Books

Ken Follett, renowned for his thrillers and historical fiction, has built a career as one of modern literature’s most read and revered writers.With over 40 novels to his name - celebrated for their shocking narratives, rich character development, and meticulously researched scenarios - his work has sold more than 195 million copies worldwide.After making the move from being a journalist and publisher - which allowed him to write books on the side - to full-time author, thanks to the success of the 1978 thriller Eye of the Needle, Follett went on to cement his place in best-seller lists with every project he released since.He ventured into nonfiction with the 1989 historical novel The Pillars of the Earth, an epic that was eventually followed by three sequels, a prequel, and a television...

I read every day — here are the 10 best books I've read recently (Image: Getty)Reading is such a simple and inexpensive joy but if you're anything like me you sometimes struggle to find the time. With so much competition for our attention these days, from multiple streaming services to mobile gaming and social media, books are now competing with forces we'd barely even imagined a decade or two ago.And with so much information not just available to us, but actively fighting for our attention at pretty much all times of the day and night, it's understandable if you don't always find the idea of sitting down to absorb yet more information appealing.But there are lots of reasons to pick up a book instead of a phone — from learning something new to exploring a topic in depth or just enjoying...

Dan Brown is releasing the next instalment of the Robert Langdon series, The Secret of Secrets (Image: Getty)In 2006, one of the world’s most famous - and sometimes controversial - films was released: the Da Vinci Code, a mystery thriller based on the novel by Dan Brown in which a professor of religious symbology gets involved in an investigation that uncovers secrets buried deep by religious leaders for generations.Perhaps unsurprisingly the film was met with harsh criticism by the Catholic Church - which did not stop it from reaching commercial success and being followed by two sequels.What not many could deny, though, was the intricacy of the genius plot. The book is the first instalment of Dan Brown's Robert Langdon series, that consists of three titles so far, and is set to get its...

Author Julia Donaldson is to team up with illustrator Axel Scheffle to release the first new Gruffalo book in over two decades. The pair have previously teamed up on the award-winning Gruffalo (1999) and the 2004 follow-up The Gruffalo’s Child. The brand-new as-yet-untitled story is set to release next year.Publisher Macmillan Children’s Books described the stories as a “bestselling phenomenon”. Julia’s books have sold almost 50 million copies, with the Gruffalo accounting for three million, having been translated into 113 languages. The Sussex-based author admits writing a follow-up story can be difficult. But she hopes the new story will resonate with audiences as much as the first two Gruffalo tales.Speaking to The Bookseller, Julia said: “It’s always a challenge to write a sequel. F...

Daniel Radcliffe has revealed his favourite book - and it’s far from what you may think. The 34-year-old Hollywood actor rose to fame by starring in JK Rowling's renowned Harry Potter series.Though many fans of wizards might assume Radcliffe's favourite book is an obvious choice, the actor has a different preference in mind. Far from the wizard world, he revealed that The Master and Margarita by Russian novelist Mikhail Bulgakov is his most loved book, reports redbook. Written in the Soviet Union under Stalin’s fascist regime, the novel is a dark comedy following the Christian devil’s journey to the USSR.The Master and Margarita is recognised as one of the essential classics of modern Russian literature. The novel's vision of Soviet life in the 1930s is so ferociously accurate that it c...

For many Harry Potter fans, the thought of going to JK Rowling's Hogwarts as a kid fills them with delight.Yet given it’s a UK private boarding school based in Scotland, the fees would be staggering.Attraction Tickets has calculated the cost of seven years at Hogwarts in 2025 ahead of Harry Potter Day (May 2).Marketing Director Chris Bradshaw said: “It’s fun to imagine receiving that Hogwarts letter, but in today’s economy, attending a school like that would come with a serious price tag.“So we did the maths for 2025 and the results are shocking.”It turns out that full boarding at Hogwarts for seven years would cost a whopping £407,915 per pupil. Incredibly, that’s more than Britain’s top public schools, Eton and Harrow, which cost around £50,000 a year. The Hogwarts total included not ...

Voting has opened for the ‘Oscars’ of crime writing with publication of the 18 books long-listed for the prestigious Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year award 2025. Now in its 21st year and supported by the Daily and Sunday Express, it remains one of the crime world’s most covered gongs.Crime fans can vote for their favourite, with the most popular making a final shortlist of six books and the winner announced on the opening night of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival on July 17. Previous recipients include Jo Callaghan, Lee Child, Mick Herron, M W Craven, Steve Cavanagh and Clare Mackintosh.The festival takes place in the North Yorkshire spa town of Harrogate from July 17 to 20. Thousands of crime writing fans from all over the world descend on the famed Old S...

Slow Horses creator Mick Herron believes his books have been stolen by tech giants to be used as learning tools for the next generation of artificial intelligence. “I don’t think there’s any doubt about that,” he sighs. “About two years ago, my younger brother showed me some app he had and he asked it to write a recipe for chocolate brownies in the style of Jackson Lamb. “What it came up with was s***, but it was clearly s*** based on having knowledge of Jackson Lamb and how he operates.”Which is the crux of the matter, according to the bestselling author, who is taking the helm of this year’s Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, supported by the Daily and Sunday Express. “It can only manipulate stuff that’s already there. I believe that 110%, and I think it’s true of any majo...

The fantasy genre has experienced a significant boost in popularity recently, with an influx of new books, TV shows, and films entering the market. However, some have been long-standing fans of the genre, including the team at Fantasy Book Reviews, who recently revealed their top fantasy series of all time.In their selection process, they chose to only rank series that consist of more than three books. This meant that the iconic fantasy epic Lord of the Rings didn't make the cut - although it did secure third place on their list of the 100 best fantasy books of all time. Taking the top spot was the Malazan Book of the Fallen series by Steven Erikson, with its first book, Gardens of the Moon, published in 1999.While it may not be the most well-known fantasy series worldwide, it has certa...

Whether you're a bookworm who devours multiple novels a week or just a casual reader who enjoys dipping into a book on holiday, everyone has their own go-to genre. Some prefer fantasy or romance novels, while others gravitate towards genres like sci-fi or literary fiction.Thrillers are another choice for many, with bestselling authors like Lisa Jewell and Freida McFadden particularly popular with readers today. But if you're new to the genre or are looking for something a little different, Goodreads' list of the top thrillers of all time, as voted for by the website's users, may help you pick your next read. With heartstopping twists and pacy writing, there's something for everyone on this list.Topping the list is Murder on Family Grounds by Susan Rowland, the third in the Mary Wandwalk...