Small Favour - The Wizard vs Fallen Angels

Small Favour, by Jim Butcher is the tenth book in the Dresden Files, which follows the adventures of Harry Dresden, the Chicago-based wizard and investigator of strange and other worldly crimes. Unusually, the book starts with Harry feeling pretty chipper, after all, nobody has tried kill him in almost a year! The only downside is that there hasn't been much work coming in from the police so budgets are tight. But then, Queen Mab, faerie monarch of the Winter Court, calls in one of the two favours that Harry owes her - and he cannot refuse. And so begins a breathtaking adventure which sees Harry battle the Gruffs (as in Billy Goat Gruffs who have been on a large course of steroids) and the Denarians (ancient fallen angels) in order to save Queen Mab's emissary, who also happens to be a Chicago villain named Marcone. All of Harry's allies - police officer Murphy, Michael - a Knight of the Cross and his half-brother Thomas (a vampire) - work together to assist, and it almost costs the life of one of them. Told with vim and vigour, there is so much going on and so many strands being pulled in from previous stories that it is in danger of making your head spin. But this book just about keeps all the plates spinning, resulting in a very exhilarating and satisfying tale packed with the world weary quips Harry cannot help but express. There is crisp dialogue, more character development of some people who felt a bit more like bit players in previous works, and Harry even has a tiny scrap of time for some love interest! If you are already a fan of these books, this will not disappoint. I read the audio edition as usual, which is superbly narrated by James Marsters ... I can't imagine anyone else doing these books now. And I can't wait for the next thrilling instalment!

My STAR rating: FIVE.

Length: 464 print pages.

Price I paid: £7.99.

Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, ebook.

I Predict a Riot - Laugh Out Loud

I Predict a Riot, by Colin Bateman is set primarily in Belfast and centres on the relationship between Walter, who is a little overweight, is bored with his job and is also desperate to find love; and Margaret, a security guard at Primark, but who dreams of becoming a fashion designer. They meet through a dating app and all goes swimmingly until Walter bumps into Margaret's estranged husband, Billy (a dodgy accountant for a local racketeer). Confused and now bruised, Walter tries to forget Margaret but when she ends up in hospital after eating a dodgy carrot cake (yes, you read that right!), it is Walter who goes to visit her. Into this mix comes Linda, an estate agent who is deeply unhappy with her own love life, and is attracted to Walter when he tries to invest in a property. Walter can't believe that, so soon after the Margaret debacle, another woman is practically throwing herself at him. But it's Margaret he really likes. Their on-off relationship seems doomed by missteps, mishaps and bad decisions ... many of which are infuriating and funny in equal measures. But alongside this is Margaret's friend and work colleague who encourages her to follow her dreams, and who is experiencing newfound freedom following the incarceration and subsequent death of her terrorist husband in South America. However, it turns out that her husband, Redmond, has faked his own death to escape, and then makes his way back to Belfast disguised as his twin brother - but what will he do now that his wife has seemingly "moved on" following his apparent demise. And then there is Superintendent James "Marsh" Mallow, who is determined to put villain-come-politician, Pink Harrison (and Billy's boss), behind bars, even if it costs him his job. As you can tell, there are many strands within this novel, which aptly has the subtitle of "Murder, Extortion and Carrot Cake". The characters are larger than life and yet, it's easy to have empathy for them in their odd and often self-inflicted situations. The dialogue is sharp and funny and this book is an easy read, despite the chopping and changing between different storylines, which, of course, do cross over with each other as the book progresses. Full of incident, twists and turns and humour, this is a fun read that made me laugh out loud on a number of occasions. 

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 672 print pages.

Price I paid: £4.00.

Formats available: Print, unabridged audio download.

The Naming of the Dead - Rebus and Siobhan take on the G8!

The Naming of the Dead, by Ian Rankin is the 16th Rebus novel and is set in July 2005 when the G8 met in Scotland, during which, terrorist bombings took place on the London transit system. Against this background of tension and unease, a murder is discovered - but the victim was a rapist, newly released from prison. No one seems in a big rush to solve this one until DI John Rebus and DS Siobhan Clarke realise that this crime seems to have links with two others ... so it looks like a serial killer is on their patch. An additional complication comes in the form of an apparent suicide at Edinburgh Castle - the victim being an MP, but Rebus is convinced all is not what it seems. Rebus is warned off the case ... no-one wants any scandal while the G8 is going on, but, in-between his bouts of drinking and smoking and general grumpiness, Rebus is like a dog with a bone and will not let it lie. In the meantime, Siobhan is trying to spend a bit of time with her parents, who have come up from London to participate in the demonstration to the G8 to cut the debt that is crippling the poorer countries of the world. But when her Mum is injured during the proceedings, Siobhan is determined to seek revenge, which leads her into the clutches of well-known Edinburgh gangster, Big Ger Cafferty ... an old adversary of Rebus. Just as they start to make progress in the investigation, they are suspended ... but does that stop them ... not on your nelly! Rebus is used to going his own way and getting into all sorts of trouble with his bosses, but now Siobhan seems to be following in his footsteps - which will do nothing for her career. Despite the odds and indeed colleagues who seem against them, they endeavour to find answers - including why the serial killer seems to have stopped killing. As always, Ian Rankin pulls together a tangled web of characters and situations, taking the reader (and his characters) on a merry dance involving dead ends, red herrings and decidedly obstructive colleagues. Even though Rebus would be a hard person to live with, there are few better to spend time with between the covers of a crime novel. Whilst anyone who has been reading the series will be very familiar with Rebus, Siobhan and Cafferty, they are joined by a large cast of characters, not all of whom you can take at face value, which, with the involved plot, helps to keep you guessing all the way to the end. A very satisfying page turner and such a joy to know there are still many books in the series to come! 

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 515 print pages.

Price I paid: free, borrowed from my husband.

Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, ebook.

Uncommon Type - Short Stories Told with Verve

Uncommon Type, by Tom Hanks is a book of short stories that are all linked by the inclusion of a typewriter. Sometimes the typewriter is featured heavily and others, there is just a passing reference to it. But all stories take a look at the human condition from a multitude of angles. There is a World War II veteran dealing with the mental and physical scars of his combat experience. A second-rate actor suddenly plunged into a whirlwind press junket and unexpected fame ... for what turns out to be a very short time. A small town newspaper columnist who is trying to navigate the modern world through the lens of his old-fashioned views. As with any book of short stories, some resonate more than others, but there is always something interesting going on. Yes, it's written by a major movie star, which may make you pause and think ... well, really, how good is this likely to be? But in this case, do not fear. Well written, and with characters you feel you might bump into on the street, it kind of sucks you in with a gentle and engaging style that is almost conversational. You definitely hear Hanks' voice throughout and can feel the weight and whimsy of someone who has lived a life and experienced or observed many of the moments featured. Yes, it's no Booker Prize candidate, but it's great to be able to read something that is relatable and won't give you nightmares. Definitely a recommendation for a holiday read.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 404 print pages.

Price I paid: free, borrowed from a friend.

Formats available: Print, unabridged audio download, ebook.

The Good Thieves - Not Just for the Youngsters!

The Good Thieves, by Katherine Rundell may be a book aimed at 8-11 year olds, but has plenty to keep us older folks happy too. Vita Marlowe arrives in New York to discover that her beloved grandfather Jack has been cheated out of his home and possessions by a conman with links to the Mafia. Vita cannot bear to see how heartbroken Jack is and devises a plan to recover his home... but that means retrieving a very special jewel from under the noses of some very scary people. She bumps into a young pickpocket and two boys with unusual circus skills, and they are soon pulled into her amazingly reckless, and lawless plan. This is a heist story featuring a quartet of youngsters who must use all their wit and talents to achieve their goal. It's an adventure that races along and is packed with danger and jeopardy, with dark enemies and prickly friendships. Vita is a determined youngster, and she is joined by a cast of colourful characters that you are very happy to spend time with. It's a very enjoyable read and asks the question ... is it right to do wrong for a worthy cause? 

My STAR rating: 4

Length: 352 print pages.

Price I paid: £4.50

Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, ebook.

Heartstone - Superb From Start to Finish!

Heartstone, by C.J. Sansom is the fifth book in the Shardlake series, which follows the ups and downs of lawyer, Matthew Shardlake, as he navigates his way through the demands and tempestuousness of the court of King Henry VIII. It is 1545 and England is at war with France. England's fleet gathers at Portsmouth, and the king has ordered the gathering of the largest militia ever seen as the country ready's itself to repel a potential invasion. But all of this comes at a cost, and England's economy is at crisis point. Against this backdrop, Shardlake is given a legal case by an old servant of Queen Catherine Parr. He must investigate "monstrous wrongdoings" against a ward of the court which has already resulted in one death. So, he and his assistant, Barak, head to Portsmouth (of course) and while there, Matthew takes the opportunity to find out more about Ellen Fettiplace, a troubled woman he has been visiting in Bedlam. Along the way, he crosses paths with members of the militia and is influenced by the characters he finds within. The case is complex and no-one seems very interested in telling him the truth, and, it turns out, there's a heavy whiff of corruption in the air, both with with this case, and the one of Ellen Fettiplace. After a further death, the ward of court runs away in an attempt to join the militia as an archer. Shardlake heads off to find them and winds up on the infamous ship, The Mary Rose ... This is a gripping from start to finish, it's a book that you can't wait to get back to and devour, but, at the same time, hate to finish. Full of Tudor period politics and historical detail, all wrapped up in a bow with a cast of superb characters and situations. Yes, credibility is stretched at points to squeeze in the key moments of these dangerous few weeks, but all is forgiven with the reward of a tale immensely well told and deeply entertaining. The main characters stay with you, and you care about them more and more with each book. Written by a master of his craft ... If you haven't started this series, I urge you to seek it out. If you are a fan of Wolf Hall, seek it out. If you like a good mystery, seek it out. What can I say, just SEEK IT OUT!

My STAR rating: FIVE.

Length: 768 print pages.

Price I paid: free, borrowed from my husband.

Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, ebook.

The Giant, O'Brien - Disturbingly Sad

The Giant, O'Brien, by Hilary Mantel, was inspired by the true story of Charles O'Brien, an 18th Century Irish giant who was exhibited in London. We start in Ireland, where Charles is persuaded by a cohort of odd companions to travel to London to make their fortune. Not only is he a giant, but he is a great storyteller - enthralling audiences with poems and tales of romance or adventure. At first, things go well, and Charles begins to save some money which he intends to take back to Ireland to rebuild a favourite pub. The companions adjust to life in London which holds many new experiences, such as sleeping in a bed. But things soon begin to fall apart, with the reduction in people willing to pay money to see the giant, and the encounter with John Hunter, a surgeon who is fascinated with the giant and is determined to acquire his body upon his demise sin order to dissect it. And when Charles begins to grow again, this event looks to be coming sooner rather than later. There are some lovely passages, especially when Charles is telling one of his stories which are incredibly lyrical. I really loved the character of Charles who is at the centre of things but never really in control of his own destiny. His companions are a mixed bag and I found it hard to warm to most of them, and how they acted felt a bit prescriptive of poverty stricken Irish people, which was a little disappointing. As for John Hunter - yikes - a nightmare of a man who had little, if any, empathy for his intended target. I found this a hard read at times, but that could have been the tragic subject matter. Things just got darker and darker with each page and it left me feeling very much like I need a book to make me laugh. Others may love this book, but for me, after the first section which had a bit of optimism in it, the rest became a relentless journey into the darkness of how humanity treats those who are deemed "different".

My STAR rating: THREE.

Length: 224 print pages.

Price I paid: £4.50.

Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, ebook.