Latest interviews and book lists

Prize-Winning Crime Novels of 2024, recommended by Sophie Roell

Prize-Winning Crime Novels of 2024, recommended by Sophie Roell

Sophie Roell

Crime novels are one of the most popular fiction genres, catering to a wide range of tastes and interests. Our editor, Sophie Roell, takes us through the books that won prestigious US and UK awards this year, from a historical novel set during the American Civil War to a spy thriller that raises interesting questions about Western policy in the Middle East.

New Book Recommendations

Nitin Sawhney

The Best Novels of 2024: The Booker Prize Shortlist, recommended by Nitin Sawhney
“I love this book so much, I ended up writing a piece of music around it”

Glorious Exploits: A Novel by Ferdia Lennon Glorious Exploits: A Novel by Ferdia Lennon

THE FUNNIEST BOOK OF 2024?
NEWS: Glorious Exploits wins the Wodehouse Prize
A historical novel set in 412BCE Sicily by Ferdia Lennon has won the UK’s book prize for comedy.

Diarmaid MacCulloch

HISTORY BOOKS
The 2024 Wolfson History Prize, recommended by Diarmaid MacCulloch
“What we’re trying to do is to find the best history books created within the UK in the last year”

Question 7 by Richard Flanagan Question 7 by Richard Flanagan

NONFICTION BOOKS
NEWS: Question 7 by Richard Flanagan wins the Baillie Gifford Prize
“There’s a connection with The Narrow Road to the Deep North because that book was also concerned with his father’s experience of being a slave laborer in the Second World War: he was an Australian captured by the Japanese”

Sylvia Bishop

FANTASY
Award-Winning Fantasy Novels of 2024, a roundup by our SFF editor Sylvia Bishop
“This year’s award-winning fantasy books offer something for every taste, from melancholic fairy tales to gripping horror”

Orbital by Samantha Harvey Orbital by Samantha Harvey

FICTION
NEWS: Orbital wins the 2024 Booker Prize
Orbital by Samantha Harvey, the first book set in space to win the Booker Prize, follows a team of astronauts aboard the International Space Station.

Dorothy Bishop

The Best Science Books for Kids of 2024, chosen by the judges of the Royal Society book prize
“We were particularly focused on books that will not just tell kids about science, but inspire them to become scientists themselves”—Dorothy Bishop, chair of the judging panel

Most Recommended Books

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