What an amazing read - 5 star

Before retiring I worked as an usher in both Magistrates and Crown court so reading The Cut throat Trial was somewhat akin to a day at the office ;) and what an enjoyable experience that has been… Bernard Hooper an elderly gentleman in his 70’s has popped out to purchase a bottle of wine but this will be a New years eve like no other. In less than an hour Bernard will have been murdered in a brutal Zombie (knife) attack by three teenage assailants captured on CCTV leaving the scene. 

The Cut throat Trial is the story (trial) of the alleged perpetrators taking place over some 3 to 4 weeks. We meet the barristers representing the defendants, the overworked prosecutor, and the arrogant pompous self opinionated judge: His Honour Judge Letts. The story is told in the first person by all the main parties, including the defendants. It is a tense, dramatic, edge of the seat spectacle with even a little humour ……” Prosecuting counsel is like a Western gunslinger swinging open the saloon doors only to find the furniture overturned and everyone inside fatally wounded. Sometimes all you need to do is discharge a few rounds into the bodies for show, and help yourself to a drink from the bar”....... that unfolds in front of us and I was glued to every word on every page. With a shocking, unexpected conclusion this is a brilliant read told by one who has lived his life in Her/His Majesty’s Courts.  I thoroughly enjoyed and marvelled at every scene as it was played out in front of me…Highly recommended.

 

Sublime prose, not a word wasted - 5 star

Some years ago I was listening to a book review programme and when the guest author was asked to name her favourite literary writers she named 2 that would certainly be on the top of every readers list, and then surprisingly the name of David Park was mentioned…..”one of Northern Ireland’s finest undiscovered literary talents”......I wanted to find out more…

As a Northern Ireland expat residing in mainland UK I was suddenly very interested to discover the works and possibly the writing genius of this retired school teacher turned author. Two stories in particular caught my attention: Travelling in a Strange land…a father driving to Sunderland in midwinter to collect his son. The journey through the cold, stark snowy landscape  allows him the solitude and time to reflect on his past life…Swallowing the sun, a fathers unconditional love for his daughter with a tear filled emotional conclusion. Now the question is would Ghost Wedding have the same breathtaking prose?

There are two different timelines in Ghost Wedding and both are separated by 100 years. George Allenby, an architect by occupation, is charged with the task of constructing a large lake in the grounds of a wealthy landowner overlooked by a spectacular Irish Manor house. The time is post WW1 and George, like many returning, damaged soldiers, is haunted by the traumatic experience, the needless fighting, the untold dead, the never ending mud in filthy rat infested trenches. He is a man full of self doubt questioning his actions as an army officer in the blood soaked fields of France. He is able however to find some solace in the arms of Cora who is employed as a maid in the manor house. It possibly strikes him as strange that shovelling mud and soil, to construct a lake, has now become a positive healing force a long way removed from the dead and dying in France.

Now step forward 100 years to the marriage of Alex & Allie, who have chosen as their wedding venue, the lake house which occupies a prime position adj to George Allenby’s masterful lakeside creation. We follow the wedding preparation and learn of Alex’s fears and a terrible secret he holds, which if he discloses to Allie may destroy their future life together before it has even commenced.

The novel explores themes of love, the happiness and heartache it can hide, betrayal and trust, what should be said or possibly left unsaid. As with all David Park novels these connections between past and present are very human and resonate with the reader. The author understands what it is to be human, what it is to be filled with doubt, love and happiness, not everything concludes as we desire but somehow we survive. This is wonderful thoughtful writing, beautiful prose with not a word wasted. Highly recommended.

Fantastic - 5 stars

The second outing for Gabriel Dax, William Boyd's endearing but somewhat reluctant double spy……” his other unsought-for, parallel existence, his life in the shadowy fringes of the espionage world”...... He is approached again by his MI6 handler Faith Green to travel to Guatemala and assess would be presidential candidate: Padre Tiago, could he be viewed as a friend of the Americans? At the same time the Russians want him to pass back information concerning Fatih Brown, who also somewhat confusingly is Gabriel Dax’s part time lover. Whilst in Guatemala Dax befriends 2 CIA agents, Frank Sartorius and Dean Furlan. Furlan states he is in the restaurant trade and looking to buy Guatemalan coffee. An unexpected incident occurs and Dax is called back to London for a new mission in Berlin. The plot at this stage goes in a very dangerous direction and becomes wrapped up in a worldwide historical visit. Running alongside the main story is Dax’s infatuation with Faith Green who is happy to sleep with him but shuns long term commitment……is she playing him? As all this excitement is happening Dax feels the need to visit a psychoanalyst Katerina Hass (their conversations add a dash of humour :), paid for by Russian blood money. In Berlin Gabriel unbelievably encounters Dean Furlan, is he really a coffee buyer?...or is there a dangerous sinister plot to destabilise the Western world?

This is brilliant, fast, taut writing of the highest order, mixing fact with fiction, bringing to life the complicated, unpredictable life of reluctant antihero and spy Gabriel Dax. I cannot wait for the third outing by one of our greatest authors. Highly recommended!

 

Fun read, if somewhat bizarre - 3 star

A rather unhinged young lady Winifred Notty is employed as a governess to the Pounds family. She has a questionable past, and when she realizes that the Pounds family are not deserving of her services she resorts to what she knows best....murder. A comic, somewhat bizarre tale, with shades of American Psycho, and a fun if somewhat short read. This is an honest review written in exchange for a gratis copy from the publisher....many thanks :)

Utter dross! - 1 star

Surely all those great recommendations on the cover of "Trespass" can't be wrong....such phrases as "A beautiful devastating novel"...." A heartbreaking story of forbidden love"....etc.....I'm afraid I disagree...Trespass is total dross!! The everyday life of Cushla, teacher and part time bar maid in the family pub. She is catholic, working class and falls in love with married barrister, Michael....and that's it. We then spend 300 pages following the lives and secret love tryst of Cushla and Michael. I am rarely so bored reading a book. The final result was inevitable in a country, at that time, ruled by violence and the sound of the gun and bullet....

So rather than read this rubbish below is my review for Cal by renowned Norther Ireland author and novelist Bernard MacLaverty.....

The mid 70's to early 80's was a time fraught with danger in Northern Ireland. As an expat living and working in England I am well versed to understand the mindset of the various embattled groups that continued to carry on a war of attrition not only against the so called enemy (police and army) but equally against each other and if you happened to be of the wrong religion residing in the perceived wrong locality intimidation was an everyday occurrence.

Cal McCluskey and his dad were a catholic family living in a predominately protestant locality...."he could not bear to look up and see the flutter of Union Jacks, and now the red and white cross of the Ulster flag with it red hand.".... Cal was often the target of insults, taunting, and intimidation, but he tried to ignore, picking up his Giro on a regular basis and hanging around street corners, ripe pickings for paramilitary scouts. So he helped with the "cause" and when needed would act as a driver for his fellow republicans Crilly and Skeffington. With so much free time, and little hope of a job in this divided land, he was often to be seen perusing books and cassettes in the local library where one day he notices a new woman behind the counter. What follows is a beautifully written story of a love affair that is doomed to failure from the start. Cal holds a secret that if revealed to Marcella would end their relationship as he is torn between loyalties to his friends and honesty to his lover.

The language and descriptive prose of the author reminded me of the many years I lived in a country riddled with hypocrisy and bigotry....."the weight and darkness of Protestant Ulster, with its neat stifled Sabbath towns.".... "people were dying everyday, men and women were being crippled and turned into vegetables in the name of Ireland. An Ireland which never was and never would be."....."I like the look of Donegal where nothing grows. Beaches, bogs and mountains."......"The parade led by Evangelists screaming about sin and death and damnation."....

The ending when it happens is unexpected and sudden in its execution and brutality but I felt that it suited so well the time and events in such a deeply divided community. Highly Recommended.

How the mighty have fallen - 1 star

Many moons ago I read Blacklands: published in 2009 it was part of a set referred to as the Exmoor trilogy and was the debut novel of Belinda Bauer. It concerned a young boy Steven who spent his days digging on Exmoor hoping that he might uncover the dead bones of his nan’s son who went missing, presumed dead, many years ago. It is assumed the killer was a known paedophile Arnold Avery who was imprisoned but never admitted his guilt. Stephen tries to help his nan and makes contact with Avery in the hope of a confession and what results is brilliant edge of the seat crime writing and one particular scene (which I will not disclose 😀) has remained with me ever since. So why do I refer to a book written some years ago when talking about this later book “The beautiful Dead” published in 2016…..the reason is simple the aforementioned is dreadful, the premise utterly ridiculous……Eve Singer is a crime reporter and loves nothing more than a good bloody murder, she will do anything to be the first person on site and claim all the credit. In short she is the best. A crazed serial killer realizes that he can use Eve to showcase his bloody acts and thus he forms a bond with her, he will commit the crimes, direct Eve to the scene, and she will be the first to report and claim all the praise…a win win situation. What a bizarre story, whatever happened to the great storytelling capabilities of thIs author I once revered. The only slight saving grace was the relationship that Eve enjoyed with her father who in the depths of dementia is presented to the reader with great sympathy and understanding.

Hang on for a fast ride! - 2 atar

This is what is best referred to as a chase book. When Jess a budding actress makes the surprising acquaintance of "Kiddo" a boy with unusual skills they must run for their lives. The father of the boy, a damaged war hero, a part time werewolf with a mind and body damaged by scientific experiments, gives chase, the killing spree is on! Add to this an obsessed, driven government agent who will stop at nothing to hide the agencys involvement then all the ingredients are present for a hight octane ride.

An enjoyable coming of age story - 3 star

A pleasant coming of age story written in a rather engaging style which helps to encapsulate the trials and tribulation of young Daniel. He is on the cusp of manhood and has to face the disgrace of his father, the overpowering love of his mother, and his increasing interest in a boy called Philip. The question of sexual orientation, the need for spiritual guidance (or not as Daniel comes to realise) is dealt with understanding, sympathy if not a little humour.

The Death Watcher, Chris Carter still top of his game - 5 star

I have read all Chris Carter’s books and have found them unputdownable until that is I read Genesis, 14th in the Robert Hunter series….and I  thought it was terrible ( well every author is allowed one book that just doesn’t float my particular boat :) So with more than a little trepidation I picked up The Death Watcher and hoped the winning formula that had held me glued to the antics of Hunter and his intrepid partner Garcia, would return….and boy was I not disappointed.

As fans of Carter will know Hunter and Garcia work in the Robbery and Homicide division in the LA PD but more particularly the Ultra Violent Crimes unit, dealing with homicides so severe and grotesque that only those of a certain disposition (our 2 heroes :) can be allocated. Yes the Death Watcher is yet another serial killer book, but it is much more than that, and to find out why we just need to look at the author’s background….Born in Brazil of Italian origin, Chris Carter studied psychology and Criminal behaviour in the USA. As a member of the District Attorney's Criminal Psychology team, and working together with the Police Department in numerous cases, he interviewed and studied many criminals, including serial and multiple homicide offenders with life imprisonment convictions.

So in The Death Watcher we are invited to attend and be witness to group sessions with evil men who are prepared to acknowledge their crime and by this acknowledgement maybe find a little peace. It is this evaluation and understanding of perpetrators that gives Carter a unique insight into the criminal mind and makes his books (well nearly all of them) an essential read. The Death Watcher concerns a very disturbed individual and when the bodies of his victims are discovered, Hunter and Garcia start on a journey that could result in a fatal conclusion. Enjoy, and hold on tight, for the ride, welcome back Chris, you are still top of your game :)

An author at the top of her game - 5 star

A big welcome back to the Martini club, a loose configuration of ex spies living in the aptly named Purity (it’s not so pure :) For those of you who have not read the first in the series “The spy Coast” the Martini club comprises unofficial leader Maggie, Declan, her possible boyfriend, Ben, Ingrid and Lloyd. Retirement has brought little respite for the five and when a young girl Zoe is reported missing they are determined to help acting chief Jo Thibodeau solve the case, even if acting chief Thibodeau does not want any help.

Susan, Ethan and their daughter Zoe are travelling to Maiden Pond to scatter the ashes of Ehtan’s father George. There he will meet with George’s widow Elizabeth, his brother Colin, wife Brooke and their young son Kit. However all is not well in this family, when Zoe disappears, the past resurfaces and deadly family secrets emerge with near fatal results 

I thought this was an excellent story weaving parts of questionable CIA history (and educating me in the process)with a top notch edge of the seat thriller. I love this new series that the author has commenced, what a wonderful direction for her to take, and a treat for the reader. Highly recommended.