Wrecked by Katie Mitchelson

 

Desperate to escape terrible home lives, teenagers Jake and Minnie agree to be participants in the trial of a new technology that is designed to help young people deal with trauma. Their lives begin to spiral out of control when another member of the trial goes missing.

I picked up Wrecked by Katie Mitchelson as she is a local author. I don't read much YA fiction, but I do enjoy novels that are slightly dystopian; just different enough to make things unsettling, but not too different that they are implausible. Wrecked certainly fit the bill. Young people are offered the chance to have a microchip implanted in their brain which will record their thoughts. These thoughts can then be shared with a therapist to help the young person deal with the trauma they have suffered. The young person is assured that they are completely in control of what they share.

Both Jake and Minnie have chaotic backgrounds. Jake's stepfather is abusive, and his mother is too frightened to stand up to him. All Jake wants to do is find somewhere he can live with his mother and young sister, well away from the abuse. After her mother died, Minnie ended up in the care system, separated from her siblings. Her recent foster placement has fallen through as the foster carer was apathetic towards Minnie; the only thing she was interested in was the financial reward.

Spectrotext, the company behind the implant, runs The Hive, an accommodation unit for the young people taking part in the trial. From this base, both young people become involved in the world of drugs thanks to a local drug dealer. It was frightening how quickly and easily both Jake and Minnie were drawn into this world. The chance of easy money, the promise of much more to come, and peer pressure all work their magic on two susceptible individuals. Danger is never far away, and the pair are drawn deeper into this nefarious world when a friend goes missing. I was shocked at how casually life is treated.

As Jake and Minnie search for their friend, they have to consider how much of their thoughts are being recorded. I would have liked to see the technology side of the story play a bigger part than it actually did. By the end, however, you are considering who is more morally bankrupt: the drug dealers who are open and honest about the products they supply, or the technology companies secretly monitoring your every thought and action?

Author Details

Katie Mitchelson has worked as a youth worker in the North-east. Her work with young people inspired a lot of her writing during her creative writing PhD, compelling her to write about teenagers who do not realise that they are victims, who do not realise that they are being groomed for criminality, and the wider problems of country lines.

Making sense of existence is the undercurrent of Katie's writing, as she seeks to unravel the complexities of inequality and raise awareness of important issues in the hope of inspiring important social reforms. Child criminal exploitation is just one of the sociological injustices Katie hopes to explore.

Love Unlocked by Cecelia Ahern

 

Podcaster Melody is intrigued when she hears about relationships breaking up on the day that a couple's 'love lock' was cut off a bridge in Dublin. Determined to find out more, she decides to track down the man responsible for the removal of the locks, Al.

I'm really not sure what I was expecting when I started reading Love Unlocked by Cecelia Ahern. I know I certainly didn't expect to become fully invested in the lives and relationships of two wonderful characters. It was refreshing to see that the main characters were both in their late thirties, a time when most people would hope to have their lives sorted out.

Melody is very much a free spirit; she doesn't like the thought of long-term commitment and runs at the idea of spending her life with one person. Unfortunately, she's also terrified of being alone at night (one of her many foibles), so this can be an issue. It's Melody's honesty and vulnerability that make her so likeable. I certainly understood her choices to buck societal norms around marriage.

Al is the complete opposite; he's a true romantic, he loves grand gestures. So when his fiancée breaks his heart, you can't help but sympathise with him. There were times when I found his actions hilarious, and other times that left me feeling really uncomfortable; however, his behaviour was understandable. Music plays a big part in Al's emotional journey; I could hear the songs playing in my head as he went through the different stages of his break-up. There definitely needs to be a Spotify playlist made.

It is under these inauspicious circumstances that the couple first meet, and the chemistry between them is palpable, even though we know they are complete opposites. There is a spark, but they both seem determined to fight it. Melody is adamant she isn't looking for anything long-term, and Al is convinced he's still in love with his fiancée. As the pair spend time together, they begin to realise what has brought them to this point in their lives, but is this realisation enough to make them want something different?

Love Unlocked by Cecelia Ahern will be published on 27th August 2026 in hardback, ebook, and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for a review copy.

Author Details

Cecelia Ahern is an Irish novelist whose work was first published in 2004. Her debut novel PS I Love You was an international bestseller and was adapted to film starring Hilary Swank. Her second novel, Where Rainbows End, was adapted into Love, Rosie starring Lily Collins. Her books have been published in over thirty-seven languages, and have sold over twenty-five million copies. In addition to her novels, she is also the author of a highly acclaimed collection of stories, Roar, which is now an Apple Original series starring Nicole Kidman on Apple TV+.

July 2026 Reads

 

The month began with The Blackbird Conspiracy by Tariq Ashkanani. This is the second book in the Callie Munro series. Discovering her friend and colleague dead, Callie learns that someone in the government will go to any lengths to stop their plans from becoming public. The sparse writing keeps the pace flowing and adds to the sense of urgency. I was really pleased to learn the book three has already been written.

Dissection Of A Murder by Jo Murray has been all over my social media for months, having now read it, I can understand why everyone is talking about it. Leila Reynolds is given her first murder case to defend. There are a couple of problems, though. Firstly, the defendant refuses to explain what happened on the night he is accused of murdering a crown court judge. Secondly, the prosecution barrister is her husband. From the very first page, you are drawn in by the intrigue, you are kept turning the pages, desperate to know what happened.

Washington Poe returns in The Killer’s Mark by M. W. Craven. In the eighth book in the series, Poe and Tilly are now ‘Gumshoes For Hire’, when a teenage girl asks for their help. For the past year, she had assumed her mother was dead until she caught a glimpse of her in a pornographic film. The hunt for answers sees the duo come up against the Triads. Having left the police force, Poe doesn’t have his usual backup, however he still has friends he can call on when desperate. Tilly’s continuing work for the security service also proves to be handy.

Death Writ Large by Susie Dent is the second book in the Clarendon Lexicographers series. Martha is called on to use her expertise in constructed language when an Oxford scholar is found dead. Strange runes near the body are attributed to the writing of a contemporary of Tolkien. When more runes begin to appear, it becomes obvious that someone is seeking revenge. This mystery is perfect for fans of cryptic crosswords, but don’t worry if you struggle with them (like me), as all the clues are explained well.

A complete change of genre next with The Stray Dogs by Ruth Hogan. Vet Leona Lennox is feeling jaded, so she decides to sell her share in her practise and move to the countryside to open a rescue centre for dogs. In her new home, she meets Desmond Leaks, who is also looking for a fresh start after his marriage failed. Years ago, Desmond was part of a band, and he decides to get the group to reform to raise funds for the rescue centre. This is a charming tale of second chances that will tug at your heartstrings.

Frank And Red by Matt Coyne is one of my favourite books of recent years. Everyone I’ve recommended it to (and there have been quite a few) has loved it. So, the pressure was on the author to see what his next novel would be like. I’m happy to report that The Trouble With Sister Francis is filled with nostalgia, humour, joy, and friendship as we meet a group of eleven-year-old boys who are ‘persuaded’ by an elderly nun to join the boys’ club run by the church. I was snorting with laughter throughout, but in floods of tears towards the end.

My book group read for the month was A Time Of Mourning by Christobel Kent. Having left the police force under a cloud, Sandro Cellini has set up as a private investigator. His first case is to investigate the apparent suicide of a man whose widow is convinced his actions are completely out of character. Following quickly on the heels of this case is the disappearance of a young woman. Are the two cases linked? Set in Florence during a bout of torrential rain that threatens to flood the city, this is a slow and bleak mystery.

In Love Unlocked by Cecelia Ahern, podcaster Melody is intrigued when she hears of numerous relationships ending on the same day. Further investigation reveals that each couple had a love lock attached to a Dublin bridge, and the relationships ended the day those locks were cut off the bridge. Melody decides to confront the man responsible for their removal, Al. What happens when an anti-love individual meets a heartbroken romantic? I loved the characters of Meloday and Al, as well as the mystery surrounding the love locks.

Only one audiobook this month, The Campervan Detectives by Maeve Haran. Discovering her husband in bed with her best friend, Sadie Sutton walks out on her marriage, buys a campervan, and flees to the seaside. When she discovers a dead body, a group of women who have also embraced ‘van-life’ come to her aid. This is an easy-going cosy crime, with an unlikeable victim and plenty of suspects.

Fuller reviews for each book are available on my blog.

Publication dates to watch for:-

The Killer’s Mark by M. W. Craven will be published on 13/8/26 in hardback, ebook, and audio format.

Death Writ Large by Susie Dent will be published on 13/8/26 in hardback, ebook, and audio format.

The Blackbird Conspiracy by Tariq Ashkanani will be published on 14/8/26 in paperback, ebook, and audio format.

The Stray Dogs by Ruth Hogan will be published on 27/8/26  in paperback, ebook, and audio format.

The Trouble With Sister Francis by Matt Coyne will be published on 27/8/26 in hardback, ebook, and audio format.

Love Unlocked by Cecelia Ahern will be published on 27/8/26 in hardback, ebook, and audio format.

The Trouble With Sister Francis by Matt Coyne

 

The long school summer holidays are looming, and in an effort to avoid the local bully, four young boys are persuaded to join a boys' club at the local church. 

Author Matt Coyne's debut novel, Frank And Red, is one of my favourite books. I regularly recommend it to people, and I've yet to hear from anyone who didn't enjoy it. So I had high expectations for his second novel, The Trouble With Sister Francis. 

As the story opens in 1981, we meet four young boys who live on the outskirts of Sheffield. Richie, Stan, Kenny, and Bennett are approaching the end of their time at primary school and a future that will see them separated as they move on to secondary school. Weekends and school holidays see them hanging about in the park until the local bully scares them off. With little else to do, they decide to check out the newly reopened boys' club at the nearby church. The club doesn't quite live up to expectations when they first arrive, and the nun who is in charge, Sister Francis, certainly isn't your stereotypical representative of the church.

At its heart, this is a story about camaraderie. Each of the boys is different. Richie is the natural leader, the one the others defer to. Stan is a bit of a wimp, terrified of everything. Bennett is just different, obviously neurodivergent long before it was identified. And Kenny, he's always the first to arrive and the last to leave, desperately avoiding his terrible home life. Kenny tells tall tales to deflect from what happens at home, and his friends just accept them, all while knowing what he has to put up with. Whenever Kenny was embellishing the truth, I was convinced he was going to grow up to become the Kenny Senior character in Phoenix Nights.

Alongside the story of the boys in 1981, there is a secondary story when Richie uncovers a journal written by Reginald Hartfeld, a fifteen-year-old who is evacuated from London to Yorkshire during the war. We hear from a lonely Reginald, miles from home, who becomes one of the original boys' club members and falls in love. I loved seeing the pieces of ephemera that were included with the journal. How this story connected to the club in 1981 was at the forefront of my mind however.

I found myself snorting with laughter repeatedly at the antics only 11-year-old boys can get up to, and nostalgia hit me on a regular basis; the smell of the school Banda machine and the description of Saturday nights spent as a family were very evocative. There is a confrontation towards the end where I could feel my chest getting tight as I read, and afterwards, I wanted to punch the air and scream "YES!" as I was so invested in the story and characters. There are also lots of bittersweet moments. I certainly didn't expect the tears towards the end. By the time I'd finished, I was ready to go right back to the beginning and start again.

The Trouble With Sister Francis by Matt Coyne will be published on 27th August 2026 in hardback, ebook, and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Headline for a review copy.

Author Details

Matt Coyne is from Sheffield, South Yorkshire. In September 2015, his life was turned upside down by the arrival of his son, Charlie. Three months into parenthood, he took to social media to write about his experience as a clueless first-time dad. Within days, his post about surviving the early months of parenthood was shared by millions around the world. Following this, Matt created his popular blog Man vs Baby, which now has more than 500,000 followers. He is the author of two Sunday Times bestselling books – Dummy and Man vs. Toddler – both based on Man vs Baby and has written for the Guardian, Telegraph, Private Eye and GQ. The Trouble with Sister Francis is Matt’s second novel, following his acclaimed, award-winning debut Frank and Red. Matt lives in Sheffield with his son Charlie, his partner Lyndsay and a Jack Russell terrier with ‘issues’ called Popcorn.

The Stray Dogs by Ruth Hogan

Vet Leona 'Leo' Lennox leaves her busy city practice to move to the countryside and open a rescue centre for dogs. Unexpectedly, she finds a supportive community and romance along the way.The Stray Dogs by Ruth Hogan immediately appealed to me; I loved the author's previous two books, I really enjoy uplifting fiction, and I'm an animal lover. This book offers it all. I did approach it with a little trepidation though, wondering how many times I'd be reaching for the tissues.Leo has become jaded with her life as a vet. Having sold her share of the practice she owns, she's working her last day when a terrible pet owner shows up, insisting that his dog be euthanised. You can feel Leo's despair as she tries to convince the owner that there are other options, but he's adamant. All of this confirms for Leo that she's made the right decision to leave.Arriving in the small town of Fiddlers Green, Leo meets local plumber Desmond. Desmond is one of those characters who will help anyone. Taking a shine to Leo, he immediately offers support for her project. Being set in a small town, this is one of those places where everyone knows everyone else, and there is a strong sense of community. Mixed in among the individuals willing to help are quite a few eccentric characters who help to keep the story light. There's also an antagonist, who is just the right side of being a pantomime villain to have you staring daggers whenever they appear.As well as being a tale about community, it is primarily a story of second chances. From the abandoned dogs that Leo gives a home to, through to the men Desmond was in a band with when he was younger. The dogs are offered unconditional love. For Desmond and his band mates, it's something different; a chance to reconnect, to find a purpose, to heal wounds. The trepidation I felt at the beginning was unfounded. There are some sad elements to the storyline, but the author doesn't exploit these for emotional effect. I would, however, have preferred to see a redemption arc for the pantomime villain or a karmic ending. I felt she got off far too easily.The Stray Dogs by Ruth Hogan will be published on 27th August 2026 in paperback, ebook, and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Atlantic Books for a review copy.Author DetailsRuth Hogan studied English and Drama at Goldsmiths College and went on to work in local government. A car accident and a subsequent run-in with cancer convinced her finally to get her act together and pursue her dream of becoming a writer. The result was her debut novel - The Keeper of Lost Things, which went on be a global bestseller. She is now living the dream (and occasional nightmare) as a full-time author, along with her husband and rescue dogs in a rambling Victorian house stuffed with treasure that inspires her novels.

The Campervan Detectives by Maeve Haran (Audiobook)

 

In a bid to escape her failed marriage, Sadie Sutton takes off in a campervan and heads to her childhood. Instead of finding solitude, she becomes embroiled in a murder mystery and finds an unlikely group of friends along the way.

The Campervan Detectives by Maeve Haran sits firmly in the cosy crime genre. I found this worked well as an audiobook, as it didn't need my full concentration at all times.

Having returned home during the day to surprise her husband, Sadie was shocked to find him in bed with her best friend. Sadie immediately bolted, taking her miniature schnauzer, Sam Spade, with her. I could completely empathise with Sadie as her "flight mode" was activated, and she bought a campervan and headed off. With no plan in mind, she finds herself in the seaside town of Winching, her childhood home.

Not only is Sadie out of her depth with the campervan, something she's never stayed in before, but she's also completely in over her head when she discovers a dead body. Thankfully, a group of women who are also living in campervans are at hand to help her out. Rose, Tina, and Amanda all come to Sadie's rescue, showing her that van-life can be enjoyable. Their particular skills also aid Sadie in her hunt to track down a murderer.

There are lots of characters and possible motives to keep you puzzling, hardly surprising as the victim wasn't a particularly nice individual. I did feel that the villain became fairly obvious once they appeared, but it was interesting seeing how our sleuths narrowed the field down. 

The Campervan Detectives by Maeve Haran will be published on 28th July 2026 in paperback, ebook, and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a review copy.

Author Details

Maeve Haran is an Oxford law graduate who had a successful career in television before writing her worldwide bestseller Having It All , which was translated into twenty-six languages. She has written twenty contemporary novels, two historical novels, and a work of non-fiction in praise of life’s small pleasures. She has three grown up children and four grandchildren. She lives mainly in North London but escapes when she can to a much-loved cottage in the beautiful Cuckmere Valley near the sea in East Sussex. Her hobby is ignoring age and having a good time!

Death Writ Large by Susie Dent

 

The death of an Oxford scholar is considered to be suicide, however DI Caldwell suspects there is more to the case as a result of the strange writing found at the scene. With the help of Martha Thornhill and her colleagues at the Clarendon English Dictionary, he unearths a tale of revenge.

Death Writ Large by Susie Dent takes place just over a year after the events of Guilty By Definition, the first book in the series (you can read my review here). As with the first book, I approached this with a little trepidation, expecting a slow read. I'm really not sure why I was so worried; the plot is gripping, the pace is brisk, and all the cryptic clues are clearly explained.

Being set in and around Oxford, the descriptions of the city are appealing. I've only visited once, very briefly, but would like to do so again, taking in some of the places mentioned. 

Martha and her colleagues, Safi and Alex, are asked to help in the suspected murder because of strange runes left at the scene. Martha immediately recognises them as being a language invented by writer James Naylor, a contemporary of Tolkien. The victim used to be part of an elitist group who were fans of the writer, and the other members of the group immediately become suspects. None of this group is likeable, they continue to look down on everyone, considering them inferior. I had little sympathy for them when it became obvious that they were also being targeted.

There are enough secondary characters to keep you guessing, although I did begin to have my suspicions as to who was responsible about halfway through. Even though I'd guessed who the villain was, I was completely fooled by the reason. The conclusion is tense, with the danger having you on the edge of your seat.

Death Writ Large by Susie Dent will be published on 13th August 2026 in hardback, ebook, and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Zaffre for a review copy.

Author Details

Susie Dent is a writer and broadcaster on language. She recently celebrated thirty years as a co-presenter and the resident word expert on Channel 4’s Countdown, and also appears on the show’s comedy sister 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. Susie comments regularly on TV and radio on words in the news, and is the author of several non-fiction books on words and language.