The Song Before It Is Sung Justin Cartwright (Bloomsbury, £7.99)

Oxford plays a central role in this novel, featuring 1930s German Rhodes scholar Axel von Gottberg, later shot by the Nazis for trying to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Cartwright based Gottberg's mentor, E. A Mendel, on the Oxford philosopher Isaiah Berlin, and the true story of his friendship with Adam von Trott, hanged for his part in the 1944 Hitler bomb plot. It is an ambitious book with the university town representing the spirit of culture, civilisation and "grubby search for truth" which 'good' Germans were seeking to preserve.M. H.

Cupid's Dart David Nobbs (Arrow, £7.99)

A lighter side of Oxford is revealed in this comic love story by the creator of Henry Pratt and Reginald Perrin, which started life as a 1981 TV play. Middle-aged Oxford philosophy professor Alan Calcutt meets young darts groupie Ange Bedwell on a train, and an unlikely romance develops. Ange is keen on sex, but Alan wants her "for her mind". It's obviously been updated to include text messaging and the Internet, but doesn't really translate well to soft covers.M. H.

Lottery Patricia Wood (William Heinemann, £12.99)

This charming debut novel takes a look into the world of Perry L. Crandall, a 32-year-old man who has an IQ of 76, but who certainly isn't stupid. Perry has worked at the same marine supply store for half his life and lives with his wisecracking grandmother Gram, whose gems of wisdom help the pair put the world to rights. But when Gram dies, Perry's family members suddenly appear and try and swindle him out of the proceeds from the sale of her house. When he wins the lottery, his malevolent family are knocking on his door again. Wood's book, which has been compared to Forrest Gump and Oxford writer Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident Of The Dog At Night, is told with depth and humour. G. R.

Foxtrot Oscar Charlie Owen, (Headline, £11.99)

This harks back to a time when the average plod was not averse to giving any miscreant a good thump around the ear. The local nick - affectionately known as 'Horses Arse' - in an unspecified area of Manchester is home to the rejects from all the other police forces in the area. Meanwhile, over at a nearby council estate, the local Mafia's top dogs are sent away to spend what they think will be a short spell at Strangeways. However, a Turkish gangster grabs his opportunity to take over. A chaotic and hilarious game of cat-and-mouse ensues, between the equally deranged police and criminals. Life on Mars meets Shameless.C. W.