The most recommended books set in Manchester England

Who picked these books? Meet our 21 experts.

21 authors created a book list connected to Manchester England, and here are their favorite Manchester England books.
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Book cover of Animals

Kate Tough Author Of Keep Walking, Rhona Beech

From my list on realistic female friendships in challenging times.

Why am I passionate about this?

Iā€™d thought I was writing a novel about someone putting a life back together after everything fell apart but, when Iā€™d finished, readers told me Iā€™d written a book about vivid, authentic friendships. It was a welcome surprise. From Charles Dickens to Sylvia Plath, nuanced characters have always interested me and so, when writing, I set myself the task of believable dialogue and interactions which readers can relate to like itā€™s their own friends sitting around a table; laughing, crying, or bickering. When a life falls apart itā€™s often friendships that are tested to breaking but then become stronger as a result.

Kate's book list on realistic female friendships in challenging times

Kate Tough Why did Kate love this book?

How are women supposed to behave, discreetly? Are their friendships always a saccharine Hallmark card? Not in this novel. Living loudly, louchely, in chaos, with hedonistic nights out and all-day hangovers, Laura and Tyler are a tight, whip-funny twosomeā€¦ except one has a wedding on the horizon to a teetotal stable man, and sheā€™s wrestling with whether marriage is a legitimate life milestone anymore. The friendship portrayal here is a messy, clever, and foul-mouthed foray into the moment when inseparable friends face the prospect of their familiar relationship disappearing through the unstoppable forces of adult life. And weā€™ve all had impossible choices when we havenā€™t known which loyalties to put first ā€“ oneā€™s duty to oneself or to oneā€™s best friend?

By Emma Jane Unsworth,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Animals as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

ā€œAn utterly triumphant ode to female friendship, in all its intense, messy and powerful beautyā€ from the internationally bestselling author of Grown Ups (Elle).

It is the moment every twenty-something must confront: the time to grow up. Adulthood looms, with all its numbing tranquility and stifling complacency. The end of prolonged adolescence is near.

Laura and Tyler are two women whose twenties have been a blur of overstayed parties, a fondness for drugs that has shifted from cautious experimentation to catholic indulgence, and hangovers that donā€™t relent until Monday morning. Theyā€™ve been best friends, partners in excess, for the lastā€¦


Book cover of The Bodies in the Library

Debbie De Louise Author Of A Stone's Throw

From my list on mystery series featuring libraries and librarians.

Why am I passionate about this?

I enjoy reading and writing cozy mysteries, especially ones that feature libraries and cats because Iā€™m a librarian and have three cats of my own. I like cozies because they focus on characters who can become your fictional friends as you learn more about them with each book. I like the fact that thereā€™s a minimum of violence and even though there may be romance, there are no explicit sex scenes. Iā€™ve always enjoyed reading stories with twists and secrets that are revealed slowly to the reader. These are the type of books that you can savor along with a cup of tea seated next to a purring cat. 

Debbie's book list on mystery series featuring libraries and librarians

Debbie De Louise Why did Debbie love this book?

Although the U.S. has wonderful libraries, England seems to top them, and Iā€™ve always found English mysteries to have a special draw to them. The Bodies in the Library, the first First Edition Library Mystery, is no exception, combining both an English library and a clever mystery. Set in the English town of Bath, the book features Hayley Burke, who has taken the position of curator of a collection of Golden Age mystery books despite the fact that she has no knowledge of mysteries and is faking her experience. So when an Agatha Christie group meets at the library and one of the members is murdered, Hayley must do her best to solve it, so she can keep her job. Following in the footsteps of Miss Marple and Agatha Raisin, I found Hayley to be a memorable character with nerve and verve who I enjoyed meeting in this firstā€¦

By Marty Wingate,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Bodies in the Library as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Hayley Burke's fresh start as the curator of the First Edition Society's library in Bath, England, is about to take a rotten turn in this charming new mystery series from USA Today bestselling author Marty Wingate.

Hayley Burke has landed a dream job: she is the new curator of Lady Georgiana Fowling's First Edition library. The library is kept at Middlebank House, a lovely Georgian home in Bath, England. Hayley lives on the premises and works with the finicky Glynis Woolgar, Lady Fowling's former secretary.

Mrs. Woolgar does not like Hayley's ideas to modernize the First Edition Society and bringā€¦


Book cover of Alex: The Man Behind The Legend

Tony Flood Author Of My Life with The Stars: Sizzling secrets spilled!

From my list on the secrets of showbiz and sports stars.

Why am I passionate about this?

I love comedy, showbusiness, mystery and fantasy stories, and sportā€”and these varied interests have resulted in me writing in various genres as both a journalist and author. My books have all been thoroughly researched and that has helped my crime thrillers receive glowing endorsements from best-selling writer Peter James in the case of Triple Tease and national newspaper journalist Stuart Pink in the case of Stitch Up! - Killer or Victim? My other books have also received excellent endorsements and reviewsā€”fantasy adventure Secret Potion and Laughs and Tears Galore ā€“ Short Stories and Poems With Twists, written jointly with my wife Heather Flood, best known for her children's books.

Tony's book list on the secrets of showbiz and sports stars

Tony Flood Why did Tony love this book?

Alex: The Man Behind The Legend is the latest biography of Sir Alex Fergusonā€”the most decorated manager in British football history.

I was fascinated to learn how livid Fergie was when his choice as his successor at Manchester United, David Moyes, was sacked after only 10 months; and his opinions of the reigns at Old Trafford of Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. 

By David Lyons,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Alex as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"For anyone wanting to know what makes Fergie tick..." ā€” Eamonn Holmes.

BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER MANCHESTER UNITED
ALEX is the most up-to-date biography of Sir Alex Fergusonā€”the most decorated manager in British football history.

Find out how he recovered from his brain surgery in 2018.

Why he appointed David Moyes as his successor.

How livid he was when Moyes was sacked ten months later.

What he thought of Louis van Gaalā€™s tenure as Manchester United manager. What he thought of Jose Mourinhoā€™s reign. And just how big a role he played in the appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Thisā€¦


Book cover of A Suitable Job for a Woman: Inside the World of Private Eyes

Caitlin Davies Author Of Private Inquiries: The Secret History of Female Sleuths

From Caitlin's 3 favorite reads in 2023.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Novelist Historian Jumble lover Swimmer

Caitlin's 3 favorite reads in 2023

Caitlin Davies Why did Caitlin love this book?

A Suitable Job for a Woman, published in 1995, is an incredibly useful book in terms of the popular depiction of female PIs versus the day-to-day reality of women in the industry.

Val McDermid interviewed 34 PIs in Britain and the States, and while American PIs were open and relaxed, British women were more wary. Thirty years later, I had the same problem, and it took me a long time to earn the trust of my interviewees. 

Val anticipated there would be more women working in private investigation in the future ā€“ and while progress has been slow, around 30 percent of trainees in Britain are now women. As one of her interviewees explains, it is "one of the few jobs where women can exploit the fact that weā€™re second-class citizens."

By Val McDermid,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked A Suitable Job for a Woman as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

""But down these mean streets must go a man who is not himself mean, who is neither tarnished or afraid."" When Raymond Chandler wrote these words in his classic The Simple Art of Murder, he drew a blueprint for the male private eyes who descend from Philip Marlowe to populate the world of crime fiction.
But what if the private eye is a woman? And what if she is not a character in a novel but a real, working investigator testing not only the meanness but the absurdity of life on seamy streets? Who will tell her story?


Enter Manchester'sā€¦


Book cover of Kick Back

Marsali Taylor Author Of The Shetland Sea Murders

From my list on women who rescue themselves.

Why am I passionate about this?

I love reading crime but oh, it does annoy me when an otherwise competent sensible female detective insists on going into the lonely house to tackle the murderer without backup, and needs to be rescued by her male sidekick. Cass is the cool-in-a-crisis heroine weā€™d all like to be. Like her, Iā€™m a solo sailor (Iā€™ve lent her my yacht for the series) and Iā€™d love to say Iā€™ve learned to be quick-thinking, self-reliant, and prudentā€”the sea doesnā€™t forgive stupidity. I also live in a village where everyone sees the lifeboat going out, and having to be rescued would be the ultimate embarrassment. 

Marsali's book list on women who rescue themselves

Marsali Taylor Why did Marsali love this book?

Kate Brannigan is my go-to heroine when I want to be cheered up. Sheā€™s a wise-cracking, kick-boxing, quick-witted Manchester PI and in this novel she investigates the Case of the Missing Conservatories. Other series characters include her music journo boyfriend, Richard (Kateā€™s more likely to rescue him), her friends Chris and Alexis whoā€™re having problems with a bent builder, and her firmā€™s scary secretary whoā€™s suddenly become a lovesick teenager. Itā€™s cleverly plotted, fast-moving, and stars a feisty woman who takes no prisoners. I wish there were more books in this seriesā€”five isnā€™t enough!

By Val McDermid,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Kick Back as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Manchester-based private investigator Kate Brannigan is back, and this time she's investigating the bizarre case of the missing conservatories. Before long, she's up to her neck in crooked land deals, mortgage scams, financial chicanery - and murder. But then a favour for a friend puts Kate's own life in danger - and bizarre is not the first word she thinks of ...'Kate Brannigan is wonderful' Frances Fyfield


Book cover of No More Heroes

Nick Quantrill Author Of Sound of the Sinners

From my list on crime set in the North of England.

Why am I passionate about this?

The North of England is home. I was born here, I work here and itā€™s where I will see out my days. Itā€™s a place with its own character, a place largely forged on hard industrial work and one trying to find a new purpose after decades of financial neglect. My home city of Hull captures this in miniature as weā€™ve shared a journey over the last decade via my novels from 'UK Crap Town of the Yearā€™ to ā€˜UK City of Culture.ā€™ Tied in with my background in studying Social Policy and Criminology, Iā€™ll continue to map the city and the regionā€™s trials and tribulations.

Nick's book list on crime set in the North of England

Nick Quantrill Why did Nick love this book?

Set in Manchester, Ray Banksā€™s gift to us is a razor-sharp contemporary Private Investigator series, a relative rarity within the UK crime writing scene. His surly PI, Cal Innes, may be battered and bruised, but his big heart continues to beat. Finding himself in the centre of a racist uprising in the city, itā€™s a place that needs a hero and heā€™s going to be the man who rises to the occasion. Using the classic PI template created by the great US writers, it showed me that I could also adapt the format and apply it to my own writing and PI, Joe Geraghty.

By Ray Banks,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked No More Heroes as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

It's Manchester's hottest summer on record and while Callum Innes evicts families on behalf of local slum lord Donald Plummer, the English National Socialists stir up racial tensions to breaking point. A firebomb attack at a Plummer property thrusts Innes into the spotlight as he saves a child from the burning building. But when Plummer enlists his help to track down the arsonists, Innes finds himself dealing with more than the ENS and his rapidly overwhelming codeine addiction. Time's running out and the temperature keeps rising. Manchester needs a hero and Callum Innes is the closest it has.


Book cover of The Stranger Times

Kim M. Watt Author Of Gobbelino London & a Scourge of Pleasantries

From my list on UK urban fantasy that arenā€™t set in London.

Why am I passionate about this?

Although Iā€™m from New Zealand, Europe has been home for a lot of my adult life, and that has included a lot of time in North Yorkshire. It always seems to me that thereā€™s potential for magic around every corner, in the deep sinkholes and high fells of the Dales, or the cobbled charm of the York Shambles and the loom of the Abbey over Whitby harbour. So I do feel that the fact so many stories are set in London is a waste of so many delightfully different settings, and I make a point of hunting out as many alternatives as I can. I hope you enjoy this selection!

Kim's book list on UK urban fantasy that arenā€™t set in London

Kim M. Watt Why did Kim love this book?

I love finding a new series that hits all my favourite urban fantasy points ā€“ smart, funny, peopled with delightfully weird and very uncool characters, and itā€™s set anywhere in the UK outside London (nothing against London, itā€™s just fun to read about somewhere different). C.K. McDonnellā€™s The Stranger Times hits all of these, plus is partly inspired by actual news stories from around the world (some clippings included, and the authorā€™s podcast covers a lot more). This is a pure joy to read, and Iā€™m definitely looking at Manchester a little differently now...

By C. K. McDonnell,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Stranger Times as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'Wonderfully dark, extremely funny' proclaimed ADAM KAY, author of the No.1 bestselling This is Going to Hurt
'A filmic romp with great characters, a jet-propelled plot, and a winning premise' said the GUARDIAN
JASON MANFORD thinks it's 'Hilarious. You'll never look at Manchester the same way again.'
The Chronicles of St Mary's series author JODI TAYLOR declared 'I loved this . . . great premise - great story - great characters . . . hugely enjoyable.'
And THE TIMES called it 'ripping entertainment from start to finish.'

There are dark forces at work in our world (and in Manchester inā€¦


Book cover of The Listening Eye

Caron Allan Author Of Night and Day

From my list on classic mysteries you still havenā€™t read.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have been reading cozy mysteries since I was 8 years old. Thatā€™s over fifty years now, and I love, love, love them. Partly itā€™s the history: the setting and era so different from my own, and partly itā€™s the mystery element, I love to try to get to the answer before the sleuth, so that I can nod sagely and say, ā€˜I thought so.ā€™ Itā€™s also about people going through tough times, and seeing how those times can make or break them. I relate so much to their struggles with everyday life, and trying to fit an investigation around romance or vice versa, often during wartime.

Caron's book list on classic mysteries you still havenā€™t read

Caron Allan Why did Caron love this book?

The strengths of Wentworthā€™s books lie in the portrayal of the era, and in the characters who are forced to find their way through unfamiliar and difficult circumstances. They are not all wealthy, they are not all high-born, and we watch them as they try to adapt to wartime conditions and deprivations. 

Wentworthā€™s mysteries are fascinating, clever, with the protagonist Miss Silver, a spinster who is a professional ā€˜private enquiry agentā€™. The Listening Eye, I feel, contains some of the most acute observations of human nature, and this makes the characters just seem so relatable. Wentworth books are ā€˜cleanā€™ mysteries with a strong thread of romance, little gore, no bad language, or sexy shenanigans.

By Patricia Wentworth,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Listening Eye as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

No one would ever have guessed that Paulina Paine was deaf, and that her ability to lip-read was astonishing. So the two men who met one day during the showing of a new art exhibition did not realise until too late that the middle-aged tweedy figure sitting out of earshot could understand every word they said. And it had been no ordinary conversation. In fact, Paulina was so shaken by its implications that she went to see Miss Silver straight away.

As the violence escalates, Miss Silver finds herself at a very tense house party where all the guests areā€¦


Book cover of Little Darlings

Katrina Monroe Author Of Graveyard of Lost Children

From my list on changeling lore.

Why am I passionate about this?

Most people donā€™t realize how deeply ingrained folklore is to our daily lives. Superstitious habits like tossing spilled salt over the shoulder seem silly now, but had grave implications a hundred or more years ago. I love books that draw lines between folklore and reality, that weave tales laced with superstition, especially through the lens of modern issues. Stories like these have always helped me to not only understand myself better, but the world around me. The things people do and say arenā€™t nearly as important as why. Folklore, like changeling stories, Iā€™ve found, is the key to human understanding.

Katrina's book list on changeling lore

Katrina Monroe Why did Katrina love this book?

Little Darlings was the first book Iā€™d read in a long time that made me feel seen.

When Lauren came home from the hospital after delivering twins only to find her life had not become as picture perfect as she was led to believe, I felt a keen connection. Told with visceral desperation, Laurenā€™s story is one we can all relate toā€”a story of self-doubt and a mad scramble for validation. 

By Melanie Golding,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Little Darlings as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'Atmospheric and very creepy' The Guardian

'Goosebump-inducing...Unforgettable' Woman & Home

'Unforgettable...One suspects that the real sorceress here is Golding, whose writing has given a voice to every wronged mother' The New York Times

'Chilling story...stunning' Clare Mackintosh

'Taps into every woman's fear that she will not be believed' Mel McGrath, author of The Guilty Party

* * * *

THE TWINS ARE CRYING. THE TWINS ARE HUNGRY.
LAUREN IS CRYING. LAUREN IS EXHAUSTED.

Behind the hospital curtain, someone is waiting . . .

A terrifying encounter in the middle of the night leaves Lauren convinced someone is trying to stealā€¦


Book cover of Vurt

Simon Ball

From Simon's 3 favorite reads in 2023.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Filmmaker Director Captain Dreamer Believer

Simon's 3 favorite reads in 2023

Simon Ball Why did Simon love this book?

A wild ride of what could be a fictional depiction of Man(mad?)chester where our protagonists search in every hook and cranny for vurts, a feather that transports you into a virtual dream world experience. Needless to say, once you get burned out on these feathers you go searching for even deeper trips, with deeper conundrums and deeper labyrinths to escape from.

Noonā€™s writing puts us in location immediately and does not wait for you to catch up. Youā€™re in his world now, and itā€™s up to you to keep up. The narrative moves at a hundred miles per hour, and youā€™re left scratching your head by the end, perhaps wishing to try one of these feathers yourself (or, at least reminiscing about your past lives on the lookout for deeper trips).

By Jeff Noon,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Vurt as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Scribble and his gang, the Stash Riders, haunt the streets of an alternate Manchester, chasing the immersive highs that come from Vurt Feathers. Place a feather in your mouth and it takes you to the Vurt: another place, a trip, a shared reality of all our dreams and mythologies.

Different coloured feathers provide different experiences, but Scribble is searching for his lost love and only one feather offers the hope of finding her. It's the ultimate feather, it may not even exist at all: Curious Yellow.

But as the Game Cat says, "Be careful, be very careful. This ride isā€¦


Book cover of Animals
Book cover of The Bodies in the Library
Book cover of Alex: The Man Behind The Legend

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