In the Approaches review – Nicola Barker spawns wild chaos

This 'romantic comedy' set on the Sussex coast is dazzling…when Barker remembers to let the reader in on the fun, writes Edward Docx

Her review – Harriet Lane’s chilling revenge noir

This clever tale of a twisted relationship between two near-neighbours is an arresting psychological thriller, writes Lucy Scholes

The Summit: The Biggest Battle of the Second World War review – history with scholarship and verve

Peter Preston enjoys Ed Conway's lively account of the 'rancid stew' of the crucial 1944 Bretton Woods summit and its consequences

Baghdad: City of Peace, City of Blood – ‘sublime beauty, unimaginable horror’

Justin Marozzi's vivid history of Baghdad puts the city's recent troubles into revealing perspective, writes Anthony Sattin

The Year of the Rat by Clare Furniss review – a teenager’s battle with grief

A young girl's life is turned upside down by the sudden death of her mother and arrival of a hated half-sister. By Mary Hoffman

The best science fiction novels published in June – review roundup

Eric Brown on Claire North's The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August, Nnedi Okorafor's Lagoon, James Lovegrove's Age of Shiva, Neil Williamson's The Moon King and Sarah Lotz's The Three

Mr Mercedes review – Stephen King’s everyday killer of recession-hit America

Stephen King's latest novel will leave you more afraid of the guy next door than of ghosts and ghouls, writes Stephanie Merritt

Littlejohn’s Lost World review – why modern life is rubbish

Daily Mail columnist Richard Littlejohn's memoir laments the good old days – in painful detail, writes Catherine Bennett

The best books on Afghanistan: start your reading here

Pushpinder Khaneka: our literary tour of Afghanistan takes in tales of war, kite-flying, the Taliban and patience stones

The Forgiven review – Lawrence Osborne’s macabre and compelling tale

Justin Cartwright is gripped by Lawrence Osborne's story of drama and debauchery among wealthy westerners in Morocco

Bright Travellers review – Fiona Benson’s impressive first collection

Fiona Benson transforms life's surprises, accidents and let-downs into poems of great beauty in her bold, meticulous debut, writes Kate Kellaway

Meadowland review – John Lewis-Stempel’s fascinating field study

A year in the life of one English meadow offers a portrait of flora and fauna rare in its colour and drama, writes Tom Cox

Elizabeth Is Missing review – Emma Healey’s impressive debut

Choosing a narrator-heroine with dementia is inevitably frustrating in Emma Healey's otherwise highly enjoyable, much anticipated first novel, writes Viv Groskop