Shrines Of Gaiety Kate Atkinson Doubleday £20

Atkinson’s latest lands with a satisfying thud, although its fleet, insightful narrative belies its heft. Its setting is post-Second World War Soho, seething with glamour and corruption. At the centre of this dangerous demi-monde is Nellie Coker, a nightclub queen with ambitions to advance her six children in society. But can she survive that long when her enemies include those on both sides of the law? Dickensian, yes, but infused with a playful knowingness that’s pure Atkinson.