Cosy horror with a stinging tail - 4 - star

The horror books of Shirley Jackson rely much more on the imagination of the reader rather than descriptions of blood soaked body parts, and in that respect I find this type of horror much more acceptable. “When things get dark” is a compilation of 18 stories by many well respected names and as in most collections of this type some are stronger than others. The beauty is that if a particular episode is not to your liking then very soon you will be moving forward to the next chapter and indeed the next guest author. I enjoyed all 18 stories but in particular story 1 Funeral Birds where Lenore returning from the funeral of Dolores finds that all did not go quite as planned. There is some sweet dark humour and one rather stunning nasty shock to be revealed. The 2nd story of note is “Quiet Dead Things” by Joyce Carol Oates, a rather chilling story of a child abandoned.The prose throughout is direct, clear and simple to understand making for really enjoyable reading, and worthy of a very solid 4 stars! Many thanks to the good people at netgalley for a gratis copy in exchange for an honest review and that is what I have written.

Both enjoyable and educational - 4 star

Having read and enjoyed The Whisper Man by Alex North I was looking forward to his new book and was pleased to be gifted a copy by netgalley in exchange for an honest review. For those interested The Half Burnt House will be published as The Angel Maker in the US. Katie always swore that she would look after her younger vulnerable brother Chris but when he is attacked and both mentally and physically scarred by Michael Hyde she feels deep down that she is to blame. Professor Hobbes has been murdered and what is unusual is that Hobbes appeared to be prepared for his death and indeed welcomed it. Jack Lock “The Angel Maker” was a notorious killer of teenagers and following his death artifacts and objects that he owned became valuable for those who collected “murderabilia” In particular a book he wrote containing his macabre thoughts had become an invaluable document and appears to have been in the ownership of the professor before it was stolen. Hobbes has lived the life of a recluse in a rambling crumbling mansion where his wife and daughter died under suspicious circumstances. Chris had been a drug addict but it was hoped now that having met James Alderson he would finally find some peace and happiness. He had been employed by Hobbes but following the professor’s murder Chris appears to have gone to ground….Is he the killer? What is within the covers of Lock’s book that Christopher is attempting to sell to the highest bidder? He has disappeared and it is within this context that Detective Laurence Page and Detective Pettifer are  tasked with the job of finding him and unraveling the mystery behind the death of Hobbes

This has been a very enjoyable read and some of the ideas discussed in particular “determinism” has been an education. Professor Hobbes until his retirement was a philosophy lecturer who took great pleasure in explaining ideas behind great philosophers to eager students…..”the doctrine that all events, including human action, are ultimately determined by causes regarded as external to the will. Some philosophers have taken determinism to imply that individual human beings have no free will and cannot be held morally responsible for their actions.the doctrine of determinism states that all events, including human action, are ultimately determined by causes regarded as external to the will."

I really enjoyed this book. It was most refreshing that it did not dwell primarily on the 2 detectives but rather built a very exciting read around a philosophical doctrine. The hero worthy of special praise is Katie who is fighting once again to right the wrong that has been done to her younger brother which she has always felt responsible for. Many thanks to the good people of netgalley for a gratis copy of The Burnt House in exchange for an honest review and that is what I have written.

Dark - 4 - star

A difficult book at times to read but it certainly stays with you long after the final words, not sure if this is good or bad! There are 3 main characters: Hannah, housewife, living in wealthy suburbia in Detroit. The babysitter, serial murderer so named because of the age of the victims and the way they are posed in death. Mikey a street wise kid, always high, carrying out the murderous work of his nameless employee. Their 3 lives will cross, and not in a very pleasant way. Hannah, the main focus of the story lives in a loveless marriage with Wes attending and organizing many charity functions, her life showing little direction, her only love being her 2 children; Katya and Conor. It is at one such charity function that she is drawn to the very mysterious, elegant stranger only ever referred to the reader by the initials YK. This relationship will lead Hanah in a very dark direction, she is hoping to find real love but what she discovers is a world of darkness and pain. Mikey had a very difficult and traumatic childhood under the guardianship of Father McKenzie. He carries out orders for his faceless employer and soon his path will cross with Hanah as a situation escalates out of control.

Essentially The Babysitter is about secret lives and the consequences that can follow. Does Hannah deserve sympathy from the reader? I fear not, she opens herself to danger by her own actions, leaving a loveless relationship for one of violence under the mistaken assumption that this is love. What is heart wrenching in this book, is the amount of violence on show and by using initials rather than names an uneasy feeling accommodates the reader from start to finish. Read if you dare!

Amazing, wonderful, wonderful, story telling - 5 - star

For those of you who read The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas you will be equally as moved by this book which in loose terms is a sequel. Gretel, now in her 90's, living alone, is eager to meet the new family living in an adjacent flat. She has a turbulent past, and escaped from Nazi Germany as a child. Her father had been commandent of Auschwitz a fact she wishes to keep to herself, but when the young boy now living next door is subject to abuse she wonders if she should interfere and perhaps undo the terrible horror that happened to her younger brother many, many years ago, and for which she carries a terrible guilt. This is heart-wrenching story telling, a story that will stay with you for a very long time, and once again showcases the talent that is the amazing Mr Boyne. Highly, highly, recommended. Many thanks to netgalley for a gratis copy in exchange for an honest review and that is what I have written.

Clever, unique, brilliant - 5 star

It's about the past, the present and a short period in the future. A truly brilliant read with unique connections through time. It openly displays an admiration for the printed word, a love of books that transends history, a love of language, bravery, and self sacrifice. It is not until the final chapter is read that the cleverness of the author is realized. To me personally the heart of Cloud cuckoo land is about love and how that gives meaning and happiness to our lives. It seems to me pointless to discuss the plot and the various time zones they occupy. For real enjoyment don't judge the story on the first chapters, but understand the work as a whole, it is only then that you will appreciate what a clever and unique novel it is.

Sheer brilliance - 5 - star

Ok.....slight spoiler coming up....so look away :)....yes now :)) For those of you who have read The Skeleton Road we all know that Karen's boyfriend Phil is no more but in true McDermid style we do not dwell over the issue simply mention at the close of the book. The writing as always is excellent, well researched, and excellent characterization expecially in the descritpions and of our 2 main heroes Karen and the ever tasteful mint :) The new itv crime series Karen Pirie has been recently on prime time tv and yet the character playing Karen Pirie is somewhat slim and a little more organised than the Karen we know and love....."a stocky woman of middle height with a shrewd gaze, a messy haircut and a slightly crumpled business suit"....."As usual, her thick mop of dark hair looked as if she'd shared a stylist with Dennis the Menace".........:) Jason the "mint" Murray young and eager, if a little geeky is her constant companion but often receiving putdowns form and exasperated DCI...."Karen sighed. Education Jason was an uphill struggle. How come I know? Because I read books, Jason. Because I watch things on the telly that aren't boy comics doing panel games"......." Now do your maths homework or play Candy Crush or something useful while I check my email"........lovely :) 

A skeleton is discovered atop a crumbling gothic building in Edinburgh and on close inspection the skull has a neat hole at the front...enter our intrepid duo...always ready for battle which will take Karen and the Mint from the hallowed grounds of Oxford university to the killing fields of Croatia for a killer still active and at large. It would not be a Val McDermid thriller if we did not have a pompous boss and Assistant Chief Constable Simon Lees is perfect for this role. He views Karen with disdain in her slightly crumpled suit...."the trousers a shade too tight over the generous hips"...Karen is equal to his arrogance as..."she perched on the edge of an elegant sideboard he'd bought from his grandmother's house. His secretary kept it buffed to within an inch of its life...Lees felt sure Pirie knew that"......

The dept of justice is also trying to solve a number of murders over the past 7 years and 2 somwhat bumbling individuals, Macanespie and Proctor are cannon fodder to KP. At 450+ pages the novel is the perfect size for McDermid to introduce a number of possible suspects but the brilliance in her writing is left until the last few pages when the person of most interest to me the reader turned out to be a read herring.....so well disguised by the author. This is a wonderful read, writing of the finest order, that ends on a sad note, however knowing the strength of Karen Pirie I know she will soon return for another exciting adventure. Highly highly recommended!

Beautiful and lyrical - 5 - star

Beautiful and lyrical set in a small community in Ireland in the mid 80's and having as its central theme the Magdalene Laundries which were an institution primarily for the care of "fallen women" and run mostly by the catholic church. In reality easy labour, persecution, and abuse in the name of the church. Bill Furlong, a family man, with caring wife and 5 daughters was borne out of wedlock his mother being cared for by the generous Mrs Wilson, and this act of generosity saved her from a life of servitude. As Xmas approaches a delivery to the sisters of mercy, confronts Bill with a dilemma and a decision needs to be made......a kind act of mercy giving rise to the title...Small things like these. The writing is beautiful, soft and unhurried......."chimneys threw out smoke which fell away and drifted off in hairy, drawn-out strings before dispersing along the quays"....."Had it not been for her, his mother might well have wound up in that place. In an earlier time it could well have been his own mother he was saving- if saving was what this could be called. And only god knew what would have happend to him, where he might have ended up" A worthy booker prize short list 2022 and a beautiful read. Highly recommended.