Global bestselling author Bonnie Garmus returns with Peck & Peck, a heartwarming follow-up to her 2022 debut Lessons in Chemistry, which sold millions of copies worldwide. The new novel, reviewed alongside three other major releases, has been awarded 9/10 by critics.
Peck & Peck: A Literary Tour de Force
Garmus's new book follows Batter Gray, a clueless college graduate who finds himself working at Gap folding clothes while his friends pursue exciting corporate careers. When a position opens at Peck & Peck, a dysfunctional and highly secretive New York poetry journal, Gray lands a dream job in the literary fast lane—and gets caught in the crossfire of its two infamous editors, the Peck brothers.
The early-eighties Big Apple is beautifully conveyed in this charming and witty literary tour de force, which has been rated 9/10.
The Lobbyist: Age of the Autocrat
Lionel Zetter's sequel to last year's debut The Lobbyist opens with a mysterious small boat migrant arriving at Dover, uttering only the words “Damien Beaufort.” This kicks off a chain of events that draws Beaufort, a hard-drinking, cynical lobbyist turned MI6 operative, back into a world of secrets and betrayal.
From Afghan warlords to Russian conscripts and populist politicians, the pulse-pounding political thriller takes readers inside No. 10 Downing Street. Zetter's insider knowledge as a veteran political operator ensures a razor-sharp read that will keep you up until the final pages. Rated 8/10.
The Man With the Golden Compass and Blades
Vaseem Khan returns with another Bond spin-off featuring former MI6 Q-branch head Major Boothroyd, now a civilian investigator helping police crack the torture-murder of a tech billionaire turned antique dealer. The only clue is a circular gold object in the victim's pocket. Khan's growing confidence in Q, a marvellous character who is deeply human and flawed, pays dividends in this welcome addition to the 007 universe. Rated 9/10.
Mark Nicol's Blades: The Untold Story of SAS Operations in Afghanistan lifts the lid on British special forces operations, confronting uncomfortable truths about how the military keeps us safe amid war crimes allegations and a rising tide of lawfare. Nicol suggests the greatest enemy facing British forces is not a kinetic one but the government itself. The book reads like a thriller and is rated 8/10.
