The Murderer's Son by Joy Ellis

A farmer's wife is found murdered in her kitchen, DI Rowan Jackman and DS Marie Evans are given the case to investigate.  A local journalist, Daniel Kinder, walks into the police station and confesses to the murder.  He can't remember doing it but knows that it was him.  He has spells of memory loss and is obsessed with the belief he is the biological son of serial killer Francoise Thayer.  Whilst Daniel is in custody another body is found, but this is not a very recent killing.  Daniel then manages to escape. 

The police bring in eminent psychologist Guy Preston to help them create a profile of the killer and to look at a wall of information Daniel has created in the attic of his house.  Guy believes that Daniel may be innocent.  

Then yet another body is found whilst Daniel is on the run.  

Judas Horse by Linda La Plante

Detective Jack Warr is brought in to help a team investigate burglaries in the Cotswolds.  There is a link between the crimes and the burglars are becoming more violent.   

One lady, a local gardener, has a link to all the houses.  She has been interviewed numerous times and does not appear to be involved.  Most of the locals use her to do work in their gardens.  Jack wants to start from scratch and interview her again.  He is not convinced of her innocence.  

Jack is able to find a few leads and connections and realises this is a big organised group.  He unearths other small crimes and connections and must find a way to lay a trap for the next expected burglary to be able to catch the gang in action. 

The Posthumous Adventures of Harry Whittaker by Bobbie Darbyshire

Following a sudden heart attack during rehearsals, actor Harry Whittaker dies at the hospital.  After death he finds himself able to rise very slightly above his body and look around, he feels trapped.  He is shouting for people to help him but no-one can hear.  He is trapped in a strange after-life.  

To be able to escape his body he must find someone he can latch on to, this has to be someone with whom he had a good connection during his life.  He then realises that he didn't really care very much for anyone.  

Richard is the son of Harry.  He was never recognised by him and was brought up by this single mother.  Richard wants to leave his failing cafe behind and set off to travel but is worried about leaving his eccentric mother.  When they hear of Harry's death Richard's mother is adamant they they must attend the funeral.  

At the funeral Harry hopes to have the opportunity to latch on to someone and escape his body before it is too late.  

A Death in the Parish by Rev Richard Coles

Canon Daniel Clement, the Rector of Champton, lives with his mother Audrey and their two dogs Cosmo an Hilda.  A new Associate Vicar Chris Biddle moves to the area with his wife Sally and their 16 year old twins Joshua and Lydia.  

Daniel is called to the local airfield where a young man has been found dead in a derelict chapel.  It appears to have been a ritualistic killing.  Daniel helps the local police with their investigations. 

He is also concerned about Mrs Hawkins, an elderly lady who is terminally ill.  She has no living relatives and a couple have moved in to look after her who have a reputation for inveigling themselves into the homes of people towards the end of their lives so that they can benefit from their estate.  

Normal Rules Don't Apply by Kate Atkinson

This is a collection of short stories which all contain something a bit odd.  By the end of the book a connection is shown between them all which link back to the very first story.  

Within each story 'normal rules don't apply' for something, for example, a man bets on a horse which he is convinced has spoken to him and time lines are skewed. 

The Satsuma Complex by Bob Mortimer

Legal Assistant Gary meets a work acquaintance in a pub for a drink.  Brendan needs to leave suddenly to attend to some work.  Gary stays to finish his drink and starts to talk to a young woman who is sitting on her own reading a book called The Satsuma Complex.  She leaves the book behind and as Gary doesn't know her name, in his mind he calls her Satsuma.  

The next morning Gary is visited by two policeman who tell him that Brendan is dead.  Satsuma is his alibi that he had remained in the pub for the evening and so he needs to track her down.  Things then get a bit complicated and Gary is helped by his elderly neighbour Grace with whom he has regular meetings to eat pie.  

All the Lonely People by Mike Gayle

In 1958 Hubert Bird moved from Jamaica to Britain.  Half of the storyline is Hubert's life in and around the 50s and 60s.  He met and married Joyce and they had children. The other half of the storyline is present day with Hubert widowed and living alone as an elderly man in his 80s.  

Each week Hubert's daughter Rose phones from Australia to chat and see how he is.  He tells her all about the outings and meetings he has had with his group of friends and what they are planning for the next week.  This is all a lie.  When Rose tells him that she is coming home to see him Hubert needs to quickly sort out his life and acquire the friends he has been pretending exist. 

Young single mum Ashleigh, with 2 year old daughter Layla, moves into the block of flats next door.  Ashleigh is alone and is determined that she will talk to her new neighbours and make friends.  She then comes up with an idea to get ride of loneliness in the area.  Hubert gets involved with her and becomes the face of the campaign.  

This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens

On New Years Day 1990 in Hampstead Hospital two babies are born.  The first baby to be born in the year will win prize money.  Quinn Hamilton is born one minute before Minnie Cooper.  Minnie’s mum Connie is always bitter about the events of that night as she had helped Tara Hamilton during their hours together in labour.  

On New Years Eve 2019 Quinn and Minnie end up at the same party.  Minnie does not usually go out on New Years Eve as she feels the night is jinxed for her.  On the way to the party she lost her coat and then she spent the night locked in a toilet.  In the morning she is freed and she and Quinn meet.  Minnie just wants to go home and hide for the day until the time for the jinx has passed.   

Events keep throwing Minnie and Quinn together.  Minnie realises that Quinn has not had as good a life as she had expected.  Quinn does not want any more commitment, he has his mother and a business to look after.