10. Knots and Crosses (Ian Rankin, 1987)

I bought this copy of the first book in the Inspector Rebus series at a charity shop. There's just something about the design I love, especially since the book itself is quite small and slim.


9. C. S. Lewis - A Life: Eccentric Genius, Reluctant Prophet (Alister E. McGrath, 2013)

This biography of CS Lewis was given to me as a Christmas present, and I love the picture of Lewis on the front, and above all the way the illustrator has managed to capture his imagination. There's something magical about this book cover, which is perfect for its subject matter.


8. The Small Hand: A Ghost Story (Susan Hill, 2010)

Unfortunately I don't own this book, as I borrowed it from a library (and apparently they expect to get their books back). Nonetheless, this is a stunning cover and there is something fairytale-esque about it; perfect for a ghost story, especially one with such elegant prose.


7. The 24-Hour Wine Expert (Jancis Robinson, 2016)

Who says you need pictures to make a book cover attractive? I bought this book on Amazon, and was even more delighted with its appearance when it arrived, for the book itself is very slim with an oddly tactile cover. This is the perfect book to read through once and then keep as a reference book, so an attractive book cover is even more important than normal.


6. The Picture of Dorian Gray (Oscar Wilde, 1890)

One of my all-time favourite books, I already owned a copy when I spied this beautiful edition in Waterstones. I couldn't resist buying it, especially since, probably because it is relatively short, it was such a reasonable price. Something about it just appeals to me - probably the colour scheme.


5. The Children Act (Ian McEwan, 2014)

Another one which I borrowed from the library, I am highly tempted to buy this one for myself as I love the story itself as much as the cover. I'm not sure why I like this one so much, probably just because I, oddly, really like rain (you have to when you live in the North West of England).


4. Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (Patrick Süskind, 1985)

Bought at a church-fundraising stall, this cover is just stunning. And it can't have been easy to visually recreate scent.


3. The Trouble with Goats and Sheep (Joanna Cannon, 2015)

This one probably looks really boring, but I assure you that it's truly beautiful. I was lucky enough to win this book in a Goodreads giveaway, and I treasure this large, hardback copy. Maybe it's the colour I like so much?


2. The Countenance Divine (Michael Hughes, 2016)

Just wow. Another one I won in a Goodreads giveaway, this cover is jaw-droppingly beautiful. It took me a long time to decide whether to put it in first or second place.


1. The Road (Cormac McCarthy, 2006)

In the end, I had to choose this book to go in first place. It really is one of the most beautiful covers I have ever laid eyes on, and when I bought it, in a charity shop, it was mainly for the cover.