Ghost Moth by Michele Forbes
Set in Northern Ireland over a period of nearly forty years, Forbes’ debut book is about lost love and the limited consolations of family. Because if you’re stuck at home under the tyranny of parents instead of travelling to sunnier climes to help build a school, you might as well ponder on heartbreak, betrayal and unfaithfulness. You’ll be back at uni soon.
Busted by Karin Slaughter
A prequel to her full-length book Unseen, out in July, Karin Slaughter’s Busted is a ripping taste of excellent crime fiction. Detective Will Trent goes undercover to portray a dangerous-looking ex-con by the name of Bill Black. If you’re looking to freshly dip your toes into this genre, or just for something short and sweet, this might be the perfect start for you.
Stick Man’s First Words by Julia Donaldson
Let’s be honest here: you are sick of paragraphs of text with little to no pictures, paper cuts and no whimsical characters to root for. Honey, I’ve got you covered. From the excellent author-illustrator team that brought you The Gruffalo, Stick Man’s First Words will soothe your worn-out cerebral muscles after exams and remind you of a simpler time.
Inferno by Dan Brown
Centred around Dante’s Inferno, Dan Brown’s fourth book weaves a tale of mystery with renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon as protagonist for the fourth time. Reading this might inspire you to complete a sudoku puzzle or crossword or perhaps to become a code cracking genius. Your next-door neighbour’s looking terribly shifty these days…
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
Picture the scene: a warm Summer evening, the sun is setting in a glow of pinks and oranges, children’s laughter is faintly ringing in the distance, a cat is snoozing as its tail flicks in time to some unheard tune. But you notice none of this as you’re gripped in Gaiman’s exceptional storytelling, dynamic characters and brilliant plot pacing.