Thankfully the sun has finally started to shine and I can say with only some trepidation that summer is here (cue the rain). I know that as soon as the sun makes an appearance, people can’t wait to get out their milky legs and head out for some adventure. Me, I prefer to relax in the back garden or a peaceful park with a good book and an ice cream…bliss!
Cheaper than a day out at an amusement park (I hate rides) and not as messy as a windy day at the beach (how does the sand get everywhere?), a good book can have all the adventure you need. Plenty of twists and turns, a journey of discovery and lot of new, interesting people to meet. So pop on some sunscreen, get the drinks chilling and settle down with one of my must read books of the summer.
1. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
If you haven’t already read Gone Girl by the wonderful New York Times best seller, where on earth have you been? One of the biggest books of the past few years Gone Girl is the fast paced page-turner that follows married couple Nick and Amy Dunne in the months following their fifth wedding anniversary.
Walking up on the day of their anniversary, Nick discovers that his beautiful wife is missing. As the focus of a media frenzy, Nick soon sees the spotlight turned squarely on him as suspicions arise amid allegations that Amy was afraid of her husband. Could Nick really be a killer, or is there more to this story than meets the eye?
It’s due to be released as a major motion picture at the end of this year starring Ben Affleck and Rosemund Pike, so pick up a copy and see what all the fuss is about.
2. And The Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini
If there is an author that can really make you feel every word they write, then it is Khaled Hosseini. I cried so much during The Kite Runner that I may have caused a tissue shortage in the North East of England.
And The Mountains Echoed is a story centred on the unbreakable bond of love between ten-year-old Abdullah and his younger sister, Pari. With no mother and the constant struggles of poverty, Abdullah would do anything for his sister, the real light of his life. So when his father leaves with Pari to look for work, he is determined that he wont be separated from her. Get the tissues out and get ready to be moved by this epic tale of love, heartache and hope.
3. The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith
Fans of The Cuckoo’s Calling will be pleased to know that J.K. Rowling has penned another novel under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. The Silkworm is a truly addictive crime novel that has plenty of twists an turns, you will struggle to put it down.
We are back with Private Detective Cormoran Strike and his assistant Robin Ellacott, investigating the disappearance of novelist Owen Quine. The duo quickly discover that Quine has just completed a manuscript defaming almost everyone he knows; if published it would be sure to destroy lives – there are plenty of people with the motivation to make sure he disappears for good. When the author is found brutally murdered, Strike finds himself in the midst of an investigation unlike any other, pitting their wits against those of a ruthless killer.
4. I Am Pilgirm by Terry Hayes
For a completely engrossing thriller that will grip from beginning to end, look no further than Terry Hayes’ I Am Pilgrim. With a wonderfully detailed plot and really well developed characters, you will be so fully immersed you may find yourself reading this book in just one sitting
‘Pilgrim’ is the codename for a man that doesn’t exist – he belonged to the secretive world of espionage and the US Intelligence, before disappearing into retirement. However, before he disappeared into anonymity, he wrote a book on criminal forensic investigation which mirrors the murder of a woman in a New York hotel room. The plot moves at a dizzying pace from here, from a public beheading in Mecca, through the streets of Paris, to a death camp in Alsace, in a race against time to stop a mass murder that will bring America to its knees. Hold on tight and get ready for a roller coaster of a book, with more twists and turns than a mountain road, that will knock you off your feet.
5. The Girl Who Saved The King of Sweden by Jonas Jonasson
For those who want something a little more light-hearted that will give you a giggle or two, The Girl Who Saved The King of Sweden is a must have addition to your book collection. Riding high from the success of his debut novel, The Hundred-Year-Old-Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared, Jonasson comes back with a wonderfully witty tale of Nombeko Mayeki who attempts to change her future, but instead changes everything.
Blamed for an accident in which a drunken engineer ran her over, Nombeko is made to work form him – a man in charge of project that is absolutely vital to security of South Africa. However, unlike Nombeko, this engineer is not good with numbers and he has made a terrible mistake – a mistake only Nombeko knows about. Now on the run from a ruthless and determined secret service, she has the fate of the world and the King of Sweden resting on her shoulders.
6. I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
The great Maya Angelou sadly passed away at the end of May, leaving behind a literary legacy that moved and inspired millions. Take a journey back to when Angelou published the first of her six autobiographical novels.
I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings is a truly inspirational read, chronicling her childhood years with her Grandmother in the 1930’s American south. Beautiful and tragic, Angelou doesn’t shy away from the sometimes horrifying experiences that shaped her life. A must read for anyone, not just fans of autobiographical novels.
7. Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King
For something a little darker that will keep you up at night, pick up a copy of Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King. The horror writing juggernaut is back with a suspense-filled thriller that follows retired detective Bill Hodges who’s still haunted by the cases he left open. One case in particular occupies his mind – the brutal murder of 8 people lining up amongst hundreds of others at a job fair, killed when a lone driver ploughs through the crowd in a stolen Mercedes.
Hodges receives a letter claiming to be from the callous Mercedes driver, stating that he will kill again. Can the retired detective stop the determined killer before he strikes again? Hundreds of lives hang in the balance in this tension-filled race against time.
There’s a lot to choose from; which do you think you’ll read first?
