Summer’s here, so chuck on the barbecue, crack a pint, and switch off the crap content. This July, we’ve rounded up five cracking outdoor reads for the bloke who loves brainy thrillers, proper sport and cheeky intelligence.
The Rabbit Club by Christopher J. Yates
Publication Date: 8 July 2025
A cerebral, dark-academia thriller set in Oxford — from the author of Black Chalk. University nostalgia, intellectual puzzles and quietly creepy vibes = proper Gen‑X material.
Empire of AI by Karen Hao
Publication Date: July 2025 (anticipated UK release)
A razor-sharp deep-dive into OpenAI and the AI race. Perfect for those of us who saw the internet boom and now want the low-down on AI's rise.
The Warrior: Rafael Nadal and His Kingdom of Clay by Christopher Clarey
Publication Date: mid‑July 2025
Praised as “affectionate and insightful” with “rich digressions into tennis history”. A fitting read for us Gen‑X blokes who've tracked Nadal’s dominance since the late ‘90s.
The Woman Who Laughed by Simon Mason
Publication Date: July 2025
A gritty detective thriller set in South Yorkshire — British procedural with local flavour and dry humour. Brings to mind classic noir, but rooted in the here and now.
A Spy at War by Charles Beaumont
Publication Date: July 2025
A Cold War‑tinged espionage thriller that mixes Whitehall and Ukraine — moral grey zones, realistic politics and cloak‑and‑dagger nostalgia. Ideal for anyone who grew up on le Carré.