The Mighty Red by Louise Erdrich: Echoes of Steinbeck in a timeless novel full of strong women
Louise Erdrich takes affectionate look at turbulent teenage trio and landscape that shapes them
The Unfinished Harauld Hughes: In Richard Ayoade’s debut novel, the joke is on the reader
Ayoade’s trademark wit is intact, but the cleverness of the writing only serves to point out the enterprise’s central weakness
The Revenge of Rita Marsh by Nilesha Chauvet: A timely and provocative novel
A book that forces the reader to question the ethics of a character’s actions, offering no simplistic answers
Gabriel’s Moon by William Boyd: Compelling thriller set in the murky underworld of the cold war
This is a complex, credible and compulsive novel from an author who deserves more critical appreciation than he has received
The Watermark by Sam Mills: Bizarre and dizzying novel-within-a-novel
Audacious narrative is filled with engaging characters and entertaining dialogue
The Echoes by Evie Wyld review: Lives in limbo
A ghost is one of the narrators in this engaging novel set between England and Australia
Anyone’s Ghost: Powerful debut about lifelong love for an unattainable boy
August Thompson’s novel revolving around unrequited love is full of loneliness as it sensitively tracks a friendship across a decade
Plaything by Bea Setton review: It’s not just the mice who suffer in this Covid-era novel
A cold novel, then, but one that will remain with John Boyne
Silverback by Phil Harrison: Dark and unnerving tale of heartless fathers and damaged sons in Belfast
Harrison conjures a malignant universe of betrayals, fights and even sado-masochism
Only Here, Only Now by Tom Newlands: From pishpuddles to pee-the-beds
Humourless narrator is difficult to root for in this novel set in Fife, Scotland
The In-Between by Christos Tsiolkas: A love story par excellence
A novel about two damaged men who understand that when a decent guy shows up, he needs to be held close
Great Expectations by Vinson Cunningham: Does not deliver enough despite an intriguing depiction of Barack Obama
US politics junkies will find things to relish but this novel falls short of being revelatory
Hey, Zoey by Sarah Crossan: shocking and moving
A wife discovering a sex doll is the catalyst but the author offers deep insights into loneliness and human frailty
Evenings and Weekends by Oisín McKenna: Impressive debut with hints of rap as a novel
Compelling narrative is set across one long, sweltering weekend in London
Spirit Level by Richy Craven: A winningly daft comic novel with more than enough laughs to keep the pages turning
A fatal drink-driving incident might not seem like an obvious premise for a comic novel, but the author makes a lighthearted read of the supernatural consequences