Murder on the Marlow Belle by Robert Thorogood

Marlow’s local Amateur Dramatics group (MADS) are cast as the closed circle of suspects in the fourth instalment of the Marlow Mysteries. Director and leading man, Oliver Beresford has vanished; he didn’t return home after the group took a celebratory trip on the River Thames, and his wife is worried ... could it be murder? Enter Judith, Suzie and Becks stage right.

Opening the page to the familiar scenes of Marlow and its inhabitants is, for me, like reconnecting with an old friend. While the puzzle itself is intriguing and the new array of characters fresh for dissection, it is a delight to rejoin the trio of amateur sleuths and witness their triumphs, squabbles and deepening friendship. Sparkling dialogue dances across the page as the banter bounces back and forth, and the depiction of MADs resident diva Mary Eddington (Lady Bracknell) is a tour de force.

Yet, cosy crime is not always all that cosy. The follies of youth and age take centre stage as the Amateur Dramatic Society’s dirty laundry is brought out into the limelight. And how long will Judith be able to keep her own secrets hidden? We’ll have to wait till next year to find out.

A highly anticipated New Year’s treat in the Lawrence household; a Marlow Mystery is a perfect cosy mystery to brighten up those gloomy January nights.

Sarah, Adult Librarian

Whoever You Are, Honey by Olivia Gatwood

In Santa Cruz, Mitty and Bethel are trying to live a quiet life away from the world. The world is coming to them, however, as Silicon Valley tech bros hoping to inject ‘authenticity’ into their lives are moving in in droves. In the process they are bulldozing comfortable homes in favour of Instagram-perfect glass houses in which to showcase their carefully curated realities.
 
New neighbours Sebastian and Lena typify the tech elite, but Mitty sees opportunity for friendship with Lena, whose life may not be as polished as it seems.
 
This compelling debut was definitely my favourite fiction book of the year. It examines the conflict between the false perfections of the technologies bulldozing their way into our lives and the wonderful messiness of humanity. Like a feminised Philip K Dick novel for the social media age. I’m really looking forward to what this author will do next.

Helen, Senior Adult Librarian

The Cat Who Saved the Library by Sosuke Natsukawa

Books are disappearing and no one else seems to have noticed, or to care. Nobody that is until the talking cat. Journey with Nanami and Tiger to the realm of the grey men as they uncover the whereabouts of missing literary treasures and rescue them … if they can.

A book about books featuring a cat – what’s not to love? Natsukawa’s world-building is understated; no orcs and dragons here, just an army of faceless men in suits whose mission is to destroy stories. Featuring book burnings, the saturation of the market by auto-generated texts, and just general neglect (of books) – the peril is alarmingly real.

The star of the narrative, teenager Nanami, is easy to relate to; libraries are her sanctuary and her frustration when she is not heard is far too familiar. Her story arc is perhaps a touch predictable – sheltered daughter with asthma rises above everyone’s expectations to save the day with the help of her friends – but it is beautifully told, and was that a tear in my eye?

A wonderful sequel that explores the power of books to revive the soul and challenge institutions. Vindication for book lovers everywhere.

Sarah

Why Can't I Just Enjoy Things? by Pierre Novellie

I loved this book, inspired by the comedian’s autism diagnosis. It encompasses a comprehensive history of the condition alongside the author’s personal experience of life on the spectrum, with a lot of laughs along the way.

Novellie is conflicted about the label: is it helpful to himself, society and the autism community for someone who largely functions well to be labelled autistic? His ‘low support needs autism’ would previously have been termed ‘Asperger’s syndrome’. A fascinating chapter on the Austrian doctor after whom the syndrome was named adds context to Novellie’s dilemma, ultimately helping him embrace the championing of his neurodiverse identity. This, alongside an overview of psychological research developments over the years, helps bring Novellie to the conclusion that a focus on support levels is preferable to distinguishing between groups entirely.

Novellie manages to make complicated ideas and emotions both accessible and hilarious; self-effacing personal anecdotes sit alongside a comprehensible history of clinical thought on the condition, making for an engaging, easy and enjoyable read.

Helen

The Killer Question by Janice Hallett

Monday night is quiz night at The Case is Altered … that is until it’s boarded up. What has happened to the landlords? Who are the mysterious Shadow Knights? And will Dominic Eastwood be able to sell Netflix the rights for the True Crime documentary? 

Organised as a binge-worthy series, twists and turns are introduced on every other page via the emails, police statements and WhatsApp groups that readers of Hallett’s previous works will be familiar with. It also makes for a quick read as 436 pages feel more like 280.

When back stories are revealed, characters shift and change from heroes to villains as the true cheats are exposed. Any good mystery will challenge a readers’ preconceptions and biases, and Hallett is particularly good at using assumptions to misdirect. I certainly didn’t figure it out and will have greater compassion going forward for cranky quizzers.

There are plenty of laugh out loud moments. I couldn’t put it down! 

Sarah

Ask Not: The Kennedys and the Women They Destroyed by Maureen Callahan

I couldn’t put down this propulsive non-fiction, that looks at the Kennedy Dynasty through the lens of the women they mistreated. Maureen Callahan pulls no punches in painting the Kennedy clan as a family of entitled misogynists whose power and privilege meant they got away with abhorrent and criminal behaviour for generations.
 
Famous names like Jackie Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe sit alongside lesser-known figures such as political interns Mimi Beardsley and Diana de Vegh. We see women bullied, assaulted, taken advantage of, gravely injured and in several cases having their lives cut short, through a combination of Kennedys’ bull-headed arrogance and callous disregard. The men responsible meanwhile are never fully held to account. Callahan casts a journalist’s eye over events, contextualising the social and political landscape without excusing. A really great read.

Helen

Allow Me To Introduce Myself by Onyi Nwabineli

What is it like to have your childhood curated for content? Would you stand by as history repeats itself with your sister? Aṅụrị will not, cannot. As she navigates the fallout of growing up in the limelight, Aṅụrị will fight for the freedom to be met as she truly is.

Having worked in a secondary school I have been witness to many of the negative impacts of growing up with social media, so the themes of this novel naturally drew me in. With compelling narrative, Onyi Nwabuneli captures the heartbreaking complexity of family tensions, the exhaustion of resisting unhealthy coping methods (with mixed results), and the blessing of good friends and professionals who love you through, with an acuteness that is both comforting and poignant. I laughed, I cried, and I considered how my own relationship with social media might need to change. A fantastic novel for wellbeing collections.

I was delighted when Allow Me To Introduce Myself was awarded the Diverse Book Award 2025 for adult fiction. This was my favourite book of the year.

Sarah

The Long Shoe by Bob Mortimer

Like the author himself, this book is intelligent without taking itself too seriously. It follows forensic accountant Harriet’s departure from the home she shares with boyfriend Matt. Has she simply had enough, or is something more sinister afoot? And will the ineffectual Matt find the dynamism to investigate? Written from the viewpoints of several characters, no-one gets away with their own version of events, making for a delightful and easy read.

The comedian's whimsy comes through in his characters and plot, as well as a touch of his trademark surrealism (talking cat, anyone?). And as you’d expect, it’s hilarious, with laughs before you've even got past the cover. This 'mystery with 3 or 4 suspects' is a very enjoyable read. 

Helen

Future Boy by Michael J. Fox and Nelle Fortenberry

Great Scott! It’s 40 years since Back to the Future first delighted cinema goers with its iconic soundtrack and comedic performances. But it could have been so different. In this behind-the-scenes retelling, Fox reminisces about what it was like to play two roles simultaneously – Family Ties’ Alex P. Keaton by day and Marty McFly by night.

Documented in a linear fashion with time jumps into scenes from Fox’s teenager years and early days in Hollywood, it is clear that Fox had fun despite a demanding schedule. His delight in the storytelling is infectious and there was barely a moment when I wasn’t grinning while reading. 

Fox’s personality shines through the pages – his love of music, his enthusiasm for collaboration, his care for his fellow cast and crew members, and his humility in success. Considerable word count is given to the admiration of others’ performances and the celebration of the craftmanship involved in all areas of TV and filmmaking, from the writers’ room to the editing suite. Interspersed amongst Fox’s narrative are reflections from cast members and crew on both productions. This is a family affair.

With short chapters, good humour and accessible language, Future Boy is a great non-fiction read for reluctant readers – especially fans of Back to the Future and film in general.

Sarah

This ain't rock 'n' roll by Daniel Rachel

Daniel Rachel explores chronologically how decades of rock artists seem to have separated the imagery and theatre of the Third Reich from the atrocities committed. John Lennon, David Bowie, Siouxsie Sioux and The Sex Pistols are just a few of the revered musicians revealed to have flirted with the iconography of the Nazi regime. Parody? Misguided rebellion? Ignorance? Or outright antisemitism?

Rachel contextualises the musical history with thorough inclusion of Holocaust crimes, ensuring the reader cannot forget. He questions how it’s psychologically and sociologically possible that so many of the post-war era’s best loved artists got away with sporting the costume of the worst enemy. I was gripped by this eye-opening read looking at the balance between boundary pushing and dangerous insensitivity. Great for both music and history fans.

Helen

The possibility of tenderness by Jason Allen-Paisant

Shortlisted for the Wainwright Prize for Nature Writing earlier this year, The Possibility of Tenderness explores the link between Jamaican and British histories through poet Jason Allen-Paisant's travels with his mother. 

A collection of reflective vignettes, interspersed with moments of verse, which explore themes of grief, memory, identity, race, and class through the author’s journey to reconnect with the land and its flora. The lyrical prose gives the tone a gentle quality like stepping into a woodland at sunrise, but does not shy away from difficult questions: How do we learn to collaborate with the land rather than committing violence against it? Why do some people in the UK have more access to green space in than others? 

A captivating read that will take you on the journey.

Sarah

Nobody's girl by Virginia Roberts Giuffre

Has any book in 2025 had more impact than Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir? Every once in a while, a publication comes along that shapes news agendas and has profound real-world impact. This harrowing account from the Jeffrey Epstien and Ghislaine Maxwell victim shone a light on a culture of abuse at the core of fame and power. Through having the bravery to tell her story, Giuffre sent reverberations right to the heart of the British and US establishments, making space for others to tell their stories and nudging towards justice for perpetrators. (In my opinion) This year’s finest example of how books matter and why we read.

Helen