A truly frightening brilliant read - 5 star

It certainly has been a long time since reading "A simple plan" but the wait has certainly been worth it. Two couples Jen, Jeff, Eric and Stacy are in Mexico craving adventure before their return home to adult pursuits and career progression. They meet Mathias, a young German, worried about his younger brother Henrich who it appears has travelled to an archaeological dig near the small town of Cancun. Captivated by the lush green tropical environment they slowly make their way to the Mayan ruins, eager to explore this ancient culture and hopefully ascertain the whereabouts of Henrich. The Mayan villagers are  somewhat reticent and reserved indicating that the travellers should leave immediately, and worryingly an armed Mayan horseman appears to enforce the Mayan concerns. Amy, a keen photographer decides to record the happenings as they unfold and inadvertently steps back, stumbling into some flowering vine. A tense situation, quickly escalates into one of immediate danger when more Mayan villagers appear armed with rifles and bows, forcing the young people to retreat to a remote hillside incorporating an abandoned mine shaft and a mound covered in red flowers. In addition travelling with them is a young Greek affectionately called Pablo and when he stumbles at the entrance to an exposed excavation the outcome for this group of adventurers begins to appear uncertain........To tell you more would spoil the developing nightmare, as the reality and horror of their circumstances becomes oh so real and shocking. A brilliant second novel from Scott Smith and highly recommended.

One helluva ride - 5 star

From a fresh faced young actor in the very popular 70's tv series "The Streets of San Francisco" to the 80's stalking thriller "Fatal Attraction" with the famous bunny in the pot scene :) to a most unexpected tribute to Liberace "Behind the Candelabra" Michael Douglas has been a cinematic powerhouse for over 50 years.

One helluva ride is the authors very honest look at his life and career through his many movies, through his addiction to drugs and alcohol, his childhood and teenage years under the stern gaze if his famous father. We learn of his many female relationships, his son Cameron's drug addiction and ultimately prison, and his eventual true love for Catherine Z Jones. The final chapter deals with his stage 1V cancer diagnosis, his battle, remission, and recovery with the support of a wonderful and loving family.

I was not sure what to expect from reading this biography of such a well known actor. I have been touched by his honesty, and I have thoroughly enjoyed reliving his famous movies under the guidance of Michael himself.  It was interesting to note that his father had purchased both book and film rights to Ken Hersey's "One flew over the cuckoo nest" which was in turn obtained by Michael. This at the start of his career showed a man of great foresight, recognising through the pages of this best seller, the potential to make and produce one of the greatest movies of the 1970's and the marvellous casting of Jack Nicholson as the mischievous and flawed Randle Patrick McMurphy.

A superb biography, which I have enjoyed reading so much, highly recommended. 

A delightful read that keeps the reader guessing - 4 star

The question is....if you decided to put a single bet on a football team to win the league, and you made this bet at the start of the season, and the money started to accumulate as the team (against all odds) kept winning.....would you accept a cash out from the bookies?.......or would you hang in there in the hope that a quarter of a million pounds was worth the wait and more importantly the risk. Sophie's Uncle Keith has put a £50 bet on his beloved Leicester City FC to win the football league.....the year is 2016.

What a delightful little story. Sophie has never been wealthy but as the story proceeds, and the winnings accumulate, this could be finally the opportunity for her to rid herself of a useless boyfriend, and the money he keeps wasting on get rich quick schemes. Equally as important Sophie has enjoyed making the acquaintance of new friends as her love of the beautiful game has soared. A delightful and very enjoyable book to read, many thanks to the publishers for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wonderful series, by a brilliant author :) - 5 star

Many thanks to the publisher inviting me to early reading access in return for an honest review.

This is the 3rd book in the Gabriel Dax series (the previous 2 being Gabriel’s Moon 2024, The Predicament 2025) and what an absolute delight it is. Uncovering a rogue spy in America, our somewhat reluctant hero is recalled to the UK by his handler (and sometime lover) the ruthless and alluring Faith Green. His mission (if he chooses to accept🙂) is to travel to Soviet Eastern Europe, and arrange the extraction and repatriation of Kit Caldwell (readers of books 1&2 will recognise the name). For admirers of William Boyd, you can expect thrills galore, as naturally nothing goes to plan and a great race for survival takes place along the Norwegian/Russian border. The time is the mid 60s and  a particularly embarrassing time for MI5/MI6 with the eventual discovery of double agents: Kim Philby, Donald McClean, Guy Burgess, Anthony Blunt and John Cairncross (The Cambridge Five). Boyd as always creates a great feeling of time and place, and the mystery is deepened further by the possible disclosure of a rogue agent active within MI6. I particularly love the relationship (or not) between Faith and Gabriel, especially as our hero is clearly smitten, and the intentions of the lady are questionable at best. 

Yet another brilliant book from one of my all time favourite authors, and highly highly recommended. It can be read as a standalone but I recommend reading the 3 books in order.

Well researched, excellent read - 5 star

An extremely well researched and excellent account of the notorious serial killers Ian Brady and Myra Hindley. What Michael Attwell has attempted to do is look into the lives, minds and childhood of the two killers, looking for clues as to why they became the most hated individuals of the 20th century. Even today, long after their deaths, their crimes are still hotly debated quite simply in an attempt to understand.

There is no doubt in my mind that Ian Brady was evil incarnate. From a childhood in working class Glasgow he lived a life with no boundaries or rules, thieving, cruelty, and indeed rape (if we believe his account) were all normal to him. He was born out of wedlock and had no one to look up to for guidance…..not that I believe this would have kept him from the path of murder he chose.

Myra Hindley, alternatively, was reared in a tight knit community, had close ties with the working class inhabitants in and around the Manchester suburb of Hyde. She had support and guidance but nevertheless was happy to help her boyfriend in his murderous endeavors. In the years following her incarceration she attempted to distance herself from Hindley but her fate was sealed when the tape recording of the torture of Lesley Anne Downey was exhibited to the jury at the Chester Assizes trial. They were sentenced in May 1966 and narrowly escaped the death penalty which had been suspended at the end of 1965.

An excellent read, many thanks to the publishers for this early review copy. 

Scary fun - 4 star

The courier travels unnoticed in his nondescript delivery van. It's the perfect cover for likeable Bob to spy and stalk Natalie especially when he meets her neanderthal boyfriend Nathaniel. Bob fantasizes about her beauty and knows that when he disposes of her boyfriend she will love and worship him. What a great short story and what a creepy man Bob the delivery man proved to be. The audio version’s narrator did an excellent job of keeping listeners in suspense, with a shock conclusion that I certainly did not expect. Thank you to netgalley for an early review copy which I really enjoyed.

 

A brilliant edition to the series - 5 star

A badly mutilated body is discovered, limbs appear to have been ripped from the victim in this unimaginable crime. Detective Inspector Jane Harrison is the CIO and is able to call on the services of DI Tony McClean. It is true to say that DI McClean has a more secondary role in this murder enquiry as it unfolds. For readers familiar with the series it is pleasing to note that the eccentric characters from earlier books are all present namely: Madame Rose, Grumpy Bob and Mrs McCutcheon’s cat.

What sets James Oswald’s books apart is the feeling of something supernatural in the background, something uncanny, something that adds to the great and growing uneasiness throughout. Due to the lack of evidence at the murder site it takes a considerable time for the victim to be identified and by then a second body is discovered with a similar modus operandi to the first. Tony’s girlfriend Emma is working at an archaeologist dig nearby uncovering a viking longship and most disturbingly a naked man, of great height and strength is discovered asleep on a beach. Who is this “herculean” figure and is he in any way connected to the police investigation.

This is a brilliant story, I love the use of the spooky, the unravelling of a bygone era and a prophecy that needs to be fulfilled. Thanks to netgalley for this early review copy which I enjoyed immensely. Highly recommended.