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.