Shrink Solves Murder by Philippa Perry

When the body of a young man is discovered at the bottom of a cliff, the police assume he died by suicide. However, his psychotherapist, Dr. Patricia Phillips, who lives nearby, is adamant he wasn't suicidal and sets out to prove he was murdered.

I was fortunate enough to receive a copy of Shrink Solves Murder by Philippa Perry in my swag bag at the recent Bay Tales crime fiction festival. As a fan of the cosy crime genre, this sounded right up my street.

Dr. Patricia Phillips was a successful solicitor in London. Dissatisfied with her life, she retrained to become a psychotherapist and now practises from a shepherd's hut attached to her cottage on the South Downs. The death of one of her clients doesn't sit right with Pat, although most of their sessions took place via Zoom, she knows he wasn't suicidal. Along with her close friend and neighbour, Prichard, Pat is determined to prove to the police that it was murder.

From the very opening pages, I loved Pat and her "grumpy old woman" persona, particularly the way that she kept shouting at people who were doing things that annoyed her (standing too close to the cliff edge, not keeping their dog on a lead, etc). The list kept getting longer, and I found myself nodding along in agreement. Pat is obviously very empathetic, but she also has just the right mix of self-doubt and stubbornness to make her an interesting character that the reader can sympathise with. She's not a fan of social media either, and her opinions of Instagram in particular rang very true.

There is a whole host of eccentric support characters, many of whom are possible suspects. Pat's neighbour, Prichard, is only mildly eccentric, but I can see lots of scope for the character. The pair work well together, with Prichard being the comedic sidekick to Pat's straight man.

As Pat digs deeper into the events leading up to her client's death, there are some tender moments, which reflect on the aftermath of a sudden loss. There was one chapter in particular, where Pat is talking to a depressed young man, that was extremely moving, and makes you appreciate the work of those who support individuals in crisis.

 

I did find the ending a little disappointing. In an effort to keep the identity of the killer hidden until the very end, it felt a little abrupt and almost as if the murderer had been plucked out of a magician's hat. It won't, however, stop me from reading any more of what I hope will be a new cosy crime series.

Shrink Solves Murder by Philippa Perry will be published on 7th May 2026 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to Bay Tales and Hutchinson Heinemann for the proof copy.

Author Details

Philippa Perry is an artist and psychotherapist as well as a TV and radio presenter. She is the number one Sunday Times bestselling author of The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read and The Book You Want Everyone You Love* To Read?(*And Maybe a Few You Don’t), published by Cornerstone Press. Her books have been translated in over 40 languages.

The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett

 

Birdie Calhoun is in desperate need of money to save her family home. Hoping that the wealthy family her sister has married into will help, she travels to Oxford, Mississippi, but when she gets there, things don't go to plan, and she has to find another way of raising the money.

Almost twenty years after The Help was published, author Kathryn Stockett has written The Calamity Club. If you read and enjoyed the author's debut novel, as I did, then I am sure you'll love this one.

At the age of twenty-four, Birdie has accepted that she is going to be single for the rest of her life. Living in the small town of Footely, Mississippi, she is the sole breadwinner for the family. The family is relatively well-off compared to many others, but like a lot of people, they are struggling to make ends meet, and the bank are threatening to repossess their home.

Frances, Birdie's sister, has married into the wealthy Tartt family, and Birdie hopes that if she pays her a visit, she will be able to persuade her to help her family financially. When Birdie arrives at the Tartt mansion in Oxford, things initially seem fine, but gradually she begins to learn that there are problems. 

Set at the height of the Great Depression, it was shocking to learn that very few people were immune to the problems sweeping across the country. In the deep south in particular, the cotton trade has become worthless, leading to mass unemployment. The unemployment has such a knock-on effect, not only are people struggling to survive, but businesses are floundering as people don't have money to spend. Status and perceived wealth are not unaffected, with many losing their homes. It was distressing to discover that some families would simply abandon children they could no longer afford to feed, leaving them in the care of orphanages.

At the heart of the novel is the power of female friendship, the support they offer, and the strength they show to overcome obstacles. Alongside Birdie, we meet some wonderful characters who will do anything to survive, despite everything life throws at them. Unfortunately, not every female fits this mould, for some power and jealousy are corrupting, with devastating consequences.

The author manages to combine a number of different threads, which are ultimately bound together. I found myself desperately wanting Birdie and her friends to be successful, but dreading their secret being uncovered and dealt with harshly.

I loved being immersed in the lives of everyone, even though there were times when the harshness of their lives made me stop and reflect. After more than 600 pages in which I was fully invested in the characters, I felt the ending was a little abrupt. The lives of some of the characters I'd grown to love were written off within a sentence, and some were not even mentioned. Given that I thought the book was too long, I would have been happier to read more if time had been taken to give the characters a fitting ending.

Once you finish the book, it's worth taking a few minutes to read the Author's Note at the end. Some of the content mentioned in the story is quite an eye-opener, but it is only when you read the notes at the end that you realise how shocking events at the time actually were.

The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett will be published on 5th May 2026 in ebook and audio format, and the hardback will be published on 21st May 2026. My thanks to NetGalley and Spiegel & Grau for a review copy.

Author Details

Kathryn Stockett was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi. She is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller The Help. She lives in Mississippi and New York City.

Five by Ilona Bannister

 

Five people wait for an early morning train; within the next five minutes, one of them will be dead. Who will it be, and why?

From the tag lines on the cover and the synopsis, Five by Ilona Bannister comes across as a fairly standard psychological thriller, but once I started reading it turned into so much more, something that is going to sit with me for quite a while.

This is one of those thrillers where you are given virtually all of the important information right at the start. The story opens at 7:01 am and we're told that someone will die within the next five minutes. The book quickly sets the scene, giving us a brief introduction to the five people at the centre of the story, one of whom will die. What isn't clear is who, how, or why? All of that is left to the reader to make assumptions. 

By setting the scene in this way, you are immediately propelled into the action; knowing what is to follow and the short time scale immediately had my heart racing. The author uses the technique of reminding us what is happening on the platform at regular intervals throughout the story, which really built up the tension as we got closer and closer to the five-minute deadline.

What really stood out for me was the way the writer focused in on the main characters and gave us a glimpse into their lives, allowing us to see why they were waiting for the train that morning. We learn about Emma and her son Gideon, businessman Liam, elderly Mrs. Worth, and Sonny. As we delve into their backgrounds, we discover what moulded them, and this is vital as none of them are particularly likeable. The superb writing had me dealing with conflicting emotions as I read about each character. It is difficult to imagine despising someone, but also feeling sympathy for them.

This perfect mix of tension, dark humour, loathing, and empathy keeps the reader in suspense until the very end. When the outcome was finally revealed, I felt numb. I assumed there would be one of those twisty endings where the author has fooled us all, but it wasn't to be, and that in itself is satisfying. 

Five by Ilona Bannister will be published on 5th May 2026 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Juniper (HarperCollins) for a review copy.

Author Details

lona Bannister is a New Yorker but has lived in the UK with her British husband and two sons for fifteen years. She is a dual qualified US lawyer and UK solicitor and practiced immigration law in the UK before she started writing fiction. Ilona's parents and grandparents were Ukrainian immigrants to the US and their history and struggles had a great impact on her life, so she's always interested in stories about migration, otherness, and what it means to be on the outside of a place looking in. She has felt that a lot of times in her life and it's a human experience she likes to explore through writing. Her first book, When I Ran Away, was shortlisted for the First Novel Prize in 2021.

March 2026 Reads

 

The month began with It’s Not What You Think by Clare Mackintosh, and the book certainly lives up to its title. Nedeeka rushes home, thinking her partner is cheating on her, and hopes to catch him in the act. As if this riveting opening wasn’t enough to grab your attention, when she gets home, the police are waiting, and her partner is dead. The twists keep coming as Nadeeka tries to find out what happened to the man she loved.

I wanted to read No Safe Place by Hannah Brennan before listening to the sequel. A psychologist is brutally stabbed, the only clue is a piece of paper left next to him from a study he carried out on teenagers with OCD. As the police investigate, it becomes clear that the anonymous participants in the study are also in danger. I enjoyed the style, the characters, and the way in which my eyes were opened about the nature of OCD. I’m looking forward to the sequel.

I do enjoy an uplifting story, so How To Lose The Lottery by Jay McKenzie sounded ideal. A couple goes from rags to riches when they win millions on the lottery. While Edie’s husband and son adapt quickly, Edie is haunted by a past event. As the story switches between the past and the present, we learn about the difficult life Edie has lived and how newfound friends help her now.

Having loved The List Of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey, I was over the moon when I finally managed to read The Barbecue At No. 9, and it lived up to all my expectations. Set on the day of the Live Aid concert, it focuses on some of the residents of Delmont Close, some of whom have life-changing decisions to make. I adored the setting, the characters, and the mystery elements of the story that were slowly revealed.

Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllister is set in Texas and focuses on a mother and daughter, Simone and Lucy, from the UK who are reuniting for a holiday following Lucy’s summer working in America. When Lucy is kidnapped, Simone is given a set of instructions to follow if she is to see her daughter ever again. I found this a little slower than the author’s previous books, and a little improbable at times.

I always look forward to a twisty thriller from C. M. Ewan, and Eye Spy certainly lives up to expectations. Returning from a trip to Paris, Mark’s adopted teenage daughter, Freya, goes missing on board the non-stop Eurostar train. Another passenger makes it clear that Mark must follow his instructions if he wants to see Freya again. You really feel all of the emotions Mark goes through as he tries to rescue Freya, while keeping the rest of his family safe.

Taking a slight detour from my diet of thrillers, I read People Pleaser by Bryony Gordon. I was entranced by the strapline on the cover of the book, “Olivia Greenwood Is Fresh Out Of F**ks”. A disappointed and drink-fueled Olivia opens her heart to a complete stranger when she is overlooked for the job she was promised. When the stranger tells Olivia she’s a doormat for everyone in her life, she decides to stop being a “people pleaser”, with surprising consequences.

While Five by Ilona Bannister has a thriller element to it, this book offers so much more. Five people wait on a station platform for a train to take them into London. From the very beginning of the book, we are warned that within five minutes one of them will be dead. As we get to know each of the five people and why they are at the railway station that day, you begin to form opinions about them, wondering which one will die. I was completely engrossed in the lives of each character and shocked that I could despise them and feel sympathy for them at the same time.

My first audiobook of the month was Me And Mr. Darcy by Alexandra Potter. Originally released twenty-years ago, the book has now been updated and re-released. The manager of a New York bookstore travels to England for a Jane Austen-themed book tour. Her dating life is basically non-existent, particularly when she compares all men to her perfect man, Mr. Darcy. The tour takes a strange turn when Emily actually bumps into Mr. Darcy, but does he live up to her expectations?

I Owe You One by Lauren North is a fantastically twisty thriller. Jess returns home following the breakdown of her relationship and the failure of her business. Her older sister pleads for her to help her escape her abusive relationship by helping her to fake her death. I was gripped throughout, and the numerous twists were very unexpected, as was the karmic ending.

If you like classic locked-room thrillers, then The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke fits the bill perfectly. When a world-famous author dies before completing the last book in his best-selling crime series, a group of mid-list authors is invited to his Scottish retreat to finish the book and win a reward. Mysterious figures, secret passageways, hidden treasure, and people lying about their true identity, make everyone a suspect in this satirical murder mystery.

Publications dates to look out for:-

I Owe You One by Lauren North will be published 8/4/26 in ebook and audio format.

Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllister will be published 9/4/26 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke will be published 9/4/26 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

Five by Ilona Bannister will be published 5/5/26 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke (Audiobook)

 

When the author of a world-famous crime series dies before completing the last novel in the series, the publisher decides to gather a group of mid-list authors together and set a challenge. Are any of them good enough to complete the book? If they can, an amazing prize awaits.

If you are part of the online book community, you would have to have been living in a cave for the past eight months not to have seen the buzz about The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke (the pseudonym of V. E. Schwab and Cat Clarke). I'm unfamiliar with the work of both of these authors, but I was intrigued enough to want to know more about this highly anticipated collaboration.

World-famous crime writer Arthur Fletch has died before completing the fifth and final book in his best-selling Petrarch series. Keeping the news of the author's death secret, the publisher gathers together seven writers in the hope that one of them will be able to complete the final book. All of the authors are from different genres and have never quite made it big in the publishing world. Everyone is a little sceptical about why they've been gathered together, but soon becomes invested in the details when they learn of the task and the reward: $2 million and a publishing deal.

Sequestered on a remote Scottish island, with their phones locked in a safe for 72 hours, this is a classic locked-room mystery, and you just know that the body count will soon begin to rise. With such high stakes and the remoteness of the setting, I was quite surprised at how long it took for the first murder to actually happen. The author takes time to really flesh out all of the different characters, ably narrated by Fiona Hardingham. As we get to know each individual, we discover how snobby the writing world is, the way in which certain genres are considered inferior to others, and how relentless the industry is.

As you would expect, there are lots of twists: hidden treasure, hidden passageways, mysterious figures, and people lying about their true identity. And once the first murder takes place, the rest of the characters begin to fall like a stack of dominoes. Accusations fly, and the satire level is high. No one wants to be alone, but everyone is a suspect, and having seen lots of horror movies, they all know that you shouldn't wander off alone.

While the "whodunit" element of the story isn't earth-shattering, I did enjoy the story and loved the twist at the very end.

The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke will be published on 9th April 2026 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for a review copy.

Author Details

Evelyn Clarke is the pseudonym for Number One Sunday Times bestselling author V.E. Schwab, and screenwriter and YA author Cat Clarke.

VICTORIA “V. E.” SCHWAB is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty books, including the acclaimed Shades of Magic series, the Villains series, the Cassidy Blake series and the international bestseller The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. Her work has received critical acclaim, translated into over two dozen languages, and optioned for television and film. First Kill – a YA vampire series based on Schwab’s short story of the same name – is currently in the works at Netflix with Emma Roberts’ Belletrist Productions producing. When she's not haunting Paris streets or trudging up English hillsides, she lives in Edinburgh, Scotland, and is usually tucked in the corner of a coffee shop, dreaming up monsters.

Cat Clarke is the bestselling, award-winning author of six YA novels. She was born in Zambia and brought up in Edinburgh and Yorkshire, which has given her an accent that tends to confuse people. Cat lives in Edinburgh with her partner, two ninja cats and two decidedly non-ninja cocker spaniels. She likes cheese A LOT, especially baked camembert.

People Pleaser by Bryony Gordon

 

The promotion she gets at work isn't quite what Olivia was hoping for. When a couple of quick drinks to celebrate are hijacked by a complete stranger, Olivia is told a few home truths which change her perspective on everything.

Olivia Greenwood, the main character in People Pleaser by Bryony Gordon, is someone many women will be able to identify with. She's part of the sandwich generation, trying to juggle work and family life, and not really doing a brilliant job at anything. She's been led to believe that if she does everything, and more, that's expected of her at work, she'll get the promotion she's longed for.

When she's overlooked for the promotion, she doesn't question the decision or complain; she simply accepts it. Celebrating her colleague's new job, the one Olivia desperately wanted, turns into a boozy night when she meets Rose, a young woman that Olive is fascinated by. Rose is forthright in her opinions, telling Olivia that she's allowed herself to be a doormat to everyone around her; her need to please other people taking precedence.

The following morning, Olivia is a changed person; she's no longer going to acquiesce to everyone's demands; from now on, she's going to be FRANK, FEARLESS, FUNNY. It was lovely seeing an empowered Olivia stand up for herself, particularly with her boss. I am sure that the vast majority of women who read this will be nodding along. even cheering, with many of the things that Olivia says. 

Telling the truth doesn't just happen at work; it also extends into her personal life. Along the way, she has to face a few home truths, accepting that perfection is nigh on impossible if you're a wife, mother, daughter, and work. 

There's nothing startlingly new in the narrative; what the book does is shine a light on women's lives, reminding readers that they are not alone in how they feel. As one section of the book points out, women vent their anger among other women, in safe spaces, instead of confronting the people responsible.

While I was cheering Olivia along, I did feel that there was a little too much psychoanalysis in the middle of the book, which slowed the narrative a little. I also felt there could have been more comedy from the situations where Olivia spoke her truth. Nevertheless, I enjoyed meeting Olivia, watching her personal growth, and her story come full circle at the end.

People Pleaser by Bryony Gordon will be published on 23rd April 2026 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Viking for a review copy.

Author Details

Bryony Gordon writes a column in the Daily Mail and is the host of the podcast The Life of Bryony. She previously wrote for the Telegraph for twenty-three years, becoming one of the paper’s best loved writers, and hosted the Mad World podcast. She is the author of the bestselling The Wrong Knickers and Mad Woman, plus the Sunday Times No.1 bestsellers You Got This and Mad Girl, which were both nominated for British Book Awards. As the founder of Mental Health Mates, a global peer support network which encourages people with mental health issues to connect and get out of the house, she is a passionate advocate for mental health in the media. In 2017 she won the MIND Making A Difference Award, and in 2023 was awarded the Royal College of Psychiatrist’s President’s Medal for her work in improving mental health. She has twice run the London Marathon in her underwear and thinks everyone should try running in their pants at least once. People Pleaser is her debut novel. She lives in South London with her husband and daughter.

Eye Spy by C. M. Ewan

 

A short break in Paris turns into a nightmare when Mark's step-daughter disappears on board the return trip via the Eurostar. A sinister figure warns Mark that he must follow his instructions if he's to see his step-daughter again.

Author C. M. Ewan has raised the stakes in the locked-room genre with Eye Spy, which takes place onboard the Eurostar train on its non-stop return journey from Paris to London. 

Mark is feeling frazzled before he even boards the train. A family break in Paris was disrupted when a work emergency meant that his wife, Claire, couldn't make the trip. After an exhausting few days with his sixteen-year-old step-daughter, Freya, and four-year-old daughter, Molly, Mark just wants to get home. Things aren't helped when Molly causes a scene involving another passenger at the security gate.

Once on board, Mark is apprehensive when he notices the very same passenger from security is sitting nearby. He also notices that the man now has a completely different suitcase. We quickly learn that events in the recent past have made Mark extremely suspicious and fearful, possibly even paranoid. He's constantly on the lookout for danger, and as a result of his suspicions, decides to inform a member of train staff,  but Mark's vague concerns don't seem to interest the staff. Threats follow when Mark returns to his seat. It is made clear that unless he follows a set of instructions, he'll live to regret it. 

With the story told in real-time, there is a real sense of urgency, almost panic. Mark's churning emotions, his doubt in his own ability to protect his children, all add to the feeling of terror. Every so often, we get snippets of information regarding the past event which has made Mark fearful, and these really added to the blistering pace and the intrigue of the novel. When Mark's panic is combined with the sense of urgency and a non-stop train journey, you do wonder how there can be a positive conclusion.

As the end of the journey approached, I felt a sense of anger on Mark's behalf; no matter what he did, there was always one more hoop for him to jump through. I was filled with dread that survival was not an option. The dramatic ending was satisfying, and it was great to see karma making an appearance.

Eye Spy by C. M. Ewan will be published on 26th March 2026 in paperback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for a review copy.

Author Details

Chris Ewan is the critically acclaimed and bestselling author of many mystery and thriller novels. Chris’s first standalone thriller, Safe House, was a number one bestseller in the UK and was shortlisted for The Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award. He is also the author of the thrillers A Window Breaks, Dead Lineand Dark Tides and the Kindle Single short story, Scarlett Point. He is the author of The Good Thief’s Guide to . . . series of mystery novels. The Good Thief’s Guide to Amsterdam won the Long Barn Books First Novel Award and is published in thirteen countries.

Born in Taunton in 1976, Chris graduated from the University of Nottingham with a degree in American Studies with a minor in Canadian Literature, and later trained as a lawyer. After eleven years living on the Isle of Man, he recently returned home to Somerset with his wife, their daughter and the family labrador, where he writes full time.