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Jeff Lindsay - Dearly Devoted Dexter

Orion ISBN 0752877887

A highly ingenious scenario which reminded me of the brilliant Jules Hardy's Mr Candid, where the bad guy, in this case a forensic blood fellow, is a serial killer with heart. With an incredible insight into a killer's mind, alongside an exciting tale, this is first-rate. It's the second in a series and, despite the fact that you should despise the killer, you can't help loving Dexter. He is such a complex character: beautifully drawn, charming and hideous in equal measures. Do go and meet him.

Kate Kerrigan - Recipes for a perfect marriage

Pan Mac Millan ISBN 0330419110

A great, thought-provoking read. New York food writer Tressa returns from her honeymoon worried she has married her handsome new husband, Dan, out of desperation (she is in her late thirties) rather than love. On her wedding day she was given her grandmother's diaries and the two stories run in tandem covering the first year of Tressa's marriage and the long marriage of her grandmother. Goodness me, there are some home truths here; the recipes are good too, but it's the overall philosophy on marriage that really strikes a chord.

Elizabeth Kostova - The Historian

Time Warner ISBN 0751537284

This is very special; a historical mystery-cum-love story that delves into the vampire myth. Ranging across continents and ages, incidents and emotions, it catches you by surprise and leaves you breathless. If you are prepared to accept one or two unusual facts, then it all becomes frighteningly feasible. Well-written and sumptuous, it is a perfect gem. You've got to read it - it's one of the best books of the month.

Harriet Evans - Going Home

Harper Collins ISBN 0007198442

A first-time author who hails from the publishing industry, having been an editor at Penguin and now working for Headline - so she really knows what works in this genre. I loved it. A complex family; a fast-paced plot; descriptions of country living you can see, smell and taste; amazing characters and a multitude of interlinking events - it's a book to treasure.

Wendy Jean - Unstolen

Pan Mac Millan ISBN 0330445189

An excellent book through all its twists and turns, it fluctuates between childhood and now, eventually revealing a shocking and unexpected death. It's a tale of the past overshadowing the present, of loss, of reconciliation and hope, all bound round a terrific plot. Highly recommended.

Arturo Perez-Reverte - Captain Alatriste

Orion ISBN 0753820870

Glorious swashbuckling stuff; a sort of D'Artagnan/Zorro cross, and the start of a series set in Madrid in the 1620s by a highly-respected literary Spanish author having a great deal of fun.