The latest novel by bestselling author Beth Morrey, titled Isabella’s Not Dead, presents a mystery surrounding the death of a friendship, where a woman attempts to locate her best friend who vanished from her life 15 years ago, reports BritPanorama.
Morrey, who co-hosts the UK’s top swimming podcast, Wild Swimming Wangers, previously gained acclaim for her life-affirming novels, including the Sunday Times bestsellers, Saving Missy and Em & Me. In her new work, she explores themes of abandonment and the complexities of friendship through a narrative filled with intrigue.
Among the inspirations for her writing are several key mysteries that have captivated her over the years. Here are five notable mentions that have influenced her literary journey.
The Body in the library, by Agatha Christie
“It’s probably against the law to talk about mysteries and not mention Agatha Christie. She’s the queen of conundrums, and for me, Jane Marple is her greatest creation. Gentle, fussy, even a bit dotty, but behind that fluffy exterior lurks a mind like a steel trap. I love Miss Marple’s latent ruthlessness – the woman is a machine. The Body in the Library is impeccably plotted, with a scandalous opening – glamorous corpse on Dolly Bantry’s hearth rug! – and an equally jaw-dropping denouement. Marple misses nothing, not even a fingernail, and her demure revelations are deeply satisfying,” Morrey notes.
HarperCollins, £7.99
One Shot, by Lee Child
“My hot take on the Jack Reacher novels is that they’re actually a form of up-lit – comforting and reassuring because the hero is guaranteed to get the bad guys. Good triumphs over evil, corruption is crushed, villains get their comeuppance. Lee Child’s prose is sparse yet specific, detailing the exact make of the gun or trajectory of the bullet with military precision, making an expert of his reader. I prefer Reacher’s stories in the third person because I feel he should remain, to some extent, impenetrable. One Shot is Child at the top of his game, with snipers, epic punch-ups, very bad baddies and the inevitable, inexorable clean-up operation. Competence-porn at its finest,” she adds.
Bantam, £9.99
Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
“Mysteries don’t necessarily need a murder to be compelling. This is such a page-turner; deftly assembled intrigue without a drop of blood. What I love most about Semple’s writing is the humour – the skewering of worlds, the playfulness, the sense of the ridiculous. But she also understands that just because something’s funny doesn’t mean it can’t be serious. A sharp, witty and resonant exploration of the motherlode, wrapped in a beautifully enigmatic epistolary tale,” Morrey reflects.
W&N, £9.99
Other Women, by Emma Flint
“This is such a quietly devastating book, and it haunted me. It is the story of a love triangle that goes disastrously wrong, and what is fascinating about it – aside from the gorgeously atmospheric writing and delicate, thoughtful characterisation – is that the novel is based on a real-life murder case from the 20s. It isn’t a whodunnit as such, but the thorny, tragic saga plays out so viscerally that you can’t look away. A crime that’s anything but cosy,” she remarks.
Picador, £10.99
Murder Most Foul, by Guy Jenkin
“Sometimes mysteries can be a total riot. This book has the most outrageous premise – Christopher Marlowe’s murder investigated by William Shakespeare. It’s gritty, gruesome and gloriously audacious, full of blood and pus and other dubious substances. I’d say it’s a real roller coaster but that feels anachronistic – it’s more of a runaway coach and horses, careering madly, but giving you a hugely exhilarating ride. And, hey, maybe it did happen. I could almost believe it…” Morrey concludes.
Legend Press, £9.99
Isabella’s Not Dead is set for paperback release on 12 March 2026 and is available for pre-order now.
