The Librarian - the joy of reading!

Fresh out of library school, Sylvia Blackwell takes a job as a children's librarian in a small market town. The library is pretty run down, but she is determined to get the youngsters of East Mole not only reading, but to be enthusiastic about reading. It doesn't take long for her to befriend some of the local children, including the incredibly smart son of her neighbour, her landlady's neglected grandchild and the daughter of the local doctor. Just as it seems her efforts are starting to be rewarded, she falls for the doctor and beings an affair, even though he is married. This begins to impact on her life and work, which, together with her unpopularity with certain members of the community - including her boss at the library who doesn't like change - leads her to spinning out of control. Alongside this, the children she has become close to become embroiled in some serious mischief, which has a lifelong impact on their lives. I found The Librarian, by Salley Vickers, easy to read and enjoyable for the most part, although I became frustrated with Sylvia as I just couldn't understand why she fell for the doctor who seemed to have almost no redeeming features. However, I enjoyed the interaction between Sylvia and the children and felt that these sections were particularly well observed. Full of nostalgia and tinged with heartbreak, the unfairness and small mindedness of the time it's set in (1958) is hard to take. Strangely relevant for today, where libraries are being decimated at an alarming rate of knots and the value of reading and expanding one's mind on something other than celebrities does not seem to be recognised. All hail the library!

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Formats available: print; unabridged audio download; ebook.
Length: 400 print pages.
Price I paid: free, borrowed from my mum.

The Falls - a little bit spooky!

In the twelfth outing for John Rebus, Edinburgh's grumpy and self-destructive police detective, the action begins with a student going missing. There is very little to go on, but when a carved wooden doll in a tiny coffin appears not far from the family home, Rebus starts to make links to other instances where carved coffins have been discovered in the past - all the way back to a seat of 16 found in a hillside in 1836. His colleagues think he's barking up the wrong tree, so when another lead emerges to do with an Internet role-playing game that the missing girl was involved in - that becomes the focus for his long time mentee, Siobhan Clarke. The Falls, by Ian Rankin is a real cat-and-mouse crime novel, with lots of red herrings and peril along the way. Rebus is dogged in his belief that the coffins hold clues, and, as usual, this gets him into trouble with his superiors. Along the way, he forms a personal relationship with a local historian, so there is a little love interest - but Rebus doesn't have a good history when it comes to mixing his work with his home life, especially when his capacity to seek solace at the bottom of a pint glass overwhelms him. Always enjoyable and full of interesting detail, Ian Rankin's creation rarely disappoints - and this is no exception.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Formats available: print; audio CD; unabridged audio download; ebook.
Length: 479 print pages.
Price I paid: free, borrowed from my husband.

The Binding - ignorance is bliss?

Emmett Farmer, a young man living with his family is recovering from a mysterious illness, about which he remembers almost nothing, when a letter arrives, summoning him to an apprenticeship with a Binder named Seredith. Here he learns the skills needed to bind a book - a trade that is reviled and feared in equal measure - for what's within that binding is more than just a bedtime story. A Binder can remove the unwanted memories of a person and trap them inside a book. Reputable Binders keep that book safe while the person goes on with their life, unaware of what's happened. However, disreputable Binders take memories from the poor and destitute, and then sell those books they create to wealthy people looking for entertainment. But when Seredith dies and Emmett is taken on by another Binder, his life starts to spin out of control, especially when he keeps being drawn to a wealthy young man who seems to dog his steps. When Emmett discovers that there is a book with his own name on it, he manages to find and destroy it - and the memories come flooding back. The Binding, by Bridget Collins is a book that sucks you in from the first page. It's a fascinating premise - what would you do if you could erase a terrible memory - would it be like giving up part of your soul and turn you into something you are not? Emmett is a likeable character and is ably supported by a solid cast of others, many of whom sit on the darker side of life. A mix of love story, thriller and cracking good yarn, I read the audio edition which I can highly recommend. This was verging towards a five-star review, but I felt that some sections slowed the story too much and could have used a little bit of editing to keep them as sharp as the majority of the book - but that could be just me!

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Formats available: print; unabridged audio download; ebook.
Length: 384 print pages.
Price I paid: £5.84.

Light On Snow - emotional!

Light On Snow, by Anita Shreve is a quiet book in that there may not be big actions scenes, however, this does not mean that it is not an engrossing read. It's told from the perspective of Nicky, a young girl who is living with her father in an isolated house in the woods. They have moved to this lonely spot following the tragic death of her mother and her sister. Her father is determined to keep the world at bay and try to heal, but Nicky would rather be closer to the action the local town might offer. One evening, their settled world is shattered when they find an abandoned baby in the snow nearby, and race it to the hospital. The baby survives and Nicky begins to harbour a fantasy about them being able to look after the baby permanently. This fantasy goes up a notch when the baby's mother shows up at their house during a bad storm and during the days that follow, when their home is cut off from the main road, they face the dilemma of whether to turn her in to the authorities. This is a moving story of loss and longing. Nicky is an excellent narrator and all the characters are filled out and believable, and even those your brain is telling you to despise are written sympathetically. It just goes to show that you never really know what you would do in any given situation until you walk in someone else's shoes. Anita Shreve is a fine author and her books are full of heart - if you haven't tried her yet, I recommend you do so!

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 272 print pages.
Formats available: print; audio CD; ebook.
Price I paid: £0.00, borrowed from my Mum.

On Writing - No ordinary textbook!

As an aspiring author looking for inspiration and advice on all things writing, I had been hearing great things about On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, by Stephen King, so decided to give it a go! I'd half expected a more structured textbook-type of a book, but this wasn't to be the case. The first part of the book is about how Stephen King, one of the most successful writers of the last few decades, came to be a writer in the first place. This memoir is fascinating, funny and heartbreaking all at the same time. It could be one of his novels, and you have to keep reminding yourself that this is the man himself, telling his own story - the good, the bad and the decidedly ugly parts are all here. Then we move onto his tips for writing ... a kind of rough guide. He openly admits that what he is telling the reader won't take long and that you should avoid lengthy tomes on how to become a best seller. You can either write or you can't - all he is providing is a framework to help make you become a better writer, but only if you put the work in. Littered with some memorable advice like "The road to hell is paved with adverbs" - which he demonstrates with some fine examples - are written in such a style that you forget that you are trying to learn stuff and just sit back and let his words soak in! I would recommend this book even if you don't think you like Stephen King (I'm not a horror fan, but have read a few of his other works). I wouldn't even say that you necessarily have to be thinking about becoming a writer to reach for it. If you are just interested in how someone finds their way to the job they really want to do, or maybe how a writer goes about their craft, then this works on that level alone. I read the audio edition, which is narrated by Stephen King himself, which I felt added a little extra something.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Formats available: print; unabridged audio download; ebook.
Length: 384 print pages.
Price I paid: £5.84.

Blood Rites - Wizardly deeds and misdeeds!

Blood Rites, by Jim Butcher is the sixth in the series following the adventures of Harry Dresden, Chicago's very own Wizard Private Investigator. The book opens with an action sequence involving Harry and his vampire buddy Thomas, who is helping him escape from a hail of flaming monkey poo. Thomas then asks Harry to look into a series of murders centred around the production of an adult film. It looks like someone is out to get the Producer, as the women he is closest to are being killed in unusual ways. Harry goes undercover on the set, discovers that dark magical forces are indeed involved and sets out to trap the perpetrator in his own inimitable fashion. However, it appears that two of Thomas's "sisters" are also involved in the film and matters inevitably become complicated. This novel entertains the reader with the usual mix of magical mayhem and sleuthing. However, we also get to know a more about Harry's long-dead mother, and that he might not be as alone in the world as he has always believed. This revelation is shattering and Harry is not sure he's equipped to deal with it - or even if he can live long enough to find out. Full of fun, flawed characters, most of whom are definitely in touch with their dark side, this is a book for fans of both fantasy and crime/thrillers. I read the audio version, superbly narrated, as always by James Marsters who is now, for me, the embodiment of the wizard himself.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Formats available: print; unabridged audio download; ebook
Length: 416 print pages.
Price I paid: £5.84

Waiting for Sunrise - classy spy novel

It's 1913, and Lysander Rief, a young British actor, is in Vienna trying to find a cure for a very particular problem. He has a fiancée waiting for him at home, but unless he finds a cure, their wedding night is going to be disappointingly fraught. In the waiting room of Dr Bensimon, he meets Hettie Bull, a beautiful artist who he is immediately drawn to, and they embark upon an intense and destructive relationship that has far reaching consequences. Even though with Hettie, his particular problem seems to have cured itself, he continues his sessions with the good doctor, who is treating him with parallelism (where the subject recalls all the details of the event that led to their problem, and then creates a completely different memory of that event.) This involves Lysander keeping a journal, through which the story unfolds and we discover the root cause of his difficulty with intimacy. As Europe descends into war, Lysander finds himself being recruited into the shady world of the intelligence services, and embarks on a new career as a spy. Waiting for Sunrise, by William Boyd, is a classy novel which takes the reader down a variety of seedy paths that are the very bedrock of spydom. The characters are believable, if not always likeable, and there is a definite undercurrent of humour throughout which helps to keep the awfulness of the situation Lysander finds himself in - sometimes self-inflicted - more bearable. Boyd's books usually present a treat for the reader, and this one is no exception. Definitely recommended.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 353 print pages.

Formats: print, audio CD, ebook.

Price I paid: free - borrowed from my husband.

The House at Riverton - Gently absorbing

Grace Bradley is 98, but still as sharp as a razor blade. She is helping a young director who is making a film about a young poet who took his life during a glitzy party at a grand house in the English countryside in the early 1920's. Grace is being consulted to fill in some background detail, as she was a housemaid at Riverton during this time. However, Grace can do more than fill in the background, as she was intimately involved in the lives of the family, in particular, one of the two sisters who were witnesses to the grim event. This family saga is very much in the spirit of Downton Abbey - local village girl is sent to the Big House in the footsteps of her mother who worked there as a young woman. She grows up feeling close to the sisters and begins to share their secrets and maybe uncover some of her own. As you might have gathered, much tragedy ensues, and no one seems to have a very happy life (not helped, of course, by the events of the Great War). Despite its length, The House at Riverton, by Kate Morton felt like a fast read. The action bowls along and I really did care what happened to the characters. This would make a great holiday read - it may be light, but there's more than enough substance to the story and the characters who inhabit it. Whilst there may not be any huge surprises, the quality of the writing is enough to keep the reader interested in this study of the classes of a bygone era.

My STAR rating: THREE.

Formats available: print; unabridged audio download; ebook
Length: 600 print pages.
Price I paid: £0.50.

Himself - spookily entertaining!

There are some books that within the first few paragraphs, you just know you are going to love. And Himself, by Jess Kidd was certainly one of those for me. Set in two time frames - the 1970's and the the 1950's, we follow a young man's journey back to Mulderrig, the tiny Irish village of his birth. Mahoney is on a mission to find out why his mother gave him up for adoption when he was a baby. All he has is a photograph of his young mother and the name of the village. Mahoney is a good looking boy, and a charmer, but he is not without fault. People are drawn to him, both men and women and one particularly feisty lady, Mrs Cauley, an elderly actress, takes him under her wing, determined to find out what happened some 20 years ago. Almost everyone says that his mother left town on a bus and never came back, but there are some, including Mrs Cauley, who are sure there is a darker tale to tell. And boy, is there ever! Throw in the fact that Mahoney can not only see dead people, but have conversations with them, and you have all the ingredients for a most entertaining mystery. And this book does not disappoint. The characters are excellent, and all get the chance to shine with some zingy dialogue ... even the ghosts! Moments of brutal violence and heartbreak mingle almost seamlessly with humour and hope. Magnificently narrated by Aidan Kelly, I really wish this book was still on my "to read" pile, so that I could enjoy it for the first time all over again! An absolute corker! Jess Kidd is an author I will definitely be seeking out in the future.

My STAR rating: FIVE.

Length: 368 print pages.

Formats: print, unabridged audio download, audio CD, ebook.

Price I paid: £2.98.

Engleby - disturbingly good

This book appears to be the memoir of Mike Engleby, initially focusing on his university days, during which he starts to become slightly obsessed with fellow student Jennifer. But when Jennifer disappears, he cannot quite understand what has happened and this part of his life starts to haunt him. As time passes, and Mike begins a career in journalism and meeting new people, he keeps on writing, but returns to his musings on Jennifer time and again. In each recollection, additional snippets of information are revealed about what Mike's relationship with her and others was really like ... or does it?  I would like to say that Engleby is a classic case of a novel featuring an unreliable narrator - which it is to a certain extent, but it is so much more. It delves into the disturbing tricks our minds can play on us and the differing images of ourselves - the variety of ones we present to other people, and the one we know to be our true self. But then again, do we ever really know our true self? What makes us who we are - nature or nurture or both? The reader starts to wonder whether we can trust anything Mike actually says? Is he a calculating liar, or a self-deluded monster? This is a disturbing book that never lets you feel settled. It is a fine example of contemporary story telling by Sebastian Faulks, an author who rarely disappoints. The narrative takes you in all directions and even now, I'm still musing over what really happened. A book that definitely gets into your head, and stays there long after you turn the last page!

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 342 print pages.

Formats: print, unabridged audio download, audio CD, ebook.

Price I paid: free, borrowed from husband.

Career Of Evil - excellent thriller

Career Of Evil, by Roberth Galbraith is the third outing for private detective Cormoran Strike and his assistant, Robin Ellacott. Life is ticking along pretty nicely - Robin is shortly to be married to her childhood sweetheart Matthew, and is now pretty much a partner in the detective agency, doing a job she loves. Cormoran has begun a new relationship with a beautiful woman and is enjoying working alongside Robin. However, when a woman's severed leg is delivered to Robin at the agency, it sets off a chain of events that threaten to ruin not only their business, but their very lives. Cormoran is convinced this is the work of one of four men from his past - all of whom are capable of such evil and who would also want to see him destroyed. He provides all the relevant information to the police about his list of suspects, but when further violent acts take place, and the police start to focus on someone Cormoran is convinced didn't do it, he and Robin try to take matters into their own hands. However, this leads to increasingly dangerous situations and a loss of clients, with the result that the strain starts to impact on Robin's relationships - both with Matthew and Cormoran. In this incredibly gripping thriller, we find out more about each of the three main characters, and really start to understand them better. I found the interplay between Robin and Cormoran especially entertaining. There is an underlying attraction between the two of them and, especially in this book, we are privy to Cormoran's thoughts and his determination to reign himself in ... knowing that it would be such a bad idea to make a move on Robin, as he values the work they do together and doesn't want anything to spoil that. The killer causing all this havoc is particularly violent, and there are some grim moments, so for those with a weak stomach, this may not be the book for you. The only thing I'm still unconvinced about is Robin's relationship with Matthew - he comes across as a weak, needy and incredibly grumpy pain in the bum, and I cannot understand why Robin is with him. Despite this irritant (which may just be me), Career of Evil is a great read and I am already looking forward to the next instalment. By the way, I read the audio edition, which I can highly recommend for its wonderful narration by Robert Glenister.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 512 print pages.

Formats: print, unabridged audio download, audio CD, ebook.

Price I paid: £0.99.

Sovereign - Tudor shennanigans

It's absolutely ages since I last read a Matthew Shardlake novel ... and I really wish I'd made the effort to continue with this series sooner! Sovereign, by C.J. Sansom, is the third instalment following the life and times of the lawyer who once worked for the infamous Thomas Cromwell. But those days are over, and Shardlake is trying to keep his head down and just get on with his legal work, with his trusty assistant Jack Barak in tow. The year is 1541 and King Henry VIII is touring the country on an epic "Progress" with his young Queen, Catherine Howard, at his side. Henry's ultimate aim is to bring York's troublesome citizens to heel after a failed rebellion, and Shardlake is forced to go to the city to assist with the processing of the many petitions to the King by Archbishop Cranmer, as well as making sure a dangerous conspirator survives his imprisonment so that he can be returned to London for "interrogation".  Unfortunately, keeping his head down becomes impossible when he becomes caught up in the murder of a local glazier as well as a secret the royal family are desperate to hide, and it isn't long before attempts are made on his life. After reading the first page of this novel, I knew I was in safe hands. The author is so well versed in his characters and the Tudor period, that real life events and people are seamlessly merged with fictional characters and it's hard to tell them apart. This is a real edge of the seat page turner, which manages to educate the reader without you really noticing, as well as being hugely entertaining. There is a large cast of characters, but all have a reason to be there, and are so clearly drawn that I wasn't confused about who was who once. As you would expect from a novel set in this era, there are moments of terror, treachery and mind-blowing unfairness. However, there are plenty of light touches too - especially between Shardlake and Barak. A really great addition to the series and I'm more than happy to dive back into it again in the very near future!

My STAR rating: FIVE.

Length: 662 print pages.

Formats: print, unabridged audio download, audio CD, ebook.

Price I paid: free, borrowed from my husband.

Entry Island - blurring the lines between the past and present

Detective Sime Mackenzie is sent to Entry Island to investigate the murder of the wealthiest man on this tiny island nestled in the Gulf of St Lawrence, many, MANY miles from mainland Canada. Escaping a failed marriage and debilitating insomnia, Sime welcomes the distraction and change of scenery. All the initial evidence appears to point to the victim's wife, Kirsty, as an act of revenge for his infidelity, but when Sime meets her, he has the strange feeling that they have already met and is determined to prove that she didn't do it. As the investigation continues, Sime's dreams (when he snatches a moment of sleep) are filled with "memories" of the ancestor he is named after, who came from a distant Scottish island, and his childhood friend who is remarkably like Kirsty. Sime is torn between what feels like a very personal story and the evidence being brought to light by the investigation. But can he trust his gut, or is stress and the lack of decent sleep affecting his reasoning? Entry Island by Peter May, may be a gripping police procedural, but it is also an emotional tale of the shared history of immigrants and long lost love. Full of great characters and a smattering of the history - the Highland Clearances and the mass emigration of a good chunk of the Scottish population to Canada - there is much to admire. I found myself transported between times and places, and felt the lines blurring between the past and the present much as the main character does. This author really knows how to suck the reader into a story and keep them there, and I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone (and indeed, the Lewis Trilogy). I read the audio edition, narrated with skill and feeling by Peter Forbes - excellent!

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 544 print pages.

Formats: print, unabridged audio download, audio CD, ebook.

Price I paid: £2.98.

Anno Dracula - entertainingly complex!

Anno Dracula, by Kim Newman presents an alternative version of the late Victorian era, where fact and fiction have been merged together to create something very dark and disturbing. It is 1888, and Queen Victoria is no longer a widow mourning the loss of her beloved Albert - instead, she has married Vlad Tepes, otherwise known as Count Dracula. This has led to a distinct power shift from the "warm" to the undead. Anyone with any power has "turned" and the new world order is a scary place which sees impaling as a suitable form of punishment once again. Charles Beauregard, a spy, lives to protect the interests of the Queen, and is commissioned by the mysterious Diogenes Club, to track down Jack The Ripper, who is stalking Whitechapel and killing vampire prostitutes in the most bloody of ways. Also on the case is Geneviève Dieudonné, a four hundred year old vampire "elder" who has seen it all. Together they make a formidable team and hunt down their prey through many twists, turns and not a little danger. There is an enormous amount of atmosphere in this book and the main characters are ones that you are happy to spend time with (the obvious exception being The Count ... for those of us with a sensible disposition). However, the plot is dense and so many characters are jammed in, that it was easy to become lost - I did keep having to pause to remind myself who was who. If you are not familiar with Bram Stoker's Dracula, as well as the other key literary characters who embody the Victorian era, I think you might struggle at times. Personally, I would have preferred something with a little bit more focus. That being said, this is a highly enjoyable, if bloody, romp and will please fans of gothic horror, thrillers and those who love to theorise about who Jack the Ripper really was! 

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 560 print pages.

Formats: print, unabridged audio download, edMP3-CD, ebook.

Price I paid: £1.99.

Mister Johnson - Not for Me!

Written in 1939, Mister Johnson, by Joyce Cary tells the tale of a young African man in colonial Nigeria who lives life as largely as he can, but with little thought for the consequences of his actions. At the beginning of the book, he falls for Bamu, a beautiful woman from the nearby village, and determines to marry her. He negotiates a bride price - even though he has almost no money - and starts to make plans. But this isn't the only thing he can't afford. He works as a clerk for the Colonial Office, and dresses in the English style. He swaggers around, lavishly entertaining the townsfolk, in a manner he feels befits his position. His debts mount up all over town, but he keeps managing to put people off by his infectious manner and promises of a better future. He thinks the world of his boss, and helps him to build a road to connect the town to the North, from where more trade will come and increase the prosperity of the area. But the way he helps is by cooking the books, and this cannot go unpunished. And so things start to spiral downwards ... I really struggled with this book. I found it hard to like the foolish Mr Johnson and, indeed, any of the characters. Certain passages made for uncomfortable reading in how Mr Johnson conducted himself or was treated by others. Many of the situations I just didn't find believable or convincing. There is a deep sadness to the book and the ending is heartbreaking. I know this book is well loved by many people, but I just didn't "get it!"

My STAR rating: THREE.

Length: 251 print pages.
Price I paid: free, borrowed from my husband.
Reading formats available: print; ebook.

Milkman - Funny and heartbreaking!

Milkman by Anna Burns, won the Man Booker Prize in 2018 and is a very stylised novel set in an unnamed city sometime during The Troubles in Northern Ireland. The narrator is a young woman whose life is changed when Milkman, a senior figure from amongst the "renouncers" (her description of the IRA), starts to pay her particular attention. As much as she might try to ignore it, this unwanted attention affects where she goes, who she sees and what she does. And, for the first time within her community, she has become someone that others start to notice - which is the opposite of everything she has tried to achieve. She just wants to go below the radar - it's safest that way. No character names are used, for instance, our narrator is Middle Sister, and the young lad she has been seeing is Maybe Boyfriend. This style took a little getting used to, but once I did, I enjoyed it - and weirdly, it did help to place everybody, whereas sometimes, when there are a lot of characters in a book (which there are in Milkman), you can lose track of who is who. The titles indicate WHAT they are in relation to the narrator, not WHO they are, if that makes sense! The story intrigued me from the outset, with the influence of Milkman over Middle Sister increasing over time and veiled (and not so veiled) threats darkening the mood. However, around three quarters of the way through, it seemed to lose a little bit of impetus and my interest started to wane. I wanted to find out what was going to happen, but the denouement seemed to take forever ... and it's not a particularly long book. However, it could just be me and what was going on in my own life outside of the book! Both funny and heartbreaking, it does give you a flavour of what it was like to live in a place so divided and dangerous. Although if you didn't know anything about Northern Ireland and "The Troubles" then some elements may be lost on you. Overall, I would recommend this book, as the characters have stayed with me - which is always a good sign. I read the audio edition narrated by Brid Brennan, who did a sterling job.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 368 print pages.
Price I paid: £5.84.
Reading formats available: print; unabridged audio download; audio CD; ebook.

Vinegar Girl - limp and lacklustre!

In this retelling of The Taming of the Shrew, Kate Battista is 29, single and keeping house for her father, an eccentric scientist, and her little sister, Bunny. Kate has a reputation for speaking her mind and seems incapable of keeping her opinions to herself, which doesn't always endear her to her work colleagues, although the kids in the preschool love it! So when, totally out of the blue, her father asks her to marry his Russian lab assistant, Pyotr, in order to prevent his impending deportation (the book is set in the USA), it comes as no surprise that Kate refuses to oblige. However, as the date of deportation becomes closer, and her father becomes more desperate (he thinks his life's work will be ruined if he cannot keep Pyotr working with him), Kate's resolve starts to crumble, and she reluctantly agrees. But the path to the "fake" wedding isn't exactly a smooth one, with Bunny trying to put a spanner in the works on numerous occasions. This is a light and not altogether taxing tale that I raced through in super quick time. There is humour, and you do end up rooting for Kate and Pyotr, even though every modern sensibility within you is screaming ... you have got to be kidding me! However, I was a little disappointed at Kate's lack of overall strength and there certainly wasn't enough sparky dialogue between her and Pyotr - I would have expected much more of that from a retelling of Shakespeare's cracking play. And I found some of the scenes and dialogue unconvincing, with people not being true to their characters. Overall, Vinegar Girl, by Anne Tyler would make a good holiday read where you don't have to concentrate too much, and you are pretty much guaranteed a happy ending. I wanted to like this so much more than I actually did, but it won't put me off reading more work by this author.

My STAR rating: THREE.

Length: 263 print pages.
Price I paid: FREE, borrowed from my Mum.
Reading formats available: print; unabridged audio download; audio CD; ebook.

Before They Are Hanged - bloodthirstily entertaining!

Anyone who has been reading this blog for any length of time will have come to realise that I am partial to a bit of fantasy fiction, even though it tends to require commitment and loyalty (or maybe because it requires these two attributes!) This is because you rarely get a stand alone novel in this genre. And Before They Are Hanged, by Joe Abercrombie, is no exception. This is the second part of The First Law trilogy, and the war with the formidable Bethod, King of the Northmen is beginning in earnest. The Union is being defended in the north by a poorly trained and disastrously led army in which the solidly reliable Captain West is given the impossible task of keeping Crown Prince Ladisla out of trouble. Barely escaping with their lives, West somehow hooks up with the dysfunctional band of killing machines led by Threetrees, who end up back in the Union army. Meanwhile, Bayaz, the First of the Magi, is leading a band of misfits on a mission to find the ultimate weapon. Through many trials and tribulations, this group start to form a cohesive, if grumpy unit and the specific relationship which develops between Logen Ninefingers and the formidable Ferro (one of the strongest female characters you will come across) is both hilarious and touching. Meanwhile, Inquisitor Glokta, my favourite and yet most despicable character from the first book, has been sent to defend a city that is both surrounded by the enemy and rotten with traitors. Each of these three scenarios would make a book by themselves, but the author weaves them together with aplomb. The action scenes are unrelenting and not for the faint-hearted, the dialogue is meaningful and funny and the characters are well drawn. As it's been a while since I read the first instalment, it took me a little time to catch myself up on who was who, but once I'd cracked that, I was totally invested in them once again. There are a couple of unexpected plot twists which took me by surprise, which is always a delight. Added to that is the introduction of some devilishly hard to kill and scary creatures (The Eaters - need I say more). Whilst it didn't, for me, reach the dizzying heights of the first instalment - there was a touch of treading water at times in readiness for the final part of the trilogy - this is still a great book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Roll on the conclusion to this epic tale!

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 570 print pages.
Price I paid: FREE - it was a present!
Reading formats available: print; unabridged audio download; audio CD; ebook.

A Symphony Of Echoes - another romp through history!

A Symphony Of Echoes, by Jodi Taylor, is the second in the Chronicles of St. Mary's series about a time-travelling group of historians. The action centres around Max (Madeleine Maxwell), who manages to get into all manner of scrapes across the great expanse of history and somehow survive by the skin of her teeth. In this book, she goes in search of Jack The Ripper, witnesses the murder of Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral and tries to find the Hanging Gardens of Babylon too. Along the way, she gets caught up in a future St Mary's where their arch enemy has wreaked havoc to the extent that there is a very real chance the research facility will have to close. Of course, you could go back in time and just kill this man who is threatening the very fabric of history - but then that would mean St Mary's might NEVER have existed ... so a good old paradox in time is created! This is a highly enjoyable, fast-paced adventure that is laced with gritty and extremely sarcastic dialogue. In between the adventure we have the on/off/on relationship between Max and Chief Farrell, which, if it continues in this vein, may get a little wearing! I do like Max as a character, but she does seem to cause havoc wherever she goes and one might be left wondering how on earth she is let loose in history ... in fact, something always seems to go wrong on the trips - not sure what kind of Health and Safety Rules they've got there, but there doesn't seem to be much of a pension plan! Great fun, wouldn't want to work there! I read the audio edition, excellently narrated by Zara Ramm.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 340 print pages.
Price I paid: £2.99.
Reading formats available: print; unabridged audio download; MP3-CD; ebook.

The Sisters Brothers - strangely hypnotic

If you think this book is just another Western, think again. Yes, it's set in 1850s America, the Gold Rush has begun and we have two gunmen (Eli and Charlie Sisters) on the trail of the entertainingly named Hermann Kermit Warm. So far, so "Western" - however, the story is really about the struggle that Eli Sister is starting to have with his life, and the seemingly unbreakable bond he has with his brother. The story is narrated by Eli, and no holds are barred in how he describes the way he and his brother live. They work as assassins for the Commodore (who has shades of a mafia boss for me), and are incredibly good at their jobs - if the Commodore sets them on your trail, you haven't got long to live. Eli is the sensible one, who takes pride in his work and seems to be continually trying to keep his savage brother focused on the job at hand, but Charlie cannot help but drink to excess and seek the company of the ladies of the night. Eli is beginning to dream about meeting a nice girl and settling down - maybe running a store. But Charlie doesn't care for this proposition and seems to be more than happy to carry on as they are. Eli is determined that this will be their last job, and tries to keep the bloodshed to a minimum, but the bond with his brother is so strong that when he is threatened, Eli demonstrates just how deadly efficient he can be. These two brothers are psychopaths and the body count soon increases as they travel across the country to hunt down their prey. You know you shouldn't like these characters and yet, it's hard not to have a certain amount of sympathy for them - which just goes to show how excellent the writing is! I found myself really rooting for Eli to find his new life, away from his brother who always seems to drag him back into violence. The Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt is, despite its subject matter, a funny and easy to read story. Others have compared it to a Coen Brothers film and I can totally see where they are coming from. Quirky. Entertaining. Great witty dialogue. If you can take a bit of blood and gore, you'll thoroughly enjoy this book.

My STAR rating: FIVE.

Length: 325 print pages.
Price I paid: free, borrowed from my husband.
Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, audio CD, ebook.

The Hanging Tree - good to be back!

Peter Grant is a London-based police officer who is part of a very special unit - the one that deals with all the "weird" stuff! The weird stuff tends to involve faeries, spirits, river gods and all manner of magical creatures. Most live alongside the non-magical population in harmony, but there are always bad apples in any group, and when they create havoc and mayhem, it's up to the members of The Folly (Peter and his boss, Nightingale) to handle it. A suspicious death during a party at the most expensive apartment block in London wouldn't usually trouble The Folly, but as Lady Ty's daughter was present at the time, she asks Peter to investigate as a favour to her ... and as he owes her big time, he cannot refuse. Needless to say, this doesn't turn out to be a run-of-the-mill case, and Peter is soon plunged into the dangerous world of the arcane. He "bumps" into his old partner, Leslie, who seems to have acquired a new face and new skills - and yet, she doesn't kill him, despite having a golden opportunity to do so. And where Leslie is, that usually means The Faceless Man, Peter's deadliest foe, isn't far behind. As the investigation continues, we come across new characters, and I particularly liked the arrival of an FBI-like magical unit that mostly hindered the operation. The Hanging Tree is the sixth instalment of the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch, and as I have come to expect, it's a fast-paced mix of magic and police procedural. The main characters are like old friends - even the baddies - and they are always given some excellent dialogue. Plenty of action sequences are mixed in with some more thoughtful moments - I particularly like how the relationship between Peter and girlfriend Beverley is developing. Entertaining and enjoyable and I'm ready for more - I definitely won't leave it quite as long until I delve into the next book. I always read the audio edition, as narrator Kobna Holbrook-Smith totally brings these stories to life. For me, he IS Peter Grant. I've only got one more thing to say ... when is this going to be made into a TV or film series?

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 400 print pages.
Price I paid: £5.84.
Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, audio CD, ebook.

The Silkworm - solid entertainment!

I wrote this review at the end of 2018, but neglected to publish it, so here it is now for your delectation and delight!

In this, the second outing for Cormoran Strike, the action gets going when the wife of author Owen Quine hires him to find her missing husband. Why, you may ask, hasn't she gone to the police? Well, it turns out that the temperamental, publicity-seeking Mr Quine has a history of "disappearing" only to turn up a week later. She believes he is on one of his jaunts and just wants him home to help care for their daughter. The investigation begins, and Cormoran, together with his assistant, Robin, soon start to suspect that all is not what it seems. When Cormoran finds Quine's body, it becomes a murder hunt. But when the police arrest Mrs Quine for the crime, he is convinced that she is innocent, and sets out to find the real killer. This is a solid piece of crime writing from JK Rowling under her pseudonym for this series of books. There are twists and turns, a bit of gore, plenty of suspects and a set of characters from the publishing world that you would hope bears little resemblance to reality! The central character of Cormoran is gruffly compelling, with more of his back story being revealed, including a half brother. I welcomed the increasing use of Robin in the action, which makes for a more rounded book, as she is great foil for the one-legged, ex-army private detective. The Silkworm, by Robert Galbraith, is definitely an entertaining read, and is a book I would recommend, unless you are very squeamish. A good way to end the year!

POPSUGAR Challenge 2018 prompt 24: A book with a female author who uses a male psuedonym.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 592 print pages.
Price I paid: free, borrowed from the library.
Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, audio CD, ebook.

Set In Darkness - murder and politics!

In the eleventh outing for Detective Inspector John Rebus, the action centres around Queensbury House, which is about to become the site of the new Scottish parliament. Our grumpy, single minded hero is assigned as liaison officer to the politicians while the building work continues, a role he doesn't not relish. But things start to get more interesting when a body is found hidden in the fireplace of the old building. It turns out the body has been there for a couple of decades, but when the fresh body of Scottish MP Roddy Grieve turns up in the garden outside, a second investigation begins. Thrown into the mix is the suicide of a homeless man, whose possessions reveal that he has a building society account worth £400,000. Three different teams are working on the three deaths, but Rebus is increasingly convinced that they are linked. Rebus manages to occasionally inspire, but mostly annoy his cast of supporting characters. We have a welcome return for Siobhan Clarke, who is starting to show traits she may well have picked up from her mentor. And new boy Derek Linford, is a highly ambitious, but creepy detective who, needless to say, rubs Rebus up the wrong way. The plot of Set In Darkness is wide ranging and complex, and is sometimes a little hard to keep track of. But it is well worth the effort. Ian Rankin's gritty, clever writing brings the seedy underbelly of both politics and Edinburgh into sharp focus. As usual, there are plenty of twists and turns and red herrings. The return of the notorious criminal Big Ger Rafferty, with whom Rebus has a strangely close relationship, feels like it might be giving us hints of the dangerous territory Rebus might find himself going into in the next book in the series ... but I'll just have to wait and see! As always, a pleasure to read and a most definite page turner.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 496 print pages.
Price I paid: free, borrowed from my husband.
Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, audio CD, ebook.

The Tidal Zone - shattered lives!

This book was a bit of a punt - it was on offer and, I am pleased to report, I have not been disappointed. The story centres around Adam and his family who are going about their normal routine - he writes, his wife is a doctor and their two daughters are still at school - when their lives are turned upside down by a phone call from the elder daughter's school reporting that there had been an "incident". This, it turns out, was when Mim stopped breathing and had to be resuscitated. Now in hospital and undergoing tests, she is feeling okay again, and just wants to go home. As the test continue over days and weeks, she becomes increasingly truculent and bored. However, for Adam, the realisation that his bright, beautiful daughter could cease to be at any moment is earth shattering. He tries to distract himself with his work, researching the devastation wrought on the city of Coventry by bombing raids during World War II and the rebuilding of its Cathedral as a symbol of hope and fortitude. This story of renewal parallels what's happening in his own family, as they find a way to move forward despite the potentially life threatening condition that blights them. The Tidal Zone, by Sarah Moss is written with heart and may appear delicate, but it packs a punch about the important things in life. The characters are believable, although I did get irritated with the wife who seemed to be one step removed from the family at all times. The attention to detail within Adam's research was excellent and I found this element just as interesting as the "drama". Although I enjoyed the book while reading it, it hasn't really stayed with me as much as I was expecting it to. With one exception, it has left me with a real desire to go and visit Coventry Cathedral again - which is no bad thing as far as I'm concerned!

My STAR rating: THREE.

Length: 336 print pages.
Price I paid: £2.98.
Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, audio CD, ebook.

Miss Garnet's Angel - An absolute delight

When Julia Garnet retires from teaching, she unexpectedly inherits a substantial amount of money from her long time companion. Julia had always been the cautious one of the two, but now at a loose end and with money in her pocket, she decides to go to Venice to see if she can live a different kind of life. She develops feelings for a man who has taken her under his wing and shown her around the city, but her budding hopes are dashed when she gets the distinct impression that he is gay. However, he has helped her to appreciate the beauty of Venice and she finds herself drawn to the ever-present figure of the Angel Raphael. She endeavours to find out more about Raphael and why he seems to be everywhere in Venice. This leads her to acquire two young friends who are restoring one of the churches, and she becomes involved in the drama surrounding their relationship. Alongside the action in present day Venice, the story is interspersed with the ancient tale of Tobias, who travels to Media accompanied by the Archangel Raphael - although he is unaware of this. This book takes us on both a physical and spiritual journey with Miss Garnet as she begins to blossom in a far off city. There is so much to like about this book, which is gentle, but never dull. Miss Garnet's Angel, by Salley Vickers is definitely a love letter to Venice, but also to the idea that no matter how old you are, your life can take you in an unexpectedly fulfilling direction - you just have to take that first step! A thoroughly enjoyable read and I was a bit sad to finish it.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 342 print pages.
Price I paid: free, borrowed from my Mum.
Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, audio CD, ebook.

A Far Cry From Kensington - an evocation of 1950s London

Set in the mid 1950s, A Far Cry From Kensington by Muriel Spark brings to life a time and place where people were trying to recover after the devastation of the Second World War. Our narrator is Agnes "Nancy" Hawkins - although no-one uses her first name. She is a young, rather portly, war widow working in publishing, but, as was common at the time, she is living in one room of a house with other disparate people. Everyone sees Mrs Hawkins as a trustworthy, reliable individual - someone you can go to with your troubles and who would be good in a crisis. Her best friend is Millie, the landlady, with whom she spends many companionable evenings. Things are ticking along nicely until she encounters Hector Bartlett - a wannabe author whose writing is atrocious and she rejects his manuscript in the strongest of terms, in the course of which she coins an unflattering phrase to describe him. Unfortunately for Mrs Hawkins, Hector is "attached" to a very well known author who wields much power in the relatively small world of publishing, with the result that her little outburst causes her to lose not one, but two jobs. While this is happening, unsettling things start to happen at her lodgings with one of the residents, a Polish dressmaker, becoming more and more unstable. Events start to unravel, and it's not until much later that Mrs Hawkins realises how woven together all these apparently random events actually are. This book is highly enjoyable, with a cracking narrator in Mrs Hawkins, and an excellent supporting cast, all of whom are totally believable. It is evocative of the time and place and is full of detail about post-war London and the publishing world of that time. There is light and shade and dodgy dealings, but also a sense of optimism that things can get better. It's the first book by Muriel Spark that I have read, but I'm sure it won't be my last.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 208 print pages.
Price I paid: £2.98.
Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, audio CD, ebook.

The Curse of the House of Foskett - Victorian-era crime fighters!

Having enjoyed the first book in the Gower Street Detective Series, I decided to dip my toe back into Victorian London and spend some more time with incredibly rude and uncivil detective, Sidney Grice, and his long-suffering ward, March Middleton. The Curse of the House of Foskett, by M.R.C. Kasasian begins with Sideny's reputation in tatters after leading an innocent man to the gallows in his previous case. No one wants to hire him and he is not taking it well. A new case is just what he needs, so when a gentleman comes calling to hire Sidney to investigate the Final Death Society, and promptly drops dead during the meeting, he couldn't be happier! Even better, it turns out that the man has been murdered. Sidney and March delve into this society where a distinguished group of people have clubbed together with the intention that the last one left alive inherits all the money. However, it seems one member of the Society isn't willing to wait for nature to take its course, for when Sydney and March try to speak to the various members, they discover that they too have been murdered, and in such a way as to implicate Sydney in the deadly deed. Despite the increasingly grisly nature of each crime, this book is full of laughs and clever touches. However, the incredibly un-PC statements made by Sydney did sometimes grate with me, and I wondered why on earth March puts up with them. But it becomes apparent that she is more than a match for him, and is a perfect foil for the socially inept man who has taken her in. During the course of the novel, we also find out more about March's past, which really helps round her out. There were also hints that Sydney does have a heart somewhere beneath his bluster and apparent coldness, which could help to make him a more sympathetic character. The action rolls along at great pace, and this is an entertaining read - but it might be a while before I can face Sydney and his acerbic tongue once again.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 416 print pages.
Price I paid: £2.99.
Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, MP3-CD, ebook.

Berlin Red - A bit too neatly wrapped?

Berlin Red, by Sam Eastland is, I have just discovered, the SEVENTH book in a series featuring Inspector Pekkala, a detective from Stalinist Russia. This came as a bit of a surprise to me as the book works perfectly well as a stand-alone story. It's April 1945 and the Red Army is on the verge of overrunning Berlin and finally defeating the Third Reich. Holed up in his bunker, Hitler is buoyed by the news that his scientists have perfected the guidance system for the V-2 rocket - and is convinced that this super-weapon could turn the tide of the War back in his favour. However, the message he received has been intercepted by a British listening post and they immediately set one of their extremely well-placed spies the delicate task of acquiring the plans to this "Diamondstream". But they realise that to get both the spy and those plans safely out of Berlin, they'll need the help of one man - Inspector Pekkala, Stalin's finest investigator. Meanwhile, Hitler suspects that there is a traitor in the ranks, as small bits of information keep leaking out, so he assigns his own highly skilled detective, Major Kirov, to trace the source. It's now a race to see who finds the spy first, but for Pekkala, the stakes couldn't be higher, as she is none other than the woman he had planned to marry before the Russian Revolution got in the way. This is a taught thriller, set against the horror of war. It weaves fact with fiction in an extremely convincing manner and whilst some of the characters may be a bit one-dimensional, there are some excellent ones too, particularly the villainous ones. It's grim and gritty, with a bit of romance thrown in for good measure. Yes, there are twists and turns, and a certain amount of tension, but I never really felt that the main characters wouldn't attain their goal and make it out alive. A good read, though maybe a little too neatly wrapped up at the end, possibly because it is likely to be the last in the series. We shall see! I did enjoy this, and it may be interesting to see earlier books in the series, but that won't be happening this year as I try to get through the mountain of books already nesting in my house!

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 384 print pages.
Price I paid: free, borrowed from the library as an ebook.
Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, ebook.

Welcome to 2019

Happy New Year to one and all. Let's hope for a better one than 2018 turned out to be! During the last 12 months, I have been working my way through The Popsugar Reading Challenge, which contained 40 book prompts designed to broaden your reading. The prompts ranged from "a book about feminism" to "a book with alliteration in the title". Whilst I didn't get through all 40 of them (there were a couple of really, really long books in there which slowed me down!), I did manage to finish 31, so not too bad. It helped me find a new author (Madeleine Miller) whose books were a delight, and rediscover the work of an author I haven't read in years (John Irving). I read books I wouldn't have gone near without the Popsugar prompts, so the goal of expanding my reading horizons was achieved. HOWEVER, what this has now meant is that the pile of unread books in my house has not gone away and so this year, I will be delving back into those patiently waiting tomes in the hope that I can reclaim some much needed storage space.

Bring it on ...