FICTION
Exit by Belinda Bauer is published in hardback by Bantam Press, priced £14.99 (ebook £9.99). Available January 21
EXIT is a fast-paced thriller where you find yourself rooting for someone involved in an accidental murder. Pensioner Felix Pink is a simple, straightforward man who just wants to help people; he does so by being part of an anonymous organisation that help their clients die with dignity. But his last case goes wrong when he accidentally aids the wrong man – and this is where the twists and turns begin. How did his well planned operation go wrong? Was there a set-up? Would anyone suspect the man who travelled to the murder via bus? Bauer writes from the view of Felix, the victim’s son, and the PC investigating a crime that has little or no visible evidence. It’s a great distraction from the every day, that’s for sure.
8/10
Rachel Howdle
Asylum Road by Olivia Sudjic is published in hardback by Bloomsbury, priced £14.99 (ebook £10.49). Available January 21
THIS is a story about beginnings, endings, and the collapse of time between the two. Anya, who escaped Sarajevo as a child during the Bosnian War, is now estranged from her family who remained. Engaged to the elusive Luke, she feels compelled to share their news in person and revisit the roots she has kept so separate from her new identity. The journeys Anya takes are more circular than linear, marred by underlying trauma that threatens to overspill and disrupt her London life. Sudjic conveys this breach of identity deftly; while the outside intrudes, the inside cannot be contained – Anya vomits repeatedly, obsessively removes the hairs that sprout on her chin and shows an involuntary disgust for the fleshy interior of soft fruit. Each page thrums with anxiety and insecurity, pushing inexorably towards one final, terrifying journey.
8/10
Jemma Crew
How The One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House by Cherie Jones is published in hardback by Tinder Press, priced £16.99 (ebook £8.99). Available January 21
HOW The One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House tells the story of a small island in Barbados, a ‘paradise’ held together by its tourism industry. Through snapshots of the lives of the locals in a small beach town, three women fight to survive amid the violence and poverty. Set against sandy beaches and beautiful blue seas are three marriages, with characters that are richly explored and compelling. From a murder in a luxury village to the seafront shack where a mother lives with her baby and abusive husband, it is a fast-paced and dark insight into tropical paradise. Jones does not flinch away from the more upsetting realities of Bajan life, and the result is a heart-wrenching debut.
7/10
Megan Baynes
NON-FICTION
The Success Code by Amanda Dewinter is published in hardback by HQ, priced £12.99 (ebook £5.99)
AMANDA Dewinter is an executive success coach and social scientist, and here she brings together theories of coaching, neuroscience and cognitive psychology to provide her code for success in four key steps. The key message of the book is that talent is not innate and success takes hard work, practise and a willingness to continually learn. This is central to the book’s philosophy, along with a focus on the value of wellbeing and the power of habit formation. There are several case examples and the writing is backed up by academic studies, helping give it credibility. The Success Code is an ideal read for anyone wanting to approach their 2021 goals with renewed vigour and a solid plan of attack.
7/10
Molly Hunter
CHILDREN’S
How To Change The World by Rashmi Sirdeshpande, illustrated by Annabel Tempest, is published in hardback by Puffin, priced £6.99 (ebook £3.99)
IN THIS beautifully illustrated book, Rashmi Sirdeshpande recounts a series of important milestones in human history. Including the establishment of the first democracy, the International Space Station, and the start of the fair trade campaign, each achievement acts as inspiration for a better world. This empowering book is well suited to curious young minds, and Annabel Tempest’s intricately detailed pictures ensure every page has plenty to explore. Although Sirdeshpande gives a basic introduction to every milestone, it should inspire discussion about personal sacrifice, courage, and team efforts, and act as a colourful springboard to learning more about each point in history.
7/10
Nicole Whitton
