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The best books out this month

The best books out this month

min read

With the weather getting cooler, the nights drawing in, and spooky season upon us, October is arguably the best time to curl up with a great new book.

This month’s releases include thrilling reads from some of the biggest names in crime and thriller writing, a gift-worthy edition of a Haruki Murakami classic, and the conclusion to Philip Pullman's Book of Dust Series.

Meanwhile, in non-fiction, there are reflections on modern life and culture from Zadie Smith, a glimpse into the mindset of a sporting champion, and a return to the world of Charlie Mackesy's beloved illustrated book The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse.

The best fiction books out this month

Shadow Ticket by Thomas Pynchon

Thomas Pynchon's first novel in over a decade transports us to the midst of Great Depression-era America, where private eye Hicks McTaggart is tasked with recovering the heiress of a Wisconsin cheese fortune. What should be a simple job leads him to Hungary, where he becomes entangled with Nazis, British counter-spies, practitioners of the paranormal, and more as he tries to get out of the tangle of history and back to Milwaukee.

Out 7th October

Gone Before Goodbye by Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben

Two titans of storytelling – award-winning actor and producer Reese Witherspoon and bestselling author Harlan Coben – team up for their first book together, about army combat surgeon Maggie McCabe. When the mysterious man Maggie is employed to give unconventional medical assistance to disappears, she must go on the run to avoid danger.

Out 23rd October

Return of the Spider by James Patterson

Alex Cross’s 33rd outing serves as a companion novel to Patterson’s 1993 book Along Came a Spider, where we were first introduced to Cross and the kidnapper and serial killer Gary Soneji. Return of the Spider finds Alex forced to confront missteps he may have made as a rookie murder detective, when police discover that Soneji kept a book in which he detailed his transformation from substitute teacher to hardened serial killer.

Out 9th October

Revenge of Odessa by Frederick Forsyth with Tony Kent

A follow-up to the late Frederick Forsyth’s classic spy novel The Odessa Files, this page-turner follows journalist and podcaster Georg Miller discover that three seemingly unconnected events – a fatal fire, a gun massacre, and a murder – are in fact the first signs of the return of the Nazis. Georg is soon targeted by assassins from the Odessa, a menacing and powerful Nazi group intent on regaining power.

Out 23rd October

Soyangri Book Kitchen by Kim Jee Hye

In a peaceful countryside village, Soyangri Book Kitchen is a haven for book lovers, where owner Yoojin has created a sanctuary for weary souls like herself. Set over the course of a year, Soyangri Book Kitchen follows seven people, all at a crossroads, as they stay at the bookshop and find their life subtly transformed by the magic of books. (Translated by Shanna Tan)

Out 2nd October

Jeeves Again

Some of the biggest names in literature and comedy, from Roddy Doyle and Frank Skinner to Deborah Frances-White and William Rayfet Hunter, celebrate P.G. Wodehouse’s beloved Jeeves and Wooster in this new collection of short stories. First appearing in 1915, dilettante Bertie Wooster and his butler Jeeves are reimagined for fans and a new generation of readers in this collection.

Out 16th October

Super-Frog Saves Tokyo by Haruki Murakami

In Haruki Murakami’s classic short story, Katagiri finds a giant frog waiting for him in his apartment. Together, the pair must work together to save Tokyo from an existential threat, leading Katagiri to find meaning and fulfilment in his otherwise humdrum life. This gift-worthy new edition of the story, complete with beautiful illustrations and design features, is a must-have for any Murakami fan. (Translated by Jay Rubin)

Out 2nd October

The Rose Field: The Book of Dust Volume Three byPhilip Pullman, illustrated by Christopher Wormell

Philip Pullman returns with the eagerly awaited third and final book in his Northern Lights companion series, The Book of Dust, concluding the story of iconic heroine Lyra Belacqua. The Rose Field sees Lyra and Malcolm’s quests converge, even as the Magesterium moves to further its war against all that Lyra holds dear. This stunning conclusion to Pullman’s most iconic books will leave fans breathless.

Out 23rd October

Frankie by J. M. Gutsch and Maxim Leo

Frankie is a stray cat who belongs to no one and likes it that way, until he ends up injured and meets Richard, who is grieving the loss of his wife. The two need help in very different ways but their unlikely friendship might be exactly what they both need. This is a beautiful and uplifting story about healing, navigating grief, and finding hope.

Out 2nd October

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The best non-fiction books out this month

Dead and Alive by Zadie Smith

Author Zadie Smith’s latest essay collection explores a range of subjects with her trademark incisiveness. From Stormzy's ascendent performance at Glastonbury, to the work of artists including Toyin Ojih and Kara Walker, Smith interrogates the cultural topics that have captured her attention in recent years – and, in reflecting on the legacies of late writers such as Joan Didion, Hilary Mantel, Martin Amis and Toni Morrison, offers insight into her creative inspirations.

Out 30th October

Always Remember by Charlie Mackesy

In this hotly-anticipated sequel to Charlie Mackesy’s beloved bestseller The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, the four unlikely friends are back and wandering through the wilds again. When the dark clouds come, the boy must remember what he needs to get through the storm, and remember that while life can be difficult, love and friendship can provide hope.

Out 9th October

When Gavin Met Stacey and Everything in Between by Ruth Jones and James Corden

For the first time, Gavin & Stacey creators Ruth Jones and James Corden tell the full story of how their show – about an Essex boy who falls in love with a Welsh girl – went from humble beginnings to a cultural phenomenon. Recounting the rejection, obstacles and challenges they faced on the way, Jones and Corden also share never-before-heard anecdotes and offer an glimpse into their real-life friendship.

Out 9th October

Middleland by Rory Stewart

Before he was a bestselling author and co-hosted the hit podcast The Rest Is Politics, Rory Stewart spent nearly a decade serving as an MP for Britain’s most rural constituency. It is this experience that he draws on for Middleland, a portrait of rural Britain today that offers a timely exploration of the tensions between farming and the natural world, local and national politics, and what a better political landscape could look like.

Out 30th October

Life in Progress by Hans Ulrich Obrist

Part coming-of-age story, part guide to the world of art and living life with curiosity, Life in Progress is the story Hans Ulrich Obrist, world-renowned curator and artistic director at London's Serpentine Galleries. Beginning with the formative experiences that drew him to art at a young age, this book is a love letter to the healing properties that art – and engaging with art – has to offer.

Out 2nd October

Keep Laughing by Chris McCausland

Long before he competed on Strictly Come Dancing – and made history as the show's first blind contestant – Chris McCausland was a successful stand-up comedian, actor, TV presenter and panel show favourite. In Keep Laughing, he tells his story, from growing up in Liverpool and studying software engineering at university, to losing his sight aged 22 – a watershed moment that forced him to reconsider his life's path and eventually led to his career in comedy.

Out 9th October

A Short History of Nearly Everything 2.0 by Bill Bryson

This fully revised and updated edition of Bill Bryson’s hit popular science book answers yet more questions, including why Pluto is no longer a planet, how genetic research has uncovered new species of early humans, and how the number of moons in the solar system has more than doubled in 20 years. Accessible and fascinating in equal measure, this revival of a modern classic is perfect for the perpetually curious.

Out 21st October

Shaking Hands With Death by Terry Pratchett

This new clothbound pocket edition of Terry Pratchett’s poignant essay, complete with a new afterword by actor Peter Serafinowicz, is a must-have for fans of the writer – and for anyone contemplating finding meaning and dignity in life and death. Pratchett, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in his 50s and died in 2015, argues for the right to choose a good death, as well as a good life.

Out 2nd October

I Deliver Parcels in Beijing by Hu Anyan

Already a bestseller in China, Hu Anyan's illuminating memoir tells the story of the gig economy up-close, from someone who has held 19 different jobs since graduating. From sales tactics to night shifts, to optimal delivery routes, the details of the (often gruelling) jobs in this book form both a personal testament and a wider examination of what work means – or should mean – in today's society. (Translated by Jack Hargreaves.)

Out 28th October

Believe by Mark Cavendish

Mark Cavendish’s exhilarating cycling career includes breaking the record for the most stage victories at the Tour de France, previously unbroken for almost half a century. In his autobiography, Cavendish transports readers to his most unforgettable racing moments, including his final victories at the Tour de France before his retirement, and offers an insight into the mind of a champion – and the struggles behind achieving success.

Out 23rd October

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The best books out this month

The best fiction books out this month

Where to start reading Harlan Coben

Where to start reading Haruki Murakami’s books

The best Korean fiction in translation

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The best non-fiction books out this month

Where to start reading Zadie Smith’s books

The Penguin books that helped us through hard times

An interview with Charlie Mackesy

‘At his best, Terry was a teacher’: Why we love Terry Pratchett

Heart-warming Bill Bryson quotes to make you smile

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Ask Penguin Podcast: Is never growing up the secret to great storytelling?

Where to start reading Thomas Pynchon

Where to start reading Harlan Coben

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