Blue Genes, by Val McDermid (Harpercollins, £5.99 in UK)

A sassy tale, based around some dubious deeds at the lower end of the rock music industry and in the higher echelons of fertility…

A sassy tale, based around some dubious deeds at the lower end of the rock music industry and in the higher echelons of fertility research. McDermid has a good line in wry humour and a pencil case full of colourful characters including pregnant lesbians and. Glasgow punks - most of whom, like her world weary detective Kate Brannigan, have their hearts fixed firmly in the right places.

Arminta Wallace

Arminta Wallace

Arminta Wallace is a former Irish Times journalist