The Redeemer - Confusing But Impelling!

The Redeemer, by Jo Nesbo is the sixth in the Harry Hole series, which takes the Oslo Police Department's best investigator on the hunt for the killer of a Salvation Army singer who was shot in the street on the run up to Christmas. But there seems to be no obvious suspect, no weapon and no motive. However, we, the reader, know that there is a Croatian assassin on the loose and heading home thinking his work is done. But, it turns out, he has shot the wrong person! With little to work on, and trying to stay sober, Harry finds his way to the former Yugoslavia to hunt for clues ... and the temptation of the bottle hits hard once again. He returns to Oslo, battling his own demons but trying to become the redeemer for the victim, an injured colleague and a new love interest who may not be all that they seem. This is a confusing book, with many characters who are similar and I found it hard to get my head around who was who on quite a few occasions. Despite this irritation, Harry Hole os a compellingly flawed character, who you cannot help but root for despite his shortcomings! The plot is twisty and intriguing and introduced me to new concepts - like hyperplasticity - which makes facial recognition tricky ... ideal for an assassin! The lines between good and bad, and indeed, what makes a redeemer are explored. You are also left guessing as to what's going to happen until the very end, which is always satisfying in a thriller! Recommended, but maybe using the print or ebook, as when you use the audio edition - though fantastically narrated by Sean Barrett - it's tricky to "flick back" to check who each particular character is and how they relate to the plot!

My STAR rating: FOUR

Length: 397 print pages.

Price I paid: £3.99

Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, ebook.

Booth - Interesting Take on History

Booth, by Karen Joy Fowler, recounts the story of the Booth family - an American theatrical dynasty that produced Abraham Lincoln's assassin. In 1822, Englishman Junius Booth, an unstable, but  charming, celebrated Shakespearian actor, moves into a remote cabin outside Baltimore with his wife, who bears him 10 children. The life of this family, of whom only 6 children survive, is told primarily through the eyes of several of the siblings, which is a great device to give differing viewpoints on the same set of circumstances and relationships. We see how their father flits in and out of their lives between tours, and how his sons all want to follow in his footsteps to tread the boards. One, Edwin, becomes as renowned an actor as his father, but, then we also have John Wilkes who, despite having the same upbringing, doesn't have the same acting chops as his brother, but does become radicalised, ending with him killing the president of the United States. How this much loved, but hot tempered middle child becomes the man who changed the course of history is explored through the years of his youth and American Civil War, though at a distance. We don't hear directly from him for much of the time, and he only really takes centre stage towards the back end of the book. What's more interesting perhaps is how does a family, so deeply affected by love, hate, success, failure, addiction and, of course, slavery, even begin to function after one of their own commits such a heinous act? There are some indications of this right at then end, but I would have loved to see more - though perhaps there isn't further information to be found on that score! Widely researched and easy to read, I found this an interesting take on a period of history whose ripples can still be felt in the world today, and can completely understand why it was long listed for the Booker Prize in 2022. I used the audio edition, which is excellently narrated by January LaVoy.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 496 print pages.

Price I paid: £2.98

Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, ebook.

Tom Lake - Warmly Intimate

Tom Lake, by Ann Enright, is set on a cherry farm in Michigan where Lara and her husband live with their three grown up daughters during the pandemic of 2020. As they harvest the cherries, the daughters beg their mother to tell them the story of her love affair with a famous actor - Peter Duke. And so the narrative switches between the present and the past, as Lara goes back over her youth and early adulthood when she ends up acting in a production of Our Town almost by accident, and finds out that she is really rather good at this acting lark. She ends up in Hollywood for a short time and then goes to Tom Lake as a last minute replacement for the part she knows so well, Emily, in Our Town. It is here she meets the up-and- coming star that is Peter Duke. She falls under his spell and they begin a breathless love affair. During this time, they take a trip to a cherry orchard run by the parents of the director (Joe), and Lara senses the magic of the place. Back at Tom Lake, however, Peter's predilection for drink takes over, and he ends up sleeping with Lara's friend (who is also an actress), and things fall apart, not helped by Lara having an accident that leaves her unable to perform. She gives up acting and somehow finds her way back to that cherry orchard... The characters are well drawn, though the daughters can be a little irritating - especially the eldest who is convinced that Peter Duke is her father! This tale of fame, family and love, in all its forms, is beautifully told, and I found myself rooting for Lara despite her youthful follies. Whilst Lara reveals much of her past, it is really pleasing that some details she just shares with us, the reader, rather than her needy children! This helped give the novel a feeling of intimacy. I used the audio edition which was fantastically narrated by Meryl Streep. Definitely can recommend this to almost anyone, and I will be searching out more by the author.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 336 print pages.

Price I paid: £7.99.

Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, ebook.

The Thursday Murder Club - Not all retirement villages are the same!

The Thursday Murder Club, by Richard Osman, is the first in a series about a group of residents in a retirement village who meet up once a week to investigate unsolved murders. But when an actual murder takes place on their doorstep, they find themselves in the middle of a real live case. And so, we find Elizabeth (an ex-spook), Joyce (retired nurse and keen diarist), Ibrahim (dapper psychiatrist) and Ron (a retired and notorious trade union leader) working hard to get to the bottom of things, utilising all and any resources available to them ... including smooth-talking the police into sharing information. This is a fun, yet serious whodunnit. We see the life of the residents of Cooper's Chase, with their days out and range of activities, intermingled, and sometimes integral to solving the crime. Then a second murder takes place, followed by the discovery of a hidden body in the nun's cemetery situated on the grounds (Cooper's Chase was converted from a former convent). Are they all linked, or just red herrings? We go back and forth from present day to the past, sometimes to the 1970s when the convent was a going concern, and sometimes to the time when the events surrounding a photograph which features two of the victims, and which has been left at the scene. The four main characters are clearly drawn and are very pleasing to spend time with. The driving force of the group may be Elizabeth, who is exceptionally good at getting people to do what she wants without being heavy handed. There are sweet, silly and heartbreaking moments, as the lives of old friends and neighbours in the community come into focus, but it's never cloying. If you like your crime a little cosy, then this is definitely a good choice. But just remember ... we all have a past, and more often than not, it WILL catch up with us!

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 381 print pages.

Price I paid: free, borrowed from my husband.

Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, ebook.

White Night - It's hard to be a wizard

White Night by Jim Butcher is the ninth outing for Harry Dresden, Chicago's first, and only, Wizard P.I. When some apparent suicides don't ring true, Harry is called in by the police to take a look. He discovers not only that magic has been at play, but there's a hidden message just for him at each of the scenes. Things get a little worrying when the evidence starts to implicate his half-brother, Thomas, who is a vampire. Harry is convinced he's not the culprit, but soon discovers powerful vampires are involved. As more bodies start to fall, it's a race to get to the bottom of who is doing what. Harry must call on all his friends, and some enemies, to come together to defeat the threat. This is a story that bowls along at breakneck speed - there is barely any downtime at all. Harry has got a lot on his plate - he's training young Molly in the art of wizardry, he's struggling to maintain his sanity while his consciousness plays host to a dangerous but seductive being in his head, he's worried his half-brother vampire, Thomas, has fallen off the "no-blood" wagon, and someone or something is definitely out to get him. And as if that wasn't enough, the war between the wizards and vampires is still raging, with the wizards taking heavy defeats. There is action aplenty, much of it gory, but it's all done with a lightness of touch and Harry's never-ending sarcasm injects much needed humour. We also get a bit more backstory and it's nice to see Harry interacting more with Karrin Murphy (his close friend and police officer) ... will there be a romance between these two at some point? It's great entertainment, especially if you go for the audio edition which is magnificently narrated by James Marsters. One word of warning if you want to dive into this world, please start at the beginning of the series - these are definitely books that need to be read in order to reap the full benefit of the character and plot arcs. I've already ordered the next one!  

My STAR rating: FOUR

Length: 448 print pages.

Price I paid: £7.99

Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, ebook.

Last Argument of Kings - brutal and bloody

Last Argument of Kings, by Joe Abercrombie is the final instalment of The First Law fantasy trilogy. The action (and it is definitely action) begins pretty much where the last book left off. West and Dogman are in the North, trying to defeat Bethod (King of the Northmen) who is not going down quietly. Logen Ninefingers, Ferro, Bayaz (First of the Magi) and Jezal are back in Adua after their epic, but failed journey to find the ultimate weapon. Sand van Glokta is still manipulating, threatening and torturing his way though life to protect his kingdom and himself. With one last battle in him, and Ferro not displaying any interest in him, Logen heads up North to join Dogman and lock horns with many old adversaries - some of whom are now allies - though it's a fractious alliance at best. Back in Adua, the King suddenly dies and Bayaz somehow manages to get Jezal onto the throne. At first flattered, Jezal soon discovers that he is merely a puppet with no real power to improve the lot of the people. Bayaz discovers that the thing he had been searching for was here all along and when he confronts his Magi brother in order to take it, he discovers that Ferro is the only one who can actually handle it. When a Gurkish invasion force appears, Bayaz is strangely thrilled and while death and destruction surrounds the city, he takes his time to build a trap and welcomes the enemy in, seemingly unconcerned with how many Aduans have perished. At this point, he launches the ultimate weapon - thus breaking The First Law - with horrific consequences for anyone in the vicinity and beyond. This book is a demonstration of the evils of wanting power at any cost, and how those who think they know what is best for the world pay no heed to the human cost. Life is cheap. Very cheap. Full of bloody battles and gory torture, this is not a book for anyone of a delicate disposition. Pretty much all the characters (and there are a lot of them!) have major flaws and carry immense darkness on their backs. Indeed most are without any redeeming features and yet, somehow, we still care what happens. Glokta is still the standout character with his internal dialogue being an absolute treat. So strap yourself in, as this is one heck of a ride where no-one is safe or indeed likely to die quietly in their bed! If this sounds like your kind of thing, then please read the first two instalments before you tackle this one, as you definitely need the back story to understand what's going on.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 704 print pages.

Price I paid: free, was a gift.

Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, ebook. 

Troubled Blood - Superb!

Troubled Blood, by Robert Galbraith, is the fifth in the series featuring private detective Cormoran Strike, and his partner at the firm, Robin Ellacott. While visiting his sick aunt in Cornwall, Cormoran is approached by the daughter of GP Margot Bamborough, who asks him to investigate the disappearance of her mother 40 years ago. Despite a very busy workload, and having a very slim chance of success, he takes on the case. As Cormoran and Margot begin their investigation, they find out about the botched police investigation as well as the endless theories that have surfaced since. The list of suspects also includes a known serial killer, currently locked up for his crimes - but could Margot be one of his victims, or is that just a convenient solution? The original detective, whose notebooks they work through, was fixated on horoscopes and signs of the zodiac (traditional and non-traditional), which also muddies the water. All too often, Strike travels back and forth to Cornwall, and when his beloved Aunt dies, his grief affects him deeply. As if that wasn't enough, his former lover, Charlotte, keeps messaging him, AND his half-siblings are trying to get him involved with his estranged father. At the same time, Robin is dealing with her messy divorce, and the revelation that her former husband is about to become a father by another woman. Feelings are running high, and the close friendship that Robin and Strike have developed over the years is in danger of turning into something deeper - something neither of them is sure would be a good idea forth their friendship and the business. All the tension of Robin and Strike's personal lives is a great foil for the tensions of an investigation into Margot Bamborough. As you would expect, there are red herrings, unreliable witnesses and many a twist and turn - all of which means you are in for a very satisfying ride. Another superb outing for these characters and I can't wait to hop on board for the next book in the series. 

My STAR rating: FIVE.

Length: 944 print pages.

Price I paid: £2.98

Formats available: print, unabridged audiobook, ebook.

No Middle Name - A Mixed Bag!

No Middle Name, by Lee Child is a book of short stories that help to shed some light on the background to the character of Jack 'No Middle Name' Reacher. This is definitely not for anyone who has never read a Jack Reacher novel before. You need to know that Reacher is an ex-military police officer who roams around the USA with only the clothes on his back and a toothbrush in his pocket, letting the wind take him from place to place with no real purpose except just to see them. However, wherever he ends up, he always becomes embroiled in something that needs his own particular brand of investigative brutality. He always wants to right a wrong, which is often a dangerous occupation - but inevitably ends up on the winning side, leaving behind a stack of bodies ... and getting away with it! Some of the stories in this collection are from when Reacher is in his teenage years, where he is already showing the traits that will lead him into the military, and then out of it again! They are a bit of a mixed bag, the highlight for me being the very first story (Too Much Time), where Reacher lands up in jail after stepping in to stop a bag snatcher on the street. But others are not very convincing (where Reacher, as a 16 year old, helps an FBI agent disrupt the work of a mafia boss!). I found myself wondering how this teenager wasn't taken to one side for his violent tendencies ... some of which are truly disturbing in one so young! In fact, violence is never far away in a Jack Reacher novel (or indeed, a short story). That being said, they are, as ever, incredibly readable - great for a holiday read or when you are on a journey as they are short and don't need much brain power. They haven't really stuck with me though, except for a lingering concern about the violence, which isn't a great sign. I'm not sure I'm quite ready to give up on Reacher just yet, but I have to say that this book is probably more for the die-hards than the casual Reacher fan.

My STAR rating: THREE.

Length: 480 print pages.

Price I paid: free, borrowed from my brother-in-law.

Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, ebook.

A Short History of the World According to Sheep - Flockingly Good Read!

A Short History of the World According to Sheep, by Sally Coulthard is a gem of a book for anyone interested in sheep or history. Filled with fascinating facts and anecdotes, the author traces the impact that sheep - in all their many guises - have had on shaping and influencing the way we live, both in ancient times and right up to the modern day. Going back 10,000 years, we start in the Neolithic period where our ancestors began to gather and rear sheep - both for food and clothing. We then move through the millennia, finding out about the Roman's fireproof underpants, lactose intolerance, the world's oldest socks, extra soft loo roll, black sheep, wool churches, fishermen's jumpers and so much more. We move from the plains of Mesopotamia, to the rolling hills of Medieval England and right up to date with the vast sheep farms of Australia. Sheep have been a source of power and wealth over the centuries, as well as keeping us warm, but in the 21st century, what does the future hold for these domesticated ungulates? I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which has been meticulously researched and is written in an easy-to-read style that invites you to keep on going for just one more fact to amaze your nearest and dearest with. There will be a good few times when the phrase ... well, I didn't know that ... will spring into your mind as you consume page after page. I was sad when it ended and can definitely see myself returning to this book again in the future. I will also be looking out for more books by Sally Coulthard, as her writing is engaging and her subject matter is very much in my wheelhouse. Go sheep!

My STAR rating: FIVE.

Length: 320 print pages.

Price I paid: free, was a present.

Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, ebook.

Monstrous Regiment - Monstrously Good!

Monstrous Regiment, by Terry Pratchett, is one of his many Discworld novels, and although this does feature a couple of characters who appear in other books, it can be read as a standalone novel. Polly Perks lives in a pub in the small, aggressive country of Borogravia, whose head of state - The Duchess - hasn't been seen for many, many years amidst rumours of her demise. Borogravia is always at war with someone, and Polly's brother joined the army to fight the foe, along with pretty much all the young men of the country, and has not been heard of since. Determined to find him, Polly disguises herself as a boy and enlists. Her regiment is led by an inexperienced officer and, luckily, the most artful (and brusque) sergeant in the whole army. However, before they have even begun their training, they are thrust into the thick of the conflict and are soon being hunted by the enemy. But slowly and surely, we find that all the recruits - whether they be human, coffee loving vampires, or trolls - have a secret in common, and together, they truly become a formidable enterprise. I don't know whether it's because I haven't read a Terry Pratchett book in a while but I could not get enough of this book. Full of great characters (both main and supporting), a fantastic storyline and full of social commentary without being dull, this book is so entertaining and incredibly funny - I laughed out loud on many occasions! Polly is feisty and determined, but also caring and clever. If only there was a little of Polly in all of us, the world might be a better place. I read the audio edition which I can highly recommend - it has the wonderful Katherine Parkinson narrating, but also has a couple of treats in the form of Bill Nighy reading the footnotes, and a cameo by Peter Serafinowicz playing Death! The incredible world of Terry Pratchett may not be for everyone, but it certainly is for me!

My STAR rating: FIVE.

Length: 496 print pages.

Price I paid: £7.99

Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, ebook.

Fleshmarket Close - horribly good!

Fleshmarket Close, by Ian Rankin, is the 15th novel to feature John Rebus, the very singular Scottish detective. The book opens with the murder of an illegal immigrant in an Edinburgh housing scheme, and Rebus is on the team investigating ... despite his superiors moving him to a different police station, where he hasn't even his own desk! Anyone might think about retiring, but not Rebus. Instead, he gets the bit between his teeth and picks his way through the evidence and suspects, to find out what happened and why. This takes him to an asylum seekers' centre, as well as having to have a quiet word with Big Ger Cafferty - the aged head of Edinburgh's sleazy underworld. Meanwhile, Siobhan, Rebus's closest colleague and friend is sucked back into one of her old cases, when the sister of a girl who killed herself following her rape disappears. And then there's the matter of two skeletons found buried in the cellar of a pub in Fleshmarket Close. Are all three cases linked in some way? Well, of course they are, but how and why provides the fun of reading the book. As always, Ian Rankin masterfully brings all the different threads of the story together and throws in some more of the personal relationship stuff suffered by Rebus and Siobhan. If only Rebus could get his head out of the bottle at times, maybe his love life would improve ... just saying! A very satisfying read and I raced through it!

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 482 print pages.

Price I paid: free, borrowed from my husband.

Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, ebook.

Babel - the power of words

Babel, by R.F. Kuang is a historical fantasy novel set in Oxford, England in 1836. In this city of dreaming spires sits an imposing tower called Babel, the Royal Institute of Translation. It is from this tower that the real power of the Victorian Empire flows through the use of silver imbued with magical properties provided by words from different languages that have the same root. When these words are spoken by a person fluent in them, the silver takes on a power - anything from making the bearer invisible, to a steam engine needing less fuel. But where this silver goes and to whom is strictly controlled and is always of benefit to those who run the Empire rather than its citizens. Robin Swift, a young orphan from Canton, is "rescued" by institute member Professor Lovell, and brought to England where he is raised by his new guardian for the specific purpose of training in languages and becoming a key member of Babel. When Robin first arrives in Oxford to further his studies he thinks all his dreams have come true - but it isn't long before he and his friends, who also originate from different parts of the empire, experience racial prejudice. Robin tries to ignore this and keep his head down. However, when a half-brother makes himself known and opens his eyes to the realities of Babel and the subjugation of the masses through its work, he begins to question his place in this world and fight against it. This is an ingenious premise about the power of words, the cruelty of Empire and the imbalance between the haves and have nots. We see Robin's journey from starry eyed innocent to subversive activist. This takes time, which I liked, as we see him struggling to come to terms with the world that's been revealed to him - rather than a sudden change of attitude. The other characters are interesting, though a few are a bit one dimensional and it would have been great to delve a little deeper into them. One irritation was with the amount of footnotes, which can get a little tedious, but they do contain some gems, so I didn't dare ignore them. An interesting read that could have gone a little faster on occasion - with the pace slowing and actions/scenes feeling a little repetitive - but overall, a satisfying slice of a hidden, dystopian world set in the past rather than the future, especially if you are a lover of words! Oh, and I applaud the effort of the author who must have done a tonne of research!

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 560 print pages.

Price I paid: free, was a Christmas present.

Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, ebook.

On Her Majesty's Secret Service - The softer side of Bond, well, almost!

On Her Majesty's Secret Service, by Ian Fleming, is book 11 of the James Bond series. In this outing, 007 has fallen out of love with his job in the aftermath of Operation Thunderbolt, when arch villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld completely disappeared. While contemplating his future, James finds himself back at the Casino Royale in France and comes across Contessa Teresa "Tracy" di Vicenzo. They spend an oddly dispassionate night together and Bond doesn't quite know what to make of this troubled woman - who, it turns out, is the daughter of Draco, the head of Union Corse - a Corsican crime organisation. Draco and Bond has a measure of respect for each other, to the extent that Draco suggests to Bond that he marries Tracy, but that's not on Bond's radar! Some time later, Bond gets a lead on Blofeld and is sent, undercover, to Switzerland to see if Blofeld has resurfaced. Not only is it Blofeld, but Bond discovers that he is working on a plot involving biological warfare, and must be stopped. But Bond's cover is blown and he barely escapes with his life down the mountain where, by a fortuitous stroke of luck, he bumps into Tracy once again, who helps him get to safety. After which, he surprises himself by proposing to her. They plan to marry as soon as Bond has resolved the Blofeld crisis - for which he recruits the help of Tracy's father. They foil the evil plot, but Blofeld escapes again, and manages to inflict a tragic revenge on Bond. This is an entertaining outing for Bond and I enjoyed it more than some of the previous books. It's nice to see a softer side to everyone's favourite spy, but there are still passages that troubled me about his attitude to women in general. It is a novel of its time I suppose and if you just take it as breathtaking, action-packed adventure, then you will enjoy it. The audio edition is narrated by David Tennant who does a great job, as you would expect!

My STAR rating: THREE.

Length: 368 print pages.

Price I paid: £4.00

Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, ebook.

Saving Missy - Never too late!

Saving Missy, by Beth Morrey, features seventy-nine year old Missy Carmichael who is a prickly, stubborn and incredibly lonely woman. She lives alone in a large house and misses her beloved son and grandson who lives in Australia. She also has a daughter, but their relationship has broken down and she longs for Leo, her husband, to help mend fences, but he's not there (we eventually find out why much later in the book). One day, Missy has a chance encounter with two women and a boy in the local park who transform her life. She slowly starts to come out of her shell and involve herself in the world again, especially when she agrees to look after a dog called Bob ... just for a couple of days! The couple of days turns into weeks and months and Missy tells the dog about all her troubles and feels the companionship that her new furry lodger brings her. Through her new found friends (both the 2- and 4-legged varieties), we hear about Missy's early life, meeting her husband and how she sacrificed her own career for raising a family. We slowly see Missy come back out of her isolated shell and find herself again after all these years. She positively blossoms and, despite a few set backs, she sees hope for the future. This is a lovely book and Missy is a great character. Her friends, Sylvie and Angela, do stretch credibility a little ... if only the world was full of these types of people ... but they create an enjoyable and lively counterpoint to Missy's long-established stillness (at the start). Not earth shattering, but the story is interesting and you definitely become invested and keen to know what happens to Missy. This could be, in part, due to the fantastic narration by Harriet Walter in the audio edition that I used. A good holiday read.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 400 print pages.

Price I paid: £3.99.

Formats available: print, unabridged audio, ebook.

The Year 1000 - snapshot of history

The Year 1000, by Robert Lacey and Danny Danziger is a look at what life was like for English people at the turn of the first millennium. Based around the Julian Calendar, it features a month per chapter. We follow the seasons and activities of everyday folk that were key to life at the time, but set against the background of the political goings on ... and there were a few! Full of interesting facts about farming, medicine, church, kings and queens, and how places got their names ... just to name a few ... this book will probably annoy anyone you live or work with as you share with them the latest nugget of information that has been presented to you. Life was tough and often short, but people were not starving - indeed, it may surprise many that people's stature was pretty much as it is today. Christendom loomed large in everyone's lives, but as the millennium approached, there were prophets of doom everywhere (maybe they were a 1000 years too early!!!). Also, fast approaching over the horizon were the abacus and the concept of infinity and zero ... after which, life would never be the same again. Written in an easy to understand style, but without being patronising or too simplistic, this is a great book for anyone who likes their history in bite size pieces.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 240 print pages.

Price I paid: free, was a present.

Formats available: print, abridged audio download, abridge audio cassette.

The Foundling - A Good Yarn

The Foundling, by Stacey Halls is set in mid 18th Century London where, six years after leaving her illegitimate daughter Clara at a Foundling Hospital, Bess Bright returns to claim her ... only to be told that she has already claimed her baby almost immediately after leaving her there. Bess is determined to find out how this could happen, and where her daughter is. Cut to Alexandra, a young widow who barely leaves her home for fear of what might happen on the streets. She is persuaded by her friend, Dr Mead (who works at the Foundling Hospital), to employ a nursemaid to help care for her daughter, Charlotte. The new nursemaid seems to have an instant bond with the girl, something Alexandra struggles to comprehend as she is a strict and almost hands off type of mother. Of course, all is not what it seems and everyone's life is turned up side down when the truth and trauma begins to unravel. This is an emotionally charged historical novel with heartbreaking moments. The characters are well drawn, though I found it hard to warm to Alexandra for quite some time. Full of detail about the society of the time and the huge divide between the haves and the have nots, this will please the history buffs. While the story is interesting, it wasn't difficult to see where things were heading and I'm not entirely sure that the ending was completely satisfactory, but it was still a good yarn. I did enjoy the audio edition, which has two narrators - each representing the narrative as told by the two main characters.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 400 print pages.

Price I paid: £4.00.

Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, ebook.

Slow Horses - Masterful

Slow Horses by Mick Herron is the first in the "Slough House" spy series which centres on a drab outpost of the UK's Intelligence Service where disgraced spies are sent to push paper for the rest of their career. But when a boy is kidnapped and his beheading is threatened to be shown live on TV, something nags at them that this links to the work they've been assigned to rake through the bins of a right wing journalist and it sets them off on a breathless journey to save the boy and maybe their careers too! Leading the team is Jackson Lamb, a disgustingly rude and unhygienic man who seems to hate everyone and everything, but, remarkably, is protective of his people and will not play by the rules to do so. He also gets the best lines! His team includes River Cartwright, a young spy whose failure during a training exercise landed him at Slough House, but he is convinced that he was fed false information on purpose by a colleague who wanted him out of the way. He is incredibly motivated to show HQ that he really doesn't belong in Slough House, but his impetuosity threatens to land him in yet more trouble. Full of snappy dialogue, strong characters of all creeds, enough intrigue and dirty tricks to shake a stick at, and all mixed together with moments of breakneck action, this incredibly well written novel is an unputdownable thriller that will not disappoint. Even if you have seen the TV adaptation, I would urge you to read the book as it provides greater depth to each character. But be warned ... you may end up having some very late nights trying to reach a suitable place to pause for breath - as they are few and far between! I cannot wait to dive into the rest of the series.

My STAR rating: FIVE. 

Length: 328 print pages.

Price I paid: free, was a gift.

Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, ebook.

Amongst Our Weapons - Pure Escapism!

Amongst Our Weapons, by Ben Aaronovitch is the ninth book in the Rivers of London series, and it does not disappoint. An unusual murder takes place at the London Silver Vaults, but despite the massive amount of security there, the murderer vanishes without a trace. DC Peter Grant of the Special Assessment Unit is assigned under the supervision of DCI Thomas Nightingale of course. The investigation takes a nasty turn when another body turns up with the same injuries that could only have been caused by something supernaturally extraordinary - which is right up Peter's alley. All roads lead to a trip "up north". Unfortunately, at the same time as all this is going on, Peter's partner Beverly (who is a river goddess) is due to give birth to twins and she has given him explicit instructions not to miss the event. While she makes preparations, including the digging of a massive birthing pool, Peter must track down what seems to be an avenging angel determined to destroy a group of people who delved into things they shouldn't have delved into during their student days. And why is Peter's old colleague and current nemesis, Leslie, so interested in what's happening too? This story is full of magic, history and reveals more and more back story of the main characters, who are now so familiar that they feel like old friends and it's fun to spend time with them once again. Snappy dialogue soaked with wit, a complex plot, lots of action and intrigue, plus talking foxes obsessed with snacks - who could ask for more? A delight and a worthy addition to the series - but if you haven't dived into the Rivers of London tales before, I would urge you to start with book one. Once again, I read the audio, which was fantastically narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith.

My STAR rating: FIVE.

Length: 432 print pages.

Price I paid: £1.99

Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, ebook. 

The Salt Path - A Celebration of Nature and Love

The Salt Path by Raynor Winn is a memoir based on the experiences of the author and her husband, Moth. Just days after they learn that Moth is terminally ill with CBD (Corticobasal Degeneration, a neurological disorder), they lose both their home and livelihood. Now homeless and virtually penniless after a failed legal battle to save their home, they make an impulsive decision to walk the South West Coast Path - all 630 miles of it (well, it is Somerset to Dorset via Devon and Cornwall) - with only the stuff they can carry on their backs. They soon discover that this is no easy stroll. The steep and scary ups and downs may be scenic, and the passing holidaymakers might enjoy the scorching weather, but it's not as much fun when you are carrying a heavy load and neglected to bring any suncream. Food, water and a place to rest their heads in their small tent are a constant worry, and they are permanently hungry and soon tire of noodles! However, as they walk, they experience the wonders of nature and the kindness of strangers and something unexpected happens - Moth starts to both move and feel better in himself. Slowly but surely, they come to terms with their situation and, if possible, become even closer than they were before. This book is both inspirational and irritating at times. It is, after all, an opinion piece and therefore, if you don't like the author's opinions, you may not like parts of this book. But, overall, the epic trek is one of resilience in the face of an unknown future, the continual slog with little money and not knowing where (or even if) you would sleep at the end of each day is gripping. I raced through it at speed (something Ray and Moth definitely did not do) and would definitely recommend this to anyone who is facing a major change in their life, or indeed anyone considering such a challenging walk! Being in nature can be incredibly healing, and sometimes, just putting one foot in front of the other is an achievement worth celebrating. 

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 288 print pages.

Price I paid: free, borrowed from a friend.

Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, ebook.

Fifteen Dogs - What If Dogs Were More Human?

Fifteen Dogs, by Andre Alexis is a book that was gifted to me and I'm so pleased it was, because I might not have picked it up otherwise ... although I do love dogs, so perhaps it would have eventually found its way to me by another route. Anyhow, no matter how it reached me, I'm very happy! The gods Hermes and Apollo are in a bar, arguing about what would happen if animals had human intelligence. Apollo bets that this would result in the animals being even unhappier than humans - and Hermes takes on the bet that if only one of the animals dies happy, then he wins. And so, as they pass a local veterinary clinic, they give the 15 dogs inside human intelligence. Now capable of human thought, the dogs escape and become a pack in a local park. Some do not adapt and die very quickly, others embrace their new life and start spouting poetry, and others want to reimpose dogginess onto the pack and stage a violent coup. We then follow the survivors - one of whom is taken in by a couple and he becomes very close the the woman ... and even learns to converse with her. But when the dog meets one of his former pack, things do not end well. Often heartbreaking, but also sprinkled with humour, this is a really interesting and absorbing read and is definitely a "what if ..." type of book. The characters are distinct and are an intriguing mix of human and dog. The only reason I didn't give this five stars was that it was a little bitty - I think I would have liked there to be less dogs overall, and then to be able to spend more time with each of them. Some dogs appeared and were gone in the blink of an eye ... which, I suppose is a reflection of "fate" ... we never know what's around the corner! This had a beautiful cover and the edition I read felt lovely in the hand. Do any of the dogs die happy? Well, you'll just have to read to find out.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 161 print pages.

Price I paid: Free, was a gift.

Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, ebook.

Revelation - Pure Class!

Revelation, by C.J. Sansom is the fourth book in the historical murder mystery series set in Tudor times featuring lawyer, Matthew Shardlake. It's 1843, and Henry VIII is wooing Catherine Parr, who he wants for his sixth wife. Archbishop Cranmer is watching closely, as Henry is sliding back towards the old religion, whereas Catherine has reformist sympathies. Meanwhile, Shardlake has taken on the case of a teenager who has been confined in Bedlam, and who spends all his time praying - is he a religious zealot, is he possessed or is he just ill? Then, an old friend is horrifically murdered and this leads Shardlake to discover a similar murder that had been covered up due to its proximity to Catherine Parr. Shardlake is asked to keep the cases secret to protect the Crown, something he does reluctantly, not wanting to get sucked back into the royal politics all over again. However, as more bodies start turning up, it is apparent that there is a serial killer on the loose who seems obsessed with delivering the torments written in the Book of Revelation. Shardlake, together with his assistant, Jack Barak, and his old friend, Dr Malton, work together with the King's coroner to solve the case. Well, what can I say about this book ...  from the very first paragraph, you know you are in the hands of a brilliant author. This is classy story telling at its very best, with believable characters, a plot full of twists and turns and plenty of historical content. We have a few subplots with Shardlake showing his soft side with the widow of his friend (is love on the horizon in a future book?), Barak and his wife at odds, and Dr Malton developing a potentially dangerous relationship with his new assistant. We are kept guessing as to the villain of the piece and what his true motives are, and boy oh boy, he truly is a villain - the murders are horrific and not for the faint hearted. Despite the gruesomeness at times, this is a fantastic read and I can thoroughly recommend that if you haven't sallied into this series, you must do so as a matter of some urgency.  Truly excellent!

My STAR rating: FIVE.

Length: 672 print pages.

Price I paid: Free, borrowed from my husband.

Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, ebook.

The Starless Sea - Beautiful But Confusing!

The Starless Sea, by Erin Morgenstern is primarily the story of Zachary Rawlins who stumbles across a strange book hidden in his university library that leads him into an amazing adventure. There are tales of lost cities, lovelorn prisoners and, remarkably, a memory from his own childhood. Following the clues contained both on and in the book, he ends up at a masquerade ball, then a secret club and finally into a subterranean labyrinth where there are many, many stories being held behind many doors. (Doors are a theme - how opening them can lead you to a different world, or shut you out from another.) We encounter various characters and their narratives appear and disappear from chapter to chapter. Zachary meets the love of his life in the process and it feels like his quest is to save... something ... the stories ... the labyrinth ... himself? The book is beautifully written and I loved certain passages, but then, just as I was relaxing into it and felt like I knew what was going on, we'd shift to other characters or other times and places. Very disconcerting. It interrupted the fluidity and mood and I found it really hard to get into the book for quite some time. I'm glad I persisted though, but maybe this is a book that would merit from a second reading as I expect I missed quite a lot of hints and clues on first read. And what is it with the owls? I don't feel like this was explained ... or if it was, it went over my head. I really wanted to love this book, but I didn't, and the ending left me a little on the discombobulated side. I have found it very hard to write this post because I am still not sure what was going on. So, a book to enjoy for the beautiful passages of writing, but be warned, it may leave you scratching your head. 

My STAR rating: THREE.

Length: 498 print pages.

Price I paid: free, borrowed from my husband.

Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, ebook.

Under Milk Wood - A Treat for Word Lovers

Under Milk Wood, by Dylan Thomas is a play written for radio and was his last work. It follows a day in the life of a small Welsh seaside town, from the dreams of the residents early in the morning, to the drunks creeping home at the end of the day. The residents of the town are brought to life with the most amazingly lyrical language, full of alliteration and poetic rhythms. Designed to be read aloud, its mix of narration, character dialogue and also the odd song, it's a treat for the tongue and the ear. One of my favourite lines is: "Only you can hear the houses sleeping in the streets in the slow deep salt and silent black, bandaged night." Superb! The characters are shown to us in a sequence of vignettes, and are a mix of quirky, funny, eccentric, forthright and even, a little disturbing! Each have their own distinct voice and we hear them clearly each time we drop in on them throughout the day - we, the observer, zipping from one to the other as if we were a fly taking a break on their wall for a few minutes and then moving on. The beauty of the language transports you to a time and place where not much happens, but yet, we learn so much - how Mrs Pugh loves to nag her husband, and he, in return, is always plotting to murder her; or how the love affair between Mr Edwards and Miss Price is conducted solely through letters - they see each other all the time and yet never speak! It is a work of beauty, darkness, love and humanity. If you get a chance to listen to the version narrated by Richard Burton, accompanied by a plethora of actors voicing the characters, you will not be disappointed. The words of Dylan Thomas, heard in Burton's amazing, chocolate coloured Welsh tones is an absolute treat. The only reason I didn't give this full marks is that I could have done without some of the songs which went on a little too long for my taste. Overall, a must for anyone who loves words and what a poet can do with them.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 102 print pages.

Price I paid: £7.99

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

Mercy - Darkly gripping crime thriller

Mercy by Jussi Adler Olsen is a crime novel set in Denmark and features Carl Mørck, a homicide detective who, following an incident which left one of his colleagues dead, another paralysed and himself injured, has returned to work only to be moved to the newly created Department Q. Set up for political reasons (and to get the uncooperative and hard-to-work-with Carl out of the way) Department Q's purpose is to review unsolved crimes. The first case concerns Merete Lynggaard, a politician who disappeared five years ago during a ferry journey with her brother. The narrative follows two time streams - one starting five years ago following Merete, and the other is in the present, following Carl who, believing Merete to be dead, reluctantly starts to investigate her case. He is assisted by Assad, an incredibly capable and positive man employed as his cleaner but who, it turns out, has a real feel for police work. The relationship between Carl and Assad is entertaining, and helps to provide some much needed relief from the Merete part of the story, which is unremittingly grim, as we see her being held captive in a metal room for months, which turn into years. She is being slowly and systematically tortured, but does not know by whom or why. Both her internal dialogue and interactions with her captors show her strength and determination to keep going so that she can get back to the one person she really loves, her disabled brother. This is an incredibly gripping thriller, with the case unraveling in a most satisfying way. As the two time frames begin to converge, the pace picks up and the reader is almost left breathless by the denouement. Great characterisation with a tight plot full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing for a very long time. It wasn't until I'd finished the book that I found out that it's the first in the "Department Q" series ... I can't believe I have inadvertently started yet another series when I haven't finished the many that I am partway through. Hey ho! I'm not sorry I read this book, however, because even if I don't go back for more, it was well worth it. Maybe not for the faint hearted or squeamish, but if you like your thrillers dark, then this could be for you.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 512 print pages.

Price I paid: £4.00.

Formats available: print, unabridged audio, ebook.

It's 2025 and Another Reading Year Begins

Welcome to 2025 and a fresh new year full of the promise of new books to read. 

Last year I read what I really, really wanted to read and, for the most part, it was a successful year with very few books picking up less than 4 stars. Yes, the piles of unread books has diminished (the charity shop received a good chunk that didn't make my heart scream ... READ ME NOW!), but it is far from being manageable (probably an impossible task, but one can dream!). This means that when people buy me a new book, it tends to go to the bottom of the still mountainous pile and, at the pace I'm currently reading (I think a sloth could do better!) it's going to be an absolute age before I get to them. This, inevitably leads to those awkward conversations when the giver asks me whether I liked the book or not ... and I have to admit that I've not got round to it as yet! 

So, this year, I'm going to prioritise those gifted books above anything else, and also try to block out time to actually read a little more rather than grab 5-10 minutes at the end of the day when all I really want to do is go to sleep! Oh, and I'm going to revisit the loiterers and lingerers ... if I don't feel that I'd regret donating them to a charity shop without reading them, then it's time to wave them goodbye!

So, here we go .... Happy New Reading Year to you all!

My Plans For the Day (Credit: Shoot Me Now GIFS)