Four new books to read this week
FICTION Ex-wife
Ursula Parrott Paperback Faber & Faber
In New York, Patricia is splitting up from her husband, Peter, but we’re not in 2024, this is 1924.
Reissued 95 years after it became a bestseller, its descriptions of cocktails, clothes, speakeasies, dancing and romances jump off the page and spin the reader into a giddy whirl of the Roaring Twenties.
Yet there’s a dark side of violence and shame that we can’t escape. It’s a witty read, although some lines will be jarring for today’s reader.
Parrott was one of the most successful female writers of the 1930s but died aged 58, destitute and an alcoholic. Through Ex-wife – a tale of love, heartbreak and friendships, which still resonates after almost a century – her voice lives on. 9/10
The Villa Jess Ryder Paperback Penguin
Why would a group of women return to the Spanish villa where they spent a hen weekend where the brideto-be was killed? To find out who killed their friend and discover answers to a series of tragic events leading to the murder.
They quickly see it was a bad idea, as they fall out, rekindle dreadful memories, and dice with death. Different versions of the murder keep the group confused, but at least one of them wants to stay until the truth is out.
You’ll love the way the chapters switch from the weekend of the murder to the return visit, as the hunt for the killer takes some unexpected, and violent, turns. This looks destined to be Ryder’s most successful thriller, just don’t read it in a Spanish villa on a hen weekend. 8/10
The Echoes Evie Wyld
Hardback
Jonathan Cape
Written in a style that keeps you turning the pages, author
Evie Wyld takes you back and forth in time following the narratives of partners Max and Hannah.
We start with Max, who is a ghost in their house, the reader gains insight into their deteriorating relationship and his reflections on it from the afterlife. Wyld also weaves through Hannah’s childhood in Australia that she struggles to confront in the present, keeping secrets and holding back from Max, making her a particularly complex, unpredictable character to follow.
It’s an intriguing, enjoyable enough read, but has an ending that might leave you wanting more. 6/10
CHILDREN’S We’re Moving House
Mick Jackson, illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh
Hardback
Walker Books
A small child misunderstands what his mum means when she tells him that they’re moving house.
He suddenly has a vision of his home having to be picked up and moved, and worries about the logistics – creating scenarios wonderfully captured in the illustrations.
It will be helpful to families with younger children who are relocating – and also any child fascinated by cranes, boats, lorries and helicopters will have their imagination piqued.
Mick Jackson, who was nominated for the Booker Prize for adult novel The Underground Man, can clearly captivate little ones too. 7/10