The Perfect Read this Week - Greenwich Park

Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner is "gloriously tangled game of cat and mouse that kept the twists coming until the very last moment" - Ruth Ware

There’s a certain vulnerability that comes with pregnancy. In the case of mother-to-be Helen in Katherine Faulkner’s clever debut thriller, Greenwich Park, this vulnerability is set in stark contrast alongside Rachel, another local expecting woman whose edgy choices raise more than a few eyebrows. When Rachel quickly immerses herself in the middle of Helen’s life, it soon becomes clear that her intentions are beyond the boundaries of your typical bosom buddy. This read is twisty and twisted and will leave you holding your breath as you race to its finish. What a debut — we can’t wait for more from Katherine Faulkner. 

Greenwich Park

by Katherine Faulkner

In this "gloriously tangled game of cat and mouse that kept the twists coming until the very last moment" (Ruth Ware, #1 New York Times bestselling author), Helen's idyllic life--handsome architect husband, gorgeous Victorian house, and cherished baby on the way--begins to change the day she attends her first prenatal class.

There, she meets Rachel, an unpredictable single mother-to-be who doesn't seem very maternal: she smokes, drinks, and professes little interest in parenthood. Still, Helen is drawn to her. Maybe Rachel just needs a friend. And to be honest, Helen's a bit lonely herself. At least Rachel is fun to be with. She makes Helen laugh, invites her confidences, and distracts her from her fears.

But her increasingly erratic behavior is unsettling. And Helen's not the only one who's noticed. Her friends and family begin to suspect that her strange new friend may be linked to their shared history in unexpected ways. When Rachel threatens to expose a past crime that could destroy all of their lives, it becomes clear that there are more than a few secrets laying beneath the broad-leaved trees and warm lamplight of Greenwich Park.

Enjoy these perfect pairings while you read Greenwich Park. 

Against her better judgment, Helen throws a party in the gloriously tony, old mid-reno estate she and her husband have been working on. For the occasion? Mulled wine is on offer. We’re not fans of the stuff, but there is something seasonally appealing about its touch of spice. With that, we’re sipping this Clovis Cote du Rhone. The tannins are perfectly subtle, and there’s a touch of cinnamon among the slight spices. It’s one we suspect we’ll keep on sipping right through the holidays—no matter who turns up to stay a while.

French Onion Risotto From The Honeysuckle Cookbook by Dzung Lewis  Early in the novel, as Helen is feeling more and more alone throughout these late days of her pregnancy, she is home on a much-cherished night with her husband, Daniel. Their evening takes a turn as the risotto they’re preparing cooks on the stove. We suspect, given the circumstances, a set-it-and-forget-it risotto recipe would have been a bit more helpful. Unfortunately, they didn’t have this multipot to take on the task at hand. (If you’re late to the multipot game, get thee to your holiday home appliance sale stat!)

INGREDIENTS 2 tbsp unsalted butter 2 large yellow onions, halved and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices (about 4 cups) 2 tsp kosher salt, plus more for seasoning 1 tsp sugar 1 cup Arborio rice 1 tsp dried thyme 2 garlic cloves, minced 2-1/4 cup slow-sodium beef stock or broth (or vegetable broth) 1/3 cup mascarpone cheese 1/2 cup grated Gruyère cheese, plus more for serving Freshly ground black pepper (optional)

Directions Step 1 Press the “sauté” button on the multipot and let the insert pot get hot. Add the butter. When the butter has melted and begins to bubble, add the onions, salt, and sugar. Let the onions cook, stirring occasionally, until they start to soften and release their liquid, about 3 minutes. Then, cook until the onions caramelize and get good and brown, another 12 to 16 minutes, stirring occasionally only when you see the onions start to brown. (It’s okay to walk away for a minute or two here.)   Step 2 When the bottom of the pot has an even brown layer and the onions have all turned brown, add the Arborio rice, thyme, and garlic. Stir to coat all the rice, then add the broth, stirring and scraping the pot to release any browned bits from the bottom. Cancel the “sauté” function.   Step 3 Attach the lid of the multi-pot and turn the steam release handle to “sealing.” Press the “pressure cook/manual” button, select high pressure, and set the cooking time for 10 minutes.   Step 4 When the time is up, turn the steam release handle to “venting” to quick-release the pressure.   Step 5 Open the pot, add the mascarpone and Gruyère cheeses, stirring until the mascarpone has melted and incorporating any delicious browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Season with salt and pepper (if using) to taste. Divide among bowls (or transfer to one big serving bowl), top with more shaved Gruyère, and enjoy!

Excerpt from THE HONEYSUCKLE COOKBOOK; 100 Healthy, Feel-Good Recipes to Live Deliciously by Dzung Lewis. Copyright © 2020 by Dzung Lewis. Published by Rodale Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

The Honeysuckle Cookbook: 100 Healthy, Feel-Good Recipes to Live Deliciously

by Dzung Lewis

100 crave-worthy, wholesome recipes and time-saving tips for busy home cooks from the founder and host of the Honeysuckle channel on YouTube.

The Honeysuckle Cookbook is stuffed with exciting ideas for easy, approachable, Asian-influenced cooking at home. With 100 recipes, from the breakfast favorites that consistently rate the highest in views on the author's popular YouTube channel (like her Overnight Oats, 6 Ways) to original twists on one-pan and pressure-cooker meals, this book is for those of us who want feel-good meals made healthy, delicious, and quick.

“I absolutely loved Our Wives under the Sea by Julia Armfield, which tells the story of a woman who returns to her wife after six months on a submarine. It starts to become clear that something very strange has happened to her under the ocean. I found it completely haunting and immersive, and it made me think a lot about the nature of love and to what extent it has the capacity to weather the changes of time. In terms of psychological thrillers and suspense, I loved Magpie by Elizabeth Day, which is a taut and hugely suspenseful story of a couple willing to do anything for a baby and a deal that goes horribly wrong. Also, Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister: a brilliantly executed thriller about a woman who finds herself in a time loop trying to unpick the story behind a murder committed by her teenaged son.” --Katherine Faulkner, author of Greenwich Park