Secret Book Swap | No. 16 - Currie June 2026
Books We Swapped:
Half a World Away – Mike Gayle
When two very different families become connected by a long-buried secret, lives are changed forever. Warm, compassionate and emotionally engaging, this novel explores identity, belonging and the powerful ties that bind families together across generations.
None of This Is True – Lisa Jewell
A chance meeting between two women with the same birthday spirals into a chilling web of obsession, secrets and manipulation. Tense and addictive, Jewell's psychological thriller keeps readers questioning what is real and who can truly be trusted.
In the Frame: My Life in Words and Pictures – Helen Mirren
Helen Mirren reflects on her remarkable life and career through personal stories, photographs and memories. Honest, witty and insightful, this memoir offers a fascinating glimpse into the experiences that shaped one of Britain's most celebrated actors.
The Cuckoo's Calling – Robert Galbraith
Private investigator Cormoran Strike is hired to look into the apparent suicide of a famous supermodel. Combining classic detective work with a richly detailed cast of characters, this gripping mystery marks the beginning of a bestselling crime series.
A Game of Fate – Scarlett St. Clair
Told from Hades' perspective, this companion novel revisits his tumultuous relationship with Persephone while revealing the pressures and responsibilities of ruling the Underworld. Romantic, dramatic and steeped in Greek mythology, it explores love, power and destiny.
What Alice Forgot – Liane Moriarty
After a fall leaves her with no memory of the past decade, Alice wakes up believing she is still happily married and expecting her first child. Funny, moving and thought-provoking, this novel explores how relationships, ambitions and identities can change over time.
Where the Crawdads Sing – Delia Owens
Growing up alone in the marshes of North Carolina, Kya Clark becomes both an outsider and a survivor. Blending coming-of-age drama, mystery and a vivid sense of place, this bestselling novel explores loneliness, resilience and humanity's connection to nature.
Keep Laughing – Chris McCausland
Comedian Chris McCausland shares stories from his life, career and experiences of losing his sight while refusing to lose his sense of humour. Warm, candid and very funny, this memoir celebrates resilience, perspective and the power of laughter.
Separated by centuries but linked by the sea, two women uncover hidden histories and powerful connections to the waters that shape their lives. Atmospheric and richly imagined, this novel blends mystery, folklore and female resilience into a haunting tale.
The Late Show – Michael Connelly
Detective Renée Ballard works the unpopular late-night shift in Los Angeles, chasing leads that other officers have abandoned. Fast-paced and sharply plotted, this crime thriller introduces a determined investigator navigating both dangerous cases and workplace politics.
I Am an Island – Tamsin Calidas
Seeking a simpler life, Tamsin Calidas leaves London for a remote Scottish island, only to face isolation, heartbreak and unexpected challenges. Beautifully written and deeply personal, this memoir explores resilience, nature and the search for belonging.
Ravenscourt – Samantha Ward-Smith
After scandal drives Alexander Dundarran to Venice, he finds unexpected comfort with the mysterious Lady Arabella Pembrook. But when duty calls him back to England and the decaying Ravenscourt estate, he uncovers generations of buried secrets that refuse to stay hidden. Rich in gothic atmosphere, this Victorian mystery blends romance, family intrigue and the search for redemption.
The Psychology of Time Travel – Kate Mascarenhas
Four women invent time travel and change the course of history, but decades later a murder exposes cracks in the carefully controlled timeline. Clever, inventive and character-driven, this science-fiction mystery explores memory, identity and the consequences of altering time.
Our Guest , Lee-Ann McAulay
Lee-Anne McAulay lives, works and writes in Central Scotland, where her lifelong love of stories led her to study English before beginning a career in teaching. Inspired by Scotland’s landscapes, history and folklore, she writes historical mysteries that explore the connections between people, places and the echoes of the past.
Echoes on a Fractal LIne
Her debut novel, Echoes on a Fractal Line, is a dual-timeline historical mystery set between the present day and the Jacobite uprising of 1715. As four women's lives become intertwined across centuries, a community heritage project at Alloa Tower uncovers long-buried secrets, forcing its organisers to confront both a historical mystery and shadows from their own pasts, while revealing the enduring resilience, courage and determination of women.
Banned Book Reading
For June, our banned books discussion took a slightly different form as part of our Pride Month event, becoming a game as well as a conversation.
Rather than beginning with a single news story, our group had to identify the missing colours from a rainbow of book titles. The game took us from classics such as The Color Purple and The Bluest Eye to contemporary LGBTQ+ titles including All Boys Aren't Blue, Red, White & Royal Blue, and Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit. Along the way we also encountered children's picture books, literary fiction, memoirs and even fairy tales.
Once the colours had been guessed, we turned the cards over to explore the stories behind them. Some titles had been challenged or removed because of LGBTQ+ themes and representation. Others had faced objections over discussions of race, gender, sexuality, violence or religion. A few had been caught up in broader political movements, while others had been restricted for reasons that now seem almost absurd, such as Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? being temporarily removed from a Texas curriculum after officials confused its author with someone else entirely.
What struck us was the sheer variety of books involved. Some were written specifically about LGBTQ+ experiences, while others faced challenges and restrictions for other reasons. Yet together they highlighted how often books become flashpoints for wider debates about identity, history, education and who gets to decide what stories are available to readers.
The game also reminded us that censorship does not always look the same. The reasons varied enormously, but the underlying questions felt familiar: who decides what is appropriate to read, whose voices are considered acceptable, and what do we lose when access to books becomes restricted?
Join us at future secret book swaps: