What started out as a book that had me snorting with laughter didn't turn out quite how I expected but, unlike other reviewers, I liked the end.
Eva isWhat started out as a book that had me snorting with laughter didn't turn out quite how I expected but, unlike other reviewers, I liked the end.
Eva is bored with her life. She's sick of being taken for granted. Her children ignore her, her husband is having an affair and her relationship with her mother isn't exactly one of mutual support. So Eva decides she's going to stay in bed -- for a while - to get her thoughts in order. Let the family look after her for a change.
Of course when you've got a selfish family it's more than likely not going to turn out well. The children make minimal effort at understanding and the husband continues to be useless. Thankfully there are others who see the light in Eva and want to make her life better.
The character of Eva is an interesting one. Which of us hasn't entertained the idea of just taking a backseat to see who notices? Eva's descent into more entrenched despondency is sad but not unexpected. What lifts the book are the sub-plots and other characters who come into the lives of the family- not least of them is Poppy who made my toes curl up with distaste.
An excellent book. Very funny in parts and filled with pathos in others. I listened to the audio version read brilliantly by Caroline Quentin. Her version of Poppy set my teeth on edge. Bravo....more
I am thoroughly enjoying this series of light-hearted "detective" fiction. I mean, what's better than Queen Elizabeth solving murders with help from hI am thoroughly enjoying this series of light-hearted "detective" fiction. I mean, what's better than Queen Elizabeth solving murders with help from her assistant, Rozie. I can totally believe that QE2 did stuff like this.
I will warn you that there's a pretty graphic murder scene right at the beginning. However the rest of the book is so entertaining that it makes up for it immediately.
Three Dog Problem plunges into the intrigue at Buckingham Palace and dodgy deals that go back decades. All you need is a few unlikeable staff, some secret tunnels, a favourite painting and a few art historians and you've got the makings of another crime adventure for Her Maj and Rozie to solve.
I listened to the audio version because they're read by the positively perfect Samantha Bond so, frankly, why wouldn't you.
I suppose you'd have to use the word "sweeping" about this novel as it works its way through generations of families.
We begin with Birdie, a child abI suppose you'd have to use the word "sweeping" about this novel as it works its way through generations of families.
We begin with Birdie, a child abandoned to her fate by her father. Birdie learns to con and cheat her way through her young life and there seems there will only be more pain when she meets artist, Edward Radcliffe, and becomes his muse.
The story moves around the timeline from the present day when a young Australian and a bride-to-be meet at Birchwood Manor to find a lost treasure; back to Birdie's story; along with the tale of several other girls and boys who have a connection to Radcliffe, the Magenta Brotherhood and Birchwood.
I got a little lost at times but the story resolves itself beautifully and all the pieces slot into place as Kate Morton has done, so beautifully, in her other novels. She is a master at this type of historical fiction.
I listened to the audio version, which was narrated extremely well by Joanne Froggatt.
I thoroughly enjoyed both the narration and the story....more
This is the second of this series that I've read but the first one in the actual series.
The Windsor Knot introduced me to Rozie, Her Maj's personal sThis is the second of this series that I've read but the first one in the actual series.
The Windsor Knot introduced me to Rozie, Her Maj's personal secretary. Rozie is ex-army, ex-city, very efficient and a little bit scary (if you're on the wrong side of the law).
The problems begin with the discovery of a body at Windsor following a dine and sleep with the Queen. The body is, unfortunately, in somewhat of a compromising position which leads to the Police then the Secret Service getting involved.
Of course the Police and the G-men keep heading down the wrong routes and it obviously needs the guiding hand of QE2 and the unflappable Rozie to give it a guiding shove back on track.
I listened to the audio version, read by Samantha Bond which added to my enjoyment....more
I should just leave my review there because there's really not much else I can say.
Woman in Blue centres around a writer who has become besBeautiful.
I should just leave my review there because there's really not much else I can say.
Woman in Blue centres around a writer who has become besotted with the painting by Vermeer. He visits her in the Rijksmuseum every day, falling in love little more each time.
The other strand is the story of Angelieke (who is a fiction of the writer's mind), the woman in the painting. She lives with her mother and another young woman called Katrijn. She and Katrijn plan for her to meet Vermeer and become his latest muse.
The woman in the painting not only has a dialogue with Vermeer but also with the writer who visits her daily.
I'm not going to be able to do this book justice. It has the same quiet beauty as the painting itself. The writing is exquisite. I read this book in two sittings. I did not want to put it down. I want to read it again immediately.
It is stunningly simple and I can't praise it highly enough. Very highly recommended.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Fairlight Books for the advance review copy. Very much appreciated. I want to read everything this author has written....more
So by the end of the first third of this book I was quite downcast. It felt like an endless round of slapstick with not much substance. I still think So by the end of the first third of this book I was quite downcast. It felt like an endless round of slapstick with not much substance. I still think the premise of avoiding the freeways to stay under the radar was a bit silly.
But then the plot started to come together and obviously I absolutely loved the rest of the book. Loads of nuns, loads of slightly terrifying white supremacists who appear to have lost their last braincell, some very scary military types and more firepower than ever.
I adore Sister Joy, Smithy, Diller and Bunny. This time they've got a new friend with them so there's another life to protect. The Sisters of the Saint are fighting their own battles and they'll have to get to Bunny and Co before it's too late.
Great book. I had thought this was the last in the Stateside series. It's clearly not thank goodness....more
For me, this is the best of this short series (so far). I'd say you really need some background on the Bunnyverse to appreciate these novels but it's For me, this is the best of this short series (so far). I'd say you really need some background on the Bunnyverse to appreciate these novels but it's hard to say if you could read them as a standalone book since I've read them all. Frankly you should too because they're very funny and clever and full of great characters.
Anyway ... we've left New York behind as Bunny, Diller, Smithy and the Sisters of the Saint head to Nevada to make good on their part of a bargain which will see Sisters Assumpta and Bernadette returned to the flock. This should, in turn, give Bunny the information he needs to find Simone.
This, of course, involves nothing less than an insane plan to break Bunny into a high security prison where he needs to find The Quiet Man, earn his trust and break them both out again. Easy peasy right? Wrong.
There are rival homicidal gangs, an unexpected meeting, a budding romance, snakes, alien visitations and a whole mess of the past for one of the Sisters to face up to.
It's bonkers but brilliant. I loved it. And now onto Other Plans, the final instalment....more
I'm afraid this wasn't a book for me. I understand the premise of a psychological thriller but, for me, there was far too much going on in the head2.5
I'm afraid this wasn't a book for me. I understand the premise of a psychological thriller but, for me, there was far too much going on in the heads of our protagonists and far too little actually spoken.
The story follows Jake and Bree as they struggle to keep their family together. They are first threatened by a gang of drug dealers and so move to a much bigger home in a better neighbourhood. However the problems continue and when tragedy strikes Jake's RCMP partner - Matthews - he begins to take it out on his wife and children. Meanwhile, the wonderful new home is turning out to be less than perfect.
Let me say first that I listened to the audio version and I really liked that the two main characters were voiced by a woman and a man - Andi Arnett and George Newbern. This, for me, sets it above a lot of recordings where men fail to do female voices and women fail to do male voices accurately. The narrators had good, clear voices and didn't over-dramatize. I enjoyed listening to them.
The story, on the other hand, was a different kettle of fish. It would have put me off joining the RCMP for life. I know other institutions have problems dealing with mental health issues but this is 2024, I'd thought we were beyond using things like this against people.
There was also far too much thinking for me. We'd have a line of action followed by a paragraph of angsty, paranoic thinking, finishing with one line of dialogue. Then back to more thinking about what had been said by the other party. Yes, everyone has times when they find it difficult to express themselves but this was a whole book of two people not communicating. It got on my nerves.
I thought the plot could have been interesting but it flailed about all over the place and was quite repetitious. I'm afraid I didn't engage with either Bree or Jake.
The book simply wasn't for me.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the audio advance review copy. The recording and it's narrators were excellent....more
I listened to the audio version of this novel with the sublime Samantha Bond narrating. What a treat.
The book certainly isn't my normal fare and this I listened to the audio version of this novel with the sublime Samantha Bond narrating. What a treat.
The book certainly isn't my normal fare and this is the fourth in a series I've not previously been aware of. However this didn't spoil any enjoyment of the book. It's a really fun read even though it brings in murder, spies, treason and corruption. (The epilogue describes how Bennett used several historical events that Bennett has adapted to the story.
The story has two strands- the murder of a call girl and a possible plot to undermine QE2. Queenie has help from a new assistant - Joan McGraw, an exceptionally capable young woman who had an "interesting" war. All the action takes place in the late 50s - the war is still fresh in people's minds and rationing is barely ended. McLean and Burgess have been unmasked but there are rumours that there may be a third or even fourth man.
It is most definitely a time of change and unease. Who better than QE2 to give people a sense of stability. But not everyone agrees and Elizabeth doesn't really know who to trust.
I thoroughly enjoyed this. The narrative trots along at a good pace, it's easy enough to follow despite having quite a big cast of characters and I could absolutely see our late queen doing a bit of detective work. Joan is also extremely likeable.
It's good fun, the narration is superb. I'll happily read the first three having enjoyed this so much.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the audio advance review copy....more
Thoroughly enjoyed this short novel which, I learn at the end, is a form of homage to "Things: A Story of the Sixties" by Georges Perec (so another toThoroughly enjoyed this short novel which, I learn at the end, is a form of homage to "Things: A Story of the Sixties" by Georges Perec (so another to add to the list).
Perfection is the story of Anna and Tom who we meet as twenty-somethings newly arrived in Berlin. They are a new breed of workers who deal with digital content. It means their work space and time is fluid. They are in the rapidly evolving city at the height of change. And everyone around them mirrors their own. Buy nothing stays the same and Anna and Tom must adapt as they age even if the city they fell in love with in their twenties does not.
Perfection is a deceptively simple story but it's possible to recognise something of ourselves in them - wanting to stay young but recognising it is impossible.
It's a really good read and even though I've still no idea what their job really was I could empathise with the characters.
Highly recommended.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Fitzcarraldo for the advance review copy. Much appreciated....more
Mairéad is a young woman working in Wardrobe for one of the seedier theatres in London. She doesn't like her shape, often struggles to make herself heMairéad is a young woman working in Wardrobe for one of the seedier theatres in London. She doesn't like her shape, often struggles to make herself heard and is far from a home that she was happy to leave.
Despite Mairéad never really feeling like a fully formed character that actually began to be part of the story. She never seems happy where she is and with what she is doing but she does know what she doesn't want.
This novel grew on me and Mairéad became clearer after her visit home to warring parents and where she'd been glad to escape from.
The story, for me, centres on power and those who abuse it. We have the theatre director who is a tyrant, various people Mairéad works with who treat her badly or often use physical abuse to get what they want. Even back home Mairéad has to face up to a very uncomfortable history of abuse within her own family.
Elaine Garvey has created a story which feels like a Monet painting - impressionistic rather than definite strokes. I'd be very interested to see where her writing takes us next. She is most certainly a talent to watch.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Canongate Books for the advance review copy....more
I found this book quite difficult to engage with simply because neither Daniel nor anyone he comes into contact with is particularly likeable. At t3.5
I found this book quite difficult to engage with simply because neither Daniel nor anyone he comes into contact with is particularly likeable. At the start Daniel is a precocious snob because his father is a headmaster of a private school and he lives in a big house. He is afforded privileges that other children are not and he lords it over them. It does not endear him to anyone.
As the book continues Daniel's family undergoes several reversals and, as the family's fortunes wane, Daniel's disdain for his father grows. A change of school brings him into contact with teachers and boys he admires but Daniel struggles with his own shortcomings and inability to accept his failures.
I did enjoy this book to a certain extent but it did seem to wander around a bit at times without really saying much. As I said, Daniel isn't particularly likeable nor does his egotism make him a sympathetic character. So, for me, whilst it was interesting, I didn't really enjoy the story.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Faber & Faber for the advance review copy....more
This is the second of the McGarry Stateside books where we find Bunny still attempting to kick-start his mission to find Simone, the love of his life.This is the second of the McGarry Stateside books where we find Bunny still attempting to kick-start his mission to find Simone, the love of his life.
Having finally located the secretive Sisters of the Saint he has to persuade them of his good intentions. However a few things stand in his way - he's just annoyed the local gang, he's not looking his best, his language isn't impressing the Sisters and he tried to break into their home - with some very interesting consequences. All these are not endearing him to the nuns. However they also have some secrets of their own.
With a new side mission to help a local priest escape his past Bunny, Smithy and Diller are back in action with even more dangerous opponents - excluding the dodgy nuns.
As usual there's some pure insanity, some surprises, lots of Bunny damaging himself and his surroundings and several dark turns. Any chance that Bunny might not get through this in one piece? Well you'll have to read it. It's worth it!
As usual I listened to the audiobook with the positively perfect Morgan C Jones getting the narration spot on as usual....more
McGarry Stateside #1 begins with Bunny hungover and tealess in a New York diner with no money and little idea of what happened the day before (St PatrMcGarry Stateside #1 begins with Bunny hungover and tealess in a New York diner with no money and little idea of what happened the day before (St Patrick's Day).
He's supposed to be looking for his lost love, Simone, but since he's in America with a phone that will ring only the one number and a daily allowance of $200 (courtesy of Agent "Dove") he's got to keep his head down hasn't he?
Except the next thing that happens is an armed robbery which leads Bunny into an extremely dangerous plot involving the security services, Wall Street fund managers and a husky called Not Gene Simmons.
It will all become clear in the end but all Bunny has on his side are a dominatrix, a dwarf and a thief called Diller to help him unravel the devious plot that could easily ruin all their lives and put a quick end to his search for Simone.
It took me a little while to get into this but once started, I couldn't put it down. It's the usual mix of cunning plots, insane scenarios, interesting friends and a lot of laughs. I've been reluctant to get into Stateside Bunny because Ireland felt like the only place Bunny could do what he does but I was wrong. This book lives up to the rest of the Bunny story and then some.
Death of a Ghostwriter begins with the death of Albert Franklynn, husband of Sylvie, who is killed in a terrible car accident. The problems begin w3.5
Death of a Ghostwriter begins with the death of Albert Franklynn, husband of Sylvie, who is killed in a terrible car accident. The problems begin when Sylvie goes to identify her husband's body only to find another woman, Harriet Joyce, there for the exact same reason. And the shocks don't end there. The question is who is Albert really?
This story has several twists and an interesting plot that kept my interest throughout. There were times that it felt like the author was trying to cram in too many unbelievable surprises and the end felt a little rushed but otherwise it's a fun read with a reasonably fast-paced story. The main characters of Harriet, Sylvie and Liz are all engaging and likeable.
I suppose this would be described as a "cosy" mystery because it's not gory and indescribably difficult to understand. It would definitely appeal to fans of Thursday Murder Club or similar books. Recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley and Joffe Books for the advance review copy....more