Quick recommendation - an excellent recent-ish literary fiction book.

[LowbrowVictoriana]

For DHs "stocking"

He likes any genre, as long as a book is "good". Previous particular likes are Ian McEwan and Louis de Bernieres, but he'll try anything.

TIA

Agent Zigzag
A spy among friends

Conclave, Farherland, Enigma by Robert Harris

Thanks @LadyWithLapdog ... loved Conclave (though we both guessed the twist!) will certainly look at more Robert Harris.

He has a new one out which I’ve bought but not read yet, so I couldn’t recommend it personally. Act of Oblivion. It has good reviews.

The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida - Shehan Karunatilaka. (Haven’t read it yet, but his previous novel was wonderful.)

A Ghost in the Throat - Doireann Ní Ghríofa (Although it might completely traumatise him!)

Rosewater - Tade Thompson. (Very intelligent sci fi.)

The Bullet That Missed
Lessons in Chemistry
The Satsuma Complex
The Exhibitionist
Next in Line

The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida - Shehan Karunatilaka. (Haven’t read it yet, but his previous novel was wonderful.)

This was the one I'd actually chosen... till I discovered it's still only available in hardback. Will get the pb for his birthday!

Hamnet, Maggie o Farrell. The play is on at startford upon Avon in the spring.

Burial Rites, Hannah Kent.

Lessons by Ian McEwan - came out quite recently and excellent

Has he read Chinaman? That must be available in pb. (Personally I’d always prefer a hb …)

Please not Lessons in Chemistry...

Another vote for Hamnet though it seems to be a marmite book.

Thanks everyone I'll look at all of your suggestions.
The latest Ian McEwan is still hardback only @MokaEfti ; we just don't have the room!

Sarah Waters? Kate Atkinson?

They both write so well, I find both authors excellent storytellers

@LowbrowVictoriana no I bought the paperback at Heathrow Airport in November!

Shuggie Bain is brilliant.

I must say I was pleasantly surprised- I'd been waiting for the PB but only saw HB on Amazon and in my local Waterstones. Then i saw the PB in I think it was WH Smith's at Terminal 5, so I snapped it up. I was away for 4 nights and finished the book during my flight back!

Ah, that's surprising @MokaEfti
We're out beyond the sticks though and I'm not going out anywhere soon, so any book I buy will have to be Amazonable!

Damon Galgut’s The Promise won last year’s Booker Prize. It’s a good read. There’s also a new Cormac McCarthy out if your DH likes his writing.

Robert Harris's new book, An Act of Oblivion, is excellent. It is a real page turner. His book written during COVID, V2, is really good. It is set during the Second WorldWar and is Enigma like.

My book club recent read Lanny by Max Porter which I would say fits the bill.

Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen - excellent.

Shuggie Bain is a good call.

I LOVED this! Still think about it.

www.amazon.co.uk/Light-Perpetual-Longlisted-Booker-Prize/dp/0571336493/ref=asc_df_0571336493/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=501078988521&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12332203875039278070&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045330&hvtargid=pla-1323286170953&psc=1&th=1&psc=1

Light Perpetual - Francis Spufford, I should have said!

Ken Follett's Kingsbridge series (four books) or his Century Series. Anything by C J Sampson.