These are some of the books our books editor, Meneesha Govender, received recently. They may be reviewed later
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Five Days Left
by Julie Lawson Timmer (Century)
Successful lawyer, wife and mother – Mara is dealing with a devastating illness.
She has given herself five days to make a difficult decision, for the sake of her family.
Scott, who lives thousands of kilometres away, is a foster parent to a troubled 8-year-old boy.
His five-day countdown revolves around returning this beloved boy to his biological mother.
Through an online forum, the two connect and develop a friendship to help them through the most difficult week of their lives.
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Behind Closed Doors
by Susan Lewis (Random House Struik)
Fourteen-year-old Sophie Monroe vanishes from her home one night with her computer, cellphone and a bag of clothes.
It looks as if she has run away from home.
But as police investigate her disappearance, they discover that her community has a number of secrets.
It appears everyone has something to hide.
And any one of them could have something to do with Sophie’s disappearance.
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The Girl Next Door
by Ruth Rendell (Hutchinson)
Beneath the meadows of Loughton, Essex, runs a network of tunnels that were dug up before World War II. A group of children discover them and they become their secret place.
Seventy years later as developers are working on a new house, they uncover a grisly secret.
As much as the Loughton landscape has changed, so too have the people. Friends who played in those tunnels have married, died, moved on or disappeared.
Now a detective must investigate a case of possible murder.
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Princess: More Tears to Cry
by Jean Sasson (Doubleday)
Jean Sasson may be remembered for her Princess trilogy that highlighted the treatment of women in Saudi Arabia.
In this new book, the author and Princess “Sultana” return to reveal how the struggle for basic human rights continues.
Lots has changed in Saudi Arabia since the first book Princess: The True Story of Life Behind the Veil was published 22 years ago.
Saudi women have been able to become doctors and start their own businesses.
But on other levels oppression continues.
This book is a collection of stories as told to Sasson and Princess “Sultana”.