One of Us by Elizabeth Day review – the inner lives of Tory MPs

Driven by a whodunnit-ish plot, this state-of-the-nation sequel to The Party features a family at the centre of British political life

Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight review – heartfelt child’s-eye view of last days of Rhodesia

Embeth Davidtz stars and directs, with outstanding performances from Zikhona Bali and seven-year-old Lexi Venter as Bobo as white minority rule ends

Death of an Ordinary Man by Sarah Perry review – a brilliant meditation on mortality

The Essex Serpent author offers a moving account of her father-in-law’s final illness that will resonate widely

Mr Blake at Your Service review – John Malkovich does worst French accent ever in baffling comedy misfire

Gilles Legardinier’s broad dramedy set in a chateau, co-starring Fanny Ardant and Émilie Dequenne, is an ordeal to watch. Sacré bleu!

What Have I Done? by Ben Elton review – a curious mixture of insight and rampaging ego

The Young Ones and Blackadder writer is sharp on the workings of the comedy industry – and not shy about listing his celebrity admirers

Shadow Ticket by Thomas Pynchon review – his first novel in 12 years tunes into rising fascism in the US

The 88-year-old’s jaunty whodunnit, set during the prohibition era, features clowns, Nazis and a missing cheese heiress

Last and First Men review – sci-fi dance can’t match Tilda Swinton’s cool apocalypse

Composer Jóhann Jóhannson’s moody film, narrated by Swinton and inspired by a classic novel, gains little from a live dance interpretation

Half Light by Mahesh Rao review – a tale of forbidden love in India

A love affair between two men in Darjeeling comes to a violent end in this unfocused tale of heartbreak, secrecy – and the separate lives they return to in Mumbai

Amity by Nathan Harris review – perceptive portrait of slavery’s aftermath

This follow-up to the Booker-listed The Sweetness of Water charts the perilous journeys of a brother and sister in the Reconstruction era, from the deep south to Mexico

When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows by Steven Pinker review – communication, broken down

The Harvard psychologist on unwritten rules, social contracts, shared logic – and what happens when they fall apart

Lord of the Flies review – Piggy’s plea for diplomacy feels more futile than ever

William Golding’s bleak vision of civilisation holds up after 70 years, but Nigel Williams’s 1995 adaptation, revived with a sparky cast, might not be cruel enough for our times

Children and teens roundup – the best new picture books and novels

A bothered bear; a great guide to drawing; a life of Josephine Baker; a role model daughter; a search for words and more

Cat on the Road to Findout by Yusuf/Cat Stevens review – fame, faith and charity

The enigmatic singer-songwriter on pop stardom, becoming a Muslim and returning to the stage decades later

Cannon by Lee Lai review – a meditative graphic novel laced with horror and humour

The author of Stone Fruit returns with the story of a young queer Chinese woman struggling to express her emotions and be heard

My Name Is Emilia del Valle by Isabel Allende audiobook review – portrait of a fiercely independent young woman

Sent from San Francisco to report on the war in late-19th century Chile, a young writer embarks on a journey of self-discovery in this tale of love, loss and liberation