One Song, by AJ Betts

Aspiring singer-songwriter Eva is desperate to win the Triple-J unearthed high competition and now in Year 12 it’s her last chance. Her good friend (and crush) Cooper has recruited a band to boost her chances; laid back drummer Ant and intensely grumpy bassist Ruby. After five weeks of rehearsals The Errants are set to spend the final weekend before the deadline recording and mixing the song in Cooper’s studio in the garden of his musician dad’s mansion. To make things interesting Cooper has invited Mim along to film a cinema verité documentary for her Year 11 media project. What follows is a weekend of mayhem as, led by a recalcitrant Ruby, the band rejects Eva’s song and even the band’s name and they have to come up with a new one. What can go wrong? A violent thunderstorm and blackout; an untimely period; mental health issues; bodgy maths; and heartbreak are just a few of the weekend’s complications. There is a lot going on this tale of talented teens trying to break into the music industry, much of it entertaining, little of it credible, especially the characters.

The Secret Hours, by Mick Herron

There’s not a tardy nag in sight in this Slow Horses-adjacent tale that offers the perspective of long-suffering civil servants who support the parliament. The Monochrome inquiry into misconduct of the British secret services has been set up by politicians and their apparatchiks to spike the guns of MI5’s First Desk (she goes unnamed but it’s clearly Diana Taverner). She has found a way to make it totally ineffectual, wasting the time, lives and careers of everyone involved. That is until the Otis file is leaked to the inquiry and the first genuine witness is interviewed after two years of operation. Monochrome is quickly shut down, but the civil servants involved decide not leave any loose ends and hear the witness out. Her tale reveals an off-the books operation in post-wall Berlin and its lingering effects to the present day. Although the protagonists are not identified by their real names, it becomes clear that this is the story of how Jackson Lamb came to run Slough House. It fills in the details of several backgrounds and connections along the way, leading to a very satisfying resolution that provides both justice (or revenge) and understanding on a number of levels.

Vigil (ITV) Season 1

Nuclear submarine Vigil is off the coast of Scotland, as part of Britain’s proactive defensive shield when a crew member dies in suspicious circumstances. Because of the location it comes under the jurisdiction of the Glasgow police and Detective Inspector Amy Silva is helicoptered to the sub to investigate, along with a replacement crew member. For security reasons she can receive messages but not send any and that’s not the least of the obstacles to her work. Ongoing fallout from a tragedy in her past severely affects her ability to operate in confined spaces and enlisting a colleague who is former lover to assist the case could hinder as much as it helps. The Navy, Police and Security Services must overcome their mutual suspicion and hostility to help Silva find a killer who threatens the nation. The always excellent Suranne Jones leads the way through six tense, action-packed episodes, supported by a strong cast of familiar faces including Rose Leslie and an almost unrecognisable Shaun Evans. Hopefully the high quality can be maintained for the recently released second season, although apparently it's still called Vigil although nowhere near the sub.

An Expert in Murder, by Nicola Upson

In the 1930s writer Josephine Tey travels from Scotland to London for the final week of her play in the West End. A young woman is brutally murdered at the end of the train journey and her connection to the play draws Josephine into the investigation. Another murder then makes it clear that everyone involved in the play is at risk, especially its writer. Between the wars is a fascinating period to set a story. The legacy of the great war lingers, affecting former soldiers and civilians who lost people in different but equally damaging ways. And the prospect of another global conflict looms, with chilling effect. It is an interesting choice to base it on a real person, or the pseudonym of one. Josephine Tey was an accomplished writer of detective fiction, who never received the recognition of her (arguably) lesser contemporaries. This novel aims to emulate Tey’s skill, but falls a little short with too many coincidences and convenient connections between people inhabiting a world not that small.

Still Life, by Louise Penny

Retired schoolteacher Jane Neal is found dead in the woods near her home, in a small village on the Canadian-US border. Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and his team travel from Montreal to investigate whether this is murder or an accident covered up by an errant bow hunter. This involves looking into Jane’s unpleasant family and delightful artist friends and digging into the history of the small historic town. There are too many points of view and too much disconnected dialogue in this crime novel, which has a lovely sense of place but a very confusing sense of time. Published in 2005, it was acclaimed and sparked a series featuring the wise detective. This is odd because so many plot elements and characters just don’t ring true. Perhaps subsequent stories improve, but there are too many other books in the world to be bothered finding out.

Marcel – The Shell with Shoes On (2021), directed by Dean Fleischer Camp

A documentary within a documentary, this film was Oscar nominated and won several awards for best animated feature. It follows the life of a one-inch shell, Marcel, who lives with his grandmother in an Air B&B, and his friendship with filmmaker Dean. The old-school stop motion animation is brilliantly intertwined with live action to make the film visually very appealing. But the messaging about the importance of making connection is laid on pretty thick and the story is twee and, at 90 minutes, too long. Isabella Rossellini is wonderful as the voice of Grandma Connie, but it probably would have been better to cast a boy actor as Marcel, rather than co-writer Jenny Slate.

The Catch, by Mick Herron

Billed as a Slough House novella, this is more a short story that fills in a small gap between a couple of the novels. John Bachelor is a fringe member of the secret services, employed part time as a ‘milkman’ – keeping contact with superannuated agents. Bad choices and bad luck have left him on the brink of homelessness, which leaves him vulnerable to exploitation. Enter a murky off-the books MI5 operation to save a royal reputation by misleading and embarrassing the media, with John the perfect patsy to ensure it all comes off. As with the novels, Herron perfectly captures the tenor of the times, tapping into current events without naming names and painting a bleakly funny picture of how the secret services operate in the public interest – or not.

Lessons in Chemistry (Apple TV+)

Elizabeth Zott is a brilliant chemist with a strong work ethic, but this is the 1950s so she is underemployed, underpaid and undervalued by the lab she works for. Her life changes profoundly when she forms a working and personal relationship with an equally brilliant colleague. But tragedy and a perfidious boss alter her fate again, leading to an unexpected career diversion. Based on Bonnie Garmin’s bestselling book, Brie Larson brings Elizabeth Zott to life, with all her intelligence and awkwardness. Her refusal to compromise her integrity or her values make her a shining light in a crappy world and an outstanding role model and inspiration for her daughter and her contemporaries. The period detail is picture perfect, in a show that does justice to its source material. It is as satisfying and enjoyable as the book.

The True Queen, by Zen Cho

A wild storm washes up two sisters, Muna and Sakti, on the shores of Banda Jaik. A curse has caused them to lose their memories, so the witch Mak Genggang sends them to England’s Sorceress Royal to learn how to break it. On the journey they are separated; Sakti is trapped in the Fairy Queen’s palace, while Muna must navigate England’s snobbery and prejudice to try to reunite with her sister. Along the way she finds friends and allies, as well as enemies, who all play a part in Muna’s discovery of her true self and her place in the world. A sequel to Sorcerer to the Crown, Prunella and her husband are peripheral characters here, her best friend Henrietta taking centre stage along with Muna. The Sorceress Royal’s struggles to establish magical rights for women in Regency England is a mere backdrop to Muna’s story. Zen Cho has largely left behind the stilted and awkward language of the first book, aided by more of the action taking place in Fairyland and Malaysia. It moves faster too, making for an entertaining read. The climax and conclusion are rather convenient, but it’s hard to argue with a happy ending.

Their Brilliant Careers, by Ryan O’Neill

Subtitled The Fantastic Lives of Sixteen Extraordinary Australian Writers, this book purports to be a series of mini-biographies of 20th century Australian authors, editors and publishers. It is actually a satirical takedown of an incestuous publishing industry. Written straight, the line is often blurred between truth and fiction, with many real authors referenced among the 16 fictional profiles. It’s hard not to wonder how close to the truth some of the stories are, as some ring a bell and are very believable. Some are also horrific and many are very funny. Many of the writers profiled are one or more of self-serving, misogynist, racist, murderous, plagiarists. Those who aren’t are the victims of those who are. In the acknowledgements O’Neil proves himself worthy of his subjects. Considering this, it is surprising that Ryan O’Neill is not a pseudonym.

The Marvels (2023), directed by Nia Da Costa

A Captain Marvel superfan, 16-year-old Kamala Khan has some powers of her own that become supercharged when her grandmother’s armlet suddenly lights up. At the same time she finds herself in a body-switching situation with Carol Danvers herself and Captain Monica Rambeau. All three share light-based powers and must find a way to work together to combat the Kree, who plan to wreak revenge on Captain Marvel ‘the annihilator’ and restore their home planet by destroying the places she loves. This film has apparently not done well, which is perhaps not surprising given the lack of marketing but is a pity because it is a lot of fun. Clear plot lines, appealing characters and a running time of less than two hours are a very good start for a superhero film. But it is also hysterically funny in parts, with elements that could easily have veered into cheesiness or farce instead provoking gales of laughter. Bree Larsen is always good and her Carol Danvers is more vulnerable in this film. Iman Villani is a delight as Ms Marvel and Zawe Ashton makes a good fist of the big bad – Kree, Dar-Ben. There are references to the other films without getting bogged down in obscurity for those who haven’t seen them all, or the various TV shows. Samuel L Jackson is a nice anchor for the action, but the real star of the show is a cat, playing an alien.

Angel Mage, by Garth Nix

The Archangel Palleniel of Ystara has turned against his people, inflicting a plague that either turns their blood to ash or transforms them into savage, cannibalistic beastlings. Ystara is now a wasteland, its refugees the underclass in neighbouring Sarance because touching them with angelic magic reignites the plague. More than a century later Liliath, the maid of Ellanda, wakes from a very long sleep to lead the refugee Refusers back to Ystara. But first she must find four young people who carry the spark of Palleniel and are essential to her quest. Nix has created an alternative version of 17th century France, where the most powerful are mages who can summon the strongest angels to do their bidding, but pay a terrible price for it; the more and stronger they summon, the faster they age. Liliath is the only exception, as she can summon and even absorb angels without ageing. Unusually for Nix, this book is a slog. It takes a very long time to set the scene, with unnecessarily tedious details of city layouts, buildings and costumes, before the four young heroes are finally introduced. Their stories and characters are as interesting and compelling as those in his previous books, so it’s a pity the story doesn’t start with them, instead of lingering over the details of the unpleasant Liliath. It takes almost 500 pages to get to the rather rushed conclusion in which she meets her fate, but judicious editing would have cut it by a fifth and made it a much more enjoyable journey.

Bad Actors, by Mick Herron

A political advisor has gone missing and the head of MI5, Diana Taverner, finds herself unexpectedly at the pointy end. It’s ironic that her career is in jeopardy for something she is innocent of, rather than one of the many terrible things she has done. Lady Di is in so much trouble she has to call on frenemy Jackson Lamb and his slow horses for help. It’s uncomfortable for the reader to find themselves on the side of the despicable Diana, but it’s a case of the least worst actor in a story that sheds a chilling light on the state of democracy in post-Brexit, post Covid Britain. River Cartwright is completely missing from this tale, following his encounter with a nerve agent in the last book, and it is not clear until the end whether or not he survived. After a shaky start new slow horse Ashley Kahn looks a promising addition to the team, so she’ll probably get killed off in the next Slough House book. Sadly for addicts, that may be a while off as this one is the latest published to date.

Dumb Money (2023), directed by Craig Gillespie

This is the true story of a challenge to the bully-boy tactics of the big players on Wall Street by small individual investors – known disrespectfully as ‘dumb money’. Small time investment analyst and nerd hobbyist Keith Gill feels the video game chain store Game Stop is undervalued. When a Wall Street hedge fund starts to sell the business short, which will likely destroy it, Keith calls them out and goes viral. He sparks a little-guy rebellion that saves the company from the wolves and shines a light on the broken system that enables the uber-wealthy to get away with monetary murder. The film starts slowly as it wades through a welter of financial details, which can be gobbledegook to those uninitiated in the share market. It attempts to counteract the dull detail with gratuitous sex scenes. Thankfully it gets past both sets of awkwardness to tell a story of how finance Goliaths can be beaten up by Davids, if not totally defeated. Paul Dano carries the film as Keith, ably supported by America Ferrera, Shailene Woodley, Seth Rogan and Pete Davidson. The filmmaker wisely avoids claiming total victory - not all the small investors made their fortunes and the fattest cats avoided any punishment more than embarrassment. But the film celebrates a small win against a corrupt and broken system that is behind many of the world’s ills.

Islands, by Peggy Frew

Victoria’s Phillip Island is the setting for much of this novel about a disintegrating marriage and the lonely outcrops it makes of each family member. Helen and John married straight out of Uni in the 70s and had two daughters, smart, independent Junie and wild, dreamy Anna. The story zaps back and forward in time, showing the family’s origins, background, development and downfall in a series of fragments. These snapshots of events, encounters and moments in time are told from a dizzying multiplicity of points of view, some family members, some friends, acquaintances and schoolmates. Each fragments builds the picture of who these four people are, what happened to them and the fallout of the failure of a family. Mostly it’s about elder daughter June, but it all revolves around the disappearance of Anna, at the age of 15. Did she run away? Was she kidnapped? Is she alive or dead? And who is to blame? The questions are never answered, for the reader or for the people in her life. This leaves the larger question of just how do you deal with that?

Echo Lake, by Joan Sauers

Recently divorced, 40-something Rose has moved from Sydney to a cottage in the NSW southern highlands. There she finds herself entangled in two chilling mysteries, the cold case disappearance of a young woman and the murder of the former owner of Rose’s house – who was a friend of the missing woman. Rose herself is under threat; but is it from the obvious suspect – a local violent crim? Or could it be the charming local real estate agent, or even the attractive and married cop? The writing is very vivid and visual, if somewhat overly descriptive, so it is not surprising to discover the author is a screenwriter. The climax of the plot is wildly improbable and the supernatural elements add little to the story. But it is fast-paced and entertaining and features a very good dog.

For All Mankind (Apple TV+) Seasons 1 & 2

What if the Soviet Union made it to the moon before the USA? What trajectory would the space race have taken? This fascinating alt history shows the USSR not only putting the first man on the moon, but the first woman too, sending NASA into a spin. It skilfully blends fact and fiction, using real figures from history as well as fictional characters, to create a very different pathway into space, with women becoming astronauts and equal participants in the space program from the 70s. Along the way it also tackles topical issues of the time – the Vietnam war, the Equal Rights Amendment, racial issues, persecution of gay people – all through the lens of the space race. The characters and space storylines are compelling, although the personal side sometimes verges on soap it does a good job of showing how challenging frontiers impact s on the individuals involved and their families. Season 2 also verges on fantasy in places, portraying Ronald Reagan as the ultimate peacemaker in a very unlikely scenario. But apparently, it’s generally a case of Republicans good; Democrats bad. Perhaps the writers are trying demonstrate to the current chaotic GOP what could have been possible.

Slough House, by Mick Herron

The head of MI5, First Desk Diana Taverner, has sold what remains of her soul to the diabolical powermonger Peter Judd in order to gain resources and freedom from her political masters. This inadvertently (for a change) puts the current and former slow horses of Slough House at great risk as they become targets in a war of revenge. She is forced into an unholy alliance with Jackson Lamb, the wily but execrable chief of the secret service dumping ground, in order to save all their bacon. Judd, as ever, has his own agenda and is sponsoring Britain’s version of MAGA, a la Steve Bannon. He is not about to let Taverner wriggle free of his clutches. In the face of death the slow horses find themselves dealing with a resurrection, which has been flagged in a previous book but still leaves a lot of questions unanswered. This tight, tense read again puts favourites in the firing line and leaves the fate of heroes and villains alike hanging in the balance until the next tale. Herron has also written a smartly sardonic Christmas short story that follows this novel and is therefore better read after it, as the timelines get confusing and it contains spoilers.

Sorcerer to the Crown, by Zen Cho

Zacharias Wythe is Sorcerer Royal in a version of Regency England. A former slave, he has inherited his role from his late mentor and is a fish out of water among his aristocratic peers. Miss Prunella Gentleman has a natural talent for magic and an inheritance that could be very dangerous in a world that denies and suppresses female magic users. Together, the two must overcome their outsider status and battle enemies in both England and the Fairy Kingdom to save the future of magic. There is a lot going on in this novel, which starts very slowly but gathers life when magical women enter the picture. The tone is not quite right, drawing too heavily on the likes of Georgette Heyer, with awkward dialogue that strives too hard for period accuracy and loses something in translation. It is not as good as Black Water Sister, but it was her debut novel so it will be interesting to see if the sequel is better.

Call Jane (2021), directed by Phyllis Nagy

Unable to legally terminate a pregnancy that threatens her life, suburban Chicago housewife Joy turns to the Jane network for help. It’s 1968 and the world is changing, but not fast enough to help women who need abortions. Joy is drawn to join the Janes, who help make it safer, accessible and affordable until the 1973 Supreme Court Roe V Wade ruling renders their risky work no longer necessary. The film starts slowly but builds interest and tension as Joy is drawn deeper into the network of brave feminists and activists, testing her nerve and her marriage as she grows and takes a leading role in the organisation. Elizabeth Banks and Sigourney Weaver head a strong cast in a timely film that offers a glimmer of hope that such a network could rise again to offer strength in these regressive times. What a shame that after 50 years it is so badly needed again.

Homecoming, by Kate Morton

A small town in the Adelaide Hills in December 1959 is the scene of the mysterious deaths of Isabel Turner and her children. Eventually ruled a murder-suicide, the event has a long term impact on the local community. In London in 2018, journalist Jess Turner-Bridges has lost her job and her partner and is struggling to hang on to her house. Called home to Sydney after her beloved grandmother suffers a fall, Jess starts to uncover family secrets and a link to the events of 1959. Blending real live crimes with the fictional tale provides the author endless opportunities to demonstrate her extensive research, without adding anything meaningful to the the novel. Told in omniscient flashbacks from multiple points of view, this predictable story takes more than 600 pages to wind to a halt. Competent editing could have reduced it by a third without losing anything significant or interesting. Unfortunately the stilted dialogue and unlikely actions of several characters would still have left a flabby and unsatisfying tale.

The Queen’s Price, by Anne Bishop

In the world of the black jewels, Daemon Sadi, Warlord Prince and the High Lord of Hell has established a school to train and protect a new generation. Many of the young queens and witches are vulnerable since the foiled attempt to re-establish a vicious culture previously thought to have been banished. Meanwhile Sadi’s disgraced daughter Saetien embarks on a heart quest to find her place in the world, needing distance from her family to find her way after her part in the devastating events. Her journey revisits the past, forcing her to confront unpalatable truths and come to terms with her father’s nature and role in the world. The story she uncovers fills in some gaps from previous books in the series and sounds a warning to the new generation not to repeat history. All must ponder what is the Queen’s price and whether they are prepared to pay it. Anne Bishop’s worlds are immersive and addictive, exploring a breadth and depth of lands, creatures and powers that are also based on very real human behaviours and relationships. The Queen's Price presages a changing of the guard, which also offers exciting possibilities for new storylines in this world.

Upright 2 (Foxtel)

It is four years on from the events of the first series, when musician Lucky transported a piano from Sydney to Perth, assisted and hampered in equal measure by teen runaway Meg. They haven’t kept in touch so it’s a shock when Meg turns up at Lucky’s door, insisting on his help in finding her errant mother. Their subsequent tropical Queensland odyssey is as ludicrously entertaining as the earlier desert adventure, with both Lucky and Meg as slappable as they are endearing. The coincidences of people and place are a stretch to swallow – North Queensland is not a small place! But Tim Minchin and Milly Alcock are a formidable screen partnership and the classy supporting cast, including Hayley McElhinney, features some joyously funny cameos. It’s not as good as the first, but that was a hard bar to beat.

The Twyford Code, by Janice Hallett

An old phone has turned up in a missing persons case containing 200 deleted audio files that may offer a clue. Ex con Steve Smith has recorded details of his bid to unravel a supposed secret code hidden in a series of mid-20th century children’s books that will unlock a mystery from his childhood. He has enlisted the help of his fellow former remedial English students to find out what happened to their missing teacher, Alice Isles, 40 years ago. But they all have conflicting memories of that fateful excursion and possibly, conflicting agendas. Their story unfolds through transcripts of the audio files and it is a twisted tale indeed, with the boundaries between truth and fiction constantly crossed and blurred. A deprived childhood, London criminal gangs, WWII spy drama, missing gold that may be cursed and an estranged son. What actually happened? Who is real? What is allegory and what is entertainment? There are a few too many convenient coincidences, but this is nevertheless a gripping read that keeps the reader guessing right to the end.

Romantic Comedy, by Curtis Sittenfield

Sally Milz has been a very successful writer on The Night Owls, the premier late night live comedy show, for nine seasons. After a failed ‘starter marriage’ and several romantic misadventures, at 37 she confines herself to acquaintances with benefits and shuts herself off from the possibility of more. When famous musician Noah Brewster is the guest host on the show she feels an instant connection, but why would someone famous and super-hot be interested in her when he could date 22-year-old models? Two years and a pandemic later, Noah gets in touch via email and the two become pen pals. There is a chance to forge the relationship they never had, but can Sally trust that it is real? Sittenfield evokes the behind-the-scenes world of Saturday Night Live, with all the highs and misogynistic lows of the comedy world. Sally embodies the opportunities and misgivings of a woman navigating the scene. Noah is a touch too good to be true, making Sally’s lack of confidence even more painfully relatable. In the end, it’s all in the title.

Am I Being Unreasonable? (BBC)

Dissatisfied in her marriage and lacking confidants, Nicole keeps having flashbacks to an horrific accident in which she lost someone she loved. She strikes up a friendship with newcomer Jen, who has a troubled background and is not quite what she seems. As the short series unfolds, we discover more about each woman’s secrets, eliciting both sympathy and condemnation. We also follow Nic’s discovery of the fate of her missing cat, a tale that travels the gamut from comedy to horror. The tone gets darker with each revelation and sympathies shift and slowly dissipate until the final shock twist ending. Daisy May Cooper and Selin Hizli co-wrote this disturbing tragi-comedy in which they play the damaged and damaging lead characters. There will apparently be a second season, although it is difficult to imagine where it could go.

Fatal Legacy, by Lindsey Davis

Roman informer Flavia Albia chases a debt for a family business and finds herself drawn in to the machinations and shenanigans of a very different family, who are battling over possession of an orchard outside the city. She finds herself digging through a murky history of violence and litigation that has continued since the death of a patriarch 40 years earlier. The case requires negotiating a web of lies, finding a missing will, preventing an elopement and determining whether one of the recalcitrant family members is a freedman or a slave. There are so many characters, most of whom are related, it is difficult to keep track of who is who and how they are connected. The novel is enhanced by the welcome reappearance of Albia’s parents, Falco and Helena. But an unnecessary murder near the end adds to the chaos of too much going on for too little effect.

Black Water Sister, by Zen Cho

After her family falls on hard times, Harvard educated Jess finds herself back in Malaysia living with her parents in the Penang home of her uncle and aunt. There she encounters the ghost of her recently deceased grandmother, who cannot pass to her next life until she sorts out a few things. Unfortunately she wants to use Jess’s body to do the sorting, which brings her into conflict with the fifth richest man in Malaysia and a particularly violent goddess. Jess has her own issues to deal with, such as finding a job and concealing her sexuality from her family, so she really doesn’t need the hassle of vengeful gangsters and clashing religions. Can she appease the gods, lay her grandmother’s ghost to rest and stay alive without upsetting her parents? Well no. This is a wild ride of a novel, combining the supernatural and genuine suspense with a cultural and generational divide to give a fascinating insight into modern and historic Malaysia. The vivid language and sometimes brutal action animate an unusual coming-of-age story with an appealing heroine.

His Dark Materials 3 (HBO)

A recap at the start would have been useful as it has been a while since season 2. It helps to have read the books, as this season is largely based on book three of Philip Pullman’s trilogy – The Amber Spyglass. Lyra has been abducted by her mother, Mrs Coulter, who is keeping her sedated in a misguided attempt to keep her safe. Will is using the subtle knife to cut his way across worlds trying to find her, while the Magisterium is also trying to find and eliminate the ‘Eve’ of prophecy. Meanwhile Lord Asriel is mustering the forces of rebellion against the Authority, both helped and hindered by angels taking sides, and taking little heed of his daughter’s fate. When Will liberates Lyra she persuades him they need to journey to the Land of Dead, so she can make amends to her lost friend Roger, but this entails leaving behind their souls with no guarantee they will be reunited. There is a lot going on in the infinite multiverse; it can be hard to keep track of all the threads, and the Eve theme is a tad heavy handed. The visit to the Land of the Dead brings back some favourites, and ties up a few loose ends. Throughout the cinematography is beautiful and the cast is all class. Ultimately, it’s all about love and sacrifice, with an unexpectedly poignant and heartfelt ending to the series.

Joe Country, by Mick Herron

In the depths of a London winter, life is looking even more bleak than usual for the stable of dud MI5 agents at Slough House. River Cartwright’s venerable grandfather has died and his errant father shows up to spoil the funeral. Louisa has been guilted into chasing up her dead lover’s missing son and Catherine is at risk of falling off the wagon. The latest slow horse, Lech, may be guilty of a heinous crime, or may have been set up. Diana Taverner has finally achieved top dog status at the agency and quickly embodies all the maxims on power, while maintaining her determination to obliterate Slough House. Herron uses recent British history, with its dodgy populist politicians and seedy royals, to highlight the deficiencies of the security services in a declining democracy. One interesting angle is the impact of Brexit, with former European allies not only stopping cooperation but becoming potential antagonists. Almost all of the slow horses are at risk of becoming casualty of the week in this book, and the suspense of who succumbs is maintained until the end. This is a particularly brutal and bloody sequence of events, again ending in a cliffhanger that calls into question the future of the Slough House, with Taverner tempted down a very slippery slope.

I have some questions for you, by Rebecca Makkai

Almost 25 years after graduating, film academic and podcaster Bodie Kane has returned to her East Coast boarding school Granby. With her troubled and tragic background in Indiana , she was a misfit at the preppy school but used it as a step to a better life. Ostensibly there to teach a couple of short courses, Bodie finds herself digging into a tragedy that happened in her Senior year. A student was murdered, but was the right man convicted? The ‘you’ Bodie has questions for is a former teacher, whom she has come to realise had an inappropriate relationship with the dead girl. This second person narrative is an odd device, which jars at times but becomes clearer as the book concludes. While stirring up a hornet’s nest at the school Bodie also has to deal with dramas that affect her failed marriage, current ambiguous relationship and her work. It turns out she needs to reassess a lot of what she thought she understood about her time and her peers at Granby. There is a lot going on in this book, which weaves together a twisty whodunnit with themes of memory and loss, true crime podcasting as entertainment and alternative policing and the frustration of trying to achieve justice. Throughout the whole is a thrumming anger at the constant and seemingly acceptable levels of violence against women that permeates the whole of society. Bodie is a deeply flawed and compelling everywoman, who has some very important questions for everyone, including herself.

Asteroid City (2023), directed by Wes Craven

A movie within a play within a TV show, it tells the story of a playwright, his play and some of the players. A crater where an asteroid hit the earth millennia ago is a minor tourist attraction for a tiny desert town. In 1955 it is hosting a junior space camp for young science achievers, which is interrupted by a strange visitation that traps all visitors in a military quarantine. The story within a story contains teen romance, troubled parent-child relationships and alien visitation within its typically Anderson absurdism. Mildly amusing, dialogue-heavy, with rapid and sometimes clever wordplay, the film is completely bonkers but quite entertaining. Tom Hanks, Scarlet Johansen, Steve Carell, Tilda Swinton, Edward Norton and Adrien Brody are just a few of the stellar ensemble cast, with Margot Robbie and Jeff Goldblum featuring in cameos. The film references both Roswell and Nevada nuclear testing in a manner that sends up the public – and Hollywood - obsession with them. Chuckleworthy rather than laugh out loud, the wordiness wears and the quirky is in overdrive in a movie that is visually sumptuous but pretty forgettable.

Winter’s Gifts, by Ben Aaronovitch

A lake is the only body of water in this latest Rivers of London tale, which moves away from Europe to the US and Peter Grant’s FBI contact. Special Agent Kimberley Reynolds is called to the wilds of Wisconsin by a report of ‘unusual activity’ from a former agent. She finds an extreme weather event has destroyed selected parts of the town and her informant is missing. A terrible force has awakened that is linked to historic events and threatens death and destruction unless Kimberly can find a way to stop it. She needs to identify who is an ally and who is an enemy, including the local indigenous spirits. Aaronovitch’s blend of horror, humour and romance transfer well to North America, tapping in to Indian culture for the supernatural elements of this short, sharp tale. It's good to find out more about Kimberley and interesting to see how a big C Christian deals with magic. But she’s not Peter, so hopefully future stories will return to the UK.

The Bookbinder of Jericho, by Pip Williams

A companion tale to the Dictionary of Lost Words, set in the same world but a little later, this story again focuses on the frustrations of smart women denied opportunities. Peggy and her twin Maud live on a riverboat in the Oxford district of Jericho and work in the bookbinding section of Oxford University Press. Peggy is hungry for books and all they offer but feels she must look out for her sister, who is neurodivergent and potentially vulnerable. The outbreak of WWI sees new possibilities for both sisters as refugees and soldiers flood the town. But will Peggy have the courage to pursue her ambitions and can she allow her sister the independence she needs to grow? The novel provides an interesting picture of the home front of WWI from the perspective of working class women. Williams has clearly done the research and unfortunately overshares the results in places, where the intricate technicalities of bookbinding can drag on. But it is enjoyable to follow Peggy and Maude strive to overcome the obstacles of class and gender and make some devastating choices between heart and head.

Happy Valley season 3, BBC

Halifax police sergeant Catherine Cawood is seven months from retirement when this final season opens, with plans for travel. Six years after season 2, her grandson Ryan is now 16 and has some anger issues, but generally the family seems to be in a good place. Discovery of a body links a murder to Ryan’s father, Tommy Lee Royce, serving a life sentence for his crimes against Catherine and others. This leads to a shocking discovery of betrayal that threatens to rip apart the Cawoods. The murder is also linked to a local crime lord with political ambitions, a dodgy pharmacist and Ryan’s abusive PE teacher. Sarah Lancashire and James Norton are pure class as Catherine and Tommy, with a fantastic supporting cast and top notch writing. The underlying theme of men’s violence against women is depressingly real, but there are lighter moments and all six episodes are a celebration of Catherine’s strength and grace. It ends in many tears but justice is done and seen to be done, which is all anyone could hope for.

Other Birds, by Sarah Addison Allen

Other birds are those that don’t flock together and there are plenty of those at Dellawisp, a block of five small apartments on Mallow Island, South Carolina, named for the strange little avians that live in the ground of the former stables. Zoey has inherited the studio apartment from her mother and plans to spend the summer there before starting college in Charleston. One of the residents dies at the start, which, along with Zoey’s advent, sparks major changes for the lives of the others. One or more of poverty, neglect, abuse, mental illness, addiction and violence dogged all their childhoods and have indelibly affected their adulthoods. But hope and kindness, as well as a connection to the spirit world, offer the chance of a better future. Allen’s trademark blend of whimsy and darkness applied to human relationships, provides a tale of depth and wisdom filled with both sadness and delight. Although in familiar territory, emotionally, geographically and culinarily, this novel stands alone from her previous works. It creates a whole new world in which it is possible to imagine further linked stories and characters. Here’s hoping.

Duck a’ l’Orange for Breakfast, by Karina May

Maxine is having a bad run. Diagnosed with a brain tumour and scheduled for surgery, before she can tell her long-term partner, Scott, she discovers he has been cheating – at Christmas. In the safety of her best friend’s flat Max soothes her broken heart and distracts from her upcoming operation with a Tinder flirtation. She has no intention of taking it offline and enjoys a few weeks of competitive cooking from Scott’s family recipe book – project ‘fork him’. Elements of this novel are both entertaining and interesting and it is fabulous for foodies. The brain tumour aspect is poignant and believable and the portrait of the dreadful stand-up comedian is amusing. It reinforces a theory heard recently about how horrible they are to date. But the plot rests on too many unlikely coincidences and the new love interest has little credibility. This makes the final third a bit of a yawn, basically down-to-earth Greek wins over pretentious French – in food and in life.

Barbie (2023), directed by Greta Gerwig

All is perfect in Barbie World, where every night is girls’ night, until stereotypical Barbie is suddenly besieged by dark thoughts and flat feet. She must travel to the real world to repair the damage or risk becoming a weird Barbie with major malfunctions. But patriarchy rules the real world, which is not what Barbie expected, and it gives Ken some really bad ideas to take back home. Mothers and daughters are at the heart of this film, which makes some nice points about feminism and patriarchy and has some very funny jokes. It also features some odd, unnecessary patches, such as an extended Ken dance sequence and Will Ferrell’s entire storyline as Mattel’s CEO. Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling are great as Barbie and Ken and the strong supporting cast features scene stealing performances from Michael Cera as Alan and Kate McKinnon as weird Barbie. Several of the talented cast of TV series Sex Education bob up, including Robbie lookalike Emma Mackey. Helen Mirren’s wry and knowing narration underpins the whole and the random insertion of actual discontinued Mattel toys, such as pregnant Midge and sugar daddy Ken is a hoot. The mood is uneven, with the fun at times threatening to veer off into mawkish sentimentality, while the off-beat ending is apparently there only to serve the final punchline.

Happy Place, by Emily Henry

Doctor Harriet, farmer Cleo and lawyer Sabrina could not be more different but have been the closest of friends since college. It’s a 10-year tradition for them and their partners to spend some of the summer at Sabrina’s father’s cottage in Maine, but he is selling it so this time will be the last. All of them bring secrets to the nostalgia trip, which will test the boundaries of their friendship. The biggest secret is that Harriet and Wyn have broken their engagement but haven’t told their family or friends. They resolve to keep it quiet for a little longer so as not to spoil the party, but keeping up appearances is a strain. An entertaining read, the novel paints an interesting picture of the development of relationships within a friendship group and the way childhood patterns can repeat in adult life. But it is based on a flaky premise – it’s hard to believe the disengaging couple have not told anyone, especially their closest friends, in five months. The ending is predictable and a little disappointing, aiming to make a point about being true to yourself despite others’ expectations, but not quite hitting the mark.

Apartment 303, by Kelli Hawkins

Rory suffers PTSD and OCD, resulting from childhood trauma, and rarely leaves her inner city Sydney apartment. She gets financial and emotional support from her aunt and daily comfort from her dog, which she walks on the rooftop garden. Becoming frustrated with her limitations, Rory starts to expand her horizons by befriending neighbours. But she soon runs into barriers, including her own fears and the apparent return of her violent father. Is there a genuine threat or is it all in her head? The story is quite gripping and Rory a sympathetic character, her battle with mental illness credible and engaging. The climax and resolution is a bit rushed and melodramatic – if not entirely surprising given its clunky execution.

The Great season 2, Hulu

Empress Catherine is heavily pregnant for most of the second season of this sort-of true story of the German Princess who modernised her adopted country in the 18th century. This has an effect on her emotions and decisions, particularly with regard to her husband and father of her child. She has deposed him as Emperor in a palace coup, but can’t bring herself to kill him and eliminate the threat he poses. A visit from her manipulative mother complicates everything, as does war with the Ottoman Empire. Catherine has made progress in her bid to bring enlightenment to Russia, but she still faces strong opposition among the nobles, who don’t want to lose any of their enormous privilege. This interesting take on history is enormously entertaining and visually sumptuous, with a sharp and funny script. The cast is top notch, with Dakota Fanning a delight as Catherine and Nicholas Hoult imbuing the monstrous Peter with humanity.

Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder, by Kerryn Mayne

At first this novel promises to be yet another quirky tale of a neurodivergent young woman overcoming the odds. But while Primary School teacher Helena ‘Lenny’ Marks may be neurodivergent, it soon becomes apparent she is living with the effects of a traumatic childhood. Reclusive, isolated and socially awkward, at the age of 37 Lenny has been half-heartedly trying to ‘get a life’ at the urging of her foster mother. When a letter dredges up her past it triggers buried memories and forces Lenny to question everything she thinks she knows of herself. Intermittent flashbacks gradually reveal how Lenny lost her family – and her memory. Mayne treads a fine line between horrifying and amusing in revealing Lenny’s past and outlining how she operates in the present. Her denseness about people gets irritating and some aspects are a bit far-fetched, but Lenny is a strong character and her story holds clear and useful messages. The ending is both disturbing and satisfying as it successfully answers the question posed by the book’s title strapline – Or Does She?

London Rules, by Mick Herron

Moscow rules say watch your back; London rules say cover your arse. MI5 dumping ground Slough House apparently loses one of its Slow Horse agents in unfortunate circumstances in each book. The early candidate here is obnoxious techie Roddy Ho, who is targeted from the start. This comes to the attention of the thoroughbreds of Regent’s Park when it is linked to a terrorist attack on an English village. The investigation of who is behind it stretches to Birmingham and to the actual town of Slough, where a comedy of errors facilitates a political assassination rather than preventing it. Often a step ahead of their Regents’ Park superiors, the Slow Horses swing wildly between heroics and fuck-ups. As usual their execrable leader Jackson Lamb operates on Moscow Rules to ensure the continued existence of his team. This time it leads to handing arch enemy Diana Taverner a weapon to secure her power that seems likely to come back to bite him. The sardonic humour is laugh-out-loud in places and there is joy in identifying thinly disguised political figures, especially from the populist right, and speculating on the accuracy of their depiction. This tale ends on several cliffhangers, likely to reverberate in the next instalment.

Silo, Apple TV+

Based on the dystopian books of Hugh Howey, this 10-part series is faithful to the story, while creating its own vision. The Silo houses a population of 10,000 citizens, deep underground. Every aspect of life is tightly regulated, especially technology. Ostensibly run by a popularly elected mayor who appoints a sheriff, in reality a judicial service oversees everything and rules the Silo with an iron fist. The story starts 140 years after a rebellion, in which many records were destroyed. No-one knows why the Silo was established, how long it has existed, or when it might be safe to venture outside. Questioning the system is strongly discouraged; dissenters are seen as a threat to the Silo and sent outside to clean the sensors that show the devasted environment. Engineer Juliet Nicholls lives and works deep in the bowels of the Silo, keeping the generators that power the place operating. The death of her lover takes her to the top levels, where power and authority reside, looking for answers to some profound and dangerous questions. A fantastic cast is led by Rebecca Ferguson as Juliet, supported by a gripping script and stunning visuals that bring the Silo to life. This is quality television and a second series is essential, so it’s a relief it has been announced for 2024.

The Bone Clocks, by David Mitchell

Teenage runaway Holly Sykes has some strange and violent encounters with otherworldly beings in rural Kent in the 1980s. She returns home to her parents’ pub when her strange little brother, Jacko, disappears. Seven years later, sociopath Cambridge student Hugo Lang finds his double life as perfect son and student versus fraudulent card sharp is about to unravel. On a ski trip to Switzerland, his encounter with hard working bar manager Holly takes his life in a very different direction, or perhaps to a different plane. Another decade on, war correspondent Ed Brubeck is struggling with PTSD and an addiction to his work and the impact it has on his partner, Holly, and their child. When their daughter goes missing old forces from Holly’s past are reactivated to find her. All this takes to half way through the book and so far, so intriguing. Then we hit 2015 and Crispin Hershey, an ageing, fading writer who encounters Holly on the writers’ festival circuit. He is a tedious character who dominates the next chunk of the novel, to its detriment. His section is actually no longer than the others but is so dull to read that it seems triple the length. Eventually we hit 2025, and the ultimate showdown between those mysterious otherworldly beings – the Horologists and the Anchorites, who have been at war for centuries. But not before we digress into the past lives of Marinus, one of the Horologists, just to spin the tale out even longer. Finally Holly retakes the central narrative in post-apocalypse 2043, where she is barely surviving in rural Ireland with her grandchildren. Mitchell’s books are difficult to describe because they contain such a dense concentration of worlds within worlds. This one is an epic self-indulgent ramble over more than 600 pages. Holly is a compelling protagonist; elements of the tale are entertaining; but it’s all too much and it’s a relief to finally get to the unlikely ending.

Terms of Inheritance, by Michelle Upton

Queensland hotel and casino tycoon Jacki Turner has a diagnosis of terminal cancer and gives each of her four daughters a task to achieve in the next year, in order to inherit her multi millions. All must succeed, or her money goes to an animal charity. Youngest daughter Jess, who runs her own design business, must sustain a relationship for longer than three months. Disability support worker Mel, who is overweight and massively in debt, must run a marathon. Mum-of-three Rose, a widowed accountant who has been estranged from her mother since her husband died, has to write and publish a children’s book. Eldest Isla runs her own chain of jewellery stores and idolises Jacki, so is baffled to be told to find her real self. An intriguing premise is not well executed, slabs of exposition managing to omit key details. Switching points of view between all four sisters, and sometimes Jacki, serves well to demonstrate the tensions and nuance of mother-daughter relationships, but there is sloppiness in the detail, particularly around timelines. Rose is the only fully-fleshed character; her sisters a somewhat sketchy support act, although the outcome of Jess’s relationship woes is neat. It’s all about mothering, or the lack of it, but love and good intentions win out, apparently, in a resolution that is eye-rollingly nonsensical.

Hacks, Season 2

Everyone’s story arcs go full circle via a road trip in this second outing of the odd couple of modern comedy, Boomer Deborah and Millennial Ava. It’s not as funny as the first but there is some gold, such as the lesbian cruise gig. The trope of the incompetent nepo baby receptionist and the long suffering manager is annoying, but at least serves a purpose in the story of Ava and Deborah’s law suit and their careers. Whereas the tale of Business Manager Marcus’s commitment issues and subsequent cockups is just irritating. Jean Smart is sublime as ageing comedy legend Deborah Vance, desperate for a second coming. It’s worth watching just for her performance. The show maintains a nice balance between comedy and drama, which allows for growth but never lapses into sentimentality. Season 3 has been delayed by Smart’s heart surgery and the Hollywood writers’ strike.

Best of Friends, by Kamila Shamsie

This is a book of two distinct parts. The first is set in Karachi in 1988, where 14-year-old best friends, Maryam and Zahra, attend an exclusive private school. It’s a heady time of self-discovery, with a growing awareness of bodies and sexuality, amid a turbulent political situation in Pakistan. The end of the Zia dictatorship and the advent of Benazir Bhutto makes the girls feel anything is possible, especially for those in their privileged positions. But a disturbing and frightening incident sparks big changes, especially for Maryam, and has repercussions that echo into the future. Thirty years later in London, Maryam finances tech start-ups while Zara is a human rights lawyer and civil liberties campaigner. Despite their fundamental differences they remain best friends, but this comes into question when a murky figure from their past enters the picture. Part one is hugely evocative of time and place and perfectly captures the awkward anticipation of adolescent girls, however privileged. Part two is less successful, the overweening privilege of expats less tolerable in adult women. It is really difficult to understand how the friendship can endure their major differences and the ending is plain puzzling.

Tales From the Folly, by Ben Aaronovitch

This short story collection is set in the world of the Rivers of London, half featuring Peter Grant and half other characters. The tales feature less of the dark violence that is a hallmark of the series, but just as much of the sardonic wit. This gives a lighter tone overall than the novels and novellas. A couple of the ‘others’ stories have been previously published along with an earlier novella, but most are new and fill in little gaps in the Rivers’ saga. They provide an enjoyable stopgap for Rivers of London addicts while waiting for the next full tale to hit the shelves.

Ted Lasso season 3 (AppleTv+)

Richmond FC has made it into the Premier League and everyone is tipping them to bomb out and be relegated straight back down. A star recruit looks likely to defy the critics, but the sugar hit doesn’t last. Can Ted reinstil the joy and save the season, or is he too distracted by missing his son and resenting his ex-wife’s new relationship? Meanwhile, Rebecca wants a baby; Keely’s love life takes a different turn after Roy dumps her; and Nate struggles to maintain the mongrel at West Ham. Season 1 was sublime, season 2 was patchy and season 3 falls somewhere in between, with a few episodes a bit meh and some causing gales of out-loud laughter. It finishes, as would be expected, on a high, but is nonetheless a satisfying end to a show that, for all its flaws, is just plain nice. Keep your Successions, with not one redeemable nor likeable character, Ted Lasso takes the chocolates every time.

The Long Game, by Simon Rowell

Zoe Mayer has just returned to her job with the homicide squad, after a break following her role in thwarting a terrorist attack at the MCG. Her first case back is the stabbing murder of a surfer on the Mornington Peninsula, which seems relatively straightforward, until a journalist alerts her to some odd coincidences with other cases. Zoe digs deeper, battling her colleagues as well as her personal trauma in an effort to find the truth. The premise of a detective with a service dog is really interesting and the intermittent flashbacks when Zoe is under pressure are a clever way of explaining the background circumstances and how they affect her work and life. It is a pity then that the plot lacks credibility and the writing is pedestrian at best. Zoe seemingly has no friends or family and her boyfriend is only there to serve a plot element; their sex scene is cringeworthy. The only fully rounded character is Harry, the service dog. It’s a suspenseful story and an easy read, but it could have been so much better.

Pineapple Street, by Jenny Jackson

Wealthy New York real estate tycoons, the patrician Stockport family live on the fruit streets of Brooklyn – Orange, Cranberry and Pineapple. The old family mansion on Pineapple is now occupied by son Cord and his outsider wife, Sasha. Elder daughter Darley also married out – to Korean finance whiz Malcolm, while much younger daughter Georgiana is single. All three children have an enormous capacity for love, but remain in thrall to the Family – to the cost of their relationships. Sasha is the biggest victim of this family dynamic. She married Cord for love, despite the red flags. and her reward is to be dubbed the Golddigger by his sisters. Can she break free and assert herself without losing her marriage? This novel starts off well and looks promising for a while, but ultimately doesn’t really go anywhere. Jenny Jackson ties herself in knots trying to paint everyone as fully rounded and redeemable characters despite their often despicable behaviour. It doesn’t quite work.

Queen Charlotte (Netflix)

Subtitled A Bridgerton Story, this six-part series is not from the Julia Quinn books, which is to its benefit. Considerably darker and sadder than its progenitor, it tells the story of the madness of King George III, from the point of view of his wife. Creator Shonda Rhimes makes it clear from the start that this is not history, but fiction inspired by real people. Good casting beautifully matches the younger versions of Queen Charlotte, Lady Danbury and Viscountess Violet Bridgerton with the originals, who also appear in flash forwards. It shares the sumptuous costumes and satirical edge of the first two Bridgerton series, as well as a core belief in true love as the basis of a good marriage. But it also portrays the difficult position of women faced with few choices in how they live their lives. It has more depth and substance than the Bridgerton series, but is just as entertaining. It would be good if there were more such spinoffs.

Murder in Williamstown, by Kerry Greenwood

Miss Fisher is so popular that her stories sell themselves, which is presumably why Kerry Greenwood keeps writing them. There seems no other reason than a nice little earner, as the tales have become hackneyed and sloppily written. This one is three separate detective stories smooshed into one, with Phryne’s adopted children pursuing their own mysteries. They could easily have started life as three separate short stories, which have been clumsily joined up and called a novel. There is more focus on food and fashion than plot and the historical and geographical references have been shoehorned in. Opium smuggling, a runaway Chinese lesbian, embezzlement at the Blind Institute and a perverted vicar. Sadly, the sum is lesser than the parts It is disappointing to see such an interesting and amusing character degenerate into writing by numbers.

Sword and Pen, by Rachel Caine

The fifth and final volume of the Great Library series sees the team of young scholars and soldiers in Alexandria fighting against all odds for the library’s very existence. Not only has the evil deposed Archivist placed assassins and traitors in their midst, but the world’s powers – Spain, England, Wales, Japan, France and Russia – are ranged against them, hoping to scoop up the spoils of civil war. It is an epic power struggle that will determine the fate of the world, as well as the lives of Jess, Glain, Morgan, Khalila, Thomas and Dario. They must use all their skills to survive and protect their mentors, but will the sacrifice be too great? Rachel Caine’s dark alt-history series pays great tribute to librarians and their vital role in preserving knowledge. In this world, in a very real way, knowledge is power and controlling and restricting it corrupts. It provides a nice allegory for the real world and the potential benefits of a new broom.

A Good Person (2033), directed by Zach Braff

Allison is a successful pharmaceutical sales rep and talented musician, blissfully engaged to Nathan. The couple aspires to move into New York from rural New Jersey, for a more cosmopolitan lifestyle far away from their troubled childhoods. A moment’s inattention while driving causes a terrible crash with fatal consequences, sending Allison into a spiral of self-loathing and addiction. Told in a linear fashion, the film takes a while to set up the story and it all gets rather grim before a glimmer of hope shines through to make a new start seem possible. Director Zach Braff also wrote the film and he makes it crystal clear that this is the kind of thing that could happen to anyone. He shows that that resilience, redemption and recovery are not just a matter of personal strength, but also of background, support and circumstance. Florence Pugh is so good as Allison and Morgan Freeman is great as Nathan’s estranged father Daniel, a man who must find a way to both forgive and complete his own redemption. The film is not without flaws, but it is a thoughtful and moving vehicle for Pugh to demonstrate her A-list credentials.

Heroic Hearts, edited by Jim Butcher and Kerrie L Hughes

This collection of short stories features some favourite dark fantasy authors, including Anne Bishop, Charlaine Harris and Patricia Briggs. It’s all wizards, witches and warlocks, vampires and werewolves, elves and fae. Many of the stories are very dark indeed, which tends to overshadow the purported theme of heroic hearts. Some are overlong and some are clearly part of established worlds and don’t necessarily stand alone for those readers unfamiliar with the author’s oevre. But the beauty of a short story anthology is that there is something for everyone and, at best, it can provide a taste of one or more authors worth seeking out for more.

Spook Street, by Mick Herron

Slow Horse River Cartwright’s grandfather is descending into dementia, which is a particular problem for a former senior member of the British security services. When an attempt is made on his life is it his past coming back to bite him, or the current security chiefs cleaning house? At the MI5 dumping ground of Slough House, there are two new Slow Horses to help or hinder the investigation into a clandestine cuckoo operation with terrorist links. But how far is David Cartwright culpable and will he pay for his mistakes or will his grandson pay for him? As usual the internal politics make everything more complicated, as the power hungry Diana Taverner tries to rid herself of another boss without losing ground. Meanwhile Catherine Standish’s attempt to resign is frustrated as she is drawn back in to help her fellow losers stay alive despite themselves. These books are not stand-alone tales; you need to have read Slow Horses, Dead Lions and Real Tigers to fully appreciate what is happening on Spook Street. Mick Herron’s blackly humorous take on the security services does make one wonder if the world would actually be better off – or at least no worse off – without them.

The Night Agent (Netflix)

Low-ranked FBI agent Peter Sutherland has been seconded to the White House, monitoring a secret phone that never rings – until one night it does. A year ago he was a hero, thwarting a terrorist attack on the subway, but he is also the son of a suspected traitor who died before coming to trial. Both roles have played a part in gaining him the job. The call leads Peter into a murky world of espionage, where he is protecting a vulnerable IT specialist who witnessed an assassination while not knowing who of his colleagues and superiors he can trust. What follows is a wild ride that is wholly improbable but very entertaining. The action moves fast enough to skate over the many ‘what now?’ moments, as disbelief is not quite suspended. The cast is interesting, including Kiwi Lucianne Buchanan as the (convenient) IT specialist Rose and Aussie Phoenix Raei as an unexpectedly nuanced baddie. They all do their best with a sometimes dodgy script. A second series has already been announced.

There’s Been a Little Incident, by Alice Ryan

After leaving a London party early Molly Black has disappeared. Her family in Dublin are only moderately concerned, as Molly makes a habit of running away from her problems. But there could be something more to it this time. The police think Molly could be a witness in the disappearance of another young woman and want to talk to her. Her best friend B flips between thinking she has left to give him space in a new phase of his life and feeling abandoned. Short chapters give the reader snapshots of each family member and their relationship with the errant Molly, as well as flashbacks to childhood and more recent escapades. A comic tone belies depths of darkness in aspects of each of Molly’s cousins, aunts and uncles, as well as in Molly herself. The story addresses various reactions to and consequences of grief and loss and how a family deals with it, taking a swipe at the mass media along the way. It’s an interesting and entertaining ride that is perhaps all wrapped up a little too neatly in the end.

The Diplomat (Netflix)

A British warship has been bombed, initial evidence points to Iran suspects Iran and the world is on the brink of war. Experienced US diplomat Katherine Wayland is about to take up a posting in Afghanistan, where she hopes to mitigate the effect of the Taliban rulers on its female population and facilitate the escape of US affiliated locals. Instead she is summoned to Washington and put on a plane to London, to deal with the fallout of an apparent Iranian attack on a British warship. Little does she know this is a test of her suitability to replace the Vice President and shore up the elderly President. In the vein of Madame Secretary, but with sharper dialogue and much less cheese, this series is fascinating and satisfying, delving into the details of US politics and international relations in the setting of post-Brexit Britain. The eight episodes follow the arc of a difficult diplomatic situation, with the underlying and parallel story of a disintegrating marriage. Keri Russell is at her peak as the reluctant new Ambassador and Rufus Sewell revels in the role of her Machiavellian former diplomat husband, who may have his own political ambitions. The supporting cast includes some fantastic British actors, such as Celia Imrie, Rory Kinnear and Penny Downie. An explosive cliffhanger ending hopefully signals a second series.

Carrie Soto is back, by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Tennis prodigy Carrie Soto was coached by her father from infancy to be greatest tennis player of all time, fulfilling his own thwarted dreams. Had Carrie’s mother not been killed in a car accident she may have provided some balance to the lonely girl’s upbringing. Desperate for her Dad’s attention and approval, she threw herself single-mindedly into tennis, at the expense of friends, fun and any semblance of a normal life. Early in his daughter’s professional career, Javier realises that while grieving the loss of his wife he has created a monster. He tries to make up for it later on, supporting Carrie completely when she attempts a comeback, at the age of 37, to protect her legacy. Read creates a vividly credible picture of the professional tennis scene of the 70s, 80s and 90s, with an acute skewering of the sexist commentary typical of the era. Her fictional tennis stars are based on recognisable archetypes, rather than actual players, and are a lot of fun to spot. For all her faults, Carrie is endearingly honest and ultimately capable of both professional success and personal growth.

Real Tigers, by Mick Herron

One of the Slow Horses has been abducted and held hostage for another of their number to carry out a task for the kidnappers. Their stable, Slough House, already serves as a retirement paddock for dud and disgraced agents who are too hard to sack. Now its existence is under threat as a dodgy private security firm is employed to involve them in political machinations. New Home Secretary Peter Judd has a grudge against the intelligence service and is not above using it as a tool to further his political ambitions. In this he could be helped or hindered by the ongoing power struggle between Head of MI5 Dame Ingrid Tearney and her diabolical second desk, Diana Taverner. The Slow Horses must find a way to save themselves from increasingly dire circumstances, in a fight that looks to have no winners. Written with a dry, cynical wit, this tense and edgy thriller deepens the intrigue established in the first two books of the series. It paints a truly bleak picture of the intelligence services and political class, where the focus is firmly on personal power grabs and private vendettas and damn the public interest. Bystanders and obstacles are expendable and cover ups the norm. It is only too believable, which is kind of depressing.

Her Fidelity, by Katherine Pollock

Unashamedly riffing on Nick Hornby’s Hi Fidelity, this cautionary tale is set in contemporary Brisbane rather than 80s London. Music nerd Kathy doesn’t own or even run Dusty’s Records, but she has worked there for more than a decade, since she was a teen. Rampant sexism and misogyny, with a smidge of sexual assault, are the hallmarks of Kathy’s work and life experience and, despite her sass, she rarely snaps back, but lets it shape her. A curious mixture of smart and naïve for someone who is 29, Kathy seems to be trapped in a kind of extended adolescence – spongeing off her parents, eating badly and drinking too much. She is the centre of her own universe, with little scope for mature relationships of any flavour. In fact Kathy has a deep well of simmering anger and a couple of triggers bring this to the surface to finally spark some changes in her life. Many characters are caricatures and the tone is hyper-real, most likely a deliberate choice to provide a lighter way into the serious issues Kathy confronts on her way to belated adulthood. Ultimately a salute to enduring and sustaining female friendship, the book does acknowledge the good guys; not all men, but most of them.

Living (2023), directed by Oliver Hermanus

Mr Williams is a mid-level paper pusher at the London County Council in the 1950s. A reserved widower, he lives as a spare wheel with his son and daughter-in-law and commutes into London with the other men in suits and bowler hats. When he receives a terminal diagnosis, Mr Williams realises the pointless narrowness of his life. After contemplating suicide and a wild couple of days on the coast, he spends a few weeks thinking while siting in parks. He doesn’t tell his family or colleagues anything. Befriended by a former subordinate, the young and vibrant Miss Harris, Mr Williams decides to put some effort into gaining a small victory that gives what remains of his life meaning. Written by Kashuo Ishigura, based on a Kurasawa classic film, it is no surprise that this is a very small, quiet story. It clearly depicts the rigid class divide in post war England, with a mildly amusing script and beautiful cinematography. Bill Nighy is note perfect in the lead role, while Sex Education’s Aimee-Lou Wood is lovely as the sympathetic Miss Harris. Slow, but never dull, the film finishes on a slightly mawkish note but this doesn’t detract from the whole understated and moving tale of a life well ended.

Cult Classic, by Sloane Crosley

Serial monogamist Lola is a 30-something New Yorker, living with her fiancé. A former magazine editor, the collapse of print publishing precipitated her move into the online space. She has doubts and questions about her engagement, which only intensify when she suddenly starts running into her exes and starts analysing her previous relationships and dating behaviour. Two former magazine colleagues introduce Lola to a secret group conducting an experiment that will enable her to confront her past without getting lost in it. The story comes across as a kind of stream of consciousness Sex in the City, as Lola encounters her many exes in an attempt to reach closure and decide if she can move forward with her fiancé. But former boss Clive is aiming to monetise the experiment, using Lola as the poster girl. It is all very New York, with lots of ‘in’ words and locations and it’s a little hard to swallow that smart, cynical Lola would go along so easily with the attempted cult. A twist at the end is also highly unlikely, even if it brings resolution.

The Soulmate, by Sally Hepworth

Gabe and Pippa and their two small girls live near a cliff that has become a suicide spot, a couple of hours out of Melbourne. In the few years they have lived there Gabe has become a life-saver, specialising in talking people down from the edge. When a woman goes over while Gabe is talking to her, the shock and distress triggers an unravelling of secrets and a murky history that threatens to lead to more deaths. The story alternates between the points of view of Pippa and Amanda, the dead woman, in short sharp chapters that detail their marriages and what happened before and after the fateful day. Pippa makes an interesting narrator, so in love with her husband she is blind to his faults – despite bitter experience. Amanda as an omniscient ghost is an odd device that doesn’t quite work. There are plot holes and a sloppiness of detail that detract from the story, which is far-fetched in the extreme. The style and tone is reminiscent of Liane Moriarty's books, featuring women who stand by their men against all comers, until they don’t.

I Am Not Fine Thanks, by Wil Anderson

Essentially a memoir of the COVID years, the self-deprecating comedian gives lots of personal insight, but little personal detail about how he got through them and how he is travelling. The intended audience must be fans of Wil’s stand-up or TV shows, who don’t know that much about him. Those who listen to any of his many podcasts will have heard most of the stories before and the repetitive style is more entertaining spoken than written on the page – possibly a recommendation for the audiobook version. Very short chapters and simple language make it suitable for those with a low reading age. The humour is often dry and acerbic, sometimes silly, always entertaining. The tone and the politics are reminiscent of the First Dog on the Moon cartoon, only with all words and no pictures. The last few chapters verge on polemic, which can get a bit much even if you agree with every word.

Unnecessary Drama, by Nina Kenwood

Starting university, Brooke has moved from the country into a Melbourne share house. Troubled by anxiety and an overwhelming need for control, she hopes to reinvent herself in the big city. This seems unlikely when she realises that one of her new housemates is Jesse, a former friend from her home town who let her down badly. Always the good girl, the responsible one, Brooke needs to relax, get out of her own head and learn how to trust again. The characters don’t quite ring true is this uneven coming-of-age tale. It is mildly amusing and wholly predictable, with the will-they won’t-they tediously adolescent.

Empire of Light (2022), directed by Sam Mendes

In a small town on the south coast of England in 1981, the Empire cinema is past its glory days. Only two of four screens operate and the old bar, restaurant and ballroom have been left to the pigeons. Duty manager Hilary Small lives in a similar state of neglect with neither friends nor family and a problematic relationship with the old school cinema manager. New employee Stephen brings light into her life, but also throws it off balance - again. The themes of mental illness and racial and social division in Thatcher’s England sit a little oddly within a sentimental homage to cinema. This makes the film extraordinarily powerful and moving in parts, amid strange little flat patches. Olivia Coleman gives her usual strong performance as the struggling Hilary. She is well matched by Micheal Ward as Stephen and ably supported by Colin Firth and Toby Jones. The cinematography is superb and the soundtrack is killer. The essential message of the vital importance of kindness manages to shine through what is overall an uneven film.

The Bullet that Missed, by Richard Osman

The Thursday Murder Club has decided to look into the 2013 disappearance of Bethany Waite, an investigative journalist deemed murdered, although her body has never been found. At the same time former spy Elizabeth faces a deadly threat dredged up by her past that also puts her friends at risk. Once again it will take all the ingenuity of the fabulously ageing four, as well as allies old and new, to stay alive and solve the mystery – or do they? The short chapters and fast pace make this series an easy read, but there is no lack of depth to the characters. Several love stories enliven this third book, not least the poignant tale of the decline of Elizabeth’s beloved husband. The plot keeps twisting and turning to the end, requiring considerable suspension of disbelief, and it is all very entertaining. Roll on book four.

Amongst Our Weapons, by Ben Aaronovitch

Back in the Folly after his undercover adventures, Detective Constable Peter Grant has a new trainee in the Special Assessment Unit. Two mysterious murders lead the team of magical investigators in search of a set of platinum puzzle rings. Peter has to leave his beloved London for Manchester to repair relationships with magical engineers the Sons of Wayland. The Folly needs allies to combat a malign medieval spirit inadvertently released by erstwhile colleague Lesley May, while she was pursuing the rings. Meanwhile his other beloved, river goddess Beverley Brook, is about to give birth to twins, which will change their lives forever. The key to this mystery is to expect the unexpected and the same goes for Peter’s future in the police force. This novel was published in 2022, which means it may be a while to wait for any further adventures of Peter Grant, his family and friends. Hopefully not too long.

My Year of Dicks (2022), directed by Sara Gunnarsdottir

Based on a book by Pamela Ribon, this short animated film has been nominated for an Oscar. Told in five chapters, it is the story of 15-year-old Pam’s misguided bid to lose her virginity and the complete dicks she encounters along the way. The chapters are punctuated with old video footage of Pamela talking to camera, which is sometimes illuminating and a bit distracting from the main event. The 25 minute film is sweet and funny and very relatable. It is available to view free online at myyearofdicks.com Because everybody has one, apparently.

Moon Sugar, by Angela Meyer

A young Australian sex worker goes missing in Berlin and, as he left a note, the Police rule the case a suicide. Back in Melbourne, his flatmate and his sugar mummy are in grief and disbelief and separately make their ways to Europe to try to find out what happened. There Kyle and Mila team up and, as well as investigating Josh’s movements, each goes on a journey of self-discovery. So far so good. Mila and Josh had been involved in some kind of experiment with consciousness, possibly involving drugs, which seems to have triggered his disappearance. How does this link to the experiences of an American astronaut 23 years previously, who is dealing with the aftermath of a mistake made in space? The answer is beyond stupid, with a bizarre and holey plot, cardboard characters, a didactic tone and a ludicrous outcome. The real question is how does drek like this get published?

The Ink-Black Heart, by Robert Galbraith

The latest Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott murder mystery delves into the murky world of online trolling, toxic gamers and incitement to hatred. Thrown in for good measure is a far right terrorism cell, a paedophilia angle and a large dose of misogyny. That is is a lot. An interesting topic and two appealing detectives should provide a meaty story, but there is so much flab on the meat it gets exhausting. The structure of online messages between a huge range of suspects and hangers on is very small print and therefore difficult to read, and difficult to follow when three threads run at once. Although it does give a clear picture of the tone of online interactions and how they can be manipulated and get out of hand. At the same time there are so many characters with so much going on that it becomes really confusing as to who exactly knew what and when. The actual mystery is underpinned by the URST between the business partners, which after five years is getting kind of tedious. While the state of their feelings is progressed by the end of this book, there is clearly still a long way to go and the progress is achieved through an array of flabby subplots that pad out the action. The result is a novel of more than a thousand pages, which is just ridiculous. By the time you finally get to the end and discover the killer, you almost don’t care, it’s just a relief to finally finish.

Bridgerton season 2 (Netflix)

As with the books, number 2 focuses on the eldest Bridgerton son, Anthony. Dedicated to finding the perfect viscountess, without emotional attachment, he finds himself torn between the two Sharma sisters, feisty Kate and demure Edwina. Meanwhile his sister Eloise struggles with the constraints of society while making her debut and brother Colin wonders what to do with his life. Lady Whistledown continues to uncover all the gossip, but is in great danger of being unmasked. The season suffers for the lack of Rege-Jean Page, who does not make even a cameo appearance as the duke, although his duchess is present. It is less sexy than the first and the storyline is less compelling, but the casting is still delightfully diverse and the music and costumes are sumptuous. Season 3 teasers have recently been dropped and will depart from the order of the books to focus on third brother Colin rather than second brother Benedict’s story. This makes a lot of sense and hopefully the producers will shake up other aspects.

A Psalm for the Wild Built, by Becky Chambers

The moon of Panga was taken to the brink of environmental catastrophe before its human population came to its senses and restored the balance. Now half the moon has been given over to nature, while humanity has built a sustainable society in the other half. At some point in its history the robots, who were part of the overdevelopment crisis, attained consciousness and, rather than accept citizenship, opted to leave and explore the regenerating wilderness. Now gardening monk Sibling Dex has an overwhelming desire to leave the city and changes his vocation to tea service monk, taking to country roads to dispense tea and sympathy to whomever needs it. Despite excelling in their new vocation Dex is still unsatisfied, feeling a pull to the wilderness. There they meet Mosscap, a robot that has volunteered to check in on the human population. This gives Dex a new perspective on life, the moon and everything. Becky Chambers tackles some deep philosophical issues in this deceptively simple novella of friendship and journey. Short and sweet, it lights a pathway to a better way of living and promises more to come.

Dead Lions, by Mick Herron

A relict of the Berlin Zoo of the 80s, former minor spy asset Dickie Bow is found dead on a regional bus, with mystery surrounding the whys and wherefores. Is a long-dormant Russian sleeper cell awake, or is it an elaborate ruse to fool the intelligence services and divert their resources? And can the Slow Horses save the day or will they completely balls it up? Ambition rules decisions made at all levels of MI5. Those in the inner sanctum at Regents’ Park want to climb the ranks. Those in the outer reaches of Slough House, the screw-up ‘slow horses’, are desperate to make it back to the main game. A sequel to Slow Horses, this tight, tense and tart tale keeps the outcome in doubt until the end. Some relationships among the Slough House crew are strengthened and some are lost as the ill-assorted team gropes its way to the truth, and makes progress in operating as a team.

Emily (2022), directed by Frances O’Connor

There is a school of thought among the literati that elevates the novel Wuthering Heights as the greatest ever written. This premise seems to have informed Frances O’Connor’s writing and directing of this film about the middle Bronte sister. It is one thing to invent a passionate and doomed affair with a curate to explain the depth and breadth of imagination that came up with such an extraordinary story. It is quite another to ignore or distort known facts to serve the film’s narrative arc. Prolific novelist Charlotte apparently gave up writing during her teaching career and was only inspired by Emily’s success to take it up again after her sister’s death. Anne’s writing is never alluded to, despite her authorship of two exceptional novels. Small things are also annoying, such as Emily’s name appearing on her book, when it is well known that all three sisters used male pen names in order to get published. What does ring true is the problematic character of brother Branwell, and the portrayal of sibling rivalry between Emily and Charlotte is interesting and credible. Shaky hand-held camera work, some strange editing choices and occasionally overblown music detract from what is overall a quite beautiful, if uneven, film. It is held together by Emma Mackey’s mesmerising lead performance and a strong supporting cast.

The Last Party, by Claire Mackintosh

After a wild New Year’s Eve party a man is found dead in a lake on the border of England and North Wales. Was it accident, suicide or murder? Welsh detective Ffion Morgan and English copper Leo Brady find no shortage of motives or suspects for murder, but their complicated personal lives threaten to impede their investigations. An awkward structure zips back and forth in time between present day, the party and the weeks and months leading up to the party. The present day narrative switches between the perspective of the two detectives, while the flashbacks illuminate the points of view of an enormous variety of characters, including the dead man. The confusion this causes is only exacerbated by all accounts being written in present tense. The setting, with its border tensions, is really interesting, as is the interaction between the two detectives. But there are so many characters, with so many issues, it’s hard to keep track of what is going on. Everyone’s life is a soap opera, to the point of ridiculousness but apparently kept secret even in a small Welsh village. Billed as the first DC Morgan mystery, it’s hard to see how Ffion could remain a police officer after the, literally incredible, events of this book. Perhaps the Welsh borders are set to become the new Midsummer.

False Value, by Ben Aaronovitch

Peter Grant has left the Met and is working in security for tech company. Or is he actually working undercover? The answer is not long withheld as our intrepid magical detective finds himself battling on several fronts. Fortunately he also has extra allies as the magical world keeps expanding. The complicated storyline involves rogue libertarian librarian practitioners from the US, because why not? Peter’s partner, river goddess Beverly Brook, is six months pregnant with twins, which adds extra complications to his personal and professional life. Much amusement is to be found from the tech bros, particularly around their idiosyncratic behaviours and naming protocols. With the unmasking and death of the Faceless Man there was a need for a new big bad enemy. Is it the Australian/American tech billionaire Terence Skinner or are there darker forces at work behind him? Although she does not rear her formerly ugly head in this book, it seems likely that Lesley May is involved somehow. Future volumes will no doubt reveal all.

Matilda the Musical (2022), directed by Matthew Warchus

Translation from stage to screen can be tricky, but this has been done very well. The matching of Roald Dahl with Tim Minchin is sublime, with such clever songs that naturally flow with the narrative. The casting is spot on: Emma Thompson brilliantly awful as Miss Trunchbull; Lashana Lynch sweetly brave as Miss Honey; and Alisha Weir fiercely determined as the fabulous heroine. Who knew action star Lynch could sing so beautifully? All Dahl’s children’s tales have dark elements and Matilda is one of the darkest, with its themes of child neglect and abuse. But this film does a great job with the message of solidarity and standing up to bullies. And its celebration of smart girls who love books is refreshing. A thoroughly enjoyable movie.

BBB top five lists of 2022

It's awards season, soo Books Booze Blather has joined the crowd to name the top five films and book reviewed in 2022. They were not necessarily 'the best' of the year, but they were the most enjoyable, memorable, moving or thought-provoking. Films Good Luck to You Leo Grande, directed by Sophie Hyde Everything Everywhere All at Once, directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert Petite Maman, directed by Cecile Sciamma She Said,directed by Maria Schrader Dog, directed by Channing Tatum and Reid Carolin Books Lessons in Chemistry, by Bonnie Garmuss A Solitary Walk on the Moon, by Hilde Hinton A History of Dreams, by Jane Rawson Rivers of London, by Ben Aaronovitch Crowbones, by Anne Bishop

Fire and Blood, By George RR Martin

Written as a historical record of the rise and fall of the Targaryen dynasty in Westeros, this mammoth tome served as the blueprint for the recent HBO Game of Thrones prequel series. Starting 300 years before the events of the original books, it covers the takeover of the disparate kingdoms by Aegon the Conqueror and how following generations first built on his legacy, then destroyed it. This sweeping epic covers more than 700 pages and the scale is such that less than 100 of them in the middle of the book encompass the events of series one of House of the Dragon. So there is ample material for further seasons. The beauty of writing it as a historical record is that Martin doesn’t need to worry about character development and has a built-in excuse for inconsistency and repetition, which he makes the most of. The book drags in places, the names are confusing and many chapters are ludicrously long, leaving the reader desperate for a break. The text is broken up by illustrations from Doug Wheatley, but the extreme violence and bloodthirsty politics just get tiresome. Where The Song of Ice and Fire saga contained heroes to barrack for, as well as villains to hate and those in between to keep the Game of Thrones interesting, in this pseudo-history good people are few and far between and don’t last long. Most of the main characters are evil, stupid, brutal, or all of the above and the narrative format creates a distance that makes it harder to invest in them.

Knives Out: The Glass Onion (2022), directed by Rian Johnson

Politician Claire, scientist Lionel, fading socialite Birdie and MRA Youtuber Duke are summoned to the private Greek island of billionaire genius Miles Bron, who they all knew before he made it. Also present are famous detective Benoit Blanc, apparently invited by accident, and the billionaire’s shafted former partner, Andi. There follows a murder mystery within a murder mystery, in a Christie-esque series of twists and turns that can only be unravelled by the formidable Blanc. Edward Norton portrays Miles Bron in a thinly veiled takedown or tech bros such as Zuckerberg and Musk. Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr, Kate Hudson and Dave Bautista are the friends who have benefitted from Bron’s largesse and find they owe him, perhaps more than they can pay. The performances are hit and miss, with Janelle Monae the standout as Andi. Numerous celebrity cameos, including Hugh Grant, Angela Lansbury, Natasha Lyonne, Stephen Sondheim, Ethan Hawke and Serena Williams add fun.

Slow Horses, by Mick Herron

Slough House is where British Intelligence agents who have messed up or transgressed are sent to pasture. Burning with resentment at being set up to fail, River Cartwright wants to get his teeth into some real work and prove that he belongs in the inner sanctum in London’s Regent’s Park. But he has only been retained by the service at all because of his legendary grandfather’s influence. When a young man is kidnapped by terrorists threatening to behead him on a livestream, River and his fellow ‘slow horses’ are inadvertently drawn into the intelligence operation. Can they overcome their dodgy pasts to make an impact on the case? That will depend on whether their horrible old-school chief, Jackson Lamb, can outwit the ruthless Regent’s Park suit, Diana Taverner. Herron paints a chillingly grim and believable picture of the modern intelligence services, leavened with wry humour. The books have recently been made into an acclaimed TV series starring Kristin Scott Thomas and Gary Oldfield.

The October Man, by Ben Aaronovitch

Although it references to the Rivers of London characters, this novella and short story is actually more Rivers of Germany. It features Peter Grant’s German counterpart Tobias Winter, investigating a mysterious vineyard death in the Mosel valley. His local police liaison is Vanessa Summer, a pragmatic offsider who makes a useful ally and potential recruit. While the story is a bit of fun, its chief role is in providing a deeper and richer backdrop to the Rivers of London world, filling in some gaps on postwar relationships and developments in magical communities. It would be great to see Peter Grant and Tobias Winter meet up and even work together in a future tale, so hopefully that is where the series is heading as the ranks of the international magical police expand.