Beast in View Margaret Millar (Phoenix, £7.99) The late Margaret Millar was a North American who wrote dark, disturbing mysteries not unlike Ruth Rendell’s; this one was first published in 1955. A woman makes telephone calls telling people things they don’t want to know and, gradually, the central character is drawn into a world of ‘extortion, pornography, vengeance, madness and murder’. Most of the characters are fairly unpleasant, but the book is so well-written that you want to see what happens to them. Read it and prepare to be baffled.

Blow by Blow: The Story of Isabella Blow Detmar Blow and Tom Sykes (HarperCollins, £9.99) Lavishly illustrated, this recounts the short life of a famous fashion guru who committed suicide in 2007. Isabella had a devoted husband, many high-profile friends, huge amounts of money (by my standards) and a glittering career. She didn’t have quite everything she wanted, but who does? However, her early life had left deep emotional scars and, in the end, she was determined to destroy herself. Her story is exasperating and very sad. A Little History of Philosophy Nigel Warburton (Yale University Press, £14.99) This book is a little classic, invaluable for the man or woman in the street who would like to know more about philosophy. It gives short clear accounts of the work of 50 Western thinkers, from Socrates to Singer, some interested in very abstract ideas, others grappling with the most profound questions of good and evil. And suggests that philosophy is ‘not harsh and crabbed, as dull fools suppose’, but a thoroughly enjoyable way to stretch your mind.