Meanwhile, from cosy fantasy to gothic horror, we have plenty of atmospheric book recommendations perfect for some autumnal reading.
Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune
TJ Klune is the Sunday Times bestselling author of In the Lives of Puppets, The House in the Cerulean Sea, and The Whispering Door. Being part of the LGBTQ community himself, Klune believes it is important, now more than ever, to give accurate, positive queer representations in stories.
Somewhere Beyond the Sea is the much-anticipated sequel to The House in the Cerulean Sea. Arthur Parnassus runs an orphanage on a distant mysterious island with the help of his partner, Linus Baker. However, it is no ordinary orphanage as it contains magical children, including a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, and the Antichrist. Arthur withholds a duty to ensure the children feel accepted in a world where they are viewed as dangerous, especially Lucy the Antichrist. But when Arthur is summoned to state his dark past publicly and the Department in Charge of Magical Youth determined to take the children away from him, Arthur finds himself at the helm of a fight for the future that his family, and all magical people, deserve.
A story of resilience and found family, Somewhere Beyond the Sea is a heartwarming cosy fantasy in the Cerulean Chronicles series.
9781035009374
Pan Macmillan, 22.00
Hardback
The Bell Witches by Lindsey Kelk
Born and raised in Doncaster, Lindsey Kelk is the Sunday Times bestselling author and podcaster. Her books include the I Heart series and On A Night Like This, but The Bell Witches is her debut Young Adult romantasy novel and first in the Savannah Red saga.
The Bell Witches follows Emily, a sixteen-year-old girl who moves to Savannah, Georgia from Wales following her father’s death. With no other family, she is taken in by her grandmother, Catherine Bell, to live in the notorious Bell family mansion which is both beautiful and deeply mysterious. Emily’s family are not all they seem though as she starts to have unusual experiences leading her to find out the truth about her family and consequently herself; Emily is the descendant of witches. Emily’s life changes overnight as she is swept up in family history and secrecy, forming friendships and relationships, while discovering her identity as a witch.
This is a cosy, mystical fantasy with elements of the paranormal and witchcraft, making it a perfect addition to the autumnal reading list.
9780008737948
HarperCollins 18.99
Hardback
The September House by Carissa Orlando
The September House is Carissa Orlando’s debut novel. With a career in psychology and an avid horror fan, Carissa has merged her understanding of the human psyche and love for storytelling into a book. The September House is a dark, twisty, and layered debut novel, which became one of the best-selling horrors of 2023.
Margaret and her husband Hal finally have a home of their own in a large Victorian House. Everything appears to be working out for the couple until they discover the hauntings. Every September, the walls drip with blood and the ghosts of the former inhabitants appear, each of them terrified of something that lurks in the basement. Margaret is determined to stay and endure the ghostly occurrences, but unable to take the unwanted guests, Hal flees and subsequently goes missing.
This contemporary gothic horror is a unique take on the traditional haunted house setting, as it delves into themes of trauma and resilience as well as the supernatural, offering a new perspective on survival in the face of the unknown. A compelling read for fans of horror and psychological thrillers, The September House is an eerie, atmospheric, sinister novel perfect as we head into the Halloween season.
9780593548622
Penguin, 12.99
Paperback
Honeybee by Dawn O’Porter
Dawn O’Porter is a broadcaster, journalist, and Sunday Times best-selling author. Her previous work includes Cat Lady and The Cows as well as Paper Aeroplanes and Goose, where we are first introduced to Flo and Renée.
Honeybee follows two best friends who reconnect on the island of Guernsey where they grew up. Flo is career-driven and seemingly has her life planned out, but is secretly fighting her inner demons, while Renée is a free-spirited aspiring writer who wants to escape to the bustling city of London. Following an estranged friendship, the two main characters tackle the cusp of adulthood together as two young women in their twenties, with societal pressures and their own expectations of growing up looming over them. Dawn channels the complexities of early adulthood through Flo and Renée while addressing grief, friendship, love, mental health and menopause through various female characters, highlighting the challenges faced through different stages of womanhood.
Honeybee is a coming-of-age story that combines humour and serious topics but ultimately demonstrates the power of female friendship and how we are all winging it as we delve into adulthood.
9780008697075
HarperCollins, 20.00
Hardback
The Dark Wives by Ann Cleves
Ann Cleves is the mystery crime writer of the books behind ITV’s Vera. Ann’s DI Vera Stanhope series of books is set in Northumberland and features the well-loved detective along with her partner, Joe Ashworth. The Dark Wives is the eleventh book in the Vera Stanhope series.
Vera is called to Rosebank Children’s Home to investigate the murder of Josh Woodburn, a student and part-time worker at the home, after his body was discovered in a nearby park. Vera’s only lead is the subsequent disappearance of fourteen-year-old resident Chloe Spence, yet the detective cannot bring herself to believe that the teenager is responsible for the murder of someone she looked up to. Vera, Joe, and new team member Rosie Bell, soon become embroiled in the case which escalates when a second body is found, a teenager also from Rosebank, near the Three Dark Wives monument, and the team becomes increasingly concerned about Chloe’s safety. With superstition and folklore colliding with fact, Vera knows the dark secrets in the community are more dangerous than first believed.
This mystery crime series is perfect for those who enjoy a good detective novel with an array of twists.
9781529077742
Pan Macmillan, 22.00
Hardback
For more information go to https://www.kempsgeneralstore.co.uk/
