The Paper Palace, by Miranda Cowley Heller

This is such a beautiful book; a remarkable debut by Miranda Cowley Heller. It tells the story of Elle Bishop and the many secrets she has been forced to keep throughout her life.

The novel is set in Cape Cod, where the Paper Palace is found. The Paper Palace is in fact, a group of ramshackle buildings, built decades earlier by Elle's grandfather. It is so named as the walls are covered in paper.  It is a place that Elle and her family escape to each year; a sanctuary that offers beauty, peace, and tranquillity to Elle. It serves as her retreat from the deepest, darkest secrets she keeps.

I was immediately drawn into the plot line. I wanted to know more about Elle, whose turbulent life history will unfold before our very eyes over 24 hours and fifty years. We meet Elle as a child, a teen and as an adult, and slowly, Miranda Heller's exquisite writing uncovers a story of a troubled family, peeling back the layers, revealing devastating and dark secrets. 

When we first meet Elle, she rises early one morning to take a swim in the pond, upon which the Paper Palace sits. She has done this swim many times before, both alone and with family and friends. But this morning she's preoccupied. As Elle dives into the water, she is recalling the events of the night before - her passionate encounter with Jonas, her oldest friend and confidant, even though her husband Peter and family were just inside. 

The author takes us on an amazing journey through time, contrasting the present day with memories of the past, and the love that exists between childhood friends, Elle and Jonas.  Spanning decades, this book takes us all the way back to Elle’s grandmother, her troubled relationships, and the impact it had upon Elle's mother, and how she consequently parented her daughters, Elle and Anna.

The book is simply brilliant. The writing is extraordinary, demonstrating a quiet authority and power, which completely penetrated my soul.  It elegantly builds a picture of Elle’s life, and allows us to completely understand her. I can't recall a character that as compelling; one I felt I got to know.

This book is definitely amongst the best I have read so far this year.  It is stunning, and will appeal to those who enjoyed Where the Crawdads Sing.  Dive right in and you'll be mesmerised by the spell this book casts.  It is a masterpiece.

- Milly

Paperback, £8.99. Find it in the Fiction section.

Or order it now!

Sun Damage, by Sabine Durrant

 Nine guests arrive at a remote villa in the South of France.

They know each other well. Or think they do.

At least one of them has plenty to hide and nowhere to run...

Sun Damage is quite a difficult book to explain without revealing any spoilers. What I can say is that we meet a couple of con artists at the beginning, who thrive on travelling the world and tricking people out of their money. Whilst on a job in France, a scam goes wrong and one of them flees, assuming the identity of another person. But they know the old partner will undoubtedly come after them one day.

The person who flees finds honest work as a live-in chef for a family staying at a remote villa in the south of France. But with family and friends coming to stay, can their identity be kept hidden? Especially when one of the guests seems to know them. 

The south of France is a great location to set a novel, the beauty, sights, sounds, and scents, all became part of the narrative.

The build-up of this story was very slow; the beginning was, in my opinion, far too long - I even questioned if the synopsis was right! But the tension was ever-present. I felt the torment of our main protagonist, longing for their old life, under the guise of their new identity; a supposed perfect escape.

I didn’t find Sun Damage to be one of Sabine Durrant’s best books. I loved all her previous novels! It is one that no doubt many people will enjoy. It’s a story that keeps you guessing, full of suspense and twists. Definitely an ideal summer holiday read, in a fabulous setting.

- Milly

Milly read the proof edition of "Sun Damage."

It's OUT NOW in Hardback, £16.99. Click to order!

Isaac and the Egg, by Bobby Palmer

Thank you to Anara and Sian, for the opportunity of reading the advance proof copy of Isaac and the Egg.

Isaac stands alone on a bridge and screams into the river below.

And then, unexpectedly, an answer.  A cry of despair, perhaps even greater than his own.

The sound draws Isaac into the woods.  What he finds there changes everything.

It's a story that may seem familiar: a man filled with grief, seemingly broken, and an unexpected guest, who becomes his friend. One who can't stay forever...

It is hard to believe that this is a debut novel.  Bobby Palmer's writing is exquisite, and this book is one of the most life-affirming stories about love, grief, loneliness, and friendship that I have ever read.  In fact, it's the best book I've read so far this year, and it moved me tears long before the end.

Powerful, moving, beautiful and emotional, it is a story of love and loss, profoundly heart-breaking and joyous, full of imagination and humour.  It is perfect for the times we live in, and gives all of us hope, no matter what challenges we face. 

I loved it and think many others will fall in the love with the characters. It is an extraordinary book, and one I did not want to end. If we all knew someone like Egg, the world would be a much happier, joyous place.

I look forward to reading more of Bobby Palmer's books.

- Milly 

Milly read a proof edition of "Isaac and the Egg."

Hardback, £14.99. Publishing day is 18th August, so pre-order NOW!

The Swimmers, by Julia Otsuka

This is the first novel of Julie Otsuka’s that I have read, and it won't be the last. It is a stunning masterpiece about ageing, memory, and the experiences that shape a life.

The story begins with a group of swimmers who all belong to the same community pool. Each member of the group has their own story to tell, but it's Alice who becomes obsessed with a mysterious crack that appears at the bottom of the swimming pool. Some of the group are curious; others start to panic, believing this could be the end of the swimming adventures they all so enjoy.

It's towards the end of this story that Julia Otsuka's writing takes on such beauty, tenderness, and heartbreak, as Alice struggles to hold onto her sense of self. She feels she is still here, but she's viewed differently by her husband, her daughter, her friends.

Dive in and read this wonderfully heartbreaking but life-affirming book. We can all learn about the importance and value of life, being who we are meant to be. Otsuka's writing is a delight to discover, and one should savour every poetic word. You will not be disappointed.

- Milly

Hardback, £12.99. Find it in the Fiction section!

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, by Agatha Christie

In this Agatha Christie masterpiece, first published in 1926, the great detective Poirot has retired to King's Abbot, home of an old friend of his, the wealthy Roger Ackroyd. Despite hoping to remain anonymous, Poirot's peace is shattered when Ackroyd is murdered.

Dr Sheppard was at Ackroyd's house the night of the murder, and over the course of the investigation, he appears as Poirot's sidekick, since Hastings has married and is now living in Argentina.

The narrative is told from Dr Sheppard’s point of view as he documents the investigation, the sparks of genius from Poirot, and his famous little grey cells. As Hastings did before him, Sheppard gives insight into the workings of Poirot's analytical mind, as well as throwing light on the nuances of the suspects. Whilst Poirot sees them as pieces of the puzzle, Sheppard reveals them as people who are as flawed, as they are good.

Between the murder and the big reveal, the plot contains Agatha Christie's famous twists and turns. There are plenty of red herrings and many interpretations of the facts presented. This book is famous for its unusual and, at the time, innovative, ground-breaking ending. It is the kind of book you want to go back and read again once the killer has been revealed, to see if the clues do in fact, fit the revelation.

Christie's book are timeless, satisfying the need for a great whodunnit, as successfully as they did on first publication. Her ability to write twisting plots and multi-layered characters still captures the imagination of generation after generation.

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was voted the best novel ever by the British Crime Writers Association in 2013. It would be a crime not to read it! It is my favourite of all the brilliant novels Agatha Christie wrote and is a treat for fans of this genre.

- Milly