More about books

Catherine Larner

Hello, I'm Catherine Larner, a freelance journalist, editor and presenter living in Suffolk. I contribute features, profiles, reviews, comment and analysis to regional and national magazines, newspapers and online. You can take a look at my published articles on my website here.

I also interview on stage for festivals, organisations and bookshops, 'in conversation' with novelists, historians, politicians and personalities.

Reading extensively and widely, I report on the books I've enjoyed in a weekly e-newsletter and on this site which now provides a resource of more than 800 titles. I hope you'll find it helpful in choosing books for yourself and for your friends and family.

Thank you for reading

 

My More About Books bookstore where books can be purchased online can be found here or from any 'buy this book online' link. If you buy books linked to this site, I earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops.

What's on

Meet the author Gyles Brandreth - SOLD OUT!
Wednesday 4th November, 1.30pm
at Riverside Theatre, Woodbridge
Broadcaster and writer, Gyles Brandreth will be in conversation sharing his tips on how we might all live well, for longer.
read more
Hermione Lee in conversation
Monday 23rd November, 2.00pm
at Woodbridge Library
The award-winning biographer presents her latest book, exploring the life of novelist Anita Brookner.
read more

Recent Events

Megan Hunter in conversation
Sunday 11 October 2026
read my report
An evening with Sarah Winman
Saturday 10 October 2026
read my report
Louisa Young in conversation
Sunday 27 September 2026
Continuing The Cazalet Chronicles created by her aunt Elizabeth Jane Howard, writer Louisa Young introduces the first of her trilogy.

Events Archive

Visit my archive pages for details of all events in recent years.

Readers recommendations
At the end of each year, members of the Woodbridge Book Group meet together to share their favourite titles and offer ideas for gifts for friends and family, and for new authors to try ourselves. For 2025 the titles that were mentioned are listed here.

FRAMLINGHAM

I'm leading a monthly adult book group at the fabulous Ottie and the Bea children's shop in Framlingham. You can find out about how to join in the meeting and sign up here or call in to the shop to learn more and browse the wonderful selection of children's books and gifts. The book we are reading this month is

Buckeye
by Patrick Ryan
It's Ohio after the war and the lives of two young couples - Becky and Cal, Margaret and Felix - have become intertwined. The consequences are ultimately devastating and far reaching. Considered a 'big-hearted bestselling phenomenon', what will we think of this novel?
Wednesday, 11 November 2026 - 7:30pm
read my book review
Order this book online

Buying books

I've linked the reviews on my website so that you can purchase online if you wish (and I will receive a small commission for each purchase, with a further commission going to all independent bookshops). 

Click here for my page on bookshop.org and do consider using it whenever you wish to buy online. 

Book reviews

My recent recommendations

Here are the books I've been enjoying recently, both fiction and non-fiction titles.

Dead in Three Two One
Peter James
Detective Superintendent Roy Grace is pushed to the limit - he's policing a vast event while monitoring a potential terrorist attack, and his...
read my review
Publication date: 20th October 2026
Hardback edition
Buy this book online
I am Roland Mouret
Roland Mouret
Recommended non-fiction
A fascinating insight into the world of fashion and one man's vision and determination.
read my review
Publication date: 22nd October 2026
Hardback edition
Buy this book online
Yesteryear
Caro Claire Burke
Publication date: 9th April 2026
Hardback edition
Buy this book online
Days of Light
Megan Hunt
Publication date: 30th April 2026
Buy this book online
Harpy
Megan Hunter
Publication date: 13th May 2021
Buy this book online
London Falling
Patrick Radden Keefe
Recommended non-fiction
An incredible account of a tragic death, a fantasist, and a criminal underworld. Brilliantly written.
read my review
Publication date: 7th April 2026
Hardback edition
Buy this book online
The 7 Secrets of the Hundred-Year Life
Gyles Brandreth and Finola Burrell
Recommended non-fiction
The broadcaster has joined with his physiotherapist to provide an entertaining guide to living well in order to enjoy a long life.
read my review
Publication date: 15th October 2026
Hardback edition
Buy this book online
Becoming a Composer: My Music, My Life
Errollyn Wallen
Recommended non-fiction
An incredible memoir of how the composer Errollyn Wallen came to be who she is today.
read my review
Publication date: 14th August 2025
Buy this book online

For more reviews click here

For children

These are my most recent recommendations for children. Click here to see listings by age.

Beacons of light
by Gemma Koomen
A beautifully illustrated book presenting the history of lighthouses.
read my review
Publication date: 9th July 2026
Hardback edition
Buy this book online
And Then We Screamed
by Holly Bourne
A gripping and chilling thriller about mass hysteria.
read my review
Publication date: 10th September 2026
Buy this book online
What if you could
by Jacinda Ardern
A hugely inspiring account of the life of New Zealand's prime minister, presented for younger readers.
read my review
Publication date: 4th June 2026
Buy this book online
The Green Kingdom
by Cornelia Funke
Publication date: 5th March 2026
Buy this book online
Little Wolf's Big Huff
by Harriet Howe and illustrated by Katie Cottle
A camping trip looks set to go badly wrong.
read my review
Publication date: 10th September 2026
Buy this book online
The night I borrowed time
by Iqbal Hussain
A fabulous adventure through time, touching on the Partition of 1947. Brilliant!
read my review
Publication date: 1st January 2026
Buy this book online
Tadpole Summer
by Catherine Bruton
A wonderfully engaging but ultimately very sad story about one summer looking out for tadpoles, and coping with a little boy gettting very ill.
read my review
Publication date: 7th May 2026
Buy this book online
The Wild Ones
by Steve Cole
Publication date: 30th July 2026
Buy this book online

Look out for

These titles will soon be published but are not yet available in the shops. 

Murder on the Royal Crescent
by Harriet F Townson
Publication date: 29th October 2026
Order this book online
Oakie
by Isla McGuckin and illustrated by Circle Yuen
Recommended for children
A charming picture book encouraging a young child to grow an oak tree.
read my review
Publication date: 12th November 2026
Order this book online
Solace in Winter
by Mary Lawson
Catastrophe and community in the small Canadian town over winter. Another wonderful story from Mary Lawson!
read my review
Publication date: 19th November 2026
Order this book online
Murder in the Cathedral
by JM Dalgliesh
Publication date: 14th January 2027
Order this book online
Rig 83
by Jonathan Lichtenstein
Recommended non-fiction
Publication date: 18th March 2027
Order this book online

 

 

For my reviews on radio click here

News

Sunday 25 October 2026

Getting prepared

It's been a wild and windy weekend and in East Anglia the trains stopped due to fallen trees. There's been debris from leaves and branches and water on the roads, but the sun has been shining today, so it hasn't felt quite so challenging. 

We are all needing to be more resilient these days with increasing incidents of extreme weather, but also various other situations being raised as possibilities by the authorities. Have you got three days worth of food and water, and cash? Even blankets, torches and wind-up radios are being recommended in order to be prepared for any eventuality. It's rather unsettling!

But of course we don't need to make special arrangements in our reading material. If we can't access the internet, television or phones, I'm sure we all have a wealth of material on our bookshelves to transport us to a better place, distracting us from the concerns of modern life.