Also in the running are Barbadian writer Cherie Jones’ story of gritty life on a beautiful island, "How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House," and two books by British writers: Susanna Clarke’s literary fantasy "Piranesi" and Claire Fuller’s rural family saga "Unsettled Ground."
Booker Prize-winning novelist Bernardine Evaristo, who is chairing the judging panel, said several of the novels depicted "communities that aren’t really written about in fiction" and tough subjects such as domestic violence, addiction and depression.
"But they’re not miserable books," she said. "They’re all really beautifully crafted stories. … They’re not lightweight, but they are a thrilling read."