Forget the Budget and lose yourself in these new Jack Reacher and Richard Sharpe novels
It's dark, cold and depressing in the real world, fortunately these four brilliant new books will help distract you from everything that's going wrong out there
Sharpe’s Storm by Bernard Cornwell, Hardback, £22
Like Jack Reacher, Richard Sharpe is one of the most comforting literary creations of modern times. His 24th outing is set in 1813 and features the Battle of St Pierre, a crucial engagement in south-west France in the closing stages of the Peninsular War. And as ever, Bernard Cornwell’s grumpy Rifleman who came up through the ranks, saving the Duke of Wellington’s life en route, will play a key role. Sharpe’s Storm has all the fictional action and adventure fans have come to expect, neatly wrapped around real-life events. Cornwell remains the undisputed master of historical fiction and Sharpe is his greatest creation. Sharpe’s Storm hits the bullseye like a round fired by Daniel Hagman! 9/10
Exit Strategy by Lee and Andrew Child, Hardback, £22
In an increasingly uncertain world, the arrival of a new Jack Reacher thriller every autumn remains a sure sign things are still just about okay. Exit Strategy might not differ wildly from the winning formula – ex-military cop Reacher’s minding his own business drinking coffee when a man slips a note into his pocket asking for help, setting up a rollicking adventure involving dodgy military contractors – but that’s not the point. The point is Reacher kicks butt, the bad guys get hammered and readers put down the book with a satisfied sigh. Exit Strategy is the 30th in the series, now helmed by Lee Child’s brother, Andrew, but it remains a gripping, must-read. 8/10
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Karma Capitalism by James Reed, Hardback, £18.99
In an age when CEOs have become rock stars through cross-cultural appeal, James Reed is a proper stadium filler. Here, the boss of the recruitment firm that bears his family name makes a compelling, highly readable, case for PhilCos – or philanthropy companies – where at least 10% of shares are owned by a charity or foundation. He calls it ‘Karma Capitalism’ and believes it’s an innovative way for firms to deliver profits and social currency. And he’s not alone; businesses like IKEA, Carlsberg, Lego and Rolex have all gone down this route. With increasing cynicism about old-fashioned, short-termist thinking among customers and employees, this is a refreshing and inspiring read. Let’s hope more firms try it. 8/10
The Murder at World’s End by Ross Montgomery, Hardback, £16.99
After being released from borstal for a crime he didn’t commit, Stephen Pike thinks his luck is changing when he is offered a footman’s job at Tithe Hall on a remote tidal island in Cornwall. He arrives to feverish preparations for the apocalypse, which its Viscount believes will accompany the passing of Halley’s Comet in 1910. By the next morning the Viscount is dead in his sealed study and all eyes turn to Stephen as the newest member of staff, with Lady Decima, the foul-mouthed 80-year-old family matriarch, who loves a good puzzle, his only ally in finding the real killer. The first adult novel by a bestselling children’s writer is gloriously entertaining. 9/10
