Bestselling author and MBE Adele Parks shares her picks of the month, from a festive whodunnit and a charming Christmas fiction to a gritty novel full of secrets – plus a practical guide to living your best life.
The Christmas Appeal
by Janice Hallet (Profile Books, £12.99)
The Fairway Players of Lower Lockwood are busy rehearsing their festive pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk, to raise money for the church roof appeal. What could be more innocent and charming than that? However, despite the season, expected goodwill and cheer is distinctly lacking amongst the amateur dramatics enthusiasts. Sarah-Jane is fending off threats to her new position as Chair, the fibreglass beanstalk might be full of asbestos, and someone is intent on ruining the panto even before the curtain goes up. Then “Santa” winds up dead, raising the pressing questions, how did he end up on someone’s naughty list, and whose naughty list exactly? I chuckled as I was drawn into this deeply intriguing, warm and ingenious whodunnit. The construct is freshly approached by Janice Hallet and it’s easy to see why she is fast drawing in readers by their thousands. We are asked to join lawyers Femi and Charlotte as they read the round robins, examine the emails and pore over the police transcripts of the villagers in an attempt to solve the mystery. I read this clever, twisty tale in one greedy sitting. It’s an utter delight as it is full of festive spirit and spite!
Keep Her Secret by Mark Edwards (Amazon Publishing, £8.99)
After twenty years apart Matthew and Helena have re-ignited their college romance. They take a romantic trip to Iceland but this isn’t all snuggling next to a log fire, gazing at the Northern Lights and drinking hot chocolate. Helena falls off a cliff as Matthew is taking a photo of the spectacular scenery. He saves her from certain death and she confides in him her darkest secrets. Unfortunately, a stranger overhears their conversation and decides to blackmail Helena. Events spiral out of control in this dark thriller as besotted Matthew goes to extraordinary lengths to protect his lover. A roller-coaster ride, racing through countless twists and shocks as this dreamy romance turns into a nightmare and we hurtle towards an unpredictable ending.
The Ski Trip by Sarah Clarke (HarperCollins, £9.99)
Four friends embark on a boys’ skiing holiday in the Alps. They anticipate a weekend of fun, drinking and healthy competition on the slopes. But then Tom falls to his death. This terrible accident means his widow, Zoe, must travel t
