In a word: Teenage love got incredibly sour

Award-winning novelist Lisa Jewel has published countless thrillers, all with their own dark twists and shocking revelations, but The Night She Disappeared, her latest lockdown novel, belongs in another category entirely. This multi-layered story oscillates between three time periods and perspectives simultaneously: a teenage couple with a newborn baby, their grandmother raising the child, and a crime novelist moved from London to a lazy Surrey village. Eventually, all paths will intertwine to reveal a terrible secret.

In a word: Captivating story of a double life

This gripping thriller explores what it’s like to have a perfect life but with a deep and secret past. Set between Oregon in the United States and a Welsh village, the book revolves around protagonist Grace Jenson who returns home one day to discover a corpse in her kitchen. From there, she realizes that her past, which she tried so hard to bury, has come back to haunt her and that she must finally face what happened 17 years ago.

In a word: A complex couple with secret identities

This first novel by French writer Laure Van Rensburg is not to be missed this summer. Inspired by a true story shared during the MeToo movement, this book explores the power dynamics and question of consent between a dodgy couple who set off for a supposedly romantic weekend in a cabin deep in the forest.

In a word: A sexy summer read with a twist

If you’re looking for a summer read to devour by the pool or on the beach, look no further than Summer Fever. Set in the idyllic but isolated Italian town of Luna Rossa, the book follows a struggling London-based couple who open a holiday home for other couples, but all is not as it seems as they welcome their first couple. With constant simmering undertones, this book will have you wishing you were on vacation in Italy; but not with this group of people.

In a word: A disgruntled reporter explores the dark secret of her childhood village

Written by the same author as Gone Girl, a story with an unforgettable, jaw-dropping twist, this book will shock and amuse readers alike. It follows a Chicago-based journalist with her own vices, who is sent back to her all-American childhood town to investigate the murders of two little girls – and what she discovers will change her life forever. The book was also made into a chilling TV series starring Amy Adams.

In a word: A horror novel that taps into our darkest fears

Written in 1986 by the king of thrillers, Stephen King, IT is his 22nd book and still holds as much of a hold on readers today as it did 30 years ago. The book rose to popularity again after the series of scary movies in 2017 and 2019. The story explores themes such as childhood trauma, the power of memory, and what lies beneath the surface of seemingly idyllic American cities.

In a word: The Dangerous Repercussions of Forbidden Love and Deception

Set in the smoky jazz bars of 1950s New York, this debut novel by Julie Owen Moylan brings to life an array of powerful, daring, and complicated women – all of whom have their own stories and secrets. The mystery at hand is sweet and gently unfolds to climax in a satisfying yet heartbreaking ending.

In a word: A collapsing marriage in the era of the MeToo movement

Released in 2018, but shot to fame again in recent months thanks to Netflix’s powerful drama based on the book, Anatomy of a Scandal explores society’s entrenched ideas of class, toxic masculinity and privilege through the lens of a high-profile wedding that takes place at the heart of British politics.

In a word: The iconic Hercule Poirot investigates his first case

Agatha Christie fans will no doubt have read the first of Poirot’s novels as well as the other 33 books in which he appears. However, this Collector’s Edition brings the story to life with a beautiful hardcover and gorgeous illustrations throughout, meaning whether you’re a die-hard Christie fan or first-time reader, you’ll want to read this novel again to re-examine what you thought you knew.

In a word: Cold War spy thriller from a Russian mole in MI6

The first in Le Carré’s Karla trilogy, Tinker Tailor Spy is a Cold War thriller like no other. Wrapped in history, spymaster George Smiley has come out of retirement and tasked with tracking down the central Moscow mole who has infiltrated British intelligence. As one of the greatest spy novels of all time, you won’t be able to put this book down.