Books

The Christmas holidays are a great time for reading. With annual leave and freezing cold weather, there may not be anything better than to spend your time working your way through some of the classic books that you haven’t managed to get to before now. There are, of course, many …

Sharpe’s Storm by Bernard Cornwell, Hardback, £22 Like Jack Reacher, Richard Sharpe is one of the most comforting literary creations of modern times. His 24th outing is set in 1813 and features the Battle of St Pierre, a crucial engagement in south-west France in the closing stages of the Peninsular …

Geraldine McEwan as Agatha Christie’s spinster sleuth Miss Marple (Image: ITV) Who doesn’t love a nice juicy crime yarn? A body in a library; a diamond purloined from a locked vault; poison pen letters in a sleepy English village. There’s something deliciously British about novels exploring the darker side of …

The Works largest ever Black Friday event is well under way, promising a bonanza for book enthusiasts. The first set of deals started in November but now shoppers can find exceptional value in store and online, with deals designed to help families prepare for Christmas without straining their wallets this …

Psychological thriller writer Lisa Jewell has said it’s beyond her ‘wildest imaginings’ to be revealed as the programming chair for the world’s biggest and best-known celebration of crime writing. The bestselling author will take the reins of the 2026 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate, supported by the …

Waterstones’ autumn selection on show incudes must read titles (Image: Getty) I love a beach read just as much as the next person, but sometimes we need to delve a little deeper and look to the books that have shaped the world of literature. Without these books, we would likely …

Westerns have always been one of the most popular genres for readers, with classics that people return to again and again. There are hundreds of titles worth picking up, from traditional cowboy stories to modern takes to life on the range. But one novel in particular is so good that …

A novel has been highlighted as the “book that will be huge this winter” by literary experts. In Stylist’s listing, the first book mentioned is Lily King’s seventh novel, Heart the Lover. The book’s blurb reads: “You knew I’d write a book about you someday. “Our narrator understands good love …

Aside from being lead guitarist for one of the most successful rock bands in the world, Sir Brian May is a man of many other interests and talents. Two areas that are particularly close to his heart are astrophysics (he has a doctorate in the scientific field) and stereoscopy, a …

The Best Book of the Year has been revealed, with an emerging author taking the title over much-loved Mel Robbins, Freida McFadden and Booker Prize winner David Szalay. Amazon UK has confirmed that a gripping romance thriller has taken the top spot on this year’s list. Previous winners of the …