New Fiction

Famous Last Words Gillian McAllister

It is the first day back at work from maternity leave for Camilla when she hears about a hostage situation that is playing out in London. A visit from the police confirms that her husband is involved, however not as a victim but as a gunman. This is an enthralling read that is difficult to put down.

The Moonlight Market Joanne Harris

Tom, orphaned and lonely, becomes enamoured with a woman who leads a dangerous double life. As she introduces him to a new and different world, including a market that only appears in the moonlight, Tom feels a sense of deja vu. This is a story full of mystery and enchantment and, like many of Harris’s works, is imbued with a fairytale quality. 

The Defiance of Frances Dickinson  Wendy Parkins

This novel is set in 1886 and is about a woman who marries a tyrant who keeps her hidden away at his family’s estate in Scotland, while he squanders her money and has affairs with the staff. It seems that she is powerless. However, when the situation becomes unimaginably dire, she finds the strength to make a move towards escape.

By Any Other Name  Jodi Picoult

Emilia Bassano was a remarkable woman who lived at the time of William Shakespeare. In this story Picoult suggests that she was the writer of plays attributed to him. Bassano was a well-travelled poet who was familiar with ways of the royal court. Her fascinating life story is interwoven with that of one of her descendants, a present-day playwright who, like her 16th century ancestor, struggles to succeed in a field dominated by men. This is another great read from this well-respected author.