Soft Core by Brittany Newell review – highly strung strippers and cranky madams

The writer’s impressive second novel about an erotic dancer and newbie dominatrix straddles thriller and satire in its depiction of desire and longing

Dark Like Under by Alice Chadwick review – the kids aren’t all right

Against a backdrop of Thatcher and the Falklands, this sharp debut punctures the facade of life at a middle-England grammar school

In brief: The Curious Life of the Cuckoo; The Dream Hotel; The Rising Down – review

An extensive hymn of praise to a springtime songbird; a gripping tale of a none-too-distant dystopia; and a history of the land and people of a small part of Sussex

‘He contains the whole of literature’: is Dickens better than Shakespeare?

After rereading the entire works of the great Victorian novelist during the pandemic, Peter Conrad became convinced – whisper it – that Dickens is an even greater writer than that other British literary giant, the Bard

Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie review – candid conversations with friends

The author’s first novel since 2013 – a stately sisterhood saga about a group of women whose lives haven’t turned out quite as planned – continually reframes our understanding of the quartet, practically offering four books for the price of one

Colum McCann: ‘I like having my back against the wall’

The New York-based Irish author on being compelled to write about the big issues, his fear for friends in the Middle East and why Frankenstein is a metaphor for our times

James Bond nightclubs, vodka, aftershave: 007 writer on the spy’s future with Amazon

As the Bond franchise heads to the online giant, thriller author William Boyd foresees a slew of spin-offs and says AI is not a threat to human screenwriters

Theory & Practice by Michelle de Kretser review – art v reality

The award-winning Australian’s deconstruction of the novel form is a rich pleasure

James by Percival Everett audiobook review – reimagining Huckleberry Finn

Dominic Hoffman narrates this satirical, Booker-nominated reworking of the children’s classic, written from the perspective of the enslaved Jim

Andrey Kurkov: ‘At 17, I got my hands on an illegal copy of The Gulag Archipelago’

The Ukrainian author on the joys of Jack London, cracking Hermann Hesse, and the soldier’s tale he can no longer reread

Dark Like Under by Alice Chadwick review – teenage kicks

This 1980s-set debut novel takes place over 24 hours as the ripple effects of a teacher’s death are explored

Carrion Crow by Heather Parry review – body horror with historical bite

The ‘mad woman in the attic’ is an archetypal force to be reckoned with in this gothic tale of metamorphosis

Gene Hackman and pianist wife Betsy Arakawa found dead at home alongside one of their dogs

The Oscar-winning star of The French Connection, The Conversation, Superman and The Poseidon Adventure has died, along with his classical musician wife

Jennifer Johnston, celebrated Irish novelist and playwright, dies aged 95

Once lauded ‘the best writer in Ireland’, Johnston began publishing in her 40s and was Booker-shortlisted for her 1977 novel set during the Troubles, Shadows on Our Skin

Don’t Make Me Laugh by Julia Raeside review – more monstrous men

The relationship between a predatory male comedian and a female producer rings true in this darkly funny debut