The latest in the “Naked Men” series by Christi Barth sees federal agent Riley Ness meeting his match. Organised, prepared and ever reliable Riley has got a bit of a reputation amongst the other ACS buddies. A workaholic who drops everything for his job at the National Transportation Safety Board, it is his way of…
Book Review: Scared to Death – Kate Medina ****
Scared to Death is the second book in Medina’s Jessie Flynn series. Psychologist Jessie is a complicated character with a dark and disturbing past. Unusually she works closely with the British Army and all of her cases have links to serving troops. Just returned from a tour of duty in Syria and Iraq, Jessie is…
Book Review: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine – Gail Honeyman *****
Eleanor Oliphant is a creature of habit. Aged thirty she is still working as an Accounts Assistant at the firm that she joined straight after her degree. She has the same meal deal for lunch every day and passes the time doing the Daily Telegraph crossword. She wears the same white blouse every day (she…
Book Review: Obsession – Amanda Robson ***
Obsession is the debut novel from Amanda Robson. It is a story of two couples. Rob is a GP married to Carly. On a drunken night on a camping holiday in France he is pressed by Carly to tell her who he would be unfaithful with if he could. Such a simple question she has…
Opinion: Are people who read books nicer?
I came across an interesting article in the Mail and Independent newspapers today. A study done by Kingston University asserts that people who read books are more likely to act in a socially acceptable manner compared to those who preferred watching television. Specifically people that read fiction. Why do we think that would be the…
Book Review: The Broken Bridge – Philip Pullman ****
Originally published in the 1990s The Broken Bridge is a gorgeous adolescent coming-of-age story. Although very different to his fantasy novels you still get those wonderful three dimensional characters that Pullman has become known for. Ginny is sixteen and lives in a small seaside town in Wales with her Dad. She feels different to everyone…
Book Review: Blacklist – Alyson Noël **
Blacklist is the second book in the Beautiful Idols YA series about shallow fame seekers fighting to win a coveted job in Los Angeles. See my review of Unrivalled if you want to catch up quickly. Starting exactly where the first book left off Madison Brooks is still missing and the weight of evidence seems…
Book Review: The Shadow Land – Elizabeth Kostova ***
Apologies that there has only been one book review this week but The Shadow Land is a real beast of a book. I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with Elizabeth Kostova’s books. She writes the most incredible stories but I feel like I have lived this journey back and forth across Bulgaria and…
Book Review: Sleep Tight – Caroline Mitchell ****
Sleep Tight is the second outing for Detective Sergeant Ruby Preston. Ruby is a very unlikely copper having grown up with the East End gangs in London. Her liaison with well known gang boss Nathan Crosby is a very closely guarded secret. Ruby finds herself with a dilemma when a nutter starts targeting local prostitutes…
Book Review: Dancing in the Rain – Kelly Jamieson *****
A new standalone book from Kelly Jamieson but never fear there is still a hint of hockey about this one. Drew has hit rock bottom. At thirty he is a washed up ex-NHL player. Surgery on his knee has been unsuccessful and for the first time in over twenty years hockey isn’t at the centre…
Book Review: Missing – Kelley Armstrong ****
Known for her supernatural Otherworld and Cainsville series this is a different proposition from Kelley Armstrong. This standalone thriller is aimed at Young Adults but is enjoyable for adults too. Winter Crane lives in a small town in the middle of nowhere, Reeves End. Her sister Cam has already left town – like most of…
Book Review: The Cows – Dawn O’Porter *****
I don’t know why I haven’t picked up any of Dawn O’Porter’s earlier books because this one had me laughing out loud on a packed commuter train. The Cows is a take on modern life in London in this internet connected age. It runs the full gamut of emotions from suicidal despair to hope and…
