Unsure of which new reads to get stuck into? Our Books Editor recommends her top five fiction picks from the latest releases. Find them on Amazon’s Kindle online, or at any Exclusive Books store in SA, subject to availability.
The Girl in the Letter by Emily Gunnis
The Girl in the Letter
In 1956, Ivy falls pregnant and is sent in shame to the dark and foreboding St Margaret’s home for unmarried mothers. Her baby arrives and is given away for adoption without her consent, while Ivy herself is doomed to remain. Sixty years later, journalist Samantha is hungry to make her mark, so when she finds a letter from a young mother begging for help, she’s determined to unravel the girl’s story. As moving as it is disturbing – a real triumph.
Wakenhyrst by Michelle Paver
Edmund Stearn is well-respected in Wakenhyrst, but behind the closed doors of his manor house, he rules his family with a titanium fist. His daughter Maud is devastated when her mother dies, but rather than bring her and Edmund closer, it drives a wedge between them. Then one day, Edmund finds a sinister painting known as a “doom” and all manner of strange things begin to happen… A spine-chilling masterpiece.
The Day We Met by Roxie Cooper
At first glance, you’d be forgiven for thinking this was simply another light-hearted slice of “will they, won’t they?” romantic fiction – but it offers so much more in terms of emotional depth. Stephanie and Jamie are both with other people when they meet, but the connection they feel is undeniable. The two spend the next decade muddling their way through life without the other, until fate intervenes. A touching and believable love story.
I Thought I Knew You by Penny Hancock
Who would you be more likely to believe – your best friend or your child? That is the question poised in this intriguing drama, which follows long-term pals Jules and Holly. The women share secrets, trust each other implicitly, and have been there for each other through past upsets. That is, until Jules’ daughter Saffie makes a shocking accusation about Holly’s son, Saul. A standout novel that blends irresistible characters with an engaging plot.
The Missing Sister by Dinah Jefferies
Set in 1930s Burma, Belle Hatton has left home under the pretext of becoming a nightclub singer. But she has another reason for being in Rangoon – her sister, who went missing there as a baby. Enlisting the help of dashing US journalist Oliver, she soon discovers there are some who would prefer the past to remain undisturbed…
Compiled by Features Writer Savanna Douglas
