The best books of 2024 so far, from Colm Tóibín to Becky Lynch

As we hit the halfway point in the year, our critics choose the books that should not be missed

Clockwise from top left: Tiffany Murray, Brittney Griner, Conor Niland, Edel Coffey, Colm Tóibín, Stanley Kubrick, Roger Casement, Marian Keyes and Andrew Hughes

Tanya Sweeney, Andrew Lynch, Louise Lawless, Myles McWeeney and John Meagher

From page-turning thrillers to fantastic fiction, from biographies of those who shaped the nation to memoirs from sporting greats and also-rans, 2024 has already staked its claim on our bookshelves. Here are some of the best from the first six months.

Chosen by Tanya Sweeney