Knaussgaard is back in this week's literary fiction: THE SCHOOL OF NIGHT by Karl Ove Knausgaard, THE MERGE by Grace Walker, QUEEN ESTHER by John Irving

This poisonous tale is a deadly festive treat: Death in Ambush by Susan Gilruth, Murder on the Great Northern Railway by Edward Marston, Maigret's Holiday by Georges Simenon

Embrace the cold with Val McDermid

Why nuclear war is closer than ever: That's the chilling verdict of historian SERHII PLOKHY who reveals the FORTY countries which could blow the world apart... and the timebomb that could trigger ash-flecked annihilation

They're masters of the dark political arts, they know the peccadilloes of every MP, but how do the Whips get their way in Westminster? Secrets, lies and a taste for torture...

Secrets, lies and a taste for torture...How Whips work in the Westminster shadows

The truth about Joan of Arc's heavenly visions

Dazzling good literary fiction out this week: ON THE CALCULATION OF VOLUME III by Solvej Ball, LIGHTBREAKERS by Aja Gabel, THE MATCHBOX GIRL by Alice Jolly

Historical novels that will knock your socks off: Small Acts of Resistance by Anita Frank, Introducing Mrs Collins by Rachel Parris, The Good Nazi by Samir Machado De Machado

Inspector gadget Q has a licence to thrill: Quantum of Menace by Vaseem Khan, The Burning Grounds by Abir Mukherjee, The House on Buzzards Bay by Dwyer Murphy

Popular fiction that packs a bunch: ALL GOD'S CREATURES by Anthony Gardner, THE WOMAN FROM BOOK CLUB by Carrie Hughes, BLUFF by Francine Toon

The Wicker Man ruined my family

My horse told me it wanted to die... here's how to listen to your pets

Has Vermeer's girl with the pearl earring finally been unmasked?

Picture This: A catwalk through every Jean Paul Gaultier collection