Reading Matters (week 31) July 28 2026

I tease author of 24 books, Tony Park, about being King of Beasts (Macmillan) for that’s the title of his latest thrilling book. Tony has sold nearly 100 000 books just in South Africa.

A white lion, an evil torturing Russian with a taste for young women, and the gutsy Sonja Kurtz and her twin daughters are at the heart of this gripping novel. Compelling, enthralling.

The Story of 702 by David Williams and Chris Gibbons (Batya Bricker) is told through the reminisces of household names such as Long John Berks, Dan Moyane, Kate Turkington, John Robbie, Redi Thlabi and Jenny Crwys-Williams. High gloss paper makes it a record of note.

If you’ve not yet heard of Good People (Virago/ PRH) by debut novelist Patmeena Sabit you soon will for leading world authors rave about it. So do I.

An exquisite young American/Afghani woman goes missing. In the USA. Her incredibly wealthy family is beside itself. The story is told through the voices of those who knew her best – and those who’ve never met her. Intriguing.

Liza Minnelli’s story has finally been told by Michael Feinstein, in Kids, Wait Till You Hear This (Hodder & Stoughton / Jonathan Ball). And, what a story it is for Liza says, “my life has been one of high living, face plants, hell-raising and recovery from substance abuse”. Judy Garland and Vincente Minnelli’s kid has done it all in her nearly 80 years of living. Fascinating.

Reading Matters with Sue Grant-Marshall