Review ~ All Things Nice by Sheila Bugler

Brandon
O'Brien Books
April 2016

Never Forget. Never Forgive.

All Things Nice is the third book in the DI Ellen Kelly series of crime novels. This one sees DI Kelly in her first big case for months and those who have followed the series will know why this is, and for those new to the series I won't say more as all will be revealed when the author explains the back story and the personal issues which DI Kelly needs work through.

In this story, Charlotte Gleeson and her husband Nick seem to have everything, a nice home, a successful business and a life that is the envy of most people, but bubbling away under the surface is a hotchpotch of lies and deceit, which threaten, not just Charlotte and Nick but also the lives of those around them, with disastrous consequences. When a body is found in the aftermath of Charlotte's birthday party, the finger of suspicion wavers between those who were present at the party and those who could have had an agenda all of their own. 

The story takes a little while to get going, and some of the beginning scenes are rather slow and even though I have read the previous book in the series, it took me a while to get back into the psyche of the main characters, which sort of spoiled some of the effect of the current plot. I do find that some of the characters lack depth, and try as I might to like DI Kelly, I'm afraid that I don't, and therein lies the problem for me, as I don't really empathise with her problems and  that makes me lose focus on the rest of the story.

So, overall, this story is a fairly standard crime thriller with some interesting moments of police investigation which help to move the plot along but which, I'm afraid, failed to inspire me much.

As always, this is just my personal opinion and I'm sure that there are many readers who find this series fascinating, sadly, on this occasion,  I'm not able to enthuse.

Best Read With ....plenty of tea and a cheese sandwich...

About the Author

My thanks to Real Readers and Brandon for my copy of this book.

Review ~ The Midnight Watch by David Dyer

Atlantic
7 April 2016

In the early hours of the 15th April 1912, RMS Titanic sank in the North Atlantic Ocean with the loss of over 1500 passengers and crew. Much has been written about this catastrophic maritime disaster and there have been myriad book and movies made about the events of that cold April night. What The Midnight Watch does differently is that it focuses on the role of the SS Californian, which was sailing just a few miles away from the Titanic, close enough, in fact, to warn the ship, by radio, of impending danger from ice, but yet, it failed to respond to eight distress flares which the Titanic later sent up into the night sky.

In this novel, the story focuses on the events of the 15^th April, the dialogue between the SS Californian ship’s crew and the investigation by journalist John Steadman which reveals a story rich in intrigue and alive with gossip and innuendo.

The author has done a commendable job in bringing this little known story to life and by using what scant facts there are available about the SS Californian’s role in the disaster, he has developed an absorbing, almost biopic style novel. There is much to take in, particularly around the ship’s crew and their actions, which I thought gave the book its strength, and yet, the stubbornness of Steadman to get to the crux of the story is quite engrossing and makes for fascinating reading. I especially liked the way the story was divided into three parts, with part three being particularly well done.

Overall, The Midnight Watch is a fascinating story, and as the anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic looms once again, it’s refreshing to have a new slant on an old story, never forgetting, of course those 1500 souls who lost their lives in the ice and cold of a North Atlantic night in April, 1912.

Best read with … a hasty sandwich and a bourbon chaser, clinking with ice..

 About the Author

David Dyer spent many years as a lawyer at the London legal practice whose parent firm represented the Titanic’s owners in 1912. He has also worked as a cadet and ship’s officer on a wide range of merchant vessels, having graduated with distinction from the Australian Maritime College. His worldwide research and access to countless documents and artifacts has informed and inspired his work in The Midnight Watch. He currently teaches English in Sydney.

Find on his website

Visit his Facebook page 

Twitter @DavidDyerAuthor

Amazon UK

My thanks to Atlantic Books and Real readers for my copies of this book

The Midnight Watch will be published on the 7 April 2016.

~***~

Review ~ The Last of the Bowmans by J Paul Henderson

No Exit Press
January 2016

When Greg Bowman returns to England for his father's funeral, after an absence of seven years, he knows that he has more than a few bridges to build in order to restore his standing in the family. Owing to a mix up at the airport Greg arrives late to the funeral which doesn't endear him to his estranged brother Billy and his acerbic sister- in -law, Jean.

What then follows is an unusual, and it must be said rather odd little story, which looks at family dynamics and the all too easy rifts which keep people apart. As with all families, the Bowman's have hidden secrets and when his father's spirit, appears to Greg and charges him with the responsibility to 'fix the family' you know that things are going to get even weirder before the whole story is completed.

This is now the second book by this author that I have read, the first being the quirkily titled Last Bus to Coffeeville, and as before, I am intrigued by the originality of his style of storytelling. I’m not altogether sure that some of the elements in this book sits easily with me, but, there is no doubt that all of human nature is contained within and none more so than the Bowmans who, collectively, are an odd bunch of characters

So overall, this is a quirky read and just that little bit different...

Best Read with ... Greg's favourite, Cotoletta alla Milanese and a bottle of Chianti....

About the author

J Paul Henderson was born and grew up in the west of Yorkshire. The Last of the Bowmans is his second novel..

My thanks to Real Readers and No Exit Press for my review copy of this book.

The Last of the Bowmans is published on the 21st January 2016.

~***~

Review ~ Killing Eva by Alex Blackmore

No Exit Press

To be published  November 2015

What's it about:

Eva Scott is wanted . . . dead.

Witnessing a dramatic murder at London’s Waterloo Station has recalled events in Paris and Paraguay that previously shattered her world. The man’s last words on the station concourse awakened a history that Eva had thought long buried. But the past is about to be resurrected, in all its brutal reality.

Eva finds herself facing terrifying danger. A genetic coding key is keeping her alive – but foreshadowing her death. Inextricably linked to her survival is a plan to destabilise the structure of the global economy, and trusting the wrong person could prove fatal. . .

Fighting is futile. Escape is impossible. Survival is everything.

My thoughts :

When Eva Scott is confronted by a dying man at London's Waterloo station, she is ill prepared for the cataclysmic events which follow her. Always keeping one step ahead of danger is a difficult task,and for Eva, her entire future is irrevocably linked with a past she is trying to escape. The novel gets off to a cracking start and the intricacy of the plot develops really well, and as the story progresses you can't help but be taken in by this modern day thriller. There are lots of twists and turns in the story, and, almost like a jigsaw puzzle you have to piece the clues together, which is an absorbing task. 

When the puzzle starts to come together, I started to gel more with Eva's character, as I'm afraid at first, I didn't like her over much. And also, if I'm perfectly honest, I have to say that I struggled with the story and had to keep backtracking to try and make sense of where the plot was taking me. This is not because the story is badly done, far from, it's exceedingly well written, it's just that not having read the first Eva Scott thriller, Lethal Profit, I felt a bit lost by the references to what had happened previously, and I couldn't always understand fully just what Eva was coping with from the previous story.

However, my overall impression is this is a story from a very competent writer, who clearly spends a lot of time developing her characters and this shows in the strength of purpose that exudes from Eva, who is a feisty and determined protagonist. I am sure that readers who are following this series will be delighted with this continuation but for those new to Eva Scott, for greater enjoyment,  my advice would be to start at the beginning with Lethal Profit.

About the Author

Amazon UK

               My thanks to Real Readers and No Exit Press for my review copy of this book.

~***~

A Want of Kindness by Joanne Limburg

Atlantic Books
July 2015

I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to read something about one of our more enigmatic Queens of England, and I have to admit that, despite my love of all things historical, I was woefully ignorant of the life and times of Queen Anne. Sure, I knew all about her more charismatic uncle, Charles II, and sort of, understood the politics behind the events that happened during the reign of Charles' successor, and Anne's father , James II, but of his two daughters, Mary and Anne, I knew very little.

What A Want of Kindness aims to do is to give an imagined life to the young Anne of York, from her early childhood, through to her accession as Queen of England, and by using documented letters and absorbing historical detail, the author succeeds in bringing this feisty young girl to life. The splendid latter years of the Stuart era come alive, and the liveliness of the Restoration court with its plots and counter plots, along with the internal politics, all help to make this a fascinating and lively read. 

The story is quite complex, there is much historical information to take in, so I didn't read it quickly, as I wanted to try and learn as much as I could. The author has a clearly done an enormous amount of research and this shows in the intelligent and introspective narrative, and the way in which the history is allowed to speak for itself. I grew to really like Anne, in fact I liked her rather more than her sister Mary, and sympathised greatly with her, as she struggled with numerous pregnancies, in her desperate quest to have a living child and so maintain the Stuart dynasty.

In this the 350th anniversary of the birth of Queen Anne, this is a timely and fitting celebration of her life and times and is a commendable debut historical novel.

My thanks to Real Readers  and Atlantic Books for my review copy of this book

About the author

Amazon UK

~***~

Review ~ Killer Plan by Leigh Russell

No Exit Press
May 2015

When Caroline Robinson accidentally bumps into an old school acquaintance in the local park, both she and Brian share confidences about their respective partners which really they have no business sharing. Inevitably, one thing leads to another and before too long both Caroline and Brian are involved in a tragedy of epic proportions. For DI Geraldine Steel, the murder mystery at the heart of the novel comes a-calling rather too close to home and the eventual outcome tests, not just, Geraldine's skill as a police officer, but also calls into question her professional judgement, which could, all too easily, have developed into an unmitigated disaster.

I found the idea of the story interesting and felt that it could have been quite riveting were it not for the fact that I found the writing to be irritatingly disjointed in places. As the story progresses the plot seems to become increasingly implausible and, if I'm brutally honest, more than a little farcical in places. And yet, I actually rather liked the premise of the story and wanted to read on to find how the story would eventually pan out.

I do rather enjoy the Geraldine Steel Mystery series and have now read several. Each story stands on its own merits and it’s easy to pick up the back story should you come across a book in the middle of the series run. However, I'm not convinced that this is the best one I've read, but it’s hugely entertaining, just as long as you don’t want anything too complex or gritty.

My thanks to No Exit Press and Real Readers for my review copy of this book to read in advance of its May publication.

~***~

Review ~ The Strings of Murder by Oscar De Muriel

Expected publication
Penguin
February 2015

Inspector Ian Frey is sent from London to investigate, what could potentially be an imitator Ripper murder. Under the cover of a fake department specialising in the occult, Frey arrives in Edinburgh, ostensibly to meet up with his superior officer, Detective‘Nine-Nails’ McGray, who heads up a department dealing with, in Frey’s eyes, supernatural nonsense. From the outset, the derisive banter between Frey and McGray is set to hamper the criminal investigation as neither character has much time for the other. And yet, the series of vile murders which seem to be targeting the musicians of the Conservatoire of Music will test both men’s investigative skills to limit of patience.

As with any new series there is an element of getting to know the major characters, their petty idiosyncrasies and minor peculiarities are explained with just enough detail to sharpen the appetite, and as the story deepens, we start to learn more about Frey and McGray; discovering what makes them act and react the way they do, forms an exciting part of the story.

Combining the best of crime noir with well researched and atmospheric historical fiction, this debut novel captures the very essence of ill fated fortune. The story abounds with gothic gloom and brings the workings of Victorian Edinburgh to life in decadent detail. Both the place and its people  leap off the page with great energy and vigour, which helps to sustain, what is in effect, a very cleverly contrived murder mystery.

I really enjoyed discovering the darker side of Victorian Edinburgh in the company of Frey and McGray, and hope to be able to make their acquaintance again as the series continues.

More about the author

My thanks to Real Readers and Penguin Books for my advance reading copy of this book.

*This book is only due for publication in February 2015*

****

Review ~The Girl in the Photograph by Kate Riordan

To be Published by Penguin Books Uk
January 2015

The story opens in 1936, with a prologue which sets the scene for an emotional and thought provoking read following the fortunes of Alice Eveleigh as she attempts to come to terms with a personal event which will have a shattering effect on her life. Banished to Fiercombe Manor, Alice gets drawn into the story of the beautiful and enigmatic Elizabeth Stanton, who was the lady of the manor in the latter part of the nineteenth century. This dual time narrative then switches seamlessly between two time frames, and as the story of both Alice and Elizabeth start to evolve, the similarities in their stories makes for compelling reading.

I was drawn into this story from the beginning and soon started to empathise with both female protagonists and found that the style of writing very easily allowed you to cross through time, so that both storylines became quite compelling. The minutiae of a family caught up in tragedy is well explored and the author has done a commendable job in bringing the story alive in the imagination, so that the haunting nature of the narrative continues to enthral from first page to last. There were some genuinely creepy moments which, whilst reading, made me look a little more closely at the shadows in the room, but overall this was a finely drawn story about family secrets and the ultimate heartbreak of loss.

Highly recommended if you like books by Kate Morton, Katherine Webb, Susanna Kearsley.

My thanks to Real Readers, NetGalley and Penguin Books UK for my copy of this book to read in advance of its publication.

****

Review ~ The Twilight Hour by Nicci Gerrard

Penguin UK
2014

Be with me now, at the twilight hour....

Eleanor Lee lives alone her house by the sea, but aged ninety-four and almost blind, Eleanor is a source worry for her family who try to persuade her to move into care. A whole lifetimes of possessions need to be tidied away but Eleanor needs to do this without her family being involved. When Peter Mistley, a young friend of her grandson Jonah, is enlisted to help catalogue Eleanor’s personal effects, a whole range of secrets are exposed.

What then follows is a well written account of a life encumbered by memories and as Peter starts to delve into Eleanor’s life there develops a rich closeness between them and a gradual drawing together of both the old and the young which is especially poignant. I found the book easy to read and very quickly became involved in the detritus of Eleanor’s life. I think the author really got into the minutiae of daily life and emphasised that we all have secrets and that all too often the discovery of these hidden away memories can leave us feeling vulnerable and exposed.

All in all, a good light read with interesting characters and well thought out storyline.

My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Books UK and Real Readers for my copy of this book.

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Review ~ Forgotten Authors. ~ Scottish Lost Treasures

Palimpsest
2014

As more publishing companies have disappeared, and with them many great books which might never be reprinted, Palimpsest is seeking to save Scottish literary classics. The first list will be launched in October 2014 .

Marriage by Susan Ferrier

Anonymously published in 1818, Susan Ferrier’s Marriage, is the first of her three published novels, and combines the story of a scandalous marriage, a dysfunctional family and the rich portrayal of nineteenth century life. Reminiscent of the style of Jane Austen, there is much to enjoy in the clear prose and fine attention to detail. Once I got accustomed to the overall writing style, I rather enjoyed being immersed in this long forgotten way of life. The author is adept at writing about what she knows and I would think that the social traditions she so clearly describes would have been part of her social background. It is commendable that the rise of e-publishing allows a forgotten author another chance to share their stories with a new audience.

Gillespie by J. MacDougall Hay.

The austerity of nineteenth century life is explored in this powerful novel which examines social conscience amongst the Scottish working classes. The eponymous Gillespie Strang is a ruthless and devious man, not likeable in any measure, out to fill his own pockets at the expense of the working class fishing community in which he lives.

Overall, I found the novel difficult to read, not because it was badly written, far from it, it’s a weighty tome. However, I felt that the Scottish dialect made the story difficult to scan easily and left me feeling frustrated and, I must admit, rather downhearted. Not a book to read if you dislike heavy prose, and certainly not joyous in any measure but it works as an example of nineteenth century literary fiction.

Ringan Gilhaize by John Galt.

The troubled history of Scotland’s seventeenth century Covenanters forms the basis of this novel which follows the fortunes of Ringan Gilhaize, whose religious and political conflict is explored in great detail. I found the story ponderous in the extreme and, I’m afraid it’s not one I found I could read easily or with any great enthusiasm. Throughout, I was reminded of the work of Sir Walter Scott but found that even making the comparison with Scott’s work, there was something entirely lacking for me in Ringan Gilhaize. Some works succeed in being brought alive again, sadly for me this concept didn’t work with this forgotten story.

My thanks to Real Readers for the opportunity to read again the work of thses forgotten Scottish authors.

Review ~ The Waiting Game by Sheila Bugler

Brandon

An Imprint of O'Brien Books

2014

Watching. Waiting

Watching. Waiting.

Watching. Waiting

In this chilling psychological thriller, someone is stalking the weak, bringing fear and trepidation to a group of seemingly unrelated characters. The plot moves along reasonably well and there are enough twists and turns in the story to keep you guessing until at least mid way through the book, when I did then guess the perpetrator. I rather liked the short and snappy chapters, and the author did a reasonable job in bringing the characters to life, although I would have liked a little more oomph in DI Kelly’s character as she comes across as rather one dimensional.  Ellen Kelly seems to be set adrift in a world in which she has only a short grasp on what's happening around her. Caught up in a relationship which seems to be out of control and with a shadowy past which at time threatens to overwhelm her, she seems an unlikely leader of a criminal investigation team. 

As this is the second book in the series, and not having read the first book, I may well have missed some vital information which would have made the book work better for me. I’m not saying that it’s uninteresting, and if you like crime novels in the style of Nicci French and Sophie Hannah, then I am sure this will work for you, it’s just that I expected a little more and at times felt underwhelmed, as if I had read all this before.

My thanks to Real Readers and Brandon Books for my review copy of this one.

*~*~*

Review ~ The Man from Berlin by Luke McCallin

No Exit Press
27 November 2014

The Man from Berlin is a complicated historical thriller set during the chaos of WW2. In Sarajevo in 1943 Abwehr Lieutenant Stefan Hende is found dead, shot by killers unknown. Linked to his death, is the brutal murder of Marija Vukie, a beautiful socialite and propaganda film maker. The deaths, instead of being assigned to the local military police, are assigned to Captain Gregor Reinhardt, a military intelligence officer, who is trying very hard to keep a low profile. However, this case throws him into the very heart of political corruption.

As this is the first in the series there is rather a lot to take in about Reinhardt. His past history is complex and his strong ethical convictions often place him in direct contrast to those he serves. As a thriller, it works. The writing is assured and competent with a fine eye for detail. The plot is well controlled and the intricacies of German war politics are accurately portrayed.

 However, I have to say that I struggled with the book; this was largely due to the unfamiliarity of Yugoslavian names, and the added complexities of reading about a time in history of which I know very little. However, if you are looking for a literary historical thriller and don’t mind getting to grips with a complex and intricate story line, then this first book in the Gregor Reinhardt series is a good place to start.

My thanks to Real Readers and No Exit Press for my review copy of this book.

About the Author

***

Review ~ The Hot Country by Robert Olen Butler

No Exit Press
18 December 2014

In 1914, war correspondent Christopher Marlow ‘Kit’  Cobb arrives in Vera Cruz, Mexico to report on the complexities of civil war.  En route to a meeting with the revolutionary Pancho Villa, Marlowe assumes a false identity in order to pursue the German diplomat Friedrich von Mensinger. However, his journey is fraught with danger and very soon Kit finds himself caught up, not just in perilous political intrigue, but also in a dangerous intimate relationship with a young Mexican woman, who may have more than a passing interest in the revolution. Kit is a dangerous protagonist, a man of great contradictions, and his overriding belief in getting things done is the fundamental focus of the novel.

There is no denying that the author is adept at this particular genre, and controls the narrative in a very accomplished way. The story is complex, full of adventure and unfurls almost like cinematography, until you can almost imagine it being one of those late night movies that grabs your attention, until almost without realising, and against your better judgement, you get drawn into the story. The plot is well controlled and very detailed; however, I have to say that I struggled with the book, particularly in the first two thirds, when I was very tempted to give up. The story, well written though it may be, just didn't grab my attention fully, and I must admit to skim reading over parts of the narrative.

If you like complicated historical fiction and enjoy starting an adventurous thriller series from the beginning then The Hot Country is a good place to start, as this sees the commencement of the Christopher Marlow Cobb series of books of which there are now three.

My thanks to Real Readers and No Exit Press for my review copy of this book.

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About the Author

 

***

Review ~ Hold the Dark by William Giraldi

No Exit Press
To be published
February 2015

Dark secrets combined with horrifying revenge form the basis for this cleverly controlled and decidedly creepy thriller.

The dark menace of Hold the Dark permeates throughout the narrative until you begin to feel an ice cold chill of dread. In the Alaskan village of Keelut, wolves have allegedly slinked right into the village in order to take away small children.  When her six year old son disappears Medora Slone enlists the help of wolf expert Russell Core, who must try to get to the heart of this horrific mystery. And when Medora’s husband, Vernon, is invalided out of the army, he returns from Iraq hell bent on finding his son and wreaking revenge.

Hold the Dark is exceptionally bleak, and probably not a story to read if you are feeling downhearted. However, even though the story is uncompromisingly desolate, there is no escaping that it captures your attention from the beginning and literally gets right under your skin. The core of its darkness comes in the uncompromising violence which is threaded throughout the book, and whilst this is not to my personal taste, I acknowledge that it adds credibility, not just to the barrenness of the story’s landscape, but also to the obdurate nature of its characters.

As thrillers go it held my attention throughout, however, I must say I breathed a huge sigh of relief when the book was over and the darkness receded.

My thanks to Real Readers and No Exit Press for my review copy of this book.

Edited

 ** Now published 26th February 2016 **

Review ~ White Feathers by Susan Lanigan

Brandon
An imprint of O'Brien
August 2014

In this centenary year of the start of WW1, there have been lots of tempting books on offer, which give voice to many stories which sum up the effects of war on a generation of young people.The story opens in 1913 as Eva Downey, a young Irish immigrant, learns that an unexpected legacy gives her the means of escape from a remote father and hostile stepmother. Attending finishing school in Eastbourne gives Eva the means to escape from her family circumstances and allows her a little freedom. Whilst at The Links, she meets and falls in love with her teacher, Christopher Shandlin, who is  an admirable man with strong principles. However, as England is poised on the brink of war, strong beliefs do not meet the exacting standards of a nation who are sending hundreds of young men out to fight a war. Forced into to giving her sweetheart a white feather to denote his opposition to fighting, Eva must live with the consequences of her actions.

The book is a beautifully written, with strong attention to detail and there is a real authenticity to the storyline which is maintained throughout the whole of the novel. The troubled early years of the war is recreated in intimate detail, made all the more shocking by the real ethical and moral dilemma faced, not just by Eva and Christopher but by the country as a whole. I empathised greatly with Eva and understood just how difficult life was during this awful time.

The emotional journey of the story is really hard hitting at times, and the book seems to cover an awful lot of ground, not just about the war itself, but also about the women’s movement, suffragettes, conscientious objectors, burgeoning sexuality and marital infidelity, but it’s all remarkably well done and it soon becomes a real page turner of a story.

 There is no doubt that this is a really good debut novel from a talented new author and I’m sure that White Feathers will stand out from the crowd of WW1 novels in this centenary year.

My thanks to Real Readers and O’Brien for my review copy of this book.

Amazon UK

***

Review ~ Black's Creek by Sam Millar

Brandon Books
An imprint of O'Brien
2014

A powerful and atmospheric coming of age story....

A trio of young boys, skinny dipping in Jackson’s Lake in upstate New York, witness a tragic  event which has a devastating effect, not just on the boys, but also on the rest of the small community of Black’s Creek. As the novel gets underway, the tone is dark and brooding, and you soon begin to realise that there are dangerous secrets to be uncovered, and as the insidious feeling of menace creeps ever deeper, the threat of danger soon gets right under your skin and enters into your bones.

Beautifully atmospheric, the unfolding story is hauntingly realistic and the sparseness of the narrative only emphasises the stark reality of the story. The writing is imaginative and well conceived; the author captures perfectly the brooding nature of small town America, a place where resentment lingers and long held grudges are allowed to fester and grow.

I read the book quickly. It very soon becomes a compelling page turner and the need to know just how the story would eventually be played out kept me turning the pages long into the night. This is the first book of Sam Millar’s that I have read and whilst I'm not sure that this dark and brooding gothic noir is to my taste, I can’t deny that his legions of fans will love it.

And just to be absolutely sure ~ this is a stand-alone novel and not part of Millar’s best selling Kane Series.

Amazon UK

My thanks to Real Readers and O’Brien for my review copy of this book.

About the Author

Review ~ The Blood Dimmed Tide by Anthony Quinn

Published by No Exit Press

Oldcastle Books

October 2014

"To make contact with a ghost you must be prepared to relinquish the very idea of your own existence"

Blending together fact and fiction, this book explores the concept of life after death, and of the unbreakable ties which bind us together. Using the writer, W B Yeats as his protagonist, and his fame as one of Ireland’s most literary figures, gives credence to a journey into the mysteries and vagaries of the occult.

The story unfolds as Yeats returns to Ireland in 1918, and whilst this is a time of great political unrest, it is also a time of great personal change for Yeats, and his investigation into the supernatural leads him to seek out the services of an apprentice ghost catcher. Their perilous journey along Ireland’s untamed west coast, in company with a restless ghost, forms the core of the story.

Initially, I struggled with the novel, as having no real knowledge of either Yeats or of the Irish situation in 1918, I didn't warm to the idea of the story, but about a third of the way into the novel and the story starts to emerge and becomes an interesting account of life in the early part of the twentieth century. The author has a confident style of writing which has realistic literary feel to it, and he uses intricate descriptions of both Irish history, and of its wild and beautiful coastline, to good effect. The unusual story of W B Yeats and his wife, Georgie strikes a chord and adds a very personal touch.

Overall, I thought this was an interesting and well written novel which looks at the bizarre craze for the occult that was rife during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, and which combines this with the history and political uncertainty of a proud nation undergoing great change.

My thanks to Real Readers and No Exit Press for my advance copy of this book.

This book is published on the 23rd October 2014 

by 

No Exit Press 

an imprint of Oldcastle Books

***Irish Book Launch 20th November***

Join Anthony at No Alibis Bookstore in Belfast

on Thursday 20th November at 7pm.

Absolutely free event - no tickets needed.

Details here

*~*~*

Review ~ Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

Michael Joseph
Penguin UK
July 2014

Jane and her small son, Ziggy move to a beach resort in one of the Australian suburbs. It’s one of those small towns where everyone knows everyone else and for a time Jane struggles to fit in, until she is taken under the capable wing of Madeline, who introduces her to the other mothers with children at the Pirriwee Kindergarten. However, in this upper middle class utopia, emotions run high, petty jealousies are rife and the ubiquitous competition between these upper middle class mothers is so fierce it’s frightening to behold.

Although the story starts off slowly, don’t be fooled into thinking nothing much is happening, because the tension gradually starts to build as tantalising glimpses of what is to come start to be revealed. The book’s central theme of motherhood, friendship and some of the more disturbing aspects of family life is expertly controlled by an author at the top end of her game. There is no doubt that Liane Moriarty is a master at the minutiae of daily life, she creates a world that is utterly recognisable, and adds in problems and scenarios which could all too easily take place in your own community. I love how she develops her characters, so that they become entirely believable, and before too long you start to miss them when you have to put the story down, and believe me, it becomes really difficult to put this one down.

This is now the third book by this talented author that I have been lucky enough to read and review and in my opinion Liane Moriarty's storytelling just gets better and better. To give any more clues about what takes place would be a complete disservice, both to the author and to the story, so on that note, I’ll just end with the immortal words...read it for yourself.

My thanks to Real Readers and Penguin UK for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

***

About the Author

*~*~*

Review ~ Race to Death by Leigh Russell

Paperback to be published
24 September 2014
No Exit Press
Available now on Kindle

Race to Death, begins with a suspicious death at York Racecourse, which, for newly promoted DI Ian Peterson, starts a convoluted crime search. For Peterson, lately transferred to York CID, not only has to cope with a new detective team, but also with a crime scene which offers little in the way of clues or explanation. What then follows is a convoluted and complicated crime story which uses the initial crime scene as a starting block for other more complicated deaths. For Peterson and his team, there seems little correlation between the crimes but gradually truths are exposed and strands start to come together.

I enjoyed the story, it’s an easy read and yet the twist and turns are complex and well crafted and there are more than enough red herrings to keep you guessing until the end. The characterisation is particularly well done and I liked the way story started to piece together with just enough tension to keep the momentum alive. The ending of the story left everything nicely wrapped up but with the added promise of more to come from DI Peterson.

There is no doubt that the author is an accomplished crime writer, she has already had a successful run with her Geraldine Steel series of crime novels. It is interesting, now, to see her turn her attention to Ian Peterson who for so long worked in Steel’s shadow as her detective sergeant. In this, his own series, DI Peterson is newly promoted and transferred from London to York. His wife Bev, also gets more of a starring role, and as she learns to cope with living in a new town  we get more of her personality, and start to piece together the dynamics of them as a couple.

This is the second book in the DI Ian Peterson series, and whilst it is more enjoyable to start the series at the beginning, it is by no means essential as the author provides enough clues to able to pick up the finer points of the back story.

My thanks to Real Readers and No Exit Press for my review copy of Race to Death.

About the Author

Book 1 ~ Cold Sacrifice
available on Amazon.co.uk 




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Review ~ The Unfinished Symphony of You and Me by Lucy Robinson

Penguin

19th June 2014

Brilliantly Fresh

Gorgeously Romantic

Hilariously Funny

As a child Sally had to quietly hide her skill and love of opera from her unimaginative parents and when as an adult she takes a job as assistant dresser at the prestigious Royal Opera House, she never reveals that actually she can sing opera like the best of the best. Only her teddy bear Carrot and the inside of her wardrobe know just how good Sally’s voice really is. Going to New York, on an opera tour opens up the possibility of Sally actually pursuing her operatic dream, but there’s also the heady possibility of a love affair which could change her life forever.

This is a lovely, warm, witty and intelligent summer read which has all the possibility of becoming one my favourite of Lucy Robinson’s books to date. She has created, in Sally, a slightly quirky heroine who warms your heart from the beginning and in whose company you feel a rosy glow. You can’t help but want her to succeed in her chosen career and continue to hope that she finds love somewhere along the line.

Once I started to read, I found that the pages sort of turned themselves; it’s an incredibly easy read and nicely divided into operatic segments with some nice musical references threaded through out the story. This is one of those lovely summer reads which is best read in glorious sunshine with a glass of something cold nearby.

My thanks to Penguin Books and Real Readers for my review copy of The Unfinished Symphony of You and Me.

About the Author

http://lucy-robinson.co.uk/

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***Giveaway now closed **

WINNER CHOSEN BY RANDOM.ORG IS

Margaret

Well Done