Secret Book Swap | North Berwick | No.3 | June 2025

Books we swapped:

The Snack Thief – Andrea Camilleri
Inspector Montalbano investigates the murder of a man tied to a series of mysterious “snack thefts” in his Sicilian town. As he digs deeper, corruption, family secrets, and political intrigue emerge. Camilleri blends sharp wit, local colour, and a bittersweet view of humanity in this engaging crime novel.
Notes from an Exhibition – Patrick Gale
When artist Rachel Kelly dies in her Penzance studio, her husband and adult children sift through her final body of work and their own complex memories. Through shifting perspectives and timelines, Gale explores grief, art, family bonds, and the shadows that linger after loss.
The Sinking Admiral – The Detection Club
A quaint coastal village is rattled when a pub-owning farmer is found dead in his boat during filming of a true-crime documentary. Fourteen crime writers collaborated on this playful yet clever whodunit, weaving together red herrings, eccentric locals, and a tightly plotted mystery.
Piranesi – Susanna Clarke
Living in an infinite, statue-filled labyrinth of rooms and halls, Piranesi records daily life and mysteries in journal form. Slowly, strange truths and otherworldly connections surface in this poetic, atmospheric fantasy, a meditation on memory, solitude, and wonder.
Kings of a Dead World – Jamie Mollart
In a near-future world ravaged by climate disaster, society enforces cycles of suspended animation known as "The Sleep." Across two voices—an activist and a janitor—the novel explores hope, humanity, and the moral cost of survival in a dying environment.
Through the Narrow Gate – Karen Armstrong
Armstrong recounts her years as a novice nun in the 1960s: the rigour, spiritual questioning, daily discipline, and eventual departure from the convent. This candid memoir offers insight into her transformative journey and the broader search for faith and meaning.
The List of Suspicious Things – Jennie Godfrey
Twelve‑year‑old Miv, living in 1979 Yorkshire during the time of the Ripper, starts documenting oddities in her working‑class neighbourhood. Alongside her friend Sharon, she investigates adults around her, exploring fear, growing up, and the power of female friendship.
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer – Patrick Süskind
Jean‑Baptiste Grenouille is born with a supernatural sense of smell and becomes obsessed with capturing the perfect scent. His quest leads him down a dark path of murder and madness in this haunting exploration of obsession, identity, and power.
The Family Chao – Lan Samantha Chang
After the patriarch of a Chinese‑American chef family is found dead, the Chao brothers face suspicion, public scrutiny, and internal fractures. Chang balances sharp cultural insight, humour, and courtroom drama to explore familial loyalty and immigrant identities in contemporary America.
Twilight – William Gay
Set in rural America, this Southern Gothic tale follows a man grappling with grief, superstition, and the haunting legacy of his past. With lyrical prose and unforgettable characters, Gay paints a dark, atmospheric portrait of small‑town secrets and moral ambiguity.

Guest Author

Erica Manwaring

Erica Manwaring describes herself as an “author of things a little bit weird, a little bit true”—and that’s exactly what you’ll find in her writing. With a background in Philosophy and Psychology, she brings a thoughtful, curious lens to big questions about identity, perception, and what really makes us who we are.

Her novels, including Reassembling Kate, A Lobster Tale, and Notes from a Physicist Lost in Time and Space, blend emotional depth with just the right amount of the surreal.

She writes whenever and wherever she can—on trains, in cafés, and in the gaps between everything else life throws her way.

Not only did Erica share her journey to becoming an author and giving us a behind the scenes of her writing but I have to say I think Erica is the single best guesser we have ever had a the Secret Book Swap! Quite often people think they might know what book is wrapped up and being described and it’s usually 50/50 if they are right but I think Erica correctly guessed about 4 of ours! Thankfully with such a broad selection to pick from Erica was still able to pick a new book to take home and read. Thank you Erica for joining us and we hope you enjoyed your evening!

Erica's Books

Erica on Instagram

Banned Book Reading

We shared a reading from The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. We originally shared this in an earlier evening in Currie, you can read about that here. However since then there have been some more updates on this book, including some good news!

1. St. Francis Area Schools Reversal (Minnesota)

A major recent breakthrough: St. Francis schools in Minnesota reversed their ban on The Handmaid’s Tale (along with other celebrated titles), as part of a settlement reached June 10, 2025. The school board agreed to:

Return banned books to shelves
Rewrite library policy to involve librarians, qualified specialists, and a proper review committee

2. US Military & DOD Schools

According to a recent ACLU update, The Handmaid’s Tale is among 13 “woke” books being challenged or removed across Department of Defense (DOD) K–12 schools on military bases and is fueling an ongoing lawsuit over First Amendment concerns.

Join us at future secret book swaps:

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