, though… or could it? Master of making history fun, Terry Deary, teams up with his talented Horrible Histories cartoonist team-mate Martin Brown to tell the tales of fifty brutal betrayals across history. Terrible Traitors is a horrible compendium of the worst traitors in history. Were they really all bad? You must decide. So why do people turn traitor? Sometimes they do it for love, often because of their beliefs, maybe out of pride, perhaps even greed… and sometimes just for fun. Did you know that the oldest story in the world is about the traitor Enkidu who dared to rise up against King Gilgamesh? You might already know about Caesar and his unfaithful senators, but have you heard about Walter Tirel, the Norman knight who went out hunting with King William the Conqueror? Well, only one man returned. Walter claimed it was an accident, but he had a pretty good track record with his aim... Fully illustrated throughout and packed with horrible stories (with all the horribly hilarious bits included of course), Deary’s priceless wit, Brown’s perfectly pitched illustrations and a fresh take on the classic Horrible Histories style, this history of traitors has never been so winningly horrible and so hilariously entertaining!
(Scholastic, paperback, £6.99)

Age 8 plus
Stitch Head
Guy Bass and Pete Williamson

HE'S not quite Frankenstein’s monster but Stitch Head, a mad professor’s forgotten creation, certainly has adventure stories all sewn up! Who can forget the freakishly funny tales of award-winning author Guy Bass’ not-so-scary little monster who was brought to ‘almost-life’ by illustrator Pete Williamson… and is now coming to UK cinemas in February. So share all the guffaws, giggles and deliciously dark fun of Bass’ Stitch Head and his madcap world in this film tie-in edition of Bass’ first book which takes centre stage in the new film. Deep in the maze-like dungeons of Castle Grotteskew, eccentric Professor Erasmus created Stitch Head, a small, almost-human creature. His experiments continued, filling the castle with creations so fabulously monstrous that Stitch Head was long forgotten. Until a travelling circus ringmaster knocks at the castle door, promising to make Stitch Head a star. Is this Stitch Head’s chance to venture beyond the castle walls? Or could he be making a terrible mistake? Stitch’s funny, accessible, fast-paced adventures are perfect for reluctant readers who like their stories to be visually appealing and the action to unfold at breakneck speed. Brimming with atmosphere, excitement, captivating characters and chaotic humour, Stitch Head is simply packed with monstrous fun… no surprise then that our little monster has movie stardom all stitched up!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
Donut Squad: Make a Mess!
Neill Cameron

SWEET or savoury? Donut or bagel? Who will be victorious? Comics genius Neill Cameron is back with the second crazy caper in his delicious new graphic novels series... and there’s a ‘hole’ lot of fun to enjoy! Any youngsters who like silliness and donuts are gobbling up these perfectly baked and addictively moreish stories starring the totally bonkers Donut Squad which includes Sprinkles, the leader, Jammyboi who spreads stickiness everywhere, Dadnut and Lil' Timmy who explain obscure facts, and Spronky who is bizarrely unconventional! But don’t mention the arch-nemeses of the donuts... the bagels who are constantly plotting the Donut Squad’s doom! In this new madcap adventure, the bagels are lying low and the Donut Squad are enjoying making their own malarkey. They’re off camping… and hiding from bears! Anxiety Donut is on an adventure where what happens next is up to YOU! And Lil Timmy learns the Meaning of Life… so you can too! But the bagels can’t be held back for long… their plan is about to be unleashed to kick the Donut Squad out of their own book. Will the Donuts be able to stop them?

This jam-packed series is the brainchild of comic powerhouse, The Phoenix, and features all the characters from the comic strip that fans know and love. Full of crazy humour and mouthwatering full-colour illustrations that will keep readers going back for seconds, the book also helps budding artists to create awesome characters just like the Donut Squad with a whole section of how-to-draw tutorials from Cameron. Add on links to The Phoenix comic club website where you can find draw-along videos, free printable material and top tips from tons of creators, and you have the perfect oven-baked series for all donut-loving mischief-makers!
(David Fickling Books, paperback, £9.99)

Age 7 plus
Reggie Rabbit and the Metro Mice
Swapna Reddy and Becka Moor

HE might be small, but Reggie Rabbit, Detective, will keep the big city safe! Welcome back to the wonderful world of Reggie and his family, friends and detective partner Pipsquark the parakeet  in the fourth book of a simply delightful series that blends illustrated fiction with a graphic novel. Reggie Rabbit is the dazzling creation of New Zealand-based author Swapna Reddy and Manchester illustrator Becka Moor, and is set in an alluring Gotham-like animal city. In his new adventure, Reggie wants to be a big-shot detective in Bearburgh City, just like his hero, Detective Fox. He has successfully exposed another Masque plot and word is getting out about the crime-solving rabbit and his parakeet partner. But Reggie’s mum and dad want him to be safe, and expect him to live in Little Critter forever, working on the family vegetable stall. What’s a rabbit to do? Then one day, a small shy mouse called Mo reaches out to the pair for help… his home, the warren-like metro tunnels underneath Bearburgh, is under threat. Cracks are appearing in the structure of the metro where the mouse community live. Reggie and Pipsquark want to help the Metro Mice but do the Metro Mice want them? Reddy – who also writes as Swapna Haddow – has a happy knack of always delivering stories filled with warm friendships, madcap adventures and lots of laughs. Add on Moor’s fun-filled illustrations, influenced by crime noir and vintage comics, and you have an early reading, all-round winner!
(Oxford University Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 6 plus
Guardians of the New Moon:
The Year of the Tiger
Eric Huang and Phùng Nguyên Quang

THE top team of London-based podcaster, writer and lecturer Eric Huang and Vietnamese illustrator Phùng Nguyên Quang bound back with their fun and fabulously full-throttle illustrated series which blends adventure with folklore and legends. Huang has always been fascinated by legends, lore and magical creatures, and has pledged that every book in this superb Guardians of the New Moon series will feature an epic adventure about friendship, celebrating differences, and loving your authentic self. In this third outing, we discover the Heavenly Palace is in uproar! Biao the tiger has gone missing and there’s no Year of the Tiger without her. Black-and-white cat Miaow and nine-tailed fox Ming, a spirited and fiery shapeshifter, are sent to find her… but bringing her back might just be their most difficult mission yet. Focused and stubborn, Biao hasn’t got time for silly things like the lunar new year. The forest she calls home is dying and she’s determined to save it. But she can’t do it alone and her hot temper keeps getting in the way of finding friends. With time running out, can the Guardians help Biao save her home – and the Year of the Tiger – before it’s too late? With a menagerie of magical creatures, fantastical lands to discover and Quang’s richly detailed illustrations, these delightfully light-hearted and easy-to-read adventures are sure to fascinate and inspire young readers while introducing the lunar new year and other fascinating East Asian traditions and folklore.
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £6.99)

Age 3 plus
The Home That Love Built
Jessica Meserve

‘This is the wind that whipped and whirled. This is the lightning that zipped and zapped. This is the thunder that bombarded and blasted. And these are the animals... all soggy and sad.’

CHILDREN and adults alike will adore the rich, poetic language and the empowering message of resilience which is the building block of this moving and endearing story from author and illustrator Jessica Meserve who finds inspiration and happiness in the great outdoors. When a terrible storm tears through the forest, everything seems lost. Trees are toppled, nests, nooks and burrows are destroyed and the animals are left with nothing but ruins. But then, a new home begins to grow… not an ordinary home, but one built from the efforts of every single animal in the forest. A home, made not just of twigs and leaves, but of kindness, courage, and love. Told in a rhythmic, cumulative style and paired with breathtaking illustrations, The Home That Love Built is a powerful celebration of friendship, teamwork and rebuilding after loss. Ideal for classrooms exploring big emotions like fear of change, sadness and grief, it is also a gentle, comforting story for bedtime snuggles, reminding children that even in their hardest moments, they are part of a community and held by those who love them.
(Little Tiger Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
Mr Norton’s New Hat
Huw Lewis Jones and Corey Egbert

YOU have to take your hat off to Mr Norton! Author Huw Lewis Jones and Virginia-based illustrator Corey Egbert have fun with this addictive picture book romp which offers a captivating reading experience and is perfect for sharing together, again and again! One Monday morning, Horace Norton had something of a surprise… a mouse had made a house in his hat! On Tuesday, there are birds in his bicycle basket… and on Wednesday, a squirrel asleep in his shoe! What will Mr Norton do when, as the week progresses, the animals take over his bathroom, his bed… and even his beard?! With a text that repeats and builds with each new animal and a story that ends with a peace offering from the animals and new friends for the lonely Mr Norton, this celebration of kindness, brought to life by Egbert’s stylish and timeless illustrations, is set to be a new classic!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 2 plus
Very Special You
Emma Dodd

‘Your smile is the best smile, your laugh is just right. You were made for kisses and cuddling tight.'

READERS young and old will fall in love with another beautiful story in a heartfelt picture book series celebrating the love between a parent and child from award-winning author and illustrator Emma Dodd. A sheep revels in the wonder and uniqueness of her lamb and is filled with love when they spend time with together. Dodd spreads a golden glow over this charming book which works its magic through the stunning gold-foiled cover and pages, an inspirational rhyming story, and a gallery of emotive illustrations which impart uplifting messages about being an individual and deserving your place in the world. Exquisitely created and brimming with love, Very Special You is written with a large helping of warmth and wisdom, and makes the perfect gift for any time of year.
(Templar Publishing, hardback, £7.99)

Age 2 plus
Am I Yours?
Alex Latimer

WE all know that there are lots of little dinosaur fans… but do they know which dinosaur is which? Youngsters will be stomping their way through this colourful new edition of Am I Yours?, Alex Latimer’s dazzling and internationally bestselling picture book. Talented author and illustrator Latimer, who is based in Cape Town, South Africa, won hearts and minds with his much-loved rhyming tale about identifying dinos and this new edition will delight the army of young dinosaur enthusiasts. ‘Excuse me, please, but am I yours? I’m sure I am a dinosaur’s!’ When an icy wind pushes an egg from its nest, five friendly dinosaurs must get it home before dark. But who does the lost egg belong to, and will they figure it out in time? The stunning artwork, a rhythmic, rhyming story and the gentle introduction to a host of dinosaur species make this a book to be truly treasured.
(Oxford University Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age one plus
Baby on Board:
Submarine & Rocket
Ruth Symons and Seb Braun

GET your babies and toddlers on the go with two super interactive board books which put little ones in the driving seat! Baby on Board: Submarine and Baby on Board: Rocket are part of an adorable novelty slider series for young movers and shakers who will love getting their hands on the push, pull and slide tabs at the turn of every page. So climb aboard the baby sub, go beneath the waves and dive down to explore the deep! 

And in Baby on Board: Rocket, youngsters climb aboard, start the countdown, hold on tight and then fly off to the planets and stars. The fun rhyming text is perfect for reading aloud to babies and pre-schoolers, and full of sounds which let youngsters join in. With tabs to slide and wheels to spin, and a cast of adorable animal characters, the books help little ones to learn observation and language skills and develop their fine motor skills, while illustrator Seb Braun creates friendly, action-packed scenes, full of detail, colour and warmth. Hours of entertainment at your fingertips!
(Templar Books, board books, £6.99 each)

Age from birth
Match the Colour
Ruth Symons and Susie Hammer

HERE'S an inventive board book that teaches more than just first words! Match the Colour – written by Ruth Symons and illustrated in vivid colours by Polish artist Susie Hammer – doubles up as a brilliant colour-sorter in an ingenious design that lets toddlers place three chunky shapes into matching slots. The brightly coloured circles – attached to the book with equally colourful ribbons – create an engaging colour-sorting game on each beautifully illustrated page with each slotting into cut-outs with satisfying ease, and each completing a variety of images, from an ice cream cone to a branch full of bugs. Matching the colours aids children in their fine motor skills, hand-eye co-ordination and problem-solving skills, and each spread also introduces popular first words, making this the ideal book to learn from while having fun. A book perfectly shaped and designed for readers of the future!
(Templar Books, board book, £7.99)

Age from birth
I’m a Digger & I’m a Bunny
Ruth Symons and Matthew Scott

DIG, scoop, baa and bleat! Little hands will love exploring these dazzling, dinky shaped board books packed with their building vehicles and cute creatures. Featuring illustrator Matthew Scott’s bright colours and appealing faces, the adorable toy-like pages of I’m a Digger and I’m a Bunny are sure to hold the attention of the youngest babies while author Ruth Symons’ simple facts are perfect for toddlers. 

Each uniquely-shaped page reveals a new construction vehicle or familiar animal favourite, alongside a simple fact and a playful sound to join in with. Get ready to DIG, SCOOP, PUSH and WHIRR along as they see mighty work machines, from a bulldozer and concrete mixer to a hefty crane. 

And join in the fun as they meet a bouncing rabbit, a miaowing kitten and a neighing foal. Fun and learning at the turn of every sturdy page!
(Templar Books, board books, £6.99 each)