Oh, the joy of curling up on a winter’s afternoon to immerse oneself in a compelling crime novel or TV drama featuring victims and sleuths. The story will be set in a picturesque, seemingly safe place

Hero sum game

You’re not in control – now what?

Finding hope in seedy alleys and dive bars

Finding poignancy in the dread and dislocation of modern living, London four-piece DRY CLEANING have garnered admirers including Nick Cave, Grace Jones and Jeff Tweedy. As new album Secret Love refines their nervy post-punk sprechgesang, the band set their sights on new targets. “Art and humour are our main weapon,” they tell Stephen Troussé

There’s been a glut of popular media featuring fight-to-the-death style scenarios in recent years. Alice in Borderland, The Hunger Games, Squid Game – stories of normal people being thrust into life-o