Victoria Goldman's 3 favorite reads in 2023

I have always enjoyed Liz Nugent’s crime novels. She creates multi-layered, unforgettable characters within gripping, twisty plots. This is probably her most disturbing book so far, taking readers right inside her main character’s head.

Strange Sally Diamond focuses on the aftermath of tragic and horrific events. It’s about family, childhood trauma, and nature versus nurture – and whether we can truly escape our past.

This psychological thriller stayed with me long after I finished it. It can be uncomfortable reading at times, yet there are also moments of dark humour. It’s beautifully written and took me through a rollercoaster of emotions.

I was gripped by this crime thriller and read most of it in one sitting. The plot focuses on the disappearance of a social media influencer and whether she’s being held against her will.

The story is told through documentary transcripts, diaries, social media posts and interviews, bringing each key character to life. Snippets of information are carefully revealed, and as a reader, it was difficult to know who to trust.

The Ugly Truth provided food for thought about living in the public eye, especially through social media. Maybe a lesson for all of us!

Murdle isn’t a crime novel, or certainly not a conventional one. This quirky puzzle book focuses on logic and deduction – perfect for armchair detectives.

As a teenager, I would spend hours on holiday doing logic puzzles. This is a crime fiction version – similar to a game of Cluedo – and is keeping me occupied for hours. A more-than-slightly-mad story links all of the puzzles together, providing an incentive to work through the book from beginning to end.

The puzzles get more difficult as the book progresses, so you do need to concentrate on them. It will take me a while to get through the book, but it’s easy to dip in and out of it. When I run out of puzzles, I can always buy the sequel.