Essex graduates have been picking up praise for new books ranging from psychological thrillers to personal memoirs.

The Bone Dragon

The front cover of The Bone Dragon

Alexia Casale, who completed a PhD in the Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies, has just had her debut novel The Bone Dragon published by Faber & Faber, which also selected the book as lead title for spring/summer in the children and young adult category this year. Narrated by a 14-year-old who has suffered abuse, it’s “a blend of psychological thriller and fairytale”, and the Financial Times called it “a beautifully crafted narrative that constantly confounds expectation”.

Mr Gig

The front cover of Mr Gig

Former Ents Officer and United States Studies graduate Nige Tassell has written Mr Gig about rediscovering his love of live music after years raising children in rural isolation. DJ, presenter and writer Stuart Maconie called it “a sweet and tender paean to a very particular lost love, the live gig, and a wise and witty account of how one man set about rekindling that youthful romance”.

Dead Jealous

Government graduate Sharon Jones sees her her debut novel, Dead Jealous published by Hachette Children’s on 4 July – the first in a mystery thriller series for young adults. It tells the story of 16-year-old Poppy Sinclair, who finds a body face down in Scariswater in the Lake District and tries to find out the truth about what she believes was a murder.

Call Nurse Millie

BSc Specialist Practitioner graduate Jean Fullerton has her fifth novel out. Call Nurse Millie tells the story of a 25-year-old midwife in London’s East End in 1945.