The Booksellers Association has today announced The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler, as Fiction Book of the Month, while Montgomery Bonbon: Murder at the Museum by Alasdair Beckett-King and illustrated by Claire Powell is Children’s Book of the Month.
 
Independent bookshops around the UK and Ireland will be promoting The Mountain in the Sea and Montgomery Bonbon: Murder at the Museum throughout February on social media and in-store. The Booksellers Association will be supporting the promotion of the Indie Books of the Month through social media and promotional material.
 
The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler is a fantastic story about the creatures in the water of Con Dao. When pioneering marine biologist Dr Ha Nguyen is offered the chance to travel to the remote Con Dao Archipelago to investigate a highly intelligent, dangerous octopus species, she doesn’t pause long enough to look at the fine print. DIANIMA – a transnational tech corporation best known for its ground-breaking work in acritical intelligence – has purchased the islands, evacuated their population and sealed the archipelago off from the world so that Nguyen can focus on her research. The Mountain in the Sea is published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson on 1 February 2023 and is available now.
 
Ray Nayler said: “A neighbourhood without an independent bookstore is like a home without a hearth. There is nothing like an independent bookshop’s carefully tended shelves, where books gather in the warm company of friends." 
 
Montgomery Bonbon: Murder at the Museum by Alasdair Beckett-King, illustrated by Claire Powell, is a murder mystery about protagonist Bonnie Montgomery – the world’s best detective. Many people go their whole lives without noticing anything that is afoot, without every experiencing that toe-tingling, stomach-twisting sensation that a mystery is about to unfold. No one has heard of Bonnie except her Grampa Banks... but they might have heard of the great Montgomery Bonbon, the well-dressed gentleman detective who (apart from the hat and moustache) looks suspiciously like a 10-year-old girl. In this case, they must solve the mystery surrounding a highly suspicious death at the Hornville Museum of Natural History and Suchlike. Together they’ll interview some dodgy witnesses, scour the scene for clues and – above all – hope no one notices that Bonnie and Montgomery are never in the same room, at the same time. Montgomery Bonbon: Murder at the Museum is published by Walker Books on 2 February 2023 and is available for pre-order now.
 
Alasdair Beckett-King said: “I'm so delighted that my book has been selected! Independent book shops are magical places, and I mean that literally. I'm trapped in here, and the walls keep moving. Help!”

Claire Powell said: “Since relocating to a rural area the local indie Bookshops have become my go to places. They provide me with comfort, inspiration, conversation and recommendations and are vital at serving rural communities. It's therefore especially exciting to know that Montgomery Bonbon has been chosen by them as February's Children’s Book of the Month. I can't wait to visit as many as possible and see Bonbon on the shelves, although I may don a moustache and go in disguise!” 

The Indie Book of the Month titles are selected by panels of booksellers from publisher submissions. The Fiction panel for February comprised booksellers from DRAKE – The Bookshop; Beverley Bookshop; Far From the Madding Crowd and Four Bears Books. The Children’s panel for February comprised booksellers from Little Ripon Bookshop; Booka Bookshop and Norfolk Children’s Book Centre.
 
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