Last year was a period for some outstanding books that were released; Go As A River by Shelley Read
particularly pulled at my heart and A Quiet Contagion by Jane Jesmond kept me racing through the
pages. I’m sure this coming year will be just as exciting in terms of new books being released and I
can’t wait to get my hands on so many of them.
The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey
I was lucky enough to be sent an early copy of The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey. I flew
through Miv’s narrative and was taken with how upbeat yet also heartbreaking the story was. Miv is
an innocent young girl who is naïve to what’s happening with her mother behind the scenes – as she
and her best friend create their ‘list of suspicious things’ of the community around them whilst they
try to expose The Yorkshire Ripper. I truly loved this book.
The Mind Hack by Stewart McDowall
The other book I’m really excited about in 2024 is The Mind Hack by Stewart McDowall. I’ve read a
previous book by McDowell, Waiting to Go On, and was captivated by the trials and tribulations the
main character – an aspiring comedian – faced as he tried to advance in his career. The Mind Hack is
a complete contrast in terms of genre, and features McQueen, a forensic psychologist turned
detective who appears on a podcast to discuss the dark web of online grooming, where he’s seen as
a threat by a potential predator. McDowall’s writing is fast-paced and I’m expecting to meet some
enthralling characters and clever twists in his latest work.
*Sophie Morton-Thomas will be releasing her own novel BIRD SPOTTING IN A SMALL TOWN on 29th February 2024. EBook also available*