Henry Winkler: My six best books

HENRY Winkler, 64, is best known for playing The Fonz in the cult Seventies American sitcom Happy Days. He is starring as Captain Hook in the panto Peter Pan at Liverpool’s Empire Theatre until January 3. For tickets go to www.firstfamilyentertainment.co.uk

Henry Winkler is best known for playing The Fonz in Happy Days Henry Winkler is best known for playing The Fonz in Happy Days

The Alienist

by Caleb Carr

Sphere, £9.99

Alienism was the word used for psychiatry in the early 20th century, and this wonderful historical novel, set in New York City in the 1900s, is about a psychiatrist who puts together a really idiosyncratic group of people to solve a mass killing. It’s one of those books you just can’t put down.

Nothing to Lose

by Lee Child

Bantam, £7.99

I’m dyslexic and didn’t get the reading habit until relatively late. My great love is thrillers and I’m a big fan of British thriller writer Lee Child. He’s one of those guys who writes like a river – he’s in charge of the language and the story just flows. Fantastic.

Transfer of Power

by Vince Flynn

Pocket Books, £6.99

One of a series of terrific political thrillers I’ve read about a wonderful character who’s a government “black ops” guy and who is completely under the radar, a bit like 24’s Jack Bauer. A real page-turner by a superior thriller writer.

The Clan of the Cave Bear

by Jean M Auel

Hodder, £8.99

A brilliant, thought-provoking historical novel set in prehistoric times – and one of the first books I’ve read. The amazing thing about reading is that you can sit in your armchair and it can take you anywhere in the world without you leaving the comfort of your own home.

The Hot Zone

by Richard Preston

Out of Print

A non-fiction bio-thriller about an infectious, extremely dangerous virus and a suspected outbreak of it in the States. Much as I love reading, I still have to work at it – and every book I finish is a personal triumph.

Cold Mountain

by Charles Frazier

Sceptre, £7.99

Thrillers might be my great love but I was blown away by this moving historical novel about a wounded deserter in the Confederate Army who walks for months in a bid to track down the great love of his life. The film’s good but the book’s even better.

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