Books

Book Review by Alice Harandon, manager of St Ives Bookseller

The Haunting Season: Ghostly Tales for Long Winter Nights

£12.99 Viking Long before Charles Dickens and Henry James popularised the tradition, the shadowy nights of winter have been a time for people to gather together by the flicker of candlelight and experience the intoxicating thrill of a ghost story. Now eight storytellers of the sinister and the macabre bring the tradition to vivid life in a spellbinding new collection of original spine-tingling tales. Your indispensable companion to the long, dark nights this winter.

Diddly Squat: A Year on the Farm by Jeremy Clarkson

£16.99 Penguin The tie-in book to the popular series, Clarkson’s Farm, follows the unlikely farmer through the year, as Jeremy battles the weather, his own ignorance, red tape, lockdowns, locals. and sheep, to try and turn a profit while encouraging the nature on his farm in the Cotswolds. I promise you, even if you weren’t a fan beforehand (and I definitely wasn’t), you will find him much more likeable afterwards.

You’ll be the Death of Me by Karen M McManus

£7.99 Penguin From the author of One of Us Is Lying comes this explosive new thriller for teens, which is im-possible to put down. Ivy, Mateo, and Cal used to be close, but now, after a bad day, they de-cide to skip school together one last time. However, when the trio spot Brian Mahoney ditch-ing class too, they follow him—right into a murder scene. They all have a connection to the victim. And they’re all hiding something. It’s only a matter of time before the truth comes out … Ideal for teenagers aged 14+.

Grace and the Christmas Angel by Lucinda Riley and Harry Whittaker

£12.99 Macmillan Children’s Books It’s Christmas Eve. The tree is decorated, the presents are wrapped, and it’s a big day for Grace. She is singing a song in the Nativity show, and her fisherman Daddy has promised to be back in time to watch her. But when a storm blows up at sea, Grace walks out on stage to find Daddy is not there. She’s very worried. But luckily, Grace has someone watching over her. Will Hope, the Christmas Angel, be able to help Daddy get home safely for Christmas morning? A beautiful, reassuring and timeless story, complete with an angel ribbon marker.

Einstein the Penguin by Iona Rangeley

£12.99 Harpercollins When the Stewarts spend a sunny, frosty December day at London Zoo, they’re enchanted by one small penguin. To the delight of young Imogen and Arthur, Mrs Stewart insists the penguin must come and stay with them whenever he likes, But not one Stewart expects the penguin to turn up at their door that evening, with a rucksack labelled Einstein on his back… A fantastically funny tale, perfect for the over-7s.

Once again this year, a Christmas catalogue has been produced by the Booksellers Association to showcase all the best new titles selected by booksellers. Pick up a physical copy from us at the shop, or view the whole thing online at b2l.bz/WbGT3c You can purchase many of the titles from our website stives-bookseller.co.uk, or uk. bookshop.org/shop/stivesbookseller. Contact St Ives Bookseller direct to order any others.