November used to be a bit of a graveyard for new fiction until a few years ago when publishers cottoned on to the fact that lots of people buy novels as presents for Christmas. Now it's a positive cornucopia of exciting new reads and here are my recommendations...
Whale Harbour by Mary Beth Keane
If you love emotional novels about big, messy families, Whale Harbour by Mary Beth Keane is for you. Inspired by Keane’s own family history, it’s the story of the 11 Joyce brothers and the ups and downs of their lives over the course of several decades.
The novel opens as their mother, Mary, is about to give birth to her 11th son. Their father, Cathal, is a postman and an illegal whiskey distiller; a gruff man who disappears for weeks on end and who the boys learn not to rely on. Oldest brother Sean is already in England working and the rest of the boys know that one day they, too, will need to leave their small village in Connemara, Ireland, if they want to earn a living.
Tragedy strikes the family as Mary dies when the baby is only a few weeks old, making it Mac’s turn to leave school to support the family, despite his educational promise. He ends up finding a job on a ranch in Montana where he proves to have a talent with horses.
His troublesome nine-year-old brother Rian begs to go with him and Mac promises to bring him over as soon as he can – a decision that has lasting consequences for both of them.
Eventually, most of the siblings end up in America, where they each try to live their version of a good life. Only Rian is missing, after running away from home at the age of 11.
For the rest of their lives, the other brothers try to find him – Mac hardest of all, haunted by the loss and his role in it. Eleven brothers means there are lots of characters to keep track of, but Keane crafts distinctive personalities for each and makes the reader care about them as individuals. Mac especially had my heart – he has many flaws, but the way he cares for his family and tries to do the right thing is deeply endearing. The relationships between the boys are complicated, realistic and beautifully written. A highly recommended, tender novel about family, regret and second chances.
The Advent Of Death by Alexandra Benedict
This Christmas-themed murder mystery is so much fun! Town crier Anne finds an Advent calendar shaped like the picturesque town of Rye after a break-in and soon works out that each opened door brings a real, escalating crime. Can the twisted mind behind it be found before it’s too late?
The Advent of Death by Alexandra Benedict
A Knock At The Door by Louise Candlish
Eighteen years ago, Bel’s toddler niece went missing on a seaside holiday and the tragedy became international news. Now, a young woman claiming to be the missing girl shows up and everyone but Bel thinks it’s really her. A tense, well-written thriller that held me in a vice-like grip from start to finish.
A Knock at the Door by Louise Candlish
Solace In Winter by Mary Lawson
If you’re a fan of Anne Tyler or Elizabeth Strout’s writing, you’ll enjoy this intimate, poignant study of the life of a newly widowed man. On a snowy day in 1969, Jack finds an injured dog on the side of the road. Her arrival in his life – along with her owner, Chris, a draft-dodger from over the border – changes everything for him.
The Hill by Harriet Clark
Suzanna was a baby when her mother left home one day to rob a bank with a group of radicals, and she’s grown up visiting her every week in prison. This unique, lyrical literary novel is a deep dive into mother-daughter relationships, freedom and forgiveness.
This Is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman
The relationship between siblings comes under the spotlight in this collection of connected stories from a US writer who deserves more recognition here. The novel starts with two sisters falling out after their third sister’s death and follows the family through several generations.
This is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman
The Replacement by Nicola Gill
I’ve been a fan of Gill’s since Swimming For Beginners and her new novel is full of warmth. Down-on-her-luck Jane ends up teaching at a writing course, where the woman her husband left her for is a student. Jane’s life has fallen apart, while Lucy’s seems to be on the up – but can the two women find a way to help each other?
