The Trouble With Mrs Montgomery Hurst (2024) Katie Lumsden "An insightful and compassionate tale of a Victorian county town and the people who live there. Romance and scandal abound in this compelling period drama, and Lumsden is not afraid to explore the issues Jane Austen could only hint at."
The Puzzle Wood (2024) Rosie Andrews "A beguiling mystery, a mythical tale of a forest, and a fantastic Gothic romance rolled into one. Its intriguing secrets and complex characters kept me guessing to the very last page. What will you find hidden within - and beneath - The Puzzle Wood?"
Orphia and Eurydicius (2024) Elyse John "Bold yet beautiful ... I was glued to the page, compelled by the story of Lady Orphia and her love, the gentle shieldmaker Eurydicius. Orphia and Eurydicius is a thoughtful consideration as to what it means to be a man, a woman, a hero, a human being. I loved this retelling and couldn't stop thinking about it: Lady Orphia has my heart."
Eliza Mace (2024) (Eliza Mace Mysteries, book 1) Sarah Burton and Jem Poster "A must-read for fans of both literary fiction and historical detective novels. The characters are well drawn and the clues are cleverly laid. For Eliza Mace, only sixteen years old, the stakes are high and the game is afoot..."
Medea (2024) Eilish Quin "Medea by Eilish Quin provides a compassionate origin story for one of the most reviled of all Greek mythological women: the witch, Medea. Quin looks closely at the ancient sources to determine why Medea might have made her infamous, terrible choices. The story draws the reader to the final, heart-breaking conclusion, incorporating along the way timely themes of family, knowledge and women's power."
The Bone Hunters (2024) Joanne Burn "The Bone Hunters by Joanne Burn is that rare combination, a beautifully written book that is also a gripping page-turner. I was drawn in by the intelligence and passion of the main character, Ada Winters, and read with a growing sense of dread of the dangers, both societal and environmental, that she faces. I adored this novel. Highly recommended."
Lilith (2023) Nikki Marmery "Exquisite prose brings this compelling, highly relevant tale of Adam's first wife to life."
Cities of Women (2023) Kathleen B Jones "At its heart, Cities of Women is both a detective story about the search for, and love letter to, the women who worked on the beautiful illuminated manuscripts of the medieval era. The novel is both sensitive and well researched, an accomplished debut which marks Jones out as one to watch."
The Burnings (2023) Naomi Kelsey "I was mesmerised by The Burnings and its heroines. I highly recommend this brilliant and compelling novel to all lovers of historical fiction."
Savage Beasts (2023) Rani Selvarajah "A clever and compassionate retelling of the Medea myth . . . an ending worth of the great Greek playwrights."
Isabelle Schuler "Isabelle Schuler's Lady MacBethad achieves the unthinkable: transforming Shakespeare's wicked queen into an empathetic heroine. I was transfixed by this wholly convincing tale of Scottish mormaers and machinations."
Home (2023) Cailean Steed "Home by Cailean Steed is an absolute triumph, an accomplished and confident debut that is not afraid to examine the dark side of cultish manipulation, while not losing sight of the heart of the story, the vulnerability of those taken advantage of. No-one is more vulnerable than Zoe, the escapee who was born into the cult. I found myself holding my breath, hoping for the best for her, while expecting the worst. Highly recommended."
