April Fiction: 6 unputdownable books to read this month
From a speculative murder mystery and a gothic historical thriller to a bookish tale of community and a swoony rom-com adventure, this month’s book picks span genres and continents and the whole spectrum of human emotions. Whether you want something to make you laugh, something to fill you with hope, or something a little dark and decadent, we’ve got you covered with our April fiction recommendations.
The Secret Collector by Abigail Johnson
Alfred is an elderly widower who hoards antiques and collectibles to fill the hole left by his late wife. Kian is a lost teenager who’s been failed by the care system. When Kian throws a brick through Alfred’s window and is enrolled on a restorative justice programme, he must help make Alfred’s crammed home liveable again. The only problem: Alfred doesn’t want to throw anything away, and he certainly doesn’t want a troubled teen for company. With wonderfully relatable characters, Johnson’s debut novel is a heartwarming and poignant story of loss, loneliness and finding friendship in unexpected places. (10 April, Pan)
Death and Other Occupational Hazards by Veronika Dapunt
In the stories of old, Death has typically been seen as a skeletal figure with a scythe. In Veronika Dapunt’s debut, Death is a woman who’s good at her job but is desperately in need of a break. When her sabbatical on Earth is interrupted by a string of deaths not on her list, Death must track down the killer whilst also contending with a complicated relationship with her sanctimonious sister Life, and her surprising feelings for a charming parasitologist. This is a murder mystery full of wit, originality and astute observations on humanity. Get ready to fall in love with this likeable and flawed version of the not-so-grim reaper. (10 April, Bantam)
The Forgotten Book Club by Kate Storey
When Grace’s book loving husband dies, her grandson suggests she join Frank’s old book club as a way to spend time with the people who knew and cared about him. Initially reluctant, Grace decides to attend and discovers it’s actually a Silent Book Club – a place where people can read in companionable quiet. With the club thin on members and feeling the loss of its founder, Grace is determined to ensure neither Frank nor his book group are forgotten. And as she breathes new life into the club, she finds a new purpose for herself too. Kate Storey’s second novel is a love letter to books and the power of reading, but it’s also a heartfelt tale of bereavement, neurodivergence and community. (10 April, Avon)
Work Trip by Chloe Ford
Fans of the perennially popular enemies-to-lovers trope are in for a treat with Chloe Ford’s Work Trip – a fun, forced proximity novel set in the Scottish highlands. It follows reluctant colleagues Fliss and James who must put their differences aside when they’re forced to take part in a team building trip in the middle of nowhere with one tent, two sleeping bags and a few protein bars. Cut off from the outside world and at the mercy of the elements (not to mention their meddlesome boss), the pair set out across the rugged wilderness with only each other for company. If you can’t guess where this goes, you’ve not read enough rom-coms. Expect delightful banter, sparky chemistry and a couple you can unequivocally root for. (24 April, Aria)
Dangerous by Essie Fox
Essie Fox breathes new life into the ‘mad, bad and dangerous to know’ Lord Byron as the notorious poet turns detective to clear his name and uncover a killer on a rampage. When local women are found dead with wounds to their throats, rumours begin to spread that Byron might be the murderer. As events escalate and Byron’s own life is threatened, along with those he holds most dear, he must find out who is really behind the terrible crimes. Rich with decadent imagery and dark, gothic atmosphere, Dangerous intricately blends historical fact and fiction against the backdrop of Byron’s exile in Venice. (24 April, Orenda Books)
Our Last Wild Days by Anna Bailey
The Labasques aren’t like other families. Living in a shack out in the rural Louisiana swamps, they’re social outcasts and small-town troublemakers who scrape a living hunting alligators and other animals. So when Cutter Labasque is found dead in the muddy swamp, nobody cares. The only person who questions the official verdict of suicide is Cutter’s estranged friend, Loyal May, who left town at the age of 18 and has just returned home to care for her ageing mother. In her desire for redemption and her hunt for the truth, Loyal unravels a web of deceit and corruption at the very heart of her hometown. Exploring complex themes of family, forgiveness, prejudice and restitution, Our Last Wild Days is a slow burn murder mystery that immerses readers in its dark and claustrophobic bayou setting. (24 April, Doubleday)
