Louise Hare is a London-based writer and has an MA in Creative Writing from Birkbeck, University of London. Originally from Warrington, the capital is the inspiration for much of her work, including This Lovely City, which began life after a trip into the deep level shelter below Clapham Common.
The Blackbirds of St Giles (2025) Lila Cain "Bringing Black Georgian London to life, this is a dark and wonderful tale of a brother and sister finding their feet in an unfriendly city."
The Household (2024) Stacey Halls "This novel is the very definition of unputdownable. I loved every one of the women connected to Urania Cottage. Original, engrossing and so true to life. My favourite Stacey Halls novel yet."
The Last Murder at the End of the World (2024) Stuart Turton "Set in a post-apocalyptic world, with a literal village full of incredible characters, this is an original take on the murder mystery and I loved it. Unique, thought-provoking but, above all, addictive."
The House on Rye Lane (2024) Susan Allott "Had me captivated from beginning to end. A haunting thriller that flawlessly weaves the past with the present. Tense, engrossing and unputdownable."
The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou (2023) Eleni Kyriacou "Based on a true crime, this is a brilliantly crafted story of two women, Zina the accused and Eva her translator. So evocative of 1950s London and an absolute page-turner."
Notes on a Murder (2023) B P Walter "I read this book in one hit, unable to put it down. Dark, twisted and totally captivating."
Sinners of Starlight City (2023) Anika Scott "This novel whisked me away to 1930s Chicago and all the wonders of the World's Fair. Family secrets, revenge and women who refuse to do what they're told - an ideal combination."
73 Dove Street (2023) Julie Owen Moylan "Brilliant! Totally immersed in postwar London. I loved every page of this wonderful novel. A mystery that keeps you guessing, difficult women and that seductive 1950s atmosphere - all my favourite things!"
Speak of the Devil (2023) Rose Wilding "This novel is the epitome of gripping. An epic revenge tale set in one of my favourite cities. I couldn't put it down."
The Illusions (2023) Liz Hyder "Spellbinding storytelling, wonderfully drawn characters and the thrill of the theatre make this book unputdownable."
The Things That We Lost (2023) Jyoti Patel "Incredibly moving, this is an immersive novel focusing on grief but also love and relationships. I fell in love with Avani and Nik, characters so real I could hardly believe they're fictional. Jyoti Patel is a hugely exciting new writer."
That Bonesetter Woman (2022) Frances Quinn "Durie Proudfoot is a brilliant heroine: stubborn, flawed and so entertaining to spend time with. I loved every step of her journey, and Frances Quinn is fast becoming one of my favourite historical novelists."
After Paris (2022) Nicole Kennedy "A refreshing and authentic take on female friendship. Complex, flawed and so real, I loved spending time with these three women."
Wild Fires (2022) Sophie Jai "A moving and compelling novel that explores a family's grief through both their shared stories and the words that should have stayed unspoken."
Theatre of Marvels (2022) Lianne Dillsworth "A tale steeped in Victorian London, I fell in love with Zillah and her theatre world. I was gripped from the opening pages - highly recommended for anyone who loves mystery, drama and Victorian London."
The Marsh House (2022) Zoë Somerville "Immersed in the landscape of the North Norfolk coast, this is a clever, suspenseful novel that kept me intrigued. Part ghost story, part thriller, I loved it."
Edgware Road (2022) Yasmin Cordery Khan "A brilliant, intriguing novel about identity and family. The smells and sounds of 1980s London leap from the page and the characters feel so real that I can hardly believe they're not."
The Impossible Truths of Love (2021) Hannah Beckerman "A gripping mystery about one ordinary family and a devastating secret. This story is compassionate, beautifully written, and had me hooked from the start."
Next of Kin (2021) Kia Abdullah "Brilliantly tense, this is another clever page turner from Kia Abdullah. A nightmare scenario evolves into an engrossing human drama that I couldn’t put down. Just superb."
The Hidden Child (2021) Louise Fein "The thought-provoking and compelling tale of one family and the battle to survive their daughter's illness. A reminder that ordinary people can so often be responsible for some of the most shocking episodes in history."
The Reading List (2021) Sara Nisha Adams "The Reading List absolutely captures the magic of reading and of libraries. I felt a part of Mukesh and Aleisha's book club, revisiting some of my favourite novels alongside these new friends."
Lucky (2021) Rachel Edwards "Tense beyond belief but impossible to put down. Dark, absorbing and brilliantly terrifying."
The Metal Heart (2021) Caroline Lea "A beautiful, heart-breaking tale of grief, love and the bond between sisters."
Kololo Hill (2021) Neema Shah "A moving portrayal of a family uprooted from a life they have worked so hard for. At times devastating, I found myself gripped to this story rooted in our history yet scarily still relevant."
Last Tang Standing (2020) Lauren Ho "Witty, vibrant and full of characters I'd love to go for drinks with. As a reader who loved Bridget Jones back in the day, I'd say that Andrea is the millennial Bridget."
