5 new books not to be missed
This month has some incredible new release books on offer, from a new story from legendary Lord of the Rings author J.R.R. Tolkien to exciting thrillers and a new royal biography. So, get those pre-orders in and get excited – here are five of the best books coming this month.
1. Beren and Lúthien by J.R.R. Tolkien (edited by Christopher Tolkien)
Painstakingly restored from Tolkien's manuscripts and presented for the first time as a fully continuous and standalone story, the epic tale of Beren and Lúthien will reunite fans of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings with Elves and Men, Dwarves and Orcs and the rich landscape and creatures unique to Tolkien's Middle-earth.
2. Camino Island by John Grisham
The most daring and devastating heist in literary history targets a high security vault located deep beneath Princeton University. Valued at $25 million (though some would say priceless) the five manuscripts of F Scott Fitzgerald's only novels are amongst the most valuable in the world. After an initial flurry of arrests, both they and the ruthless gang of thieves who took them have vanished without trace. Dealing in stolen books is a dark business, and few are initiated to its arts – which puts Bruce Kable right on the FBI's Rare Asset Recovery Unit's watch list. A struggling writer burdened by debts, Mercer Mann spent summers on Florida's idyllic Camino Island as a kid, in her grandmother's beach cottage. Now she is being made an offer she can't refuse: to return to the peace of the island, to write her novel – and get close to a certain infamous bookseller, and his interesting collection of manuscripts…
3. Diana: Her True Story – In Her Own Words (25th Anniversary Edition) by Andrew Morton
A reissue of this classic title brought up to date and with a new introduction by Andrew Morton. Reflecting on the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the original publication, and on the long-term legacy of Diana, the woman who helped reinvigorate the royal family, giving it a more emotional, human face, and thus helping it move forward into the 21st century.
4. Wimmera by Mark Brandi
In the long, hot summer of 1989, Ben and Fab are best friends. Growing up in a small country town, they spend their days playing cricket, yabbying in local dams, wanting a pair of Nike Air Maxes and not talking about how Fab's dad hits him or how the sudden death of Ben's next-door neighbour unsettled him. Almost teenagers, they already know some things are better left unsaid. Then a newcomer arrived in the Wimmera. Fab reckoned he was a secret agent and he and Ben staked him out. Up close, the man's shoulders were wide and the veins in his arms stuck out, blue and green. His hands were enormous, red and knotty. He looked strong. Maybe even stronger than Fab's dad. Neither realised the shadow this man would cast over both their lives. Twenty years later, Fab is still stuck in town, going nowhere but hoping for somewhere better. Then a body is found in the river, and Fab can't ignore the past any more.
5. Tuck In: Good Hearty Good Any Time by Ross Dobson
A hearty appetite will only settle for hearty food. Tuck In is a cookbook for every occasion. With recipes for simple weekday fare, special meals for friends and family, dishes to roll out at weekend barbecues and mouth-watering desserts - Ross Dobson has all the bases covered. From revamped old favourites to international taste sensations, these are easy, delicious, flavoursome recipes that you'll be sure to return to again and again. Tuck in!