Books

The past weekend marked the 30th anniversary of George RR Martin’s debut novel, his hit fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire. From 1996 to 2011, the author smashed out four more novels in the series, with A Dance with Dragons being the latest. Then the Game of Thrones …

Ann Cleeves with Brenda Blethyn at Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival (Image: Express) The millions of fans of no-nonsense detective Vera Stanhope will be delighted to hear her creator is not planning to kill her off in the final instalment of the long-running series. Bestselling author Ann Cleeves announced …

What is the best detective novel in your opinion? (Image: Getty) As we are in the depths of summer, you may be thinking about the books you want to add to your holiday reading list and beyond. Look no further; Five Books has you covered – and this time we’re …

Deliverance by Saima Mir, Paperback Original, £9.99 Having turned her back on her father’s brutal crime syndicate, Jia Khan was building a career as a lawyer until the bloody events of Mir’s 2021 debut, The Khan, forced her to seek a path of revenge. Much like Michael Corleone, she was …

Rather like Lindsay Bagshaw in Anthony Powell’s A Dance to the Music of Time, I have always believed “books do furnish a room”. It doesn’t matter if they are stacked on a wonky IKEA shelf or exquisitely arranged in an ornately carved mahogany George III bookcase. Mine, some battered, some …

Superstar writer David Baldacci photographed in London for the Express (Image: Phil Coburn / Express) Having sold 200 million copies of his thrillers, it’s fair to say David Baldacci knows a good story when he sees one. But today’s biggest scandal by his telling isn’t fiction – it’s the “fracturing” of …

What book do you think everyone must-read at least once? (Image: Getty) Books are subjective and can be a very personal topic for some. They can leave an impression on a young mind or offer guidance in a time of need, as well as provide pure escapism from reality. Whether …

Bestselling author Elly Griffiths has spoken of her joy after winning one of Britain’s most prestigious literary prizes – after being nominated a record eight times in 16 years. Having been on the shortlist for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year more than anyone else, the Ruth …

Harrogate award winning writer Frances Crawford is the author of A Bad, Bad Place (Image: Asadour Guzelian / Gerard Binks) Frances Crawford was in Lidl with her husband Willy trying to work out how many wonky carrots they could afford to buy when they heard her debut novel, A Bad, …

It’s been longer between now and the last A Song of Ice and Fire book than it was between the time it took George RR Martin to write the first five books. It’s also been seven years since Game of Thrones concluded, which had to rely on the author’s planned-out …