The Incandescent, by Emily Tesh

Dr Walden is director of magic at Chetwood School, a cross between Rowling's Hogwarts and Novik's Scholomance, where she is charged with keeping students safe from ravening demons who would like to feast on their burgeoning abilities. When ambitious A-level students summon a demon beyond their powers to contain, Walden has to draw on everything she has to save them and protect the school. Unfortunately this drags up demons from her own past at the school, putting herself and everything she cares about at risk. After a slow and heavily expository beginning this tale develops into an interesting psychological examination of magical teachers and students, with an appropriate British touch of class, wealth and status. The characters and their relationships are well developed and credible. The ending is a little pat, but offers some optimism and the possibility of redemption with a possible sequel.

There will be bodies, by Lindsey Davis

Ten years after the Pompei disaster, Roman informer Flavia Albia and her husband are visiting the region to renovate his uncle’s newly-acquired holiday villa. There they discover the body of the former owner, who was clearly not killed by the volcano. Albia uncovers a tale of piracy, kidnapping and murder, putting her own safety in jeopardy again in her quest for justice. Escaping the familiar streets of Rome is always a boost to these stories and this one sees Davis in fine form, with a great balance of humour, politics and compassion. A postscript would seem to indicate this could be the last Flavia Albia tale and if so this is a fitting send off.