I do love a good thriller and this is very enjoyable, intelligent and satisfyingly epic! Its main characters are also well-developed and interesting, I do love a good thriller and this is very enjoyable, intelligent and satisfyingly epic! Its main characters are also well-developed and interesting, especially QC Ella Blake. I didn't get the significance of it all at the end, hence 4 not 5 stars, but I did enjoy the read. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights.
Merged review:
I do love a good thriller and this is very enjoyable, intelligent and satisfyingly epic! Its main characters are also well-developed and interesting, especially QC Ella Blake. I didn't get the significance of it all at the end, hence 4 not 5 stars, but I did enjoy the read. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights....more
Hugely fun, very entertaining and brilliant monsters - although I think it's their parasites that steal the show. John Scalzi has been one of my favouHugely fun, very entertaining and brilliant monsters - although I think it's their parasites that steal the show. John Scalzi has been one of my favourite authors for a fair old while now and this book shows why. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights....more
I'm a huge fan of Matthew Reilly's thrillers (some are among my favourite books) and The One Impossible Labyrinth feels momentous as, after a fair fewI'm a huge fan of Matthew Reilly's thrillers (some are among my favourite books) and The One Impossible Labyrinth feels momentous as, after a fair few years, it finishes the Jack West Jr series and our hero's endeavours to save the universe. It's all action from page one, immediately following the previous book which had a very irritating cliffhanger of an end, so don't read this without reading that one first. The writing is energetic and surprisingly emotional - this is fundamentally a novel about love, family and friendship, with a lot of puzzles, monsters (human and otherwise), traps, with everything on an epic scale. As usual, there are lots of illustrations to chart the labyrinth. Not my favourite of the series - it's a bit too full on and jumps about as the race speeds up, but I think this was probably inevitable now that we're at the end. I'm interested to see where the author heads next. He's written some stunning standalone thrillers (sometimes featuring the same characters). I'd love another of those. 3.5 stars rounded up....more
It's always good to see Macro and Cato again and, although this is in my opinion one of the weaker books in the series (I'm not sure I get on with ganIt's always good to see Macro and Cato again and, although this is in my opinion one of the weaker books in the series (I'm not sure I get on with gangster novels, whatever the period), I still enjoyed it. But the signs are good that this interlude away from the Roman army will come to an end in the next book as events get out of control in Britannia. 3.5 stars rounded up. The review is now on For Winter Nights....more
The start of a new space opera and it is brilliant. Set in Scotland only 50 years in the future from now, it feels really real and touchable but it alThe start of a new space opera and it is brilliant. Set in Scotland only 50 years in the future from now, it feels really real and touchable but it also has the wonder that I love in science fiction as we explore another distant planet, Apis. The characters are fantastic, their concerns and worries (revolving around nationhood, independence, distrust) feel timely and that is married perfectly with the science fiction element. This is very intelligent, original and engrossing science fiction, with a really strong sense of foreboding and terror. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights....more
Absolutely superb. This series now moves to the end of the war and the mystery that occupies the minds of intelligence services of the superpowers - dAbsolutely superb. This series now moves to the end of the war and the mystery that occupies the minds of intelligence services of the superpowers - did Hitler survive the war? Thoroughly exciting, ingenious and page-turning. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights....more
I love this series! This is one of my favourites in it - the demise of the insane gladiator emperor Commodus. review to follow shortly on For Winter NI love this series! This is one of my favourites in it - the demise of the insane gladiator emperor Commodus. review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights....more
Really good, if inevitably and unavoidably depressing. I do wish Ken Follett would write more contemporary thrillers, he is so good at them! A long boReally good, if inevitably and unavoidably depressing. I do wish Ken Follett would write more contemporary thrillers, he is so good at them! A long book but thoroughly engrossing and a fast, compulsive read....more
What an exciting thriller! A very tense and intense pageturner. One of the few occasions when I can actually call a read exhilarating. Review to folloWhat an exciting thriller! A very tense and intense pageturner. One of the few occasions when I can actually call a read exhilarating. Review to follow closer to the publication date on For Winter Nights....more
I love this series. I've always been fascinated by the Mitfords and these crime novels focus on different sisters in turn - this time it's the turn ofI love this series. I've always been fascinated by the Mitfords and these crime novels focus on different sisters in turn - this time it's the turn of Jessica (or Decca), who, it seems, has turned communist, eloped and run off to the Spanish Civil War. Louisa and Guy (now private detectives) must track them down while also investigating the case of a missing woman. There are hints of the horrors of the war in Spain, as well as the increasing menace of fascism which so enthralled more than one of the sisters, but these are light and cosy crime novels and I always look forward to them. I listened to the audiobook, which was well-read but I think the treebook would be better due to the many brief chapters. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights....more
Jack Lark is one of my favourite fictional heroes and it's good to see him back, this time accompanying an expedition down the Nile to secure trade roJack Lark is one of my favourite fictional heroes and it's good to see him back, this time accompanying an expedition down the Nile to secure trade routes while fighting (literally) those who trade in human beings. Jack is starting to feel his years... I loved the Nile setting and the expedition battles horrendous conditions as the river narrows and the crocodiles watch. There is violence and I did skip over some parts of that. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights....more
What an atmospheric read this is! Genuinely frightening and disturbing with a curious main character, through whom we see events unfold. Wonderfully rWhat an atmospheric read this is! Genuinely frightening and disturbing with a curious main character, through whom we see events unfold. Wonderfully read by Dickon Farmar. The novel lends itself very well to the audio format....more
These, and the Chronicles of St Mary's, and my favourite audiobooks in the world - thanks to the stories and writing of their author but also due to tThese, and the Chronicles of St Mary's, and my favourite audiobooks in the world - thanks to the stories and writing of their author but also due to the absolutely brilliant narration of Zara Ramm. This strange and funny and tragic and warm and weird world is alive to me and I adore these books. My only issue with Saving Time is that I thought the ending was rather rushed and under-explored but otherwise fabulous. A bonus here is that there is lots of Max and that is always a good thing - except if you're the Time Police of course........more
I love Minette Walter's writing and characterisation whatever the genre and I love that she has turned her attention to the English Civil War, one of I love Minette Walter's writing and characterisation whatever the genre and I love that she has turned her attention to the English Civil War, one of my favourite periods of history. A substantial chunk is set during the siege of Lyme Regis and I was enthralled. Jayne Swift, a physician determined to stay neutral in the war, perhaps because her family is so divided, is fascinating while William Harrier, a man of many guises, remains mysterious. My favourite characters, though, were Lady Alice, Jayne's father and the Duke. I think the effects of the conflict on the older generations are especially interesting. I would have liked more of some bits and there is a certain inevitability about how it develops but this is a fine novel. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights. 4.5 stars rounded up....more
I loved this! I've always been fascinated by Wallis Simpson and this novel gives us a different interpretation of her personality and that of the PrinI loved this! I've always been fascinated by Wallis Simpson and this novel gives us a different interpretation of her personality and that of the Prince of Wales. I do enjoy the author's portrayal of the royal family - especially the Queen Mother - they are all so awful! As for the buildings they live in.... I enjoyed this even more than The Governess and was very sorry to finish it. I may do a review of the two books on For Winter Nights....more
I've always been a fan of Harry Sidebottom's novels, which so perfectly mix his impressive knowledge and insight into the Roman world with adventure aI've always been a fan of Harry Sidebottom's novels, which so perfectly mix his impressive knowledge and insight into the Roman world with adventure and action. The Burning Road sees our old hero Ballista return to Sicily, with his older son Marcus, to rejoin his family. But the island is aflame with a slave revolt. I picked this book up on Sunday and I didn't move until I finished it. It is thrilling, absolutely engrossing, so exciting and so fascinating. The author fills these pages with unobtrusive details about Sicily's history and mythology, as well as Rome's society, based on slavery and a distrust of the barbarian or outsider. It is a rich read as well as being a brilliant Roman thriller. With no hesitation at all, I can declare The Burning Road my favourite of the author's novels. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights....more
I found this to be a really addictive read, partly because the whole royal world as depicted here is absolutely ghastly! Nobody comes out of this smelI found this to be a really addictive read, partly because the whole royal world as depicted here is absolutely ghastly! Nobody comes out of this smelling of roses, including Crawfie who, I must say, I really didn't like at all. Strangely, the person I liked the most was Wallis Simpson, but otherwise royals, staff, servants, children, friends and lovers, corgis - just horrible! But I could not put it down and I can't wait to read the next novel about Mrs Simpson....more
I couldn't wait to read this after devouring The Appeal, one of the best crime novels I've ever read. This time the device used is audio transcripts. I couldn't wait to read this after devouring The Appeal, one of the best crime novels I've ever read. This time the device used is audio transcripts. While I didn't think this was as successful as the wide-ranging documents used in The Appeal, it's still extremely clever and full of clues for the reader to find. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights....more
Surely one of my most anticipated books of the year! My liking for Chris Hadfield knows no limits since he tweeted at me from SPACE! I was also fortunSurely one of my most anticipated books of the year! My liking for Chris Hadfield knows no limits since he tweeted at me from SPACE! I was also fortunate enough to meet him at a book signing in Oxford. His knowledge and first-hand experience of being an astronaut (in space, in the US and in Russia), a space-walker and a jet pilot fills this Cold War thriller, which is set during the golden days of space exploration. There is a great story in here and it is pumped full of atmosphere and authenticity. My only issue would be that, at times, there is far too much detail, which holds up the thriller pace. I consider myself an 'expert' now on how a jet engine works! But this is unmissable really for anyone who is as fascinated by space exploration as I am. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights....more
This is an absolute belter of a book! It's under 300 pages, so all too short and leaves me wanting book 2, but every page counts. It's funny, dark andThis is an absolute belter of a book! It's under 300 pages, so all too short and leaves me wanting book 2, but every page counts. It's funny, dark and full of great characters and cameos, whether living, dead or undead. The setting on a creepy island off Lincolnshire seems entirely fitting for a potential apocalypse. This is fabulous writing and it's quite incredible how much depth, how many full relationships, the author packs into such a short novel. I can't wait for book 2. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights....more
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