Homes & Gardens
Book Reviews: Chilling Reads It’s all about the spooky, criminal, weird and macabre this issue… Triflers Need Not Apply Camilla Bruce This is a fictionalised account of the life of mass murderer Belle Gunness, who started her killing spree back in 1900. In the novel, a horrific attack as a young woman sets Belle on a very different path to that of her peers. She realises that while women may not have legal power, they can be just as ruthless as men. As the bodies pile up, so too do Belle’s finances. But how long can her appetite for murder go unnoticed? You’ll veer between pity and loathing for the main character, with perhaps a touch of horrified admiration at times. The Rising Tide Sam Lloyd Lucy seems to have it all, until one day her family’s yacht is found drifting at sea, empty. She soon realises her husband is missing, and with him her children. A storm is brewing that threatens to wipe away any clues and any hope of finding survivors. Atmospheric and with twists galore, The Rising Tide will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World Elif Shafak If you didn’t read this book back when everyone was talking about it two years ago, don’t let it slip through your fingers again. The central character is Leila, who lies murdered and dumped in a rubbish bin in Istanbul. As her brain shuts down, we’re taken through her life up until that point. Not the happiest life to be sure, but one rich in friendship.
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And those friends will stop at nothing to make sure Leila isn’t just another victim in an unmarked grave. A startlingly unique, vivid read. The Man Who Died Twice Richard Osman Sequels rarely live up to the hype, but boy does this one deliver. The Thursday Murder Club has another crime to solve (which is lucky as the pensioners were getting a bit bored). Elizabeth has received a cry for help from an old flame – one she neither likes nor trusts. But he’s in danger and she’d rather he didn’t end up dead. As you’d expect, there are plenty of red herrings to throw them (and you) off the scent. Cosy crime at its best. The Haunting Season Various authors There’s a time-honoured tradition of curling up on a cold winter’s night to devour a ghost story. You might not be reading the tales in The Haunting Season by candlelight, but they’re sure to delight nonetheless. Eight leading authors have contributed, including Laura Purcell, Kiran Millwood Hargrave and Andrew Michael Hurley. While each story is set in winter, the similarity ends there. Some verge on horror while others are more deliciously spooky. A Slow Fire Burning Paula Hawkins A multi-layered mystery with unreliable characters, A Slow Fire Burning is certain to appeal to domestic noir fans. Daniel is found dead on his houseboat. Laura is the last known person to see him alive and was seen leaving with blood on her clothes. And then there’s Carla, Daniel’s aunt, who’s still grieving for her son and sister. And Miriam, the woman who says she found the body. Plus several other characters, all with their own stories to tell and secrets to hide… By Kate Duggan
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