My latest reads, loved and devoured. Revenge which a touch of inspiration...

 

Payback by Elizabeth Rose Quinn

Payback by Elizabeth Rose Quinn is the kind of thriller that doesn’t just pull you in — it seduces you. From the first page, the prose wraps around you like velvet, lush and deliberate, making every scene feel cinematic and every emotion addictively razor‑sharp. The writing is so intoxicatingly enrapturing that you don’t just read this novel — you devour it. Not only because the plot is a taut, suspense‑driven coil of secrets and simmering tension, but because Quinn’s descriptive style is its own addictive force. Her sentences linger. Her imagery bites. Every motive feels layered, every decision loaded with consequence.

Reading Payback feels like being pulled into a world where justice is personal, revenge is complicated, and every truth has teeth. If you crave thrillers that balance pulse‑pounding stakes with gorgeous, evocative writing, Payback is a standout. It’s a novel that grips you with its plot but stays with you because of its voice, bold, immersive, and utterly compelling.

 

Liar Liar by Luca Veste

Liar Liar is the kind of thriller that grabs you by the collar, whispers “trust no one”, and then gleefully yanks the floor out from under you. It’s slick, sinister, and deliciously manipulative, exactly what you want from a psychological thriller that thrives on secrets, shifting truths, and characters who lie as easily as they breathe. At its core, this is a story about the lies we tell, the lies we believe, and the lies that come back swinging. Veste builds tension like he’s tightening a violin string — every chapter adds another twist, another doubt, another “wait… WHAT?” moment.

This book lives in that delicious space between suspense and paranoia. It’s the literary equivalent of someone smiling at you while holding a secret behind their back.

 

The Body in the Bathtub - Ragnor Jonason

Ragnar Jónasson’s The Body in the Bath is a compact, atmospheric slice of Nordic noir that blends emotional turmoil with a tightly wound mystery. Detective Helgi, still reeling from the death of his girlfriend is pulled back into work only to find himself at the centre of a murder investigation when his abusive ex is discovered dead in her bathtub. It’s a brisk, moody read—driven more by psychology than action—and its dual threads of past disappearance and present suspicion give the story a satisfying, layered pull.

Jónasson keeps the tension sharp and personal, using Iceland’s wintry stillness as a backdrop for Helgi’s unravelling. It promises a mystery that is as much about the human heart as it is about crime-solving.

 

Extraordinary Wandsworth Women - Chris Everett. Elaine Wein, Jenni Bowley and Jenny Rossiter 

Extraordinary Wandsworth Women is far more than a collection of biographies; it is a fascinating celebration of the women who have helped shape the history, culture and identity of one of London's most diverse boroughs. Written by local historians and guides Jenni Bowley, Chris Everett, Jenny Rossiter and Elaine Wein, the book highlights both well-known figures and overlooked women whose achievements deserve greater recognition.

One of the book's greatest strengths is its breadth, featuring artists, writers, scientists, reformers, sportswomen, intelligence officers and public servants. By placing celebrated names alongside hidden local heroines, it challenges traditional historical narratives that have too often overlooked women's contributions.

The authors also create a strong sense of place, showing how communities across Battersea, Balham, Putney, Tooting, Roehampton, Southfields and Wandsworth Town have nurtured talent, innovation and social change. Wandsworth itself emerges as a central character throughout the book. Most importantly, the book inspires. It reminds us that history is shaped not only by famous leaders but also by individuals who enrich their communities, challenge conventions and make a lasting difference. In doing so, it encourages readers to see the streets and neighbourhoods around them with fresh eyes.

Timely, engaging and richly researched, Extraordinary Wandsworth Women is a thought-provoking tribute to the remarkable women who helped shape Wandsworth and a powerful reminder that extraordinary lives are often found closer to home than we think.

 

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