On The Book Shelf. Summer Reading Recommendations for 2024

The book shelf is bulging at the moment. I’ve got a few cracker recommendations for your summer reading list, plus a few that I’m about to start reading.

I’ve enjoyed being swept away to the English countryside with Peter Boland and Robert Thorogood….made all the more enjoyable with a side order of murder 😂

Australian author Kerryn Mayne’s debut novel is ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT. It’s a must read.

I rounded out my list with the latest in food research and health (turns out Mum was right-fresh is best) by Tim Spector and some positive thinking, manifesting and life focus with Roxie Nafousi.

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder. Kerryn Mayne- 5/5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

I devoured this book. The characters are relatable. The life situations are complex and your consciousness will be challenged just enough. You know the times when you might have strong feelings about certain subjects, but certain situation leave you feeling the you simply can’t pass judgment….thats the feeling I got with this book. Looking forward to her next book -Joy Moody is out of Time.

The Charity Shop Detective Agency– Peter Boland. 3/5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

There are 3 books in the series. This is the first. I’ve read the 2nd “The Beach Hut Murders” and will most likely listen to the 3rd, “Death at The Dog Show” in the car on my next long drive. These are light, enjoyable reads. Nothing too taxing on the brain.

We Solve Murders-Richard Osman. 4/5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

A a retired detective who loves his quiet life. His adrenaline loving daughter in law who travels the world protection the rich and famous. A dead body, a bag full of money, private airoplanes and some colourful characters caught up along the way make this a fast passed fun read. If you have read any of Richard Osmans, The Thursday Murder Club and enjoyed them you’ll adore this series.

The Marlow Murder Club. Robert Thorogood. 5/5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

There are 3 books in this series and I loved them all. The author Robert Thorogood created the Death In Paradise TV series so you’ll get a feeling for the style of books that he writes. Three women are brought together by the murder of a mutual acquaintance. They’re all very different personalities, and strike up an unlikely friendship. Judith is the oldest of the friends. Her slightly dilapidated mansion is on the Thames and she likes to swim naked from her boathouse each day. 😂For this reason alone I knew I’d love her character!!! Often being overlooked or underestimated by younger people, these characters turn it into their superpower….much to the bewilderment of the local police force. Judith creates crossword puzzles for a newspaper, has a sharp analytical mind and acid whit. I’ll let you discover the other 2 characters who are equally fabulous.

Manifest. Roxie Nafousi. 3/5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

I thought this book was going to be somewhere in the realm of a self help book, the power of positive thinking, or goal setting. It is all of those things, but so much more. Sometimes we all need to get a bit of clarity around life, and to turn down the volume and constant chatter about perfection or rather the “perception” of perfection. Roxie is very candid about her struggles with drugs and alcohol and how it wasn’t a terrible upbringing or childhood trauma that sent her on that path, more her low self esteem, lack of directions or purpose. I really liked this book, and I feel it would be a great book for someone in their late teens or early twenties.

Food For Life. Tim Spector 5/5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

I tried to explain it but I think this blurb says is all “In his new book, Tim Spector creates a unique, thorough, evidence-based guide to the real science of eating. Moving away from misleading notions of calories or nutritional breakdowns, Food for Life empowers us to make our own food choices based on a deeper understanding of the true benefits and harms that come from our daily transactions with the foods around us.”

Wives Like Us. Plum Sykes 4/5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

‘Brilliantly Satirical’-Daily Mail.

Take a grand English country house, one (heartbroken) American divorcee, three rich wives, two tycoons, a pair of miniature sausage dogs and one (bereaved) butler; put them all into the blender and out comes the impossibly funny Wives Like Us.

Although we live in Australia, I imagine every country town has similar characters. I”m interested to hear if you recognised any. 😂 😈