Set in Jackson, Mississippi during the early 1960s, ‘The Help’ by Kathryn Stockett is a novel about African American maids working in white households. It explores themes of racism, inequality, and the quest for freedom and dignity.
Set in 1946, this novel revolves around Juliet Ashton, a writer, who begins exchanging letters with residents of Guernsey Island, discovering the existence of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society formed during the German occupation.
This gripping thriller introduces us to journalist Mikael Blomkvist and hacker Lisbeth Salander as they investigate a decades-old disappearance in a wealthy Swedish family. Dark secrets and corruption emerge, entwining their lives dangerously.
In ‘The Girl Who Played with Fire’, the sequel to ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’, Lisbeth Salander, a brilliant but troubled investigator and hacker, becomes the prime suspect in a high-profile murder case. As she races to clear her name and unravel a deep conspiracy, the narrative delves into themes of corruption, social injustice, and the quest for truth.
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery weaves together the stories of Renée, a concierge with hidden intellectual depths, and Paloma, a precocious young girl who plans to end her life on her 12th birthday unless she finds something worth living for. Both characters navigate the confines of their societal roles in a Parisian apartment building, finding solace and understanding in each other’s company.
The Sookie Stackhouse series, also known as The Southern Vampire Mysteries, is a series of books written by Charlaine Harris. They follow Sookie Stackhouse, a telepathic waitress in Louisiana, as she navigates a world filled with vampires, werewolves, and other supernatural beings. The books blend elements of mystery, romance, and fantasy.
Set in a small town in Maine, ‘Olive Kitteridge’ is a collection of connected stories that paint a portrait of the title character, Olive, and the town’s other residents. Through detailed character studies, Strout explores themes of love, loss, and the human condition.
In ‘New Moon’, the second book in the Twilight Saga, Bella Swan is devastated by the abrupt departure of her vampire love, Edward Cullen. She finds solace in her deepening friendship with Jacob Black, unaware of his werewolf identity.
In ‘I, Alex Cross’, Detective Alex Cross is pulled away from his birthday celebration to investigate the gruesome murder of his niece. The trail leads him into a dangerous world far from his home in Washington, D.C., challenging his skills and ethics.