These three books of literary fiction were recently published, and they’ve been getting stellar notices and reviews. Curious? Let this be your guide as to which to first seek out.

A sprawling novel from a newly heralded major young talent, this first novel from Johal has already won the Observer Best Debut Novel 2025 prize. In terms of narrative structure, think David Mitchell and how he liberally flits over time and place over the course of one novel. The Saraswati is the holy river that historically, had flowed through Northern India according to myths, then suddenly ceased to be. Indian scientists would talk about it going dormant like a volcano, or having ‘gone underground’. And given how so much of life in India is attached to adjacent rivers, there’s always been the dream of the Saraswati coming back to life, and connecting that to Hindu nationalist pride. The first one we meet is Satnam, who returns to India from London, when his Bibi passes away. There, he gets caught up in the drama when water is found in a long dried-up well on the family property, heralded as the rebirth of the great river.

The main chapters of the novel are named after rivers, and they’re also the names of the children of a couple who met in the late 19th century, and defying caste and their parents, eloped. The narrative connects the descendants of these children, noting the diaspora of several of them from India. There’s an archaeologist in Kenya, an entomologist from Mauritius, a Bollywood stunt double, and an eco-terrorist in Canada, just to name some of the ones we encounter. Then, tacked on to each chapter is the continuing story in the 19th century of the original couple. It’s a family saga, it’s historical fiction, and it’s grand and epic, while somehow also immersive and intimate. And perhaps that would be the magical quality of the story, the wizardry of Johal to keep the narrative personal, while also sweeping. Across continents, across time and geographies, these people remain bound to each other.

From the outset, the premise of this disturbing novel from Lavelle challenges you to decide whether this is modern-day fantasy or urban magical realism. Kostya Duhohny is a haunted man. While he doesn’t ‘see’ ghosts, they materialize in his mind and senses as the aftertaste of the deceased’s favorite food. As a sign that a spirit is present, the flavors of dishes, mixed drinks, and meals that Kostya has never eaten will flood his mouth. Kosta’s father passed away when he was still a boy, and it was his father’s favorite Ukrainian liver dish that triggered this ‘gift’. The wonderful thing is how Lavelle uses the rise of a celebrity chef and the New York restaurant scene as backdrops to the narrative - the life journey that Kostya embarks on, to try and make contact with the father he misses so badly. The father, who had a fatal accident after Kostya had seen him off with harsh words.

How he turns his uncanny gift to forge a career path, and find meaning in his life, beyond his start as a dishwasher at a bar, and a saucier at a fancy restaurant, is the odyssey that makes up the storyline. Interspersed is Kostya meeting Maura, who, in turn, is mourning the tragic suicide of her sister, Ev. Then there’s Frankie, sous chef at Wolfpup, and best friend and roommate of Kostya, until a fatal kitchen fire accident. The impact these two have on Kostya’s life and his rise within the New York restaurant landscape cannot be underestimated. When the resto Duh (first syllable of his surname) goes through the roof, Kostya’s life is on an exhilarating ride, but as in most ‘tragedies’, we know this rise precipitates the fall. Lavelle goes all out in the final pages of the story, and so one may feel the fantasy element is too in-your-face, losing much of the realism that preceded it. But you can’t blame her for not trying. A food story, a love story, and a ghost story.

Leitch is an Edgar-nominated writer, and this latest does have a mystery with thrills, but it also succeeds as a story that’s funny and heart-warming. Lloyd is your regular Atlanta cop. He has a 13-year-old son, Bishop, who lives with Lloyd’s ex-wife Jessica and a stepfather. A diagnosis of glioblastoma, a very aggressive brain tumor, means Lloyd has 2-3 months to live, and he’s painfully aware of how little he’ll be leaving behind for his son’s future. When he reads how benefits left for the family exponentially multiply when killed in the line of duty, Lloyd hatches a plan that’s on this side of ridiculous, but serves as a terrific plot device. Suddenly brave and daring, he throws himself into the most precarious of situations, but keeps surviving, and ends up a local hero for the community. As these threatening scenarios increase, Bishop and those around Lloyd become concerned about his sanity.

This ‘death wish’ of Lloyd becomes a race against time. Will he die from his life-threatening condition, or in the line of duty? Complicating things is when a serial killer resurfaces after close to two decades. Hounded by Lloyd’s late police chief father, it was his father’s investigative work that had forced this killer to go underground. Now, with the exploits of Lloyd carried on social media, the killer is motivated to resume his killings. The relationship between Lloyd and his son Bishop, is an endearing one, and you’ll love how the narrative shifts gears from hilarious to heart-rending, and even harrowing, over a few pages. This novel knows how to break your heart, but it also knows how to mend it - and we are thankful for that. And along the way, we learn to value what we leave behind, and how the best of intentions do not excuse a lack of transparency, honesty, and faith in the people we love!