The Lone Woman, by Bernardo Atxaga (Harvill, £8.99 in UK)

Like this exciting Basque writer's previous novel The Lone Man, this much shorter book also concerns a central character stalked by a terrorist past. Within 24 hours of being released from prison, Irene has already experienced a night of cold sex which ended in violence. On her way home, she waits at the station before boarding a bus back to Bilbao. Forcing herself to assess her life proves painful: she is alone and, although free, is still imprisoned and prey to plainclothes policemen. Brilliantly observed, the narrative juxtaposes ordinary life, as represented by the other passengers, with Irene's private hell of memories, doubt and regret. Stark and cinematic, it is an unusually convincing study of a state of mind.