Damascus by Christos Tsiolkas review – the gory birth of Christianity
The author of The Slap plunges into the tumult of early Christianity, with a visceral portrait of the life of Saint Paul
Dragman by Steven Appleby review – a secret identity with a difference
The cartoonist’s superhero yarn explores cross-dressing with humour and warmth
The Quarry by Ben Halls review – men on the margins
Lonely working-class guys from a London estate dream of a new life in this tender, droll debut collection
The Wolves in the Walls review – Neil Gaiman adventure brims with thrills
Gaiman’s graphic novel turns into an atmospheric show, as a girl tries to find out what’s scratching in the walls of her home
Independence Square by AD Miller review – the orange revolution unpeeled
The former Moscow correspondent delves into Ukraine’s recent history for this classy thriller
English Monsters by James Scudamore review – beautifully paced and well observed
This deft tale of abuse at an English boarding school is both sinister and tender
In brief: When Time Stopped; The Book of Echoes; The Adventures of Maud West, Lady Detective – reviews
A gripping family memoir reaching back to Nazi Germany, a debut novel tracing two centuries of colonialism and a quest to discover the identity of a pioneering female sleuth
Broken Greek by Pete Paphides review – a smash hit
A witty and joyful tale of self-discovery and brilliant music titbits make for an evocative memoir by the rock critic
This Lovely City by Louise Hare review – passion and prejudice
Post-Windrush London provides the setting for a poignant love story and twisting mystery
The week in theatre: Pass Over; Love, Loss & Chianti and more – review
Antoinette Nwandu’s 2017 play about the US race divide flits thrillingly from laughter to rage
Capital and Ideology by Thomas Piketty review – down the rabbit hole of bright abstractions
The French economist’s weighty tome goes long on the clash of ideas, but is a little short on practicalities
The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel review – a shoo-in for the Booker prize
The final novel in Mantel’s Thomas Cromwell trilogy is, true to form, another masterpiece
Revolution review: KT McFarland’s problematic paean to Trump
The longtime Republican aide seems to want back in – she might want to rethink her ideas on the civil war and slavery first
Tribes by David Lammy review – how to mend our divided society
Episodes of memoir, including DNA tests, a police frisking and a death threat, enliven the Labour MP’s first-rate study of social division
Children’s and teens roundup – the best new picture books and novels
Playful visions of a vulnerable Earth, a scheme to save a mosque, adventures on a train – and more