Dublin 1863, and pregnant 18 year-old, Rosanna Doyle, prepares to follow her boyfriend to his army camp in the Curragh. The reader instinctively fears the worst for her and, sure enough, the worst is what she finds. This bleak, but sublimely written book, packs a great deal of incident into its short length, not least a brutal murder. However, its the indomitable spirit of Rosanna that is the essence of the book and will have the reader rooting for her from start to finish.

American nurse Sunny Taylor works at Suvanto convalescence hospital. Here, she takes care of the ‘up patients’ – a group of wealthy women who seek respite at Suvanto during the cruel Finnish winter months. At first, this appears to be a harmless story of pampered ladies who are allowed to indulge in their ailments under the protection of Sunny and her charge nurses. However, without really noticing, this very subtly becomes a rather unnerving tale, which, at the end, left me questioning things I had previously taken for granted.

Hugely funny to begin with as Keith and his friends relate one escapade after another but as events become more serious so the story becomes much darker. This is a searing account of a teenager fighting fate and his own nature.

Cal Cunningham is a great comic creation - a nasty, conniving little creep, but somehow you are on his side. It seems that every attempt that he makes to get himself out of trouble only mires him further in an unspeakable mess. And it could not happen to a more deserving person - except, that is, most of the other sleazeball characters in the book, of whom there are many. Enjoy, and be glad that you are not Cal Cunningham.

Mr Chartwell takes the form of an anthropomorphic black dog. But this is no cute shaggy dog story. The black dog in question is the metaphor used by Winston Churchill when referring to his depression. This unique and absurdly witty novel takes on a serious subject, and the level at which you read it from will depend on the extent you empathise with this condition.

Young and under-appreciated summer nanny, Katya Spivak, is flattered by the advances of elderly gentleman Marcus Kidder. But is the relationship that grows between them a tragic fairy-tale of soul mates born at the wrong time or a sinister manipulation of loneliness, beauty and wealth? With rapidly rising stakes I wanted to believe in the best of human nature, but feared the worst.

A book of contrasts as cultures collide against a backdrop of Singapore during WW2. Theres no shying away from the graphic reality of the horrors and violence of war and political unrest, and its an unsettling read at times. But with strong characters and sparks of hope for the future, it grips the reader like a vice.

Drawing its inspiration from the almost forgotten Australian Aborigine cricket team that toured England in 1868, it is the tale of Brippoki’s quest and his curious friendship with Sarah that is at the heart of this book. Highly atmospheric in the description of Victorian London’s backstreets and the hallucinogenic episodes of aboriginal ‘Dreaming’, this is a complex, vibrant tale that blends historical intrigue, religious fanaticism, travel and sport into a multi-layered, unconventional book. Not an easy read with every page full to bursting with historical detail and full drawn characters and yet every single word earns its place as you are immersed in hapless Brippoki’s desperate sadness.

This novel takes the reader on a surreal journey through the life of a man who has been suddenly and inexplicably bereaved. The author plays with magical realism and red herrings as doped up passive protagonist, Lancelot, tries to discover what happened to his exotic wife Irina. Frozen inside, just like his surroundings, his third person account is bizarre, jealous and violently emotional, skewing the reader off course with a surprising solution to the mystery. As with an onion there is always one more layer to be peeled away before the stinging truth is finally revealed.

A very unusual novel describing and linking the lives of three gay men, spanning the years from the 1890s to the 1990s and set in the same geographical areas in the City of London. The narrative follows the changes in the law and attitude toward homosexuality during this period and how these affect the lives of the characters who are vivid and realistic. The story also benefits by the inclusion of actual historical figures and incidents. The brilliance of the writing is the key feature of this debut - a very worthwhile and thought provoking read.

Kieran is not someone that you would wish to meet on a dark night anywhere, let alone having him barge into your flat demanding sanctuary. But this is what happens to Jonathan.
This is a deeply disturbing tale about a quiet young man who gets out of his depth (or does he?) and how events spiral out of control (or do they?) Is Jonathan really that boring and stupid? Or is he manipulating Kieran and his other friends out of some deep, existential angst?
A book to make you brood about the dark recesses of the human soul.

What if Purgatory has been replaced by group therapy sessions? And a return to Earth is on offer for the comatose as well as Heaven or Hell? For Gabriel this reality means a mix of Life on Mars/Ashes to Ashes - complete with contract killer - and Love Actually - including the aging rock singer. Very, very funny and extremely touching, this is my book of the year so far by miles and, as it's December, everyone will be getting it for Christmas.

This playful but clever short novel reminds me somewhat of bubble and squeak - parallel plots, dialogue, imagery and characters all cooked together to make a tasty meal. Although technically an easy read, concentration is a must to get your head around the characters (think Dickens at his most descriptive) and how they fit together. The two stories, whilst totally different, both involve the ultimate quest - the search for love. The ending is a treat and completely unexpected for all concerned.

I was puzzled by this book at first. How could Charles Dickens' failing marriage be connected to the subjugation of the Aboriginal inhabitants of Van Diemens Land? His link with ex-Governor Sir John Franklin's widow is tenuous, though it leads to momentous events for him. But as I read on, the connection became clear: it is the danger and destruction brought about by passion, both private and public. While Dickens indulges his passion in pursuit of a young actress, Victorian Empire builders indulge theirs in attempting to create a White Christian society in the Pacific. The Franklins' suppressed passion for a young native girl brings about their disgrace and her downfall, and the passions of the hapless Aborigines are annihilated. While this novel has a sombre theme, I found it compelling, with flashes of beauty and high spirits lifting the mood.

The human instinct to survive is played out to the upmost in this bleak, yet poignant tale. Mary, alongside her beau Travis, leads a small group of survivors as they defend themselves against the hordes of unconsecrated villagers who strive to infect them. I was captivated by this love story which manages to be both warm and creepy at the same time!

This book is psychological horror at its very best with a chilling gothic twist. The atmosphere of menace is powerful throughout and the contrast between poverty stricken rural Romania and affluent urban USA is brilliantly conveyed. But evil is not particular as to where it strikes and is unstoppable throughout time. Be afraid, be very afraid!

Tough Dublin cop Frank Mackey finds himself reluctantly back in the bosom of the family he escaped twenty years ago. As he investigates the murder of a long-dead girl, other skeletons emerge from his own cupboard ... Domestic violence, sibling rivalry, great craic surrounding a pretty good murder mystery - a rich brew, black and bitter as a pint of Guinness.

This dark comic novel pokes a stick at three generations in conflict. The observations are both humorous and poignant. I can guarantee it will make you examine your own family relationships and personal values in life.

At times a harrowing experience but ultimately uplifting for Jama's story is one of survival, family and determination. Leaving his Somali home following the death of his mother, Jama begins his quest to find his father. Having to contend with the Italian occupation of Abyssinia in the 1930s and the dangers that come from being a young boy alone in the world, Jama's journey is a perilous one. An eye opener to the African experience of the Italian occupation and to life as a refugee.

A hauntingly atmospheric love story that offers so much more. The topical themes of asylum seekers and terrorism fears make bleak reading at times, but it is so beautifully written that you can’t help but be drawn in. The sadness is justified but there are enough unexpected twists to leave you with of hope for the future - and I'm left feeling so glad to have experienced this book.

This is not a simple whodunit. Amongst the characters, there is less searching for the murderer and more questing for personal fulfilment. The quirky sense of humour surprised me and encouraged me to read on and find a deeper meaning in the story.

Imagine waking up to find you can no longer speak your own language. Thats the situation Li Jing finds himself in at the start of this culture-clash tale. Hectic, steamy Shanghai is beautifully evoked as Li Jing and American visitor, Rosalyn, are drawn to each other by their shared inability to express themselves in Chinese. An array of well-drawn, sympathetic Chinese and ex-pat characters and an intriguing set up make this a very readable, atmospheric treat.

Must the sins of the fathers be passed down each generation - or can the two Sloane brothers escape the cycle of infidelity and fatherless children revealed in their family records? This is a family cursed from when its ancestors landed in the New World, with wicked skeletons and black sheep worthy of a Greek tragedy. A darkly surreal tale in the Cohen Brothers tradition.

Central here is the farcical, dark humour of a self-deluded, struggling novelist running a small literary magazine, whilst his personal life disintegrates around him under mounting debt. This is an epistolary novel told in a series of random letters (penned by the novelist) to various correspondents. The tone is self-deprecating and satirical, and seems likely to achieve a small cult following amongst the disaffected.

If you like the themes and talk of the new India spelled out for you in a gentle, funny, accessible way, and if you want the goondas to meet their just desserts, then this is for you. Vish Puri, founder and managing director of Most Private Investigators Ltd makes his debut in what will surely be the first of many cases.

Written in Mathilda’s teenage voice, this is her very candid account of trying to come to terms with her sister’s death and its aftermath. While on her ‘island of grief’ she searches for the truth as well as negotiating life, which ultimately leads to her finding herself. Her matter-of-fact, and sometimes bittingly humorous, observations and actions come across as simplified, but at the same time enlightening. Makes for an interesting and bold read.

Six alcohol-fuelled twenty-somethings plus one holiday equals a cracking weekend read. Down and dirty, perfectly pitched dialogue completes this addictive story of female friendship.

Imagine a dystopian world where whole areas are abandoned to the undead, and the living have the zombie virus sleeping inside them. Add a close knit, crazy team of blogging journalists who love to take risks, covering a Presidential election complete with the dirtiest of tricks. With plenty of zombie action to keep Zombiephiles happy, this is also a fast paced thriller with a technological slant, written in several voices, sometimes chilling, sometimes lyrical. So if you havent given in to the lure of the undead yet, take the plunge now!

A compelling update of a medieval romance, which kept me reading not just for the suspense but also for the moving love story. If youve no idea of the novels basis (the story of Sir Gawain and the green knight), it wont interfere at all with your enjoyment, but should increase its unpredictability.

Through four beautifully written, loosely connected stories of the Spanish Civil War, I experienced the full impact of the futility, sadness, stupidity and wastefulness of conflict. These powerful and passionate tales show us life from the losers point of view but also make us feel the indifference to life that brutalises the victors. A very moving read.

A classic murder mystery, where the heroine, in this case a gay counsellor, investigates to prove her client innocent. In spite of discouragement from friends, family and fellow professionals Gabrielle wins the day against the baddies at some risk to herself. Exotic surroundings are provided by the New Zealand countryside and some interesting Maori touches add local interest. Short enough to be enjoyed at one sitting.

Spinster Valeria, 68, approves of nothing and nobody until she falls for the village potter but she has a feisty rival in Ibolya, 58, the inn-keeper who flaunts her breasts to increase beer sales! This love triangle is the talk of the village until the arrival of an ambitious chimney sweep further complicates matters. Light, highly entertaining and proof that you are never too old for love.

What is it that links an old Californian ladybird miner, a lock-picking teenager, a commuter who bumps into an old school adversary, a mum obsessed by Relocation, Relocation and number 17 Coble Court, Newcastle? In this book three separate, distinctively told stories interweave to reveal unexpected and catastrophic connections between seemingly unrelated people. The books soaked in Tyneside atmosphere and will appeal to sharp-eyed readers adept at spotting clues and joining the dots.

Ellie is one of three ‘wives’ of Welsh wannabe superband, The Boobs. The arrival of English drug dealer, Johnny, in Aberalaw changes her life for ever. This book made me laugh, made me gasp, made me want to cut my throat – but it gripped me to the last page.

Surprisingly addictive, this bleak and bloody tale teases with the playful humour of the loggers alongside cruel and calculating plots for murder and revenge. Rich descriptions of the terrain and wildlife blend happily with the intriguing, often ruthless characters that kept me hooked throughout.

In the overbearing heat of an Australian summer, Laura Wishart has gone missing from the small mining town of Corrigan. Charlie knows that she is dead. Trying to find out why brings Charlie face to face with his neighbours capacity for violence, prejudice and abuse. Its the summer that, in a turmoil of desperate questioning, puerile humour and life-sustaining friendship, Charlie becomes a man.

18 year old Helen is in hospital as a result of an injury inflicted by herself during a delicate shaving operation. While in hospital, she relates her theories on female hygiene (or lack of), sex and every intimate bodily function and the fluids that accompany them. Readers beware. This book is extremely explicit and some of the descriptions cross into a territory not usually explored in literature. But if you’re up for it, you’ll find that Helen an unusual heroine who comes across as brave, funny, likeable but ultimately perhaps a little sad. A disgustingly enjoyable book!

Intelligence, decency, even good looks and talent count for very little in modern North Korea unless you are accepted as part of the ruling elite. An understated look at life for the vast majority both in their home country and as refugees in China. Highly recommended unless you cant do without a happy ending.

This sleek and steady Scandinavian novel slowly builds the tension as it unveils a future that seems terrifyingly believable – a world where older men and women are dispensable and human organs are harvested for more deserving people. The fact that there are no real villains makes this all the more frightening, for everyone involved is simply doing their job. There are occasional moments of lightness, but this is mostly a disturbing and hauntingly moving story that I could not put down.

This could have been just another novel on the decay of industrial America. But although the tale of Isaac and Billy is bleak and shocking I was riveted by their story and read the last half of the book in one sitting - I just had to know what happened to them! There are wonderful descriptions of both the industrial decay and the natural world around it. Highly recommended.

This is a book just begging for a film treatment and after a few pages you may find yourself mentally casting the main characters. It covers two decades of a will they/wont they, bittersweet relationship - a feel-good romcom, with the emphasis on comedy, like a British version of When Harry Met Sally. If you enjoyed that film (and who didn't?) you will love this, but be prepared for tears as well as laughter.

A story about love, loss and the desire to belong at any cost. Three men face very different destinies. This book blends magic realism, the horror of war, the chequered history of colonialism and the scents and sounds of the city of Amritsar into an ambitious narrative. The reader needs to suspend their disbelief and revel in the rich descriptive passages which evoke India and the tragedy of an alienated nation through the ghosts of the past.

Nanase can read people's minds: a secret she will go to any lengths to protect. Privy to the thoughts of the families Nanase works for as a maid, unremarkable domestic scenes are merely a thin veil over a turmoil of lust, shame, jealously and hatred. Short but hard hitting, each chapter takes us deeper into the darkness of the human psyche. It's a disturbing journey.

A youthful, raucous rite of passage story about three Welsh first year students in 1990's Aberystwyth. Delving into the darker sides of student life we get everything from simple drunken debauchery through to adultery, abortion and suicide. Moments of humour lift the tone, but this is not for the fainthearted, or for any parent who has recently waved their child off to university!

Who will you believe when you are presented with these two diaries written in parallel - the Jewish man who cheats on his wife or the Arab boy who says that he can see into the future? This historical tale of love and betrayal symbolises the 20th century conflict, fought over land, between Jews and Arabs. A read full of rich and lush description.

Poets, lunatics, an inventor and a girl on the cusp of womanhood make their way blindly (or searchingly) through the maze of life. I relished the poetic language and rich imagery, really felt for the characters and reached the end wondering what it all amounted to: what are the boundaries between creativity and madness, love and self, health and sickness? If you love 19th century poetry, you will also enjoy this insight into the private lives of John Clare and Alfred Tennyson.

A surreal, funny and thought-provoking view of modern, small town Russia through the eyes of a young man who may be ratcatcher, or a PhD student or an assassin - or none of these. Just enjoy the flow and make your own mind up if you can!

The immortals, in the form of Hermes and Zeus, amuse themselves playing with the feelings of the members and friends of the Godley family, gathered to wait for the expected death of the patriarch, Adam. Communication is not this family's strong point. There is an uneasy drifting quality to all of their lives, though for different reasons. This book reads like a summer's day – warm, lilting, hazy, insubstantial. There are a few dark clouds on the horizon, but they don't present a serious threat.

What if abolitionist John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry had succeeded? Imagine Afro American astronauts landing on Mars and a utopian Black nation, Nova Africa, thriving in the Deep South! This book uses a blend of nineteenth century letters, ex-slave narratives and science fiction to turn US history upside down. It's a book that that will keep you glued to the page and greedy for more.

A very unusual story set in the enclosed world of the Tower of London. Eccentric, but believable characters all of whom are suffering from varying degrees of loneliness, including the Queen's equerry. Add to this mix an assortment of exotic and neurotic animals and the fun really begins. The sub-plots of the clergyman who writes erotic fiction and the search for love in the London Underground lost property office are amusing and touching. An optimistic, enjoyable and very funny read.

At once blisteringly funny and extremely disturbing, the action richochets between 1900 (Boer war concentration camp, Gloucestershire morris dancing) and 2008 (New Labours African initiative in the fictional dictatorship of Zambawi and Londons high priest of urban cool), examining what it means to be English through the eyes of both English and Africans. Very highly recommended.

These disjointed stories of drug and alcohol addicts might seem hard-going to begin with. But you get to see the human face behind the statistics and, as the characters find their voice, the tales coalesce and won't let you go. Behind all the misery and hopelessness, a picture emerges: the spiral which links the opium grower, the soldier in the killing fields of Afghanistan and the addict. It all builds to a stunning canvas and makes for uncomfortable but unforgettable reading.

I was completely captivated by this gentle and thoughtful novel about a young man and an elephant. Themes of sexuality, humanity and confinement along with a wonderfully evoked 18th century setting make this more than just another animal story or indeed, another love story. A remarkable and rewarding reading experience.

This quirky little tale of a widow's love for her husband, stray dogs, table football and classical music set in a village full of interesting characters is an absolute joy to read. Poignant and hugely entertaining, its sombre themes of loss and ageing are handled in a hugely agreeable way.

It is difficult to do justice to this novel in a few lines. The story begins in Sri Lanka - beautiful, but torn apart by racial and civil strife and then moves to London where the Sri Lankans struggle to assimilate into an alien culture. A book with everything - great story, beautiful descriptions; the words glow like jewels on every page. The interesting and diverse characters are totally believable. All in all, a wonderful reading experience - but, be warned, have your box of tissues ready.

Odd, but enthralling description of the history and decline of angels as seen through the eyes of Antinous Bellori, who meets an angel as a boy. And then you get the cherubim guarding Eden from the evicted Adam and Eve, Cain murdering Abel, a drunken Noah after the flood, Abraham and the meeting at the oak trees of Mamre, Lot fleeing Sodom and Gomorrah and then leaping a few hundred years at least to Ezekiel and his dry bones. You don't have to know the Old Testament to enjoy this book, but you will know a lot about the Old Testament after reading it.

And none of this gives the story away. Although why it ends up in Norway is anyone's guess.

Episodes from the lives of four very different men weave together to reveal what happened to disappeared Belfast teenager, Connor Walshe. These are men guilty of corruption and brutality, but I was quickly drawn into tender sympathy with all four. Their deeply personal vulnerabilities, strengths and desires will determine whether Connor's family will finally hear the truth.

You might guess a novel of Brixton, drugs and crime would be a recital of gang violence and race politics. Yes, the life-on-the-street background is there, but from the start you are inside Dennis's head. It's his awareness of loving relationships that others are deprived of, his romantic longing for true love, and his agonising over taking revenge for his friend Noel's death, that make him much more than a two-dimensional badman.

At first you might think that this group of characters share a neighbourhood and nothing else, but as the author brings us inside their experiences, you can't help but see the connections instead of the differences. This is no happy ever after fairytale, but a story where relationships gain strength because the people in them choose to work at finding ways to be happy together. It's a warm and sunny read, which builds a richly textured big picture from the details of everyday life.

I quickly got used to the unusual, staccato style of prose in this book as I became totally immersed in the life of Mingzhi. Bound from birth by filial responsibilities, he silently shies away from his Opium-growing grandfather, hoping that his education will allow him a way out, a new opportunity to search for truth and justice. This coming of age family saga brings to life late 19th century China, where the new and frightening Western influences clash violently with centuries of tradition, ritual and expectation.

Two bereaved people find a box floating in the River Clyde by the Erskine Bridge. It is opened when Alex plays his lute. And then the adventure begins, taking in Scotland, Sicily, the Himalayas and Lincolnshire. Think Homer's Odyssey, Joyce's Ulysses or Alice in Wonderland, the Box of Delights or the Mahabharata. Or rather forget the comparisons, and wallow in the beauty of the language, and the breathtaking virtuosity of the story. Oh, and Joseph who made the box is the father of a famous carpenter - which gives nothing away.

Plot? What plot? Denny and his dodgy friends bum aimlessly round the seedier parts of Dublin in this episodic, shaggy-dog story. Boozy, druggy and spectacularly profane, it's also a funny, touching and sometimes poetic account of how Denny tries to cope with the sudden death of his much-loved 'ma'.

Wow! It begins as a gently humorous commentary on class and society with loads of interesting philosophical ruminations - almost becomes a chick lit for the over 50s and then ...! Just keep reading until the Japanese tenant appears - after that you won't be able to put it down. And what an ending.

The harsh lives of the inhabitants of an impoverished Portuguese village are played out in this dark tale. Multiple narrative voices lend a poetic, if sometimes claustrophobic, commonality to their experiences. Not always an easy read, but stick with it and you will be rewarded by a beautiful if unusual story of fate, love and death throughout the generations.

A lyrical and haunting tale of three generations fragmented by civil strife and the shock of migration. The genteel Grace De Silva faces upheaval as Ceylon is torn apart by independence and her children are compelled to seek a new life in austere England. Lost loves, secret sorrows and the search for cultural identity make up the sights and sounds of this novel. It is a feast for the senses playing on the reader's emotions like a beautiful concerto.

As you are whisked between ancient Rome and 1950's Harvard be prepared to have all your ideas about history, literature and (especially) time severely challenged by this blackly comic yet murderous novel.

A sensory feast spills from the pages of this tale of a woman on the run who opens up a restaurant in her home in Paris. She hoards away the secrets and lies of her former life as she stumbles through the early stages of her new one, with a little help from some local misfits. Although there is the sense, at first, that this could be simply fluffy chick-lit, instead it becomes a quite serious and engrossing story of a life of nonconformity and self discovery.

You will never have read anything quite like this, and not to read it means that you will miss out. The writing is superb, poetic, epic, enthralling. The story is a terrifying, breathtaking, adventure and love story, set in a Los Angeles plagued by murderous gangs of werewolves. And you will never guess the ending.

I didn't like Alice, an unpleasant child, and I couldn't tell where she'd gone. I did like Eleanor, but she disappeared as well. And then one of them came back. The how and the where dance around with the who and the why to leave you dizzy and confused, certain that you know but then ultimately wrong. I was held in thrall by the developing story, never quite believing what I read until all the questions were answered and the truth was revealed.

What would you do if you were given only weeks to live? Ambrose and Zapporas answer is to revisit cities which have meant a lot to them during nearly thirty years of happy marriage. A series of vignettes, some funny, some poignant, build into a touching, satisfying portrait of two loveable people. I loved this elegant little gem.

The book's title (a quote from Voltaire) reflects the message that, like the road to hell, following a path of religious extremism leads to the corruption of good intentions. This is a compassionate page-turner of a story, covering the full spectrum of the conflicts that confront our modern multi-cultural, multi-faith society. It will force you to confront your own beliefs and prejudices, while keeping your interest in the fate of the characters to the very end.

Heart rending but poignantly lyrical account of a young Nepalese hill girl sold into sexual slavery. The small comforts of 13 year old Lakshmi's spartan home life are replaced by a living nightmare as she is exposed to the soul destroying environment of Happiness House and the unspeakable cruelties of Mumtaz. This is a difficult, emotional journey told in simple, staccato chapters that leave the reader sick at heart and longing for hope in the midst of human misery. It gives victims of sexual exploitation a powerful voice that speaks long after the book has been closed.

Is someone murdering transvestites in Istanbul? And does anyone care? Darkly funny, exciting and different, the book was so good I could even cope with the computer speak - yes the heroine is a techie as well as a transvestite and businessman.

Two middle-aged guys living together and you realise they both have big problems - anxietes about venturing out of the house, even answering the phone. An optimistic tale of how awkward and damaged human beings can help each other - with some great comic moments.

This first novel by Nik Jones is violent, vicious, nasty and utterly bleak. However, despite all this, the absolute brilliance of the writing makes it an enjoyable, exciting and even amusing read! The picture of the unnamed, unloved hero going quietly mad among his DVDs will linger long in the mind. Will you ever risk entering a DVD rental shop again?

This is a family saga that travels from Ceylon in the 1940s to England in the 1950s and beyond. That racism was rife goes without saying, but this doesn't swamp the story, in fact it's the inner family wrangling that takes up much of the book. There are no huge surprises, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. It's quite simply a rattling good read, best enjoyed on a Sunday afternoon with a nice cup of tea.

Three gruesome murders in the stifling summer heat of 1860's St Petersburg: Porfiry Petrovich is convinced there’s a connection but just what this is keeps him and us guessing right up to the last chapter when all is revealed. You certainly don't have to have read Crime and Punishment to enjoy this intelligent and atmospheric crime novel; if you have, there's an added pleasure in seeing Dostoyevsky's engaging, brilliant and very human detective exercise his forensic and psychological skills again.

From its voyeuristic cover to its snappy, sexy, humorous style Killen's debut novel is a spiky modernist take on the effects of technology on relationships. Characters agonise about art, love, the pain of rejection, identity and sex. Love is as fragile as a pane of glass that shatters at the first impact. The reader gets caught in the game as flashback techniques play with perception. How the book is viewed depends on what the reader sees through the looking glass but it is a compulsive, surprising journey rather like watching a film of awkward relationships through a camera lens.

Densely poetic, this daring novel traces a story of love and desire from Montreal to Phnom Penh. The brutalities and horror of war and genocide are balanced by a young girl's intense desire for, and love affair with, a Cambodian refugee and musician. After losing him once when he returns, alone, to Cambodia she makes the journey herself ten years later, only to suffer a greater loss there than she could possibly have imagined. A beautiful, haunting book.

This book is hilarious, I loved it. Take a hypochondriac book dealer with OCD and combine him with Miss Marple and what do you get? The manic owner of a mystery bookshop in Belfast, next door to a missing private detective, who finds that cases keep walking in on him. So does his new girlfriend, with adventures he is too timid to enjoy. And if you are a vintage film freak, watch out for the last line.

Following a coup in an unnamed country this book tells the story through six characters all caught up in the unrest. As the story unravels the relationships between the six become more fraught and tense as the prospect of power combined with ever more impulsive greed and vengeance takes hold. It is a story simply but effectively told with its own unique rhythm, drawing the reader into the mind of each of the characters with an almost hypnotic quality.

This book offers much more than it seems on first impression - as a tale about a hate crime in a small town encompasses personal and family conflict, as well as a budding romance. The murder of a gay man sets off a chain of events forcing horse-trainer John Hunt and others to confront their feelings about homosexuality. This is a violent novel in many ways but also a love story showing the growth of John and Morgan’s relationship, and there are a few flashes of American-style quirky humour - look out for the mule! It's a gripping read that doesn't pull any punches.

A strange mix of the offbeat and the commonplace, this has an unusual flavour. Burt is into medieval re-enactment but his life falls apart when his wife becomes terminally ill. I found Burt a very frustrating and pathetic character, but also one who you can sympathise with. Unexpectedly moving.

Set in 1970's Warrington, this is a beautifully written, intense, absorbing story. As well as bringing to the fore many social issues of the time, it also delves into the complexities of family dynamics. The characters' journeys are wholly believable and I rode alongside them, even though the trip comes to a gut-wrenching finale.

Once I had tuned in to the unhinged narrative style with increasingly hysterical repetitions, I was swept into this story with no full stops on the page or boundaries to subjects under discussion in the narrator's head. Both satirical and thought provoking, this is a graphic and alcohol fuelled insight into the lives of those who pass through a less than salubrious Congolese bar.

A first novel written by a Welsh poet and not at all what I expected - not many books make me laugh out loud but this one did! It's the story of Oliver, a teenager, full of angst, self obsession and curiosity and part of a dysfunctional family. Oliver is a cross between Adrian Mole, Christopher (Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime) and Holden Caulfield. A definite edge there along with the humour.

Set in a Swedish sink estate, this vampire novel is both chilling and gruesome but is also a true page-turner, guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat. The violence is frequent, terrifying and graphic (certainly not a read for the faint-hearted. However, alongside all that is a very tender, burgeoning relationship between Oskar and Eli. The large cast of supporting characters, some of whom will make your skin crawl, will make you look at any new neighbours in a different light as this novel makes its way to a very explosive climax. One to read with the lights on!

A tragic story of love and betrayal set in an unnamed repressive North African country with beautiful descriptions of the desert setting. Well told intrigue and devious plots combine to create a slow burning fuse of revelation; the characters are both strong and resourceful as they battle against relentless prison brutality. A very short novel but one in which every word matters.

At the heart of this tale is a bizarre but beautifully written romance with a twist. Against a backdrop of dystopian worlds, Billie and Spike search, time after time, for a life and love together. Packed around that romance is a science fiction novel, full of eco-warnings, philosophising, and a touch of satire. As the revelations slowly unfolded, this novel enticed and drew me through its satisfyingly complex and unexpected story.

Meet the Morse and Lewis of Shanghai in an unusual whodunit. Clever, arty, neurotic Inspector Chen and his practical, down-to-earth sidekick Yu make engaging heroes. I'm not usually a big fan of crime novels but this is a cracker, full of fascinating insights into Shanghai life. I got a real sense of the characters' lives: where they live, what they wear and, especially, what they eat - both droolingly delicious and gruesomely disgusting. A sumptuous Chinese banquet of a novel.

This is my feelgood read of the year. A delightful tale of Perry - who is not retarded, just slow, as he tells everyone - and his lottery win. The story never ducks the hard bits, but Perry still comes out smiling.

This fast-paced easy-read book will appeal to sci-fi fans and more. Living in a grim, realistic future, ruthless assassin Avery Cates boasts that he has killed 26 times in his 27 years and is fast adding to his tally. A mesmerising plot absorbs and entices you to empathise with Cates, the homicidal 'good guy'. With language and settings that are truly nitty-gritty, you are left in no doubt that Cates is a man with definite beliefs.

This book takes you into quite another world. A world of close family, of a strange and knowing breed of dog, of jealousy, love and murder. I have never read anything quite like it and I really didn't want to finish it - even though I was desperate to find out what happens. Beautifully written and totally unforgettable.

Harder hitting than a documentary, this story of a detainee will disturb and challenge you. But the writing is so intense that you won't be able to put it down.

Annie can see dead people, all wearing chocolate brown. What's worse, they are very assertively communicative and can ruin Annie's life in ways no one would ever imagine. Very dark, very funny and told from several perspectives this is a book to read at one concentrated go - and then to think about for a long time afterwards.

A whimsical take on the gay scene of Paris in the early 1980s. Laugh out loud funny in parts, intensely poignant in others – and very sexually graphic. The story takes a dramatic turn in narrative to touch on Aids and its fatal consequences. Gideon's final decision left me speechless - I wonder how it will leave you?

Roam from Shetland to India via a sexual encounter in Blackpool. Discover the joys of bhangra and the shoormal. Find out about Queen Victoria and her Sikh bodyguard. Or why the waltz is subversive. Go on a poetic joyride, a dance of compassionate anger and sensual sensitivity. Or simply sit back, let the language flow over you and enjoy.

I really didn't think this book would be my kind of read but I found it enthralling. The narrator leaves a successful life in New York to live in small town Virginia and, as the book unfolds, we discover what has caused her abrupt departure. A diary of relationships - we learn of her childhood and life with her mother as well as eavesdropping on conversations with her dead sister – both disquieting and eccentric. In the end, a thoroughly worthwhile read which has that rare quality of combining humour with pathos.

Judy Bishop leads parallel lives: the successful fun loving celebrity socialite and the overweight depressive, frustrated in love, life and career. We follow her conflict alternately through her weekly lifestyle column and through glimpses of the truth which lie behind it.
This is a very funny book with an underlying pathos which gives the novel an unexpected depth and poignancy.

A tragic story of love and betrayal set in an unnamed repressive North African country with beautiful descriptions of the desert setting. Well told intrigue and devious plots combine to create a slow burning fuse of revelation; the characters are both strong and resourceful as they battle against relentless prison brutality. A very short novel but one in which every word matters.

This is a very realistic novel set on a small estate in the South of England. It deals with how people impinge on each other's lives, with often unimaginable consequences, sometimes driving each other to desperate acts. Yet at the same time it is full of humour and quirkiness. The action is described through the eyes of Skunk, a 12-year-old who doesn't always recognise reality in its true horror. If you're a fan of TV soaps which often portray extremes of behaviour, with occasional moments of bleak humour, then you should enjoy this.

Treat yourself to this quirky romantic comedy, guaranteed to lift your spirits with its feel-good factor. It's the familiar women from Venus, men from Mars plot, but told from both points of view, with a down to earth honesty and a refreshing absence of chick-lit smaltz.

I found this tabloid-like sequence of testimonies from people affected by the abuse and murder of a child a harrowing read. You really do get inside the head of monsters. A brave novel about the ultimate taboo.

Not as straightforward as it first may appear. This story is a fast-paced mystery set in Switzerland where the characters come in and out of the action often to leave clues to the reader as to the mysterious goings-on. It may leave you guessing or confused but definitely intrigued.

At first this seems to be a book of two unconnected halves. What possible link is there between two Brazilian girls travelling in Australia in search of Aboriginal culture and a journalist seeking to lose weight in an Alpine spa? Answer: angels. The result is a delightful mix of travel, art, literature, life and Milton’s Paradise Lost all in 151 pages – and every one of them charming, light and serious all at the same time.

Two small boys are growing up with their hippy farmer parents in rural Wales and meet Andrew, son of a neighbouring farmer whose life is very different from theirs. He lives in rags, sleeps with the dogs and survives on scraps from the table. Half fairytale, half poem, this evocative novel deals with the relationship between the three boys and delivers a haunting portrait of the extremes of rural life.

A wonderful mix of Victorian gothic and fantasy crime. Very fast, very funny and quite unbelievable (I think) and much better than its cover.

Possibly the most powerful book I've read for many years – but it's neither pleasant nor comfortable. The historical detail is spot on and the language is appropriately coarse - both combine to immerse the reader in the world of young Fergus. His is a life of unthinkable harshness. We feel his sadness and love for all those he has lost, both man and animal, keenly.

With glowing reviews from Stephen King and Harlen Coben, this assured psychological thriller is up with the best of its kind. Steeped in small-town suffocating atmosphere, with dysfunctional families on every corner, the plot includes vivid descriptions of teenage sex, bullying, drug and alcohol abuse and self-harm. This disturbing, heady mixture is the background to the hunt for a murderer with a macabre killer's signature.

This story centres on the relationship between a porn star who receives horrific burns in a car accident and a sculptress who claims that they were lovers in a previous life. Gothic horror/boys' own adventure/ medieval romance - unlike any book I've ever read, it simply defies categorisation, and if you can make it beyond the gore of the early chapters you are in for an absolute treat.

This is a huge novel in terms of both size and breadth of content - it includes fire, prison escapes, fraud, murder, gunrunning and brothel keeping. It's not a traditional family saga but this biographical story is related by father and son in both real time and in reminiscence. A book not to be taken too seriously. It's very funny. I absolutely loved it. However, be warned, the author never uses one word if he can use ten!

How to describe it? Bridget Jones's fat girl angst meets a Moll Flanders romp through the fleshpots of Barcelona. There's lots of flesh and most of the characters are completely potty. And throw in a pinch of Becky Sharp to get a feel for the scheming amorality of it all. The only blameless character is Juegita, the dog, and even she managed to get up the duff somehow.

This is a very gruesome book - definitely not for the fainthearted. But if you can get past the gore it's a fascinating if bleak tale - and it definitely doesn't go where you expect it to.

A sensitive but fast-moving plot of what happens when a happy-as-the-Waltons Canadian farming family is invaded by the Sixties - Vietnam, drugs and sexual freedom. Then, in the present, a reflective healing process for the wounds that the uncertainties and openness of that decade inflicted.

Be prepared to be angry and deeply moved. This is a book about a monstrous, avoidable, criminal catastrophe. But it is also about three people from disparate backgrounds - Scotland, India and Australia - struggling to confront their demons and redeem their lives. In other words, a song in praise of the human spirit and its unending capacity to rise above terrible circumstances.

Snapshots of life of four generations of the same family, seen through 6 year-old eyes. Concentration is needed as the book starts in 2004 and works back to 1945 via 1962 and 1982, so I found myself continually flicking back to check what was what- but it's well worth any effort. Particularly recommended for reading groups interested in the nature versus nurture debate; NOT recommended for those who prefer to take a rosy view of children.

What a strange but moving story. As I slowly found out more and more about Emilie and her life, I became lost in a harsh but eerie world in the heart of the Amazon and in Emilie's struggle with life, with love and with her nearest and dearest. But don't be put off - I laughed often with this wonderful, warring and loving family.

The safe world of Pippa Lee, married to a charismatic New York publisher 30 years her senior, begins to unravel when they move to Marigold Village Retirement Community. Banish all thoughts of cocoa and slippers from then on - a kaleidoscopic journey through sex, drugs, teenage rebellion and the rest will definitely appeal to the wild child!

Steven Stelfox - a totally evil immoral scheming villain with no redemptive features. So why did I find myself willing him on to success? This is a superbly funny expose of the music industry - can it really be this bad? - which I thoroughly enjoyed even when I was gasping at the sheer audacity of this man's idea of career progression.

An old-fashioned circus novel with plenty of action and excitement but few if any laughs and a love interest which is fraught with danger. The circus is something you either love or hate and your reaction to this novel will be influenced by these feelings – if you're squeamish about the treatment of performing animals, this might not be for you. Good descriptions of desperate men living through the economic turmoil of the American depression. A brutal era, powerfully drawn.

Not as straight forward as it first may appear. This story is a fast-paced mystery set in Switzerland where the characters come in and out of the action often to leave clues to the reader as to the mysterious goings-on. It will either leave you guessing or confused but, for sure, you will be intrigued.

You can't help but love Doria as she delivers her take on life on a Paris housing estate. Her future could seem rather bleak - her father has cleared off back to Morocco, she's going nowhere at school and her best friends are a druggy and a psychologist - but Doria doesn't let this get her down. Her voice is upbeat and funny but never cruel - and she sees through hypocrisy with a wisdom beyond her 15 years. Try this and she could just become your new best friend.

Shifting and vivid, the story moves from present day to XVI century Prague and from gripping eco-thriller to lush historical novel. In both periods, an amnesiac tries to work out who he is and whom he can trust. You'll feel bereft each time you leave a time frame only to get engrossed as soon as you enter the next. An element of fantasy in the plot should not put off readers who do not usually read this type of book.

Testosterone laden angst amongst Brit-Asian youth in West London. Definitely one for hip young things - and for everyone else into flash cars, gangsta rap and bling, persist with the rudeboy slang and dive in.

A true political satire, set in an imaginary African country but with parallels to so many others in many parts of the world. It's funny, witty, very human and yet monumental in scale. Be prepared for the long haul but be ready to enjoy it - I certainly did.

Just give in and drown yourself in the dark side of life on the dark island of Iceland at the darkest time of year. This book just grabs you, chews you up, and spits you out at the end. You may be older and wiser for the experience - or maybe not?

If you are a fan of 'what if' historical novels then you will love The Lazarus Club where Brunel and other inventor/scientists like him meet philosophers, business men and Byron's grandson, in order to see just how far knowledge can be extended. A great Gothic thriller with lots of murders and, for me, a truly surprise ending.

A breathtaking first novel written in Scots - a tour de force. Humour, pathos, drama and a chicken factory. And Ae wisnae expectin het tae end the way it did.

From the age of 12 Lois depends on her late father's bequest: a 'manual' intended by him to see her through life to 30. This might have been a very sentimental novel but bold, often wrong-headed Lois makes sure it isn't. Okay so you'll be able to spot where she (and Dad) are making mistakes but that's part of the fun. Sit back and enjoy - secure in the knowledge that you've spotted Mr Right long before she has.

A hard-hitting and gritty follow up to The Electric Church - the violence is full on and the body count is huge! Pure entertainment though and cult reading for fans of hard-edged sci fi.

All the passion, heat and colour of a swashbuckling saga await you within the pages of this novel. Set in the tropical paradise of Jamaica, this is romantic escapism with a satisfying filling of history and evocative atmosphere.

Shifting and vivid, the story moves from present day to XVI century Prague and from gripping eco-thriller to lush historical novel. In both periods, an amnesiac tries to work out who he is and whom he can trust. You'll feel bereft each time you leave a time frame only to get engrossed as soon as you enter the next. An element of fantasy in the plot should not put off readers who do not like the genre.

Rude awakening for wife of Victorian bookbinder crippled by arthritis, who turns to binding the specialist pornography of reactionary scientists to keep family and home together. Plenty of authentic London grime and squalor for anyone into period detail, not to mention the esoteric tastes of the aristocracy, but be prepared to be uplifted by a thoroughly modern heroine.

Ved Saran is a self-made businessman living in Trinidad. His honesty proves a disappointment to his greedy, manipulative, tight-knit family. Local dialect peppers the conversations but the narrative is such an easy read you won't find this a problem. Characters who inspire empathy and an evocative setting make for a pleasant and enjoyable reading experience. You'll be heading for the travel agents to book a Caribbean holiday.

This story resembles the life cycle of a moth – there are many layers, often exposing a darker side before transforming itself into something of beauty. The two sisters in the novel are vastly different - one is quiet, hermit-like, unassuming and very naive; the other is gregarious, outspoken but extremely selfish. The story explores their interaction and flits between the past and the present. A must-read book full of heartache, suspense, love – and you'll learn something of the study moths and butterflies.

This is a gothic fantasy thriller packaged in a big, big book. So set some time aside for it because I guarantee you won't be able put it down. A sort of 'Fingersmith' meets 'Frankenstein' with touches of black humour that are entirely 21st century.

Alfred Day - a young man caught up in conflict. A sort of cross between the Good Soldier Svejk and Oedipus, with a dash of Dad's Army. And that's not to mention the rest of his crew, who have escaped from - who knows? But they are all completely bonkers. And then there's Joyce, with whom he has a not so brief encounter.

There is nothing quite like this book, so if you're up for a reading adventure, give it a go.

I expected a darker, grown-up version of a fairytale from this book set in a gloomy castle in the forest, but actually got much more than that. The atmosphere drew me in, particularly towards the very tense end to part 2 and the two parallel stories in Europe and America kept me intrigued as I tried to work out their connection.

Set in a post-apocalyptic England which is struggling to survive, there is no power, no food and the government has crumbled. Sister is searching for a better life and seeks out a community of women living self-sufficiently in the hills. This is her story.

This world is closer to our current reality than I care to think, and it had me spellbound. The story is fast paced and not your usual science fiction fare. Thought provoking, disturbing and enjoyably addictive.