Book Review - All the Broken Places by John Boyne
‘All the broken places’ picks up where ‘The boy with the striped Pyjamas’ finished. Older sister Gretel and her mother are hoping to start again in Paris, but can they escape the past, and do they deserve to? This is an engrossing, thought provoking follow up from John Boyne that is another masterclass in empathetic storytelling.
Book Review - The Night Man - Jørn Lier Horst
Compelling and superior ‘Scandi Noir’ thriller that covers some realistic issues such as migrant children, international drug networks and crime gangs. A gritty and current thriller with plenty of twists and turns.
Book Review - Desert Star - Michael Connelly
Ballard and Bosch are working in the cold case unit, this time investigating the murder of a young girl, sister of the councilman who is sponsoring the department. Harry Bosch has another case on his mind - the Gallagher family, found buried in a hole in the Mojave desert. Another superior thriller from Micheal Connelly.
Book Review - Foster - Claire Keegan
Book review of ‘foster’ by Claire Keegan, a novella about a young girl who goes to stay with her mothers people during the school summer holidays. Both fragile and heart rending, it inspired the recently Oscar nominated ‘An Cailín Ciúin (The Quiet Girl).
Book Review - Sea of Tranquility - Emily St. John Mandel
Emily St. John Mandels most recent book is a beguiling mix of the contemporary, historical and science fiction, in a story that arcs over the centuries.
Book Review -Bret Easton Ellis - The Shards
Sharp and engaging work of autofiction about a group of wealthy teenagers in 80’s LA, with a serial killer on the prowl. Dark and disturbing as you’d expect, but a page turner and great fun.
Book Review - Moonflower Murders - Anthony Horowitz
Another successful outing for Susan Ryeland and Atticus Pünd, in a follow up to the acclaimed ‘Magpie Murders.’ With two detective stories for the price of one, it feels like a tribute to the classics of the genre. Complex and labyrinth, this is hugely enjoyable.
Book Review - Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy - John le Carre
In ‘Tinker, tailor, soldier, spy’ George Smiley is on the trail of a mole. It’s a battle of wits between him and Karla, his nemesis in the Russian secret service. Le Carré is a master craftsman and this is superb tale of betrayal and espionage.
Book Review - The Glass hotel by Emily St. John Mandel
‘The glass hotel’ is a lyrical and haunting novel, with overlapping stories and a multi textured narrative. It’s about surviving grief and loneliness and searching for meaning.
Book Review - The Almanac - A Seasonal Guide to 2023 by Lia Leendertz
A practical and useful guide to the year ahead, beautifully illustrated. Packed full with nature tips, celestial events, gardening advice and recipes, a great read to realign ourselves with the seasons.
Book Review - Commonwealth by Ann Patchett
Touching and tender story of family dynamics, set over five decades. It’s a book with a warm heart, told by a master storyteller.
Book Review - Magpie murders by Anthony Horowitz
A fun and extremely clever slice of detective fiction from Anthony Horowitz, a book within a book. Reads like a greatest hits tribute to the golden age of crime mystery novels.
Book Review - Beasts of the Earth by James Wade
Wonderfully dark slice of gothic southern crime fiction, with believable, troubled characters and a story that will keep you engrossed on dark winter evenings.
Book Review - North to Paradise - Ousman Umar
Short but powerful book about a boys journey from a small village in Ghana to the streets of Barcelona, and the dangers he faces on the way.
Book Review - The Brain that Changes itself - Norman Doidge
Fascinating work of non-fiction of Brain plasticity, using case studies to explain new scientific discoveries in the field. An accessible and engaging work, even for those without scientific minds.
Book Review - Ordinary Grace - William Kent Krueger
Frank Drumm looks back at a summer 40 years previously in a sleepy Minnesota town, when the discovery of a young boys body was to be the start of a fateful summer that would have an impact on his life. A well written and engaging thriller.
Book Review - Underland: A deep time journey by Robert Macfarlane
Robert Macfarlanes documents his subterranean explorations to places such as the Parisian Catacombs, ice caps in Greenland and caves in Norway. Lyrical but overly long.
Book Review - Fair Warning by Michael Connelly
The third book in Michael Connelly’s Jack McEvoy series works just as well as a stand alone thriller, with the investigative reporter on the trail of a serial killer. Feels up to date, with issues such as genetic research, the dark web, and Incel groups. Literally a cracking read.
Book Review - A long petal of the Sea - Isabel Allende
Isabel Allende’s masterful storytelling is on display in this historical epic and family sage that spans continents and decades.
Book Review - The Colony - Audrey Magee
Set on an Island off the coast of Ireland in 1979, Audrey Magee’s lyrical novel is about imperialism, identity, art and self determination.
