Original Sin by Kathryn Paige Harden review – are criminals born or made?
A psychologist delves into the genetics of bad behaviour in a book littered with fascinating scientific findings
Sororicidal by Edwina Preston review – a tale of two sisters tinged with danger
The author deftly captures the intricacies and subtle violence of a sibling relationship. As both girls age, our sympathies shift again and again
Death of an Ordinary Man by Sarah Perry audiobook review – an extraordinary chronicle of terminal illness
The author’s father-in-law died just nine days after his cancer diagnosis, inspiring this moving and sharply observed account of his last days
The Palm House by Gwendoline Riley review – the laureate of bad relationships
Riley has always skewered cruelty with shattering exactitude. What’s new in this story of two old friends in London is the delicacy she brings to moments of tenderness
Under Water by Tara Menon review – love, loss and a longing for the ocean
This debut about female friendship and environmental fragility set after the 2004 tsunami in Thailand is strong on grief, but the storytelling remains uneven
Baldwin by Nicholas Boggs review – the relationships that drove a genius
A new biography puts Baldwin’s sexuality – and the men he loved – front and centre
A Rebel and a Traitor by Rory Carroll review – the extraordinary story of Roger Casement
A journalist tells the improbable tale of a British diplomat who worked to free Ireland – and paid the ultimate price
Transcription by Ben Lerner review – a stunning exploration of technology and storytelling
Ranging from quantum mechanics to eating disorders to the nature of fiction, this is a breathtaking interrogation of family, connection and memory
Lázár by Nelio Biedermann review – a Hungarian epic from a 22-year-old author
The fortunes of a single family are entwined with the turmoil of the 20th century in this ambitious, gothic-inflected debut
Monsters in the Archives by Caroline Bicks review – the writing secrets of Stephen King
A deep dive into the horror novelist’s archives reveals pedantry, penny-pinching, and a total redraft of Carrie
Children and teens roundup – the best new picture books and novels
Musical inspiration from Corinne Bailey Rae; danger in a magical academy; the adventures of an otter pup; a YA queer gothic fantasy, and more
Love Lane by Patrick Gale review – a homecoming tale with echoes of Brokeback Mountain
This kindly and companionable story of a man returning to 50s England after living in Canada offers a colourful evocation of the times
No New York by Adele Bertei review – a vivid, vibrant, musical coming of age
1970s and 80s New York are viscerally evoked in this potent memoir of the ‘no wave’ scene
A Far-flung Life by ML Stedman review – a masterful examination of loss
In her follow-up to The Light Between Oceans, the Western Australian author follows generations of a farming family as they weather calamity and change
The Two Roberts by Damian Barr audiobook review – love and lost dreams in bohemian London
This fictionalised account of the relationship between real-life artists Bobby MacBryde and Robert Colquhoun vividly depicts their romance and rise to fame – and the fall from grace that followed