Books of the Month October 2025

Books of the Month

October

It's a mixed bunch of books for this month.

Dive into a murder mystery with The Dogwalker’s Detective Agency, get swept up in festive romance with I’ll Be Home for Christmas, or explore magical worlds in The Rainfall Market and The Women of Wild Hill. For laughs and inspiration, Keep Laughing is Chris McCausland’s heartwarming memoir, while cricket fans can relive the magic of the Ashes with Phil Tufnell’s Tuffer’s Ashes Heroes. 

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The Dogwalker’s Detective Agency by Michael Hogan. When Charlie Boardman and his trusty dog Ruby, stumble across a body in the woods, life in the quiet coastal town of Framstone is turned upside down. The local pub landlord has been murdered, and Charlie—alongside his fellow dogwalkers—can’t resist poking their noses into the mystery. But what starts as a bit of amateur sleuthing quickly becomes dangerous. Anonymous threats arrive, another body turns up, and Charlie realises he might be in over his head. Can he unmask a killer before he becomes their next victim? A witty, gripping cosy crime with plenty of twists—and lots of wagging tails.
Published by Penguin. 9th October 2025. £9.99. Order here

I’ll Be Home for Christmas by Jenny Bayliss. Fred Hallow-Hart isn’t exactly thrilled about heading back to Pine Bluff. After a breakup and an eviction, she doesn’t have much choice—and soon finds herself working in her mum’s Christmas cracker shop. But when her childhood best friend Ryan reappears, Fred starts to feel unexpected butterflies. Between festive family chaos, buried secrets, and a heart that isn’t quite healed, Fred has to decide: is she ready to let go of the past and embrace new love? A sparkling holiday romance filled with warmth, wit, and plenty of festive cheer. With snow, sparkle, and a dash of small-town charm.
Published by Penguin 23rd October 2025. £9.99. Order here

The Rainfall Market by You Yeong-Gwang. There’s a whisper about an old house: send a letter, and if you’re chosen, a ticket will arrive. That’s exactly what happens to Serin, who finds herself invited to a magical market that only opens when it rains. There, she’s given a startling offer—to swap her life for a better one. The catch? She has just one week to find true happiness, or risk being trapped in the market forever. With her loyal cat Isha by her side, Serin searches through bookshops, salons, and perfumeries, all while something dark stalks her footsteps. Lyrical and strange, this is a modern fairytale that asks what happiness really means and how far you’d go to find it. Published by Michael Joseph. 2nd October 2025. £14.99. Order here

The Women of Wild Hill by Kirsten Miller. For generations, the Duncan women have lived at Wild Hill, their magic growing stronger with each new heir. But after tragedy struck, the last of the bloodline scattered—Brigid chasing fame in California, Phoebe quietly brewing tonics on a Texas ranch, and Sybil making her mark as a chef. Now, fate calls them back. The Old One has chosen them to lead a magical revolution, but before they can change the world, they must confront the secrets and wounds of their own family. This is a tale of women, witchcraft, and legacy and the unstoppable strength that comes when women stand together.
Published by HarperCollins. 23rd October 2025. £22. Order here

Keep Laughing by Chris McCausland. You might know Chris McCausland from Strictly Come Dancing, but long before he hit the dance floor, he was already a much-loved stand-up, actor, and TV personality. In his memoir, Chris shares his journey from growing up in Liverpool, to losing his sight at 22, to (almost) becoming a spy for MI5—before comedy came calling. With his trademark humour and charm, he takes us behind the scenes of his life and career, promising a story that’s as funny as it is inspiring. Honest, sharp, and full of heart, this is one of those rare memoirs that’ll make you laugh out loud while quietly lifting your spirits.
Published by Michael Joseph. 9th October 2025. £25. Order here

Tuffer’s Ashes Heroes by Phil Tufnell. Cricket fans, this one’s for you. Beloved commentator and former England spinner Phil Tufnell has handpicked 50 of his ultimate Ashes “heroes”—from Botham, Flintoff, and Broad to Warne, Ponting, and Smith. Packed with hilarious anecdotes, affectionate portraits, and Tuffers’ warm storytelling, this is cricket writing at its best. Whether you’ve followed the Ashes for decades or you’re just learning the ropes, this book is a joyful love letter to the game’s biggest legends. You can almost hear the roar of the crowd and smell the fresh-cut grass as you turn the pages.
Published by HarperCollins. 23rd October 2025. £22. Order here

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