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!