DIYA’S best friend and flatmate has died suddenly in FAMILY BUSINESS by Jonathan Sims (Gollancz, £18.99), and she’s unemployed, so the unexpected offer of a well-paid job is something of a lifesaver – even if it is a somewhat peculiar gig. 

She’s working for a small family business in London that for several generations has specialised in deep-cleaning properties after unexpected deaths. It can be gruesome – the deceased are not always discovered quickly – but there is a satisfaction in the hard labour of returning a home to its pristine condition. 

It pays Diya’s bills, and it helps take her mind away from her grief. If it wasn’t for the bizarre visions she sometimes experiences during her work, she could probably get used to it. That, and the eerie figure who seems to be behind many of Slough & Sons’ call-outs.