These are the books our Books Editor, Meneesha Govender received recently. They may be reviewed later
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Emma
by Alexander McCall Smith (Harper Collins, R265)
Think Jane Austen’s Emma with a modern twist and this, in essence, is Alexander McCall Smith’s novel of the same title.
Emma Woodhouse returns from university to a house in turmoil.
Her sister has been whisked away on a motorbike to London, while her father worries about his girls.
Emma is more than ready to rule the roost, often in the form of rearranging the furniture.
But for someone who knows everything, unfortunately Emma doesn’t know her own heart.
There is only one person who can put a dent in Emma’s rock solid confidence – George Knightley.
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The Catalyst
by Helena Coggan (Hodder UK, R285)
The first draft of Helena Coggan’s debut novel was written when she was 13. She has wanted to write stories since she was six.
The world in this novel is divided into the magically Gifted and the non-magical Ashkind.
But Rose Elmsworth is different and it is a closely guarded secret.
Rose works with her father at a brutal law enforcement organisation – the Department.
The Department is run by the Gifted and its aim is to control the Ashkind.
An old enemy is threatening to start a war – a war that will test Rose’s loyalties.
Will Rose protect her secret or the people she loves?
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Genocide of One
by Kazuaki Takano (Hodder UK, R285)
The US president has learnt of a terrifying new threat to national security, so US mercenary, Jonathan Yaeger, is called in.
His task is to lead a team into the Congo to eliminate a mysterious enemy. Yaeger takes the job because it will help pay for treatment for his dying son.
In the Congo the team learns the identity of their target – a 3-year-old boy named Akili, who is the smartest human being on the planet.
Akili must be killed before he reaches his full potential, but he is also Yaeger’s only hope to save his son.
Time is running out and Yaeger is torn between following orders or saving Akili who has the power to save humanity… or destroy it.
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Prodigal Son
by Danielle Steel (Bantam Press)
Investment banker Peter McDowell loses everything in a bad deal. The stress takes its toll and causes a rift in his marriage too.
His only option is to retreat to a lakeside cottage he inherited from his parents 20 years ago.
But he dreads seeing his twin brother, Michael, again. It has been 20 years since they last spoke or saw each other.
Michael is a small-town doctor, a devoted family man, and lives to serve his community selflessly.
Only Peter knows how Michael manipulated their parents – it is what drove Peter away in the first place.
To Peter’s surprise, their reunion is tender and happy.
But as he goes through his dead mother’s journals, Peter begins to question what lies beneath Michael’s perfect exterior.