Here are 9 books that Our Holiday fans have personally recommended if you like Our Holiday. Shepherd is a community of 12,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of The Castaways

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m a multi-award-winning film and television producer; before that, I was a theatre director. I’ve spent my life telling stories, whether through theatre plays or television dramas. It doesn’t matter if you’re watching a TV drama or reading a book; the same rules apply to creating a great story. It needs compelling characters, an intriguing plot, and a strong sense of place. I love the murder/mystery genre, and nearly all the books I read fall into this category, so it’s no surprise that the first book I’ve written is a cosy crime. 

Jayne's book list on contemporary murder/mystery novels by women writers and one bloke who isn’t Richard Osman

Jayne Chard Why Jayne loves this book

I read this book while sitting on a terrace overlooking the beautiful Cornish coast. It is a fantastic holiday read. I literally had to drag myself away from it to avoid spending the entire time with my nose stuck in a book. It might not be the best one for you if you’re thinking of travelling abroad!

A dream holiday turns into a nightmare for sisters Lori and Erin when, after an argument, Lori takes the onward connecting flight to their island resort destination alone. Fasten your seatbelts for a crash landing. A terrified Lori recounts her fight for survival on a remote island while guilt-ridden Erin searches for the answer to the mysterious disappearance of the plane and the whereabouts of her missing sister. 

By Lucy Clarke ,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked The Castaways as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Don't miss One of the Girls, the scorching new thriller from Lucy Clarke, available to pre-order now

*A Waterstones Thriller of the Month selection & the Sunday Times bestseller*

A SECRET BEACH.
A HOLIDAY OF A LIFETIME.
WISH YOU WERE HERE?

THINK AGAIN...

'We're tipping it as one of 2021's best reads' Marie Claire
'Totally addictive, clever and atmospheric' Erin Kelly
'Tense, unnerving and emotional' C. L. Taylor
'Packed full of intrigue' Heidi Perks

You wake on a beautiful, remote island.

Sparkling blue seas, golden sunsets, barely a footprint in the sand.

Yet this is no ordinary escape.

Next to…


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Book cover of The High House

The High House by James Stoddard,

The Victorian mansion, Evenmere, is the mechanism that runs the universe.

The lamps must be lit, or the stars die. The clocks must be wound, or Time ceases. The Balance between Order and Chaos must be preserved, or Existence crumbles.

Appointed the Steward of Evenmere, Carter Anderson must learn the…

Book cover of Dirty Thirty

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m a multi-award-winning film and television producer; before that, I was a theatre director. I’ve spent my life telling stories, whether through theatre plays or television dramas. It doesn’t matter if you’re watching a TV drama or reading a book; the same rules apply to creating a great story. It needs compelling characters, an intriguing plot, and a strong sense of place. I love the murder/mystery genre, and nearly all the books I read fall into this category, so it’s no surprise that the first book I’ve written is a cosy crime. 

Jayne's book list on contemporary murder/mystery novels by women writers and one bloke who isn’t Richard Osman

Jayne Chard Why Jayne loves this book

My brother introduced me to this writer, and I’m so glad he did. This is the thirtieth book in the Stephanie Plum novels—yes, folks, the thirtieth! After reading this one, I immediately bought another. Only twenty-eight to go! 

This book has it all: humour, action, and great characters. I was particularly charmed by bounty hunter Stephanie Plum's relationship with her sidekick, the slightly bonkers Lula. Tracking down a bail jumper and a security guard suspected of being his accomplice should be simple, but neither finding the culprits nor Stephanie’s love life is straightforward; everything soon spirals into a vortex of complications.

Be prepared for a roller-coaster ride with slick dialogue and quirky characters, including an orange dog. This book will keep you hooked to the end. 

By Janet Evanovich ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Dirty Thirty as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The latest title in #1 New York Times bestselling author Janet Evanovich’s popular Stephanie Plum series.


Book cover of The Couple at Number 9

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m a multi-award-winning film and television producer; before that, I was a theatre director. I’ve spent my life telling stories, whether through theatre plays or television dramas. It doesn’t matter if you’re watching a TV drama or reading a book; the same rules apply to creating a great story. It needs compelling characters, an intriguing plot, and a strong sense of place. I love the murder/mystery genre, and nearly all the books I read fall into this category, so it’s no surprise that the first book I’ve written is a cosy crime. 

Jayne's book list on contemporary murder/mystery novels by women writers and one bloke who isn’t Richard Osman

Jayne Chard Why Jayne loves this book

This is the book that got me hooked on reading. I’ve recommended it to loads of people and they’ve all loved it. It’s a truly addictive read.

When Saffron’s beloved Gran, Rose, moves into a care home because of dementia, a pregnant Saffron and her boyfriend, Tom, go to live at 9 Skeleton Place. Having watched too many house makeover TV programmes and not being too keen on the wallpaper, they decide to renovate the old place. Their hopes of creating a dream home are shattered when they discover two dead bodies buried in the garden.

What has Granny been hiding? Will she be able to remember? Wishing they hadn’t dug up the garden, Saffron and Tom dig up the past before the police incarcerate dear old granny. 

By Claire Douglas ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Couple at Number 9 as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

It was the house of their dreams. Now it's their worst nightmare . . .

'Spine-chilling' SUNDAY TIMES
'A well-plotted tale . . . Intriguing. Twisty. Surprising. Touching' DOROTHY KOOMSON
'Secrets, skeletons, mothers and daughters - and some absolutely corking twists! A cracking thriller, I loved it' EVE CHASE
_________

BODIES FOUND UNDER PATIO

When pregnant Saffron Cutler moves into 9 Skelton Place with boyfriend Tom and sets about renovations, the last thing she expects is builders uncovering a body. Two bodies, in fact.

POLICE INVESTIGATE

Forensics indicate the bodies have been buried at least thirty years, which leads the…


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Book cover of December on 5C4

December on 5C4 by Adam Strassberg,

Magical realism meets the magic of Christmas in this mix of Jewish, New Testament, and Santa stories–all reenacted in an urban psychiatric hospital!

On locked ward 5C4, Josh, a patient with many similarities to Jesus, is hospitalized concurrently with Nick, a patient with many similarities to Santa. The two argue…

Book cover of Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m a multi-award-winning film and television producer; before that, I was a theatre director. I’ve spent my life telling stories, whether through theatre plays or television dramas. It doesn’t matter if you’re watching a TV drama or reading a book; the same rules apply to creating a great story. It needs compelling characters, an intriguing plot, and a strong sense of place. I love the murder/mystery genre, and nearly all the books I read fall into this category, so it’s no surprise that the first book I’ve written is a cosy crime. 

Jayne's book list on contemporary murder/mystery novels by women writers and one bloke who isn’t Richard Osman

Jayne Chard Why Jayne loves this book

I laughed out loud at some of the lines in this book. If you’re looking for something to brighten up your day, then this is the book for you. It’s masterfully clever and intricately woven in a rich tapestry of humour and fun.

Think Murder On The Orient Express but set in Australia with a train whose passengers are all crime writers, including  Ernest Cunningham, a “lowly debut author” with writer’s block, who Stevenson uses as the narrator. Ernest hilariously explains the rules of writing a murder mystery novel while at the same time guiding us through the plot, unravelling a complex set of clues that eventually lead to the unveiling of the killer.

By Benjamin Stevenson ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

From the bestselling author of Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, a fiendishly fun locked room (train) murder mystery that "offers a tip of the hat to the great Agatha Christie novel while at the same time being a modern reinvention of it" (Nita Prose) -- perfect for fans of Richard Osman and Anthony Horowitz

When the Australian Mystery Writers’ Society invited me to their crime-writing festival aboard the Ghan, the famous train between Darwin and Adelaide, I was hoping for some inspiration for my second book. Fiction, this time: I needed a break from real people killing each…


Book cover of How to Slay at Work

Elizabeth Ducie Author Of Counterfeit!

From my list on strong women fighting crime together.

Why am I passionate about this?

I was able to read before I went to school and have never been without a book since; frequenly having several novels on the go at one time. I started with adventures and classics, moved on to fantasy and later discovered crime fiction. Having been educated at an all-girls school where we assumed we could do everything, it was a shock to enter the world of science and engineering in the 1970s and find that women were not considered as strong and powerful as men, and certainly not as good. Even though times have changed somewhat, I still love finding books (especially series) where crime solving and sisterhood go hand-in-hand.

Elizabeth's book list on strong women fighting crime together

Elizabeth Ducie Why Elizabeth loves this book

This is a funny book that made me laugh out loud from the start, which may seem odd, as it’s definitely not a cosy crime novel. In fact, it’s a gritty thriller, with some quite dark elements, but definitely leavened by the humour.

love the fact that the two strong female protagonists are anti-heroines and it’s not clear whether they are working together or against each other. There were a number of twists that I completely missed. And I found the continual switch between the two women’s viewpoints kept me guessing throughout.

A scintillating and enjoyable romp.

By Sarah Bonner ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked How to Slay at Work as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'A hilarious romp that I just couldn't put down.' Katy Brent

A sharp, funny and deliciously dark thriller that fans of Katy Brent, Bella Mackie or Killing Eve will love.

When your boss is at a conference in a city where there's a suspicious death, it's unlucky.

If it happens twice, it's odd.

But when she's in the same city at the same time as a third unexplained death . . .

Could she be a stone-cold killer?

Millie's always known her boss Freya is a psycho - the demanding and ever-changing coffee orders, the cryptic instructions, the apparently expected…


Book cover of Beautiful Ugly

Miranda Rijks Author Of You Are Mine

From my list on creepy obsessions that will make your skin crawl.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m the author of 26 twisty psychological thrillers, many of which are Amazon bestsellers. I’ve sold over three-quarters of a million books and particularly enjoy writing about dysfunctional families and unpleasant neighbours! Several of my novels touch upon the theme of creepy obsessions, including Violets Are Blue, Deserve To Die, and The Godchild, to name just three. In case you’re wondering I have drawn upon some creepy obsessions I’ve experienced in real life... I’m a full-time author and I’m also an avid reader of thrillers and enjoy nothing more than reading a book with an ending that makes me gasp!

Miranda's book list on creepy obsessions that will make your skin crawl

Miranda Rijks Why Miranda loves this book

I was completely absorbed by Beautiful Ugly, where nothing is quite what it seems.

I love stories that play with perception, and this one does it so elegantly, weaving grief and obsession into something hauntingly beautiful. The isolated Scottish island provides a fabulously claustrophobic and creepy backdrop that I couldn’t get enough of.

It’s dark, atmospheric, and exquisitely written—I raced through it.

By Alice Feeney ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Beautiful Ugly as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'I was consumed by this book, it's her best ever, a work of genius' - Lisa Jewell

'Brilliant and chilling, with an inspired setting, characters that jump off the page and twists to give you whiplash. I loved every word' - Claire Douglas

The million-copy bestselling author of His and Hers, Alice Feeney, returns with a gripping and deliciously dark thriller about marriage . . . and revenge.

* * *

Author Grady Green is having the worst best day of his life.

Grady calls his wife as she's driving home to share some exciting news. He hears Abby slam…


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Book cover of Trusting Her Duke

Trusting Her Duke by Arietta Richmond,

A Duke with rigid opinions, a Lady whose beliefs conflict with his, a long disputed parcel of land, a conniving neighbour, a desperate collaboration, a failure of trust, a love found despite it all.

Alexander Cavendish, Duke of Ravensworth, returned from war to find that his father and brother had…

Book cover of The Midnight Feast

Brandi Bradley Author Of Pretty Girls Get Away With Murder

From my list on fabulous fakes books about frauds and phonies.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am always enthralled by stories about people who are faking it. I want to read any story where someone either inflates their importance to get their foot in the door, scrambles to keep their secrets from being revealed, or flat-out lies and scams people out of millions. Lying is incredibly human, and witnessing how long one will keep a lie going is fascinating to me because it’s always a house of cards that will eventually tumble. Most crime stories and mysteries revolve around someone desperately trying to keep something in their life secret, and often that comes from a space of gaining access to affluence or making sure you keep your affluence.

Brandi's book list on fabulous fakes books about frauds and phonies

Brandi Bradley Why Brandi loves this book

Lucy Foley always writes characters who are hiding their true nature, but with this one she really doubled down on the Fake It Until You Make It attitude of fabulous phonies everywhere. And this time, it had a Goop twist. The rustic luxury of the resort where the events occur is all glamour.

Many of the characters I wrote about in Pretty Girls Get Away With Murder try to hide who they really are. Whether it’s a desire to be seen as feminine, likable, sexy, or successful, they are calculating how they are seen. In the end, their true nature always shows itself. Sometimes it’s liberating for them, and sometimes it’s ugly.

By Lucy Foley ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Midnight Feast as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

For starters, everyone here is lying...

'Delicious and darkly glamorous' Lisa Jewell

'This is crime writing at its finest' Janice Hallett

'Lucy Foley is queen of the locked room mystery' Guardian

_____________

In the shadow of an ancient wood, guests gather for the opening weekend of The Manor hotel - and a sumptuous feast.

But as the candles are lit, tensions spark. Old animosities reignite.

This isn't a celebration, but a reunion.

And time someone got their just deserts...

_____________

Laced with atmosphere and a chilling edge of folklore, The Midnight Feast is the delicious new murder mystery from Lucy…


Book cover of I Was Told There'd Be Cake

Sarah Connell Sanders Author Of Small Teaching K-8: Igniting the Teaching Spark with the Science of Learning

From my list on looking inside an adolescent’s mind.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am the co-author of Small Teaching K-8. I hold Massachusetts teacher licensure in English 5-12, Library k-12, and School Administration 5-8 as well as an M.Ed. from Boston College.

Sarah's book list on looking inside an adolescent’s mind

Sarah Connell Sanders Why Sarah loves this book

Sloane Crosley’s first collection of literary essays is a hilarious celebration of emerging adulthood.

Her vulnerability and clever wit are on display as she navigates the hijinx of making a life in New York City. Crosley’s distinct writer’s voice has stuck with me through my transition from teacher to author. 

By Sloane Crosley ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked I Was Told There'd Be Cake as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

From the author of 2018's much buzzed about Look Alive Out There...

Wry, hilarious, and profoundly genuine, Sloane Crosley's debut collection of literary essays is a celebration of fallibility and haplessness in all their glory.  The New York Times bestseller that both captured and influenced a generation.

From despoiling an exhibit at the Natural History Museum to provoking the ire of her first boss to siccing the cops on her mysterious neighbor, Crosley can do no right despite the best of intentions -- or perhaps because of them. Together, these essays create a startlingly funny and revealing portrait of a…


Book cover of Never Have I Ever

Elka Ray Author Of A Friend Indeed

From my list on Friends hiding dark and dirty secrets.

Why am I passionate about this?

I moved around non-stop as a kid, attending a dozen schools by age eleven. As a result, once I stayed put long enough to make real friends, I stuck to them like glitter glue. As a reader and writer, I can’t get enough stories about female friendships, whether rock-solid or fraying. My latest novel involves childhood friends whose loyalty is stretched like a pair of latex gloves yanked off at a crime scene. The book grew out of a meme I saw on Facebook, captioned: “Real friends help you hide the bodies”. My first thought was: who would I help? Straight off, I thought of my oldest friends.

Elka's book list on Friends hiding dark and dirty secrets

Elka Ray Why Elka loves this book

If you haven’t discovered Joshilyn Jackson, you’re in for a treat. Her Domestic Suspense novels are so sharp, cleverly plotted, and darkly funny.

It’s not old friends but new ones that wreak havoc in Never Have I Ever, as a glamorous “bad girl” newcomer joins the local book club—with ulterior motives.

This is a tale of the secrets people hope will stay hidden, manipulation, and below-the-surface danger, told with wry insights about human nature and crackling humor.

By Joshilyn Jackson ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Never Have I Ever as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Sunday Times Thriller of the Month

'Wonderful - suspense and surprises, real characters and a scary, ominous backbeat'
LEE CHILD

'Absolutely immaculately done, to be read in one breathless sitting'
INDIA KNIGHT

'I couldn't turn the pages fast enough'
CLARE MACKINTOSH

A smart, suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat read, perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty, T.M. Logan and Louise Candlish.

It starts as a game at a book group one night. Never Have I Ever... done something I shouldn't.

But Amy Whey has done something she shouldn't. And Roux, the glamorous newcomer to Amy's suburban neighbourhood, knows exactly what that is.

Roux promises…


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Book cover of Aggressor

Aggressor by FX Holden,

It is April 1st, 2038. Day 60 of China's blockade of the rebel island of Taiwan.

The US government has agreed to provide Taiwan with a weapons system so advanced that it can disrupt the balance of power in the region. But what pilot would be crazy enough to run…

Book cover of The Castaways
Book cover of Dirty Thirty
Book cover of The Couple at Number 9

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