Suggestions for a book worm

The Westminster Poisoner by Susanna Gregory

2009-03-28T12:39:00.009Z

Christmas 1663. The winds are howling and the weather is bleak. There is an old wives tale that when the wind is blowing a gale it is a sign that an important person will die. So far two important clerks have been found dead, fanning the flames of this tale. Chaloner is put on the case by the Lord Chancellor, alongside Colonel Turner, a dandy with an eye for the ladies. The clerks have been poisoned and the Chancellor already has a suspect, another clerk called Greene. Chaloner is reluctant to agree and sets out to prove Greene's innocence. In addition to this, Chaloner and Turner are given the task of finding out who stole the famous Bernini sculpture of the King. As if that wasn't enough the Chancellor decides he will only retain the services of one of the men, therefore turning both cases into a competition between Turner and Chaloner. Determined to retain his post, under threat from the King's chief of spies and trying to protect his master from this season's Lord of Misrule, Chaloner has his hands full.

This fourth installment of the Chaloner series was another good addition to her historical mystery books. Set in the years shortly following the Restoration, it captures very well the excesses and fears of the time. As those who have read Susanna Gregory books know the main facts in the book tend to be historically accurate, with the details of these and her research provided at the end of the book.

Whilst possible not as fast paced as previous escapades it certainly has it's moments. Chaloner's famous hat comes in very handy! The character of Chaloner is further developed in this book, along with his relationships with others. He is finally beginning to try and fit in in this Restoration world. There is even a mention that he has taken to using his real name rather than covering it up as his uncle was one of those who signed Charles I death warrant. He has even started a promising relationship with one of the Queen's serving women. There are reminders throughout the book though about trusting everyone which includes a bit of a twist at the end of the book that I really didn't see coming. There are many new characters to replace those that have left such as Leybourn, who played a significant role in 'The Butcher of Smithfield' and those who appear less, such as Thurloe.

I did enjoy this book very much and whilst there probably were not quite as many twists and turns and revelations as the previous installment in this series it was certainly a good read.

*4 stars*

Other books by Susanna Gregory include:
*A Conspiracy of Violence: First book in the Thomas Chaloner series
*Blood on the Strand: Second book in the Thomas Chaloner series
*The Butcher of Smithfield: Third book in the Thomas Chaloner series

I Coriander by Sally Gardner

2009-03-28T12:04:00.005Z

Coriander was born in 1643 to a loving mother and father, a wealthy merchant in London. One day her mother dies and it is not long before her father remarries, an unkind, unloving Puritan. Bullied and beaten by the step-mother and her preacher Coriander one day finds escape in another world. It is not long before she in embroiled in fighting evil in both worlds. Not only must Coriander survive the plots against her, she must also survive in the tumultuous world of the Commonwealth, where Royalist sympathizes are quickly quashed. Can she rescue herself and all those dear to her?

I have to say when I found out which period this book covered I was quite excited. I an an English Civil War re-enactor so 17th century is a period I love. Also having read 'The Red Necklace', also by Sally Gardner, I had high hopes for this book. I was not disappointed on either account. It was a very beautifully written book, which really evoked 17th century life and yet managed to weave in a lovely fairy story without it seeming too contrived.

The historical accuracy of the book is not bad. I suspect true experts of this period would be able to poke a lot of holes in it but I could see no particularly glaring errors. The ideas about witchcraft, the Puritanical extremes and the fear felt by ordinary people in the days of the Commonwealth were all well executed. I even liked the depiction of the Doctor and his remedies, something which may seem incredulous from a modern standpoint but there were some really daft remedies going around at the time.

The clever interweaving of the real events of 17th century London, such as the execution of Charles I, and the fairytale were brilliant. It was almost believable that there could be a fairy world just beyond our own. It felt like a good old fashioned fairy tale, carefully grounded in reality but with wonderful fantasy. I really did enjoy this combination.

The book is intended for children and young adults so don't expect it to be long, intricate and deep. It is an enjoyable little read, perfect holiday reading or on a wet afternoon with a hot drink. It really evokes for me warm childhood memories of lying on my bed and escaping to new worlds. If you're looking for a light read but with a historical bent and you don't mind fairy tales this is the book for you.

*5 stars*

If you enjoyed reading this book why not try The Red Necklace also by Sally Gardner?

Latest news from the Historical Fiction Book Club

2009-03-22T11:55:00.006Z

The Historical Fiction Book Club is busy nominating books for the next round of reading. So far the following books are up for voting,

Ratcatcher by James McGee - crime thriller set in Regency London
Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks - fictional account of Eyam, the Derbyshire village that quarantined itself in 17th century when plague reached it from London
The Wolf of the Plains by Conn Iggulden - fictional account of Genghis Khan's early years

For more information about these books click here where I have prepared a synopsis and links for each.

Some very different choices so far! If you fancy joining the group visit us here. Nominations for books to read ends on Tuesday 24th March so you still have time to join and make your suggestions! Voting follows and we will start reading the book with the most votes on Saturday 28th March.

So if you enjoy reading reading historical fiction but don't know what to choose next or want to try historical fiction come along and join the group. It's all based online so location doesn't matter. You never know, you might find a new author that you like :)

Update (28/03/2009) - We have chosen to read Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks this time round.

Historical Fiction Book club

2009-03-15T15:47:00.003Z

Is anyone out there wanting to join a book club for Historical Fiction? If so, I've started one at Booksprouts. It's open to anyone and I'm hoping it will be a great way for all of us who like our fiction set in the past to find new and interesting books and authors. So if you want to find out more or fancy joining visit Historical Fiction Book Club.

The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner

2009-03-15T15:10:00.006Z

One winter's night in 1789, three performers of a magic show from a local theatre in Paris are summoned to the chateau of the Marquis de Villeduval after another successful performance. Whilst preparing to make their way the youngest of the trio, an orphan boy called Yann, hears a strange voice warning him not to go. He tells his comrades, Topolain the magician and Tetu the dwarf, about the warning but they dismiss it as irrational fear. Little do they know what lies in store for them. At the chateau is the mysterious Count Kalliovski, who recognises Topolain and Tetu from his past. Eager to remove those that could show his hidden past the Count manages to kill one of the performers. The other two flee, with the help of the crippled and ill-treated Sido, daughter of the Marquis.

Thus begins a story set over a five years of the early stages of the French Revolution. Whilst Yann manages to make it to England and freedom, Sido is forced to find ways to survive the growing terror and Kalliovski's unwanted advances. Yann works to uncover the truth of his past and understand the meaning of the red necklace he stole from Kallioski as he flees. Will the pair survive?

This is an exciting and fascinating book that hooked me in right from the start. Gardner skillfully makes you interested in all the characters without giving too much away. We know very little about Yann for example, probably as much as he knows about himself, and learn more about him as he learns more about his heritage. The same too can be said for Sido. You care for the central characters and have a real desire to find out what will happen next.

What is also particularly skillful about this novel is that it shows how the French Revolution occurred, slowly, piece by piece. It is sometimes easy to forget that they didn't just drag Louis, the Royal Family and members of the aristocracy to the guillotine on a mere whim, nor did it happen overnight. The terror builds gradually and you begin to understand how many of the noble families got caught. Whilst it's easy with hindsight, we can imagine and understand better how the Revolution was seen through the eyes of those at the time. I don't pretend that this is the most historically accurate book ever. The book focuses more on the aristocracy's experiences and those of their servants than of the average inhabitant of Paris during this period.

The book is pretty chilling in places and it really reminds you how brutal human beings can be. There are some rather graphic sections and whilst this book is often found in the children/young adults section of the library I would not recommend it to pre-teens or even younger teens in some instances. There is once scene towards the end of the book that shows how one sentence can cause a crowd to turn into an angry, murderous mob. This book should be read to remind us of how quickly law and order can disintegrate and how atrocities can occur. It can be too easy to see what is happening in Africa, the Middle East and areas of Asia and forget that Europe was once like that, and could easily return to that.

I really enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to older teens and adults who have an interest in this period. I would also recommend it as a great book for getting older children to learn about human nature. The next book in the series, 'The Silver Blade', is due out at the end of April. I can't wait to read this or the other Sally Gardner book I have picked up 'I Coriander' which is set in 17th century England.

*4 stars*

Read for Historical Fiction Book Club. For more information about the club, click here

If you enjoyed this book why not try I Coriander, also by Sally Gardner

The Rose of Sebastopol by Katherine McMahon

2008-11-02T10:02:00.002Z

It’s 1854 and British troops are fighting hard in the Crimea. Mariella sits in London, sewing for the war effort and making scrapbooks whilst her cousin Rosa and fiancé Henry go to Russia to help the wounded. When Henry falls ill and they loose contact with Rosa, Mariella finds herself drawn to the Crimea to find some answers. Whilst on this adventure she is forced to reflect on her relationships with Rosa, Henry and the rest of her family and realise she has been blind to the truth.

The Rose of Sebastopol is an interesting study into the relationships between Mariella and those around her. Mariella’s character is reserved, introverted and she has set herself specific boundaries. Rosa’s character is the complete reverse of this, she is outgoing and feisty. Whilst Mariella has a tendancy to start a project and see it through, Rosa, for the most part, appears to move from project to project without necessarily finishing any of them. The only two constants in Rosa’s life appear to be her desire to nurse and her love for Mariella. This character study can serve as a warning to the reader to not allow themselves to limit their lives like Mariella, but also to adopt some common sense unlike Rosa.

The book serves to show the misery of the Crimean War. Troops were under prepared, poorly equipped and were fighting a war that to many was not justified. There was tremendous loss of life, both on the battlefield and in the hospitals where medical provision was exceedingly poor and hygiene dire. References as made to Florence Nightingale in the book, as Rosa wishes to emulate her, and for those with an interest in Nightingale and nursing in the Crimea this is a book well worth reading.

The author’s use of flashbacks in the book, whilst trying to flesh out the characters and their history, does prove at times to be confusing. Readers should take great care to note the date and place at the top of each chapter (if they are noted) in order to keep track of the storyline.

The book is engaging and thought provoking, well written and well researched. However the book is not suitable for those looking for a light hearted and uplifting read. Those who want a more challenging book, a book that draws on this specific period of history and who have an interest in human nature in respect to love and faithfulness, this is the book for you.

*3 stars*

Notes:
I have tried to write this review using the suggestion made by Amber in the comments to Michael Scott’s ‘The Alchemyst’ (click here to read those comments). It is not my usual style but I hope that readers find this new style of more use. I would very much welcome comment on this so please click on the post a comment button below and add them. Remember you don’t have to be a member of Blogger to do so! Alternatively you can send me an e-mail (see my profile for more details).

The reason I have only given this book 3 stars is that whilst is it well written and a good book, it wasn’t exactly my cup of tea. Although I have tried to be objective with my review I felt I had to be honest about how I rated it.

The Alchemyst by Michael Scott

2008-10-25T08:44:00.003Z

Twins Sophie and Josh Newman have managed to get summer jobs in San Francisco just across the road from each other. Sophie is working at a coffee shop and Josh is working in a bookshop owned by Nick and Perry Flemming. Then one afternoon a mysterious group appears at the bookshop and turns John and Sophie's worlds upside down. Nick and Perry are no ordinary people. Nick is none other than the famous 14th century alchemist Nicholas Flamel who is reputed to have discovered the secret of eternal life. Perry is his wife Perenelle, a gifted 14th century sorceress. The mysterious group is determined to wrest the secrets of eternal life from the pair and help the dangerous Dark Elders re-take the world and destroy humankind. When the twins interfere in their plans they are forced to join Nicholas on the run and it soon becomes clear that perhaps their intervention was no accident. Perhaps they are the ones spoken of in prophecy who will save humankind. Find out in this first installment of the 'Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel' series.

Its been some time since I've read a good children's fantasy book that draws on so much history, myth and legend. It is a real treat as I have always loved reading myths and legends and Scott has managed to interweave them into this story so beautifully. There are Greek/Roman gods, Egyptian Gods, Celtic gods, Norse gods, references to Arthurian legend, the Great Fire of London, a famous Elizabethan astrologer and much more besides. It really is a good book if you want to introduce children to a whole host of trivia and expand their knowledge whilst at the same time reading an enjoyable book. It would hopefully lead to them reading greek myths and Arthurian legends :)

The book has a good mix of fantasy, reality (although I do question 15 year olds knowing how to drive and not being stopped by the police....) and adventure. It is very readable and has very good pace. I found it very enjoyable and couldn't put it down.

I would definitely recommend people who like children's fantasy books (like Inkheart or Eragon or Artemis Fowl) to give this a try and I would definitely recommend adults encouraging their kids to read it.

*4 stars*

Back after a break

2008-10-05T21:08:00.003Z

Hi everyone

Well I'm back to reading after a break over the summer holidays. I don't know why it happens but I sometimes go through periods where I just don't feel like reading. The up side to this is that when I come back to reading I enjoy it so much that I think that by taking a break it increases my enjoyment.

I've posted the first of two reviews I want to do based on some of the books I've read over the last couple of weeks. Both are fantasy books. Brisingr is the third in the Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini. The Hickory Staff is the first of a series of books by Robert Scott and Jay Gordon called the Eldarn Sequence. This is a similar type of fantasy to Charles Stross' Merchant Princes series, the our world and a fantasy world cross over.

I am going to try and read books other than my staple diet of historical crime fiction and fantasy over the coming months. One of the fans of this blog (you know who you are my friend) has suggested I should try to read some Asian books. Now I don't know if I'll be able to manage this but I have two books I'm intending to try (copies in local library permitting). They are A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth and The Mistress of Spices by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. Whether this fulfils the request, I don't know but I feel its worth trying new things.

So there you go, all suggestions are welcome and very much appreciated! So feel free to drop me an e-mail or leave a message on this blog :)

I look forward to another good season of reading.

The Hickory Staff: Eldarn Sequence Book 1 by Robert Scott and Jay Gordon

2008-10-05T21:04:00.006Z

In a sleepy town in Colorado Steven Taylor, assistant bank manager, has been given the thankless task of going through the safety deposit box lists and working out which are live and which have not been touched for years. What he doesn't expect to find is a box that has been left untouched for 135 years, used only once. When Steven's curiosity gets the better of him he finds a way to break into the box, landing him and his house mate Mark into a whole heap of trouble.

Meanwhile, in a land far far away, the royal families across the land of Eldarn are quickly being destroyed by disease, treachery, lunacy and grief. Only one survives and begins a reign of terror across the whole continent that will last centuries. It is the portal to this terrifying dictatorship that Steven manages to find and accidentally falls through along with Mark. Here they meet the local resistance and find themselves caught up in a plot to free all of Eldarn. Can they survive, rescue Eldarn and manage to find a way home? You'll have to read it to find out :)

I do like a good fantasty book. I thought Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind was fantastic but after reading the first 6/7 books in the series got a bit bored with the recycled storyline (boy meets girl, something separates them and they spend the rest of the book trying to be with one another again). I also love kids fantasy like Harry Potter and Eragon. So when I saw this book in the Sci-fi and Fantasy section of Waterstones last year I made a mental note to borrow it from the library sometime and give it a try.

When I first started reading it, I won't lie, I found it hard going. The story kept jumping to different scenes in different places at different times. The story seems to lack any cohesion until you get to about 70 to 100 pages in. Then the story really gets going and the first bit of the book gradually starts making sense. So whatever you do, when you try this story, get 150 pages in at least before deciding whether or not to give up.

I like this book, it's a good honest bit of fantasy with all the things you want, strange new worlds, magic, an adventure, good vs evil and a little bit of romance thrown in for good measure. Characters have flaws (such as Steven's obsession with maths puzzles :) ) and not everyone has a happy ending. It is the first book in a trilogy but its good enough to have me wanting to read more, particularly as it ends on a tremendous cliff hanger and given the rest of the book you really don't know what will happen.

There are some irritating aspects to the book. The periodic references to Mark being black and the racism he does or does not encounter don't seem to make much sense. They come across as the authors having a periodic dig about racist attitudes and a need to remind the reader of Mark's origins. I can't rule out that further along in the series this will all make sense but it still comes across a little irritating at times. What relevance does it have that the character is black? Should they be singled out for that?

As well as Mark being singled out, one of the characters in this book can unexpectedly do magic. Whilst there are some clues being laid in the second book as to why this is, you do feel its a bit too much to believe and too much of a coincidence in this first book. You got along with it because you have to, but in some ways it feels as if its taken for granted. There's very little working out why or learning how to use it or anything like that. It just feels a little odd!

For fantasy fans out there who have read things like Terry Goodkind and Charles Stross' Merchant Princes saga I would definitely recommend giving this one a try.

*4 stars*

Brisingr by Christopher Paolini

2008-10-05T20:27:00.003Z

*Warning: This review may contain spoilers for those who have not read Eragon or Eldest, the first two books of this series*

Brisingr directly follows on from where Eldest left off. Eragon, now half elf and half human, has to come to terms with the betrayal of Murtagh and the revelations about his parentage. Whilst struggling with this he must also assist his cousin Roran in saving his beloved Katrina, avenge his uncle, fight for the Varden, remove the curse he unwittingly bestowed on a young girl, fulfil his obligations to the dwarves and continue his training. As if that wasn't enough he needs to find a way to defeat Murtagh, Thorn and eventually Galbatorix. Having barely escaped with his life after his last encounter with Murtagh the odds are overwhelming against Eragon. With so many pledges and tasks it seems as though Eragon will have his work cut out for him, especially when his pledges conflict with one another. Follow Eragon as he continues to work his way to his ultimate task, with enough twists and turns to keep you on your toes til the final page.

I couldn't wait to pick up the next book in the Inheritance series and I was not disappointed. Paolini has once again brought Alagaesia to life with its multitude of races and varying topography. It was a delight to re-enter this world and pick up where we had left off, straight after the battle where Murtagh and Thorn defeat Eragon and Saphira.

As you can tell I thoroughly enjoyed this book, but some may find this latest installment not what they expected. It is a little slower than previous books, with somewhat less action. However the book does deepen our knowledge of the characters and provides us with some interesting insights. Paolini explores the themes of power, obedience, justice and family in this book. There are several points at which characters are forced to make decisions that affect our notions of these ideas. For example one character is forced to have another punished for disobeying orders, despite the fact that by doing so the character saved lives and made the mission a success. Paolini is forcing us and the characters to see the wider picture. There is definitely a sense of 'every action has a consequence' and some of the actions from previous books, like the blessing of Elva and his promise to undo the curse. There is a feeling of wrapping up loose ends as Eragon begins to fulfil some of his promises which I think is a great thing and leaves the way open for the final book to concentrate on his quest to defeat Galbatorix.

For those who were hoping to find out what would happen in the end, obviously this book does not give the answer. In some ways it can be seen as a bit of a filler to stave off the main event, but I didn't feel it was any less enjoyable for this. I still couldn't put the book down and had at least two nights when I looked at the clock, swore and raced off to bed :)

For people looking for something original and new, perhaps this isn't the series for you. What I love about this series is that it combines some standard fantasy ideas like dragons and elves and quests and battles, in a comfortable and engaging way. It takes me back to the sort of books I read as a child and the films I grew to love. They are exactly the sort of books I would curl up on the sofa with when I'm feeling down and just escape to.

So if you want fantasy that is light, enjoyable and interesting, I would definitely recommend the Inheritance cyle.

*4 stars*

The Butcher of Smithfield by Susanna Gregory

2008-05-25T14:22:00.004Z

Chaloner has finally returned to London after a dangerous mission in Spain and Portugal. Yet in only a few months there have been many changes. In particular the editor of the official printed newsletter has been replaced and a tax has been placed on all printed material. The ousted editor has set up a rival in the form of handwritten newsletters, which are exempt from this new tax. The coffee houses are buzzing with the feud and accusations of espionage and theft abound. If that wasn't enough his dear friend Maylord has died of eating green cucumbers.
Yet Chaloner has no time to grieve as the Lord Chancellor is keen for him to uncover the truth behind the death of a solicitor named Newburne. With ties to the crime lord of Smithfield, known as the Butcher, and a man who made no friends in any quarter Chaloner has more suspects than clues. What's more, Newburne also seems to have conveniently died of eating green cucumbers....
With at least two suspicious deaths, apparently unlinked, a wardrobe full of moths, no pay and a lucky hat, Chaloner sets off to solve his friend's death, the death of Newburne and hopefully get paid.

This is the third book of the Chaloner series set in Restoration London following the fortunes of an ex-Cromwellian spy under the new Royalist regime. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and really felt as if I was wandering the late 17th century streets of London. As always Gregory has done her research, the plot involving the cucumbers was particularly clever. At the time green fruit and vegetables were treated with such mistrust that for someone to die having eaten green cucumbers would seem perfectly possible. Other good historically accurate touches include the fear of Catholics and those that supported the old Cromwellian government. People like this were felt to undermine the Church and King and the very fabric of daily life. On top of this the popularity of the coffee houses and censorship of the press are also extremely accurate.

The plot has plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing how the whole picture fits together right till the end. Just when you think you know what's happening a new thread will interrupt and throw off your conclusions. I for one did not see the ending coming!

The problem that Gregory faces is that when we think of spies, we think of James Bond and all the gadgets he uses. Chaloner has no access to special equipment and apart from one special item he owns, he has to make to with whatever he has to hand and his wits. It means that so much more thought has to be put into the plot so that it can be exhilarating, fast-paced and sufficiently clever to give the reader a thrill when reading it. I for one feel that Gregory achieves this. Added to that her characters are not flat, two-dimensional creatures, but well rounded, flawed, normal human beings.

I would definitely recommend this book, and indeed the whole series thus far, to anyone who wants to try and spy story without flashy gadgets and incredible amounts of good fortune for the lead character. It is also highly recommended for anyone with a passion 17th century. If you like intrigue, politics and action, this book has it all.

*4 stars*

Other books by Susanna Gregory include:
*A Conspiracy of Violence: First book in the Thomas Chaloner series
*Blood on the Strand: Second book in the Thomas Chaloner series
*The Westminster Poisoner: Fourth book in the Thomas Chaloner series

The Behaviour of Moths by Poppy Adams

2008-05-25T14:02:00.010Z

Ginny is upstairs, watching out the window for the return of her sister Vivi. It has been years since Vivi has come home, and now that their parents are dead and they are both in the autumns of their lives Vivi has decided to come home. As Ginny waits she remembers their childhood, the highs, the lows and the moths. Ginny like so many of her forefathers is a lepidopterist, whilst Vivi has never been interested. Once Vivi arrives, Ginny finds her whole world turned upside down and in the space of one weekend a myraid of dark family secrets unravels into a dramatic climax.

For anyone who has read the The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox I thoroughly recommend that you read this. Although in some ways a similar theme, this is far more accessible yet with more twists and turns. It is beautifully written and Poppy Adams has a superb knack of lulling you into a false sense of security and leading you up the garden path before finally revealing all. I am surprised this is her first book but I will definitely be looking out for her next one.

This is definitely a meaty book exploring the relationships of parent and child and siblings in an era when you didn't talk about private things. This creates many secrets and lies and you're never sure who knows what because no one is really talking to each other. As the book unfolds you begin to realise that things that you assume only one or two people knew, in fact was a secret shared by many. It also illustrates how secrets and lies will all unravel and that the consequences are not always anticipated.

I really don't want to spoil this book for potential readers so I won't go into the themes the book covers in more detail than this. Suffice to say, I wouldn't call it a light hearted read but at the same time it didn't feel constantly bleak (like Eastenders makes you feel if you watch a few episodes and realise that in fact most of the families are there to suffer because nothing goes right in the end for anyone). I found that how I imagined the family and how it worked constantly changed as more and more flashbacks occurred and as Ginny and Vivi interacted. The good news is the bits about the moths are not offputting for those of us with no interest in the subject. It adds another beautiful layer to this book that adds to the storyline rather than existing as a separate theme.

I would definitely recommend this book to others and especially to book groups as there are plenty of topics for discussion.

*5 stars*

If you enjoyed this why not try 'The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox' by Maggie O'Farrell?

What to read next

2008-05-09T15:18:00.002Z

Hi everyone who reads this blog :)
I'm sending out a plea for help finding new books to read. I really really need new suggestions. So please, don't be shy and either add your suggestions to the bottom of this post (you don't have to be a member to post remember) or e-mail me at northumberland_girl@yahoo.co.uk .
I'm finally going through a reading phase after finding it difficult to pick up a book for the last few months. Please help! What have you enjoyed reading lately and why???

Soldier of Fortune by Edward Marston

2008-04-24T12:13:00.001Z

Captain Daniel Rawson, spy, soldier, ladies man and the Duke of Marlborough's right hand man is in trouble. The son of a Somerset rebel, who fled to the Netherlands with his mother after killing a soldier, Daniel has returned to England as a member of the Dutch Army to serve in the Spanish Wars of Succession. However a recent mission has earned him an enemy who will stop at nothing to get his revenge. With both an assassin and an admirer chasing him across Europe's battlefields, can Daniel survive and save the girl?

Marston is easliy one of my favourite authors. I was very much looking forward to this book and in some ways it did not disapoint. Captain Rawson is an out and out hero, courageous, foolhardy, gallant, charming and intelligent. He is a skilled swordsman and linguist and has many other talents to his name. Marston has created a likeable character to whisk us through the trials and tribulationsof late 17th/early 18th century Europe. The only problem is that sometimes Rawson is too perfect, with only his confirmed batcherlorhood a possible negative to his character.

The battle scenes are well written and in some ways mercifully to the point for those who do not want to get too entrenched in the minute details. I often find this a problem with Simon Scarrow's Roman Army books for example. That is not to say that Marston skimps on these scenes but I didn't feel as if I was reading a detailed report of several battles with the occasional storyline between. It certainly makes the book far more accessible to the average reader.

As always, Marston has researched his period well and I found no glaring inaccuracies. It was particularly interesting to see that he included scenes from the Monmouth Rebellion and I look forward to this aspect of Rawsons history playing a part in future books. Its a good introduction to Daniel's character, particularly his notion of honour and family. For those with in-depth knowledge of this period the book may not be as accurate as you would hope for, but its not as bad as some I have read.

Despite all of this though, I did not enjoy the book fully. The storyline involving Abigail Piper, the young lady with an infatuation for our hero, I found tedious and irritating. It reads almost like some tame historical Mills and Boon with swooning, two dimensional women and a hero fighting for their honour. Although I like a good love story plot, what Marston provided is not what I am looking for. I was left feeling like Abigail needed a good slap and that Rawson is a confirmed batchelor who enjoys female attention. The whole plot seemed to be thrown in for good measure to try and fill a gap. Perhaps Marston should avoid this type of plot in future or work on his female characters.

Otherwise this was a good light hearted romp that shouldn't be taken seriously. Ideal as a holiday read.

*3 stars*

An evening with Terry Pratchett

2008-03-01T10:54:00.002Z

Recently I was lucky enough to acquire tickets to see Terry Pratchett talk at the Bath Literature Festival. With the tickets being reasonably priced and Bath a place I can get to fairly easily I felt it was a win win situation. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect but hoped, given the joy the Discworld novels have given me over the years, that it would be good. I was wrong.... it was absolutely fantastic!

This year Pratchett is celebrating two milestones, his 60th birthday and the 25th year of Discworld. As I turn 25 later this year it might explain why I have no recollection of a time before Discworld! With over 30 Discworld novels under his belt, not to mention all the extra books giving us further insight into the Discworld and the non-Discworld related books like Good Omens, one cannot fail to be impressed. Some of us can only dream of managing to write one novel, let alone turn out over 30.

There is a danger when you meet famous people who you feel positively about (whether you idolise or just admire them) that they will fail to meet up to your expectations. I recently got to see Tony Robinson for example and to be honest he kept himself to himself and wouldn't talk to anyone. With Terry I doubt this could ever be the case. He is down to earth, chatty, funny and perfectly open about his work and his life. He is a joy to listen to and the 75 minutes we got of him seemed to pass in the blink of an eye. He makes no bones of where he's come from and that now he has a pile of money. In some ways he models Sam Vime's rise on his own, citing how odd it was that his grandfather was a gardener and now he himself employs two! When asked how he deals with fans who feel they know him and have made a connection with him through his books he responded that he usually thanks them, and then asks them to buy him a drink! Fame hasn't turned him into an aloof diva.

Terry got into reading and writing at a young age and he talked fondly of his time working in the local library on Saturdays. They couldn't pay him but, as his motive was to acquire as many reader tickets as possible so that he could borrow as many books as possible, this didn't deter him. By the time he left the library he had acquired 156 reader tickets! He also talked fondly of the Penn Second Hand Bookshop, a second hand bookshop as it is supposed to be, that also fuelled his love for books. Perhaps paradoxically to us he owns a fairly small fiction collection and instead chooses to read a vast array of non-fiction books.

In fact one thing you quickly pick up on is just how frighteningly intelligent he is. He is mine of information and I for one would be incredibly happy to have him on my team at a pub quiz. His interests are many and varied and it would be impossible to get them all across. One of his interests though is ways in which people have died, particularly if they're gruesome. He talked about a young Victorian girl who died of arsenic poison she ingested from flakes from her new green shoes that she was wearing at a dance. The room wasn't ventilated so she managed to inhale them and spent the next two days dying. This was just one of many annecdotes he shared with us.

For those of you who can't wait for the next book (which is released in September in the UK and does seem to be called Nation after all), we were given a sneak preview of a couple of pages. Nation is all about the aftermath of a great tsunami and Pratchett has used his fascination with Krakatoa and everything he's learnt about the more recent Asian Tsunami to create this work. It revolves mainly around a boy, in a loin cloth, and a shipwrecked high class girl (presumably therefore not in a loin cloth). They are the only survivors of the tragedy. It is set in a Victorian type time according to Pratchett and I get the impression it is different again from other books he's written. He and brought with him a scene involving Captain Roberts and the wrecking of his ship on the island, which meant we got to hear Terry sing. I won't spoil it by giving any more detail than that, but it does sound as if the book is going to be good.

As many Pratchett fans know towards the end of last year Terry was diagnosed with a rare form of Alzheimer's. Unlike many who would seek to conceal their aliments he has chosen to be open and frank about his condition. As he said himself 'Should you apologise for being hit by a meterorite??'. He won't go down without a fight. Apparently the type of Alzheimer's he has means that he will remain himself until he dies but already he is having problems writing and typing but will move over to dictating his work if he has to. He apologised profusely for being unable to dedicate the books he was signing to people because of his condition. Although he can manage when the group is signficantly smaller, with several hundred people he finds it impossible to keep focussed. I for one felt no apology was necessary but was moved that he felt sorry about this. He is clearly a man who embraces his fans.

He's also no afraid to use his fame to support Alzheimer's charities and last night decided to auction the pages of the new book he'd brought with him, that he would sign and dedicate to the highest bidder. Amazingly the total got up to £475. Long may he continue to do things like this and highlight this dreadful disease.

After my evening listening to the great man I feel my recent review of Making Money may have been a little harsh. I very much want to re-read the book as I have a greater understanding of the man behind the books. In fact I feel I want to re-read all the Discworld books. I hope that Terry will be able to continue writing for many years and will to look forward to each new book he writes. If you ever get the chance to listen to him speak, grab it with both hands.

Remember you can add comments to any of the posts on this blog, no need to sign in! Just click the 'add comment button' below.

You can also vote for this post on 'Digg'! by clicking here

Making Money by Terry Pratchett

2008-02-08T17:05:00.000Z

Moist von Lipwig is bored...... very bored. He has turned around the Post Office to such an extent it can run without him and his girlfriend is off rescuing Golems. Even dabbling in his old thieving skills has not take the edge off his boredom. At the same time Lord Vetinari has a problem. He needs someone to run the Royal Mint, and the bank next door. Lipwig seems to be the very man for the job but as always, the path never runs smooth for the dashing conman. The Mint is running at a loss, the chief Cashier may be a vampire and there's a mad scientist in the basement. If that's not enough the Assassins Guild, the family of the previous chairman and an old business associate are out to kill him. Oh and he must find time to take the chairman for his daily walkies. Can the Discworld's most likeable conman turn things around or will he finally be on the end of a noose and a short sharp drop?

This is Pratchett's second adventure starring Moist von Lipwig and is the third in his series of books that seem to be based on inventions (the newspaper, the postage stamp and the bank note respectively). All in all this is the 31st Discworld novel. I have immensely enjoy Pratchett's take on the world and his humour and am a fan of his work. Unfortunately the downside to Pratchett's talent is my high expectations of his work, which this book failed to live up to.

Don't get me wrong, this is a perfectly readable book and has some absolutely superb moments (I don't think anyone will forget the scene involving Mr Fusspot and the secret room). Yet I found these moments were strung out by some pretty boring storylines and dialogue. I can remember after the first few chapters wondering when the story would get going as it seemed to take forever to set up the various parts of the plot. In some ways it was a little too much like 'Going Postal', in the sense that Lipwig has to invent a new concept to keep the institution afloat, previously the postage stamp and in this case the bank note. I felt there was a bit too much of Vetinari in the book which made appear less omnipotent and mysterious. Some of the plot points made my head hurt (I still don't understand quite how the golems were able to save Lipwig's bacon). There were glimmers of the Pratchett I know but sadly not enough for me.

It was the minor characters in the book that really made it for me like Topsy, Mr Fusspot, Gladys, the wizards and the guards. The minor characters are the staples of many a good Discworld novel. We know most of the minor characters through previous books and so Pratchett isn't required to build up their character through the book as we already know it. It is definitely one of the strengths of the series.

It hasn't put me off Discworld in the slightest and I look forward to the publication of his next book in later this year (codenamed ‘Nation’ I believe and out in the UK in September). I wouldn't recommend this to anyone who is trying Pratchett for the first time and would instead suggest Colour of Magic, Guards! Guards! or Soul Music. It is worth reading if you are a Discworld fan as there is a likelihood that some of the plot points will effect plots in his future Discworld novels. Readable but not a book I'd be bothered about reading again.

*3 stars*

The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

2008-02-07T12:42:00.000Z

The Five People You Meet in Heaven – by Mitch Albom

Eddie's 83rd birthday began like most days, he went to work as usual. Alone with no family and no friends Eddie's whole life is Ruby Pier, as it has been since his youth. Yet a freak accident on one of the rides causes Eddie to risk his life trying to save a little girl. In his final moments he feels two small hands.

When Eddie awakes he finds Heaven is not the Garden of Eden as promised in the Bible. Instead he has to meet with five people who have helped shaped his life. Some he knows, some are strangers, but they all have wisdom to impart. As Eddie visits each of these people's chosen Heaven he slowly begins to understand his life on earth and how it ended.

Not everyone is comfortable with death and the thought of what comes after. I admit to being one of those people who seem to think about death and am interested in thoughts and cultural reactions to death. I remember writing a paper at university about death using both anthropological and archaeological examples of how people deal with death. I also remember my tutor commenting that the paper was so well researched and explored that they felt I had an unhealthy obsession with the topic! So for me, this book was right up my street.

There are so many different ideas about what happens after you die from those that believe there is no life after death, to various ideas about heaven and finally reincarnation. Life after death can be a really good topic for an author as the ideas they can explore are many and varied. Yet it can also be fraught with difficulties. It can be too easy to write a life after death story which doesn't challenge the read and is just a story that happens to be set in an afterlife rather than another country or on another planet. Sometimes authors can get too caught up in the philosophical and forget the storyline altogether. Albom is guilty of neither of these. The book is extremely readable, has a clear story but it manages to be thought provoking.

This is an excellent book to read if you have recently lost a loved one. It makes you realise that their life will have touched so many others, some of which you'll know about and others that you won't. It made me realise that everything has a purpose, and that even the tiniest actions have lasting effect. It also left me with the hope that no life is a wasted life and that even if you feel you don't understand your life and why things happen that it will all eventually become clear to you. It could be a wonderful source of discussion which might help you through your grief.

Albom doesn't push 'God' too much in the book, which as an atheist I was grateful for. Instead the story hangs on Eddie and the five people he meets and the reader is not required to embrace Christian ideology. Don't get me wrong, there are references made to God from time to time, but he is not a central character by any means.

There are many themes which Albom explores in this book other than life, death and fate. Family, war, work, prejudice, and love are all explored along with the concepts of punishment and redemption. As you reach the end of the book you, like Eddie, are beginning to understand why many of the aspects of his life ended up the way they did. You also find out whether or not Eddie managed to save the girl, a fact he needs to know if he is to gain ultimate peace.
This book is not meant as a light hearted holiday read and shouldn't be relegated to that pile of books. Instead you should make the time for it and be prepared to read something that will challenge you as much as it entertains you. It will certainly draw you in, I almost got off at the wrong stop when I was reading this because I was so engrossed! I would definitely recommend this to anyone who feels ready to explore the themes of this book.

*4 stars*

Book Award & 7 things you didn't know

2008-01-19T10:44:00.000Z

Thank you for your award Sarah!!! It's really nice to get one :)

I understand though as a recipient of this award I have to write seven weird and wonderful facts that people don't know about me. So... here goes!

1. I love almonds, and just about anything made of almonds. I have a particular weakness for almond croissants and marzipan. No idea why I'm so addicted but if I eat out and see a pudding containing almonds, that's the dessert sorted!!!! I even go for dishes with almonds in when I'm eating Indian food.

2. I occasionally do needlework. I come from a family who do an awful lot of crafts. There are a lot of quilter's in the family, and my Mum has over the years dabbled in everything from lace making to dying fabric. So its no surprise that despite every effort to avoid these things I do do some sort of craft work. I've even been known to do a bit of knitting on very very rare occasions. At the moment I'm working on a cushion cover and am about to pluck up the courage to work on a large piece of cross stitch of a Samurai warrior.

3. Also, despite claiming to be the artisticly deficient member of the family, I took A-Level photography

4. I love Italy. I fell in love with Rome the first time I visited and have been there four times in total. I've seen the ruins at Pomepii and Herculaneum, been to see the Oracle's caves at Cumae and the museums in Naples. A few years ago I was lucky enough to work on a survey project to the north of Rome near a place called Otricoli. Back in September I started Italian lessons for the first time (as I started visiting Italy back in 1997 it's been a long time coming!). Best thing about Italy is the ice-cream. The variety, the gorgeous tastes! You've never had real chocolate ice-cream until you've been over there and had real Italian chocolate ice-cream.

5. I'm a re-enactor. Last year I joined a well known British group and have been to a couple of events. What many people find amusing is what I've chosen to do re-enactment wise. I seem to manage to evoke a need to look after me in people (is it because I'm short, pale, delicate looking???). So the last place they expect me to be is working the cannons :) Yep, I help man the artillery and yes, we do use real black powder so the bangs are real! Don't worry we use grass rather than cannon balls.

6. I love playing Mah-jong. Not that game you play on the computer where you attempt to match tiles to remove them until there are none left. No, I mean the proper 4 player game. I learnt how to play when I was at university and sadly I've not been able to really play much since I graduated. I wasn't too bad, in fact sometimes people would complain I was too good when I was having a lucky streak! I've tried to play on Yahoo a few times but people come and go so much that you're lucky to be able to play a few hands before having to abandon the game due to lack of players. I'd love to have my own set and enough friends who wanted to play round here!

7. When I bother to sit down and think about it I have a rather diverse set of interests from reading and needlework to playing with cannons. However one hobby which people never peg me for is computer games. I don't have many but I love things like Sid Meier's Civilization and Caesar III. I hadn't played any for ages but my sister bought me Civilization IV for Christmas and before I went back to work in the New Year I lost one or two days completely just playing Civ IV :)

There you go seven things you probably didn't know about me (or want to know for that matter!!!).

Remember guys, keep reading :)

The Last Days of Newgate - by Andrew Pepper

2008-01-19T10:40:00.000Z

London, 1829. Pyke is one of these dying breed. The Bow Street Runners are about to be replaced by the Metropolitan Police. In the dark, vice ridden alleys of the city Pyke attempts to bring villains to justice. Yet like many of the Runners, Pyke is also involved in criminal activities of his own. With the lines between right and wrong so blurred it's no wonder that Peel wants to see the Bow Street Runners disbanded. Yet is he above using criminal methods himself to see them thoroughly discredited? Pyke is drawn into a plot to remove the Bow Street Runners altogether, inflame tensions between Protestants and Catholics and bring the city to its knees. Can Pyke get to the bottom of this mystery? With every conceivable spanner thrown into the works, including being framed for murder, the pressure is on and Pyke must get to the truth before the Hangman puts the noose around his neck.

Pyke is definitely an anti-hero. Despite supposedly bringing law and order to the city he is not above thieving and swindling. Out to get what ever he can and always putting himself first. At the start of the book you see him being offered a private commission, something that would be considered completely and utterly corrupt in today's society. He is certainly not the first person you would expect to be so appalled by the gruesome murder towards the beginning of the book that he feels compelled to investigate it. Yet as the story unfolds we begin to realise that despite his many flaws there is a flicker of human decency and compassion. You find yourself wanting Pyke to succeed, despite hating what he gets up to.

This is a very dark book and not for the faint hearted. There's lots of murder, highway robbery, sex with prostitutes, the realities of Newgate Prison, fighting and filth. The very graphic murder of a young family in the first few chapters really is horrific and even Pyke, who has seen it all, is made ill by it. I don't think this book could ever be made into a tea time drama for the BBC! I have to say that I don't normally go in for books this dark, but I felt I needed to find out what on earth was going on!

I don't know if I want to read the next book though. I found Pyke's various relationships and his problems with women difficult to sympathise with. If I'm honest he's the sort of man I would hope never to fall in love with. His loveless relationship with Lizzie is heart breaking and you keep wishing he could just be honest with her and himself.

Pyke is a well constructed, complex character. No one is ever squeaky clean and you can forgive some of what Pyke gets up to because of his circumstances. He's a very real character, it's almost as if Andrew Pepper could be writing his biography.

Unfortunately I know very little about the pre-Victorian 19th century. I've come across the Bow Street Runners before in Deryn Lake's John Rawling's series set in the late 18th century. The author has pulled upon some well known historic facts such as the awful conditions of Newgate prison and the work of Elizabeth Fry. The introduction of the Metropolitan Police Force is also based on fact. The religious tensions are probably very accurate too, as even today there are still tensions between Catholics and Protestants in some parts of Ireland. I think it's harder for authors to get away without researching the period they set their historical fiction in nowadays so they are less likely to be inaccurate.
If you enjoy historical crime fiction it is definitely worth giving this book a try, particularly if you are wanting to expand your tastes. It is a dark book and there is a lot of trials and tribulations so its best avoided if you're looking for an easy, light hearted read. I still don't know quite how I feel about the book (which will be reflected in my rating), but I would still urge people to give it a go.

*3 stars*

Farewell Britannia - by Simon Young

2008-01-19T10:29:00.000Z

It's 430 A.D. in Britain. The Romans have left twenty years previously and the barbarian raids are becoming more and more frequent. For the last surviving members of the Atrebates family preparations are under way for a funeral. At the funeral will be the parade of ancestors, carrying relics of the past. For one of the family members this gives them the idea to put all these people's stories on paper. From one ancestor's trip to Britain with Caesar's troops in 55 BC right up to the fate of the writer's own brother, over 400 years of Romano-British history is covered in this exciting and innovative book.

For anyone with an interest in Roman Britain or who wants an introduction to the topic this book is a definite must read. It is an ambitious project, trying to cover over 400 years of history through snap shots. Each chapter is dedicated to a different person or event. As if that wasn't enough at the end of every chapter is Young's explanation of the known facts behind that chapter. The real genius lies in the fact that the author manages to keep the book together by using the history of one family as the story. Towards the end of the book the links become more tenuous but they're still made to work. Without this the book would seem more like a collection of scenes from different films, put together because they're all Roman but nothing else links them and they don't make much sense out of the context of the whole film they're from.

I must admit I was drawn to this book because Roman Britain is one of my specialist areas (or at least I like to think so!). Despite that this book managed to bring alive several events of the period that I knew of. I loved the chapter set in AD 61 because it showed the revolt from a completely different angle than anything I've read before. The later chapters were also extremely interesting, although they may cause offence to some as they portray some over zealous Christian worshippers attacking pagans and pagan temples. We forget that this sort of thing would have happened, there's even archaeological evidence to back this up. It really is a fascinating book and well worth reading.

It's greatest strength can also be its one weakness. In some ways its a collection of short stories rather than a novel and this could put some people off. I would however say, give it a chance. I tend not to read collections of small stories but I am extremely glad I read this.

As to the historical accuracy of this book, it is very well researched by Simon Young and he is at pains to point out where he has sourced his information from. At the end of the book, arranged by chapter, is a bibliography so that you can do further readings on any of the topics that interest you. At times Young does use artistic licence but this is fiction, not non-fiction!

As mentioned above if you have an interest in the period this book is well worth reading. It is also worth trying if you want to read something a bit different or you can always dip into it if there's a particular chapter that catches your fancy (Caesar's invasion or Boudicca's revolt perhaps?).

*4 stars*

If you are interested in fictional accounts of Roman Britain why not try:
*Medicus and the Disappearing Dancing Girls by R.S. Downie
*A Roman Ransom by Rosemary Rowe
*The Horse Coin by David Wishart

An update

2008-01-16T12:55:00.001Z

I think the first thing to say is a huge thank you to Sarah! I've

never won a web award of any sort so this is a real honour.

I realise I have to at some point post my crazy list of 7 facts

you didn't know about me and don't worry, I will! This is just

a quick post via e-mail to keep things ticking over.

I can't get to a proper internet connection until next week so

no reviews until then but you can look forward to the following

reviews:-

Farewell Britannia by Simon Young - a fictional account of a

British family under Roman rule. Spans four centuries so is

quite ambitious!

The Last Days of Newgate by Andrew Pepper - a murder

mystery/thriller set in the early 19th century. Quite dark.

Also if you're lucky I may get round to writing up a book I'll be

finishing in the next couple of days, The Dark Flight Down by

Marcus Sedgwick. It's a follow up to The Book of Dead Days

by the same author.

I've noticed of late more and more people are visiting this

site. I am so pleased that so many people out there are

reading. Please feel free to contact me about any of these

reviews or if there are any books you'd like to see me review.

All suggestions/criticisms/praise gratefully received :) The

e-mail address is northumberland_girl@yahoo.co.uk .

A great many people who wander here via search engines

are searching for info about C J Sansom. Well, for those of

you in the UK the good news is that his next book in the

Matthew Shardlake series will be available from 4th April!

It's called Revelation and is set towards the end of Henry

VIII's reign, following on from the last book. I think those of

you in the US may have to wait until November

unfortunately!

In the meantime, happy reading!

This blog entry has been submitted by e-mail

Anne of Avonlea by L M Montgomery

2007-12-26T16:24:00.000Z

Anne of Avonlea follows on from Anne of Green Gables. After the shock decision of Anne not to attend university but to return to Avonlea to be with Marila, Anne manages to secure a job teaching at the local school. As if a new job wasn't enough a relative of Marila's dies and Marila is left to bring up six year old twins Davy and Dora whilst their uncle finishes his job and secures a new home for them. Although Dora is extremely well behaved, Davy is a handful and is soon getting into all sorts of scrapes. Anne somehow also finds the time to work on improving Avonlea with the Improvement Society and it is not long before she too gets into some scrapes. With new neighbours and friends and old rivals Avonlea continues to provide adventures for Anne during her late teens.

Anne of Avonlea picks up right from where Anne of Green Gables finishes. Although some of the characters from the first book are no longer present or take much lesser roles in the book, there are enough of the core characters to keep a sense of familiarity. The book is another gentle trundle through Anne's adventures with the usual mix of mini disasters and small triumphs. It is certainly a mellow book, entirely suitable for young children and adults alike and best enjoyed over a mug of hot chocolate.

It is hard to be critical of Montgomery for her style of writing. After reading Anne of Green Gables I find that my expectations have changed and I was able to slip into reading Anne of Avonlea quite easily and not find it tedious or irritating. Certainly Anne has managed to rid herself of some of her more annoying habits and as one might expect is beginning to grow up. The book was written at a very different time from the modern day which means we have to accept its differences.

I would recommend that anyone who wants to read this book read Anne of Green Gables first (click on any mention of Anne of Green Gables in this review for a link to my review for the book). It is certainly worth reading if you want a light and gentle read to whisk you away to another more innocent age after a long hard, miserable day at work.

*3 stars*

Young Bloods by Simon Scarrow

2007-12-26T15:23:00.000Z

Napoleon Bonaparte and Wellington are arguably two of the most well known figures of the late 18th/early 19th century. In his new series, 'Revolution', Simon Scarrow charts the the lives of these two men side by side from birth to death. Although fictional, the books do draw greatly from what is know about these two figures with a little added artistic licence. In the first book 'Young Bloods' the two men are followed from birth, through their school days and up until the start of their involvement in the European wars of the late 18th century.

Don't let the size of this book put you off. At 512 pages it is not a short book but it is definitely an excellent read. I know little about this period of history and therefore cannot vouch for how accurate Scarrow is, yet I feel that I have learnt a lot by reading this book. It paints Napoleon as a born military figure. He fights hard to overcome the racism against his origins and to prove that he is a talented man. Wellington (or Arthur Wesley as he was orignally known)does not strike you as a born man of the military. In some ways he makes his way into the army in an easier fashion than Bonaparte as he at least comes from a good background. Instead he has to deal with lack of talent (although he is a gifted musician), his mother who does not seem to love him and the eventual ruin his family suffer. Scarrow tries to deal with both characters sensitvely and impartially but it is clear to see how stubborn both men are and how they can at times be obnoxious or loveable.

Both men seem to have a talent for leadership. This is something that becomes apparent towards the end of the book and will no doubt become more important as the series progresses.

I was amazed at how easy the book was to read. I have to admit I read it in a day and read quite a bit before I realised how much I'd read (if you know what I mean!). It was engaging, interesting and I very much felt that most of the characters had depth. Despite having no interest in Napoleon and Wellington prior to reading this book I now find I watch the occasional documentary about this period as I now know something about this.

As this is the first installment of the series there is not a huge deal of fighting and action in that sense in the book. I suspect that the next two books will have far more fighting in them which may render them slightly tedious. However this book has certainly peaked my interest and I look forward to reading 'The Generals' in the near future.

*4 stars*

The Savage Garden by Mark Mills

2007-12-26T15:04:00.000Z

It is 1958 and Adam Strickland has reached the end of his second year studying at Cambridge. He is not the most diligent of students and when his tutor asks to see him he presumes he is in trouble for slacking. Instead he is offered a dissertation topic, studying the garden of a Tuscan villa owned by a friend of his tutor. Intrigued and desperate not to follow in his father's footsteps Adam agrees. What he does not anticipate is that the garden hides a 400 year old mystery and a curse that has followed the owners for years. Armed with his intellect alone Adam feels he must solve the mystery of the garden and the mystery that surrounds the current owners in the few short weeks he has.

I picked this book up as I hoped it would be something different to what I usually read. I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised. Although the first few chapters had me wondering if anything was going to happen as the story unfolded I was gradually drawn in. Like any good detective story by the end I was heading in the right direction although I hadn't quite guessed what was going on. There are plenty of twists and turns but for fans of fast paced action you will find this book very slow and lacking in action. Much of the story line involves looking at the garden and several of the older characters reminiscing, as well as family dinners.

It is certainly one of the better representations of Italy I have read of late. The descriptions make you want to visit but they don't drown the story line. The family at the centre of the book feel convincingly Italian. There is good food, good company and a general happiness that you expect from your stereotypical Italian experience.

Its a book that is well worth trying and persevering with past the first few chapters. Its not a difficult read and if you want a detective story with more similarity to Rosemary and Thyme than Waking the Dead then this is probably for you.

*3 stars*

It's been a while!

2007-12-26T14:59:00.001Z

Ok guys so it's been a while since I updated this blog. Apologies! Still have no internet access at home and only get access to things like Blogger when I go and use the library computers (which tend to get quite busy). Ah well, such is life.

I've been keeping myself busy and been reading lots and lots of books. Unfortunately I can't review all of them but I'm going to add a few over the next few hours so keep a weather eye out.

Thanks for all the comments you've been sending. It really helps to know what people are interested in so I make sure I review a range of what I've been reading :) I'm open to requests so don't be shy to ask. Just add a comment direct to the blog or if you want to be a bit more private about it send it to my e-mail address (as printed in my profile).

I hope you all got lots and lots of books for Christmas and I wish you all a happy New Year.

Medicius and the Disappearing Dancing Girls by R.S. Downie

2007-09-01T14:31:00.000Z

Ruso has just taken up a medical post with the Twentieth Legion in Chester. It is a dark, wet settlement on the very outskirts of the Empire, on the outskirts of the world. Driven to this job by desperate personal circumstances, Ruso is merely surviving. He lives with a colleague who is a regular ladies man and handsome to boot. Added to that he doesn't get on with his boss, a penny pinching bureaucrat who is more interested in how quickly they can treat patients than treating them properly. Then on his way back from a quick drink, Ruso comes across a badly injured slave girl. He buys the girl and tends her in the hope that he can sell her on for a huge profit and solve all his problems. This is never a wise idea, particularly if you find their eyes attractive. Meanwhile girls from the very place he enjoys a quiet drink are turning up dead and Ruso is the only one who cares enough to investigate. It seems as though the Gods aren't smiling on Ruso.

For anyone who enjoys Lindsey Davis' Falco series, you really must read 'Medicius and the disappearing dancing girls'. The main character, much like Falco, is a likeable, down-trodden guy with a good heart who somehow manages to get into more scrapes than a club bouncer. The story is well written, undemanding, and easy to read. I couldn't put it down when I'd started and ended up reading it in a day.

Downie's characters are very well written. I particularly like the portrayal of Priscus who is the archetypal bureaucrat you just want to slug. He makes pettiness into a fine art form and puts me in mind of one or two people I've come across in my years of working in local government. I liked Albanus as a character too and hope that he appears in any future instalments. I have a bit of a soft spot for clerks who come good! One character that felt a bit different was that of Tilla. A strong woman who doesn't want to be a slave who to begin with seems not to want to live but her spirit won't let her so she plans to escape instead. Her relationship with Ruso is not a typical slave/master relationship, nor is it overtly romantic either. Although Downie leaves scope for the two to fall for each other properly it doesn't seem to quite happen. To me that is far preferable to happy domesticity.

The setting of the book is fairly well written. Downie has certainly done her research and there doesn't seem to be any glaring factual mistakes. I particularly enjoyed the way she shows how far the Roman medical profession is behind modern medicine. The fact that most people are terrified of the doctors and that they can be a bit ruthless at times. It made the whole thing feel that little bit more real. It can be too tempting to turn your hero into a proper hero, able to cure anyone of anything. Ruso isn't a bad doctor, but nor is he set up as the greatest doctor either.

There are quite a few authors on the market whose books are historical crime stories set in the Roman period, Lindsey Davis, Steven Saylor, Rosemary Rowe and Marilyn Todd to name but a few. I really feel that Downie deserves to be added to this list and it is my hope that Ruso and Tilla will enjoy another outing in the not too distant future.

*4 stars*

The Kings Last Song by Geoff Ryman

2007-09-01T14:29:00.000Z

In a field in Cambodia the find of a lifetime is uncovered during an archaeological dig. It is the memoir of Cambodia's greatest king, preserved on sheets of gold for centuries. Cambodia is in turmoil, still reeling from the civil wars that have torn the country apart, and the massacres by Pol Pot. The treasure is stolen and the director of the excavation kidnapped. A young moto-boy and an ex-Khmer Rouge solider, brought together by their concern for the dig director, join forces to try and recover the memoirs. Yet with such opposing backgrounds and in a country on a knife edge their quest is in jeopardy before they even start. They must overcome their pasts and fight for a brighter future for their beloved country.

The book is set in multiple time frames in Cambodia, from the present day, to the 12th century of Jayavarman, to the memories of Luc and Map over the last 40-50 years. The book centres on the violent past of the country, not only in the past century but also in the 12th century. Cambodia is a country still struggling to come to terms with itself and re-build itself. Most of the characters are Cambodian and reflect the different backgrounds, from Map the ex-Khmer Rouge soldier who switched sides to William, a young man orphaned by the fighting, to Pich, one of the leaders of the opposition, ruthless and intelligent but fighting for a better future for Cambodia. There are also the odd Vietnamese characters and of course the French dig director to help show other characteristics of the country.

The inclusion of a story running parallel to the main narrative, centuries before the present day is an interesting device. The violence and turmoil of this story seems to show that the events of the most recent century are not new or indeed unique. It tells the story of a king striving to obtain peace but also, towards the end, yearning for power. It also shows that humans can never be flawless. We can all have good intentions but there will be times when we go against these.

Although the story was readable it didn't grab me as it has done others who recommended the book to me in the first place. I know nothing of this history of Cambodia and although have heard the names 'Pol Pot' and 'Khmer Rouge' I only know they were involved in genocide. I know absolutely nothing beyond that and I think that meant I got far less out of the story than I should have done. I admit I probably know more about Cambodia now that I did before I read the book, but still not enough to appreciate the nuances of the book. It has made me wish to read up a bit more about it though, so perhaps it has served one of Ryman's aims when writing the book!

It is quite clear that Ryman is in love with Cambodia. Despite the misery and the violence in the book there is a strand of hope running throughout it. Hope and desire to make Cambodia a better place. To see the country great once more. By the end of the book you sincerely hope that one day the characters will succeed in their quest.

This is definitely a book for anyone with an interest in Asia, particularly Vietnam & Cambodia. It is a book written in the hope that things will improve. It's certainly not a tourist travel novel, written with the sole intention of getting you to visit and spend money. It is definitely something that should be read if you want to learn about the country and the people who live there. It is meant to highlight the problems that the country faces but it does not suggest that tourism and foreign intervention will cure them.

*3 stars*

The Blackpool Highflyer by Andrew Martin

2007-09-01T14:11:00.000Z

In the hot summer of 1905 Jim Stringer has work to do. For many the factories and mills of Halifax are closing for a short holiday and it's off to Scarborough and Blackpool. Jim is a fireman and it's his job to man the excursion trains for the summer break. However on one trip to Blackpool the train hits a millstone on the line and is derailed. Not convinced this is an idle act of vandalism, Jim thinks the Hind's Mill excursion train to Blackpool has been targeted specifically. There are several people with motives, but is Jim right or is he just chasing shadows?

This is the second book in the Jim Stringer series and immediately precedes 'The Lost Luggage Porter' and sees Jim still working as a fireman before his career change to the railway police. For those of you who have read 'Lost Luggage Porter' (or even my review of it) you may find this book jars with your knowledge of Jim and how he came to move to York. I for one was scratching my head over it all the way to the end of the book. I think it is definitely a case of reading these books in order. Therefore I recommend to anyone who hasn't tried these books to go and read them in order, starting with 'The Necropolis Railway', to avoid confusion.

Despite the slight lack of continuity between books, this was still and fairly enjoyable romp. In some ways the story reflects the restrained characteristics we think are typical of the Victorian/Edwardian periods. Jim is fairly down to earth, doesn't pick fights, goes to work, enjoys a drink and has a passion for his railway magazines. Often the heroes of crime fiction have awful foibles and depressing lives. They are womanisers, or alcoholics or bad parents. Jim has none of these foibles. He seems a pretty pleasant character with an equally pleasant wife. If anything the fact his wife cannot cook and is veering towards the suffragette cause is perhaps the most controversial thing about Jim and his family. In some ways this makes him a unique character in the crime fiction genre.

There’s not a lot more that can be said about this book. A book to pass the time rather than a 'must read' perhaps.

*3 stars*

The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad

2007-08-22T17:13:00.001Z

It is 2002, a few months after the fall of the Taliban in Afghanistan. A Norwegian journalist, Asne Seierstad, stumbles across a bookshop in Kabul. After months out with the troops a conversation with the bookseller about topics other than the war is refreshing. Yet Asne finds herself drawn back to Sultan Khan, the bookseller who defied both the Soviets and the Taliban to save precious books. She resolves to write about his life and that of his family. Welcomed as a guest into his home Asne gets to view a unique picture of the rapidly changing world of both the men and the women of Afghanistan.

After reading the 'Kabul Beauty School' I was determined to read 'The Bookseller of Kabul' in the hope that it would be as equally enjoyable. I must admit it was a book that was hard to put down and I read it within 24 hours. In some ways I wasn't expecting this after noting on the frontispiece that it was a translation, and my most recent experience of a translation (see my review of Sister Pelagia and the White Bulldog) had not been positive. It was definitely easy to read and despite the slightly odd format where events are strung together and it is difficult to grasp when these events take place.

The book is extremely different from that of the 'Kabul Beauty School'. Asne features very little in the book, recording events rather than participating for the most part. Instead members of the family take it in turns to share the lime light. Men and women both get their stories told, although I felt that perhaps slightly more women had their stories recounted than men. It is also set at a different time in the liberation of Afghanistan. While Deborah Rodriguez writes about her experiences in 2003, Asne is covering a period in early 2002 when the Taliban have only just been ousted. Life was almost as restricted as it had been under the Taliban as people were too afraid to defy their rule, despite the fact they could no longer punish them. Also, Asne lives with a large family unit whereas Deborah has her own living space and makes her own small family unit. The list of differences between the books is endless and I would definitely recommend the pair as a reading comparison project. How can two women write such different accounts of one city, one country, one culture?

I do think that I read these books in the right order. Whilst the 'Kabul Beauty School' infused me with hope that things will get better, are getting better, 'The Bookseller of |Kabul' was less hopeful. I felt that the author was being as impartial as possible but I felt so sorry for almost all the members of the family. The first wife ousted from her position of authority, the unmarried sisters who are treated no better than slaves, the eldest son who desired to study, meet women and to have a life beyond the four walls of the bookshop etc etc. Sultan Khan is the ultimate patriarch with laudable ideals for a better Afghanistan yet with boundless wrath and an unforgiving nature for any family members who step out of line or question his authority. He is a man constricted by tradition and culture. By the end of the book you do wonder what effect Asne had on the family (something you wonder even more after reading the epilogue). It is hard to see what hope there is and whether things will ever change in the country. You also find yourself wondering if change is always a good thing and what sacrifices should be made.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and although it was hard to sympathise with the majority of characters did find myself drawn to them and eager to learn their fate. They are real people with foibles as much as anyone. People with contradictions to their character, but who all ultimately are trying to improve their lot, in whatever small ways they can. I would recommend this to anyone who has read 'The Kabul Beauty School' or is interested in learning more about the customs, traditions and history of Afghanistan. I have no doubt I will be adding Asne's other book 'A Hundred and One Days' which cover her time in Baghdad to my reading list. I would love to continue reading books of this ilk, but perhaps about countries other than Afghanistan.

*5 stars*

If you are interested in books about life in Afghanistan, have you tried 'The Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez?

Anne of Greengables by L. M. Montgomery

2007-08-22T17:04:00.000Z

Siblings Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert decide that they can no longer manage their farm alone. The help they hired every year was always unreliable and they wanted something a bit more permanent. Hearing that one of their friends has adopted, they feel that adopting a boy and teaching him how to manage the farm will solve all their problems. Yet somehow there is a mistake and the Cuthbert's are sent 11 year old Anne. A day-dreamer who talks too much she soon manages to upset plenty of people. Yet as time passes Anne grows and learns to tame her wild imagination and her tongue and it is not long before people learn to love Anne of Green Gables.

When I was little my father recommended I should read this. For reasons I don't remember I ignored his advice. Perhaps I felt it was too 'girly' for me and too twee. For years I have avoided things like 'Little House on the Prairie' and any adult chick lit that I've seen in bookshops and libraries. So when the Book Club Forum made Anne of Green Gables their book to read for August I thought I would give it a try.

To begin with I did find the format and the story annoying and not my sort of thing. It was slow, the character of motor-mouth Anne annoyed me endlessly and I started skipping through chunks of her monologues. I also felt the story wasn't going anywhere and held very little in the way of excitement. It wasn't badly written per-se, just of it's time and directed towards children rather than adults. I decided to continue reading it though as it wasn't dire. I'm glad I did because the story does improve about half way through. You begin to realise that Anne's character is annoying on purpose and very well written by Montgomery. You find as the characters develop that Matthew is extremely shy around women (which perhaps explains why he never married) and that despite her façade, Marilla does care about others. I did find it a little disconcerting that so much of the book is dedicated to Anne when she is 11/12 and then you start leaping very suddenly through time until by the end of the book she is 16/17.

I think perhaps in some ways I was too old to read this book and enjoy it fully. I suspect I may have enjoyed it more when I was younger. Having said that perhaps it is a book that requires a certain amount of patience, something I was lacking in my youth! If you're looking for thrills and adventure this isn't the book for you. However if you're looking for a gentle, undemanding book with happy stories mingled with the sad woes of ordinary life in late 19th/early 20th century Canada then this is the right book for you. I was left wanting to know what happens next, as I know Montgomery wrote a sequel. I will be putting that on my reading list but I want to read it some wet and windy weekend in Autumn/Winter when I can curl up with a mug of hot chocolate and read a book to warm the heart. Despite it's slow start I would recommend this to others.

*4 stars*

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

2007-08-18T08:59:00.001Z

Dumbledore is dead and Harry is now left to complete his work, finding the rest of the deadly Horcruxes and destroying them before Voldemort gets them. Yet he, Hermione and Ron must go into hiding as Voldemort has finally succeeded in gaining control of the Ministry of Magic. In a climate of fear and repression our heroes are the only ones who can possibly save the day. Can they complete Dumbledore's work and free the world from Voldemort's tyranny?

In this, the final installment of the Harry Potter series, all the loose ends of the previous books. Although it is not a book that can be described as breathtaking or the best thing I have ever read it was still a good read. It nicely brings the series to a close. There are some extremely sad moments and as widely publicised prior to release a couple of central characters do die. It is a much darker book than even the 'Half Blood Prince'. Parallels can be drawn between the reign of Voldemort and Nazi Germany in that those who oppose the regime must flee underground or suffer torture and imprisonment. Half bloods have to be registered and everyone has to prove if they are pure blood. There are also some really good moments where things fans have hoped for do happen. I won't spoil it by saying any more!

The action centres around Harry, Ron and Hermione as you might expect. Other characters do make appearances throughout the book, bringing a smile to the face of anyone who is a fan. Actions in previous books come back to help or haunt our characters and at the end there is a really good twist that reward some people's faith in a specific character. The storyline keeps mainly to finding the Horcruxes but the trio do find a second quest to undertake.

After the 'Half Blood Prince' I was building myself up to feeling disappointed about 'The Deathly Hallows'. However that was not the case. I found myself wanting to read it and enjoying several of the scenes, especially the one involving the radio. As said earlier, it wasn't 'the best book I have ever read' and to be honest it was very much for fans of the series rather than any newcomers. I think if anyone gave up reading earlier in the series they should try again because the end is worth getting to. There is a lot to get your head round in some respects (anyone who has read the book will know what I mean when I refer to the Deathly Hallows). If you have persevered with the books so far you're at least half way prepared. I do wonder if perhaps J K Rowling made it a bit too complex but some how it all works in the end. I suspect I will be re-reading this book when I reach a lull in my current reading list. As I don't often re-read books I think that says it all really!

*4 stars*

An update

2007-08-11T12:05:00.000Z

Hi everyone,

Well I'm slowly settling in so as you can see I've started reviewing again. I can only get access sporadically so I won't be psoting reviews as often as I would like but nevermind!

I have turned on the comment facility again so if anyone would like to add their comments about any of the books I've reviewed, please feel free to do so!

Can I also remind everyone that you can sign up for e-mail bulletins of reviews by signing up to the newsletter on the right hand side of the page. So far three of us have signed up and I'm pretty sure I've set it up so you can receive the whole review (not just a tid-bit) in your e-mails. Means you don't have to visit the blog so much to keep up with the reviews.

I've updated the A-Z listings so they're right now. Will sort out adding a list of top books reviewed as well to make it easier to find books to try.

If you're interested in what I'm likely to be reviewing in the near future I've got 'Ann of Green Gables' by L.M. Montgomery and 'To Kill or Cure' by Susanna Gregory on my pile. I have read the latest Harry Potter and will review that soon, along with the latest Ladie's Detective Agency book by Alexander McCall Smith, so lots to look forward to!

Keep reading :)

The Big Over Easy by Jasper FForde

2007-08-11T11:58:00.001Z

Humpty Dumpty fell off a wall, but was it accident or perhaps something more sinister? An ex-convict, ladies man and millionaire philanthropist he has his fair share of enemies, including his ex-wife. DI Jack Spratt and his new assistant Mary Mary must get to the bottom of the case, and quick. The Nursery Crimes Division is the laughing stock of Reading Police force and some recent expensive cases that failed to bring convictions have got their superiors ready to shut them down. Can Spratt prove that for once his hunches are right? Can he prove Humpty was murdered, and not by the ex-wife who has conveniently died in a horrific accident at the biscuit factory. With time running out for Spratt and his misfits and an old rival trying to undermine the investigation will Spratt be on traffic duty next week?

I’ve heard lots and lots about Jasper Fforde in the past but it has taken me until now to pick up my first Jasper Fforde book. I have certainly not been disappointed. It was witty, clever, funny (not in the laugh out loud sense, more in a quiet smirk kind of way) and a good story. I didn’t see the ending coming, but it wasn’t totally unrealistic. Lots of twists and turns and red herrings just to keep you guessing. A well put together murder mystery which pokes fun at the publicity over quality of results culture we keep finding ourselves in. The clever allusions to nursery rhymes that fit in neatly to the book are well thought out. From Giorgia Porgia the legendary crime boss, to DI Jack Spratt himself who has an unfortunate habit of killing tall people.

There’s nothing negative I can really say about this book. Ok so it’s not laugh out loud funny but that’s because of the type of humour. It will certainly appeal to anyone looking for more than just a quick holiday read. It does make you think, but not too much. The pace is good and like all the best films, just when you think they’ve solved it they haven’t, but fortunately it doesn’t get boring like the end of Casino Royale (it’s not a positive thing to sit in the cinema and keep saying, isn’t this over yet???).

I would recommend this to everyone, its well worth a try! I’m looking forward to reading the next book, ‘The Fourth Bear’.

*5 stars*

An Ancient Evil by Paul Doherty

2007-08-06T16:36:00.000Z

A group of pilgrims are making their way towards Canterbury. During the day they swap tales full of humour and morals, tales made famous by Geoffrey Chaucer. Yet at night they swap stories of a different nature. Tales of murder, horror and woe. At
night they compete to see who can tell the best dark story, for the winner shall receive a purse of silver. Thus begins Doherty's series 'The Canterbury Tales Mysteries'.

In this book we have the Knight's tale. A knight, a clerk and a blind nun work together to save Oxford from a grim spectre of the past. People are being brutally murdered, students are missing and there are fears that the living dead are abroad. Are the old stories of a mysterious cult who disguised themselves as members of the cloth to hide their deceit true? Did these men and women really commit such horrific crimes centuries before and could they have returned to reek revenge? what is certain is that the perpetrators must be found before they strike again.

Doherty is well known for his historical murder mysteries. These include the Hugh Corbett Mysteries and the Brother Athelstan series, not to mention series set in Ancient Egypt, Ancient Rome and the court of Alexander the Great. Therefore there are no worries to be had on historical accuracy. Medieval England is a period Doherty knows well and this shines through with his take on a well known horror story. What makes the book work is the gradual unveiling of the story to the reader and I have no wish to spoil that by giving too much away. Suffice to say by the end of this book most readers will be aware of the clues and homages to the original story.

The book is not a taxing read and I confess to being quite engrossed whilst reading this. I avoid horror at all costs usually as I don't tend to enjoy the vampires, werewolves, zombies and scare tactics used. I also like to sleep soundly at night.
Nevertheless I found this book immensely enjoyable. I don't think it would appeal to horror fans though as even I didn't find this book too scary. The suspense was maintained till towards the end and all the murders were suitably gruesome. Yet perhaps it was the fact it was set in the 13th century that made me unable to see myself in that situation. Horror often works because we perceive the threats in the story as believable. A recent episode of Doctor Who had alien assassins who
disguised themselves as statues but who couldn't move if you looked directly at them. If you so much as blinked, they could move in the time your eyes were shut. What made it scary was that statues are all around us, and we don't think about them, so who knows which ones could be these aliens and sneak up on you when you blink? The setting of Doherty's book in the dim and distant past in situations that are alien to us in the present meant that the horror wasn't so apparent. I didn't feel as if I could possibly be in any danger.

If you have read other books by Doherty it is worth trying this series, especially as this is the first and sets up the premise of the series. I would also recommend it to those who enjoy historical crime fiction as something a little different to what they usually read, if they want to try something new. It's a sort of crime/horror combo, but as I've said before not a hugely terrifying story so good for those who are not big horror fans.

3 stars

The Eve of Saint Hyacinth by Kate Sedley

2007-08-04T10:13:00.000Z

Roger the Chapman is back on the open road, leaving his six month old daughter with his mother in law. He decides to try his luck in London where the king is gathering his troops to invade France. There should be enough customers for his wares there. Then one night he happens to over hear a conversation he shouldn't have and it is not long before one of the two men he over hears is found dead. Despite his better judgment he stays in London and is swiftly entangled with Timothy Plumber, spy master for Duke Richard of Gloucester. There is a plot to murder the Duke and Roger finds himself engaged to uncover the assassin. Can Roger put his monastic schooling to good use and find out who would want Richard dead and why?

I quite enjoy picking up books in the 'Roger the Chapman' series. They're always a good light read, not too taxing but engaging enough to make you want to read them. I like the character of Roger very much, the fairly easy going, intelligent young man. He has his vices but in the grand scheme of things these are quite insignificant (he claims to be too apt to fall in love but quick to fall out of it for instance). He remains untainted by the intrigues he finds himself caught up in. Innocent but worldly wise at the same time. Its an odd combination but if you read the books you'll see what I mean.

Sedley has no problems conjuring up a believable world for Roger to inhabit. From what little I know of this period I do feel it is fairly accurate and I particularly like the early parts of the book where Roger is drifting around the Hampshire countryside selling his wares. I can very much believe that the women in the far out cottages and settlements might not see a pedlar for months. I also found her description of the sheep washing detailed and yet interesting, something which I don't think I would normally feel about sheep washing in general!

I also like the way in which Sedley is able to be accurate about the mundane as well as the political events of the 15th century. The problems between the Woodville family and the King's brothers is beautifully portrayed (I particularly like the moment when the Duke of Clarence insults the Queen at the banquet). In some ways its hard to believe a simple Chapman would be aware of the politics surrounding the war with France but his background in the church before he quit for a life on the road it seems possible he would know such things. Also being on the road he's apt to pick up gossip all over the country.

I did enjoy this book but it was 'ok' rather than something I would necessarily recommend to all my friends. It was good, but a bit gentle perhaps for some tastes. This particular installment was still accessible for those who have not read any of the series so far and is in fact a good introduction to Roger's character. So anyone who does fancy a
non-too-taxing medieval murder mystery to read then I would recommend this one.

*3 stars*

If you enjoyed this book you might also enjoy
*The Poisoned Chalice by Bernard Knight

Other books by Kate Sedley
*For King and Country

A quick news round-up

2007-07-15T11:48:00.001Z

Well the time has almost come for me to switch off my computer
and pack i up with all my other belongings. The reading is
suffering at the moment so it may be a couple of weeks before I
have any reviews to post. I suspect the most likely review to
come next will be 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows', you
have been warned!

I've decided to submit some of my more recent reviews to Digg,
just out of interest to see which (if any) get 'dugg' by people.
Annoyingly they don't have a section for anything book related
so I'm having to list them under 'Offbeat news'. If anyone fancies
'digging' some of these reviews you can find a full list of the
ones to dig at http://digg.com/users/maclsj19/news/dugg .

In other news I've decided that during my absence I'm going to
turn off the ability to leave comments on my blogs. This is simply
because I can't get access to blogger to delete any spam/totally
irrelevant nasty messages. You can still keep in contact with me
though at northumberland_girl@yahoo.co.uk . Thankfully I'll be
able to access my e-mails regularly!

You'll also be pleased to here I'm ignoring an e-mail I've just had
from a casino company to advertise on this blog. No nasty
adverts clogging up this review blog!

Keep tuned for more reviews :)

This post has been submitted by e-mail

The Lost Luggage Porter by Andrew Martin

2007-07-11T17:07:00.001Z

It's December 1905 and Jim Striger is starting his new job as a
detective for the North East Railway Company at the York office.
It's a job he doesn't want and he'd far rather be back on the
trains. His new boss decides to send him undercover to
investigate pickpockets and other small fry who have been
operating at the station. Yet events take a turn and Striger ends
up being dragged into the deep, murky underworld of York. As if
that wasn't enough, back home he's trying to keep the peace
between his heavily pregnant Suffragette wife and his deeply
conservative father. With a new addition of the family on the way
and a murderer on the loose Striger must find a way to keep the
peace, stay alive and not get fired.

Although this is the third book in the Jim Striger series I
thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Martin was very good at
explaining some of the background when needed (that
presumably readers of the first two books wouldn't need) without
lingering too long on it. I didn't feel penalised for not reading the
first two books and felt like I wanted to go back and find out a bit
more about what happened. It is great that a writer can do this.

The style of the book is somewhat different to what I'm used to.
Striger's character is a hard working Victorian/Edwardian middle
class kind of guy. He's old fashioned in our eyes but with
enough forward thinking ideas to make him interesting. He fits in
well with the time the book is set and occupies the space
between his wife's Suffragette views and his father's Victorian
value system. It's hard to explain but in a way Martin's text feels
slightly old fashioned in style, very in keeping with the story.

Striger is very uncomfortable in his new role and that comes
across well in the book. He's not sure how far he can go with his
'role' without breaking the law. Its all new territory for him, so
there is a struggle between his law abiding normal self and what
he needs to do for his alias to ring true. He's not your typical
detective. He's been thrown into the career rather than choosing
it and he often feels it's a punishment. Yet there are times when
he seems to be enjoying himself. The thrill he feels the first time
he goes undercover (before his conservative self asserts itself)
is just one example of this. There are times when he sounds like
a middle aged man but occasionally there are glimpses that
show that actually he's quite a young, intelligent man. He's a bit
world weary but naive all the same.

I would definitely recommend this to all those who like historical
crime fiction as something new and different (at least from
anything I've read). Well written and researched. I would
however suggest people might want to start with the first book in
this series, 'The Necropolis Railway'. You can enjoy 'Lost
Luggage Porter' without reading the previous two books though
so don't worry if you can't get hold of it. Worth reading if you like
Edward Marston's 'Railway Detective' series.

*4 stars*

This review has been submitted by e-mail

If you enjoyed reading this story click here to digg it.

Hints and Tips from a Bookworm

2007-07-09T18:10:00.001Z

After reading one of the comments posted on here today it's got me
thinking about what my top tips for reading would be. So here goes!

* Reading should be for fun, not a chore. If the book you're reading
really isn't suitable for you, don't feel bad about putting it down and
trying something else

* Reading groups are a great way of finding new authors or new
genres you might not otherwise have tried. Your local library should
be able to help you find one.

* Join your local library. Its a great way to try books especially if
you're short on funds. Libraries also have DVDs and CDs to borrow
so you're sure to find something whatever your mood. Added to that
library staff can be amazingly helpful on just about anything.

* Always take people's suggestions as suggestions. Never let anyone
tell you what you can and can't read. We all have different tastes,
don't be ashamed to be different. Just because a book is a Booker
Prize winner or something doesn't mean you'll like it.

* Try and judge your book by the blurb on the back rather than the
title or book cover. Publishers don't always get the covers right and
some titles can sound amazingly boring whilst the book is exciting
and worth reading.

* Try and find a small amount of time to read every day. It can help
with stress and gives you a creative outlet (use that imagination!).
Some people choose to read in bed just before they go to sleep.
Whatever works for you.

* Don't be afraid to give new books a try.

* Sometimes when you read a book you may not be in the right
mood for it. You can always put it back on the to read pile and come
back to it when the time is right. A good book will never disappear.

* Writing up a 'to read' list can help when you can't remember what
books you want to read. Be sure to update it every time you hear
about another book you would like to try.

These are just some helpful hints. There are plenty more out there
and I'll be sure to keep this post updated with any new tips that come
my way. If there are any you would like to add either add a comment
at the end of this post or e-mail me at
northumberland_girl@yahoo.co.uk .

This post has been posted by e-mail

The Waxman Murders by Paul Doherty

2007-07-08T16:28:00.001Z

Corbett is sent to Canterbury to deal with the murder of a local
merchant. His wife stands accused but as a ward of the King she
has been able to claim assistance from the King in the form of
Corbett. As well as this murder, Corbett has a pressing meeting with
two local merchants on behalf of the monarch to discuss a treasure
map. Yet when one of these merchants and his entire family is found
murdered in an inexplicable set of circumstances Corbett is drawn
into a web of intrigue that spans 30 years. Can Corbett solve all the
riddles before the killer reaches him? This is the 15th book in the
Hugh Corbett series.

I have read a couple of the books in this series. Unfortunately not all
and not in any particular order so I don't have a good grasp on the
background of the central characters and the events that have lead
up to this point. I did feel that a conscious effort was made to flesh
out the character of Corbett, particularly in reference to his religious
leanings and love of music. The story itself was fairly mediocre and
didn't really stretch the imagination. I'd worked out who the main
suspect was likely to be early on based on his cloying nature. I do
admit though that I didn't see one of the main twists in the tale til it
was revealed. On the whole though this murder mystery did little for
me. It was a light read to pass the time.

Perhaps I might have felt a bit differently about this book if I had
read the others in the series, in order, first. I would suggest that
anyone who feels like trying this series should start with the first
book, 'Satan in St Mary's'. If you want to see the entire list of Corbett
books and see which order they come in visit the Fantastic Fiction
website page on Paul Doherty. I do quite like Paul Doherty's work in
general but prefer the Ancient Rome series and the Brother Athelstan
series. The new Mathilde of Westminster series isn't bad either (the
first book in this series is The Cup of Ghosts which I reviewed in
May 2006).

Like some of the books I've read recently I would consider this an ok
read but not necessarily one that I'd run out and recommend to all
my friends and family. The characters were not too bland and a
couple of the mysteries were intriguing enough to keep the reader
occupied. If you have a passion for historical murder mysteries,
particularly those set medieval England then give this series a try.

*2 and a half stars*

Temporary Changes to Suggestions for a Bookworm

2007-07-08T13:11:00.001Z

Today I've been experimenting with posting reviews via e-mail. In a
couple of weeks I will be moving and at present I don't know when I
will be getting an internet connection. It could be 1 month it could be
6 (long story!). Anyway, as I will no doubt be reading during this time
and I will still want to share my reviews with you then I have been
trying to find a way round lack of internet. When previously in this
situation I have used the internet at the local library. The problem is
that often Blogger is blocked on their computers so I can't directly
post. Instead I can access e-mails so this is the next best thing.
It does mean that the formatting of the posts might be a little off
from time to time but they will all be corrected when I can access
the Blogger website.

The downside though is that I won't be able to up date the A-Z lists
until I get access to the internet properly. Hopefully this will only be a
temporary inconvenience. I still will be able to post reviews which is
the main thing.

The other website that I have been unable to access in the past
through library computers is MySpace. That means that for all of you
who visit here through my updates on various MySpace groups and
on my MySpace blog I will no longer be able to keep you up to date.
The only ways to keep up will be through using an RSS programme
like Bloglines or FeedDemon or by visiting the site regularly. It's a
real pain, sorry.

These changes will begin to take effect from Monday 16th July.

If anyone has any suggestions, please feel free to share!

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell

2007-07-08T12:39:00.009Z

Iris Lockheart runs her own shop in Edinburgh. She has a string of
unfulfilled relationships to her name, her grandmother is in a world
of her own and her half brother constantly disapproves of the men
in her life. Then she gets a letter about Euphemia Lennox, a
relative she has never heard of who lives in a psychiatric unit. All
of a sudden Euphemia (or Esme as she prefers to be called) is
thrown into Iris' life and so begins a gradual untangling of threads
as to how Esme really ended up vanishing from polite society.

This is definitely one of those books you need to be in the right
mood to read. I think perhaps if I had been this book may have
scored 4 stars. As it was I initially found it a bit confusing. You keep
switching between the present, Esme's memories, Iris' memories
and Kitty's mind (these bits are particularly confusing as she
constantly switches to different time frames mid memory because
she's suffering Alzheimer's). Once you get past this and into the story
it's actually quite enjoyable. It shows how families coped with
post-colonialism, and how women were expected to behave and were
treated in 1930s polite society. It's dark in its way and as the story
progresses you gradually uncover more and more hidden secrets.

O'Farrell is also very good at throwing you off track. At first you
genuinely think Esme is not right in the head and then you realise
she's just different which wasn't acceptable at the time. There are
other instances of this but I won't spoil the storyline by telling you
about them!

In terms of writing style I'm not a huge fan of novels that flick
constantly between characters and at a rate of a page or two
between switches. It does eventually work and by the end of the
book you understand why its been written that way but initially it
is incredibly frustrating. I did admire the bits where Kitty is the one
reflecting because I felt it was very very well done. I haven't had to
deal with Alzheimer's myself but from what I know about it from
friends who have it is almost like the person has no control over
their chain of thoughts. They don't necessarily forget but their ability
to distinguish between reality, dreams and memories goes. It just
somehow felt a very real depiction of what someone with Alzheimer's
might be thinking.

As with 'The Kabul Beauty School' I finished the book feeling infinitely
glad that I live in the here and now and that even if I were living in
the 1930s I come from a working class family so wouldn't have had
the life Esme and Kitty did. I'm also glad that I have a much better
relationship with my own sister! Although I wasn't in the mood for it
this weekend it was still a good read and definitely worth trying. Just
have a bit of patience with it!

*3 stars*

This review has been submitted by e-mail.

If you enjoyed this why not try 'The Behaviour of Moths' by Poppy Adams?

If you want to find out more about this book why not visit Amazon UK by visiting the following link
The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

2007-07-07T15:26:00.001Z

Lily lives on a farm in South Carolina with her father T Ray and Rosaleen. Rosaleen has been looking after Lily since her mother died ten years ago. Convinced she is responsible for her mother's death and an outcast in her small community Lily leads a lonely life. Then Rosaleen is attacked on her way to register to vote. Rosaleen is black and so she is arrested rather than her attackers. Lily helps Rosaleen escape and they become fugitives. On the run with no where to go they stumble across a brightly painted pink house and three sisters who tend bees. So begins a summer of discovery for Lily who must come to terms with her past and her present to be able to decide on her future.

This book is very much a 'coming of age story'. Set in the deep south of America in 1964, the year Lyndon Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act the key theme of this book is racism. Lily is in some ways quite naive about the racial hatred towards the black community. She is surprised by the attack on Rosaleen and has no idea her life might be in danger until her father tells her this when taking her home after being arrested with Rosaleen. Yet by the end of the book you're desperately wishing Lily's acceptance of the black people around her could be adopted by the white community as a whole. At one point a police officer visits the pink house and suggests that Lily shouldn't be lowering herself by staying there and I really just wanted to slap him one! Living in the modern world where such blatant racism is considered unusual and highly disgusting rather than the norm it is hard to really understand the vast majority of the white characters in the book. You sympathise with Lily and the black characters of this book.

The book is very easy to read, and very straightforward. I must admit that I wasn't expecting the twist at the end of the book and I applaud the author for not falling into the trap of making the ending 100% uplifting. I won't say more than that for fear of giving it all away! This book was also a very quick read, I started about 10:30pm last night and was finished by 1am. Although I couldn't put it down because I wanted to see what would happen it didn't grab me in the way that 'The Book of Lost Things' or 'The Kabul Beauty School' did. I can't decide if it was because I felt parts of this story were a little too 'convenient' and had a 'been done before' flavour. The book reminds me of 'How to Make an American Quilt', the 'Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood' and 'To Kill a Mockingbird'. It's got elements from each in it. It was a good read and I did enjoy it but it was very much a light read for me.

*3 stars*

Good book? Tell the world

2007-07-04T09:22:00.001Z

Have you enjoyed reading the reviews here? If so, pass the reviews on! At the end of every post is a little envelope symbol. Click this and you can send your friends and family a copy of the review.

If you want to keep up to date with all the reviews here on Suggestions for a Bookworm, why not sign up to our RSS feed through sites like Bloglines? It's a great way of keeping up to date without waiting for notices on forums like MySpace (which I can't always guarantee access to).

Lastly, if anyone out there wants to link to Suggestions for a Bookworm, go ahead!

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

2007-07-03T20:47:00.001Z

When Henry first saw Clare, he thought she was beautiful and captivating. Clare on the other hand was astonished to see Henry looking so young. 'The Time Traveler's Wife' follows the story of Clare and Henry. Henry has a rare disorder which means that he inadvertently time travels. When he does he just disappears to a random point in the past or the future (usually within 50 years either way). When he goes he can take nothing with him, including clothes. Henry must learn how to survive his condition and the perils associated with it. Clare must learn to love Henry, despite never knowing if she will wake up beside him in the morning and the side effects of Henry's condition. Is it really possible to happy as the time traveler's wife?

Its hard to sum up what this book is about in an interesting way without giving too much away. The concept is simple, Henry time travels. Unlike H G Well's time machine inventor, or Marty McFly, Henry can't take anything with him and has no control over where or when he goes. It's a good twist to what might otherwise be another time travel story. Henry must survive his condition anyway he can and so you end up with amusing scenarios when he's teaching a younger version of himself to pick pocket or he ends up in fight because he's managed to steal some very unusual clothing. Added to this mix is Clare, who is head over heels in love with Henry and some how manages to put up with the bizarre events as they unfold. It was a good book, well written, and tugged at the heart strings.

I think it's a good book on the imperfections of relationships. Nothing is perfect, least of all love. Niffenegger manages to illustrate this in numerous ways and shows that even the best relationships have their crosses to bare. For Clare and Henry this is coping with the unpredictability of his condition and Clare's desperation for a child which Henry does not necessarily share 100%. Each of them is able to reach some level of understanding about the other to cope though. Clare accepts to an extent Henry's condition and lives with it, while Henry is able to see what it means to Clare to have a child (and ultimately helps her to do so).

Any book that involves moving backwards and forwards in time and space at random is going to have a difficult job keeping their audience from total confusion. This has to be one of the best efforts I've read though. Yes, there is always a small element of confusion, but I feel it adds something to the book. It echoes the confusion of the characters at various points (e.g. Henry when he *first* meets Clare when he's 28, Clare's confusion at times in her youth about Henry, various members of Clare's family feeling like they've seen Henry before, Gomez's confusion over seeing Clare and Henry together when he's supposedly dating someone else etc etc). Yet for the most part you could still follow the storyline.

It is a very cleverly crafted book, with characters with depth and enough imperfections to keep them interesting. Even Alba sounds slightly pretentious when we meet her at the age of 10. It's what keeps the story real. No angels and no devils. It makes the characters feel like real people, even goody-two-shoes Clare has her faults.

It's definitely worth picking up and trying.

*4 stars*

Authors N-Z

2007-07-01T11:16:00.003Z

N

Niffenegger, Audrey
*The Time Traveler's Wife

Nix, Garth
*Grim Tuesday

O

O'Farrell, Maggie
*The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox

P

Paolini, Christopher
*Brisingr

Pepper,Andrew
*The Last Days of Newgate

Pratchett, Terry
*Making Money

Price, Susan
*The Sterkarm Handshake

R

Rodriguez, Deborah
*The Kabul Beauty School

Rowe, Rosemary
*A Roman Ransom

Rowling, J.K.
*Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Ryman, Geoff
*The King's Last Song

S

Sansom, C.J
*Sovereign

Scarrow, Simon
*Young Bloods

Scott, Michael
*The Alchemyst

Scott, Robert & Gordon, Jay
*The Hickory Staff: Eldarn Sequence Book 1

Sedley, Kate
*For King and Country
*The Eve of St Hyacinth

Seierstad, Asne
*The Bookseller of Kabul

T

Tannahill, Raey
*Having the Builders in

Todd, Marilyn
*Scorpion Rising

Tremayne, Peter
*A Prayer for the Damned

Y

Young, Simon
*Farewell Britannia

Authors A-M

2007-07-01T10:48:00.010Z

A

Adams, Poppy
*The Behaviour of Moths

Albom, Mitch
*The Five People You Meet in Heaven

Aston, Elizabeth
*The Way of the World

C

Cleeves, Ann
*Telling Tales

Connolly, John
*Book of Lost Things

D

Davis, Lindsey
*Saturnalia

Doherty, Paul
*The Cup of Ghosts
*The Waxman Murders
*An Ancient Evil

Downie, R S
*Medicus and the Disappearing Dancing Girls

Dunant, Sarah
*The Birth of Venus

E

Edwards-Jones, Imogen
*Tuscany for Beginners

F

Fforde, Jasper
*The Big Over Easy

Franklin, Ariana
*The Mistress of the Art of Death

Furey, Maggie
*The Spirit of the Stone

G

Gardner, Sally
*I Coriander
*The Red Necklace

Gordon, Jay & Scott, Robert
*The Hickory Staff: Eldarn Sequence Book 1

Gregory, Susanna
*Blood on the Strand
*The Butcher of Smithfield
*The Westminster Poisoner

H

Haddon, Mark
*Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time

Hill, Stuart
*The Cry of the Icemark
*Blade of Fire

K

Knight, Bernard
*The Poisoned Chalice

L

Lake, Deryn
*Death in the Setting Sun
*Death and the Cornish Fiddler

M

Marston, Edward
*The Painted Lady
*Soldier of Fortune

Martin, Andrew
*The Lost Luggage Porter
*The Blackpool Highflyer

McMahon, Katherine
*The Rose of Sebastopol

Mills, Mark
* The Savage Garden

Min, Anchee
*Empress Orchid

Monk Kidd, Sue
*The Secret Life of Bees

Montgomery, L M
*Anne of Green Gables
*Anne of Avonlea

A bit of house keeping

2007-07-01T09:06:00.000Z

I've decided I want to make the blog a bit more user friendly so will be working today on layout etc. I really could use some comments from people on what would make the site more accessible for you and what you would like to see. Remember anyone can leave a comment on here, you don't have to sign up to anything or even leave your name!

One of the things I'm thinking about doing is have two 'pages' dedicated to alphabetical lists of the authors covered here. The first would be A-M and the second would be N-Z. There would then be links to these from the link section on the right hand side of the page so you can get to wherever you want more quickly.

I'm also going to try and work out ways of getting people to link to the site and recommend the site. Not sure how, but will site down and have a think about it.

I would like to recommend to people who might want to keep an eye on this site but don't want to come every day to sign up to a service like Bloglines. Bloglines is free and tracks whether new posts have been made on any of the blogs you choose to watch on it. It will then give you the first bit of the new post so you can decide if you want to bother to go and read it. It's pretty cool. There are other similar programmes out there and I'm sure a Google search will show you them. If you fancy giving Bloglines a go visit http://www.bloglines.com .

The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly

2007-06-30T15:13:00.000Z

David has always been an avid reader, but after the loss of his mother he gradually retreats more and more into them. Then the unthinkable happens, his Dad meets Rose and soon he gets a new brother, Georgie. Meanwhile Hitler marches through Europe and the bombs begin to drop on London. Taken to live in Rose's house outside the City, David finds the world around him becoming more and more unrecognizable. It is then that The Crooked Man begins to appear and David's life will never be the same again.

If you ever read and enjoyed Grimm's fairy tales and all those myths and legends you read as a child, The Book of Lost Things is the book for you. You will delight in the re-fashioning of Red Riding Hood, Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty and many others. As David makes his way through the magical world he finds himself in you will keep finding references to other childhood stories you know. Connolly gives all of these stories a darker (and in some cases almost black) edge though and there is a bit of gore to be had. It is definitely more of a book for adults to appreciate the stories of their childhood than one to read to young children.

The book is beautifully written. I got so engrossed in every detail, from the smell of the Woodsman's Cottage to the visceral deaths of the wolves at the hands of the Crooked Man. The story flows seamlessly through each tale, to make a rounded and full tale all in its own right. It deals with the issues of grief and jealously from the point of view of a small child, but not written in a childish way. I honestly couldn't put this book down and at over 300 pages it is not a light read. I can't put into words just how much I enjoyed this book. The characters had depth, they weren't perfect and they incorporated some very adult themes you don't often find in fairy tales (there is a suggestion that one of the characters is homosexual). Yet it wasn't written in such a way as to make any of the characters sound scandalous. I didn't feel Connolly was being unfaithful to the fairy tales, just adding the bits that children would never know. A bit like not knowing or understanding that a family friend is gay when you're a child but finding out about it when you grow up.

I would recommend this to anyone, I can't stress enough how much of a good read it is.

*5 stars*

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night time by Mark Haddon

2007-06-29T20:33:00.000Z

One night, 15 year old Christopher finds a dog dead in his next door neighbour's garden. Thus begins the unraveling of Christopher's world. Yet Christopher is no ordinary boy. He's highly intelligent, a skilled mathematician, but he's autistic. Join Christopher on his journey through the world as he sees it. How he tries to understand people and events and just what makes him tick.

I have heard so many people praising Mark Haddon and raving about The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time' that when I saw it on the shelf in the library I thought I'd try it. Yet on finishing the book I wondered what all the fuss was about.

Yes, it is a different and clever take on writing a novel. It is completely written from Christopher's point of view, misunderstandings and tangents included. However it did mean that the book was rather child like in some ways. When I finished the book I realised the story that had taken up the entire book might only have filled half or ever quarter of a book written in a more normal style. Whilst there was progression for some of the characters I didn't feel this applied to Christopher. Maybe because of his condition it can't.

I guess I was coming at this book from a very personal angle. I've had a bad experience with someone with this sort of difficulty and have ended up frightened and questioning how I interact with others (how do you explain to someone who can't understand social interaction and personality like other people can that when you're chatty and smiley with them thats because thats who you are and you're chatty and smiley with everyone, that you didn't highlight your hair because of them, but because you wanted to and therefore their belief that you have feelings for them and their declarations of love and their insistence on having their possessions when they die are incorrect and overstepping the invisible line of what is acceptable which they can't see ).

Despite all of this Haddon is a good writer, ingenious in fact. I won't let this book put me off trying other books he writes, although I'll steer clear of any on this subject matter.

*3 stars*

Death and the Cornish Fiddler by Deryn Lake

2007-06-29T20:02:00.000Z

In this eleventh outing for John Rawlings we find our beloved apothecary in Devon with his daughter Rose. They are taking a welcome break from London with his old friend Elizabeth di Lorenzi after the death of Emilia Rawlings (see 'Death in the Setting Sun' for more background on this). Elizabeth is keen to attend The Floral Dance, a local pagan festival in a tiny village known as Helstone. Both John and Rose are eager to attend and it is not long before the party are enjoying the sights and sounds of Helstone during the festivities. It is in Helstone that they meet a disagreeable young girl who terrorises Rose. Yet when the child goes missing John knows he must do everything in his power to find her. It is not long before one of the guests at the inn dies in mysterious circumstances and once again John is on the trail of murder and mayhem. Not everything is as it seems and perhaps the magic and witchcraft surrounding the festivities is much more than local superstition.

The last volume in this series was exceedingly heart wrenching. For John to loose the love of his life and have to go on the run when accused of her murder, it would be hard for any author to follow that. Sadly, this is the case. Although an enjoyable romp through 18th century Devon this book lacks the raw emotion and gripping storyline of the previous book. Much of the storyline was predictable, particularly that concerning Elizabeth di Lorenzi. It felt like a book cobbled together in the aftermath of Emilia's death and John's exoneration. I suspect that Lake has very clear ideas about the next book and that this installment is merely a filler between that and 'Death in the Setting Sun'.

As well as the predictability I found many of the characters lacked depth and interest. I appreciate that many are invented to set our teeth on edge but I kept wanting more. The lack of John Fielding, Sir Gabriel, Samuel, Nicholas and other regular characters I found saddening. Over the last few books the old faces are beginning to dwindle and unfortunately I do not feel they are being replaced by worthy candidates.

I will definitely be reading the next installment of this series, not least because I want to be reassured that this is a momentary lapse in Lake's excellent writing career. I would definitely recommend this series to anyone who enjoys well constructed, beautifully set murder mysteries. One cannot fault Deryn's ability to paint 18th century alive with words. I would recommend you go out and start at the beginning of the series with 'Death in the Dark Walk'. If you read I first you really not be sampling her finest work or come to love John and his family and friends as much as I do.

*3 stars*

The Way of the World by Elizabeth Aston

2007-06-28T22:33:00.007Z

It is about 20 years after the events in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. The Darcy's are off to Constantinople, leaving their five daughters with Fitzwilliam and his wife Fanny for a season in London. The girls must carefully pick their way through high society in the hope of finding eligible matches, enduring being jilted, hoodwinked, falling in love with the wrong men and scandalous gossip about their conduct. Will the shades of Pemberly be polluted or will the girl's manage to keep their reputations?

I must admit I picked this book up because I adore Pride and Prejudice. I have read Carrie A Bebris' Mr and Mrs Darcy series and enjoyed them as light reading. Although I found 'The Way of the World' readable I have to admit I probably won't be recommending it unlike the Mr and Mrs Darcy series. The book started slowly and when it finally got going it wasn't too long before it felt a bit too unlike Austen in terms of plot. Aston does manage to incorporate the various characters from Pride and Prejudice but topics like sodomy and pregnancy out of wedlock aren't really discussed openly in Austen's work. The five daughters of Darcy have very few redeeming qualities between them. The most likeable character is Althea, but perhaps this is because she is a fairly minor character with only a few major scenes so you haven't got the chance to dislike her. Letty is so prim and proper and highly strung that you feel she is a cross between Mrs Bennett and the early impression we get of Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice. Camilla is meant to be the Elizabeth like character but I just didn't feel she was. Belle and Georgina are clearly the Kitty and Lydia of this book but it's almost as if Aston is trying to out-do Austen in the scandal stakes. Theres one point where one of the twins is found in a state of undress with an admirer.

The book did make me want to keep reading, just out of fascination to see what would happen to everyone. The middle bit of the book was the most gripping, whilst the last section of the book seemed very out of character with Austen's world. It felt like Aston was trying to update Austen and make it a bit more exciting for modern tastes. It's not what I like. I like Austen because I find her humorous and I don't find the plots threatening. I find Austen gentle, but not Aston. I also found the constant references to the beauty of unmarried women in the book (or their lack of it) irritating. I only needed to be told how pretty cousin Sophie was once, and not have her constantly compared to the other young ladies.

I would recommend this to people who although enjoyed Austen's works felt it needed a bit of spice and updating.

*2 stars*

More reviews & a new website

2007-06-23T11:40:00.000Z

I've been doing a few reviews on a new website I've found called 'The Book Club Forum'. It's a great website where you can discuss books, pick up great reviews and keep a list of all the books you're planning to read. I'll still do reviews here (don't see the point in repeating reviews for books that have already been done on the site), but any I do there I will post links to. The good thing about this new website is that you only need to join if you want to post something. Non-members can still browse and read most of the topics (the review ones definitely!).

Anyway, I've been doing lots and lots of reading lately so here are the links for the other reviews I've done.

The Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez - the true story of an American hairdresser who helps the women of Kabul find freedom through training as beauticians after the fall of the Taleban.

The Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin - a murder mystery set in 12th century Cambridge.

And if any of you want to see whats I'm reading and what reviews are likely to be coming up check out my 'to read pile'.

Tuscany for Beginners - by Imogen Edwards-Jones

2007-06-07T12:27:00.001Z

It has been 5 years since Belinda discovered her husband in bed with the next door neighbour. After the divorce she moved to Tuscany and opened an exclusive Bed and Breakfast establishment. Over those five years she has built up a small group of ex-pat friends and gotten involved in several local events. She has even started to write a book about her experiences, peppered with her rustic Italian recipes. Yet this summer her world will be turned on its head. This summer a new resident moves into her valley, and she too has decided to open an exclusive Bed and Breakfast. How will Belinda cope with her new competition, who not only wants her business but her social life as well?

This book is the latest read in the book club I have joined. Again, like the previous book I read for this club (see my review of 'Telling Tales' by Ann Cleeves) it was not a book I would normally pick up. To be honest it will continue to be the sort of book I never pick up! From start to finish I found I hated this book. The storyline did not interest me, I did not like any of the characters at all and I felt reading this book had been a waste of my time.

The main character Belinda sounds an absolute nightmare. Lazy, self-obsessed and devoid of basic customer service skills (a necessity one would think when running a B&B). She is a downright snob, who looks down on just about everyone in one way or another. Quite frankly I would not wish to stay at her establishment if it were the last on earth. I can also understand why her husband had an affair with the neighbour. Her fellow ex-pats are also utterly unlovable. They sound like the typical caricatures of Brits abroad, not willing to eat like or rub shoulders with the locals, who spend most of their time working on their tan or paying for new palm trees or swimming pools. The American (Lauren) who competes against Belinda is hard to like too. Although she manages everything much better than Belinda she still comes across as vindictive and selfish. Even the characters we probably should feel sympathetic towards (Belinda's daughter and Lauren's soon) some across as spineless, weak and uninteresting.

The story is meant to be comic but I felt it was all too forced. It was too much of a caricature of the worst of human behaviour. The humour was obvious and unfunny. A lot of the plot seemed fanciful, especially the ending, and it all came across as some bad dream.

It comes as no surprised therefore that the author helped write the scripts for the BBC drama 'Hotel Babylon'. It too suffers from caricatures rather than characters and lots of unfunny humour.

It's a shame that this book does no justice to Tuscany. Although I have not been to Tuscany I have been to Italy on numerous occasions and would recommend to everyone to visit. This book rather puts you off visiting the country which is a real shame.

I would not recommend this book to anyone. I am certain there are better 'ex-pat' novels than this out there and I'd love the chance to read them and restore my faith in this genre. Suggestions gratefully received!

*1 star*

Blood on the Strand - Susanna Gregory

2007-06-07T11:51:00.005Z

This is Gregory's second book concerning the 16th century spy Thomas Chaloner. Originally a spy for Oliver Cromwell in Holland, Chaloner has returned to England in the wake of the Restoration to continue his career in England. With links to the old government and a relative who signed Charles I's death warrant, few trust Chaloner and he has picked up several enemies. By the end of the previous book he had managed to secure employment but as this second installment goes to show, this does not offer Chaloner guaranteed protection.

In this book Chaloner is faced with investigating an apparent attempt on the King's life, the murder of an influential merchant and the various schemes afoot to discredit his employer, the Earl of Clarendon. Seemingly involved in these various plots are the Company of Barber Surgeons, the Earl of Bristol, the Guinea Company and several of his spy colleagues. Can Chaloner protect his employer, save those falsely accused of the merchant's murder and discover why one of the Royal physicians appears to have made an attempt on the monarch's life? In a world of courtly intrigues, when it is fashionable to attend dissections of human bodies and where England is quietly simmering with religious tension anything could happen.

I read the first book in this series (A Conspiracy of Violence) last year and couldn't put it down. I'd discovered Gregory through her 'Matthew Bartholomew' series set in Medieval Cambridge (the 13th in this series has recently been published). I was expecting more of the same with this installment but have to admit to being disappointed. The story seems incredibly slow and laborious and doesn't seem to go anywhere much of the time. I feel that perhaps Gregory was trying to include too many different plot lines and too many twists and turns. I did find my head ached at times trying to work out what was going on and which particular investigation Chaloner was working on at any one time. I appreciate that in the spying game you can't really trust anyone but perhaps this was somewhat overdone.

It's a shame because Gregory was using some fascinating historical bit and pieces as her backdrop. The fashion for watching dissections and the morality of this, the Catholic plot in Ireland, the work of a 17th century physician, the intrigues of the court at this date, the slave trade. They were all in there, for better or for worse. When you reach the end of the book there are several pages about the historical background of the book. I really felt that Gregory had picked up on a lot of good original sources when planning out this story but was too desperate to fit them all in.

The slow pace for much of the book coupled with the sheer volume of information that needed to be taken in are perhaps my biggest criticisms. The characters on the whole were believable and Gregory uses a good range. From the jealous May whose out to destroy Chaloner, to the larger than life Silence Webb, they are all there. I didn't feel the book patronised me and generally there were definitely some great sections. This book needed re-working to really let those sections breathe and to make the pace a bit less like wading through treacle.

I would only recommend this book if you have enjoyed the first installment of the 'Chaloner' series as you will need to read it to continue with the series at all (it seems clear to me that several plot points in this book will be picked up in the next book).

*3 stars*

Other books by Susanna Gregory include:
*A Conspiracy of Violence: First book in the Thomas Chaloner series
*The Butcher of Smithfield: Third book in the Thomas Chaloner series
*The Westminster Poisoner: Fourth book in the Thomas Chaloner series

Telling Tales by Ann Cleeves

2007-05-27T17:19:00.002Z

Ten years ago the body of 15 year old Abigail Mantel was discovered by her best friend Emma Winter. Now the woman jailed for her murder is found dead in her cell and doubt is thrown on her conviction. Inspector Vera Stanhope is brought in to re-open the investigation and find out who really did kill Abigail? As this tale, told from the viewpoints of several characters unfolds, begins to unfold out comes all the little secrets being kept by members of this tiny Yorkshire village. Just who is hiding what?

I must admit I avoid non-historical crime fiction as a rule. I tend not be interested in reading about the here and now. The reason I read this book was that its the book we've been given to read at the reading group I belong to.

Despite the fact I don't usually read books like this I found it easy to read and quite enjoyed it. There were plenty of twists and turns, blinds and tasty secrets unrelated to the case. It was well constructed and kept my interest throughout. So much so in fact that I polished this book off in a day. I have to even admit that the person who turned out to be the murderer was one of the people I hadn't fingered for it in the course of reading!

It did take me a little while to get used to the constant change in perspective. Sometimes the story is being told by Emma Bennett (nee Winter), sometimes by Michael Long (father of the accused), and even sometimes by Vera Stanhope (the investigating officer). I don't usually like this style but Cleeves some how prevents it from being clunky. Instead it adds extra dimensions to the story as it unfolds. It also tries to deal with the emotions and aftermath of such situations which many crime dramas I watch on TV fail to do, such as Michael Long's reaction to his daughter's conviction. The relationship between Emma and James Bennett is also very interesting and makes you realise that there are many different types of marital relationships out there.

The story was easy to get into and didn't overwhelm the reader with endless description. The story moves at a good pace and I didn't find it patronising or overly simplistic. It certainly felt like a gentle introduction to the modern crime fiction genre.

I would recommend this to anyone who like me has not taken the leap into modern crime fiction or crime fiction full stop. Hardened crime enthusiasts may find this book a little too gentle.

*3 stars*

Saturnalia by Lindsey Davis

2007-05-26T10:26:00.000Z

This is the 18th book (yes, I know can hardly believe it myself!) in the Didius Falco series by Lindsey Davis. If you haven't picked up a Falco book yet, go do so now! The first in the series is the Silver Pigs, but they're all worth a read. There are probably going to be spoilers ahead if you haven't read any of the other books so be warned!

It's Saturnalia (Roman equivalent of Christmas) and everyone is in party mood. However amid the merriment a dangerous enemy of the state has escaped from house arrest and Didius Falco, informer has been charged with the task of finding her. Not only has she escaped but she also seems to have murdered a member of a high ranking family during her escape. At the same time his brother in law goes missing after a marital spat over said escaped felon. Added to that Falco has a group of soldiers working undercover to assist him, but they seem more interested in celebrating the holidays than helping out. Juggling his wife Helena, his two children and extended family with the investigation Falco finds, as usual, life is never quiet.

As soon as I started reading this book I relaxed. I love Davis' style and find it comfortable and easy going. It's like slipping on your favourite pair of shoes or an old jumper. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it came alone at just the time I needed a bit of comfort reading! Her characters are so beautifully created, from Falco's no nonsense mother to the beautiful, intelligent Helena who keeps Falco in line. You feel as if you could know some of the characters in your own life! There are definitely characteristics that transcend the centuries, like the way the soldiers try to avoid work or how Helena's parents acted when she and her brothers were little. There are some incredibly funny moments that showcase Davis' skill. She manages to mix humour, romance, violence, crime and mystery into one coherent story. You never feel that what you're reading is irrelevant to the plot.

It should also be added that Davis has researched her historical period well and is pretty accurate.

I seriously would advise that you read the series of Falco books from the start. A lot of the characters will only make sense if you have read the previous books, despite Davis' attempts to remind the reader the history behind each aspect of the story. It also helps you to appreciate the Roman way of life. I have an interest in Roman Britain and the Romans in general so I came to these books with a certain amount of background knowledge. I find that reading these books had brought the subject to life and made me understand how each piece I'd looked at fitted into the whole. Although human nature rarely changes the way the day is structured, the politics and the institutions differ so much and they are so intertwined with the plot in these books that Davis does well to explain them to those who don't know about it.

I would thoroughly recommend this book to all Falco fans, Davis is back on form. I would advise the entire series to anyone who likes TV programmes like The Last Detective or who likes a crime fighter with a life beyond work.

For more information about Lindsey Davis and the Falco books visit her official website.

*4 stars*

Having the Builders In by Raey Tannahill

2007-05-19T19:28:00.001Z

It's the late 13th century and Dame Constance De Clair decides the castle at Vine Regis needs extending for her eldest son and his new bride. However as anyone who has ever had the builders in will know, nothing ever goes to plan. Combined with her future daughter in law trying to oust her as the lady of the castle, a thief and her eldest son's preference for court intrigues than Vine Regis nothing seems to be going right for Constance.

When I picked up this book and read the blurb on the back I had a chuckle and felt that the book would be an easy to read comic caper. Although the book did offer comic moments and was fairly easy to read I did not take to it at all. It was almost child like in its writing style, too simplistic for my tastes. The plot never really grabbed me and I was easily distracted by anything other than reading whilst I was trying to read this book. I am sure that the plot could have been more inventive and that those plots followed in the book could have been written in a way not to make me feel as if I was having my teeth pulled. I think perhaps I was expecting too much from this book.

I spent a lot of time wanting to slap Susanna, the 15 year old daughter to be. There was nothing likable about her, and my opinion still had not changed by the end of the book. I found Gervase her husband not only lacked back bone but any depth of character at all. In fact I found that Tannahill had a rather broad brush approach in terms of his characters, they all seemed rather two dimensional and flat.

There was nothing that endeared me to this book. Tannahill is writing a sequel called 'Having the Decorators in' which I intend to avoid at all costs. I would not recommend this book to anyone unless they were under heavy sedation.

*1 star*

Sovereign - by C.J. Sansom

2007-05-19T16:29:00.000Z

This is the third book in the Matthew Shardlake Series (Dissolution and Dark Fire are the previous two). The book is set in the reign of Henry VIII at the time of the Reformation. Matthew is a lawyer in London who in the previous two books has managed to get embroiled in political intrigues. In this installment Matthew is sent to York on two assignments. One is to act as one of the lawyers on Henry's royal progress to York and deal with the petitions from the locals. The other is to ensure that a conspirator against the crown is brought safely to London to be questioned. Yet somehow Matthew finds himself in the middle of a plot against the crown and some deadly court intrigues.

When I first read Dissolution I felt that Sansom was competent and the storyline was ok. In this third installment Sansom has created an intricate story, well written and with as many twists and turns as one can imagine. I couldn't put the book down and wanted to know what would happen with each of the threads of the story. The characters are three dimensional and you can't help but loathe the likes of Sir Richard Rich whilst cheering for the likes of Matthew Shardlake. Also the book is well tied into the period in which it is set. The story of Henry VIII's marriage to Catherine Howard provides some of the background events in this novel and known events such as the Pilgrimage of Grace and the creation of the Council of the North contribute to the storyline.

As far as storyline itself goes I truly did not see the last section of the book coming. I won't spoil it by telling you what happens but hope you agree that given how careful Matthew is how unexpected it is. Other than that it is complex enough to keep the reader interested but the twists and turns are not so convoluted as to loose the reader in a mire of words. I found the story addictive and found it hard to put the book down.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone with an interest in the Tudor period of English history and anyone who enjoys a well written murder mystery/thriller.

**5 stars**

The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant

2007-04-28T09:04:00.000Z

The Birth of Venus tells the tale of a bright young teenager from a good Florence family during the 15th century. It is a story of love, relationships, politics and survival. The central character is female and as such it does focus on a woman's life in the 15th century. It is a really powerful story with twists and turns and beautifully told.

It's hard to describe this book as I don't want to give too much away. Suffice to say it's not normally the sort of book I would read as I'm not very good at books with incredible depth. I'm also not overly fond of books that are overly feminine. I realise this sounds odd as anyone who has read this blog will know one of my favourite books was 'Empress Orchid' by Anchee Min. I do enjoy reading about strong women in a male dominated society but I dislike books that are solely about love, sex and relationships. I don't know why this is but there you go. There is a certain amount about love and sex and relationships in this book but the way it was written alleviated any annoyance I might have felt.

I read this book because it is the book we're reading at the Book Club I've joined. I'd been told by one of my fellow members that I was really going to enjoy this book when she stopped me a few weeks ago to chat about it.

The book deals with the issues of a young girl with very little knowledge of the world beyond her books being thrust into the wide world. In an age where women who were avid readers were frowned upon and painting was also seen as an occupation not fit for ladies this girl has to learn how to express herself within the confines of society. It is a story about a girl, who despite everything, still manages to keep finding ways to be herself and be free. It is also a tale of a dysfunctional family set against the backdrop of political upheaval.

I would recommend anyone try this book. Don't let the strange prologue put you off. As you might expect all does not become clear until the final chapters.

*4 stars*

Death in the Setting Sun by Deryn Lake

2007-04-03T18:09:00.000Z

Death in the Setting Sun is the 10th book in the John Rawlings series. By now John is happily married with a daughter. His assistant of many years, Nicholas, has finished his apprenticeship and has his own shop. Even his father Sir Gabriel has moved into semi-retirement in Kensington and his best friend Samuel is married and expecting his first child. It would seem that all is finally going well for all the main characters, especially when Emilia falls pregnant with their second child.

However as one might expect such happiness cannot last and a tragic death of one of these characters occurs. To make matters worse John is accused of the crime and goes into hiding to prevent being arrested. Can John clear his name whilst on the run? Will his friends and family believe he is not the culprit? Will the cast of these delightful books ever get over the death of such a central character?

As always Deryn Lake's books are easy to read and get swept up in. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the previous nine books in this series and was not disappointed with this one. The story was quite heart breaking and I did feel as if Lake deliberately engineered this to keep us all on our toes. It seems to much to ask for our crime fighting heroes to have happy lives in any of the books I have been reading of late.

If you have not read a Deryn Lake book before, don't start with this one. The reason it means so much is because you have fallen in love with all the characters over the course of the series and you feel the death of a central character as keenly as the other actors themselves. I heartily recommend the first book in the series, Death in the Dark Walk. As with all Deryn's books the description is graphic, detailed but does not detract from the story. I feel I know her characters so well they jump off the page.

4 stars

The Painted Lady by Edward Marston

2007-02-27T19:00:00.000Z

Although this book is the next in the Christopher Redmayne series set in Restoration London I felt that it could quite happily be read on its own without previous books.

Every man wishes he could seduce Araminta Jewell. Her beauty is so dazzling that men are willing to wage bets on who will have her first. When she marries Sir Martin Culthorpe many of her admirers are kept at bay. Yet when Sir Martin is murdered the field is left wide open again. Just who has killed Sir Martin and just what do they hope to gain? When suspicion falls on the French artist who has been commissioned to paint Lady Culthorpe's picture, the architect Christopher Redmayne is drawn into the mystery. Eager to clear his clients name and his own Christopher enlists the help of the trusted Constable Jonathan Bale and his own brother, the wayward Henry Redmayne. Can they reach the truth before his client reaches the noose?

I have been a fan of Edward Marston since I read 'The Kings Evil', the first of the Christopher Redmayne series. Since that time I have happily read all the other books in that series and those of the The Railway Detective series. Therefore I expect a lot from Mr Marston. Unfortunately on this occasion I did not feel he managed to deliver. Don't get me wrong, this is an adequate book and a genial read, a perfectly nice book to pass an afternoon with but it was not up to his usual standard. I was not as drawn in as I usually am and felt the plot a little bit weak. Although it started with much promise it did not follow through. I found Araminta a bit two dimensional and after the death of Sir Martin I wondered what the point of the various interludes in the book to her pouring out her grief was. I found them somewhat tedious and did not add to the story in any way.

I also felt Jonathan Bale was not as prominent a figure as he has been in previous books and it is the relationship between him and Christopher that is always of particular delight. The fact that both are moral men in their own ways but are essentially either side of the Restoration divide. I also missed Susan Cheever.

It was a difficult book as there was quite clearly only one motive for the killing, to get to Araminta. This meant that there really were very few possibilities as to 'whodunnit' although I must admit I did not get who it was until almost the very end. It meant that the story had far fewer twists and turns than most murder mystery plots and that there was no real need to get to know the victim or the victim's background. All in all I would hazard the guess that Marston was writing this to fulfil some sort of quota with the publishing house. It certainly isn't his best work and I would advise people to read 'The Kings Evil' or 'The Railway Detective' first if they have not tried Marston before.

Not a bad book but I was expecting so much more.

**3 stars**

Reading groups and my current pile of books

2007-02-24T12:16:00.000Z

Well I've decided to join a reading group they're starting at work. My hopes that this blog would eventually lead to people making suggestions about other books to try hasn't really worked so perhaps a reading group will. I do want to broaden my range of books because I realise that perhaps I'm very set in what I read. So hopefully, if this group gets off the ground, I will start to review a wider range of books!

In the meantime I have a really big pile of books to read through so you can look forward to reviews of the following books over the next few months!

The Painted Lady by Edward Marston
Chaucer and the Doctor of Physic by Philippa Morgan
Deception Point by Dan Brown
Inkspell by Cornelia Funke
Death in the Setting Sun by Deryn Lake
The Eye of Eternity by Maggie Furey
Heart of Ice by Alys Clare

A Prayer for the Damned by Peter Tremayne

2007-02-20T17:25:00.000Z

The latest in the Fidelma of Cashel series and therefore may contain spoilers if you have not read any of the previous books yet.

Fidelma and Eadulf have finally lived together for a year and a day as man and wife and have chosen to finally wed. Distinguished guests from all over Ireland including the High King himself descend upon Cashel to celebrate the marriage. There are also those who seek to disrupt the marriage as they believe that the religious should not marry. When one of these dissenters is found dead in his room Fidelma and Eadulf are once again drawn into the search for a murderer. Although the case at first seems an open and shut affair with the main suspect having been seen leaving the room of the deceased around the time of his death, Fidelma is not so sure. But as more people die and deep rooted hatreds are uncovered there definitely is more to this than meets the eye.

Peter Tremayne rarely lets me down. The world of Fidelma and Eadulf is full of colour and depth. For those who have religiously read the previous installments much of the background, the setting and the characters are already known to you. Even so Tremayne does not allow his characters to remain constant. In particular in this book we see Eadulf's increasing discomfort at the differences in rank between him and Fidelma, while Fidelma questions her faith and chosen path in life. Perhaps Tremayne is setting us up for a brand new direction. Whatever his reasons its refreshing to see his characters are real people who evolve with each new experience. It is also refreshing that they are so human, how many grooms get a touch of the 'cold feet' after all!

I can't be completely praiseworthy of this book. There were times when the pace seemed to flag and rather than entertaining twists and turns you felt as if you were wading through mud. Some readers may find the Irish law system difficult to understand and stomach and we are left to question which is better, the Irish tradition of Christianity or the Roman tradition (which of course is the one that eventually triumphed). Although it is perfectly easy to read the book without getting bogged down in the detail it does at least offer the reader the chance to appreciate the story at a different level.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and think it perfect for anyone interested in 7th century Ireland, or historical murder mysteries.

**4 stars**

The Sterkarm Handshake by Susan Price

2007-02-20T16:31:00.000Z

The Sterkarm Handshake is a time travel tale set in the 16th and 21st centuries respectively. The Sterkarms are a family of Border Reivers, a law unto themselves on the English and Scottish Border in the 16th century. Their simple lives of tending sheep, raiding cattle and defending against other bands of robbers is interrupted by the 'Elves'. These 'Elves' are from the future and hope to exploit the seemingly backward Sterkarms, their neighbours and the unspoilt landscape in which they live. As past and future collide, who will win and is it really possible for love between an Elf and a Sterkarm to survive all these odds?

Susan Price is a well established writer and as one might expect has produced a well written, readable piece. The premise of the story is good and has excitement, action, romance and adventure all mixed in. It is an enjoyable read and a good romp, definitely something to try.

Where unfortunately this story falls down is that it has to have one of the most annoying lead characters I've ever come across. The girl has no backbone, is forever incapable of choosing what to do and spends a lot of time whinging or whining. Perhaps Price should be congratulated for the fact that despite this character the book is still readable.

Another problem with the story was the romance side of it. I just didn't understand the relationship between Andrea and Per. I couldn't quite understand why either of them would go for the other and a lot of the time I just felt they were doing things because they had to. I know life in the 16th century is vastly different from today and to be honest I expected there to be more conflict between Andrea and Per. It almost felt as if they were just settling for each other and kept going back to each other even if they weren't wholly suited because they couldn't be bothered to do anything else. Perhaps I was searching for something that wasn't there. Perhaps what I was hoping for was that the relationship would grow, evolve etc.

I would still recommend this book to read, although possibly not as whole heartedly as some of the others I've read lately.

**3 stars**

The Spirit of the Stone - by Maggie Furey

2007-02-10T11:33:00.000Z

Please note this is the second book of The Shadowleague and may contain spoilers. The first book in the series is 'The Heart of Myrial'.

The Spirit of the Stone takes up where the previous book, The Heart of Myrial, ends. Evil creatures who kill all in their path have descended on Myrial. The Curtain Walls are breaking! All those who survive are huddled in the Temple, one of the only secure places away from the fiends. One small group however has escaped the city and must try and find their way to safety. Meanwhile Loremaster Veldan and her sidekick Kaz have to deal with the problem of the Zavahl, the Hierarch they saved from a sacrificial pyre who just so happens to have the memories of a Dragon Seer in his head. Meanwhile Lord Blade is on a mission to avenge the wrongs that have been done against him.

One of the main problems with Spirit of the Stone is that there are far too many different storylines to follow. By the end of the book some of these are beginning to merge but the action is taking place in so many different locations with so many different characters that it is hard to keep up. In some ways the story is far too complex and perhaps could have been simplified in places. There are storylines (such as the one involving Shree the Wind-Sprite) that are given so little time on paperand appear so briefly you wonder at their relevance. Perhaps the third and final book, The Eye of Eternity will deal with this issue and everything will finally come together.

Another problem I had with the book is that it's almost impossible to know who the heroes are and who you should side with. Maggie Furey is admirable in her attempt to produce well rounded characters with flaws as much as positive traits but by the end of this book I was left confused at who was on whose side and whether the bad guys really were the bad guys. Theres an awful lot of backstabbing or potential backstabbing and switching of allegiances. One particular change of allegiance takes a matter of pages (this is towards the end of the book in a cave) which does not seem right. Surely these particular two need more than just a few lines to form an uneasy alliance? There are also characters that have been built up through the book as heroes that towards the end of the book you see an unsavoury side to that just doesn't seem right or in character. Again perhaps this will be resolved in the final installment?

The book really does suffer from being the second book of a trilogy. There is an air of getting from A to B to facilitate the story moving from the first book to the third book and in some ways it can feel laboured at times. It is still a readable book but unlike the first I wasn't captured by it and I often found myself putting it down and doing something else. I must admit it's not the first time I've tried to read it and I have been dazzled by other books whilst trying to read it and end up abandoning it.

Despite all my negative comments Maggie Furey does build on the characters she introduces in the first book. We learn more about them and several minor characters begin to come to the fore. I am particularly fond of Toulac and by the end of this book I'm beginning to warm to Zavahl. The corruption of several characters over time is well portrayed and she does give her characters room to change.

This is very much a book to read if you read 'The Heart of Myrial' and enjoyed it and want to see the trilogy through. I would not recommend this as a stand alone book given the complexity of the story lines. Am hoping to have my faith restored by the third and final installment.

*3 stars*

Blade of Fire by Stuart Hill

2007-02-07T11:50:00.000Z

Please note this is the second book of the Icemark Trilogy. If you have not read the first book in this series, The Cry of the Icemark, do not read the following review as it will contain spoilers. Instead take a look at my review of The Cry of the Icemark.

The Blade of Fire is the second book of the Icemark Triology by Stuart Hill. Set almost twenty years after the events in The Cry of the Icemark, Bellorum is back ready to finish what he started all those years ago. Queen Thirrin and her consort Oskan Witchfather and their children must work together to defeat their enemy. Old allies return such as the Snow Leopards and Werewolves to help to drive back the evil general and his sons. However Bellorum has learnt not to underestimate his enemy and has come prepared. With Thirrin's youngest son escaping with refugees to the Southern Continent and her youngest daughter struggling to choose between good and evil can Thirrin and her friends fight such a mighty foe and win?

Usually I am wary of the second book of any trilogy. Experience has taught me that the second book pales in comparison to the first, either acting as a poor filler to get you to the third book or is the result of the author having poured all their energy and ideas into the first book. I remember being particularly disappointed with Terry Goodkind's Stone of Tears for example. However Stuart Hill manages to escape the curse of the second book. Blade of Fire is just as good as The Cry of Icemark. The characters are so beautifully portrayed and adventure seeps from every chapter. The lovable characters from the first book return to entertain amongst brand new characters like Prince Charlemagne, Princess Cressida and the Tharina of the Snow Leopards. Even Medea, who is one of the darker elements to the book, is skillfully portrayed. Family rivalry, revenge, love and friendship is all accurately depicted.

It's hard to find fault with the book. There is just enough description to sate you but not enough to overwhelm you and loose the plot. The clever idea of moving some of the action away to new and vaguely recognisable lands helps the book move away from being an echo of the first book. However having read this book I do question whether this series is really a trilogy as all loose ends seem to be wrapped up by the end of the book. Perhaps we will have to wait and see.

Another incredibly enjoyable book from Stuart Hill

*4 stars*

Where I'm at on the books front

2007-01-21T14:27:00.000Z

Ok so I haven't posted here in a while. Truth be told I haven't done huge amounts of reading and when I did I was away so couldn't write any reviews. Not good really!

Anyway, I've recently been reading 'Sourcery' by Terry Pratchett but I'm giving up on it as I'm not overly impressed with it. Don't get me wrong I love Pratchett but this and Small Gods have to be two of his worst books. Reading them is like wading through treacle and I've had enough.

I have a choice what to read next though as I've picked up the following books from the library,

Spirit of the Stone by Maggie Furey (the second in her Shadowleague triology)
The Blade of Fire by Stuart Hill (the second book in the Icemark Triology)
Inkspell by Cornelia Funke (the second book in the Inkheart triology)
and finally The Sterkarm Handshake by Susan Price

I'll just have to choose and get started I guess!

The Cry of the Icemark by Stuart Hill

2006-12-26T13:53:00.000Z

The Cry of the Icemark is the debut novel by Stuart Hill. Set in a land akin to that of Norse myth and legend the story tells the tale of young Princess Thirrin struggling to defend her land against an evil Empire which threatens to swallow Icemark and its neighbours to the north. In her perilous journey from her father's halls to the eventual battle Princes Thirrin encounters witches, warlocks, werewolves, vampires and other mythical creatures. The story is one of the underdog striving against great adversity, of children old before their time and of myth and legend. Can Thirrin save her kingdom and her friends? Or will the evil General Belloc triumph and wipe out the world as they know it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Although the haughty and sometimes rude Princess can get on your nerves at times you have to admire her tenacity, courage and diplomatic skills. As someone who often feels they are alone in trying to achieve compromise it was refreshing to see it being wielded as a weapon of great power in this book. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys fantasy partictularly fantasy derived from Nordic myth and legend. The book is firmly steeped in our visions of Angol Saxon/Viking warrior culture and the fact that all the Generals from the Empire hae Roman names did not escape my notice!

I thought the book was well written and descriptive yet did not fall into the trap of all description and no action which is easy to do. Some characters were particularly lovingly portrayed such as Maggiore Totus and Thirrin's father King Redrought (who likes to wear yellow slippers). I particularly liked the relationship between Maggiore and Thirrin's uncle Olememnon. There are some beautifully well written scenes and I for one recommend this to anyone. Definitely one to read on this long winters nights with a good hot drink :)

*4 Stars*

For King and Country by Kate Sedley

2006-10-30T06:45:00.000Z

Kate Sedley is more usually known for her Roger the Chapman series, which is set in the late 15th century. 'For King and Country' is set almost two centuries later during the English Civil War. It follows the story of Lilias, the daughter of a religious dissenter, who finds herself in Bristol at the outbreak of the English Civil War. Alone she has to turn to the family of MP Richard Pride for help.

Unfortunately I can't really say anymore about the novel. If you want a proper summary of the book try here. The reason I can't say anymore is that I had to give up reading this book. I got part way through chapter 5 (approximately 85 pages) when I felt I could go no further. I disliked all the characters, none of them appealed to me at all. The plot seemeded sluggish and did not hold my interest. I found myself flicking forward to try and find something redeeming in this book but I had to give up. Despite enjoying Sedley's 'Roger the Chapman' series very much, I found her first foray away from Roger was not particularly successful.

If anyone has managed to read this novel I'd would really appreciate your comments as I'm sure there must have been someone who enjoyed it!

0 starts

The poisoned chalice by Bernard Knight

2006-10-29T12:24:00.000Z

Yes I'm back again :) Hopefully for a while, so stick around for some more book reviews :) Remember these reviews *may* contain spoilers! Please feel to add comments of you own to any of these book reviews

The poisoned chalice is the second book in the John Crowner series by Bernard Knight. Set in 12th century Devon the series follows the life of John Crowner, recently appointed Coroner of Devon and staunch supporter of the absent King Richard. The this installment John has to deal with the rape of the daughter of one of the prominent citizens of Exeter. Not long after another well-to-do lady of the town is found dead in a churchyard thanks to an illegal abortion. Just who is guilty of these crimes and those that follow? Meanwhile John has to wrangle with his brother-in-law, the local sheriff, over what comes under the coroner's jurisdiction. Nothing seems to be straightforward!

This book is a welcome break from some of the later politics heavy books in the series. Although there are some undertones of the political situation within which the books are set, the book doesn't feel like a constant battle between the supporters of the king and the supporters of Prince John. As always Bernard Knight manages to paint an accurate and down to earth view of 12th century life. The rich are rich, but the poor are poor. People have real problems (pregnancy, unhappy marriages, rape etc) many of which do translate into the modern world. It deals with the after effects of rape, which you don't necessarily see when its covered in modern cop dramas. It shows how those around the victim can also be affected (in this case her fiancee).

On the whole the book is well written and I didn't feel bored at any point. It wasn't a book that I couldn't put down necessarily but I did want to learn what happened, whodunnit :) I would certainly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical murder mysteries or indeed murder mysteries as a whole. John Crowner is not perfect and does suffer from time to time. Unlike some modern dectectives whose personal lives are a complete and utter shamble, you do find yourself feeling life isn't all too bad for him. It's certainly not a thoroughly depressing kind of detective story!

3 stars

Empress Orchid by Anchee Min

2006-07-04T06:30:00.000Z

I was recommended this book whilst reading 'Memoirs of a Geisha'. It was also recommended on Richard and Judy back in March.

Empress Orchid is the story of a woman, whose bloodline is noble enough to allow her to apply to be one of the emperor's wives but lives in poverty. The book follows her through her early life, through her application, her choosing and her subsequent life in the Forbidden City. All this is against the backdrop of China's increasing woes at the hands of the British, French and Russians in the late 19th century. Can Orchid survive the feuding between the concubines, desperate to conceive an heir, political intrigues and the guns of the westerners?

This is a beautifully written book. The first time I picked it up I read the first 11 chapters without realising! Easy to read, a fascinating story, it's hard to pick any faults. It certainly is a must for anyone with any interest in Imperial China, particularly in the 19th century. Min describes every room, every costume, every ceremony with great care and you can feel the scenes unfolding around you. I've had real difficulty putting this book down and it's been such a shame to have to go back to work after I've finished my lunch! This is a beautiful, well crafted book.

5 stars

Grim Tuesday by Garth Nix

2006-05-15T21:47:00.000Z

Grim Tuesday is the second book in Garth Nix's The Keys to the Kingdom Series. After defeating Mister Monday and taking control of the First Key, Arthur leaves the House to return to the secondary realms leaving strict orders to be left alone for at least six years. Within minutes of the new day, Tuesday, Arthur is summoned back to the House, this time to defeat Grim Tuesday. The Lower House is in serious debt to Grim Tuesday, who is calling in the money that is owed. He will stop at nothing to claim what is owed to him, even reposessing Arthur's home on Earth. Can Arthur brave the Pit, free the second part of the will and defeat Grim Tuesday?

Garth Nix is superb writer. I have read his Abhorsen series with great delight and thoroughly enjoyed the first installment of this present series, Mister Monday. Although Grim Tuesday was well written unfortunately it suffered the curse of the 'second book' to some degree, it was not as good as the first one. I was not as gripped by this storyline unlike the previous book, perhaps because in some ways it is a repeat of the format of the first book. A mortal trying to outwit the Denizon of the Day to free a piece of the will. Despite this, Nix still manages to keep the scenarios fresh. I think perhaps I found this book hard to get into because of the fact much of the initial action in the House is in the Pit, which is best described as a coal mine with London smog and the trappings of the Industrial Revolution (but sadly no canaries). In other words Nix has placed a lot of action on a backdrop of nothingness almost. A hard thing to do!

I would definitely encourage people to read this series. Ok so Grim Tuesday is a slight let down after Mister Monday, but it's not a disaster. I'm definitely looking forward to Drowned Wednesday.

3 and a half stars

Apologies

2006-05-11T11:08:00.000Z

Apologies to anyone who has been trying to e-mail me! I seem to have got my e-mail address wrong! I've now updated my profile with the right one so no further problems.

Again, very sorry!

Scorpion Rising by Marilyn Todd - a review

2006-05-11T06:46:00.000Z

Scorpion Rising is the latest book by Marilyn Todd in the Claudia series. Claudia Seferius is the young widow of a Roman wine merchant. Left the entire business by her late husband, Claudia finds herself up against her late husband's family, the Wine Merchants guild and society at large. It's not easy running a business in a man's world. Claudia often finds herself on the wrong side of the law trying to keep the business afloat, being chased by the drop dead gorgeous head of the Security Police, Marcus Cornelius Orbillo.

In this outing, Claudia finds herself blackmailed into investigating the death of a young acolyte. She's managed to get herself on the wrong side of a Gaulish crime lord, known as the Scorpion, who wants her dead. The only way to save her skin is to discover the killer. The priestesses are known as the Hundred Handed as they talk with their hands. They worship nature, believe dwarves have healing powers and keep men as sex slaves. Claudia must penetrate this deeply secretive society to get to the bottom of this mystery, before the Scorpion finds her and fulfils his threats.

This is in fact Claudia's 13th outing and the format is becoming a little tired. The constant 'will they get together or won't they?' between Claudia and Orbillo is particularly frustrating and you'd think by now they would have sorted themselves out!

The storyline as a whole has more twists and turns than a labyrinth with a number of smaller mysteries interweaving their way through the main murder mystery. I must admit I did get lost on occasion, although whether this was down to having to read it in snatches over lunch breaks or was a fault of the book I don't know. I certainly didn't have it all worked out and there were some big surprises. On the whole though I found Claudia's constant berating of the Hundred Handed a bit over powering. Ok so there are plenty of things you can find fault with (men kept as sex slaves, no marriage, priestess not keeping their children etc) but as someone who tries to tolerate other cultures I just found myself wanting to knock some tolerance into Claudia!

It's reasonably written, but it's not a must read. If you've enjoyed the other books in the series, it's worth reading. If you fancy a murder mystery series set in Ancient Rome with a heroine rather than a hero, then I'd advise you start at the beginning and work your way through the series rather than reading this one first. You do need to know something about Claudia before launching into this book. The first book in the series is I Claudia.

3 stars

The Cup of Ghosts - a review

2006-05-06T15:13:00.000Z

The Cup of Ghosts by Paul Doherty

Well I managed to finish this book sooner than I thought I would!

The Cup of Ghosts is the first book in a series telling the story of Isabella of France's lady-in-waiting, Mathilde. The story covers the period immediately prior to Isabella's wedding to Edward II, king of England, in Boulogne through to the weeks after her coronation in Westminster. The plot is largely based on primary sources from the 14th century, which reflects the author's academic interests (he obtained a doctorate from Oxford for his thesis on Edward II and Queen Isabella).

The book is slow to start. To begin with you feel you will be reading Mathilde's train of consciousness, and I found the moments where she interrupts her dialogue to berate herself frustrating. Thankfully Doherty eventually relaxes into his more usual story telling style. The storyline has been very well researched and at times you do feel Doherty is over doing the facts, describing in great detail the clothes and ceremonies, down to the different fabrics used in Isabella's gowns. The slow pace of the book can also be annoying as the book covers a very short period of time in great depth. You feel as if Doherty relates almost every meal Isabella attended in a 12 month period!

Despite the slow pace and the over attention to detail the book is worth reading. I'm not a great fan of historical political fiction (endless negotiations, banquets and ceremonies can be a little tedious after a while) but thankfully there is also a murder mystery element in the book, even if the murder mystery is historically accurate. There is plenty of sleuthing, bodies and intrigue to satisfy.

This series is some what of a departure from his other two series set in Medieval England. Instead of using the history of the period as a backdrop for the action, he uses the history as the actual story. It certainly is a great book if you want to learn about this period in English royal history. A slow starter but worth sticking with.

3 Stars

A Roman Ransom - Review

2006-05-04T17:29:00.000Z

A couple of days ago I finished A Roman Ransom by Rosemary Rowe. It is the 8th book in the Libertus series, set in 2nd Century Britain under Roman occupation. Libertus is the freedman of the senior magistrate in the province and works as a mosaic maker. He continually seems to get mixed up in murder mysteries that he has to solve for his patron.

In this installment Libertus is suffering from a serious illness. Unfortunately his patron's wife Julia and young son Marcellinus have been kidnapped and his patron is anxious for him to help search for them. When a ransom demand to release a prisoner in exchange for Julia and Marcellinus arrives, Marcus finds himself in a difficult position. Does he release the prisoner to save his family at the risk of his career or does he sacrifice his family? Will Libertus be able to help from his sick bed?

It's not Rowe's best work. Some of the themes in this book have occurred before (although in a slightly different format). Part of the problem is that a kidnapping theme can often be frustrating because of the waiting, the lack of action between ransom notes etc and Libertus' illness confining him to bed most of the time. It's not a dreadful book though. Like all good mystery stories the actual mystery is quite simple and to be honest I didn't have it all figured out by the time the answers were revealed. Yet there just felt like there was something lacking.

3 stars

Currently reading (04/05/06)

2006-05-04T05:56:00.000Z

I'm currently reading Paul Doherty's Cup of Ghosts. I've found it a little different from his other work in that the prologue takes the form of someone's train of thought which makes the book a little harder to get in to. At least it is set in one of the periods that Doherty specialises. The book is about Isabella of France who married Edward II of England in the 14th century. He has already written a non-fiction book on this period, Isabella and the strange death of Edward II and I understand he also has an Oxford doctorate in the topic. When I finish it I'll write a review :)

What do I like?

2006-05-03T19:25:00.000Z

I thought the best way to start this blog would be by saying which authors I already read, just to give you a taste :) In the last few months in particular I've been reading (in no particular order!) :-

Rosemary Rowe - Writes murder mysteries set in 2nd century Britain during the Roman occupation

Paul Doherty - I like reading his Hugh Corbett series of murder mysteries set in the medieval period in Britian. I've also read some of his books set in the late Roman Empire (e.g. The Song of the Gladiator) and enjoy those. My favorites though are his Brother Athelstan series, set in Medieval London.

Susanna Gregory - Matthew Bartholomew series, set in early medieval Cambridge. I recently read her first foray into 17th century London and loved it. Again she writes crime/murder mysteries

Jonathan Stroud - The Bartimeus Triology, really good childre's fantasy series

Christopher Paolini - Eragon and The Eldest. Absolutely the best fantasy books I have read in some time. Enthralling

Marilyn Todd - Roman murder mystery series

Alys Clare - Medieval murder mystery books

Sharon Penman - I like her series about Justin de Quincy, a knight of Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine (political intrigue in medieval England)

J K Rowling - Don't think I need to say anymore!

Clive Cussler - I love Dirk Pitt and Kurt Austin and his new series based on the Oregon is also fab! Good old fashioned adventure.

Garth Nix - read all of the Abhorsen series and enjoyed those. Recently read Mister Monday. Children's fantasy books.

Bernard Knight - Murder mysteries set in 12th century england with the King's Coroner for Devon, Sir John De Wolfe

Deryn Lake - 18th century murder mysteries

Eoin Colfer - Love the Artemis Fowl series. Another children's fantasy series

Edward Marston - Has a murder mystery series set in Restoration England and Victorian Britain.

Alexander McCall Smith - Ladies No. 1 Detective Agency series, Sunday Philosophy Club etc. Hard to describe!

Peter Tremayne - Murder mystery series set in 7th century Ireland

So yes, I like historical crime mysteries and children's fantasy books :) But I also read other bits and pieces like Alexander McCall Smith and the last Sharon Penman I read (Time and Chance) although set in the 12th century was not a murder mystery. I also read Memoirs of a Geisha a few months ago and am trying to get hold of Empress Orchid. Therefore bit of a range of books I read! Would love more suggestions of books you think I might like. Will also be posting some reviews so watch out for those :)