The book world has been running at a sprint lately, with scandals and prize announcements keeping readers on their toes. As the year winds down, December offers a slower publishing pace, but that doesn’t mean the offerings are any less exciting. From memoirs and mysteries to political insights and royal dramas, there’s a rich selection to explore as the 2025 reading calendar comes to a close.
Exploring Political Intrigue and Historical Figures
Dirty Politics: A–Z of Trickery, Treachery and Other Tasty Treats by Macquarie Dictionary offers a brisk and barbed compendium of political language. Priced at $19.99, this book is a reminder that the way we talk about power is often as revealing as power itself. From “bonk ban” to “virtue signalling soy cap intelligentsia,” it captures the colorful lexicon of Australian public life.
Meanwhile, The Dark Prince of Melbourne by Ian W. Shaw, available for $35.99, delves into the life of Joseph “Squizzy” Taylor. Shaw paints a vivid portrait of this charismatic gangster, tracking his rise from pickpocket to underworld celebrity, and the law enforcement figures who tried to stop him.
Royal Dramas and Fictional Thrills
The Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage ($34.99) follows Lexi Villiers, who must decide whether to embrace a royal life after a family accident pushes her to the front of the line of succession. This sparkling debut offers a modern twist on royal soap operas, blending humor with heartfelt drama.
For those seeking adventure, The Endless Sky by Di Morrissey ($39.99) sends readers into the Australian outback. This novel follows a TV presenter and her producer as they uncover mysteries and secrets in a tale where the land itself becomes a commanding presence.
Diverse Voices and Unique Perspectives
Botanist Stephen D. Hopper’s Eucalyptus ($39.99, releasing December 1) provides a richly illustrated account of Australia’s most emblematic trees. The book explores their evolution, cultural significance, and global reach, offering ecological insights and decades of fieldwork.
Helm by Sarah Hall ($34.99, releasing December 2) offers an inventive meditation on nature and time, narrated in part by the Helm wind. This novel braids centuries of human attempts to understand this legendary force, providing a unique narrative experience.
Thrilling Reads and Real-Life Inspirations
Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino ($34.99, releasing December 2) is a darkly comic thriller that explores the psychological toll of house hunting. The protagonist’s obsession with securing her dream home spirals into unexpected twists, offering a satirical take on real estate anxiety.
American Canto by Olivia Nuzzi ($49.99, releasing December 2) arrives with significant buzz. This memoir explores Nuzzi’s emotional entanglement with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., promising to dominate the news cycle with its candid revelations.
Global Perspectives and Future Implications
The Great Heist: China’s Epic Campaign to Steal America’s Secrets by David R. Shedd and Andrew Badger ($27.99, releasing December 2) outlines what the authors argue is the largest organized theft of intellectual property in history. This book draws on interviews with spies and policymakers, highlighting the reshaping of global power.
Human rights lawyer Geoffrey Robertson’s World of War Crimes ($36.99, releasing December 9) offers a guide to understanding war crimes and why so few perpetrators are held accountable. It’s a timely primer on global conflicts and legal challenges.
Brandon Sanderson’s Tailored Realities (releasing December 9) presents an illustrated collection of short fiction, offering fans a chance to explore his genre-hopping experiments. This collection includes a new novella and previously scattered stories.
Finally, On the Edge by Kate Horan ($34.99, releasing December 30) presents a tense small-town mystery. The story revolves around the unsolved death of a teenage girl, with old suspicions and new dangers emerging as the protagonist returns home.
As the year comes to a close, these books provide a diverse range of narratives and insights, ensuring there’s something for every reader to enjoy. Whether you’re looking for thrilling mysteries, political insights, or deep dives into nature and history, December’s literary offerings promise to captivate and inspire.
