Fiction

'The Blue Eye' is another wonderfully crafted story by Ausama Zehanat Khan and will leave readers anticipating the release of the final book in the series, The Bladebone, in October 2020.

'The Black Khan' by Ausma Zehanat Kahn does a remarkable job of not only continuing a story but of establishing the path forward for the final two books in the series.

'The Bloodprint' by Ausma Zehanat Khan is a fine epic fantasy adventure set in a world with distressing parallels to our own.

'The Royal Abduls' by Ramiza Shamoun Koya is not an easy read, but a necessary one for those wishing to understand how badly we treat visible minorities.

'Daughters of Smoke and Fire' by Ava Homa might break your heart, but its also a book of sublime beauty that will engrave itself into your memory for years to come.

Thomas King's 'Obsidian' may not be your typical murder mystery but its a wonderful book and a satisfying conclusion to a great series.

So there you have it, a completely subjective list of ten books from 2019 I think will improve the quality of your life. Enjoy.

In 'A Keeper' by Graham Norton Elizabeth Keane returns to Ireland to settle her mom's estate and takes a harder look at her family's past.

A stage adaptation of Clarice Lispector's stream-of-consciousness debut novel boasts a fine lead performance by Sarah Lemp, but sadly is not a page-turner.

Nobody has managed to recreate the secret world of spies and subterfuge with Le Carre's flair and 'Agent Running in the Field' cements his reputation as a master of the genre.