Books
A spring selection of super reads from local authors.
The Eights
by Joanna Miller
Out 27 March
It’s Oxford in 1920. The first women to be admitted to the university are arriving, among them four women from different walks of life who are set to become firm friends.
Among them is Otto, an extravagant socialite haunted by her experiences in the war, and Marianne, a vicar’s daughter – but what secret is she hiding from her friends?
Joanna intertwines real historical events and figures into this compelling tale of female friendship – and there’s a cameo for Berkhamsted and the Common’s trenches, too!
Joanna studied English at Exeter College, Oxford. She lives in Berkhamsted with her husband and their three teenage children.
All That Lives Must Die
by Ivor Eisenstadt
This gripping murder mystery is set on the Suffolk Coast. When retired GP Max discovers his holiday park neighbour Gertrude has died after falling down a cliff, he refuses to accept that it is an accident. His search for the truth reignites his own anxiety – and ultimately puts him in danger.
This is a real page turner, and Ivor describes the local area and its flora and fauna beautifully. Full of twists and turns, you won’t want to put it down!
Ivor, a retired healthcare publisher, is based in Berkhamsted.
A Foundling at the Wartime Bookshop
by Lesley Eames
We’re back in Chilterns village Churchwood with Lesley Eames’ latest cracking comfort read set during World War II. In this fifth book of the series, a newborn baby is abandoned on a doorstep, and the three bookshop friends set out to discover who the mother of little Rose is, in a bid to reunite the family before the baby is taken away. Another cosy, uplifting read that shows how friendship and kindness can make such a positive difference.
Lesley lives in St Albans and has won the Festival of Romance New Talent Award and the romantic Novelists’ Association’s Elizabeth Goudge Cup.
The Projectionist
by Bigfoot
A weird and wonderful adventure for ages eight-12, set in a world where stories – including cinemas and books – are banned, and most citizens are hooked instead on ‘the vine’, a mysterious, all-pervasive plant that brings gossip.
However, one girl, 12-year-old Ceres, is intent on keeping her stories alive, and projects her films to a few friends in the woods, using her left eye! But when the projections start to fade, she must try to save her stories – all with the help of her loyal goldfish Hemingway!
Bigfoot is a children’s author who can be found roaming Berkhamsted.
Dream & Commit; Accountability Diary
by Dee Fagg
This journal aims to help you achieve your goals. Sometimes ‘self-help’ type books have so much introduction that you’ve already lost the will to get further than the first couple of chapters. Dee has, however, kept it simple, so that the reader is already starting to get involved with tasks a few pages in.
As you complete the diary, it takes you through, step by step, identifying what you want and how to achieve it. The final part offers a daily space to let you record your progress.
Dee lives in Tring with her husband Liam, and runs a successful business specialising in Microsoft Office documents and producing books for self-publishers.
The Perimenopause Journal
by Kate Codrington
This hardback book is a thoughtful and insightful guide for women navigating the perimenopause. It blends practical advice and emotional insight, with knowledge and support.
The journal stands out – apart from its beautiful cover and weight – because it goes beyond the typical informational books on perimenopause, inviting readers to engage in self-discovery through guided exercises and reflective prompts. The format is accessible and non-intimidating, making it perfect for those who may be feeling overwhelmed or unsure about what to expect.
Kate is a Herts-based mentor, author, speaker, facilitator, artist and podcaster.
