We Solve Murders, by Richard Osman

A private close protection officer has been set up for a series of murders linked to her work and she brings in her ex-cop father-in-law to help protect her reputation and life, along with that of her latest client – a famous writer. It’s all pretty far-fetched, with a new set of characters, but a similar tone to the Thursday Murder gang. When you’re on a good thing…

River of Salt, by Dave Warner

A young mob hitman escapes his dark past in Philadelphia to start a new life on the north coast of New South Wales. A murder disrupts his surf bar serenity and brings his old skills to bear in assisting the local corrupt cop to solve the case. Set in 1961, red herrings abound along with several glaring anachronisms. It's all rather bloddy. but love and music find a way.

Juliet, Naked (2018), directed by Jesse Peretz

Promising musician Tucker Crow disappeared from the public eye after a devastating breakup, leaving his small cadre of dedicated fans desperate for more. Living in an unsatisfactory relationship with one of those superfans, Annie accidentally connects with Tucker online and sparks big changes in both their lives. This low key romcom, based on a Nick Hornby novel, is notable for its lead actors; Rose Byrne’s brand of competent appeal works well for Annie; Chris O’Dowd brings his usual daffiness as the fan; and Ethan Hawke hits the spot as the ageing never-was rock star.

Orbital, by Samantha Harvey

At 136 pages this is barely a novella but the prose is so dense it’s a slow read. Poetic, philosophical and colourfully geographic, it delves into the minds and hearts of six astronauts on the International Space Station. Gently profound on climate change and the folly of humankind, the story celebrates the blue planet and laments its inevitable demise. This year’s Booker winner is narrow, deep and most unusual.

The Dog of the North, by Elizabeth McKenzie

Broke and homeless, Penny has quit her marriage and her job and travelled to Santa Barbara to help with crises in the lives of each of her elderly grandparents. She finds friends in odd places and travels as far as Australia to uncover the mystery of a family tragedy. Teetering on the edge of absurd, this very strange tale celebrates competence in a woman still dealing with childhood and adult trauma.

The Masquerades of Spring, by Ben Aaronovitch

The latest Rivers of London novella goes back in time to see chief London wizard Thomas Nightingale visiting New York in the 1920s to track down magically malign instruments. Seen from the point of view of expat colleague Augustus Berrycloth-Young, this entertaining tale sheds light on the earlier days of Nightingale, although Gussy’s voice gets a bit twee. While the back story short stories and novellas are fun, it must surely be time for a proper novel that takes the saga forward.

Douglas is Cancelled (ITV)

Patience and endurance are required to get beyond the first episode of this program, which seems to be yet another defence of the poor, downtrodden, middle-aged, middle class white male, who just can’t say anything anymore. All of the characters are horrible – the least obnoxious the titular TV presenter who falls foul of cancel culture. But although heavy handed, this twisty critique of the media and entertainment industry has some valid points to make about how the good guys, the not-all men, need to stop turning a blind eye to the monsters and step up as allies to the real victims. Karen Gillan plays the ambitious and manipulative Madeleine and Hugh Bonneville the nice-guy Douglas, who switch our sympathies and keep us guessing about the truth. Alex Kingston is amusing as a terrible tabloid editor and not-so supportive wife. It’s frustrating that there are few consequences for the worst behaved character, who is enabled by the system he works in, but this is probably the most true-to-life element of the story.

You Are Here, by David Nicholls

Two lonely people become a little less lonely when they bond on a hiking trip across the north of England. Survivor of a terrible marriage, Marnie works from home and since COVID lockdowns her world has shrunk. A brutal assault has changed Michael in ways that damaged and destroyed his previously happy marriage. Each chapter alternates bewteen their two very different perspectives. This unlikely pair help each other to break bad patterns and move on with hope. Their coming together is not very credible, but that’s romance.

The Ministry of Time, by Kaliane Bradley

In the near future the British government has acquired a time travel device and has brought forward several people from the past – 1645 to 1916. Each has a civil servant assigned as a bridge – a minder to help acclimatise them to the present day and report on them to the Ministry. But how will the personal relationships formed affect the present and the future? Especially that between charismatic polar explorer Graham Gore and his unnamed Eurasian bridge. It's an intriguing premise, well constructed and imagined, that turns into something of a mindfuck as the time travel elements turn on themselves.

Rogue Protocol and Exit Strategy, by Martha Wells

In Murderbot 3 the independent SecUnit goes in search of evidence against the evil GrayCris company, allying with and protecting a new group of humans and learning a lot about the potential of human relationships along the way. The fourth and concluding novella in the Murderbot series sees the rogue SecUnit on a rescue mission to save Dr Mensah, its mentor and possible friend from the first story, who has been kidnapped by the GreyCris corporation. A satisfying journey arc is completed with trademark humour and humanity.

My Old Ass (2024), directed by Megan Park

Elliott is 18 and about to leave the family cranberry farm for Uni in the big city of Toronto. While taking a mushroom trip with friends she encounters her 39-year-old self, who has words of wisdom that change the way Elliott looks life. It starts slowly but builds to a beautifully sad climax, where it turns out Elliot has things to teach her old ass too. Stunning cinematography is complemented by a lovely performance from newcomer Maisie Stella.

The Alternatives, by Caolinn Hughes

Four sisters have overcome their troubled childhoods to become successful in different ways. When the eldest goes AWOL the others go in pursuit, re-evaluating tricky relationships along the way. A not quite successful meld of dystopian despair and family drama attempts interesting things but is overly didactic.

Artificial Condition, by Martha Wells

Book two in the Murderbot Diaries follows on directly from All Systems Red, with the rogue security unit now on the run from both The Company that owns it and the benevolent former clients trying to help it. It hitches a ride with an unstaffed AI-driven cargo ship to a remote mining station, on a quest to discover the mystery of its past and the origins of its violent self-inflicted nickname. This involves reaching a level of trust with its powerful host and taking on a private security contract with a group of naïve researchers trying to regain their intellectual property from a criminal gang. Literally digging up the past raises as many questions as answers for the troubled SecUnit and the mission is complicated by its sense of obligation to protect its hapless clients, despite no imperative to do so. The tale is action-packed and funny and, although it has few organic parts and an enormous capacity for destruction, the SecUnit demonstrates more humanity than many of the actual humans it encounters.

The Decameron (Netflix)

In plague-ridden mediaeval Italy a group of nobles and their downtrodden servants assemble in a country villa to try to stay safe from the illness. Scheming and seduction, murder and mayhem ensue as a power struggle unfolds and alliances form and shift. External threats from violent marauders put everyone’s lives at risk, along with the ever-present, lurking plague. Can they work together to keep themselves safe? Probably not. Based on a contemporary set of short stories, this 8-part series is colourful and wickedly funny - The Canterbury Tales meets Agatha Christie, but perhaps drags on a bit long. The soft pedal ending sits oddly against the earlier action and violence but pays a nice tribute to the original text.

The Hollow Boy, by Jonathan Stroud

Successful psychic investigations mean Lockwood & Co are overwhelmed with cases dealing with recalcitrant ghostly phenomena. This is exacerbated by a huge outbreak in Chelsea soaking up the resources of the major agencies. Taking on efficient Holly Munro as admin manager makes work go more smoothly, but she is the diametric opposite of Lucy and the two girls clash. Lucy’s particular psychic sensitivities are also causing her problems, creating dangerous distractions in the field as they develop. This third book of the series sees the Lockwood team navigating its own internal friction and dealing with the broader politics and economics of the ghost fighting industry and its shifting alliances while struggling for a secure place within it. The tricky relationship between Lucy and Anthony Lockwood puts the whole team at risk, leading to a big decision for Lucy that will dramatically affect the future of the agency. Smart, funny and scary, Stroud’s Lockwood & Co series operates on several levels. Each fast-paced teen mystery is underpinned by a complex world and punctuated with clues to an overarching conspiracy that promises a satisfying eventual conclusion.

Beach Read, by Emily Henry

Successful romance writer January Andrews is struggling to even start her latest novel. This is not surprising as she is reeling from her father’s untimely death, discovery of his infidelity to her cancer stricken mother and the break-up of her long term relationship. January is trying to work while preparing for sale the house on the shores of Lake Michigan that her father left her. Finding her college nemesis, hardened cynic Gus, lives next door sparks a writing challenge – they will each dip in to each other’s genre and see who is more successful. The ensuing friendship, lust and misunderstanding is textbook rather than beach read, with some ludicrous dialogue amid the occasional welcome laughs. While January’s challenges are interesting, most of the characters are one dimensional, including Gus, with too many exercises in diversity box-ticking. Their romance is just not credible, with tortuous twists, tedious turns and mystifying motivations.

A Prayer for the Crown Shy, by Becky Chambers

A sequel to A Psalm for the Wild-Built, this monk and robot book sees Sibling Dex and Mosscap leave the wilderness and start their journey to the city. There are many stops along the way, including a visit to Dex’s family, so the robot can interact with people and ask its prime question – what do humans need? The answers are sometimes confounding for the robot and cause it to question itself and its purpose. Meanwhile Dex also finds themself with questions about their purpose and their future, which may derail the odd pair’s journey. Becky Chambers celebrates the wonders of nature and the best aspects of the human spirit in these gently philosophical stories. Poetic, beautiful and essentially optimistic, they offer a spark of light and hope in a world that currently feels very dark and disappointing.

Tilda is Visible, by Jane Tara

A divorced mother of grown-up twin girls, Tilda Finch runs a successful business and has great friends. So why has her body started disappearing? Diagnosed with invisibility, Tilda finds she is part of a growing cohort of women across the world who are disappearing from view. Although it is a recognised medical condition there is little research into the problem and much dispute about whether or how it can be treated. Tilda will have to dig into her past and confront her inner demons to fight for visibility. It’s an interesting idea (if not original) to take a metaphorical issue that affects many women over 40 and make it a physical reality. But unfortunately this confused and uneven mish-mash of a story is a self-help manual, thinly disguised as a novel. It’s all about perception and meditation and overcoming childhood trauma and self-belief, apparently. Tilda addresses her issues, follows her dreams and dates a man who actually cannot see to regain her visibility. If only it was actually so easy.

The Seven Husbands of Eleanor Hugo, by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Former film goddess Eleanor Hugo has decided it is time to tell the story of her life and extraordinary career, which started in the 1950s, after many years of silence. She has selected rising magazine journalist Monique Grant to write her juicy biography. Most of Eleanor’s many marriages were a means to an end – escape from childhood poverty and violence; covering up a scandal; a good career move - as she navigated the tricky, patriarchal and controlling Hollywood studio system. None of her seven husbands were the love of her life. Monique is navigating her own marriage breakdown and has much to learn from Evelyn about life, love and career advancement. But why is she the chosen one? Evelyn Hugo is a fascinating character, with admirable and despicable qualities. Most of the book is her first person account of her life and career, which makes Monique seem a cipher, peripheral to the tale. The story runs out of steam by the sixth husband and races to a conclusion with a twist that explains Monique’s role, but is unconvincing. It’s an entertaining read with some valid points about secrecy and stardom.

All Systems Red, by Martha Wells

A small research exploration team on a remote, uninhabited planet runs into trouble, but is it malfunction or sabotage? The Company they are contracted to has supplied the cheapest and shoddiest equipment; does this include the cyborg security unit charged with keeping them safe? This particular SecUnit calls itself Murderbot. It has a chequered past, a shy nature, an addiction to TV drama serials and a dangerous secret. With the team in deadly peril, Murderbot must decide how much of itself to expose to these unusually pleasant humans in order to protect them. In this slim novel Wells creates a world reminiscent of Becky Chambers’ sci fi stories, with diverse, relatable characters and a deep dive into what it means to be human – physically, emotionally and ethically. Murderbot is a fabulous protagonist – individual, complex, talented and flawed, who promises to be something of a space lone ranger. Will there ever be a Tonto? Probably not, but it will be fun finding out.

Lockwood & Co - The Whispering Skull, by Jonathan Stroud

Stranger than usual happenings in Kensal Green cemetery see Lockwood & Co investigating an historic mystery of a sinister Victorian-era Doctor who was involved in some very nasty and dangerous experiments. Independent teen agents Anthony, Lucy and George again clash rapiers with Quill Kipps and his team from the establishment Fittes agency in a bid to prove their superior skills. But sometimes your enemy’s enemy can be your friend, or at least your ally, when lives are at stake. The young ghostbusters are just scratching the surface of what looks like a major conspiracy among those who profit most from ‘the problem’ that has been plaguing the country for 50 years. This makes it even more of a pity that Netflix has opted not to continue with its series beyond this second book. In a nice cliff-hanger at the end Anthony Lockwood reveals a family secret, which should make the next book even more interesting.

Good Material, by Dolly Alderton

A mediocre comedian in his mid 30s, barely making a living, Andy is left heartbroken and homeless when his girlfriend of four years dumps him. Capable insurance exec Jen owns her own flat and generally has her shit together – what could possibly have gone wrong? Andy has almost never been single since his teens and is now the only single among his friends, who are preoccupied with marriage and kids. The next six months sees Andy flounder, wallow and gradually recover with the help of friends, colleagues, his mum, a strange old landlord and even Jen herself. The story has an interesting structure, most of it from Andy’s point of view, but with a small section at the end giving Jen’s perspective on the relationship and why it had to end. There are no villains here, just a painfully funny examination of love gone wrong with a bittersweet ending. The novel also offers an interesting insight into the pressures to conform to societal norms, who carries the emotional load of relationships and why it is ok to be single and child free, especially for women. It would make a great TV series.

Bridgerton season 3 (Netflix)

The TV series departs from the order of the books by featuring third son Colin, rather than second son Benedict, in this latest adaptation. This is probably to carry on with the Lady Whistledown saga and make the most of Nicola Coughlan’s turn as Penelope Featherington. While Coughlan is outstanding, the chemistry with Luke Newton isn’t a patch on the leading couples in the first two series for all the extended sex scenes. He is certainly no Rege-Jean Page. Speaking of whom, it’s a pity that he and Phoebe Dynevor couldn’t be persuaded to make even brief cameos. In such a close family as the Bridgertons it’s not credible that the Duke and Duchess would not attend this season’s weddings and not even be mentioned. It was a good idea to add to the romance by including third daughter Francesca’s debut, which doesn’t feature in the books. Her story is told many years later and is about her second marriage, so it will be interesting to see what the Netflix show does with that, especially given the gender flip of her husband's cousin. Showrunner Shonda Rhymes has flagged that the stories of Benedict and Eloise will feature in the next series, which is likely to take a further departure from the source material given that both largely take place outside London andthe fashionable world of the ton. They are two of the more appealing characters of the series, so hopefully can arrest its decline.

Nobody Walks, by Mick Herron

Tom Bettany has been estranged from his son, Liam, since his wife died four years earlier. He is down and out, working in an abattoir in in France when he is notified that Liam has died in an accidental fall. Back in London for the funeral, Bettany embarks on a quest to discover exactly how his son died and who might be responsible. Unfortunately this sparks the interest of his former employer, MI5, never a good thing. Then there are the remnants of an organised crime gang that was the target of his undercover operation in this former employment. There is no possible good outcome here, in a situation from which nobody walks away. Another tale that is Slow Horses adjacent, this one gives the origin story of J.K. Coe – what led to his PTSD and banishment to Slough House. It can stand alone, but knowledge of the Slough House world adds breadth and depth. It also shines a light on the conduct and motivations of former service head Dame Ingrid Tearney, which provides an interesting counterpoint to that of later successor ‘Lady’ Di Taverner. This is a gripping thriller, with all the grim violence of the Slow Horses novels but maybe lacking their sardonic edge that can serve to leaven the darkness.

Geek Girl (Netflix)

Gawky and smart, 16 year-old Harriet Manners wants to be a palaeontologist. That’s if she can survive high school, where she is ruthlessly bullied and ridiculed. Possibly on the autism spectrum, Harriet often finds life overwhelming. Her only friends are Toby, the equally geeky boy next door and Nat, her best mate since kindergarten. Supporting Nat on her quest to become a model, Harriet gets scouted and sees a chance to change her life. But is she equipped to navigate the fashion industry? Will her uptight stepmum even let her try? Could a dreamily handsome top teen supermodel really be flirting with her? And could Nat ever forgive Harriet for stealing her dream? Totally predictable and improbable in every possible way, this light-hearted look at difference and acceptance is a colourful bit of fun.

My Favourite Mistake, by Marian Keyes

The Walsh family has provided rich pickings for Keyes, with seven of her 16 novels featuring the five Irish sisters. This one revisits fourth sister Anna, who lived down to expectations as the family flake in her teens and early 20s and went on to become an unexpected success in PR. After 20 years of stress in New York, a combination of perimenopause, burnout and a break-up send her back to Ireland and the bosom of her family. There she finds it hard to make a fresh start, until friends in need call her to their farm near Galway to rescue their attempt to develop a luxury wellness retreat. Anna needs to win local hearts and minds, while working with a tricky figure from her past who dredges up myriad sorrows, feelings and old mistakes. Distinguishing friends from foes can be difficult in a small town full of characters, especially when your hormones are out of whack. Can Anna save the day and get her life back on track? There is little doubt about the ultimate destination of this story but, as ever with the Walsh sister tales, the ride there is thoroughly enjoyable.

The Glass House, by Anne Buist & Graeme Simsion

Aspiring to be a psychiatrist, registrar Hannah Wright works in the acute mental health ward of a major Melbourne hospital. To achieve her goal she must deal with hospital politics, an overburdened health system and her own self-doubt. Each chapter starts with a different mental health crisis, set within a framework of treatment by Hannah and her colleagues. Post-natal psychosis, PTSD, anorexia, schizophrenia, depression – they happen to police officers, politicians, plumbers, refugees, anyone. The heavy subject matter asks important questions about diagnosis and treatment, but is handled with a lightness of touch that makes the book an easy read. It’s so compelling and engaging that it’s difficult to put down and wait to find out what happens to each of the patients and their families. Hannah’s personal and professional relationships are just as interesting as the medical stories. A product of a chaotic country childhood, she has a few issues of her own to address, which cause her to question her vocation. There is apparently the possibility of a sequel, which would be very welcome.

Oppenheimer (2023), directed by Christopher Nolan

Physicist J Robert Oppenheimer, ‘father of the Atomic bomb’, is a polarising historical figure, who rode a rollercoaster of adulation and vilification. This film depicts how his early left wing leanings and Jewish background fuelled a genuine opposition to Nazism and led naturally to his wartime work on the bomb. His earnest belief seemed to be that dropping the A-bomb would end all war because the consequences were so horrific. The end would justify the means. His post-war work to influence US policy in this direction was also an attempt to assuage his conscience about the destruction his work wreaked. Combined with his early communist sympathies, this put him at odds with McCarthyist America. The film’s structure is odd, starting with what eventually becomes clear to be his downfall and flashing back and forward in time throughout. Apart from the war years of the Manhattan project, the exact time period is never entirely clear and for some reason the latest time period is shot in black and white. Famous figures of physics abound in a dizzying array that barely allows time for recognition in a feature film, even one that is three hours long. The story could probably have been better told in a limited series format. That said, Nolan uses VFX well to help explain quantum physics to a general audience whose closest point of reference is likely the Big Bang Theory. The stellar cast is excellent and Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr are exceptional and deserving of their Oscars. But while interesting the film as a whole is overlong and overhyped. Its most useful purpose is to point the way to discovering more about a fascinating character in a crucial period of history. It also serves as a timely reminder that US politics has always been fucked.

The Accident, by Fiona Lowe

In the WA wheatbelt town of Garringarup, retailer Freya and paramedic Ryan have been happily unmarried and child free for 15 years. Ryan’s best friend Jamie is about to marry younger Perth girl Hannah, who has become close with Freya. On the eve of the wedding a catastrophic car crash not only devastates them all, but raises questions and issues from all their lives that will drastically affect the future and test the bonds of friendship. This intense examination of relationships between mothers and daughters, partners and friends dips into heavy themes ranging from coercive control, reproductive technology law and various addictions. Unfortunately this is another book that needed more drafts and a stronger editor. It starts with a huge info dump and an excess of adjectives. Many characters are two-dimensional, the research dictates the narrative rather than informing it and the strong feminist message, while admirable, is often didactic. There are the bones of a great story, but it is written as an aspiring potboiler bestseller, a la Moriarty and is ultimately not a satisfying read.

Dead Boy Detectives (Netflix)

Repressed Edwin and cheerful Charles have been best friends for 30-odd years, despite their many differences. What they do have in common is that they are both ghosts, resisting moving on to the afterlife but helping others to do so by solving their murders. After helping her get rid of a demon they team up with living psychic Crystal to solve the mystery of a missing girl in a small American town. A malevolent witch, the King of cats, a Japanese student and a goth butcher are just a few of the enemies and allies they need to contend with or enlist in sorting out the town’s many supernatural problems before they can return to London. The boys are also being chased by the afterworld’s Lost and Found Office, while Crystal’s demon has not given up on repossessing her. Fast moving and witty, the only quibble with this entertaining series is that the three protagonists are supposed to be in their teens and the actors very clearly are not. That said, they are very good and imbue their well-written characters with breadth and depth. Based on a Neil Gaiman story, this is apparently a Sandman spinoff and it has the same sexy/horror/supernatural vibe but far livelier.

Take Three Girls, by Cath Crowley, Simmone Howell & Fiona Wood

Clem, Kate and Ady are in Year 10 at St Hilda’s, one Melbourne’s incestuous and insular private schools. With parents working in Singapore, sporty Clem and her nerdy fraternal twin Iris really don’t get along. A swim star, Clem is rethinking her priorities after an injury and an encounter with an attractive older boy. Country girl Kate is another new boarder, keen to get a scholarship and study medicine but torn by her love of music and the alternative possibilities it offers. Ady is a long term day girl with family problems, struggling to reconcile her creative side with her mean girl pack. St Hilda’s has instituted a wellness program to counteract online bullying, which seems inadequate to deal with its toxic impact on the girls. But it serves to bring together three who would otherwise have had little to do with each other and these new, strong friendships help them deal with the online nastiness. The three authors create strong voices for three distinct heroines, who learn a lot about themselves and how to get what they want in life. They also do a good job of blending those voices when the girls interact, although sad twin Iris is left a little underdone. The end of the tale is anticlimactic, fighting hate with flowers solves everything apparently, which is a pity as it’s otherwise a good, contemporary story.

Lockwood & Co - The Screaming Staircase, by Jonathan Stroud

The inspiration for a Netflix series, the Lockwood & Co books tell tales of London ghostbusting agencies staffed by psychic teenagers. For the past 50 years the UK has been plagued by a growing paranormal ‘Problem’. Restless spirits such as poltergeists, wraiths, spectres and stalkers cause fear, despair, death and destruction at night. Sensitive children form a night watch and talented teens armed with salt, iron and silver provide protection for the populace, usually supervised by adults. When Lucy Carlyle flees a tragedy in the north she joins a small independent agency, unfettered by adults – Lockwood & Co. Working with charismatic principal Anthony and his stoic offsider George, Lucy develops her abilities and builds confidence. These are tested by an increasingly dangerous mob of malevolent ghosts, which challenge the valiant three to keep the agency afloat and themselves alive. The book is a tad darker than the series, which is otherwise faithful to the text. It includes some gentle, age appropriate, URST, a nice line in wry humour and an admirable dedication to tea and biscuits.

Yellowface, by Rebecca F Kuang

June Hayward has known Athena Liu since college, but their writing paths since have been very different. Bestselling Athena is a celebrated darling of the literary world while June’s first novel flopped. When Athena suddenly dies, June finds the first draft of her next novel that no-one else has seen. She edits, revises and reworks the story but shared credit is messy and difficult – who would it hurt if June publishes the novel as solely her own? What follows is a horror story of the modern publishing industry and social media, with a side of white privilege. June is both victim and villain, as is Athena, and reader sympathies sway wildly as more information emerges about their experiences and actions. Their love-hate relationship in life and after it underpins an intriguing tale of fear and loathing, deception and success. Told in first person from June’s point of view, Rebecca Kuang does a brilliant job of undermining her narrator by exposing June’s self-deception and wilful misunderstanding of her position. Her blighting depiction of the publishing industry is all too believable, which makes the end of the story triumphantly bleak as June learns to really play the game.

Challengers (2024), directed by Luca Guadagnino

Tashi, Art and Patrick are champion junior tennis players with promising futures. The two boys have been inseparable since the age of 12 at tennis academy, Patrick’s talent always edging Art’s graft. Tashi lives and breathes tennis; it’s her obsession and she becomes theirs. When serious injury stops her brilliant career before it starts Tashi turns to coaching, but only one of Art or Patrick can benefit from her attentions. Ten years later Tashi and Art are married with a child and Art is attempting a comeback from injury to the top ten, while estranged Patrick is a struggling tennis journeyman on the fringe of the tour. Billed as a raunchy rom com, this film is not that. It is an examination of an equilateral love triangle, framed by the final of a Challenger tournament where the stakes could not be higher. The structure of the film is clever, with flashbacks from the crucial match filling in the interesting history of these three. But the overall treatment is shallow, 140 minutes apparently not long enough to develop any depth of character or motivation. This is not helped by whacky camera angles and a weird and over loud soundtrack, that often obscures the dialogue. The tennis looks good, but there is an awful lot of it. Josh O’Connor is the outstanding performer, managing to make more of Patrick than the inadequate writing should allow. Zendaya and Mike Faist are beautiful and athletic as the other two sides of the triangle. A long drawn out and entirely predictable climax culminates in a WTF ending, which exemplifies how this film misses the mark.

The Fated Sky, by Mary Robinette Kowal

This sequel to The Calculating Stars sees the Lady Astronaut, Dr Elma York, on ‘bus driving’ duty as a pilot on the moon, serving the small lunar colony and its space station. She spends three month rotations there, which puts a strain on her marriage. This has her considering retirement as she and Nathaniel contemplate having children, so there is no way she will join the first manned mission to Mars. That is, until an increasingly militant Earth First movement requires the Lady Astronaut back on the PR circuit and joining the 3-year pioneering mission. Racial and other tension amongst the crew mirrors that of the society their expedition aims to save, with an interesting perspective on the 60s. Looming natural disaster is driving the need for Mars colonisation, but inevitably some will be left behind. Who is that likely to be? The tone of these novels cleverly echoes those of leading post-war sci fi authors, such Clarke and Asimov, who could imagine amazing technological leaps forward, but no social progress. But here John and Mary don’t stick to their assigned roles of hero and helpmate; technology and urgent need helping to drive change.

I Don’t - The Case Against Marriage, by Clementine Ford

The statistics have been clear for years – married men are happier, healthier and wealthier than single men and married women are less happy, healthy and wealthy than single women. Why then does the myth of marriage as the be all and end all for women persist? Clementine Ford forensically examines the history and current reality of marriage as a tool of patriarchal control and the way it has been sold to women as their ultimate goal and as essential to their wellbeing. There is an element of preaching to the converted here and no new ground is broken in this book. But Ford expertly pulls together the myriad logical and convincing arguments against an institution that in fact offers women so little benefit. Despite occasionally lurching into hyperbole and extremism, for the most part I Don’t offers a valid alternative to the trap of marriage, with a considered dismantling of its purported attractions.

3 Body Problem (Netflix)

The laws of physics no longer seem to apply, scientists are baffled and many of them, all over the world, are seemingly killing themselves. A shadowy secret government organisation is investigating and recruits some of the remaining best and brightest minds to assist. It all goes back to 1970s China and probes sent out into the universe to seek out other life. Five firm friends are the focus of the drama. All promising physics students, Will dropped out to become a teacher; Jack and Auggie have become very successful in business, one in snack food and the other at the cutting edge of nanotechnology; while Saul and Jin remain in academia, one coasting and the other a leading light. In very different ways these five have much to contribute to solving this mystery of the universe. Based on a series of books by Chinese writer Liu Cixin , this combo of science fiction and hard science has been adapted by the creators of Game of Thrones. There are a few questions left unanswered, but it is intelligent, sometimes excessively violent, occasionally puzzling, always intriguing, with a diverse and uniformly excellent cast.

Impossible Creatures, by Katherine Rundell

Magical beasts once populated the world but they are now hidden away in the Archipelago, a group of secret islands. Christopher has always had an affinity with animals and when he visits his grandfather in Scotland he discovers he comes from a line of gatekeepers to the magical world. Mal lives in the Archipelago with her great aunt and she is worried about a creeping influence that seems to be draining the magic from the land, putting all the creatures at risk. When an assassin threatens Mal she recruits Christopher to the cause of saving the Archipelago. They are helped on their difficult and dangerous quest by a Berserker and a marine scientist, as well as some of the magical creatures they are trying to save. Griffins, centaurs, dragons, unicorns and nereids are amid a plethora of less familiar creatures that are difficult to keep track of, despite the helpful guide at the start of the book. Power, sacrifice and conservation are strong themes in a book aimed at older children and Rundell pulls no punches in this rather violent adventure tale.

Wicked Little Letters (2023), directed by Thea Sharrock

Edith Swan is a good Christian woman, dutifully living with her elderly parents in the English coastal town of Littlehampton just after WWI. She has been receiving hateful poison pen letters, filled with foul and abusive language, and the police are called in. The main suspect is the next door neighbour, widowed mother Rose Gooding, who is Irish and drinks and swears and consorts with men. It’s an open and shut case for the local plod, and Rose is headed for jail, but trailblazing Woman Police Officer Gladys Moss suspects there is more to it. She calls on the ingenuity of local women to nail the real culprit and see justice served. Based on a true story, the film gives a funny and insightful look at the restricted lives of women in a patriarchal society that is about to change, Olivia Coleman and Jessie Buckley are wonderful as the frenemies Edith and Rose, two women who seem to have little in common but are similarly confined by roles and expectations and respond in very different ways. Anjana Vasan makes a composed WPC and the supporting cast is stellar, featuring Timothy Spall and Gemma Jones as Edith’s parents, Eileen Atkins, Lolly Adefope and Pam Ferris as helpful local characters and Matilda’s Alisha Weir as Rose’s daughter. This is a warm and thoughtful film that depicts women in all their shades, not just black and white.

14 Days, edited by Margaret Atwood & Douglas Preston

A run down New York apartment building during the 2020 COVID lockdown to ‘flatten the curve’ is the setting for this series of short stories. A group of residents collect on the roof every evening to cheer essential workers and share some kind of community amid the fear and despair. They are the ones who could not afford to flee the city and are largely older, poorer, less white, more queer. Seemingly with little in common but their plight, they bicker and bond as they share stories of friends, lovers, families, pasts and distant homelands. Billed as a collaborative novel, this is something of a concept album, with 36 short stories from a disparate group of well-known authors, set within a framework. Readers don’t know who has written which story until an appendix lists them alphabetically and identifies their character/s and tale/s. Editor and contributor Douglas Preston has done the heavy lifting in setting the framework and fitting all the stories and characters into some kind of coherent whole. But there are so many characters, known only by nicknames, that it is easy to lose track of who is who. The quality of the stories varies from stunningly memorable to dull rubbish and a few serve as baffling interludes that don’t really fit the narrative, until a twist at the end ties everything together. This is an interesting exercise that provides a poignant reminder of what should not be forgotten from a bizarre and terrifying period of recent history that is already fading from view.

Dune – part two (2024), directed by Denis Villeneuve

Starting immediately where part one left off, Paul Atreides and his mother Lady Jessica have escaped the Harkonnen massacre and have taken refuge with the rebel Fremen. To stay alive and gain acceptance they must assimilate and prove themselves to the tribe of desert ‘rats’. While more than willing to become a Fremen fighter and leader, Paul resists his destiny as their messiah until a new and even more ruthless Harkonnen forces his hand. In the first film Villeneuve did an amazing job of adapting this very complex story; the sequel is less successful. The cinematography is spectacular and the star-studded cast does a good job with difficult material but it lacks emotional heft. A running time of 165 minutes tests the strongest bladder but still feels rushed, with so much story crammed in. While the broad themes of trade, politics and religion are well established, details are necessarily skipped over making it easy to miss salient points and leaving many unanswered questions. A focus on the fighting rather than development of relationships makes what should be a powerful ending fall flat. Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya and Rebecca Fergusson are great in the lead roles. Austin Butler has fun as the horrendous new Harkonnen, but Florence Pugh is severely underused as the Emperor’s daughter, possibly serving as an introduction to a meatier role in the next film.

The Flat Share, by Beth O’Leary

Colourful book editor Tiffy’s on-again off-again relationship is almost definitely over and she is broke and imminently homeless. Reserved shift worker Leon is in desperate need of money to deal with a family issue. This odd couple agrees to share Leon’s one-bedroom London flat, Tiffy taking residence for nights and weekends, while Leon is at work or at his girlfriend’s place. Following his girlfriend’s rules it’s never the twain shall meet, so they communicate by post-it notes and gradually get to know each other. This modern take on an epistolary novel works pretty well as we and they learn more about Tiffy and Leon’s flaws and foibles. It ends pretty much as expected, but it’s a fun ride to get there; along the way exploring the effects of emotional abuse and the British justice system.

One Day (Netflix)

Emma and Dexter meet on July 15, 1988, the day they graduate university in Edinburgh. They seemingly have little in common; she is a down to earth English student from Leeds while he is a playboy without a plan from the moneyed south. But the unlikely pair spend a day together and connect, promising to catch up after the summer. Based on a David Nicholls book, the story checks in them on the same day each year following their very different paths in life. Aspiring writer Em slogs her guts out for little reward, while golden child Dex falls on his feet in vapid TV shows, yet their connection persists. More than a decade later their fortunes have reversed, Em coming into her own while Dex has lost his way. Will the timing ever be right for them? This unconventional RomCom asks some valid questions about the nature of love and friendship. Do opposites really attract? Can men and women truly form platonic friendships? The short and sweet episodes are funny and poignant, with Leo Woodall and Ambika Mod embodying the lead roles with fantastic chemistry. The sound supporting cast includes Essie Davis makes a nice cameo as Dex’s mum. The music and the fashion provide a lot of nostalgic fun for those who were there at the time. It’s a bittersweet exploration of the promises and pitfalls of a path not taken.

The Calculating Stars, by Mary Robinette Kowal

In 1952 a meteorite crashes into the ocean off the east coast of the USA, causing earthquakes and tsunamis that wipe out cities and leave hundreds of thousands of people dead or homeless. Married couple Elma and Nathaniel York work for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics as a computer and rocket scientist respectively. They realise the meteorite has caused an extinction event and they must convince the makeshift new government of the need to get off the planet asap. Mathematician, physicist and pilot, Elma is a woman ahead of her time and she is determined to be an astronaut in the newly vital international space program. Colonies should be the prime motivation, rather than the military industrial complex, and that will require women to be involved. The story is Lessons in Chemistry meets For All Mankind, with a touch of Hidden Figures. Elma and her friends must battle 1950s patriarchal misogyny along with casual and institutional racism to claim their places in history. Kowal draws clever parallels with today’s climate wars in her depiction of how progress is held up. It takes some suspension of disbelief to swallow that the powers that be would get their act together sufficiently to advance the Moon landing by ten years, but perhaps wiping out Washington really would smooth the path.

Manhattan Dreaming, by Anita Heiss

Lauren is a smart, educated, beautiful woman, with loving and supportive family and friends; at 30 a leader in her field of indigenous art curation. So why is she in thrall to a rugby league player, who is clearly just not that into her? A fabulous job opportunity in New York gives her the chance to break her unhealthy addiction to this man who treats her so poorly and opens up a whole new world of dating. The first third of the book is dedicated to establishing Lauren’s world and character, as well as her bafflingly awful relationship. Heiss clearly conducted meticulous research into the world of indigenous art, as it’s all there on the page and her vision of an indigenous gallery in Old Parliament House is a neat one. When the story moves to New York it becomes a travelogue, Lauren’s experience of the city is over described and over explained, the level of detail is boring. The ‘surprise’ twist ending is strongly signalled and so no surprise at all. Lauren’s sudden shifts of direction detract from her credibility as a character. This novel was published in 2010 and the technology references date badly – My Space and Blackberry! Nevertheless if offers a fresh perspective on chick lit that could have been a much better read.

Force of Nature (2024), directed by Robert Connolly

Federal Police detective Aaron Falk’s troubled past intrudes once more in this sequel to The Dry. The landscape again dictates the action, but this time the setting is remote mountainous bushland where a corporate hiking retreat has gone very wrong. Falk’s informant in a high profile case has gone missing and with a storm coming in the chances of finding her alive are slim. As with the books, the story is less strong than The Dry – rather too many co-incidences and dark secrets among the twists and turns and some of the dialogue is well dodgy. Fortunately, a strong cast carries the day with Deborra-Lee Furness making a welcome return to the screen, Anna Torv excellent as always and Jacqueline McKenzie an interesting professional foil for Eric Bana’s Falk.

Burn, by Melanie Saward

Troubled teen Andrew is hanging out for the end of the school year, when he can leave his neglectful mother in Brisbane and return to Tasmania to reunite with his dad. The problem is he hasn’t heard from his dad in a while and doesn’t know where he is. Also the police are investigating the cause of a recent bushfire that Andrew and his mates might have started. And that could be a big problem because he has history with starting fires. Social and economic disadvantage; learning difficulties; bullying; racism; and intergenerational trauma; everything is stacked against Andrew. Saward paints a clear and concerning picture of just how impossible it is for some kids to escape a downward spiral. Her solutions are possibly a little too good to be true, as she acknowledges in an afterword, but breaking the cycle has to start somewhere. Although she firmly engages sympathy for Andrew she also endows him with some sociopathic traits, which point to a need for psychological help as well as a reconnection to country. She is right that what kids like Andrew certainly don’t need is the status quo of the justice system, and a political class that responds to increasing youth crime rates with more of the same.

The Spare Man, by Mary Robinette Kowal

Tesla and Shal are enjoying their luxury honeymoon cruise to Mars when it is disrupted by a brutal crime. With her spouse framed for an apparent murder, it will take all of it-girl Tesla’s power, money and ingenuity to keep him safe and clear his name. Living with chronic pain after an industrial accident seven years earlier, Tesla and her usefully cute service dog have a lot to navigate in this interplanetary murder mystery. As the body count mounts and the shipboard security team proves less than helpful, celebrity robotics engineer Tesla and her former detective spouse must call on all their resources to make it to Mars. The tale provides interesting glimpse into a possible future where gender neutral is the norm, people of all genders knit, crochet and embroider for relaxation and cocktails are king. The finer plot details get a bit lost in the science, but its largely an entertaining read.

Lockwood and Co (Netflix)

For the last 50 years the world has had a problem with unquiet ghosts and spirits, which threaten life and sanity. The danger is worse at night so a permanent curfew is in place and teams of agents use iron, silver and salt to fight the deadly foe. Children are the most sensitive to spirits and teenagers are recruited and trained as agents, supervised by adults in this parallel world. When a mission gone wrong in Yorkshire leaves a team of young agents dead or in a ghost-touched coma, Lucy Carlyle is unfairly blamed and moves to London to get away. Rejected by the major agencies, she joins independent outfit Lockwood & Co. There she hones her unique talents and finds her people, while battling errant spirits and the authorities alongside infuriatingly arrogant - and charming -principal Anthony Lockwood and nerdy researcher George Karim. Each of the eight episodes features a big bad for the trio to deal with, as well as fitting into a satisfying overall story arc. Ruby Stokes as Lucy makes a lovely down-to-earth heroine, nicely balancing the two boys as their friendship and work relationship develops, with a dollop of URST thrown in for fun. The story is genuinely suspenseful and finishes in a way to strongly suggest a follow-up series. Unfortunately Netflix has apparently cancelled the show.

The Seven Year Slip, by Ashley Poston

Clementine’s beloved Aunt Analea has always said her New York apartment was magical. After she dies and leaves it to her niece, Clementine discovers just how magical when it transports her back seven years to encounter an aspiring chef staying there while Analea is away travelling. What follows is an odd romance and a tale of grief and self-discovery. It’s an interesting idea, not well executed. There are too many anomalies and conveniences required to make the timeslip work. Thinly drawn characters, repetitive descriptions and ludicrous sex scenes also let down the story. Strange, quirky font choices that impede readability don’t help. The romance genre can be so much more than chick lit, but this is not.

Pieces of Her (Netflix)

Divorced, middle aged, cancer survivor Laura Oliver lives a quiet life in small town Georgia and has a difficult relationship with her adult daughter, Andi. A violent and traumatic incident while the pair are out to lunch puts Laura in the national spotlight and dredges up some deadly secrets from her past. Andi has to tap into resources she never knew she had in her quest to stay alive and discover who her mother really is. Based on a Karin Slaughter novel, the eight episodes jump around in time and place, gradually revealing the real Laura Oliver, her family history and her motivations. Toni Collette and Bella Heathcote are compelling as adult Laura and Andi. Because this series was largely filmed in Australia the supporting cast is packed with fellow Aussie actors, with varying degrees of success in the accent department. The suspense is maintained throughout as you wonder who will survive and who deserves to.

The Last Devil to Die, by Richard Osman

This fourth outing of the Thursday Murder Club sees the team of retirees – Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim - investigating the murder of an elderly antiques dealer. He was known to them, a friend of Elizabeth’ husband Stephen, and his death appears to have been a professional hit connected to a missing cache of heroin. Meanwhile, Stephen’s descent into dementia has reached a tipping point – making Elizabeth less focussed than usual on the task at hand. This means the other three must step up, with the help of the usual local police officers, whose case has been taken over by outsiders. The usual undercurrent of humour is heightened by the pathos of the team dealing with the travails of ageing, particularly Elizabeth and Stephen. Osman has gradually built this thread over the previous three novels and deals sensitively and movingly with its inevitable outcome. This does come at the expense of the actual plot of the novel, so it’s probably best that he has decided to leave the Murder Club here for now and focus on other stories.

For All Mankind (Apple TV)+ Season 3

Private industry introduces space tourism and spearheads the race to Mars as the next generation of astronauts emerges. This leads to an incredible waste of resources and a dangerous acceleration of the space race, with three very different ships trying to be first to the red planet. Naturally disaster ensues and the competitors must eventually find ways to work together to survive. Meanwhile on the political scene Jimmy Carter and the Bushes are erased from the US presidency and Clinton is sidelined by a former astronaut and the first female president. Space exploration has spurred innovation and technology that has solved the energy crisis and mitigated climate change, but the politicians have failed to manage the transition well, leading to social disruption. Alt history and sci fi requires some suspension of disbelief from the start, but storylines must be credible within the created world to enable the audience to go with it. Unfortunately this season jumps the shark, with some truly silly story storylines involving drug abuse and pregnancy in space and North Korea. This is a pity because there are some wonderful elements to this show – the science and engineering, the tension and danger, the interplay between the personal and political and the work would be enough without the extreme soap that leaves a bad taste. Season 4 focuses on the Mars colony, but as Apple has hiked its subscription fees by 30 percent it won’t feature here.

The Drop & The List, by Mick Herron

These are two more Slough House-adjacent novellas that fill in the gaps between some of the full novels. Actual slow horses make only token appearances. The stories feature ‘milkman’ John Bachelor, who is charged with monitoring superannuated spooks and whose future looks increasingly bleak as he desperately claws to hold his place within the security services. Two future slow horses are introduced and, if you read this out of order – which is likely as the novellas are not well promoted – your heart will ache for what is to come for them.

Violet Kelly and the Jade Owl, by Fiona Britton

Miss Fisher meets Underbelly in this tale of a young sex worker in 1930s Sydney. Academically gifted and beautiful teen Violet Kelly sees few prospects for a good life on leaving the orphanage in Paddington with her best friend Albert. While he apprentices as a butcher, she joins the local brothel, La Maison des Fleurs, to train as a high class provider of sexual services to men with money. But Madame owes favours to gangsters who are connected to powerful and dangerous people, which puts her house and everyone connected to it at risk. Britton creates some interesting characters and paints a vivid picture of life in the violent Sydney slums, particularly the hardships faced by women and children. Unfortunately the book needed several more drafts, better historical research and more attentive editing and proofreading, which would have avoided the typos, mistakes and sloppy anachronisms that let down the story. There is so much packed in, including a Chinese curse, a missing twin, police corruption and a conveniently devoted diplomat that it becomes a hodgepodge of action, much of which is not believable. Sex work is lauded as a positive choice for a working class girl with no family, but there is little reference to any downside, like STDs, abortion or violent punters and Violet’s purported intelligence and looks would have given her more options than most. The title and the ending clearly set up the novel for Violet Kelly sequels, a la Kerry Greenwood, but Phryne Fisher she ain’t.

Wonka (2023), directed by Paul King

This prequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory tells how a young Willie Wonka got his start as a chocolatier, battling a corrupt chocolate cartel. Can he rescue an orphan, overcome an evil laundress and prove that the greedy don’t always beat the needy, while sharing his magical gift for chocolate with the world? Well duh! The promos don’t make clear that the film is a musical, which allows Timothee Chalomet to demonstrate his versatility - who knew he could sing? Unfortunately the songs are largely forgettable. The special effects justify the budget, featuring some delightful flights of absurdity, especially those involving a giraffe named Abigail. The supporting cast includes many well-known British TV actors, as well as Olivia Colman having fun playing a villain and Hugh Grant as an Oompa Loompa. There are some nice nods to the original Gene Wilder film, while wisely ignoring the bizarre and creepy Johnny Depp remake. It is a nice school holiday movie, enjoyable but not breathtaking.

BBB top fives for 2023

A lot of crime and a lot of angry women dominated reading (and possibly life) in 2023. Perhaps a better balance can be found in 2024. It was a big year for hoovering up books by Ben Aaaronovitch and Mick Herron and with their major series caught up, it will be interesting to see if their back catalogues hold up as new work is eagerly awaited. Of the 58 read, here are the most enjoyed, in no particular order. Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder, by Kerryn Mayne I have some questions for you, by Rebecca Makkai Romantic Comedy, by Curtis Sittenfield The Queen’s Price, by Anne Bishop The Secret Hours, by Mick Herron It’s been more of TV year than a film year in 2023 for BBB, both in quantity and quality. More effort will be made to get to the cinema in 2024, although 3-hour plus films will remain verboten, which is why Oppenheimer is a significant omission. Here are those most enjoyed, in no particular order: Films Living (2023), directed by Oliver Hermanus My Year of Dicks (2022), directed by Sara Gunnarsdottir Matilda the Musical (2022), directed by Matthew Warchus Barbie (2023), directed by Greta Gerwig The Marvels (2023), directed by Nia Da Costa Television The Diplomat (Netflix) Silo, Apple TV+ Ted Lasso season 3 (AppleTv+) Lessons in Chemistry (Apple TV+) Vigil (ITV) Season 1