Minette Walters's six best books

Minette Walters is England’s bestselling crime writer. Her new novel is The Last Hours.

One of the author's six best books, as shared at the Daily Express:

THE SECRET GARDEN by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Another children’s story, though I still read it now. It’s about incredible loneliness.

I felt quite lonely because my father was in the Army so we were constantly moving. The secret garden is a place where there’s love and you can make friends.

I’ve read this at least 10 times and would argue that it’s the first psychological crime thriller.

Understanding of the human mind was still in its infancy but she created an extraordinary character in Rebecca who is psychopathic and dominates the story yet she is dead. An astonishing piece of work.

Read about the other entries on the list.

The Secret Garden is among Vivian Swift's ten top books about gardens and Mary Sebag-Montefiore's top ten classics every child should read before they are 10.

--Marshal Zeringue