Paperbacks: The Village, By Nikita Lalwani

As difficult second albums go, this is a fine follow-up to Lalwani's feted debut novel, which shows the growth of an elegant young talent.

Set in an Indian open prison, the focus is not only on the lives of incarcerated families but also the British film-making team who want to 'tell their stories'. The protagonist is caught between the ruthless ambition to make high-octane TV that her colleagues embody, and to protect the villagers from cheap, telegenic voyeurism. Deservedly picked by Fiction Uncovered as a "best read".