Before My Actual Heart Breaks by Tish Delaney

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Before My Actual Heart Breaks by Tish Delaney

I enjoyed Before My Actual Heart Breaks so much that I approached the author for an interview. I was thrilled when she agreed. Tish Delaney was born and brought up in Northern Ireland at the height of the Troubles. Like many people of her generation, she left the sectarian violence behind by moving to England. Her superb debut novel Before My Actual Heart Breaks explores emotional isolation and the long-lasting repercussions of trauma. Along the way there is plenty of wry Ulster humour to lighten the mood.

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The Curious Rise of Alex Lazarus by Adam Leigh

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The Curious Rise of Alex Lazarus by Adam Leigh

‘It is time to put the two angry dogs in a sack and see who comes out barking.’ The Curious Rise of Alex Lazarus is a masterclass in how not to run a business. I was fascinated by Adam Leigh’s stirring tale of a digital start-up in London in 2013. At first the ‘unicorn’ enterprise succeeds beyond expectations, but soon the founders find themselves struggling with real-world problems. Before long, they are at each other’s throats.

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Note to Boy by Sue Clark

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Note to Boy by Sue Clark

In her beautifully written debut novel, Sue Clark tells a story that will make you laugh a lot and cry a little. She has created two convincing, realistic characters, each of whom is on the point of succumbing to an impossible situation. By introducing Eloise and Bradley, and making them bounce hilariously off each other, she not only saves them both, but also gives them hope for the future. I recommend Note to Boy to book clubs, not only because of its high entertainment value, but also because it bridges the generation gap and presents decades of social history, in a style as light and digestible as a macaroon; or, as Eloise would call it, a ‘Cameroon’.

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Blackwatertown by Paul Waters

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Blackwatertown by Paul Waters

If you like quirky crime novels, you’ll love Blackwatertown. I relished every page, because I was born in Northern Ireland, where my ancestors were farmers and police officers, and my grandfather marched with the Orange Order. Rural Ulster communities, like the 1950s townland sensitively described by Paul Waters, are part of my family history. When I read the account of Catholic Constable Macken’s enforced attendance at a social event in the Orange Hall, I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. I had many questions for Paul, and I’m delighted to present his thoughtful answers.

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Murder on the Downs by Julie Wassmer

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Murder on the Downs by Julie Wassmer

‘A controversial new property development is planned in Whitstable, to the dismay of Whitstable residents who view it as a threat to local wildlife. A campaign is spearheaded by Martha Laker, a committed environmentalist and no stranger to controversy. The resulting tensions strain local restaurateur Pearl's close relationship with London-born police officer, DCI Mike McGuire. The protest goes ahead, and residents claim a moral victory. But the victory is short lived when Pearl discovers a dead body on the Downs.’

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Interview with Scott Innes on Galactic Keegan

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Interview with Scott Innes on Galactic Keegan

‘The near future. Earth has been invaded by the L’zuhl, an aggressive, imperialistic alien race who have laid waste to the galaxy for centuries. The few human survivors have been evacuated to the farthest reaches of space to rebuild and fight back against the L’zuhl onslaught. There, on the distant planet of Palangonia, in a large, walled compound that houses the new human colony, lives the former Newcastle United and England boss Kevin Keegan, now manager of Palangonia FC.

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