Suspense is a powerful narrative engine that drives the plots of many novels, whether or not they are shelved under 'mystery books' in a shop. We asked Nicholas Russell – longtime bookseller and debut novelist – to recommend five of the best literary mystery novels, all notable for the quality of the writing and the creativity of approach.

“'Tis strange—but true; for truth is always strange; stranger than fiction,” wrote Lord Byron. For more than a quarter of a century, the Baillie Gifford Prize has celebrated the best nonfiction book of the year. Broadcaster Kirsty Lang, chair of this year's judging panel, talks us through the six books shortlisted for the 2026 prize, from Alexander the Great to Barbara Cartland.

Europe experienced huge cultural, social and religious change throughout the Middle Ages. You may know it as an age of kings and queens, castles, crusades and chivalric knighthoods, but historians of the period often neglect the seismic events of the far north and east, explains Thomas Williams. Here, he recommends five books that may upend your understanding of medieval Europe.

We love books about ancient history at Five Books. Not only is it relaxing to escape from the present by reading about events several millennia ago, but the brutality of that period also helps put our modern challenges in perspective. One exciting trend in the past few years is a move away from accounts of ancient Rome and Greece to other ancient civilisations. Here's a roundup of some of the books published recently.

For Shakespeare, comedy was not simply about laughter, but about conflict and confusion giving way to resolution and a happy ending — at least by the standards of the Elizabethan era. The dilemmas these plays explore are still strikingly relevant, argues Heather Hirschfeld. She explores five Shakespearean comedies that speak to us today — on everything from power to identity to shared humanity, all mixed in with witty banter and plenty of room for clowns.

The Royal Society celebrates the best new popular science writing every year through the prestigious Trivedi Science Book Prize. We asked Professor Michael Benton, the eminent palaeontologist and chair of the 2026 judging panel, to talk us through their six-book shortlist: from a globe-trotting history of alchemy to a fast-paced account of memory manipulation by optogenetics researchers at the cutting edge of science.

What makes a great adventure novel? For Alex Bescoby, filmmaker, traveller and judge of the 2026 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize, it’s the ability to transport readers to unfamiliar worlds and bring history vividly to life. Here, he discusses the six shortlisted novels, from ancient Britain to revolutionary India, exploring stories of endurance, rebellion and remarkable perseverance in the face of hardship.

Biographies are a great way for kids to feel inspired by people who have achieved extraordinary things. And by enabling children to see the world through other people’s eyes, biographies can introduce them to different times and places, helping to broaden their perspectives. Here is a selection of biographies for kids that have been recommended on Five Books. 

Each year, judges for the Booker Prize whittle their longlist down to a five- or six-book shortlist for the title of the best new novel of the previous twelve months. This year, the finalists include two previous Booker winners– Douglas Stuart and Marlon James – and a previous shortlistee in Elizabeth Strout. We asked Rebecca Liu, 2026 judge and Guardian journalist, to talk us through the shortlisted novels.

Mesopotamia, the fertile region between the Tigris and the Euphrates, is a hugely significant part of human history, yet has often been left out of the classical civilisations curriculum. Here, Moudhy Al-Rashid, author of Between Two Rivers: Ancient Mesopotamia and the Birth of History, recommends five recent books about Mesopotamia that shed light not only milestones of history, but on individual lives thousands of years ago.