As September arrives, the first signs of autumn bring cooler days, leaves starting to change colours and the perfect excuse to settle in with a new book. The month also welcomes a fresh selection of releases from some of Britain’s most exciting authors.
​September may bring a shorter list of new releases, but there is still plenty for British book lovers to look forward to. This month, three esteemed authors return with new stories, spanning children’s fiction, literary fiction and an atmospheric murder mystery.
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​Gruffalo Granny
More than 20 years after the Gruffalo’s last original story, Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler are welcoming readers back into the deep dark wood for a brand-new adventure. This time, the Gruffalo family receives a visit from Gruffalo Granny, introducing a new character while bringing back familiar faces that generations have grown up loving. Donaldson’s playful storytelling, alongside Scheffler’s wonderful illustrations, promises to make this a joyful book for children and adults to read together. Gruffalo Granny is one of the most exciting British children’s book releases for 2026, and looks set to be another family favourite.
​Release date: 15 September 2026
Our Noble Selves
Kate Atkinson returns with a clever and compelling historical novel set during the summer of 1951, as Britain attempts to leave the darkness of the Second World War behind. The Festival of Britain promises a colourful celebration of the nation’s creativity and resilience, but not everyone is finding peacetime easy to navigate.
​Former foreign correspondent and war reporter Harry Flynn is struggling to rebuild his career and personal life. He reluctantly joins an unconventional group preparing the festival for its grand opening, only for his trouble to deepen when a woman he has dated disappears. As the last person known to have seen her, Harry soon finds himself facing some uncomfortable questions.
​His unlikely hopes may rest with thirteen-year-old Veronica and her scruffy terrier, Mrs Betty. Our Noble Selves combines mystery, humour and memorable characters, promising to be an absorbing story about redemption, post-war Britain and the complications of beginning again.
​Release date: 8 September 2026
​Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel
Bestselling author Lucy Foley brings Agatha Christie’s beloved Miss Marple back for a brand-new mystery, published 50 years after the final original Miss Marple novel.
​Set high in the Swiss Alps, the story unfolds at the luxurious Grand Alpine Hotel, where spectacular mountain views and pristine ski slopes attract an intriguing collection of guests. Amongst them are a notorious actress, an ambitious politician, his enigmatic wife, a reckless friend and a sharp-eyed doctor. When someone enters a gondola alive but is found dead upon reaching the mountaintop, it becomes clear that a killer is staying at the hotel.
​As long-held grudges surface and suspicion spreads, an unassuming woman quietly observes the guests from the shadows. Miss Marple knows that everyone has something to hide, and identifying the murderer may be the only way to prevent them from striking again. Combining Foley’s talent for atmospheric locked-room mysteries with one of crime fiction’s most iconic detectives, Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel promises to be a great read for mystery lovers.
​Release date: 15 September 2026
Discover More British Authors and Their Books
If you’ve enjoyed exploring these new releases, there’s plenty more to discover. Our site is home to a growing collection of British authors across every genre. Take a look around, find your next great read, and support our incredible writers.