Blake Friedmann Picks for 2022

Here at Blake Friedmann, we’re enormously proud that so many of our authors’ books have appeared in ‘Picks for 2022’ lists. To celebrate this, we have assembled these mentions into the following list, along with the praise that accompanied their selection. All of the books are available to pre-order now.

GOOD INTENTIONS by Kasim Ali

One of Foyles’ Debut Writers to Look Out For  

Included in LoveReading’s ‘2022 Preview - Exciting New Books on the Horizon’

‘Fourth Estate's lead debut for spring is the first novel from PRH assistant editor Ali, and tells of Nur and Yasmina, a young couple who have been deeply in love for the past four years. But there is a problem: Nur, a young British-Pakistani man, has not yet told his family of Yasmina's existence. As the clock ticks down to midnight on New Year's Eve, he prepares to tell them that he has built a life with the woman he loves, and that she is Black. A contemporary exploration of relationships, family expectations and racial prejudice.’ – Alice O’Keefe, The Bookseller, ‘Fiction Previews’

‘Ali’s accolades – being shortlisted for Hachette’s Mo Siewcherran Prize and shortlisted for the 4th Estate BAME Short Story Prize – precede his arrival onto the literary landscape this March. Nur and Yasmina have been in love for four years. The twist? Nur’s Pakistani parents don’t know that Yasmina exists, or that she is Black. What follows is a love story full of hard choices and tensions, family obligations and racial prejudices. Not to be missed by fans of MODERN LOVE.’ – Sana Goyal, Vogue India

‘Kasim Ali’s GOOD INTENTIONS is the compelling, captivating story of Nur, a young British-Pakistani man who has fallen in love with a woman whom he feels he cannot tell his family about – because Yasmina is Black. A fascinating insight into the expectations inherent in immigrant life, Ali takes on racial prejudice and millennial relationships without ever succumbing to cliche or easy answers to the big questions he poses.’ – Ben East, The National, ‘Books in 2022’

‘Nur and Yasmina have been together for four happy years. But Nur’s Pakistani parents don’t know that Yasmina is Black. They don’t even know that she exists. Nur is stuck between worlds – he wants to be the dutiful son and golden child that his parents expect him to be, but he also wants to be the kind of boyfriend that Yasmina needs too. As everything he holds dear is challenged, Nur is forced to question whether he can be all these things at once, and whether he really has a choice in the matter. GOOD INTENTIONS is a tender, authentic and candid love story that explores racial prejudice, modern society and the obligations that children of immigrants feel to their families. A must-read.’ – Culturefly, ‘Fiction preview: 20 books to look forward to reading in 2022’

‘Yasmina and Nur have been together for four happy years, but Nur has yet to tell his Pakistani parents his girlfriend exists. This is a promising debut about second-generation immigrants, family obligation and love.’ – Niamh Donnelly, Irish Independent, ‘The Hottest Books of the Year Ahead’

‘Look out for Kasim Ali’s GOOD INTENTIONS in March. It tells the story of a British Muslim man who must tell his parents he’s in love with a Black woman.’ – Charlotte Heathcote, Sunday Express, ‘A New Chapter for 2022: The Most Exciting Reads Coming in the Year Ahead’

‘A magnetic debut novel from an accomplished young writer about a hidden romance, which already looks ripe for a film or TV adaptation. The story revolves around a British Pakistani man torn between his family and the black woman he has fallen deeply in love with. The story combining young love with complexities of immigrant families and racial prejudice looks at themes of obligation versus following your heart.’ – Mita Mistry, Eastern Eye, ‘Bright looking books set to make a major mark in 2022’

‘This debut novel from Londoner Ali, is the story of young man torn between family and love, culture and individuality. “Honest” is a word that comes up repeatedly in blurbs and reviews (emotionally, absorbingly, heartbreakingly).’ – The Millions, ‘Most Anticipated: The Great First-Half 2022 Book Preview’

‘This beautifully written debut explores prejudice, love and family ties in the UK today.’ – Apple Books, ‘Meet the Books We Can’t Wait to Read in 2022’

‘When I began to think of 2022 releases that I wanted to read, the first that came to mind was Kasim Ali’s GOOD INTENTIONS. I could say that romance books are my guilty pleasure but that would be a lie because I am always ready to shout my love of romance books from the roof. While I love a good romcom, I’m also a huge fan of romance novels that tackle reality head-on. In Good Intentions, Ali explores the role of race and family in romantic relationships through the characters Nur and Yasmina. After four years of being in a relationship Nur has decided at midnight on New Years Eve he will finally tell his Pakistani parents that he is in love with Yasmina, a Black woman. Addressing issues that are both moving and engaging, how could I possibly resist this “magnificent and messy love story”? (Huma Qureshi). I’m sure you’ll catch me crying about this book on Instagram this year.’ – Billi Jones, Bad Form, ‘6 Books For The First 6 Months of 2022’

‘This. Book. The writing, the characters, the humour, the talent. We fell for Nur and Yasmina within a few chapters. The complex topic of prejudice and colourism within our communities is often disregarded in the face of more overt racism from elsewhere *gestures at everything*, and Kasim Ali has done such a brilliant job exploring this in this heart-wrenching debut. Definitely one to watch. (Edit: Kasim has since been dubbed the male equivalent of Sally Rooney and we gotta agree.)’ – Muslim Voices in Publishing, ‘Most Anticipated Books’

Published 3rd March 2022. Pre-order here.

THE MILK TART MURDERS by Sally Andrew

‘Sally Andrew is baaaack! This time with THE MILK TART MURDERS (Umuzi). Tannie Maria and Henk are at the movies when Oom Frik dies, and it might be murder because the Oom had many sought-after treasures. A second death occurs and there is a clue — a letter addressed to Tannie Maria asking for advice and a milk-tart recipe.’ – Jennifer Platt, Sunday Times, ‘Books To Look Out For This Year’

Published 1st March 2022. Pre-order here.

HONEY AND SPICE by Bolu Babalola

‘Bolu Babalola’s debut novel centers on college student Kiki Banjo, a relationship expert who hosts Brown Sugar, Whitewell University’s student radio show. Kiki meets her match in resident playboy Malakai Korede, who she dubs “The Wastemen of Whitewell.” Like any good rom-com, the book features fake relationships, missed communication, and enough romantic tension to cut with a steak knife.’ – Lit Hub, ‘Lit Hub’s Most Anticipated Books of 2022’

‘Bolu Babalola is finally bringing us the romantic comedy we’ve been patiently waiting for. Kiki Banjo is an expert in relationship-evasion, and likes to keep her feelings close to her chest. As the host of the popular student radio show, Brown Sugar, it’s her mission to make sure the women who make up the Afro-Caribbean Society at Whitewell University also do not fall into the mess of 'situationships', players, and heartbreak. But when Kiki meets Malakai Korede - who she has publicly denounced as 'The Wasteman of Whitewell' - her defences are weakened and her heart is compromised. She soon she finds herself in danger of falling for the very man she warned her girls about.’ – Shahed Ezaydi, Bustle, ‘12 Books By British Women Of Colour To Look Out For In 2022’

Published 5th July 2022. Pre-order here.

HOPE AND GLORY by Jendella Benson

One of Goodreads’ 60 Highly Anticipated Debut Novels

‘HOPE & GLORY, the first novel by journalist Jendella Benson… examines family secrets, love and grief as a woman leaves her life in LA and returns to Peckham to mourn the death of her father.’ – The Sunday Times, ‘Cultural Barometer’

‘Set to be everywhere in 2022, Benson’s debut is about Glory, who returns from LA to Peckham after the death of her father only to discover her family is falling apart and resentful but examining her past uncovers unexpected surprises…’ – Francesca Brown, Stylist, ‘ The Fiction Books You Can’t Miss in 2022’

‘This layered family drama by debut author Jendella Benson follows Glory Akindele, a prodigal daughter who returns to London from L.A. to find her family shattered… but Glory's journey to put them back together leads her to question everything she believed about them.’ – Jenny Hollander, Marie Claire, ‘The Most Eagerly Anticipated Fiction By Women in 2022’ 

‘After a family death, a woman returns to London to discover her family in shambles. A brother in jail. A sister who lost purpose. A mother in a spiral after her husband’s death. In Benson’s debut, we discover what it means to be family and what it means to find yourself when you didn’t know you needed finding. It’s a delightful novel that will please readers of all kind.’ – Debutiful, ’12 Debut Books Publishing in 2022 You Should Pre-order Right Now’

‘Clear some space on your bookshelf – there are many great books being published next year, but Jendella Benson’s HOPE AND GLORY is the one you’ll be telling your friends about. The story is set in Peckham, where Glory arrives home from a glamorous life in LA to mourn the sudden death of her father, only to find that her family has fallen apart while she has been away. The inspiration behind the book? “The chaos of my quarter-life crisis – there was a lot going on,” Benson says. Currently head of editorial at Black Ballad, the award-winning digital community for black British women, the 32-year old says she was finding her way alongside her lead character, “trying to work out what ideas of community and family look like, alongside wrestling with my own experiences and grieving my mother’s death.” The result? One of 2022’s most raved-about debuts, already praised by the bestselling author Candice Carty-Williams and optioned for a TV series to be shown on ITV.’ – The Sunday Times, ‘The 10 New Faces to Know for 2022’

‘A Black woman relocates to bring her family back together following her father’s unexpected death. In the process she uncovers a secret, and reconnects with an old friend forcing her to question the values she was raised with.’ – Keyaira Boone, Essence, ‘56 New Books We Can’t Wait To Read In 2022’

‘Glory arrives back in Peckham, from her seemingly-glamorous life in L.A, to mourn the sudden death of her father, and finds her previously-close family has fallen apart in her absence. Her brother, Victor, has been jailed. Her sister, Faith, appears to have lost her independence and ambition. And their mother, Celeste, is headed towards a breakdown. Glory is thrown by their disarray, and rather than returning to L.A she decides to stay and try to bring them all together again. However, when she uncovers a huge family secret, Glory risks losing everyone she cares about in her pursuit of the truth.’ – Shahed Ezaydi, Bustle, ‘12 Books By British Women Of Colour To Look Out For In 2022’

‘The first book from Jendella Benson has already attracted excellent reviews. Yomi Adegoke, author of SLAY IN YOUR LANE has described it as “So deliciously South London.” The story follows Glory who arrives back in Peckham, from her seemingly-glamorous life in LA, to mourn the sudden death of her father, and finds her previously-close family has fallen apart in her absence. Her brother, Victor, has been jailed; her sister, Faith, appears to have lost her independence and ambition; and their mother, Celeste, is headed towards a breakdown. Glory is thrown by their disarray, and rather than returning to America she decides to stay and try to bring them all together again. However, when she unearths a huge family secret, Glory risks losing everyone she truly cares about in her pursuit of the truth.’ – Melan Mag, ‘10 books by Black authors that should be on your 2022 pre-order list’

Published 7th April 2022. Pre-order here.

THE HIVE by Scarlett Brade

‘BITCH!!! A REVENGE THRILLER WHERE MURDER HAPPENS AT THE BEGINNING?! The heart palpitations that have skyrocketed in excitement when I heard about this. All you crime and thriller babes are EATING with this debut!’ – Soraya Bouazzaoui, Aurelia Magazine, ‘The Hottest Titles To Look Out For By Black Writers And Writers Of Colour’

Published 21st July 2022. Pre-order here.

TIEPOLO BLUE by James Cahill

‘Academic Cahill's 1990s story focuses on Cambridge University art historian Professor Don Lamb whose brilliance belies a deep inexperience of life and love. Out of nowhere, he's forced to leave, and ends up working in a London museum. There he befriends Ben, a young artist who introduces him to the anarchic British art scene and the nightlife of Soho.It opens his eyes to a liberating new existence. But his epiphany is also a moment of self-reckoning, as his oldest friendship - and his own unexamined past - are revealed in a devastating new light. His life begins to unravel leading to a dramatic fall from grace.’ – Rebecca Thomas, BBC, ‘Books 2022: A pick of what's coming up’

‘During the long hot summer of 1995, professor of art history Don Lamb is jolted into his gay identity after moving to London and becoming exposed to the city’s queer scene. Cahill uses his extensive knowledge and experience in the art world and academia to explore the experience of men who ‘belong to a sealed world of fixed ideas – but who sense the possibility of a different life.’ Bringing together the Italian masters and the Young British Artists, this is a debut that looks at art, power, academia, and the potential of the urban setting at the end of the 20th century.’ – Jessica White, Dazed, ‘The queer books to read in 2022’

‘This divine debut from art critic and academic James Cahill is the smart, sexy read you need in 2022. Expect to see it on prize lists as well as Instagram feeds. The novel’s protagonist is Professor Don Lamb, a precocious but prematurely stuffy art historian and Cambridge don, who likes measuring the skies in the paintings of Venetian master Tiepolo. Lamb takes preternatural offence when a Tracey Emin-esque bed sculpture is installed outside his college lodgings, and departs to London in a sulk for a new museum gig. There awaits a new kind of awakening - and it’s not just because the YBAs are taking off. Not only an addictive pageturner, Cahill’s book taps into the tensions and suspicions between generations that feels incredibly relevant for our testy times.’ – Jessie Thompson, Evening Standard, ‘Culture in London: the faces to watch in 2022 – Books’

Published 9th June 2022. Pre-order here.  

ONE LAST LETTER FROM GREECE by Emma Cowell

Included in LoveReading’s ‘2022 Preview - Exciting New Books on the Horizon’

Published 9th June 2022. Pre-order here.

THE MAN WHO LOVED CROCODILE TAMERS by Finuala Dowling

‘THE MAN WHO LOVED CROCODILE TAMERS is by far the best title of a book this year. The latest by Finuala Dowling (Kwela) is about Gina, who wants to write a fictional account of her father Paddy, who left few clues about his life. She knows that he was once engaged to the famous crocodile tamer Koringa. For the rest, Gina must imagine her way into the life of the father who died an alcoholic when she was 11 years old.’ – Jennifer Platt, Sunday Times, ‘Books To Look Out For This Year’

Published 25th March 2022. Pre-order here.

BETRAYAL by David Gilman

Included in LoveReading’s ‘2022 Preview - Exciting New Books on the Horizon’

‘Raglan is the strong but silent type. Nevertheless, his knight errantry is winning and this is a pleasingly old-style take on the action genre. Beau geste.’ – James Owen, The Times, ‘The Best New Thrillers For January 2022’

Published 6th January 2022. Order here.

PICTURE YOU DEAD by Peter James

Included in LoveReading’s ‘2022 Preview - Exciting New Books on the Horizon’

Published 29th September 2022. Pre-order here.

WHAT EDEN DID NEXT by Sheila O’Flanagan

‘In Sheila O’Flanagan’s WHAT EDEN DID NEXT (Headline) we meet Eden, five years widowed, reconnecting with an old flame she knew before her husband, but her in-laws are hellbent on interfering.’ – Anne Cunningham, Irish Independent, ‘Spring into 2022 with the very best of the books being published next year’

‘O’Flanagan is a longtime bestselling author, who is hugely prolific – she’s written over 30 novels. In this latest one, we meet Eden, who has already suffered the unexpected loss of her husband Andy. She has their daughter and his family to support her – but when she meets someone knew, Andy’s mother stands in the way, and the entire family could suffer.’ – Aoife Barry, The Journal, ‘Irish fiction to look forward to in 2022’

Published 28th April 2022. Pre-order here.

THE BOOK ABOUT EVERYTHING edited by Declan Kiberd, Enrico Terrinoni and Catherine Wilsden, featuring Joseph O’Connor

‘THE BOOK ABOUT EVERYTHING edited by Declan Kiberd, Enrico Terrinoni and Catherine Wilsden has 18 writers, including Joseph O’Connor and Mario Vargas Llosa, explore a chapter each of Ulysses.’ – Anne Cunningham, Irish Independent, ‘Spring into 2022 with the very best of the books being published next year’

Published 16th June 2022. Pre-order here.

BFLA BEST OF 2021

At Blake Friedmann we’re proud that so many of our authors and their books were included in ‘Best of 2021’ selections. To celebrate these achievements, we have compiled the following summary of the lists they were featured in, along with the praise that accompanied their selection.

THE HIERARCHIES by Ros Anderson

‘The overall winner, our undisputed Book of the Year, goes to THE HIERARCHIES. This book spread through the store like contraband on the playground, pressed into the hands of one bookseller after another. A dystopian, feminist masterpiece that everyone should read.’ – Waterstones Brighton, ‘Book of the Year’

THE YOUNG TEAM by Graeme Armstrong

One of Foyles’ Paperbacks of the Year

One of Waterstones’ Paperbacks of the Year

LOVE IN COLOUR by Bolu Babalola

One of Foyles’ Paperbacks of the Year

One of Waterstones’ Paperbacks of the Year

‘This multifaceted, multitalented Nigerian-British writer – humorist, television creator and now bestselling author – searched the globe to find a radically diverse group of stories about love, from magical folk tales of West Africa to iconic Greek myths and ancient legends from the Middle East. Then, with an evocative and vivid style, she brought new life to old tales and wrote three original stories of her own. The result is a remarkable modern collection of 13 short stories about love.’ – Carole V. Bell, NPR, ‘Best Romance Books 2021’

CASE STUDY by Graeme Macrae Burnet

One of Nicola Sturgeon’s Favourite Books of 2021

‘Beautifully balanced between harrowing and humorous, CASE STUDY follows a woman who seeks out a captivating psychotherapist whom she believes to be responsible for her sister’s suicide.’ – Waterstones, ‘The Best Books of 2021’

‘Graeme Macrae Burnet’s CASE STUDY is a novel about a 1960s psychologist where the blurring between fact and fiction constantly wrong-foots its readers while still keeping us lavishly entertained.’ – James Walton, The Spectator, ‘Books of the Year’

‘Graeme Macrae Burnet is a master of the false but apparently authentic document… This is a novel, which like Macrae burnet’s previous ones, holds the attention, develops an insidious narrative interest, and poses questions about the nature of the self and the authenticity of identity. There is comedy here too. Indeed, depending on the angle of the view, Braithwaite is a comic character, if also a disturbing one. Certainly in his depiction of him, Macrae Burnet catches the self-satisfied idiocy of one strand of 1960s culture. Indeed, he is done so well and seems so authentic in his inauthenticity that you might be surprised to find no mention of him in the index of John Clay’s admirable biography of Ronnie Laing. For the most part, though Macrae Burnet finds different voices for the writer of the notebooks and the unnamed author of the biographical Braithwaite chapters, his style is plain, lucid, very readable and rich in irony. There are fine comic passages… But it is the appalling and yet ultimately rather pathetic Braithwaite who gives the book its momentum, and is through him that the tone and temper of the times are captured. As in his other novels, Macrae Burnet writes with an admirable lucidity, at the same time being able to probe and shed light on the dark places of the mind. Writing in a prose that is spare, deadpan and yet alive, he poses questions about the nature and perception of what we choose to call reality. He is an uncommonly interesting and satisfying novelist.’ – The Scotsman, ‘Scottish Books 2021’

THE BERESFORD by Will Carver

One of LoveReading’s Books of the Year 2021

‘In THE BERESFORD by Will Carver a maze-like boarding-house becomes a scene of carnage as the tenants are dispatched in grisly fashion one by one. What is going on and who can bring an end to the bloodshed? Carver writes in the tradition of the Theatre of the Absurd, but with added grue. Shocking, compulsive and persuasive. It’s one hell of a ride for those of a mind to jump aboard.’ – Ian Rankin, The New Statesman, ‘Books of the Year’

‘The Theatre of the Absurd gets dunked in gore as the residents of a creepy boarding house take part in a never-ending killing spree’ – Ian Rankin, ’Ian’s End of Year Round-up: 2021’

‘The strangest and creepiest novel I read all year. A boarding house becomes a scene of carnage as residents start bumping each other off. What compels them and how can the chain be severed? This is the theatre of the absurd with added grue, and while Carver’s unique and twisted talent won’t be to all tastes I found this persuasive and compulsive.’ – Ian Rankin, Daily Express, ‘Best Books of 2021’

THE LAST THING TO BURN by Will Dean

One of Deadly Pleasures Staff Best of 2021

Winner of the 2021 Rick O’Shea Book Club International Book of the Year Category

A ‘Hot Press Books of 2021’ honourable mention

‘For pleasure reading, I want warmth and pace and narrative and a steady hand, not sentences that have their eyes on prizes. Will Dean, a man with impossibly luxurious hair who lives in a Swedish forest, is known for his Tuva Moodyson crime fiction series. Tuva, a deaf journalist, is a great character but her adventures can get repetitive. There is nothing repetitive about THE LAST THING TO BURN, an astonishing standalone from Dean, in which a young Vietnamese woman lives an appallingly coerced life with a brute called Lenn. Dean gets the voices chillingly right, the tension rises as inevitably as the claustrophobic pressure draws in, and “Jane” is a woman who you want to triumph at whatever cost. This novel will make your skin crawl with fury at the insidious violence of men.’ – Rose George, The New Statesman, ‘Books of the Year’

‘The crime novel that made my heart race fastest was THE LAST THING TO BURN by Will Dean, a timely and unforgettable locked-door mystery.’ – Anne Cater, Daily Express, ‘Books of the Year’

‘THE LAST THING TO BURN – Will Dean’s first stand-alone novel – is an extremely tense read. It centres on a Vietnamese woman held against her will in a remote farmhouse in the East Midlands. She endures her captivity, day-in-day-out, until two things happen that force her to fight back. This is absolutely a story of survival in its most basic form, but more than that it’s about the immense power of the human spirit – how it can be bashed and broken and still persevere. Dean doesn’t just build suspense – he cloaks his story in it, creating a crushing, claustrophobic atmosphere that feels as if it will never end. But the story does contain unexpected and heartening moments of light that remind readers of the power of humanity and compassion. These are the things that linger when the book comes to a close – and still linger all these months later too.’ – Natalie Xenos, Culturefly, ‘The Best Books of 2021’

‘This is the harrowing story of a young Vietnamese woman trafficked into the UK and kept for years as a slave by a psychopathic farmer in the middle of absolutely nowhere. She thinks she's protecting her sister by remaining compliant but when she discovers that she’s been lied to, she attempts to escape with a baby and a broken foot. It’s short, brilliant and gut-achingly tense.’ – Sunday Times bestselling author Lisa Jewell, Amazon Book Review, ‘Lisa Jewell’s Favourite Reads of 2021’

‘THE LAST THING TO BURN works because Will Dean takes a very risky chance with the narrative – the reader spends the entire novel in Jane’s mind, seeing everything from her perspective. Many writers explore points-of-view tactics from a different gender and while making that feel authentic is often challenging, skilled authors make this look easy. In THE LAST THING TO BURN, however, Will Dean goes one step further, embodying the soul and mind of Jane in a way that is not often witnessed – even in cases where authors are writing POVs that match their gender. Not only does Dean do this himself, but he brings the reader along with him to such a level that Jane/Reader almost merge and it becomes like our very safety is at risk.’ – Kristopher Zgorski, BOLO Books, ‘Top Reads of 2021’

THE ENGLISHMAN by David Gilman

One of LoveReading’s Books of the Year 2021

Peter James

One of Bookscan’s Top Ten Fiction Authors for 2021 (number 9, with LEFT YOU DEAD as top-selling title)

SWIMMING IN THE DARK by Tomasz Jedrowski

One of Foyles’ Paperbacks of the Year

ARE WE HAVING FUN YET? by Lucy Mangan

One of LoveReading’s Books of the Year 2021

‘An uncannily accurate portrayal of the whirlwind of modern family life, Mangan's side-splitting novel introduces Liz and her weird and wonderful brood as she attempts to make it through the year without losing it completely.’ – Waterstones, ‘The Best Books of 2021’

WAYFARERS’ HYMNS by Zakes Mda

‘In Mda’s 31st book, a boy’s desire to become a great famo musician leads him all the way from the Lesotho mountain region to Johannesburg where he comes up against a sordid underworld of crime and gangs.’ – Brittle Paper, ’50 Notable African Books of 2021’

THE DARK FLOOD by Deon Meyer

‘THE DARK FLOOD, the new Benny Griessel thriller from Deon Meyer – need we say more?’ – Daily Maverick, ‘Essential Books of 2021’

WHEN THEY FIND HER by Lia Middleton

One of Apple Books’ Bestselling Audiobooks of 2021

‘I would also like to shout-out my favourite domestic thriller of the year, WHEN THEY FIND HER by Lia Middleton. Totally unputdownable, it’s the sign of a brilliant author when they can build such empathy with a character making a terrible decision within the first few pages and yet keep the reader glued right until the very end as the rest of the twisting plot unfolds.’ – Amy McCulloch, Dead Good Books, ‘Best Crime Novels of 2021’

THREE WEDDINGS AND A PROPOSAL by Sheila O’Flanagan

‘Putting a spin on wedding stories, each wedding of a glorious summer brings a new surprise for Delphie, who has the chance to reshape her future.’ – Denise O’Donoghue, Irish Examiner, ‘Best of the Year Lists’ 

THE APRIL DEAD by Alan Parks

One of Deadly Pleasures Staff Best of 2021

‘Alan Parks, like the best writers, makes you keenly aware of all the pain out there and then (almost) alleviates it.’ – Mark Sanderson, The Times, ’16 Best Crime Books 2021’

SHIVER by Allie Reynolds

One of Deadly Pleasures Staff Best of 2021

One of Foyles’ Paperbacks of the Year   

‘Buckle up – this chilling new thriller from professional snowboarder-turned-author Allie Reynolds will have you feeling like you’re hurtling down a black run from page one… for page-turning power, this mystery had us gripped.’ – Woman and Home, ‘2021 Book Awards’

‘I’ve never been snowboarding in my life and have never been tempted to try it. But I love books that give insights into passions I don’t share, and give a feel for how and why they’re so alluring. This is about a group of competitive snowboarders and is a combination of flashbacks—to when they were all competing, ten years ago—and the present, when they attend a reunion and get stuck up a mountain. The book gives a real feel for what it’s like to be in a resort in the French Alps: the drinking, the snow, the lifts, the camaraderie. I was not surprised, after finishing the book, to find out the author, Allie Reynolds, was once a top UK freestyle snowboarder who spent five winters in the mountains of France, Switzerland, Austria and Canada. All in all, it’s a classic Agatha Christie-style locked-room mystery combined with very vivid accounts of being in the mountains and risking life and limb going down the halfpipe.’ – Sophie Roell, Five Books, ‘The Best Crime Fiction of 2021’

THE MERMAID OF BLACK CONCH By Monique Roffey

 One of Bookshop.org’s ‘The Bookshop 100: Indie Champions 2021’

One of Foyles’ Paperbacks of the Year

One of Waterstones’ Paperbacks of the Year