’Tis the season for superb holiday reading

It’s the time of year for sun, sand, slow afternoons, and shared tables, along with the simple joy of a chilled drink in one hand and a great book in the other. Here are some marvellous choices for the beach, the bush, or at home on your favourite couch. Page-turners ahead – proceed with snacks! 

The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown 

Who would have thought that the ancient Jewish myth about the Golem of Prague would find its way into chart topping contemporary thriller fiction? But with Dan Brown’s talent for combining historical richness with wild adventure, The Secret of Secrets delivers hours of sitting-at-the-edge of-your-seat adventure with fascinating explorations into the nature of mind, memory, and human potential. Da Vinci Code fans won’t be disappointed. 

I love fiction that transports you, and in The Secret of Secrets, you truly feel Prague come alive – its beautiful gothic architecture, medieval fortifications, and centuries-old mysteries unfolding around you as you’re swept through the story’s twists and turns at break-neck speed. The novel’s deep exploration of consciousness research adds genuine philosophical depth to the thriller formula, but at its heart, it’s a thumping good read and perfect for long summer days. The bonus? This is a brick of a book, so you get proper bang for your buck! 

The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman 

This is the fifth murder mystery book in the Thursday Murder Club series, and it’s as much of a caper to hang out with these memorable characters as in the previous books. 

It’s been a quiet year for the Thursday Murder Club. Elizabeth is grieving. Ron is dealing with family troubles, and Ibrahim is still providing therapy to his favourite criminal. Joyce is busy with table plans and first dances, not to mention baking her sometimes rather heavy brownies. She is the character I adore most, so quintessentially Jewish in the way she responds to every situation. In her world, there is nothing – from health scares and holidays to death and divorce – that cannot be mended with a beautifully baked chiffon. And Joyce’s observations are witty and wise, “If we have different ideas about gluten, we’re going to have different ideas about most things.” Well, ain’t that the truth? 

In this rip-roaring episode, Elizabeth meets a wedding guest who fears for their life, and the thrill of the chase is ignited once again. A villain wants access to an uncrackable code and will stop at nothing to get it. Plunged back into their most explosive investigation yet, can the gang solve the puzzle and a murder in time? Absolutely fabulous holiday reading! 

The Letter Carrier by Francesca Giannone 

This book has become a bestselling phenomenon in Italy, but what made it even more special for me was reading it while touring southern Italy, where the distinctive Neapolitan sights, smells, perceptions, and culture were alive for me on and off the page. 

June 1934: a couple arrives in Lizzanello, a tight-knit village where everyone knows each other. There’s Carlo, a child of the south, who is happy to be back home after a long time away; and the beautiful Anna, his wife, a stranger from the north. 

Anna isn’t like the other wives. She doesn’t gossip or attend church. She reads books and even wears pants (!) There aren’t many options for a woman with Anna’s sensibilities, so when she learns that the post office is hiring, she leaps at the opportunity. A female letter carrier? It’s unthinkable! But Anna passes the postal exam and soon becomes the invisible thread connecting the town as she delivers letters between clandestine lovers, families waiting to hear news of loved ones away at war, the rise of fascism, and even helping those who can’t read. 

Inspired by her own great-grandmother’s story, Giannone uses the story to tap into the universal feeling of connection and to ask what happens when that connection perhaps comes at the wrong time. 

The Hawk Is Dead by Peter James 

The Hawk Is Dead is classic Peter James – the trademark intricate plotting of his acclaimed Roy Grace series, but this time with a fascinating, behind-the-scenes exploration of life within the royal household. Peter James counts the real Queen Camilla as his number one fan, so making her his novel’s central character is both moving and entertaining. 

Her Majesty, Queen Camilla, is aboard the royal train heading to a charity event in Sussex when disaster strikes – the train is derailed. A tragic accident or a planned attack? When, minutes later, a trusted aide is shot dead by a sniper, the police have their answer. But despite all the evidence, Roy Grace isn’t convinced the queen was the intended target. But he finds himself alone in his suspicions. 

Fighting against the scepticism of his colleagues and the palace itself, Grace pursues his own investigation. But when there is a second murder, the stakes rise even higher, and Grace is at risk of being embroiled in a very public catastrophe – and in mortal danger. 

It’s a right royal page-turner! 

The Wish by Heather Morris 

Heather Morris rose to fame with her 2018 book, The Tattooist of Auschwitz, that went on to become one of the 21st century’s bestselling books. After years immersed in historical fiction and in an unexpected plot twist, Morris has now written a contemporary story, but it’s as rich in emotion and storytelling as any of her previous books. 

The Wish is about a terminally ill 15-year-old, Jesse, who makes a wish for a video game version of her life; the people orbiting around Jesse in her final chapter; and a lonely 29-year-old virtual reality game designer, Alex, the character I related to most, who reluctantly agrees to take on the project. Their unexpected connection forms the core of the story, exploring themes of hope, love, and finding meaning in life. 

Heather Morris tells this story from her heart, drawing on her 20 years as a social worker in a large hospital. 

• If you want to hear more from Heather Morris, her pivot into contemporary fiction, her new book and more, tune into my book show, Bookmark, on ChaiFM 101.7, on Friday, 9 January 2026, at 11:00.