“The Night She Lied” by Lucy Dawson:

In this gripping thriller, a family secret resurfaces when Margaret, accused of an unspeakable crime committed two decades ago, begs her daughter Jude for help. As Jude delves into their family’s dark past, she uncovers unexpected connections that intertwine with her own life. The tension builds, and the cost of protecting family secrets becomes chillingly real.

“Police” by Jo Nesbo:

Set in a dystopian Ireland, this novel portrays a country under tyranny. The rise of the rightwing National Alliance party leads to totalitarianism, civil war, and the erosion of civil liberties. The Stack family faces impossible choices as they navigate a world where freedom is vanishing. A powerful exploration of human rights, memory, and sacrifice.

“The Island of Missing Trees” by Elif Shafak:

This Booker-longlisted novel weaves between postcolonial Cyprus and London. The story follows the Stack family, torn apart by political turmoil. A fig tree, a witness to their struggles, serves as a mouthpiece for Cypriot history. Shafak’s prose is both haunting and thought-provoking, touching on themes of love, trauma, and belonging.

“Prophet Song” by Paul Lynch:

In a dystopian Ireland, the Stack family grapples with the horrors of a totalitarian regime. Civil liberties vanish, and choices become matters of life and death. Lynch’s breathless prose captures the urgency of their struggle, echoing real-world conflicts and the refugee crisis. A timely and powerful manifesto for empathy.

“The Last List of Mabel Beaumont” by Laura Pearson

Mabel Beaumont’s husband Arthur loved lists. But now Arthur is gone. But he’s still left her a list. This one has just one item on it though: ‘Find D’. Mabel feels sure she knows what it means. She must track down her best friend Dot, who she hasn’t seen since the fateful day she left more than sixty years ago. It seems impossible. Also, every person Mabel talks to seems to need help first, with missing husbands, daughters, parents. Mabel finds her list is just getting longer, and she’s still no closer to finding Dot.