Horror writing at its best - 5 star

Ronald Malfi is a superb writer and this is one truly brilliant spooky horror novel. Small town America, events that happened in the past coming back to haunt you, have always been a lucrative ground for creating atmosphere and don’t turn the lights off tension! Andrew Larimer, a successful New York lawyer, has left his past behind him, and the small town of Kingsport where he grew up, long forgotten. However when he receives a somewhat distressing phone call from a childhood friend, he decides to return one last time to Kingsport, leaving a pregnant wife confused and alone in the big apple…….Five friends; Andrew, Dale, Eric, Tig and the sad somewhat pathetic figure of Meach are being called to account over an incident and a secret that they have managed to hide for 20 years. Robert Graves now holds the key, or not, to their future wellbeing, and it would seem that revenge and retribution know no boundaries….This is a first class horror novel, with some wonderful twists that kept coming until the final page, an ending whilst not expected, was perfect to the conclusion of my favourite horror read this year. Highly recommended.

Little sympathy form me on this one - 2 star

Lydia Walker, forensic photographer, is assigned to work with the local police department. A deranged serial killer is present and active and it is her job to photograph and interpret the killer’s bloody crime scene. Lydia had a tumultuous childhood, badly abused when in the care of foster parents. As the case progresses, and the body count mounts, Lydia finds to her surprise that she may have more in common with the perpetrator than she hoped, indeed he may be the only person that truly understands her. There is not a lot of depth to this short book, and trying to put a positive spin on the mounting atrocities, and the growing sympathy of Lydia with the killer, was not to my liking. 

The tension and fear is on every page - 3 star

A lone gunman stalks the corridors of Stonesmere, randomly killing those before him. Marty Ward is a pupil at the school and witnesses her mother being gunned down before she is able to escape the wrath of the shooter: Rowan Sullivan. There is a media frenzy, and a group of outsiders known as The Truthers, or conspiracy theorists, have the audacity to claim that the event never actually happened. In the midst of all this there is doubt as to the authenticity of Marty’s recollection of the events, and questions about the shooter and his association or not with the school and its pupils. At the heart of this book is a community in mourning, a community that must accept this dreadful happening before it can heal, and learn to live again.

What I did enjoy about “One Day” was the feeling of fear and sadness, the tension, even suspicion that permeated each chapter…who could be believed? The author explores the various accounts in an attempt to establish the truth, and to try to understand why a lone individual would choose to act in such a manner. What I did not enjoy was the fractured storytelling, the constant movement of events before, during and after the incident, and the rather abrupt conclusion. However, having said that, I applaud the directness of the language, and the use of different narrators to tell the story. Thank you to the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Do yourself a favour.....go and count sheep! - 1 star

This was one of the worst police procedurals I have had the misfortune to read! Detective Mathew Venn must surely be one of the most boring individuals in the Devon and Cornwall police. He returns to Barnstaple from a posting in Bristol, going back to his roots....why bother? to return to this strict evangelical community who showed nothing but contempt for him and his husband Jonathan....So whats the story.....you say...yawn....zzzzzz...there is a murder..yikes you say.....yes a murder!...and a child with special needs has gone missing.! Enter the super boring detective and his classy side kicks Jen and the ever so enthusiastic Ross......who plunges headlong at 100mph into every situation .....like a dog chasing a ball........without a brain cell in his head....

I stuck with this drivel, although I did speed read the last 10% (I would not have made it otherwise :) and fortified with numerous cups of tea to fight the constant tiredness that engulfed me everytime I started to read....I shall never read another Ann Cleeves, I suspect they don't get any better (I use that word loosely) Avoid at all costs, go and count sheep...it's much more exciting :)

Wonderful, insightful, full of tenderness and regret - 5 star

The writing of Claire Keegan is sublime. With such a light touch she expertly highlights the nuances of life, the subtle distinction and complexities that is often the human condition. Cathal leaves the office on Friday taking the bus home nothing to look forward to but memories expecially those pertaining to a woman named Sabine. As the evening advances the significance of the date becomes apparent, how things might have been different if Cathal had acted in a more positive way. If you are not familar with the writing of this author then this short story is a great introduction.

The old detective still has the magic :) - 5 star

Harry is pushing 70 now and from his exposure to radiation in "The Overlook" he has developed leukemia and so it is no wonder that at the start of Desert Star Harry is comtemplating his own swift demise, he has all the pills he might need lined up in a row, in front of him.....but a ringing doorbell and an offer from Renee Ballard sees Harry (at least temporarily) out chasing the historical bad guys.....the ones that got away. Every detective will have a list of the unsolved, cases that will always haunt them, cases that they were never able to solve and bring some form of peace to the families. The Gallagher family mum, dad and two children were brutally murdered and buried somewhere in the desert, Harry tells Renee that if he comes back to work the unsolved cases then he must have some personal time to find the killer of this family.....bringing some lasting peace not only to them but to one old tired ex detective.. In return Harry agrees to help Renee find a serial killer who operates years apart, and is much closer than either realize

I have always loved the writing of Michael Connelly and in particular the wonderful character that is Harry Bosch. His precarious house overlooking the city of angels, his love of jazz (always has me searching spotify :) and the relationship he enjoys with daughter Maddie. I enjoy the way Connelly stops and makes me think when he periodically reveals the philosopher in Harry....."He knew that almost everybody believed in something, holding a hope that there wasn't just an empty void at the end"......"Bosch turned off the screen and sat there thinking about how the truth was always manipulated by those in power"...... 

A wonderful story with a great antihero, he may be old but he still has the heart of a lion and hopefully his health will improve to bring a few remaining adventures to his adoring fans!

Beautifully written a joy to read - 5 star

During and after the 2nd ww, children were evacuated from England to countries of the commonwealth namely Australia, Canada and New Zealand. This was done in order to safeguard the children and find a safe refuge for them in a loving family. Alone on a wide wide sea is a fictional story of the young life of one Arthur Hobhouse despatched on a boat to Australia and hopefully safety. Unfortunately it was not uncommon for these young people to be mistreated, beaten and used as a form of slave labour.

Arthurs story is aimed at a reading audience of 10+ and told with elegance and a certain aplong. In short it is beautifully written with many stand out moments. From the horror that was everyday life with " The Piggys"......" you're a slave they don't just take away your freedom, they take away everything else as well because they own you" The young man's journey has many unexpected moments and a beautifully orchestrated conclusion showcasing the author's love of the ocean and his utlimate belief in human nature....."Death, I discovered that day, is not frightening, because it is utterly still. And it is still because death, when it comes, is always over"....." Someties, though, the fog does clear, and you see the icebergs all around. You can hear them groaning, and grinding and you just want to sail through the field of iceberg and out the other side, or just long for the fog again".....
Highly recommended for young and old alike :)