A Treacherous Likeness by Lynn Shepherd Corsair HB/EB Out February ‘A story of death, love, secrets and betrayal’, A Treacherous Likeness reads
like a quintessential Victorian novel full of melodrama, morality and madness. A young detective is hired, but ends up manipulated as completely as any of the victims. The book mirrors the moralistic, pedantic tone of its era, with every utterance duly weighed and crafted. This is not a joyful story, but it’s a compelling and brilliantly evocative piece of writing nonetheless.
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Throne of the Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed Gollancz PB/EB Out February Doctor Adoulla
Makhslood, one of the last ‘ghul’ hunters, is now old and
reliant on the sword of his assistant Raseed. When he takes on a new case, he has little idea of the world of intrigue he’s letting himself in for. As the murders pile up, Adoulla realises he’s up against foes the like of which not even he has seen before. An immersive fantasy tale heavily influenced by middle- eastern culture, Throne of the Crescent Moon is a real pleasure once it gets going. Ahmed’s descriptive writing makes the world jump off the page. A real treat.
Wolfhound Century by Peter Higgins Gollancz PB/EB Out March Inspector Vissarion Lom in an outsider, which makes him ideal for the job of
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hunting down a terrorist threat that strikes at the heart of Mirgorod, a fictionalised USSR with a capital city steeped in corruption. When he discovers ancient secrets, he’s forced to change his loyalties. Peter Higgins’ debut is fantasy, but in the style of China Mieville; steampunk with Russian mythology; detective thriller in which elemental forces guide the action. With a beautifully descriptive style, this imaginative thriller is impossible to put down. TO
Wool by Hugh Howey Cornerstone HB/EB Out now The inhabitants of a self- sufficient underground silo believe they are Earth’s
sole survivors. Yet many of them are haunted by the barren wasteland outside, and come to gaze out from the windows, which can only be kept clear of dust with regular ‘cleaning’. After an unprecedented series of suspicious ‘accidental’ deaths, Juliette is determined to uncover the truth – but she is plunged into layers of deceit and danger, bringing into question the foundation of the silo, and the lives of those within it.