One Dark Summer by Sarah Hornsley (Hodder & Stoughton £22, 320pp)

THE mysterious British tidal island of Osea is bleak, remote and the perfect place to bury secrets.

Hornsley conjures exactly the right background for Lily, who is searching for clues to her damaged childhood.

In the end, what she discovers causes her more problems than she ever bargained for: the reasons behind her mother Penny abandoning her when she just four years old.

In an intriguing twist, Lily is actually a therapist – which is a response to her own inner anguish and a handy way for introducing a lot of convincing psychological analysis. A clever book from a promising young writer.

Heartbreaker is available now

Heartbreaker by Jude O’Reilly (Pellerin Books £9.99, 294pp)

Fans of the very popular Michael North thrillers won’t need much persuasion to read O’Reilly’s latest offering.

This swerves in a slightly different direction – a standalone title which explores the psychology of guilt and the motives of murderers.

The book is based in the US where Daphne Monroe, a successful defence attorney, decides to tackle her own demons by tracking down the killer of her husband and two young children.

She herself is the police’s chief suspect – and also the next target for the real killer.

Modern medicine is pivotal to a very complex plot which teaches the reader a lot along the way.

A genuinely original storyline which is gripping and haunting.

The Pool Party by Rebecca Bainbridge (Quercus £22, 352pp)

A flash pool party in a posh house is the centrepiece drama in a book that explores the toxic secrets of two mothers who are trapped in a dangerous friendship forged at the school gate.

Kate has arrived in the idyllic village of Fletching with her deputy-head husband hoping for a fresh start. She makes friends with glamorous Melody whose annual pool party is the high point of the season. But the friendship gradually reveals both are hiding more than they are sharing.

The plot reaches boiling point during the party. There is a serious incident. We know this happens from the beginning and the story is told in dual timelines which can be confusing. But Bainbridge’s take on motherhood and friendship is finely tuned and this is a relatable story told with verve and expertly sprinkled with tension.