The essential ‘first read’ by ten incredible writers

If it’s fast-paced crime thrillers full of unexpected twists and turns that you’re after, Peter James is your man. Widely known for his accurate portrayal of modern-day policing, his books have made him both a New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author. Dead Simple is the first, and still the most popular, book to feature James’ famous Detective Superintendent Roy Grace. 

Set in the British coastal town of Brighton, a well-known destination for stag and hen parties, the novel follows Grace as he investigates the disappearance of a groom. After discovering that the rest of the stag party are dead, only one person appears to know anything that could solve the mystery. Now a major ITV show starring John Simm, Grace has won a huge television audience, while Queen Camilla has even named Roy Grace as her favourite fictional detective - and who are we to argue with royalty?

Former lawyer Kristin Hannah has become a number one international bestselling author thanks to her deeply moving stories, which span different eras and places across the globe. Though varied in time and place, her novels share an honest portrayal of women navigating difficult circumstances, something that has resonated with readers around the world. 

The Nightingale is a historical drama about two sisters trying to survive in an occupied, war-torn France: one a mild-mannered schoolteacher, the other, a more rebellious young woman who joins the Resistance. Soon to become a major film starring real-life sisters Dakota Fanning and Elle Fanning, this story of resilience, love and the fight for freedom is exactly why it has sold more than four million copies worldwide.

With a keen interest in world politics, David Baldacci has used his specialist knowledge of the US political system and intelligence services to create high-stake thrillers that have long captivated readers. He has written more than fifty novels, including his famous debut, Absolute Power, which was soon after adapted into a film starring Clint Eastwood and Gene Hackman. 

Though Baldacci has created a wide range of memorable characters, none are more popular than John Puller, a top military investigator for the US Army’s Criminal Investigative Division (CID). The first book in this series, Zero Day, sees combat veteran John Puller sent to a remote town in West Virginia to team up with the local homicide detective to investigate the brutal murder of a military family. Relentlessly, and with methodical precision, Puller soon uncovers a conspiracy that stretches far beyond the close-knit local community. 

The appetite for translated fiction has grown exponentially in recent years, and it is easy to argue that much of this surge has been fuelled by the phenomenal success of Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s Before the Coffee Gets Cold series. These books have enamoured readers with their warm, healing tales of love and humanity, gently posing a simple but powerful question: what would you do if you could travel back in time? 

Having begun life as a play, the novel’s stage-like setting clearly reflects Kawaguchi’s expertise as a playwright with an unassuming café tucked away in a cosy back alley in Tokyo. Visitors come, not just for the coffee, but for the chance to revisit the past and perhaps share one final moment with someone they have regretfully lost: a friend, a family member, or a lover. Having sold millions of copies worldwide, the first book in this heartwarming series continues to move readers with its tender, beautifully told tales of love.

Having garnered thousands of devoted fans as the creator of two of Britain’s most well-loved fictional detectives - Vera Stanhope and Shetland’s Jimmy Perez - Ann Cleeves has seen her most recent crimefighter, Matthew Venn, quickly emerge as a distinctive addition to the contemporary crime fiction scene.

The Long Call, the first book of the Two Rivers series, is set in the atmospheric landscape of North Devon where the rivers Taw and Torridge meet – a setting that mirrors Venn’s own quietly intense personality. As the story unfolds following his return for his father’s funeral, we soon discover the true depth of his connection to the area. His persistent self-doubt and personal struggles endear him to readers as he navigates his first major case – the discovery of a body on a beach near his new home – in a place that proves to be far from the idyllic.

After initially self-publishing her debut novel, Lovelight Farms, in 2021, B.K. Borison has become a significant figure in the ‘BookTok’ community through her cosy, comforting, contemporary romances. Based in Baltimore, Borison often draws inspiration from her hometown, crafting a writing style frequently compared to one of her primary influences: the acclaimed author and screenwriter Nora Ephron.

In First-Time Caller, shares several classic romantic tropes with Ephron’s film Sleepless in Seattle. In this story, a weary, disillusioned radio host and a hopelessly romantic, optimistic listener are thrust unexpectedly together, their differing outlooks gradually giving way to a deeper emotional connection. As the narrative unfolds, Borison’s signature warmth and humour shape a romance that feels both sweeping and cinematic. By drawing on 1990s nostalgia and the era’s much-loved rom-coms, we find a tender, charming love story destined to capture the heart of anyone who reads it.

As one of Britain’s most prolific science fiction authors, Adrian Tchaikovsky draws on his knowledge of zoology - particularly his study of insects – to write novels rich in world-building and intricately complex lifeforms, that have mesmerised readers for many years. None more than the award-winning Children of Time, the first book in the series of the same name that explores ideas of terraforming planets and the emergence of alien species.

Set in a distant future, the novel follows the last remaining humans as they are forced to abandon a dying Earth in search of a new home. They soon discover that their ancestors had already prepared a seemingly habitable world, designed for the human race to thrive. However, what awaits them is not a new Eden, but a planet already claimed by an evolving, non-human intelligence. Humanity fights to survive as conflict pressures them to confront a deeper question: who does this new Earth truly belong to?

Fantasy fiction has boomed in recent years, branching into popular subgenres like romantasy, where Carissa Broadbent has emerged as a defining voice. Proving the genre can be both dark and beautiful, her most famous work, The Serpent and the Wings of Night, is the first in her Crowns of Nyaxia series. 

At its core lies a classic, heart-wrenching, enemies-to-lovers romance set against a deadly tournament hosted by the goddess of death. Filled with magical intrigue and morally dubious, bloodthirsty vampires, the story follows Oraya, the vivacious human daughter of a vampire king. To survive this ruthless competition, she must ally with a dangerous rival and eventually face a lethal choice: trust her enemy or succumb to love.

With over a billion copies sold, Danielle Steel is more than a bestselling author, she’s a phenomenon. Drawing from her life in Northern California and France, she infuses her romances with an authenticity that makes her tales of love, family and resilience that intimately draws readers in. Whether she’s navigating the suspense of Dangerous Games or the history of The Duchess, Steel is at her best when exploring the strength of women. 

Fairytale is a perfect example; the title may sound whimsical, but this modern Cinderella retelling is anchored by genuine emotional upheaval. After her mother’s death, Camille must protect her family’s Napa vineyard from a predatory countess while navigating her own grief. By balancing glittering escapism with genuine heart, Steel proves exactly why she remains one of the world’s most enduring storytellers.

If you’ve only ever known Nancy Birtwhistle as the winner of The Great British Bake Off, then you’re in for a treat that’s as practical as it is inspiring. Driven by a mission to protect the planet for her ten grandchildren, this Hull-born baker and lifelong gardener has swapped the rolling pin for a revolution in sustainable living.

If you typically reach for fiction but find yourself wanting a practical read that is just as absorbing, this perfectly replaces escapism with empowerment, offering tangible ways to change your environment for the better. It’s not just a book; it’s a beautifully illustrated roadmap featuring 101 ingenious, budget-friendly hacks. From zero-effort oven cleaning to removing tricky stains, providing solutions that are often faster and cheaper than store-bought chemicals. Warm, friendly, and deeply sensible, Nancy proves that making a massive environmental impact starts with small, simple swaps in our own homes.