Have you seen our recent interview with Erin Kelly, author of The Skeleton Key? We loved this atmospheric, gothic thriller; it made us want to curl up in a blanket with a hot drink and settle into this immersive novel.
If you are looking for your next beautiful, cosy read perfect for the cooler months, then please read on, we have a great selection for you.
The Swift and the Harrier, by Minette Walters
When bloody civil war breaks out between the King and Parliament, families and communities across England are riven by different allegiances. A rare few choose neutrality.
One such is Jayne Swift, a physician who offers her services to both sides in the conflict. Through her dedication to treating the sick and wounded, Jayne becomes a witness to the brutality of war and the devastation it wreaks. Yet her recurring companion at every event is a man she should despise because he embraces civil war as the means to an end.
The Swift and the Harrier is a sweeping tale of adventure and loss, sacrifice and love, with a unique and unforgettable heroine at its heart.
A thrilling romance best enjoyed curled up in a cosy French bed.
Circe, by Madeline Miller
Circe is the untold story of the infamous witch from Greek mythology.
Giving a voice to the forgotten women of mythology, Madeline Miller elevates the myth of Circe to new heights, proving she is so much more than the woman who turned Odysseus into a pig.
Circe sets forth her tale, a vivid, mesmerizing epic of family rivalry, love and loss - the defiant, inextinguishable song of woman burning hot and bright through the darkness of a man's world.
Gather round this fiery tale on a comfy sofa, with plenty of cushions.
Caged Little Birds, by Lucy Banks
The public think Ava’s a monster. Ava thinks she’s blameless. In prison, they called her Butcher Bird – but Ava’s not in prison any more. Released after 25 years to a new identity and a new home, Ava finally has the quiet life she’s always wanted.
But someone knows who she is. The lies she’s told are about to unravel.
As this story unwinds, we slowly delve into Ava's history. Dealing with themes of fixation, obsession and rehabilitation, it is an engrossing tale that will grip you from start to finish.
One to enjoy from under a cosy blanket with soft lighting.
The Shape of Darkness, by Laura Purcell
Silhouette artist Agnes is struggling to keep her business afloat. Still recovering from a serious illness herself, making enough money to support her elderly mother and her orphaned nephew Cedric has never been easy, but then one of her clients is murdered shortly after sitting for Agnes, and then another, and another...
Desperately seeking an answer, Agnes approaches Pearl, a child spirit medium lodging in Bath with her older half-sister and her ailing father, hoping that if Pearl can make contact with those who died, they might reveal who killed them. But Agnes and Pearl quickly discover that instead they may have opened the door to something that they can never put back... What secrets lie hidden in the darkness?
Create the right reading ambience with adjustable wall lights, a comfy armchair and soft furnishings.
In Every Mirror She’s Black, by Lola Akinmade Akerstrom
Three very different women are desperate for their lives to change.
Though strangers, they are drawn to the same place: Stockholm, a city famed for its egalitarianism. But beneath the city's glittering surface lurk challenges old and new.
Challenges that threaten to tear them down once and for all...
Told through the perspectives of each of the three women, In Every Mirror She's Black is a fast-paced, richly nuanced yet accessible contemporary novel that touches on important social issues of racism, classism, and what it means to be a Black woman navigating a white-dominated society.
Immerse yourself in an absorbing story, snuggled up in a French-style bed.
