Books of the Month October 2024

OCTOBER BOOKS PAGE

This month we are featuring the latest book by bestselling author Jodi Picoult as she weaves the timelines between Elizabethan England and modern day Manhattan. Fans of the Rabbit Hole Detectives podcast will be thrilled as Richard Coles, Charles Spencer and Cat Jarman bring their general knowlede and trivia facts into book form for the first time. Benjamin Stevenson brings murder, mystery and magic, Stephanie Wrobel takes us to the Hitchcock Hotel and a chilling ghost story from Del Sandeen.

By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult. Playwright Melina Green writes a play inspired by her ancestor Emilia Bassano, but fears the biased theatre world. Her friend submits the play under a male pseudonym, forcing Melina to confront her fears. In 1581, Emilia Bassano, a ward of aristocrats, is denied her own voice. Determined to write, she secretly plans to present her play by paying an actor named William Shakespeare to front her work. Told through intertwining timelines, this novel explores ambition and the sacrifices women make to have their stories heard, ensuring Emilia Bassano’s legacy endures. Published 19th October 2024 by Michael Joseph. Order Here

The Rabbit Hole Book by Richard Coles, Charles Spencer, Cat Jarman. Have you ever wondered why pubs have certain names, why jet lag exists, or where the paperclip originated? If so, this book is perfect for trivia lovers and general knowledge enthusiasts. Forensically researched, infused with humour, it's a delightful mix of historical trivia and unknown facts. It features lists, and amusing anecdotes, making it both fun and informative. Uncover the weird and wonderful provenance of their favourite items, both real and metaphorical. Be surprised and intrigued as you explore the stories that lie behind everyday objects and take a deep dive into the rabbit hole! Published 10th October 2024 by Michael Joseph. Order Here

Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson.  My name is Ernest Cunningham, while I’m not a detective, I have a knack for mysteries. I’m backstage at the Christmas show of world-famous magician Rylan Blaze, whose benefactor has just been murdered. Suspects include the magician’s assistant and a hypnotist, both skilled in misdirection. Clues are puzzling: one suspect is covered in blood with no memory of how it got there, and a murder occurs without anyone entering the room. Then there’s the advent calendar, because it’s Christmas after all. I must race against time to catch the killer before it’s too late, but can I uncover the truth and make it home for Christmas alive? Published 24th October 2024 by Michael Joseph. Order Here

The Hitchcock Hotel by Stephanie Wrobel.  Alfred Smettle adores Hitchcock, making him the perfect founder of The Hitchcock Hotel, a sprawling Victorian house in the White Mountains. Guests explore movie props, enjoy round-the-clock screenings, and visit an aviary with fifty crows. For the hotel's first anniversary, Alfred invites five college friends he hasn’t spoken to in years. Everything goes well until one sees someone standing outside her shower curtain, and another becomes violently ill after eating the food. Then, mobile phones mysteriously disappear. Trapped in the remote location, tension rises, and things get worse, after all, no Hitchcock set is complete without a dead body. Published 10th October 2024 by Michael Joseph. Order Here

This Cursed House by Del Sandeen. In 1962 Louisiana, the Duchon family feels superior to their black peers in a decaying New Orleans mansion. In Chicago, Jemma Barker longs to escape the cold and the spirits she sees. When she accepts a job offer from the Duchon family, she realises she’s been lured under false pretenses; the Duchons believe Jemma can break their curse. As she investigates, she uncovers secrets about the family’s past that connect her fate to theirs. Spirits haunting the mansion also have messages for her. With hidden truths threatening her safety, Jemma must confront her ability to navigate this web of secrets. Published 24th October 2024 by Michael Joseph. Order Here

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