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Original poster

What book couldn't you put down? Non high brow!

59 replies

DollyDaydreamss · 12/01/2020 17:27

Any suggestions for something gripping but not all high brow or literary? I know there's another thread sharing unputdownable books but I honestly don't feel tempted by Lincoln in the bardo or the Iliad ...

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plipliop · 15/01/2020 15:01

The corset by Laura Purcell

Christmadtree · 15/01/2020 15:01

Another vote for anything by Liane Moriarty.

Eleanor Oliphant was fab, as is A Man Called Ove by Frederick Backman... Or anything by him come to think of it!

Frouby · 15/01/2020 14:55

I've just read the same 2 books as you OP. Have just downloaded The Widow by Fiona Barton that has good reviews. The ladt completely unputtdownable series I read was the Tana French Dublin Murder Squad. Not high brow but gripping and much better than the recent tv series.

Also Shetland and Vera are good. And the Simon Serrialer (sp) series.

ReadingwithTea · 15/01/2020 13:41

The Light Between Oceans by M L Stedman.

Absolutely brilliant book.

backinaminute · 14/01/2020 06:33

Thanks for these suggestions, I've just downloaded a few of them. Really helpful. Great thread OP.

BettyCrockaShit · 13/01/2020 20:16

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine - finished it in 2 days.

lookingatthepast · 13/01/2020 20:14

People who eat darkness - Richard Lloyd parry

Taddda · 13/01/2020 20:13

The first book(s) I remember not being able to put down 'Wizards First Rule'- Terry Goodkind - brilliant fantasy series

Taddda · 13/01/2020 20:08

Another vote for 'The Unlikely pilgrimage of Harold Fry' - non high brow, just a beautiful read

Shosha1 · 13/01/2020 20:04

Another crime Author who is great is Elly Griffiths. Love her Ruth Gallow series.
Peter May's Lewis Trilogy is good too.

Totally different genre. I live Diana Gabledon's Outlander Series and Jean Auel's Earth Children .

goldenorbspider · 13/01/2020 08:05

Battle royale
Eleanor oliphant is completely fine
Underground Railroad colson whitehead

Howtotrainyourhamster · 13/01/2020 08:01

Anything by Lisa Jewell but especially her last few books, which are much darker than earlier ones - the family upstairs, and then she was gone - both really gripping.

Second Maggie o’Farrell and Kate Atkinson. Also The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin.

Ellapaella · 12/01/2020 22:27

Blood Orange by Harriet Tyce, started reading it yesterday and couldn't put it down! Just finished it now.

MargaeryTyrell · 12/01/2020 20:20

I'm currently really enjoying the Chaos Walking series by Patrick Ness. I'm on the second book currently and really into it.

Mandarinfish · 12/01/2020 20:16

Maggie O'Farrell's books are good

dementedma · 12/01/2020 20:14

I like Ken Follet’s novels,particularly the cathedral series..can’t remember the bloody name of them now!

I enjoyed The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern and have her second book The Starless Sea by my bed, waiting to be read. It was a a Christmas present.

basilfotheringtonthomas · 12/01/2020 20:13

Melanie Reid's memoir 'The World I Fell Out Of'. Not fiction but one of the best books I've read recently.

Howgreenwasmyvalley · 12/01/2020 20:08

Rosamunde Pilcher books. Just lovely.

Queenoftheashes · 12/01/2020 19:35

Jurassic Park

Downunderduchess · 12/01/2020 19:33

The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty, her best one I think

Steelasprey · 12/01/2020 19:32

Also, Robert Galbraith, Kate Atkinson, Ruth Galloway series (can’t remember author) are all good quality reads.
I happily admit to devouring the MC Beaton Agatha Raisin series - super fun!

Steelasprey · 12/01/2020 19:30

I read all of John Le Carre’s Smilie novels last year (and a few stand-alone works too) - they were the perfect blend of amazing writing and incredibly gripping story. I couldn’t recommend them highly enough. I plough through modern murder mysteries but find myself drawn back to Agatha Christie, Maigret, Ruth Rendell, PD James etc - the classics of the genre. Such compelling, sparse writing and such interesting characters and settings- pure escapism and usually quite short.
I’m not at all a fan of romance or ‘psychological thrillers’ or any modern publication with neon titles against a dark, brooding background: I’m terribly impatient with the usually self-obsessed characters and end up hoping they’re all murdered Blush

pallisers · 12/01/2020 19:26

Nearly anything by Stephen King (and I admit I was a literary snob and didn't read him till about 10 years ago - picked up The Shining and couldn't put it down - he is brilliant)

Conviction by Denise Mina had me gripped recently.

Starbridge series by Susan Howatch isn't low brow but isn't high brow either and is great

Anything by Eva Ibbotson - so charming.

Kerberos · 12/01/2020 19:23

Anything Jack Reacher or Dirk Pitt has me from the start. Not high brow in the slightest :)

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