As we leave January behind us, we’re delighted to be able to round up so many accolades our authors received for 2024, along with new titles highlighted as ones to watch for 2025 – congratulations to our writers on their many achievements!
Best of 2024
A WOMAN LIKE ME by Diane Abbott
A Waterstones ‘Best Politics Books of 2024’
‘In her first memoir, A WOMAN LIKE ME, we understand how this daughter of working-class Jamaican immigrants has had to fight every step of the way to be treated with equality and respect. This superb account of a trailblazing life reveals how her intelligence, politics, compassion and willpower have shaped her resilience and pioneering spirit.’ – Bernardine Evaristo, The New Statesman, ‘Books of the Year 2024’
‘After a year in which she became a symbol of Labour’s civil war, Diane Abbott’s memoir is a reminder of just how significant a politician she is – and takes us well beyond the two-dimensional portrayals of recent years. She is witty and warm as she retraces her historic journey: the child of Jamaican immigrants who kept defying the odds to reach Cambridge, parliament and the shadow cabinet. No punches are pulled, not least regarding the young Jeremy Corbyn’s unconventional dating style or on the human impact of the racist abuse that has been the price of admission for her career in politics. Everyone needs to read a political book that isn’t about swaggering posh boys once in a while – make it this one.’ – Patrick Maguire, The Sunday Times, ‘The 9 Best Politics Books of 2024’
‘As the victim of “debilitating and corrosive” online abuse, Diane Abbott knows what it is to feel unsafe while doing her job. Her memoir A WOMAN LIKE ME is a heartfelt and defiant self-portrait charting her journey to become Britain’s first Black female MP and now Mother of the House.’ – Fiona Sturges, The Guardian, ‘The Best Biographies and Memoirs of 2024’
‘Britain’s first ever female Black MP tells her astonishing story of groundbreaking achievement and the political and social challenges she has faced in Parliament in candid, insightful prose.’ – Waterstones, ‘September’s Best Books’
‘In this honest and moving memoir, Diane takes the reader through her incredible journey… Written with her trademark frankness and humour, A WOMAN LIKE ME is a candid account that celebrates how one woman succeeded against massive odds to build an extraordinary life.’ – Tamika Mitchell, The British Blacklist, ‘Best Books of 2024’
FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS by Shani Akilah
One of The British Blacklist’s Best Books of 2024
‘I couldn’t put down this moving, hilarious and poignant collection of interwoven stories about a young group of Black British friends navigating young adult life in London. In fact I read it one night, totally absorbed in the rich and warm world of Shani Akilah.’ – Lydia Venn, Cosmopolitan, ‘The 2024 Cosmopolitan Book Awards’
RECIPES TO DIE LIVE FOR by Sally Andrew
WINTERTON BLUE by Trezza Azzopardi
A New York Times ‘Best Books Since 2000’ pick
HIS BLOODY PROJECT by Graeme Macrae Burnet
A Publishing Scotland’s ‘50 Books for 50 Years’ pick
CASE STUDY by Graeme Macrae Burnet
‘Did an unorthodox therapist drive a woman to suicide? This novel of purportedly found documents, including journals and biographical interludes, takes on this psychological mystery while exploring through its nested narratives the possibilities of fiction.’ – The New York Times, ‘Best Books Since 2000’
A CASE OF MATRICIDE by Graeme Macrae Burnet
‘Graeme Macrae Burnet’s A CASE OF MATRICIDE finished up his Gorski trilogy with all the Kafkaesque shenanigans, paranoia and observational bathos you could wish for. It’s an incredibly fun, cleverly crafted novel that works on so many levels I can even forgive him for being a postmodernist.’ – Eimear McBride, The New Statesman, ‘Books of the Year 2024’
‘As always with Graeme Macrae Burnet, the devil is in the detail. There are few better at painting a picture of an individual through the objects and items which surround them. The key incident in this novel is from Inspector Georges Gorski’s past in the form of a memory of a broken mustard spoon, and it is in no small part at the heart of his existential crisis. It’s a shame that A CASE OF MATRICIDE is to be the last hurrah for Gorski, but it confirms what we already knew: that Graeme Macrae Burnet is a writer of style and substance. Don’t overlook the Georges Gorski trilogy. These are novels to treasure.’ – SNACK Magazine, ‘Ten Best Scottish Books of 2024’
EDITH HOLLER by Edward Carey
‘From the writer of much loved LITTLE, this tells the story of a young woman who spends her time among the inhabitants of a rundown theatre, and comes to believe it is up to her to save her father from certain doom.’ – The Big Issue, ‘The Ultimate Guide to the Best Books of 2024’
THE ROYAL REBEL by Elizabeth Chadwick
‘It is always the sign of a good book if the author can leave me in tears and send me through a range of emotions from beginning to end. In THE ROYAL REBEL, Elizabeth Chadwick has achieved this and then some! ... She draws out the tension, adds in the human element, family dynamics and political considerations and keeps the reader gripped to the very end – even though I already knew the outcome! … THE ROYAL REBEL is no mere romance… Her research has been meticulous and her attention to detail, to the dress and customs of the period, is second-to-none… The plot is intricate but entirely plausible and answers several questions around the actions of the parties involved… THE ROYAL REBEL is not just a good read, it is an experience of life in the mid-14th century and not to be missed. THE ROYAL REBEL is most definitely among my Top 5 books of 2024. I cannot recommend it highly enough!’ – Sharon Bennett Connolly, History… The Interesting Bits, ‘Top 5 Books of 2024’
GROW WHERE THEY FALL by Michael Donkor
Selected as one of The Bookseller’s ‘Season Highlights’
THE STORY SPINNER by Barbara Erskine
Immediate No.1 Sunday Times Bestseller
EVERY KIND OF PEOPLE by Kathryn Faulke
THE TRICK IS TO KEEP BREATHING by Janice Galloway
A Publishing Scotland’s ‘50 Books for 50 Years’ pick
TO KILL A KING by David Gilman
One of LoveReading’s ‘Best Books of the Year 2024’
VINDICATION: A LIFE OF MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT by Lyndall Gordon
A New York Times ‘Best Books Since 2000’ pick
NEWBORN by Kerry Hudson
Selected as one of The Bookseller’s ‘Season Highlights’
TRONDHEIM by Cormac James
A Washington Independent Review of Books Book of the Year
Peter James
Won Four Silvers at the Nielsen BookData Bestseller Awards
GRACE (TV show based on Roy Grace novels by Peter James)
‘The epitome of prestige television. Grace follows John Simm (DOCTOR WHO) as a troubled detective whose failure to find his missing wife drives him to the point of obsession to solve each case… Simm’s performance is one of the best in his career, and it's a big draw of the show, though the cinematography and visual storytelling are a close second, as each episode feels like it has cinema-quality production to match the movie-style runtime.’ – Tauri Miller, Collider, ‘The 8 Best British Mystery Shows on Britxbox Right Now’
ONE OF US IS DEAD by Peter James
A Waterstones ‘Best Crime & Thrillers of 2024’
‘DS Roy Grace returns in the twentieth gripping instalment in Peter James’ bestselling series, as links to a man supposedly dead and buried start cropping up in an ongoing investigation into a series of suspicious deaths.’ – Waterstones, ‘September’s Best Books’
STOP THEM DEAD by Peter James
THEY THOUGHT I WAS DEAD by Peter James
Selected as one of The Bookseller’s ‘Season Highlights’
SOMETIMES THERE IS A VOID by Zakes Mda
‘The South African novelist and playwright absorbingly illuminates his wide, worldly life’ – The New York Times, ‘Best Books Since 2000’
THE HEART OF REDNESS by Zakes Mda
A New York Times ‘Best Books Since 2000’ pick
LEO by Deon Meyer
Winner of the 2024 SA Book Awards - Best Adult Fiction and Book of the Year
An Exclusive Books ‘Top 24 of 24’ pick
Winner of 2024 ATKV-Woordveertjies Prize
No.1 Bestseller in South Africa
‘When their suspect in a death is himself murdered in a professional hit, South Africa’s finest, Benny Griessel and Vince Cupido, probe his past as a mercenary. In a thrilling parallel plotline, Christina Jaeger takes part with the dead mercenary’s former comrades in a heist targeting gold bullion plundered by corrupt politicians. Ambushes and double-crosses abound as Griessel strives to tie together the threads before he is pulled from the case. A masterly portrait of a nation in deep crisis.’ – James Owen, The Sunday Times, ‘The 10 Best Thrillers of 2024’
HEART OF THE HUNTER film (adapted from Deon Meyer’s novel by the same name)
No.1 in the Netflix Most Watched chart
A SKYE FULL OF STARS by Sue Moorcroft
‘A perfect romance for an evening curled up by the fire.’ – Helen Fields, Daily Express, ‘2024’s Best Books’
MY FAMILY MEALS by Grace Mortimer
Selected as one of The Bookseller’s ‘Season Highlights’
MY FATHER’S HOUSE by Joseph O’Connor
Shortlisted for the 2024 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction
Longlisted for the 2024 Dublin Literary Award
One of The Times’ ‘100 Best Summer Reads for 2024’
‘The setting and era is vibrantly depicted, as expected from this award-winning writer of historical fiction, but the real success of the book is the author’s ventriloquistic way with voice, his ability to switch with ease between characters, perspectives, tenses, metafictional devices, without ever losing control of the story.’ – Sarah Gilmartin, Vulture, ‘The Best Irish Novels Published in the Past 15 years’
‘Riveting… This literary thriller blends historical accuracy with an intense emotional narrative, exploring the moral dilemmas of heroism. Through richly drawn characters and suspenseful storytelling, O’Connor crafts a gripping tale of courage and sacrifice, reminding readers of the profound impact one individual can have during humanity’s darkest times.’ – Girish Shukla, Times Now, ‘10 Best Historical Fiction Books of 2024 That Transport You Through Time’
STAR OF THE SEA by Joseph O’Connor
‘A ripping yarn, by an Irish critic and playwright, that is also an agonizing inquiry into our vast tolerance for the suffering of others, in this instance the starving Irish of 1847, morally observed by an American journalist and the captain of a ship carrying émigrés in steerage.’ – The New York Times, ‘Best Books Since 2000’
‘Another absolute favourite author of mine. Joe is one of those authors whose books you’d queue outside the shop for. From the wilds of Connemara to the grimy mean streets of New York, this modern masterpiece – hackneyed expression but true in this case – features the horrors of the Famine as a backdrop to a story of injustice, cruelty and, ultimately, revenge. How it hasn’t been made into a movie, I’ll never know.’ – Ryan Tubridy, Easons ‘My All time Fave Books’ catalogue
SPARKS OF BRIGHT MATTER by Leeanne O’Donnell
‘This book from Ballydehob-based author O’Donnell blends fact and fiction to enthralling effect. The protagonist, Peter Woulfe, is an alchemist based on the real-life figure of the same name, born in Ennis in 1727. The action begins in Georgian London with Woulfe searching for a mysterious illustrated book, before jumping back to his childhood spent in the shadow of Mount Gabriel.’ – Marjorie Brennan, The Irish Examiner, ‘35 Cork Books of the Year’
Sheila O’Flanagan
Shortlisted for the 2024 Library Association of Ireland Author of the Year Award
THE HONEYMOON AFFAIR by Sheila O’Flanagan
An Immediate No.4 Irish bestseller
An i newspaper ‘Best New Books to Read in May 2024’ pick
MAY GOD FORGIVE by Alan Parks
Nominated for the Grand Prix de Littérature Policière in the Best Foreign Novel category
PASSIONTIDE by Monique Roffey
Selected as one of The Bookseller’s ‘Season Highlights’
‘A tour de force Caribbean novel of female revolution that will keep you reading all hours… Monique Roffey is back with PASSIONTIDE, a masterful exploration of love, identity, and the complexities of human relationships. Building on the rich narrative style and vivid characterizations seen in her award-winning novel THE MERMAID OF BLACK CONCH, Roffey weaves a tale that is both deeply personal and universally resonant… The novel’s lush, evocative prose and intricate storytelling draw readers into a world where emotions run deep, and the past intertwines with the present. Roffey’s ability to capture the rage and power of these women make PASSIONTIDE a compelling and unforgettable read, which is a celebration of female empowerment.’ – Chaya Colman & Sophie Ezra, Glamour Magazine, ‘Best New Books of June 2024’
THE TUMBLING GIRL by Bridget Walsh
Winner of the 2024 HWA Debut Crown Award
Shortlisted for the 2024 ILP John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger
Picks for 2025
We’re thrilled that so many of our upcoming books have been chosen as 2025 highlights!
THE VIOLET HOUR by James Cahill
‘An intriguing look at an industry built on appearances’ – Katie Rosseinsky, The Independent, ‘The Best Books to Look Out for in 2025’
‘I enjoyed James Cahill’s debut TIEPOLO BLUE, a murky psychological thriller about obsession, deception, desire and modern art, mainly because I was intrigued to see how he would develop his talent. We’re about to find out in this second novel, which appears to tread similar territory with a story about an elusive abstract artist whose comeback show is marred by the sudden death of a young man he knew well.’ – Claire Allfree, Daily Mail, ‘Ones to Watch... the books to look out for in the New Year’
LEO by Deon Meyer
‘Meyer delivers another top-notch thriller out of South Africa, this one finding Detectives Benny Griessel and Vaughn Cupido in exile from Cape Town, working a murder out of a university town, when another killing across the country reverberates with their investigation and opens the possibility of a broader conspiracy.’ – Dwyer Murphy, CrimeReads, ‘The Most Anticipated Crime Books of 2025’
THE GHOSTS OF ROME by Joseph O’Connor
One The Sunday Times’ ‘The 40 Books to Look Out for in 2025’ picks
‘The second gripping historical thriller in the Rome Escape Line series finds the choir's resistance activities compromised by the arrival of a mysterious parachutist who may be either friend or foe.’ – Waterstones, ‘Best Books to Look Out for in January’
THE GRAMMAR OF ANGELS by Edward Wilson-Lee
‘With his A History of Water and The Catalogue of Shipwrecked Books, Wilson-Lee has established himself as a wonderful chronicler of stories too oblique for less adventurous writers and The Grammar of Angels promises to be one of the non-fiction highlights of the year.’ – Charlie Connelly, The New European
HOW TO WRITE A ROM-COM by Cristina Wolf
One of LoveReading’s ‘2025 Preview of the Best Books on the Horizon’