So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠💙

TW: colonisation, murder, death, war, corpses, violence, racism, PTSD, blood, grief, mind control

Cole burns the world down and then some in this incendiary debut, full of dragons, danger and deceit. It has phenomenal characterisation, excellent world-building and deeply considered examinations of colonisation, legacy and fate all wrapped up in a tense and twisty tale. Drop everything to read this.

Full review here.

The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose

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TW: murder, death, rape, sexual assault, alcoholism, addiction, drug abuse, animal death, bullying, blackmail, fraud, grief, poisoning, workplace harassment

This took everything I enjoyed about The Maid and elevated it. I actually enjoyed this one more! The conceit of a murder mystery author being killed off is one that I am hooked by on its own. Throw in that classic Golden Age of Crime set up of the various suspects and mix it with that introspective look at Molly’s life – then I am more than sold.

Full review here.

The Principle of Moments by Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠💙

TW: murder, mass murder, human trafficking, child abuse, sexual assault, slavery, physical violence, imprisonment, kidnapping, childbirth, discrimination, childhood abandonment, graphic description of injury

This is like taking the best bits of Doctor Who and Star Wars, mashing them in a blender and combining them with a wholly original and highly entertaining tale. It is one of those books you should be reaching for if you love epic adventures and stories stretching over time and space. 

Full review here.

Helle and Death by Oskar Jensen⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠💙

TW: death, murder, body, sexual harassment, stalking, sexual assault, sexism

This is an atmospheric Golden Age style mystery with a distinctly Dark Academia twist. I really enjoyed the kind of sarcastic, jibing tone that runs throughout this book. It is very much about the facade of keeping up appearances and complex, fraught and messy relationships. 

Full review here.

The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie

TW: murder, death, violence, attempted suicide, slight gore, corpse, adultery

I really enjoyed this classic mystery and the original Miss Marple tale. She’s such a fantastic character & this was a well-plotted, tight and tense story.

Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠

TW: rape, sexual assault, suicide, suicidal ideation, grief, misogyny, death of a parent, child neglect, domestic abuse

Faridah smashes it out of this world again. This book simmers with rage and that deep seated anger that gnaws at you until it is released. It leaves scorched earth in its wake.

Powerful, impactful and unforgettable.

Full review here.

The Insider’s Guide To Inside No 9 by Mark Salisbury

I am a huge fan of this brilliant and thoroughly original TV series so was delighted to recieve this for my birthday! It contains loads of behind the scenes secrets and stories, taking you through episode by episode.

Voyage of the Damned by Frances White

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠💙

TW: attempted genocide, war, death, murder, gore, violence, hanging, racism, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, self-harm, grief, death of a loved one, homophobia, parental neglect, bullying

White has created something that will stick in my mind for a long while to come. This is a fantastically written, captivating fantasy murder mystery with a protagonist that chiselled a place for himself within my heart. 

Full review here.

Last to Leave the Room by Caitlin Starling

🏳️‍🌈🧠💙 

TW: eye trauma, body horror, gaslighting, memory loss, medical experimentation/torture, home confinement, abusive workplace dynamics, threatened institutionalization

This is another case of excellent premise, slightly underwhelming execution. In particular, the final third felt a bit rushed compared to the growing dread of the pacing beforehand. Still a solid read, just one I wouldn’t return to.

A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal

⭐️🧠💙

TW: death, blood, violence, murder, massacre, colonialism, racism, PTSD, fire, arson, parental abuse, manipulation

This book is a smoking gun – powerful, incendiary and finishes with one hell of a bang. Arthie Casimir is one of my favourite characters of all time. To top it off, Faizal’s writing is exquisite, immersive, subtle and stunning all at once. I adored every second of reading this.

Full review here.

A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft

🏳️‍🌈🧠

TW: xenophobia, homophobia, microaggressions, colonialism, emotional abuse, physical abuse, alcoholism, death of a parent, self-harm, addicition

This  is a delicate, romantic and wonderfully layered story. Like Niamh’s stunning creations, this tale weaves layer upon layer of beautiful threads into a emotionally rich and character focused regency fantasy romance.

Full review here.

Twenty-Seven Minutes by Ashley Tate

TW: death, car accident, murder, gaslighting, mental abuse, manipulation, addiction, drugs, grief

The opening pages of Tate’s thriller were so wonderfully written, gripping and captivating. Unfortunately from there, the story dragged a little for me and I hated the big twist. It just took a bit too long for us to get there as well.

Heartstopper: Volume Five by Alice Oseman

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠

TW: reference to previous self harm, scars, eating disorders, bullying

My heart still belongs with this series and this was a slice of happiness, with Oseman’s brilliant drawings providing so much characterisation. I zipped through this and was glad to see the representation continue, though this was a more joyous instalment – it still was frank in its discussion of mental health, queerness and identity.

The Knowing by Emma Hinds

⭐️(side character) 🏳️‍🌈🧠

TW: death, murder, violence, sexual assault, rape, grooming, paedophilia, suicide, domestic abuse, physical abuse, sexual harassment, stalking, PTSD

Flora was such a complex and compelling protagonist and this combined with her fascinating powers kept me reading. However, I did not enjoy the story and many of the central characters – I think I was expecting something different. This is also very, very dark so please check trigger warnings.

Anna O by Matthew Blake

TW: murder, death, violence, gore, drugging, death of an animal (violent, on page), stabbing, stalking, infidelity

This book had such a brilliant concept and Blake’s writing was gripping, twisty and fast-paced. However, the ending really let me down – I’d predicted it from very early on and was really hoping for a sharper sting in the tale than I got.

Salt Slow by Julia Armfield

🏳️‍🌈🧠💙

TW: murder, death, violence, gore, body horror, grief, divorce, mental illness, miscarriage, homophobia

There is just something I adore about Armfield’s lyrical, ambigious and atmosphere laden writing. This collection of short stories really packs a punch in just a few pages and each story had something poignant, surprising or just stellar to say. This collection has teeth and they definitely bite.

The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠💙

TW: death, violence, grief, domestic abuse, physical abuse, terrorism, mention of 9/11, homophobia, homophobic parents, car accident, parental death, public shooting, fatal gun violence, chronic heart condition, domestic violence

I adored They Both Die at the End and had been meaning to get around to this prequel for ages. Again, Silvera creates such a tragically beautiful story of doomed love and the hope of being able to live life with your grief, without it overshadowing you. I still think the Death Call idea is genius as well.

A Cruel Twist of Fate by H F Askwith

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TW: death, murder, violence, grief, disappearance, classism

I adored the way Askwith brought in some unexpected elements to a fantastically plotted mystery in A Dark Inheritance and she pulls it off again with aplomb here. Allow yourself to be transported to the dingy decrepit halls of Archfall Manor and unveil the secrets buried within.

Full review here.

The Bad Ones by Melissa Albert

🏳️‍🌈🧠

TW: death, murder, disappearance, sexual assault, sexual harassment, grooming, mention of school shooting, homophobia, grief, hit and run, cancer

This was a curled snarl of a book, soaked with rage and consumed with vengeance. It was a stunning, shiver-inducing supernatural mystery. Albert just has such a gift for creating atmosphere that sinks its hooks into you and will not let go.

Full review here.