The Suspicions of Mr Whicher or The Murder at Road Hill House
By Kate Summerscale
Before you start running for the hills at the idea of reading a tale with such a long title let me reassure you, this book is utterly gripping, the type you want to read all in one sitting – perfect for when you’re stuck in bed with time stretching ahead of you.
Based on a real-life Wiltshire murder within the Kent family in 1860, Kate Summerscale leads us through the process of investigation, as undertaken by Detective-Inspector Whicher, in painstaking detail, building up a picture of suspects, motives and means.
Rather then neatly wrap up the ending, Summerscale explores the effects of the murder on the lives of all involved, with twists that are sure to shock. What makes it a gem is the way in which Summerscale sprinkles the narrative with all sorts of ‘fun facts’ that are sure to come in handy at a pub quiz. For its depth, style and pure brilliance, this has to be one of the best books I’ve ever read.
The Shadow of the Wind
By Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Set in Barcelona after the Second World War, this book tells the story of Daniel Sempere, the son of a book-shop owner who is one day given the honour of visiting the hidden Cemetery of Forgotten Books. Allowed to
choose one book from the ancient shelves, Daniel selects The Shadow of the Wind and his decision is to have far-reaching consequences. When he discovers that someone has been steadily destroying all of the books written bY Julián Carax, the author of Daniel’s special book, he resolves to find out the truth behind Carax’s work, life, and death, whilst dealing with adolescent issues of his own. Translated from the original Spanish in 2004, Zafón’s tale is at once thrilling, complex, dark and humorous, and will perfectly distract from the depression of being taken out by freshers’ flu.
South of the River
By Blake Morrison
Set in 1997 at the beginning of New Labour, all the characters sense that there is a new world of change awaiting them, ready to affect their career, ambitions, family, hopes and dreams. The protagonists Nat, a failing dramatist, and his successful advertising executive wife Libby, are the characters around which the novel is based.
The book explores the very real but dysfunctional lives of both Nat and Libby and other friends and family introduced through the pair. We meet Jack, Nat’s eccentric fox-hunting uncle; Anthea, a creative Eco-warrior who Nat pursues an ill advised affair with; and Harry, a small-scale journalist battling with his inner demons. Although this may sound quite complex Morrison explains the links between the characters well, often a chapter being dedicated to each one individually. The result is a novel that has a little bit of everything; dry wit, romance, suspense, intrigue and even a strange fox motif which stalks through the book, making it ideal for those who don’t want the trouble of having to pick a genre.
The writing style is relaxed and tends to change to suit the character of the person it describes, an unusual but very accessible way of writing, perfect for allowing you to get lost in the lives of the characters until you start to feel better again.
The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets
By Eva Rice
Undeniably one for girls only, this book is sweet, simple and satisfying – an iced cupcake in book form. It is 1954, Penelope Wallace is seventeen, awkward, and totally in love with singer Johnnie Ray. Her ancestral home is crumbling around her, and all that she, her brother Indigo, and beautiful but impoverished mother can do is watch. A chance meeting with Charlotte however begins to transform her world.
Soon Penelope is socialising at fabulous parties, aiding Charlotte’s magician cousin Harry, and discovering the truth about secrets long hidden. The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets has the word ‘charming’ written all over it, and is wonderfully easy to read. Penelope and Charlotte make an entertaining pair, and there is just enough depth to keep it the right side of saccharine. Chick-lit at its best.
Saturday Night Peter
By Peter Kay
This is the follow up autobiography to his best-selling first The sound of Laughter. Whereas the previous autobiography dealt with Kay’s decision to become a comedian, this charts his progress as he first sets off testing out his stand-up material in pubs and clubs.
Not only do you hear some of his first material and the ridiculous stories behind them but you also get to hear, and this I found most amusing, the descriptions of the patrons of these “high class” establishments, the venues the selves, other featuring acts and his anxious journeys to the performances.
There is something in Peter Kay’s down-to-earth style of humour and writing that will charm a chuckle out of even the illest of students. The conversational tone is comforting in the sense that it is the equivalent of a chat with mates in a pub; something that freshers’ flu will no doubt have deprived you of. There is no complex storyline to follow, or characters to get to grips with so your sore little head will be given a rest ready for all those text books you should really be reading instead!