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2025 marks the forty-fifth anniversary of the iconic Brambly Hedge series, created by Jill Barklem. Known for their beautifully illustrated, highly detailed depictions of ‘Brambly Hedge’ a rural society of mice living in the English countryside, the books have come to represent the best of children’s publishing and are loved by readers of all ages! Cosy, quiet and soft, even now, the Willoughby team will get lost in the magic and wonder of their pages.
As we enter the final months of the year, with the leaves beginning to fall and the sun setting earlier in the day, we’ve all been feeling the call of a Brambly Hedge autumn. Buying jars and filling them with homemade jams, preserves and pickles. Stomping around in the leaves, soaking up the cool blue of an autumn sky. Reading cosy mysteries and family sagas and ghost stories and nature stories and and and…. you get the idea!
To celebrate our delicious descent (or should that be fall?) from summer into autumn, we’ve found a wide selection of books that have caught our collective magpie eyes, so that you all too can embrace the Brambly Hedge ways. Read on and as always, let us know of any you think we should be adding to our reading lists.
The Art of a Lie by Laura Shepherd-Robinson
As Willoughby-appointed queen of historical mystery, Shepherd-Robinson’s latest novel is a witty and wild ride through 18th-century London and will not disappoint those in search of a wonderfully plotty tale.
Following the murder of her husband, Hannah Cole, a Piccadilly confectioner, she is desperately trying to keep her business afloat. Henry Fielding, author-now-magistrate is on her tail, chasing her for money, and William Devereux, a friend of her late husband, is helping unravel the secrets surrounding her late husband’s death.
Told through the dual-narrative of Hannah and William, it’s a clever, fun story that will keep you guessing- a perfect Georgian mystery for armchair time travel.
The Frozen People by Elly Griffiths
Speaking of time travel! Elly Griffiths, another Willoughby favourite, has returned with a brand-new detective series with a twist. Ali Dawson, a cold case investigator and her team, unbeknownst to anyone outside of the department, are secretly traveling back in time to solve forgotten crimes. They are assigned to a case that has remained unsolved since way back in 1850, to clear the name of Cain Templeton, the great-grandfather of the Tory MP Isaac Templeton. But when Dawson discovers some sinister information about the aforementioned character, she soon realises that danger is afoot, particularly when she realises she is physically unable to travel back to the present day!
You’ll never go wrong with an Elly Griffiths book and this original departure from realism is a fresh and exciting take on what the writer already does so well.
Our Evenings by Alan Hollinghurst
Described by one reviewer as “like drinking a glass of fine red wine that reveals its flavours the more you drink”, Our Evenings is a sumptuous coming of age novel that introduces us to the character of Dave Win, a working-class, mixed-race boy, whose scholarship to an elite boarding school sets him on his life’s trajectory.
Tracing his life from the 1960s to the present day, we follow Dave as he explores his queer identity, the life choices made for him and by him, as well as his complicated relationship with his wealthy former schoolmate Giles Hadlow and his family. Discussing ideas of privilege, class, and race, this is a character-driven novel that will utterly envelope you. It’s everything you’d want, need and/or expect from the Booker Prize winner.
The Artist by Lucy Steeds
Set in a remote farmhouse in 1920’s Provence, The Artist explores the story of a reclusive painter, Edouard Tartouffe, and his niece, Ettie. When a young journalist named Joseph arrives, hoping to write a piece on Tartouffe, he becomes entangled in the daily lives of this mysterious pairing. It’s a novel of art and creativity, of quiet talent and the all- engulfing misogyny of the art world at the time. There’s a love story element too, which adds a rich note to this layered and beautifully written novel. If you enjoy reading historical fiction, stories set in rural locations or simply quiet novels that will have you thinking, do add this is to your list.
All Consuming by Ruby Tandoh: Why We Eat the Way We Eat Now
When I think of comfort reading, Ruby Tandoh stands out among them all. Her food writing is like a big hug from a close friend in a chunky knit. When I first read her book Eat Up! I immediately bought copies for everyone. She is an original and beguiling cultural historian that deserve a lot of attention! Covering everything from the supermarket aisle to the latest hyped restaurant she is thoughtful and generous in her ideas about the personal and the political, her writing both evocative and mouth-watering. She’ll have you reaching for the biscuit tin with a new-found appreciation. You’ll also want a pencil to underline her lovely prose.
Close Encounters of the Fungal Kind: In Pursuit of Remarkable Mushrooms by Richard Fortey
If, like us, you enjoy exploring the outdoors in the autumn months, you’ll know this is the perfect time of year for foraging and fungi spotting! It’s a fascinating topic and the popularity and interest in the world of fungi is ever-growing, with more and more people finding joy in the undergrowth.
Finally released in paperback, Close Encounters of the Fungal Kind is a masterful piece of non-fiction, written with a passionate and knowledgeable flair by the scientist, Fortey. Warm, witty and charming in tone, if you like nature writing or simply have an interest, this would be a great introduction to it all.
FERMENT: A Cookbook. Simple ferments and pickles, and how to eat them by Kenji Morimoto
Perhaps you too feel the call of the ferments when the nights draw in. There’s nothing more pleasing than mindfully spending time preparing simple and delicious preserves and pickles for the months ahead. It’s very satisfying to see the rows of jars in the fridge, ready to inspire and delight.
Morimoto’s FERMENT will give you all the know-how and recipes you need to fulful the Brambly Hedge dream. Everything from sauerkraut and kimchi to kombucha and miso is included in this varied and beautifully rendered book. Helpfully divided into two sections: the first being step-by-step guidance on making your ferments and the second 70 delicious and creative recipes to conjure magic in your kitchen, you’ll be dog-earing pages to return to again and again.
