“It was on a dreary night in November” so marks Victor Frankenstein on the birth of his dreadful creation. For us at Kemps in Malton, this November is anything but dreary as we look forward to reading some dazzling new releases including delightfully gothic storytelling, page-turning cosy crime and the return of some classic voices. New children’s books are full of animal friends and feature both brand new tales along with some of our favourite picture books reissued.

If you are looking for a good book to get your teeth into as the nights draw in, look no further than Mary, or the Birth of Frankenstein by Anne Eekhout. This debut novel comes with glowing reviews from such writers as Sarah Waters and Elizabeth Lee and it is easy to see why. Eekhout takes the relatively familiar story of the creation of Frankenstein on that stormy evening near Lake Geneva and weaves in lesser-known aspects of Mary Shelley’s biography to plunge her readers into a dark, fairytale-like plot full of gothic tension in a darkly compelling setting. For readers who are familiar with Frankenstein and its creator, the novel shines an imaginative new light on aspects of Shelley’s life and character.

As it’s the season for things that go bump in the night, The Dead of Winter edited by Cecily Gayford is just the book to help you embrace the darkest of nights. Featuring ten classic tales by such masterful storytellers as M.R. James, Arthur Conan-Doyle and Ruth Rendell, this book will have you waiting just a little longer to turn off your night light!

For something with a few more laughs, fans of cosy crime might want to try Murder at Holly House by Denzil Meyrick. Unlike the darker novels that Meyrick is known for, this book fits the lighter end of the crime spectrum, but it certainly retains the page turning punch of a thriller. Set in the 1950s on the North York Moors, the action centres around one Inspector Frank Grasby who, out of favour with his superiors, is sent to the remote village of Elderby to investigate some missing racehorses. However, when a body is found stuffed up a chimney, his investigations take a much darker turn. Grasby finds himself battling against the elements, the villagers and even his own nature to get to the bottom of this mystery. This is a thoroughly enjoyable book filled with marvellous characters, skilfully drawn settings and very clever twists.

Two books that deserve special mention this month are Stolen by Ann-Helen Laestadius (out now in paperback) and The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by Humphrey Carpenter and Christopher Tolkien. What links these two apparently unrelated publications? That would be our manager, Alex! She is an expert on Scandinavian literature and a connoisseur of Tolkien’s works. In Stolen Sami journalist, Ann-Helen Laestadius, has written a compelling fictional account of the persecution faced by the Sami people of Northern Scandinavia. It is a coming-of-age story about a young girl who witnesses the brutal killing of one of her family’s reindeer, her burial of the truth around this event and the consequences this has for her family and community years later. Alex was bowled over by the emotional impact of Stolen which, beautifully told, also highlights an important area of Scandinavian history. J.R.R. Tolkien needs no introduction and this new collection of his letters simply adds to the wealth of material that confirms him as the most homely of scholars in our literary canon.

Speaking of homely, there can be nothing more comforting than one of Jane Hissey’s Old Bear stories and we are so pleased to be able to stock this newly reprinted edition. Telling the story of the rescue of Old Bear from a box in the attic, this is the perfect story to share with children from five and up. For smaller children, Catherine Rayner’s beautifully illustrated picture books are a must and Molly, Olive and Dexter: The Guessing Game is a delightful little tale of overcoming the challenges of a very tricky game. Finally, despite all our efforts to save Christmas to December, we have fallen victim of the charms of one very little mouse! A House for Christmas Mouse by Rebecca Harry tells the heart-warming story of a mouse in search of a cosy home for Christmas. On her travels, she meets and helps all manner of woodland friends who return every last one of her favours when they surprise her with the perfect place to stay on Christmas day. It’s a charming book that puts dreary old November firmly behind us as we look towards the joys and festivities to come.

Mary, or the Birth of Frankenstein by Anne Eekhout, ISBN: 9781782278979, £18.99

The Dead of Winter edited by Cecily Gayford, ISBN: 9781800817753, £9.99

Murder at Holly House by Denzil Meyrick, ISBN: 9781787637184, £16.99

Stolen by Ann-Helen Laestadius, ISBN: 9781526659996, £9.99

The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien: Revised and Expanded, ed. by Humphrey Carpenter and Christopher Tolkien, ISBN: 9780008628765, £30

Old Bear by Jane Hissey, ISBN: 9781800787599, £7.99

Molly, Olive and Dexter: The Guessing Game by Catherine Rayner, ISBN: 9781529501544, £12.99

A House for Christmas Mouse by Rebecca Harry, ISBN: 9781839947360, £6.99