Found Wanting - how many times can someone be double-crossed?

In this thriller by Robert Goddard, our hero is Richard Eusden, a Foreign Office employee who is sucked into a dangerous game of cat and mouse when his ex-wife contacts him out of the blue. She is acting on behalf of their old friend, Marty. Richard's job? To bring an attache case belonging to Marty's grandfather to his friend in Europe. However, when Richard gets to the appointed destination, it's not Marty who meets him, but someone else, who has double-crossed his friend and has taken him hostage. Having handed over the case, Richard rescues Marty, who is determined to get the case back and spend his last few weeks (he is terminally ill), having the adventure of a lifetime. And so begins a chase across Europe, and a mystery involving the contents of the case which purport to contain evidence proving, once and for all, what the fate was of Anastasia Romanov. However, with so many people after that case, is there something else going on too? In Found Wanting, the author has put so many twists and turns and double dealings that it is, quite frankly, hard to keep track of who is who and what they want. I seemed to spend much of my time being as bewildered as poor Richard Eusden. The action quickly moves from country to country with the case changing hands on numerous occasions. I do like my action coming thick and fast, but even this a little on the frantic side for me.  I did get swept along, but I am still not 100% sure that I fully understood everything by the end of the book, which is a little disappointing. A definite page-turner and a pleasant way to while away a few hours. Not a cracker to end 2017 on, but not a complete duffer either!

My STAR rating: THREE.

Length: 478 print pages.
Price I paid: £0.50.
Formats available: print, audio cassette, ebook.

The Christmasaurus - enjoyable twist to a Christmas story

If you are looking for an unusual but ultimately heart-warming Christmas story, then look no further. The Christmasaurus, by Tom Fletcher might be pitched at children aged between 7 and 12, but I believe it is for anyone who is young at heart, and who likes to read with a smile on their face. It is the story of William Trundle, a young boy who is happy with life until new girl, Brenda, appears at school and he becomes the target for her own special form of bullying. William lives with his Christmas-mad father, his mother having died many years ago. William, on the other hand, is obsessed with dinosaurs. When William writes to Santa this year, he just asks for one thing, a dinosaur. Unbeknownst to William, an egg, frozen for thousands of years, has miraculously hatched at the North Pole, and guess what, the occupant is a dinosaur - a unique dinosaur that Santa calls The Christmasaurus. All he wants to do is fly like the reindeer and pull Santa's sleigh. Needless to say, on Christmas Eve, William and the Christmasaurus meet and William thinks all his dreams have come true. However, lurking in the shadows is The Hunter, a man who wants to hunt and kill the rarest creatures on the planet. His plan is to take down one of the magical flying reindeer, but when he sees the Christmasaurus, his plan changes. This story is very funny and full of action. There are some great scenes filled with peril, as well as some surprises along the way. There is so much to love about this book, with excellent characters, sparky dialogue and a sprinkling of Christmas magic that never sinks into the saccharine. My only criticism was the device used for how the elves at the North Pole communicate - singing in rhyme. Initially this was funny, but it got a bit wearing after a while and I found it interrupted the flow of the action - particularly in the audio edition I read, narrated by Paul Shelley. That aside, this if a definite crowd pleaser, and if you like Roald Dahl, then I would recommend you give this book a try.

My STAR rating: FOUR stars.

Length: 400 print pages.
Price I paid: £0.99 (Christmas offer from Audible)
Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, unabridged audio CD, ebook.

Kolymsky Heights - complex spy thriller

Kolymsky Heights by Lionel Davidson is a spy/thriller novel set, for the most part, in a cold and forbidding Siberia. However, this is no run of the mill spy/thriller. It is extremely detailed and complex and boy oh boy, do you need to concentrate! The action starts in the UK, when a university lecturer receives a coded message from a scientist he met many years ago. But the message isn't for him, it's for a third academic, Johnny Porter. Once he is located and persuaded to take on the mission - break into a secret underground scientific base in Siberia to meet the sender of the message - the action really gets going. Porter is descended from Canadian Inuits and is an exceptional linguist. Because of this and his physical appearance, he can pass for his ethnically similar counterparts in Siberia, making him the ideal man for the job. After a tricky entry into the country, he hides in plain sight among the locals until he can find a way to reach the base, extract the secret the scientist is so desperate to share with the world, and make his escape. There follows an epic chase to the border, and I mean epic. A very enjoyable, thrill-packed read, with so much going on that it is almost dizzying at times. The author has thrown everything at this novel, and you certainly have to suspend your disbelief more than once, as the scrapes Porter gets into and then manages to extract himself from are, at times, bonkers. Not even James Bond is that good! A lot is expected of the reader, with long and detailed passages about some of the socio-political background as well as the science involved in "the secret". But if you let yourself go, sit back and enjoy the ride, then you will have a thoroughly good time. It didn't quite get full marks from me, due to some overlong segments and, as I fear is the case with almost all spy/thrillers, the predictable nature of the female characters - all of whom, of course, found Porter totally irresistible! However, I can definitely recommend the audio edition, narrated with gusto by Peter Noble, which was gifted to me by my lovely brother-in-law.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 496 print pages.
Price I paid: FREE (a present).
Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, abridged audio cassette, ebook.

Stardust - Magic!

When Neil Gaiman is on song (and when isn't he?), he is a joy to read. And so it proves with Stardust, a fairy tale for the more grown up amongst us. Not much happens in the small town of Wall, except, that is, for every nine years, when the Faerie Market takes place in the meadow on the other side of "The Wall". It's the only time when humans mix with the Faerie Kingdom that they live next door to, but totally separate from, thanks to, yes, you've guessed it ... The Wall! During one such market, Dunstan Thorn meets the alluring Una, and one thing leads to another! Nine months later, a baby boy is left at the gap in The Wall and Dunstan raises the child - Tristran. Unaware of his mixed heritage, when Tristran is 18, he falls for Victoria Forester. One night, they see a shooting star fall into the Faerie Kingdom, and in an effort to win at least a kiss, and hopefully her hand in marriage, he vows to retrieve it for her. And so begins Tristran's adventure as he leaves everything behind in search of the star. When he finally discovers it however, it turns out to be a beautiful young woman named Yvaine, and she is not happy! Tristran may be put out by her attitude, but persists with his quest, which inevitably, leads them into all sorts of scrapes. However, there are others who want to find the star too, including the Lillim - ancient witches who know that if they can secure the heart of the star, it will restore their youth - and nothing and nobody is going to stand in their way! This book has a great mix of good and evil, as you would expect in a fairy tale. There are some deliciously evil baddies, some incredibly inept baddies and a fine array of goodies, but none of them are sickly sweet. As you would expect in any book by this author, there is plenty of humour, especially if you like it on the dark side. There is real heart too (no pun intended), with the relationship between Tristran and Yvaine developing in an interesting, but ultimately satisfying way. The characters are plentiful, and each have a part to play - although not all of them were as well drawn as I would have preferred. This isn't a long book and while it raced along, I sometimes felt that some sections raced along just a little bit too speedily. But I am probably being a bit too picky here ... it's just that I was enjoying the story so much that I wanted it to last a little longer! I've just downloaded another of his books, in audio format this time, and am already looking forward to delving into it, especially as it is being read by the author himself.

My STAR rating: 4 STARS.

Length: 224 print pages.
Price I paid: FREE OFFER.
Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, unabridged audio CD, ebook.

The Blade Itself - Superb!

Why do I do this to myself ... I spot a book on offer and think, oooo, that sounds good, and then I read it and IT IS GOOD ... but it's the start of a series! So why is that a problem? Well, I am already in the middle of lots of book series, and I don't know when I'm ever going to get them all finished! As you can already tell by now, The Blade Itself: Book One Of The First Law by Joe Abercrombie, is one such book. And what a book! The action is full on from the start and I was hooked from the very first sequence which featured Logen Ninefingers fighting for his life. He is an infamous warrior from the North, who is in a blood feud with Bethod, the new King of the Northmen. Trying to flee from this feud and make a new life, he comes across an sickly man, and ends up taking him back to his home. It turns out that this man is an apprentice to Bayaz, the First of the Magi, who persuades Logen to accompany him to Adua in the Union Kingdom ... even though it's hard to believe that Bayaz is anything but a balding, fat fraud in the vein of the Great Oz! Meanwhile, Inquisitor Glokta, a former fencing champion and hero of the last war, but who, following his capture and subsequent torture during that war, now spends his days in endless pain, which only seems to be eased when he is meting out torture to the enemies of the Union! Also in the mix is Captain Jezal dan Luthar, a shallow, self-obsessed nobleman who has been chosen to take part in the upcoming fencing competition, but who would much rather play cards with his friends and live a life of ease. We spend much of the novel really getting to know these apparently disparate people as their stories slowly but surely start to converge against the backdrop of an impending war. There is so much to love about this book - the excellent characters who are all so well drawn, the action sequences so lovingly yet brutally told and the underlying threat from the Northmen that builds throughout the pages. The dialogue is spiky and believable and Inquisitor Glokta brings a darkly acerbic wit to the piece that even though he is not exactly Mr Nice Guy, you can't wait for him to reappear (think Alan Rickman's Sheriff of Nottingham). There are a couple of strong female characters in this novel, and I am hoping that they get more space in the next book. An excellent set up to the trilogy that I will most definitely be seeking out. I read the audio edition, narrated by the wonderful Steven Pacey.

My STAR rating: FIVE.

Length: 544 print pages.
Price I paid: £5.99
Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, unabridged audio CD, ebook.

Tales of Nibiru: Volume One Z.I.R.M. - The Zombie Revolution starts here!

In the strange world of Nibiru, one young vampire - Rhaul - becomes increasingly disturbed by the treatment being meted out on anyone who isn't one of his kind. His parents had fought for the rights of all beings, but since their untimely "permanent" deaths, these rights have slowly, but surely, been eroded by their new leader, his uncle Derek. Rhaul would do almost anything to stop his world slipping back into the dark days of the past where his best friends, a feisty Werewolf and stoical Zombie (name of Timothy!) would end up as second class citizens, and vampires would get to indulge their bloodlust to their cold unbeating heart's content! He takes a stand against his own kind and joins forces with Z.I.R.M. (Zombie International Rights Movement), resulting in the most unlikely battle where body parts are not only lost, but end up being used as weapons! Tales of Nibiru: Volume One Z.I.R.M., by B.B. Taylor romps along at great speed and features some memorable characters - especially Viola, the fabulously blood thirsty librarian (note to self, never take a book back late to her library!). Full of surreal images and big dollops of humour, this short book is aimed at younger readers who like it a little dark and are fed up of sparkly rainbows. It will take you to a strange world where your sympathies will definitely lie with the Zombies - and there aren't many of those! By no means a perfect book - the kindle edition does have some typos and not all the sections flow smoothly - however, I think that this has potential, and may just be the beginning of a bonkers new world that may come to inhabit the fantasy literature shelves in future years.

My STAR rating: THREE.

Length: 60 print pages.
Price I paid: FREE.
Formats available: print, ebook.

A Spool of Blue Thread - Families!

I am new to Anne Tyler, and wasn't quite sure what to expect from this book, but it was recommended to me by my Mum and I'm very happy that she did. A Spool of Blue Thread is the tale of the Whitshank family and the house that they have lived in over several generations. We start with Red and Abby who are starting to struggle a little, and whose children - now with children of their own - rally round to give them support. Inevitably, and despite their best intentions, the old irritations and arguments that the children have been harbouring all their lives resurface. One son, Denny, is a particular source of tension - he never tells anyone what is going on in his life, and comes and goes at a moments leave. When tragedy hits the family, they make the tough decision to leave the house that was built by Red's father. We then go back in time to see how Abby and Red fell in love, which is quite a sweet tale. But then we go back a further generation to Red's parents and see how their story began. Pretty much all the action is centred around the family home which is definitely a character in its own right. This is a book full of emotion - with so many kinds of relationships on show that it is hard to imagine anyone not being able to relate to some of the characters. We witness the effect of things being left unsaid within a family and how hard it can be to realise that you've left it too late. There are heartbreaking moments, but there is humour too, and above all, there is an overwhelming feeling of people trying their best to do the right thing, and, especially with the older generation, to stick it out even when you feel like turning tail and heading for the hills. On the face of it, there may not seem to be much going on, but this is a story about how humans live and love in the world, and the bravery shown by those who, when faced with adversity, just get on with it. I will definitely be seeking more works by this author.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 465 print pages.
Price I paid: free, borrowed from my Mum.
Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, unabridged audio CD, ebook.

Barnaby Rudge - worth the effort!

Barnaby Rudge, by Charles Dickens is a book I knew nothing about except for the title. It is certainly not one of his better known books and is a little different to the other works of his that I have read. It is set against the backdrop of the Gordon Riots of 1780, an event I also knew nothing about. There are many characters, which is par for the course with Dickens, but they are all clearly drawn and I certainly didn't get as confused as I have done in previous works. The action centres around three families - the Haredales (Geoffrey and his niece Emma), the Chesters (Sir John and his son Edward) and the Vardens (locksmith Gabriel, his wife and his daughter Dolly). Their lives are intertwined by love, hatred and tragedy. Within the same orbit, lives Barnaby Rudge, a simple young man whose mother is desperate to protect him from the cruelty of the world. When a strange man calls on them, she flees in an effort to protect Barnaby, but nowhere is safe from this man, and this event marks the beginning of a downward spiral for Barnaby. Along with most of London, all our characters are engulfed by the wave of anti-Catholic feeling being promoted by Lord George Gordon and his followers. Barnaby is duped into joining the ensuing mob and is caught up in the resulting riots. There is so much going on in this book, but it is all expertly tied together - although it sometimes takes a little while to see how. There isn't as much comic relief here as there is in other works, with only Miggs - the servant of the Vardens - being the one truly silly character. The passages about the riots and especially the burning of Newgate prison are epic. And, as you would expect, there are some great characters who display every side of the human condition. It is serious and long, but I thought it was definitely worth the effort - although it might have helped that I read the audio edition narrated by the glorious Sean Barrett!

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 800 print pages.
Price I paid: £3.86.
Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, mp3 CD, ebook.

The Girl With The Cat Tattoo - unusual take on a romance

In this unusual romantic novel by Theresa Weir, the narrator is a cat called Max. His mistress, Melody, was widowed two years ago when her cop husband was murdered in their own home. Max has become increasingly concerned about the way Melody is living - she has shut out almost all of her old friends, and has become a bit of a party girl, sometimes bringing home strange men for the night. Max decides to play matchmaker and heads out to find someone more suitable. He ends up in a night shelter and is drawn to a guy named Joe, who is helping out there by serving the food. Max brings the two together and romance blossoms. However, Joe is not what he seems and when he is shot one night, all of Melody's bottled up fears and traumas  that stem from her husband's murder rise to the surface again. Has Max made a big mistake, and will Joe and Melody find happiness? This is primarily a light book, easy to read and merrily skips along. There are some darker undercurrents too, which prevent it getting overly sweet. I did wonder where things were going at one point when Ellen DeGeneres made an unexpected appearance in the plot. That bothered me a little as I thought it was an unnecessary plot device and totally unbelievable ... then again ... this is a story about a match-making cat, so hey, I suppose you have to suspend your disbelief in quite a big way anyway! I actually liked Max, the cat, as a character and there were some funny touches that helped you get inside his head - I'm now more sure than ever that cats are always up to something! However, I wasn't as sure that the two main human characters were as well drawn, and some elements didn't ring true. For a quick, light read with an ending that you can be sure of, you could probably do a lot worse than The Girl With The Cat Tattoo. Not one I would heartily recommend, but as it was free, I can't really moan.

My STAR rating: THREE.

Length: 166 print pages.
Price I paid: FREE.
Formats available: print, ebook.

Sharpe's Waterloo - Not enough Sharpe!

It pains me to say this, but for the first time reading a Bernard Cornwell book, I have felt a little disappointed. Sharpe's Waterloo is number 20 in what has been a fabulous series of historical novels centred around an iconic, heroic character. Richard Sharpe, born in the gutter, has worked his way up the ranks in Wellington's army. He had thought his fighting days were over and was living peacefully in France with his new love and their child. All was going swimmingly until Napoleon escaped and mobilised the French once again. It's June in 1815, and Sharpe heads back to war, but this time, as part of the Prince of Orange's personal staff. Needless to say, Sharpe is not impressed by the impetuous young man and they are soon at loggerheads. As Napoleon's army crosses the border into Belgium, the British and Prussian armies are separated, and know that they face defeat unless they can make a final stand just outside a small place called Waterloo. The British must hold firm until the Prussians can rejoin them, but the odds are stacked against them. There is much to like about this latest sojourn for Sharpe, the description of the skirmishes and battles, full of rich detail are a grizzly delight. However, for me, there just wasn't enough Sharpe. There was stacks of action and incident, but featuring characters that I wasn't invested in. It felt like a novel about Waterloo, that happened to have a cameo of Richard Sharpe dropped into it to make it a "Sharpe" novel. Maybe it's just me, but to leave your best asset on the sidelines for much of the book left me a little flat. This penultimate (number 20) Sharpe book is definitely not one of the best. Hopefully the final book in this series will be a belter!

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 435 print pages.
Price I paid: £2.49.
Formats available: print, unabridged audio cassette, unabridged audio download, CD-ROM, ebook.

Winter of the World - the saga continues ...

So, I have finished the second of the lengthy tomes I have been reading of late. Winter of the World, by Ken Follett is the second book in his Century of Giants trilogy. The action centres around the families we met in the first book, which was set around the first world war. It is now 1933 and Berlin is starting to feel the impact of the far right Nazi party who are slowly tightening their grip on governing the country, sweeping all opposition aside with increasingly brutal tactics. The Von Ulrich family are caught in the middle and are clinging onto the belief that liberal democracy will prevail, but inevitably are disappointed. Meanwhile, in Britain, Ethel Leckwith is now an MP and her son, Lloyd, wants to follow in the family business. On a trip to Berlin, he sees first hand what is happening and is more determined than ever to do what he can to halt the spread of facism. In Russia, Volodya Peshkov is now a grown man and is working his way up the ranks in the Red Army, believing that Communism is the only way forward. Meanwhile, American socialite Daisy Peshkov (half sister to Volodya, though unaware of this) sets her sights on becoming accepted into the upper echelons of America's elite class. However, following a major snub, she heads to the UK and meets both Lord-in-waiting Boy Fitzherbert and Lloyd (also half-brothers of each other) at Cambridge. She, of course, is determined to seduce Boy and the fairy tale wedding soon follows. However, not much time passes before she realises that whilst she may that title she craved, life with Boy is destined for misery, and maybe she picked the wrong brother! This really is another epic novel, with characters that you care about playing out their personal dramas against the backdrop of real events. We see the build up to and outbreak of war, the bombing of Pearl Harbour and the development of the atomic bomb. There is high drama, intermingled with quiet wit and gentle caresses. All aspects of life and death are here - no holds are barred and no one is safe from a grisly end. I was often surprised by the turn of events and while it may be a glorified soap opera ... all I can say is ... what a soap opera! My only gripe would be that I think it could have benefited from a little editing - I wasn't totally convinced that all the American scenes were necessary. However, I found it gripping, entertaining, informative, unflinching ... do you need any further encouragement to give this trilogy a try? Bring on book 3!

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 928 print pages.
Price I paid: £0.20 (WHAT A BARGAIN!)
Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, unabridged audio CD, CD-ROM, ebook.

The Final Empire - a new world to explore!

In case regular readers may have thought I had fallen off the edge of the world ... do not fear, I am back! I have not been blogging for the last few weeks due to my reading two very long books, and I have finally finished one of them. The Final Empire is the start of the Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson (originally a trilogy, but has been added to subsequently). This book is set in a world that has been terrorised for a thousand years by the divine Lord Ruler, who wields absolute power over two distinct peoples. There is the nobility, who have all the wealth, and the Skaa who are subservient to the nobility, and are their slaves. Some of the nobility have extraordinary powers and are called Mistborn. These people have the ability to utilise a range of metals to enhance their strength, hearing, etc - each metal having different properties. Into this unhappy and unhealthy world comes Kelsier - a man who is half-Skaa, half nobleman, and, most importantly, is a Mistborn. Originally a thief of extreme skill and notoriety, events have led him to try to lead a rebellion against the Lord Ruler and bring an end to the slavery of the Skaa. He comes across a young thief called Vin, he recognises a fellow Mistborn - something she is completely unaware of. He takes her under his wing and begins to train her and she becomes a vital part of his plan. The world the author has created is so detailed that you can almost feel, touch and taste it. The characters are flawed and damaged people, yet they have hope and humour and they really do get under your skin. There are some great set pieces where the Mistborn skills are really expanded upon and come into their own (I could visualise lots of lingering slow motion sequences in a film adaptation!) There are secrets, first loves, tragedy and despair ... and quite a hefty body count! There are surprises along the way as the story unfolds and takes you to places you were not expecting. I really enjoyed this book and became invested in the characters and their fates. If you haven't delved into fantasy before, this might be a good place to start as it is a rollocking good tale of good versus evil,, with lashings of derring do! Highly recommended. My only negative is that this is the beginning of another series for me ... and I still have so many others to finish ... what was I thinking?

My STAR rating: FIVE.

Length: 669 print pages.
Price I paid: £5.99.
Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, unabridged audio CD, ebook.

Silence - brutally thought provoking

Silence, by Shusaku Endo, follows the physical and spiritual journey of Father Sebastian Rodrigues, a Jesuit priest who sets sail for Japan in 1640. The first missionaries had initially received a warm welcome and Christian communities sprung up and flourished, however, for some years now, a new regime has brutally oppressed anyone found to be following this religion, and many priests have been murdered. Father Rodrigues is determined to provide help and support to the ever decreasing Christian population, as well as try to find out what has happened to a priest he once knew and admired, who, it is rumoured, has rejected his faith. Forced to hide and perform any duties in secret, he soon witnesses the reality of the dangerous situation he is now in. He tries to keep one step ahead of the authorities but is finally betrayed and captured. He awaits his martyrdom, which he has already prepared for. However, the authorities know it will be more effective in suppressing Christianity if they can get a priest to deny his faith, rather than martyr. So, they torture and kill faithful Japanese people in front of him, telling him that he can stop all of this from happening if he denies his God. This is a book of vivid imagery and deep emotion. The spiritual dilemma for the central character, as well as those around him is powerfully described, and it is very difficult for the reader to remain detached. Heartfelt prayers seem to be answered by silence, and Father Rodrigues wonders where God is in that silence. I found this very tough to read due to the subject matter. Light, it is not. It is definitely a book that makes you think and I am still mulling over it over a week later. It is a book I think I would read again as I find myself reflecting on many of the questions and feelings that it has raised. Not a book to enjoy maybe, but definitely a book that might help one to meditate on some of life's big questions. The version I read was ably narrated by David Holt.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 288 print pages.
Price I paid: £1.99.
Formats available: print, unabridged audio CD, unabridged audio download.

The Elephant Keeper - touching relationship between man and beast

Tom Page is a young groom working on the estate of a wealthy landowner in Somersetshire during the 1770s. When his employer purchases two young elephants, Tom is given the task of caring for them ... and so The Elephant Keeper is born. Everything is new and exciting to Tom and, indeed, the elephants. They slowly find their way together, building trust and understanding. Tom names them Timothy and Jenny, and seems to be able to communicate with them in a remarkably intimate and gentle way (not a bit Dr Doolittle). When the elephants are split up, the relationship between Tom and Jenny deepens further. Not everyone is a fan of Jenny, and cruelty and tragedy share the same space as wonder and comfort. Tom tries to protect Jenny and she tries to return the favour. Their deep dependency on each other cannot help but affect Tom's relationships with family, friends, lovers and employers. This is a touching tale that really pulls at the heart strings. The story follows the pair over many years, as the elephant is passed from one owner to the next, with Tom always accompanying her. There may not be a clear ending, which normally annoys me in a book, but I was more than happy to be left "hanging" in this case. I found myself so invested in Tom and Jenny that I didn't want it to end, and it kind of didn't! Thank you Christopher Nicholson for your moving story that will definitely stay with me ... now, could I make room in my garden for an elephant?

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 292 print pages.
Price I paid: 50p.
Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, unabridged audio CD, ebook.

11.22.63 - The hazards of time travel!

Jake Epping, a high school teacher from Maine, is moving forward with his life following a messy divorce. While at his local diner, Al, friend and owner, reveals that he is terminally ill, and asks Jake to complete a mission he has been working on for many years. This mission is to prevent the assassination of John F. Kennedy in Dallas, 1963. Al believes if he can prevent this, then the world would be changed for the better and would not be in the state it is currently in. Nice theory, but that was 50 years ago! Not a problem it would seem, as Al's diner is sitting on a time bubble which, when you step through, takes you back to exactly the same time, place and date in 1958. Al has spent years in the past, planning and investigating ... to make sure that the conspiracy theorists are all wrong, and that Lee Harvey Oswald was indeed a lone gunman. Jake is finally persuaded when he realises he can also save someone he knows from a dreadful fate that happened to them during the same time period. He steps through the bubble and we enter a new world with Jake as our narrator. But the past doesn't want to be changed and it begins to fight back in ever increasingly brutal ways. 11.22.63 is a fantastically complex and thought provoking novel, with great characters, especially Jake and his love interest, Sadie (big up for school librarians). It feels exceptionally well researched and the passages set in the 50s and early 60s are full of details which evoke a time and place that could almost be a different planet. Author Stephen King gives the reader a masterclass in this time-travelling fantasy which reads like an historical thriller. It will take up many, many, MANY hours of your time reading it, but it is definitely time well spent. I read the audio version, narrated by Craig Watson, who must have been exhausted. And if you take one lesson from this book, it's Don't Mess With History, you might not like the result! The only other thing left to say is READ IT!

My STAR rating: FIVE!

Length: 1120 print pages.
Price I paid: £3.36 (bargain for a book of this magnitude, thanks Audible!)
Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, MP3 CD, CD-ROM, ebook.

When Will There Be Good News? - soon I hope!

In this third outing for Jackson Brodie, fate seems to have turned against the former soldier, policeman and private detective. Having inherited a great deal of money from a former client, he had previously "retired" to France, but got a bit bored. Now back in the UK, and still in the honeymoon phase of a brand new marriage following a whirlwind romance, Jackson hops on a train heading for London. However, he is on the wrong train and just as he realises he is heading for Edinburgh, the train crashes. His life is saved by local girl, Reggie, who is wise beyond her 16 years. She has no family, except for a wild brother, but has found happiness in the home of Dr Hunter, whose baby she looks after. When Dr Hunter and the baby disappear without a word to Reggie, she does not believe the story told by Mr Hunter that his wife has gone to visit a sick aunt. She tries to involve the police in the form of Detective Chief Inspector Louise Monroe, a former colleague of Brodie, who starts to investigate. When Monroe realises that Jackson is back in Edinburgh, unresolved feelings begin to surface. Despite his injuries, Jackson becomes embroiled in the case, and he and Reggie head off to find Dr Hunter. And can it be a coincidence that she disappears at the same time as a newly released convict, whose heinous crime 30 years ago left a mother and two of her three children dead, with the third, a six year old girl, traumatised for life after what she witnessed that day? There are so many threads to this novel, with lots of characters to keep track of, that you may find yourself flicking back a few pages just to make sure you've got things straight! The writing of Kate Atkinson flows easily and there is a rhythm to the story that, once you are on board, will take you for a most enjoyable ride. It is messy, and things are not necessarily tidied up in a nice neat bow by the end of it, but it feels more real for that. This is not your typical investigative crime story, as there isn't much investigating going on. It's more about the human condition, and how we all continually get things wrong, but just have to keep going. The title is one of the most appropriate ones I know, as so much happens to poor Mr Brodie that you do really wonder When Will There Be Good News? That's not say that there aren't funny moments too! I really hope, for his sake, that in the last book (to date) in the series, Jackson's luck might turn just a little bit in his favour. An enjoyable read with great characters who seem to come out fully formed almost as soon as they hit the page - no mean feat!

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 480 print pages.
Price I paid: free, borrowed from library.
Formats available: print, abridged audio CD, unabridged audio download, ebook.

The God Of Small Things - dreamlike but unfulfilling

Winner of the 1997 Booker Prize, The God Of Small Things is a book that has been hanging around on the bookshelf at home for some time. After picking it up and putting it back on the shelf a few times, I decided it was finally time to read it. I found this a difficult book to get into, with much flipping backward and forward in time, which, combined with unusual (to me) names and lots of internalising by the main characters, left me feeling a tad confused and nonplussed. Set in Kerala, this is the story of Rahel and Estha, twins who are growing up in the midst of familial and political turbulence. There is a constant feeling of unease within what appears, from the outside, to be very strict rules about how one should live, and who one should love. There are beautiful passages which transport you into an almost ethereal world, followed by harrowing passages of abuse and violence that bring you right back down to earth with a bump. It is all very unsettling, and I found there to be a distinct lack of happiness within any of the characters, which left me feeling glum. There were tiny, desperate glimpses of love, which provided a little hope and brightness, but these were quickly snatched away again. I think I found this a challenging book because of the subject matter, but also, it wasn't until I "got a good run" at the book one morning where I read for at least an hour, that it started to make a bit more sense and I warmed to it. I kind of wish I'd done that from the start - with books of this ilk, I must make a more concerted effort to do so. The quality of the writing by author Arundhati Roy is not in doubt, particularly in the last third of the book, but I found the story just too sad for my own personal taste. Time for something a little lighter maybe?

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 340 print pages
Price I paid: free, borrowed from my husband.
Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, unabridged audio cassette, ebook.

My Brilliant Friend - what am I missing?

Hailed as a modern masterpiece, I was really looking forward to getting my teeth into My Brilliant Friend, by Italian author, Elena Ferrante. This is part one of a set of four books, which follow the lives of two friends from Naples - Lila and Elena. This first "chapter" takes them from early childhood into their teens and is set not long after the end of the second World War. Lila is the fearless one, and incredibly smart - outdoing everyone at school. Elena is in thrall to this force of nature, and is almost overwhelmed by her when they become friends. Elena then spends almost all of her time trying to emulate her brilliant friend, especially at school - where Lila seems to pick up things really quickly, Elena has to study hard. As time passes, we see how the relationship between the two girls ebbs and flows, and how it is influenced by the large cast of other characters - their family, friends and, in some cases, their enemies in the local neighbourhood. It felt to me that there was almost a love/hate friendship, with Elena (who is the narrator) at turns fascinated by Lila, and the next moment, trying to outdo her. Is that what all friendships are like? When Lila seems to be ignoring her, Elena seems to grow and develop, but as soon as Lila clicks her fingers, Elena just cannot resist and falls back under her spell. Whilst there are some lovely images and moments created, overall, I found the writing style a little disjointed and bare for my personal taste. I found it hard to sympathise with the characters, and I always struggle with a book when this is the case. There didn't appear to be much love on show, and I found the atmosphere harsh and unforgiving, which was how many of the characters came across too. There is a seedy and threatening undercurrent, especially with regard to the treatment of the female characters, pervading every page. This creates a constant state of tension in the book, and I was never comfortable at any time. I feel like I have missed something in this book, as it is so well regarded. I just didn't feel it! A challenging read - most definitely. A journey that I want to continue - not so sure.

My STAR rating: THREE.

Length: 336 print pages.
Price I paid: free, borrowed from my local library.
Formats available: print, audio download, MP3 CD, ebook.

Fall of Giants - life, love and war

There are few books that really warrant the description of "epic", but I think I'm pretty safe in attaching this label to Fall of Giants, by Ken Follett, which is only part one of his Century Trilogy. Set against a backdrop of the events leading up to, during and immediately following World War One, the action starts in 1911 and the Coronation of George V. We find ourselves in the bosom of the Williams, a Welsh coal-mining family, the father of which is a strong man who stands up for the rights of his fellow workers against the aristocrats who own the mine (the Fitzherberts) and the businessmen who run it on their behalf. Lord Fitzherbert is married to a Russian Princess, but has a roving eye, and when it falls upon their housekeeper, Ethel Williams (daughter of the aforementioned coal miner), he seduces her. She falls pregnant and has to leave the village in disgrace, but agrees to keep quiet about the affair, negotiating a modest house for herself in London. Lady Maud Fitzherbert is not your typical society lady, who fights for women to get the right to vote. She forms a great friendship with Ethel while in London, and together they fight for the cause. Maud falls in love with Walter Von Ulrich, a spy in the German Embassy in London, which, as war looms, gets a little complicated. Into this mix, we also get a young American aide who is working for the US President, as well as two Russian brothers, whose plan to emigrate to America is interrupted by the war. All of these lives become linked in some way, both on a personal and a shared war experience. There is a lot going on and you definitely have to keep alert to each and every story. Most of the characters are really well fleshed out and have distinctive voices, although one or two are a bit on the predictable side. My favourites so far are Ethel and Lady Maud, who are such strong women that I would have liked to have met them! I have been sucked into their lives and loves and I am keen to find out how things turn out in the next book ... which is definitely a good sign. This could well have been a five star book, but I read the audio edition, narrated by John Lee, which was enjoyable except for the odd Welsh accents, which I found a little off-putting.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 864 print pages.
Price I paid: £7.99.
Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, audio CD, CD-ROM, ebook.

Bad Luck and Trouble - hang on to your hats!

I was going on holiday and couldn't take much luggage with me, so rather than print books, I loaded up my kindle with some more ebooks from the library. Now, as the library I am a member of has all the Jack Reacher books, I just could not resist downloading number 11 in the series, even though it's only a few weeks since my last hit of this big, burly hero! Bad Luck and Trouble, by Lee Child has an outstanding opening which features someone being thrown out of a helicopter over the Californian desert! Boom, you've got my attention!  It turns out that the poor soul ejected from the helicopter was one of Reacher's elite Special Investigators team from his army days. When another of the team manages to get in touch with Reacher, they soon discover that others from their old team are also missing. It turns out that his old buddies are in big trouble, and Reacher gets to work to find out what is going on and whether there is a target on all their backs. There is almost no let up in the action of this book and it is so engrossing that I found it hard to put down. It's nice to see Reacher at work as a true investigator with some of his old team, rather than him just relying on brute force. This made it a far more interesting read for me. There may not be too many surprises and there is the usual requisite amount of violence (it wouldn't be Reacher if there weren't a few broken heads along the way), however, this will not disappoint anyone looking for a thriller that races along at almost breakneck speed. Super!

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 528 print pages.
Price I paid: free, borrowed from library.
Formats available: print, audio download, mp3 CD, ebook.

The Long Midnight of Barney Thomson - darkly funny

I very nearly stopped reading this book after the first few pages. It begins with a bleak and violent scene and I thought, oh no, not for me. However, something made me persist, and I am so pleased that I did. Barney is a Glaswegian hairdresser who feels pretty much invisible. He is ignored by his wife, his co-workers and, worst of all, the customers in the barber shop where he works. Often, he is left twiddling his thumbs while a queue of people sit waiting for their hair to be cut by the two other barbers. All this is against the backdrop of a pervading sense of fear that has been created by the activities of a serial killer who has been evading the police for some time. But Barney's hum drum existence suddenly becomes uncharacteristically interesting when he accidentally kills one of the barbers, and instead of reporting the incident, he panics and tries to dispose of the body in the hope that the police will chalk it down as the next victim of the elusive multiple murderer. Things start to go out of control and he confides in his mother, who, to his great surprise seems to know a thing or two about making a body disappear. Barney's life becomes increasingly complicated, and little do those around him realise that they are becoming more and more likely to fall victim to this reluctant killer. Who knew that murder could be so funny? There are some great moments in this book and you cannot help but like Barney and sympathise for his ever-growing predicament. You know you shouldn't be rooting for him, but somehow you just cannot help it. Full of dark wit, great dialogue, believable characters and a fine dusting of farce, The Long Midnight of Barney Thomson, by Douglas Lindsay is a book that I found highly enjoyable. A great book to read while travelling or relaxing on holiday. And Barney's story doesn't end there, I have just found out that there are more books featuring Barney, so I may just have to indulge in some more darkness!

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 181 print pages.
Price I paid: free (the ebook was on offer back in 2013 ... yes, it's taken me this long to get round to reading it)
Formats available: print, ebook.

The Soulkeepers - young adult fantasy

Fifteen-year-old Jacob Lau is pulled from the wreckage of a car with only a hazy memory of how he got there. With his mother missing, and his father already dead some years earlier, Jacob is packed off to stay with his only remaining relative, an uncle he didn't even know existed. Jacob struggles to settle in and lashes out at those around him. This results in him having to work for the beautiful, yet scary woman who lives across the road. It turns out that she is not what she seems, but then neither is Jacob, who discovers an ability to control water. The woman tells him he is a Soulkeeper, and his destiny is to protect human souls. She offers to help him find his mother, but only if he agrees to submit to her training regime. He agrees, but doesn't really believe half of what she says. Needless to say, things do not go terribly smoothly and he loses what little trust he had in those around him. This is a coming of age story with mystery, supernatural beings and a bit of romance thrown in for good measure. The Soulkeepers is a bit of a page-turner, with some good set pieces, and I did warm to a few of the key players, however, I felt that it was a little on the superficial side and I would have liked to have seen a bit more depth to the characters, some of whom are very one dimensional and predictable. Maybe that will come in the remainder of the series (this is the first of a set of six by G.P. Ching). By no means an unpleasant way to spend a few hours, but it didn't grab me enough to make me really want to seek out the rest of the books. However, as I am not the target audience for this book (young adult), this may come as no surprise! Overall, a bit of light adventure that would make a good holiday read.

My STAR rating: THREE.

Length: 312 print pages.
Price I paid: free.
Formats available: print; audio download; ebook.

Small Wars - Promising start which wasn't sustained

Having previously read The Outcast, by the same author, I was looking forward to Small Wars by Sadie Jones. We are introduced to the two central characters, Hal Treherne and his wife, Clara, during they courtship. It is sweet and innocent, and we see a deep love for each other develop and grow into a solid relationship. However, most of the action in the book takes place a few years into the marriage. Now the parents of twin girls, Hal is posted to Cyprus, and his family join him shortly thereafter. The colony is not at peace, with guerrilla rebels fighting to rid themselves of the British and the Turks in a bid to be united with Greece. Now a Major, this is the first real action Hal has seen, and he is keen to "get stuck in", just like his father and grandfather had in  previous conflicts. However, things start to get messy, with innocents getting caught in the crossfire and no visible enemy prepared to do battle. Indiscipline in the ranks starts to become an issue, and Hal witnesses the worst that humanity has to offer. Clara notices a change in him, and when the gentle man she has loved turns into a harsh, ill tempered and absent husband, she is not sure what to do. As the situation becomes increasingly tense both outside and inside the marriage, Hal sends Clara and the children away for their own safety, but tragedy strikes. Can Hal's sense of honour and duty be reconciled with his conscience and will their marriage survive? This is a part of history that I know nothing about, so I found the snippets of information about Cyprus during this time (1950's) really interesting. The story was bowling along nicely and I was relating to the characters and enjoying their journey, but then, for me, it ran out of steam. I cannot quite put my finger on it. Things started to move very fast and I was somehow not convinced by the change in Hal and his subsequent actions. There were a good few characters who I thought were going to be fleshed out and be built on, but this did not happen. I felt that too many of them were there just to serve a particular plot point rather than them being completely integral to the story. By no means bad enough to make me never want to read another book by this author, however, I have to admit that I was a little disappointed by the ending after what was a really promising first half.

My STAR rating: THREE.

Length: 376 print pages.
Price I paid: £0.50 from a second hand stall.
Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, ebook.

The Flame Bearer - Uhtred is back, and this time it's personal

Age is starting to catch up with Uhtred of Bebbanberg in this, his tenth outing, but do not fear, there is plenty of fight left in the old dog yet! In The Flame Bearer, the country is mostly at peace following the truce between with Queen Aethelflaed of Mercia, and Sigtryggr, Northumbria's Viking ruler (who also happens to be Uhtred's son-in-law). It seems that the time has finally come for Uhtred to head back to Bebbanberg and claim the birthright that was stolen from him by his treacherous uncle and which his cousin is now in possession of. However, as usual, things conspire to get in his way and it seems that he is not the only one with eyes on Bebbanberg and he needs to use all his guile to find a way to the fortress by sea, without tipping his hand as to his intentions. Can Uhtred combat the threat from the formidable Constantin of Scotland, Einar the White and indeed, the Saxons, whose actions threaten the existence of England's Kingdoms? Well, in what many are assuming to be the final outing for Uhtred it is great to have some kind of a resolution. I have always enjoyed spending time in the company of this rough and tough hero whose soft centre cannot help surfacing every so often, and The Flame Bearer allows me to indulge one more time. Bernard Cornwell creates characters that stay with you long after you have closed the covers, and Uhtred has to be one of his finest. But the bevy of excellent supporting cast in Uhtred's world bring a satisfying depth to the stories ... Finnan being my own personal favourite. As you would expect, the action sequences are fast-paced and urgent, and the dialogue sparkles. This book was a little shorter than previous outings and maybe that is a sign that Uhtred's story has indeed come to an end. I have really enjoyed this series and even if there are no more books to come, I've still got the TV series to get my Dane/Saxon fix (season 2 is currently being shown in the UK). Thanks Mr Cornwell, can't wait to see what you do next!

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 304 print pages.
Price I paid: FREE, borrowed from local library.
Formats available: print; unabridged audio; ebook.

Climbing With Abraham - a book to get you thinking

During the season of Lent, I endeavour to read a devotional book to help focus my mind. This year, I chose Climbing With Abraham, by David Ramos. This book leads you on a 30 day journey in the company of Abraham. Each day starts with a passage from Genesis featuring the life of Abraham, which is followed by a few paragraphs exploring what was going on and relating it to our own lives today. We follow the struggles and doubts and devotion and trust of the man who would go on to become the Father of Nations. This book helps the reader to look more closely at such an important figure and how it wasn't exactly all plain sailing for him. Each section provides an opportunity to sit quietly for a few minutes and gain some insight into how faith can start and how it can grow. If that is what you are looking for, then this might be a good book to start with. By no means intimidating or even assuming any great depth of knowledge, I found this book interesting and thought provoking. Not for everyone I know, but if you want to take a closer look at Abraham, then there are worse places to start.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length:106 print pages.
Price I paid: FREE.
Formats available: print; ebook.

Pride and Prejudice - sheer bliss!

From the very first line of this classic book, Jane Austen transports her readers to the society built on the manners and status of 200 years ago ... and yet, so much of it still resonates today. The Bennet family are living a comfortable life at present. Mr Bennet is a Gentleman of some standing in the neighbourhood. However, he has five daughters and no son, and when he dies, all of his property will go to a cousin, the ridiculous Mr Collins. Mrs Bennet is desperate to get her daughters married off to wealthy men of distinction, so when news reaches her that an eligible young bachelor (Mr Bingley) has taken over the "Big House", she goes into overdrive. At the very first opportunity, she makes the case for her daughters, much to the embarrassment of Mr Bennet and the two eldest girls - the beautiful Jane and the clever Lizzie. Despite this, Jane and Mr Bingley hit it off, and romance is in the air. Not everyone approves, including Bingley's friend, Mr Darcy, who is proud and haughty and very aware of how someone's station in life could be damaged by marrying beneath them. Lizzie takes an instant dislike to Darcy and verbal sparks fly, particularly when she is influenced by a disturbing story from his past, as told by the dashing Mr Wickham. When Bingley suddenly goes back to London without a word, it seems that Jane's hopes have been dashed. While staying with her best friend, who has married Mr Collins, Lizzie encounters Darcy once again, and is taken completely by surprise when he proposes marriage in a most unflattering way. She refuses point blank and hopes never to see him again. However, fate conspires and when their paths cross again, Darcy comes to her family's aid. Lizzie fears that her prejudice has clouded her judgement, and that maybe he is not so bad after all ...

I could go on and on and on about how fabulous Pride and Prejudice is, but I won't. I just urge you to read it and find out for yourself. Each character is fantastically observed and well drawn, and the situations they get themselves into are entertaining and heartfelt. It is a pure delight from start to finish and this is a book I will read again and again. This time, I read an audio edition, narrated by Lyndsey Duncan, which was an absolute treat!

Maybe one day the human race will put all prejudices aside, and not let pride blind them to reason ... one can but hope! If you want a book that feels like being hugged by a favourite Aunt, then this is the one for you.

My STAR rating: FIVE.

Length: 329 print pages.
Price I paid: £2.99
Formats available: print; unabridged audio download; ebook.

The Hard Way - rough, tough and highly entertaining!

Jack Reacher is an ex-military policeman who travels around the USA attempting to keep under the radar, but somehow always ends up slap bang in the middle of a situation that requires his special set of skills. In The Hard Way, his tenth outing, Reacher witnesses what is, apparently, the pick up of a ransom demand. He gets persuaded to help the victims and attempt to find the kidnappers of a woman and her daughter. As he spends more time with Edward Lane, the husband of the kidnap victim, he comes to realise that he is not a very nice man, and is the leader of a gang of mercenaries. He assumes that the kidnap is a piece of revenge for some nefarious action committed by Lane and his cohorts. However, when the sister of Edward Lane's first wife approaches Reacher and says that she is convinced that Lane had something to do with the kidnap and murder of her sister, he fears that history might be repeating itself ... Within the first page, I knew I was in the safe hands of an incredibly skillful author. Lee Child has the exceptionally useful knack of engaging the attention of his readers immediately. You are right there, totally immersed in Reacher's world after just a few lines, and you know you are in for a good time. The action is taut, the dialogue is snappy and the sense of place - whether it be New York, or an isolated farmhouse in the backwaters of Norfolk, England - feels authentic. I raced through this book at breakneck speed, and was always eager to return to its pages. If you are looking for an action-packed thriller with plenty of twists and turns, then I would heartily recommend this book to you. A winner.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 528 print pages.
Price I paid: free, borrowed from local library.
Formats available: print; unabridged audio download; ebook.

The Very First Damned Thing - I've got a good feeling about this!

The Chronicles of St Mary's Series by Jodi Taylor is one that has been "suggested" to me by Amazon and Audible, based on stuff I've either purchased or just looked at (too clever by half!). I have looked but not touched ... until now. The Very First Damned Thing is a prequel to the series and was offered free from Audible last Christmas, so I thought ... why the heck not! And hip hip hooray, I think I'm on to a winner here. This short book is definitely a scene setter and tells the tale of how St Mary's was set up and provides plenty of hints as to what St Mary's will become ... a group of historians who study historical events by actually going to them. Within the first page, I knew I was in safe hands, with a story that just starts ... no fancy preamble, no set ups, it just gets going from the off. It is two years since "the final victory at the Battersea Barricades", which isn't fully explained in this book, but that doesn't present a problem for me. It's enough to know that this event has plummeted the country into a drab and dreary existence, with the population struggling to come to terms with the massive loss of life. Rebuilding is a slow process, and money is tight, so it takes a strong and determined man to persuade the powers that be to fork out for something new. That man is Dr Bairstow, and the something new is a miraculous device that allows people to travel to the past and study it up close to find out what really happened. Met with initial scepticism, his practical demonstration at the Battle Of Waterloo secures him the funding he needs. He bases himself at St Mary's and then, a little bit like Yul Bryner in the Magnificent Seven (yes, I'm that old!), he travels the country persuading a hand-picked team of unusual people to join him. Humorous, historical, and with so much back and front(?) story hinted at, that I can't wait to get to know these characters better. Even after such a short time, they already have a depth that was distinctly lacking in Allegiant (see previous blog). Whilst I suspect that I would have got more out of this short book if I had already delved into the series, I thoroughly enjoyed it and I am so looking forward to reading the first book in the series. I hope this is a great taste of things to come ... and that I have found a new series to fall in love with (well, I do need something to fill the void that will be left after I finish Bernard Cornwall's Sharpe books).

My STAR rating: FOUR (only because it was so short ... I wanted more!)

Length: 74 print pages.
Price I paid: FREE (special Christmas offer from Audible).
Formats available: unabridged audio download; ebook.

Allegiant - disappointingly tedious!

So, it's 18 months since I read the second instalment of the Divergent Series by Veronica Roth. I'd loved the first book, but was disappointed by the second, feeling it had spent most of the time setting the scene for the final showdown that would be Book 3. However, in Allegiant, I turned page after page after endless page, waiting for the action to get going, but was consistently disappointed ... there was no big showdown, in fact, nothing much seems to happen at all. I will attempt to relay some of the plot, such as it is ... So, after the disbanding of the "faction" system in Chicago, things do not turn out as rosy as they should ... with the leaders still fighting for control and, instead of allowing people to live how they want, trying to impose a new, and equally unfair and restrictive order as before. Our two young heroes, Tris and Tobias end up joining the Allegiant, and escaping from the city. They find themselves in the Bureau of Genetic Welfare, where they discover that the lives they had been living had been part of a massive experiment to see if a population of genetically damaged people could, eventually, become pure again. Discovering this, Tobias goes into a bit of a tailspin, and he takes yet another wrong turn and almost starts YET ANOTHER revolution. The BGW are keen to do a reset of Chicago using a memory serum that would, in effect, reboot the city and wipe everyone's memories. Tris, Tobias and their comrades set out to prevent this and try to give everyone true freedom once and for all.

This book could have been so much more, but it was flaccid and padded out with endless "moments" between Tris and Tobias that instead of being touching, just started to become irritating. It felt like a rerun of the previous two books, but without the real drive and vigour of the first. It's never a good sign when you can't wait to finish a book and unfortunately, that's how I felt from very early on. Not sure there was enough material for a trilogy here and this story completely ran out of steam. I stopped caring about the one-dimensional characters very early on in this one. Hey ho, at least it's over!

My STAR rating: TWO.

Length: 526 print pages.
Price I paid: Free, borrowed from local library.
Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, ebook.

The Muse - a bit of everything!

The Muse is a story of love, art and loss ... not necessarily in that order. The action starts in London, 1967, where Odelle Bastien, a budding writer from the Caribbean is working in a dead end job just to make ends meet. When she starts a new job at the Skelton Institute of Art, her life is completely transformed by her enigmatic colleague, Marjorie Quick, and the discovery of a previously unknown painting by Isaac Robles, a mysterious Spanish artist about whom people know very little. Odelle and the owner of the painting become romantically entangled and, it seems, life is on the up, but why does Quick seem to trust Odelle one minute and push her away the next?.

Meanwhile, the story takes us back in time to a small village in Southern Spain in 1936, where an Anglo-Austrian family have recently settled despite the threat of Civil War. Olive Schloss, the daughter of an Austrian Art dealer and an English heiress, is a budding artist, who has turned down her offer from Slade Art School to come to Spain with her parents. Half-siblings, Terese and Isaac Robles, make themselves invaluable to the Schloss family, with Olive falling for Isaac, budding artist and fervent revolutionary, in a big way. She feels he is the inspiration for her finest work which has started to pour out of her. When Mr Schloss asks to see some of Isaac's work, with a view to selling it, Terese switches his work with one of Olive's in an effort to get her work recognised. However, Olive wants Isaac to take the credit. This initial small deception leads to heartache that is felt for many decades to come.

Jessie Burton has created two totally believable narratives that are beautifully intertwined over the course of the book. I loved the character of Odelle who is funny and insecure, but brave and determined too. The scenes in Spain were stifling, unsettling and completely engrossing. The descriptions of the artwork were so detailed that I felt like I had an actual image of them in my mind's eye. This is a clever book that is hard to categorise ... there is love to be had, a mystery to solve and a journey of self-discovery. It's great to have a book where women take centre stage and I was hooked from the get-go and I really thought I knew where it was headed ... but I was wrong-footed, which doesn't happen very often, so when it does, I am a happy girl!

I read the audio edition. narrated with style by Cathy Tyson.

My STAR rating: 5 STARS.

Length: 416 print pages.
Price I paid: £0.99.
Formats available: print; unabridged audio download; ebook.

Dead Souls - grim, but determined

Guilt weighs heavily on Inspector John Rebus in Dead Souls, which is the tenth outing for our favourite Edinburgh-based policeman. Guilt about the distant past, when an old flame turns up looking for her missing son. Guilt about the near past every time he looks at his daughter Sammy, who is now confined to a wheelchair. And guilt about the present when he outs a freed paedophile, who is subsequently murdered. Life gets even tougher when a convicted murderer is sent back to Edinburgh from the USA, and starts to entangle Rebus in a deadly game of cat and mouse. The writing is taught and tense, and Rebus is not a happy soul in this book. His many, many ghosts are keeping him company on an almost permanent basis, and his relationship with Patience is in severe danger of collapse. Ian Rankin seems to take immense pleasure in putting his main character through some deep traumas in every book, but this one pushes him to the very edge. This is a book for those who like their crime drama to be dark and brooding. The crimes in question are disturbing and make for a tough read. The dialogue feels authentic and crisp, and the slow reveal of what's really been going on is patient and un-showy. There is plenty of action too, and none of it is pretty. While it may be grim, this is still a good read with plenty of stuff to keep the reader gripped. If only Rebus could catch a break and have a little happiness from time to time ...!

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 477 print pages.
Price Paid: free, borrowed from my husband.
Formats available: print; unabridged audio download; ebook.

A Christmas Carol - familiar fare

A Christmas Carol is probably one of the best known works of Charles Dickens ... who among us hasn't seen a TV or film adaptation (obviously, The Muppet Christmas Carol being the best of the bunch)? But how many of us have actually read the original book? It's a short work, and is often included within other Christmas stories in print. Here we have the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly money-grabbing tyrant who thinks Christmas is humbug and doesn't understand why anybody would want to do anything on Christmas Day except work. With no friends to call on, he is a lonely, bitter man. One Christmas Eve, he is visited by three spirits who show him his past, his present and his future. In the past, we see the sad, slow demise of the good cheer and humanity that once rested within the young Ebenezer. In the present, he is taken to visit the home of his much put upon employee, Bob Cratchett. He is astounded at how happy this family is, who have almost nothing but each other. In the future ... suffice to say, it isn't exactly pretty! Will Ebenezer be inspired to change his ways and find a better future for himself? Well ... it is a Christmas story so I think we all know the answer to that. I did enjoy reading A Christmas Carol, the audio edition of which I can recommend as good fodder for a journey! Yes, it's predictable, but there are, as usual with Mr Dickens, some great passages of descriptive prose. However, it is very light weight and probably because I knew the story so well, it didn't grip me. It is still worth reading, for there is heart and warmth and humour to this tale of redemptive possibilities which reminds us that it's never to late to change your ways!

My STAR rating: THREE.

Length: 90 print pages.
Price I paid: FREE.
Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, ebook.

Burial Rites - grippingly dark tale

Set in Iceland in 1829, Burial Rites, by Hannah Kent, is the story of Agnes Magnúsdóttir, a woman convicted (alongside two others) of the murder of two men. While awaiting execution, she is sent to live out the remainder of her days on an isolated farm. The family who live on the farm are less than happy with this arrangement, and are convinced that they will all be murdered in their beds. During her stay, she is ministered to by a young assistant priest, Thorvardur Jonsson, who, on repeated visits, tries to get her to talk about herself and to come to terms with what is about to happen. The tragedy that has been her life story slowly unfolds, and those around her start to see Agnes as a young and vulnerable woman, rather than a dangerous criminal. The writing is haunting at times, and the underlying threat of Agnes' fate that is drawing closer to day by day can be felt like the constant vibrations of distant drumbeat, even in the lighter moments. The book is emotionally engaging and you cannot help but root for the central character and hope that there will be a last minute reprieve for her. The relationship which develops between Agnes and Margret, the mother of the family she is placed with, moves from suspicious disgust to open tenderness. All the characters are well drawn and the pacing is superb. Even more poignant is that the book is based on real events. I read the audio edition which was fabulously narrated by Morven Christie. I can heartily recommend this book, but be warned, it is bleak, it is dark and will stay with you for some time.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 384 print pages.
Price I paid: £2.99.
Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, ebook.

The Lies of Locke Lamora - could have been so much more!

In the dark and dangerous city of Camorr, Locke Lamora is a young orphan being trained in the art of thievery. A quick study, he soon outshines all around him and after a few years ends up as the head of the Gentleman Bastards, a supremely accomplished gang of con artists who start to build a legendary reputation. Like all the other thieves in Camorr, they must pay their dues to Capa Barsavi, the criminal mastermind who runs the city. During a particularly lucrative con, Locke's world is turned upside down by the appearance of The Grey King and his Bonds Mage sidekick, an almost mythical duo who are intent on bringing Capa Barsavi down with magic and violence. When Locke himself is out-conned, it seems that there is no escape for him or his gang of cohorts. The Lies of Locke Lamora is a book that has great characters and a great premise. The description of the life and times of Camera are truly visceral. However, it is not a book for those of a delicate constitution. Not only is there is an amazing amount of violence, which lingers in the mind, but the explicit (and far from original) language used throughout was real turn off for me. I felt that the author, Scott Lynch used the f-word so much that it actually got in the way of the story. This is a shame as there are parts of the book that I really enjoyed and, at it's core, it's a real romp that carries you along to a satisfactory end, but still leaves the door open for the next book in the series. However, I'm not sure I loved it enough to see past the language to spend more time in Locke's world.

My STAR rating: THREE.

Length: 544 print pages.
Price I paid: £5.99.
Formats available: print; unabridged audio download; ebook.

Body Surfing - an understated emotional journey

Twenty-nine year old Sydney has not been lucky in love. Her first marriage ended in divorce, and then her second was brought to an abrupt end by the death of her surgeon husband. Two years down the line, she is slowly putting the pieces back together, and assuming that she had already had her share of love. She finds herself in the employ of the Edwards, who want her to tutor their teenage daughter, Julie, during the summer at their beach house. She forms a close bond with Julie and her father, but Mrs Edwards remains cold and distant. Enter Julie's brothers. Within a very short period of time, one of them seduces Sydney and shortly afterwards, proposes marriage. This causes a rift within the family and what should have been the blossoming of a happy ever after for Sydney starts to drift into melancholic shadows. Author Anita Shreve has woven a deceptively tender tale of a woman who, despite what the world has thrown at her, still opens herself up to the possibility of love and the closeness it can bring to a fellow human being. Body Surfing is certainly not a book for anyone that wants their drama full of big action scenes and fist fights. It is more understated and subtle, and feels much more real as a result. There is so much that is not said, but which becomes more and more obvious to the reader as you follow Sydney over the course of a year. I haven't read a book like this in a while and I wasn't sure about it to start off with, as I thought there wasn't really much going on, but I'm really pleased that I stuck with it. A satisfying book that worms its way slowly, but surely, into your consciousness and hangs around after you have turned the last page.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 264 print pages.
Price I paid: 50p.
Formats available: print; audio CD; ebook.

William Walker's First Year Of Marriage - a fun read

On my beloved Kindle, I have many, MANY e-books that I have purchased over the last few years ... when I say purchased, a very high proportion of these books were, in fact, free, or ridiculously cheap. This is a very attractive propostition when you are on a budget! And so, that's how come William Walker's First Year Of Marriage fell into my lap. This book does exactly what it says on the tin in that it takes you month by month through William's first 12 months with his beloved wife Isobel. Things do not go smoothly, starting with the honeymoon itself. This cautionary tale highlights the huge importance of proper communication and trust between couples, as well as making sure that when things do go awry, you don't let things get out of hand beyond the point of no return. William gets deeper and deeper into trouble by not wanting to tell Isobel about stuff that he thinks will upset her, but of course, it all goes wrong and he inevitably ends up upsetting her even more. A wedge starts to develop between them over Isobel's best friend, Alex, who keeps turning up at the most inopportune moments. William is convinced he has a hidden agenda to oust him. Into this mix comes an old flame of William's, who is a tad bonkers in the bunny boiling meaning of the word. Can he convince his young wife that she is and always will be the only girl for him before it's too late. There is much to admire about this book by Matt Rudd, who honed his craft on The Sunday Times. It is so easy to read, set out like a diary, and is very funny in places. There may not be much that is too original, but the result is hugely entertaining and worth the trip.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 304 print pages.
Price I paid: 49p.
Formats available: print; ebook.

The Cuckoo's Calling - surprisingly good

I'm probably coming to The Cuckoo's Calling a bit late in the day as, for some reason, I was put off by the fact that it is written by JK Rowling under the name of Robert Galbraith, which kind of annoyed me, as the pseudonym didn't remain secret for very long ... which kind of felt like she wasn't sure the book would be taken seriously under her own name, but then everyone knew pretty much instantly anyway! If anyone is avoiding this book for the same reason, please don't! It's a triumph. The Cuckoo's Calling is a great crime thriller, set in London, a London which is described so lovingly that I felt it become one of the characters. So, what's it about? When famous model Lula Landry falls to her death from her apartment, everyone assumes it's suicide, except her brother, who hires struggling private detective Cormoran Strike to investigate. Cormoran isn't keen to get involved, but is persuaded by the fact that when he was a boy, he was the best friend of the brother of the same family, who died in tragic circumstances, plus ... he desperately needs the money ...  and his long term relationship has come to a messy end, so could do with the distraction. Into this whirlwind comes Robin, the new temp. She is efficient, discreet and seems to have a knack for digging out information that Strike needs before he even asks for it ... only trouble is, he can't afford to keep her on. This unlikely duo start to make headway into an investigation that leads them into the murky world of fashion and finance - where everyone seems to have something to hide. If Lula didn't kill herself, then there is a whole host of suspects in the frame, from the dodgy boyfriend or the flaky friend, to the infamous rapper who is obsessed with her. As Cormoran chips away at the evidence, small nuggets about his past reveal more and more about his character with very satisfying results. The main action keeps you guessing right to the end, which is just what you want from a thriller. Definitely a page turner that won me over as a Robert Galbraith convert. This is the first book of a series to feature this character, and I am already looking forward to making his acquaintance once again with his next case.

My STAR rating: FIVE.

Length: 449 print pages.
Price I paid: FREE, borrowed from library.
Formats available: print; unabridged audio download; ebook.

Dracula - a book with a bit of bite!

Not being a horror fan, this isn't a book I would have usually gone for, but when it appeared free on Audible before Christmas featuring some great narrators, I couldn't resist. I am so pleased that I took the plunge. The story is set up by Jonathan Harker, who travels to see Count Dracula in Transylvania, to provide legal support for a real estate transaction. When he sees the Count for what he really is, the experience almost sends him mad. He finally escapes when Dracula heads off to Whitby. Here, the Count happens upon the holidaying Lucy Westenra and the blood-sucking begins! Her friends and fiancé are not sure what's happening to her and they call on the assistance of Dr Van Helsing, who soon engulfs everyone with garlic in an effort to save Lucy. The action then moves to London and it becomes apparent that the Count is set on creating a new world order, led by vampires. Can he be stopped? All the protagonists come together to hunt and destroy the Count once and for all. This culminates with an epic chase across Europe, back to where it all began! But not everyone will make it out alive. This is such a famous story that you think you know it inside out, but the original Bram Stoker text is, in my humble opinion, far better than any screen adaptation. It takes the form of letters, diaries, telegrams and ships logs, written by the different characters. I also love the fact that there is a really strong female character in the form of Mina Murray, who is pivotal to the success of the book. Totally absorbing and thrilling, without being overtly gory or scary, I can highly recommend this book, particularly the narrated Audible Edition version featuring Alan Cumming, Tim Curry, Simon Vance, Katherine Kellgren, Susan Duerden, JohnLee, Graeme Malcolm and Steven Crossley. Excellent!

My STAR rating: FIVE.

Length: 352 print pages.
Price I paid: FREE (special offer from Audible before Christmas).
Formats available: print; unabridged audio download; ebook.

Goldfinger - Bond in fine form!

Bond is back on my reading list and is in fine form! In Goldfinger, the seventh outing for the spy with incredible longevity, the action starts with James Bond being a little disgruntled. He is finding it increasingly difficult to live up to his 007 billing and is wondering about his future - does he really want to continue killing people? While on an enforced stopover in the USA, he is asked to help someone who is convinced that the man he has been playing cards with is cheating. Bond takes on the challenge and proves this to be the case, running off with the beautiful girl who had been an unwilling accomplice to the fraud. Back in London, Bond is called in to investigate the smuggling of gold out of the country by none other than Auric Goldfinger - the card cheat himself! This sets Bond on a collision course with one of the richest men in the world, with death and destruction coming along for the ride. The actions sweeps us across Europe and then to the USA, where Bond is forced to help plan and execute the biggest heist in history - with the gold reserves at Fort Knox being the target. Goldfinger and his henchman, Oddjob, are completely despicable, and for once, Bond's attempts at romance are, for the most part, thwarted by the inclusion of lesbian characters ... although, sadly, the author didn't seem to have the balls (no pun intended) to carry this through to the end. Despite this, Ian Fleming has produced some superb passages in this book, with his usual eye for detail and joyful descriptions of food, cars and people. One of my favourite scenes is a tense and thrilling round of golf between Bond and Goldfinger ... in fact, I would go as far as saying that it's worth reading the book just for this!

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 320 print pages.
Price I paid: £0.00, borrowed as an ebook from the library.
Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, unabridged audio CD, ebook.

Happy New Year!

Can't say I'm sorry to see the back of 2016 ... it's been a tough year on so many fronts. It's sometimes hard to be positive, but I feel it is the only way to go for things to turn around. I'm going to start with the small stuff.

Stop worrying about the things that don't matter ... who cares if I haven't dusted today?

There's already enough Grinches in the world, it doesn't need another one.

Be hopeful. Look forward. Give others the opportunity to become infected by positivity.

Focus on the good stuff ... family, friends, pets, nature, music, art and of course, books!

So here's to 2017, and all the warmth, fun and vitality that a year of reading can bring.