September 2026 Reads

 

** You can find full reviews for all the books below on my blog

The month began with one of my favourite series. Roy Grace returns in Dead In Three Two One by Peter James. A well-known criminal, along with a female guest, checks into an exclusive hotel. Hours later, they have disappeared, and the room is spotless, almost as if they hadn’t been there. When a severed leg is discovered at a waste treatment facility, Roy Grace and his team immediately begin to worry about the safety of the unidentified female.

I was incredibly excited to finally get hold of a copy of The Silent Appeal by Janice Hallett. This is the sequel to The Appeal, and once again features The Fairway Players amateur dramatic society. As usual, it is told in epistolary format, a style that just keeps you turning the pages. I sat up late into the night, devouring this as I tried, unsuccessfully, to figure out not only who the murderer was, but also who the victim was.

Alex Lake is a new author for me, and the premise of You Are Mine sounded suitably creepy to grab my attention. Lawyer Mary Jordan begins to receive disturbing notes hinting that she is being stalked. Initially, she passes it off as a tasteless prank, but it soon becomes obvious that someone close is targeting her. The sense of menace is let down by some erratic pacing.

Uplifting fiction is a genre I love; it makes a lovely change from all the thrillers, and anything by Mike Gayle fits the bill perfectly. I did find On We Go quite an emotional read as Cal tries to reconnect with his seventeen-year-old stepdaughter, Zoe, eighteen months after her mother died. The suggestion is to inter-rail across Europe, but what Cal didn’t expect was the rest of Zoe’s family to accompany them, leading to lots of complications.

Christmas is fast approaching, so I was pleased to get hold of a copy of Bah Bloody Humbug by Jo Middleton, the third book in the Christmas Murder Mysteries. Anna is determined to avoid the complications of the previous two years by doing away with Christmas traditions, but first, she has to get through helping with the school Christmas Fair. Alongside Anna is best-friend Jen, and a collection of weird members of the PTA. It isn’t long before a dead body turns up.

Another book I was excited to finally get hold of this month was We Chase Shadows by Richard Osman. I love the characters of Rosie, Steve, and Amy; in fact, the plot is secondary as far as I’m concerned. The interactions between the trio and other characters are wonderful. We meet some very interesting individuals as the threesome tries to track down the man who is bumping off his rivals.

Robyn will be glad to see the back of 2025, the year her mother died very unexpectedly. Unfortunately, on New Year's Eve, she sets in motion a curse that forces her to relive the year over again. Robyn hopes that this time around, she can save her mother. I found Time After Time by Clare Swatman to be a very emotional read, but it does have an uplifting conclusion.

My book group read for the month was The Searcher by Tana French. Cal Harper is a retired Chicago cop who has relocated to Ireland. Having bought himself a rundown farmhouse, he’s in the process of modernising it when young Trey Reddy asks for his help. Trey’s older brother has disappeared, and no one seems concerned. I found this a slow burner initially, but once it got going, I loved the suspense.

As I started reading No One Is Safe by Simon Kernick, I just knew that it would be a rollercoaster ride. The pace is relentless. A family hears a call for help while they are out walking. What follows is a nightmare situation as two of them are kidnapped and the third, Luke Jones, is told that unless he follows the kidnapper’s instructions, his family will die brutally. Knowing he is being watched at every turn, Luke does as instructed. His only hope is a contact from his past who may be able to help.

The One by John Marrs is the perfect dystopian novel to interest me; nothing too different from the society we live in today. Scientists have discovered the gene that links you to your ideal partner, ‘The One’. The book follows five different characters as they find out who they are matched with. The variety of characters, along with some moral issues, kept me turning the pages.

I love the style of the first two novels by Hannah Brennan, a mixture of police investigation and mixed media from the past linked to the investigation. The information from the past really piques your interest as you try to figure out how it connects to the crime that has taken place. In No Good Reason, a car has been driven into a group of people waiting at a bus stop. This shocking opening has you immediately jumping to conclusions.  

My first audiobook of the month was The Twilight Garden by Emma Davies. This is a gentle tale of a woman, Gemma, struggling with grief, who loses her job and her home, all at the same time. Taking a leap of faith, she answers an advert looking for help on a newly established smallholding, in exchange for board and lodge. Over time, Gemma discovers a different pace of life and reconnects with someone from her past.

Eyes On You by Adele Parks is a brilliant audiobook. Told over three different time periods, we meet Amy as a teenager when she witnesses her father beating his mistress to death. We also see Amy as she meets Oliver, and an unexpected relationship slowly develops. Finally, in the present, we see Amy after a shocking death has happened. The intertwining of all three timelines keeps you gripped and has you wondering how everything is connected in this twisty thriller.

You can always guarantee a twisty thriller from Lauren North, and the audiobook of His New Girlfriend is no exception. Laura is struggling. Her partner, James, has left her after revealing he was having an affair with her best friend, Sadie. With James living only a few doors away with Sadie, they are co-parenting their teenage daughter, Grace. When Grace tells her mother that she witnessed Sadie assault their elderly neighbour, Laura finds it impossible to get anyone to believe her, especially as the neighbour is missing. As I listened, I wasn’t sure if this was a classic case of gaslighting, an elaborate set of lies, or a tale of paranoia.

Publication dates to look out for are:-

His New Girlfriend by Lauren North will be published 7/10/26 in paperback, ebook, and audio format.

Dead In Three Two One by Peter James will be published 22/10/26 in hardback, ebook, and audio format.

You Are Mine by Alex Lake will be published 22/10/26 in paperback, ebook, and audio format.

Bah Bloody Humbug by Jo Middleton will be published 22/10/26 in paperback, ebook, and audio format.

Time After Time by Clare Swatman will be published on 27/10/26 in paperback, ebook, and audio format.

No One Is Safe by Simon Kernick will be published 5/11/26 in hardback, ebook, and audio format.

No Good Reason by Hannah Brennan will be published 19/11/26 in paperback and ebook format.

His New Girlfriend by Lauren North (Audiobook)

 

Laura is struggling. Her partner, James, has left her after revealing he was having an affair with her best friend, Sadie. With James living only a few doors away with Sadie, they are co-parenting their teenage daughter, Grace. When Grace tells her mother that she witnessed Sadie assault their elderly neighbour, Laura finds it impossible to get anyone to believe her, especially as the neighbour is missing.

You can always guarantee a twisty thriller from Lauren North, and His New Girlfriend is no exception. Thanks to the tense situations described and the fantastic narration of Camilla Rockley, I found myself completely engrossed in the story.

There is so much more to this story than a jilted lover and petty revenge. The brilliant writing immediately has you empathising with Laura. When James leaves her, it's more than just the end of a relationship; she's struggling financially and likely to lose her home. All of this is done to a backdrop of her friends virtually ignoring her as they side with Sadie.

It is when Grace confides in her mother that you begin to wonder how the narrative will play out. Sadie is adamant that nothing has happened, so you begin to wonder if gaslighting is taking place. Grace has a history of lying; could she be doing the same again? Or is Laura being paranoid? The more we hear, the more likely it looks that it is a case of paranoia. As Laura delves into Sadie's past, we see a woman spiralling out of control, desperate to prove she isn't delusional.

When the truth is finally uncovered, there are shocks and sadness in store. Author Lauren North manages to go even further by throwing in a few extra twists at the end. There's one involving James that simply left me slack-jawed, but the final revelation is superb, turning the whole tale on its head.

His New Girlfriend by Lauren North will be published on 7th October 2026 in paperback, ebook, and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a review copy.

Author Details

Lauren writes psychological suspense novels that delve into the darker side of relationships and families. She has a lifelong passion for writing, reading, and all things books. Lauren’s love of psychological suspense has grown since childhood and her dark imagination of always wondering what’s the worst thing that could happen in every situation.

Lauren studied psychology before moving to London where she lived and worked for many years. She now lives with her family in the Suffolk countryside.

Bah Bloody Humbug by Jo Middleton

 

Christmas is fast approaching, and Anna Johnson wants nothing to do with it after the previous two years. The less said about finding dead bodies, the better. All she needs to do is get through the school's 'Seasonal Community Gathering' that she's been roped into helping with. Surely nothing can go wrong at a primary school?

I have read and enjoyed the previous two books in the Christmas Murder Mysteries series by Jo Middleton, but I think the latest one, Bah Bloody Humbug, has to be the best. Don't worry if you haven't read the previous books, as this works well as a standalone.

Anna is determined that this Christmas is going to be better than the previous two. To help things along, she's eschewing most seasonal traditions; no tree, no decorations, and certainly no turkey dinner. The family is going to have to make do with poke bowls instead. It's hilarious that Anna thinks all her bad luck is connected to festive traditions.

This year it's just the immediate family, but before she can settle down to quiet family time, Anna has to help set-up and run the school Christmas Fair that is run by the PTA. Centring the story around members of the PTA makes for comedy gold. This is less about the playground mafia that is frequently envisaged when a school PTA is involved and more about some of the weird characters that make up everyday life.

It isn't long before a body is found. Initially, it's considered a tragic accident, but as Anna and her best friend, Jen, dig deeper, they begin to suspect a murder has occurred. Jen has made appearances in the previous books, but her greater role this time around was hilarious. I found her very easy to visualise, particularly her flirty nature.

Basically a locked room mystery, with blackmail at its heart, we see Anna and Jen run through the gamut of assumptions, red herrings, and ridiculous accusations, none of which lead to the identity of the killer. It is only by process of elimination and a slapstick chase that they eventually find the killer.

Bah Bloody Humbug by Jo Middleton will be published on 22nd October 2026 in paperback, ebook, and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for a review copy.

Author Details

Jo Middleton is a writer, mum of two grown up children and slave to a golden retriever and three cats, named after fictional detectives. Jo published her first novel, Playgroups and Prosecco, in 2019 and has since gone on to work with her good friend Gill Sims, hosting her 2022 theatre tour and co-hosting a podcast, It’s Five O’clock Somewhere. Happy Bloody Christmas was her first crime novel and is an amalgamation of everything she loves best - murder at Christmas, what's not to love?

Jo lives in Somerset and when she’s not working or tending to a pet she loves reading murder mysteries, binge-watching dating reality TV shows and being dragged around the countryside by her disrespectful dog Mako.

You Are Mine by Alex Lake

 

Mary Jordan initially dismisses the disturbing note she sees attached to a lamppost close to her place of work as a prank. When a similar note appears in her handbag, she begins to wonder who is responsible: a new neighbour, a high school sweetheart, someone she works with, or her daughter's unsuitable boyfriend?

Alex Lake is a new author to me, and I loved the premise of You Are Mine. The opening really sets the tone. There is a short build-up to the initial message, we even get a glimpse of its impact on others, confirming its disconcerting nature. Despite the unsettling content, Mary does what I'm sure most people would do: consider it a tasteless prank. 

Mary's reaction is understandable. She's a highly intelligent woman, with enough life experience to know that the message is most likely to be someone's idea of a tacky joke. Mary, like most working mothers, has more important things to occupy her time: issues at work with someone trying to poach her clients, and at home, she's trying to navigate the minefield surrounding her teenage daughter's unsuitable boyfriend. I liked the way Mary was portrayed; she came across as very real.

We are kept on our toes by the introduction of a host of possible villains. The new neighbour certainly comes across as the most menacing, and there are scenes where the tension is palpable. Even though his behaviour is explained away, it isn't enough to put your mind at rest. The level of trepidation continues to increase as more notes appear. Not only are the notes more threatening, but they are found in places that add to the terror of the situation. 

I did feel that this sense of dread wasn't capitalised on as the pacing was erratic. Having built up the sense of foreboding, the tension was lost by spending too much time describing the mundane aspects of Mary's life. The conclusion was similar; after building up the suspense and panic, the villain would repeatedly disappear, leaving me feeling confused. None of this is likely to stop me from reading more by this author, however.

You Are Mine by Alex Lake will be published on 22nd October 2026 in paperback, ebook, and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for a review copy.

Author Deatils

Alex Lake is a British novelist who was born in the North West of England. After Anna the author’s first novel written under this pseudonym, was a No.1 bestselling ebook sensation and a top ten Sunday Times bestseller. The author now lives in the North East of the US.

Dead In Three Two One by Peter James

 

Roy Grace has a target on his back when an Albanian gang leader seeks retribution. 

I've been a fan of the Roy Grace series by Peter James ever since I picked up the first book in the series, Dead Simple. This remains my favourite book in the series, and a thriller I regularly recommend. As with any long-running series of books, some stories seem to work better than others. Dead In Three Two One, book 23 in the series, certainly hit the spot for me.

It's Pride weekend in Brighton, so the city is packed and the police are on high alert for any trouble. When a well-known criminal, Dritan Dervishi, along with an unidentified woman, shows up on CCTV checking into an exclusive hotel, the police are concerned. Hours later, the couple has disappeared, and the room they were staying in looks as if it hasn't been occupied.

When a severed leg is discovered at a waste treatment facility, Roy Grace and his team immediately have concerns for the welfare of the unidentified woman who checked into the hotel. What follows is the meticulous piecing together of clues as the team tries to identify the woman and confirm that Dervishi murdered her. The team is also puzzled as to why Dervishi would check into a hotel and then check out a few hours later.

Author Peter James demonstrates his twisted sense of humour with a couple of subplots centred around the same hotel. A pair of siblings, desperate to inherit their mother's dwindling fortune, looks at ways to gain control of her finances. The mother is so caustic towards her greedy children and everyone else that you almost feel sympathetic towards them, but the sympathy doesn't last long. There is also a storyline featuring one of my favourite characters, Norman Potting. Things don't go well for Potting during a stakeout. Could this be the moment he is forced to retire?

The conclusion is filled with foreboding. We have seen major characters killed off throughout the series, and I began to worry for everyone connected to Grace. One scene in particular is so tense that I was reluctant to read on, concerned for the characters involved. I'm not going to spoil anything here; you'll just have to read the book for yourself to find out what happens.

Dead In Three Two One by Peter James will be published on 20th October 2026 in hardback, ebook, and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for a review copy.

Author Details

Peter James is a UK No.1 bestselling author, best known for his Detective Superintendent Roy Grace series.

Much loved by crime and thriller fans for his fast-paced page-turners full of unexpected plot twists, sinister characters, and accurate portrayal of modern day policing, he has won over 40 awards for his work including the WHSmith Best Crime Author of All Time Award and Crime Writers’ Association Diamond Dagger. In 2024, it was announced that he is the creator of Her Majesty Queen Camilla’s favourite fictional detective.

To date, Peter has written an impressive total of 21 Sunday Times No. 1s, sold over 24 million copies worldwide and been translated into 38 languages. ITV’s primetime adaptation of the Grace novels, starring John Simm, continues to delight audiences with significant ratings growth, and series seven is currently in production. On stage seven of Peter’s Grace novels have been adapted as plays, earning his work the reputation of being the most successful stage franchise since Agatha Christie.

In 2026, Peter was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in His Majesty The King’s Birthday Honours List, in recognition of his services to literature and to charity. Peter is a supporter of many of charities reflecting his concerns and interests, including as Co-Patron of the Sussex Police Charitable Trust; as a Patron of the RSPCA and the Samaritans; and as an ambassador for The Reading Agency and for the National Year of Reading 2026, among many others.

We Chase Shadows by Richard Osman

 

When a group of criminals met twenty years ago, they carved out the territory they would have control over to avoid any issues. Now, half of them are dead, and it looks as if one of them is out to kill the rest. Vern Blackwood, one of the few remaining criminals still alive, hires 'We Solve Murders' to track down who is responsible.

Two years ago, I approached We Solve Murders, the first book in the We Solve Murders series, with a little trepidation, wondering if Richard Osman had made a mistake by moving away from The Thursday Murder Club. I needn't have worried, as I loved the book; I even thought it was better than The Thursday Murder Club series. I've just re-read the review I wrote at the time (you can find it here), and pretty much everything I wrote two years ago about the first book can be applied to the new novel.

The plot of We Chase Shadows is convoluted, with criminals killing each other, but Vern Blackwood is adamant that there is no way the main suspect would kill him. Although the team of Rosie, Steve, and Amy has identified the killer, it is as if they are chasing a ghost, someone who only appeared twenty-five years ago and is never seen apart from when a killing takes place. As with the first book in the series, we see the trio making use of Rosie's wealth and contacts to hop around the globe, chasing information on the elusive killer. 

It is the characters of Rosie, Steve, and Amy that really make the story. Their individual eccentricities make them so endearing. Rosie is as outrageous as ever, but is struggling to understand her place in the publishing industry, seriously wondering if she has come to the end of her career as a writer. We learn a little bit more about Amy, discovering why she has built a wall around herself. Even though she's as hard as nails, we do see a little bit of emotion from her.

Steve is the standout character for me. He's still grieving the loss of his wife, in fact, he'd happily join her if it wasn't for letting his friends down and abandoning Trouble, his cat. I adore his no-nonsense approach to life, and I'd happily read a book based purely on the conversations between Steve and Tony.

The plot is helped along by some wonderful minor characters, and the big reveal is impossible to guess. I was disappointed when the book came to an end, as I enjoyed spending time with the threesome.

Author Details

Richard Osman is an author, producer and television presenter. The Thursday Murder Club novels are a record-breaking, multi-million-copy, bestselling series around the world. The movie adaptation for The Thursday Murder Club, produced by Amblin Entertainment, is available to watch on Netflix. His new series, We Solve Murders, featuring a brand-new detective trio, is also an international bestseller. Richard promises there are more books to come in both series. He lives in London with his wife, Ingrid, and their cats, Liesl and Lottie.

Eyes On You by Adele Parks (Audiobook)

 

Amy keeps everyone at arm's length because of her traumatic past. When she meets Oliver, she's immediately attracted to him, but he seems determined to take things extremely slowly. Past and present collide in a chilling way when she discovers his true identity.

WOW! What a story. Eyes On You by Adele Parks is one of those stories that has you gripped from the very beginning and keeps you engrossed throughout. The dramatic opening, one of violence and mystery, fills you with intrigue and sets the tone for an exceptionally twisty thriller.

Amy isn't a likeable character, but this is understandable when we piece together her past. As a teenager, she witnessed her father bludgeon his mistress to death and had to testify at his trial. Since then, she has been in self-destruct mode. When she meets Oliver, she feels different; there's a definite connection.

The narrative isn't linear, which really adds to the mystery. We have glimpses of the build-up to the murder, mixed with the growing relationship between Amy and Oliver. Intertwined with all of this are current-day events, events which seem as shocking and bloody as the original murder. Delivering morsels of information in this way kept the pace relentless, and had me desperate to know how everything fitted together. I was convinced I knew where the story was heading, but I was so wrong. The conclusion had me on the edge of my seat, and was one I certainly didn't see coming.

Author Details

Adele Parks MBE is the author of twenty-five bestselling novels including the recent Sunday Times hit Just Between Us and the audible Number One sensation One Last Secret. Over 6 million English editions of her work have been sold and she is translated into 31 different languages.

Her number one bestsellers Lies Lies Lies and Just My Luck were both shortlisted for the British Book Awards and have been optioned for development for film & TV.

She is an ambassador of the National Literacy Trust and the Reading Agency: two charities that promote literacy in the UK.

Adele was born in North Yorkshire and has lived in Botswana, Italy and London and is now settled in Guildford, Surrey.

In 2022 she was awarded an MBE by King Charles III for services to literature.