In the interests of balance - I'd like to recommend Fingersmith for the December book. I did not put it forward - but since Chris had outlined the merits of Hogfather - I thought I could do the same for Fingersmith.

It's a rollercoaster ride of a read. I don't very often get caught out by plots - but I did by this one. You think you know what is going on in this book - and then you find you don't! It's well-plotted, has good dialogue, interesting characterisation and even (for sad literary geeks like myself!) has thematic imagery. I think this would be a good book as a basis for discussion, as there's a lot to mine out of it, with a variety of themes, and a mystery element...

It's also a Victorian novel with a twist (or rather a lot of twists!) - ranging between Dickensian London and a ramshackle gothic country house. For those who, like me, are keen on the Victorian novel, this is a goldmine. It's very clever, as it covers various topics that you would not see in a Victorian novel, but has very much the feel of one.

Even if this doesn't win the poll - I'd still recommend it to people as a rattling good read!