Just Arrived…

These are some of the books our books editor received recently. They may be reviewed later

The Fall

by Claire McGowan (Headline, R190)

Charlotte has the perfect life and is about to marry Dan, a wealthy banker.

But soon her perfect life lays in pieces around her when she learns that Dan has been hiding a secret that pushes him closer to the edge.

Then he is arrested for the murder of a nightclub owner and Charlotte’s perfect world falls apart. Convinced of his innocence, Charlotte is determined to fight for him.

But things take a surprising twist when Keisha, an angry stranger, knocks on her door.

Keisha has a story to tell and what she knows threatens to put Charlotte and everyone she loves in danger.

Detective Matthew Hegarty is flushed with the success of Dan’s arrest.

But he has doubts and they are eating away at him. Not to mention the beautiful Charlotte, who is determined to prove Dan’s innocence.

Three stories. One truth. Everyone has to brace themselves for the fall.

***

Please Look After Mother

by Kyung-Sook Shin (Orion, R120)

So-nyo is a wife and mother to five grown-up children.

She is the constant in all of their lives, supporting and loving them no matter the cost. Often she is unacknowledged and taken for granted.

One day as she travels to Seoul by train, she disappears.

As her family searches for her desperately, they begin to learn about the real So-nyo – her hopes and desires that she kept hidden for so many years.

Through many revelations the family begins to paint a picture of So-nyo as they never knew her.

Soon they realise a truth about mothers and children – that love is a combination of affection, exasperation, hope and guilt. Please “Look After Mother” promises to be a gem of a read.

***

The Killables

by Gemma Malley (Hodder & Stoughton, R185)

The City is a place where Evil has been eradicated. Citizens of the City may only enter after having the “evil” parts of their brains removed.

Once that is done, they are labelled according to how “good” they are. If they show any signs of being evil, they are labelled a “K”. And very soon thereafter all people labelled “K” disappear.

I can see a Hollywood movie in this book already.

***

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

by Melisa Marr (Simon & Schuster, R110)

Mara Dyer survives a horrific accident in which her boyfriend and two best friends die.

She wakes up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there or her past life.

On her doctors’ suggestion she starts a new life in a new city and a new school, hoping that her memories return.

But it’s not that simple.

She keeps seeing the faces of her dead friends everywhere. And even more disconcerting – she sees other people’s deaths before they happen.

Add the breathtakingly beautiful Noah Shaw who will not leave her alone to the mix, and things definitely start spicing up.

The question is – does he really care about her, or does he have a secret agenda?

***

Firespell

by Chloe Neill (Orion, R105)

Lily Parker is the new girl at the prestigious St Sophia’s Boarding School.

Being the new girl means she has to suffer the many practical jokes of her spoiled, fashion-obsessed classmates.

Schoolwork and practical jokes are bad enough, but then Lily starts hearing strange noises and seeing bizarre things around the creepy school.

Scout, her roommate is the only person keeping her together. But soon she too starts acting weird – disappearing late at night and refusing to explain her absences.

Then Lily becomes trapped in the catacombs under the school and she soon finds out what it is that is occupying Lily’s time as she sees her friend being pursued by a very real monster.

***

Faery Tales & Nightmares

by Melissa Marr (HarperCollins, R95)

This book is part of Melissa Marr’s Wicked Lovely series.

We meet characters from other stories in the series as well as new ones.

It’s a book of enchantments, creatures, dark and light – a heady mix that is meant to beguile the teen reader. - Meneesha Govender