Three Months in One of Reads

Apologies for running behind, but I hope you spot something worth reading here, and next month I’ll endeavour to get back to normal.

Oct

The Book of Elsewhere (audio), Keanu Reeves and China Mieville (read by various)

A novelisation based on the Brzrkr graphic novels written by Keanu Reeves. Normally, I love China Mieville’s work, but something about this felt off. Entertaining with numerous themes of life and death, even somewhat thought-provoking, but oddly paced. Enjoyable, but overall I found it frustratingly slow. I wonder whether it would have come across better read than listened to.

The Strings of Murder (Frey & McGray), Oscar De Muriel

Top marks mostly from the level of enjoyment, but the plot is well-worked out, with believable characters with credible back stories. I love the way Frey and McGray rub each other the wrong way. Nothing slow about this story weaving historical facts with supernatural elements. I have all the books and now want to work through them.

A Fever of the Blood (Frey & McGray), Oscar De Muriel

I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the first in this seven-book series, but it was still solid and entertaining. A touch slower than the first novel but not annoyingly so. The arguments between Frey and McGray escalate for various reasons and are as painful as they are fun. A good percentage of the fun of these books is their oscillating relationship. Snips and snipes galore.

Nov

A Mask of Shadows (Frey & McGray), Oscar De Muriel

The third in the Frey and McGray series. I like that the author has taken a different approach with each of these books. In this, the story is told in reports, action-based narrative, and interlude’s of Bram Stoker’s journal. Weaving historical fact with fiction makes for an entertaining mystery with a touch of questionable supernatural occurrences. The author notes at the end of the book, which must be read after concluding the novel to avoid spoilers, make the reader appreciate what they’ve just read all the more.

Pet Sematary (audio), Stephen King, read by Michael C.Hall

I wish I’d had the time to listen to this in one sitting. There’s still something about having a story read to you that takes book lovers back to their first experience of storytelling. I’d forgotten how good this book is, and listening to this over Halloween and beyond was perfect for the autumn season. I’d also forgotten the creepy moments and the sad.

Dec

Doctor Who Ten Days of Christmas (audio) Steve Cole, read by various

Easy to listen to set of stories starring the tenth Doctor and various companions. Like most anthologies, I liked some stories more than others, so I’ll simply say I enjoyed the penultimate story, and the split story starting and ending the book the most. The reader in the first and last reads the Tenth Doctor like no one else except David Tennant himself, of course. Good fun.

Loch of the Dead (Frey & McGray), Oscar de Muriel

I enjoyed this one in part because it was set on some islands, taking Frey and McGrey out of the city. The remoteness added another layer to the suspense, and also caused both men to cease arguing so much, making them more of a team with an actual sense they have each other’s backs despite their differences. There were a few possibilities for the outcome here, which also kept me guessing.

The Darker Arts (Frey & McGray), Oscar de Muriel

Although I enjoyed this book as much as any in the series, and it certainly had me on the edge of my seat when a character’s life was threatened, I found certain elements of the conclusion a little too convenient. Still, the book is as well plotted as all have been so far in the series, and I expect all will be right up to the end, with plenty of tension. Part of me wants a supernatural element Frey can’t find a way to explain.

Madly, Deeply: The Diaries Alan Rickman, Alan Rickman

Some hidden gems, but mostly I can’t help feeling this book should never have seen publication. There’s little here of the man that Emma Thompson mentions, and the man I would like to think Alan Rickman was. I heard a comment saying the book makes him seem mean-spirited, and while I wouldn’t go that far, there’s little to enjoy and few insights. I think these diaries were a simple way for Alan to keep track of events and to let off steam after a long day of work, and he definitely worked. He seldom seemed to pause, and he seldom seemed to get much sleep. What shone through was his wanting to be a perfectionist. I dipped into this book between lying it to rest for long periods, so took me a couple of years to finish this.

A Good Guy, Dean Koontz

A reread for me and another intense and well-plotted thriller from Dean Koontz. A second read after many years was as enjoyable as the first. If I can think of a con, I guess it’s that the bad guys in many novels come across as extreme odd-balls with a fanatical and bizarre worldview, although sometimes such as here that makes for a character you can really love to hate.

The Voice of Our Shadow

The HAVOC Files 6

Take a trip down memory lane with eight new stories from Candy Jar’s Doctor Who spin-off ranges.

Join Bill Bishop as the Laughing Gnome plants him outside International Electromatics. Discover what Anne Travers finds lurking beneath the Museum of Scotland. The Brigadier faces old friends and foes with new colleagues at UNIT, before the Dominators and Quarks provide a brief intermission in an exclusive new comic strip.

The collection then closes with several stories linked to some of the most popular Lethbridge-Stewart novels, bringing the adventures right up-to-date in 2025.

There’s something here for everyone!

The HAVOC Files 6 is the second of two anniversary collections celebrating fifteen years of Candy Jar Books and ten years of the Lethbridge-Stewart range.

 

Sept Reads 2025

Somebody’s Voice, Ramsay Campbell

Ouch might be a good one-word summation of this book without cursing; there’s a sting on almost every page, and in most sentences, especially the dialogue. It’s an uneasy read, but then it’s surely supposed to be. SHOULD be. I can understand if it’s polarising, especially with the trans part of the plot. Yet, I can also see why the Carla/Carl points aid Alex’s ambiguity with his memories, helping to splinter his personality, even his sanity with his increasing confusion. This isn’t the type of book I’m used to from this author. I’m used to the horror of unlit basements, of parallel worlds seeking to overlap our own, and dark entities that creep along in shadows. Rituals. Demons.

This — a book where the core is one of abuse — comes disturbingly grounded in reality. In genuine horror and actual monsters. Alex’s seemingly wild thoughts, as he loses his mind, his sense of himself, and of the truth, can make the reader’s head hurt. No doubt in a similar way to how Alex’s brain hurts as the book gathers momentum. There’s so much going on here. So many biases. So many agendas. Ugly falsehoods, assumptions, and repulsive truths, all combustible fodder for a world too eager to jump on, rely on, and believe social media. All of it was painful. A trap, which Alex falls into where his personal relationships are concerned. So I can’t say I enjoyed this book — it’s not that kind of novel. That doesn’t stop it from being an impressive piece of work that could (possibly) have been improved, but I was never, as some people have said they were, confused. And I would never want to improve Ramsay Campbell’s work, a writer whose name should be a household name.

The read was heavy going in places and I sometimes backtracked a little to work out who said what, so a few more dialogue tags may have helped there, but I can’t help wondering whether the author wanted the reader a little lost because this, too, helped me connect with Alex. No writer can please everyone, or delight fans with every book, and it’s unrealistic to expect them too, but I will say, if you’ve not read Campbell before, don’t start with this. Read half a dozen others first, because if something in here puts you off, you could well be missing out.

The Darkest Evening of the Year, Dean Koontz

A solid supernatural mystery thriller with an ending some may view cynically. I like to view it as a source of hope, in whatever form speaks to the reader. Some of the character backgrounds may be a little unnecessary but are used well and make it more difficult for the reader to guess the outcome. Take note: this is a tough read for anyone who has loved a dog, but only in the most heartfelt, bittersweet way.

Wildcat Tower, G.Christopher Davies

Essentially, the story of how four boys spend their summer in the north of the UK. I’m clearly not the intended audience be this a story of fishing, hunting, and questionable cruelty and compassion towards animals with a backdrop of a (possible) ghost in the place they’re staying — a grand ‘old peel’ built to protect Northumbrians. I can’t say I exactly enjoyed this, which was a little disappointing be it as I picked this book up during a visit to Hay on Wye, partly because I had started reading it while browsing, but mostly because I was surprised to stumble across so old a book in good condition complete with a handwritten inscription, (as far as I can make out) ‘Gilbert from Frantlee Aug 23rd 1890, the book being published in 1889. A book one-hundred and thirty-six years old, covered in spots of age, but complete with all its spectacular illustrations. The book was worth it for the illustrations alone, which, were one able to destroy a book that has survived for so long, would be perfect for framing. I am tempted to scan the odd one to frame, which would be as good, as they are a delight — intricate drawings of the wildlife and countryside of Northumberland — the like of which we seldom see in books now. I couldn’t help doing a little research. The G stands for George, who was a prolific writer and photographer who died in 1922. I wonder what he would have thought, knowing that original copies of his books are still in circulation.

Dead Funny (Horror Stories by Comedians), Edited by Robin Ince and Johnny Mains

When I picked up this book, I must have expected a surprising blend of humour and horror, but many of the stories turned out to be surprisingly dark. I disliked the first immensely — it’s an extremely difficult balance to introduce animals in any horror story, as one hurt creature can lose an audience. But others made me smile with the right twisted humour even when I found the writing a little disjointed. Overall, an eclectic mix with some I found enjoyable. 

Agatha Raisin and the Fairies of Fryfam (audio), M.C.Beaton, Read by Penelope Keith

Murder once again follows Agatha around, this time during a break in Norfolk. Where Agatha hopes to find the right path in life, or the right man, she only seems to find strange people and stranger situations. Penelope Keith reading these is the best thing about them, though how Agatha keeps stumbling across dead bodies is always good for a chuckle.

August Reads 2025

The Whisper Man, Alex North

Not as scary as purported, but with a few deliciously creepy touches blending a thriller with the possibility of the supernatural, I found this book to be entirely enjoyable. This is the first novel I’ve read by this author (his debut), but I’d be open to reading more of his growing backlist.

Descent (The Walking Dead), Jan Bonnasinga

I felt the first four of the series worth reading because the stories added to the background of a character viewers already know (that of the Governor). The second set of four books seems to focus on the events surrounding Lily Caul’s life in charge of a small group of survivors. The storyline here wasn’t so interesting, or surprising but there were enough ‘it’s not fair’ (But when is life, especially after the dead rise ,ever fair?), and enough moments leading from the light just to find more shadows to make this entertaining enough. For me, the best character was the boy, Tommy. I’ve the rest waiting to be read, so I’ll try to find the time to speed through them, but I no longer feel taken with the series.

Go Set a Watchman, Harper Lee

I was surprised this took one hundred pages to take off for me — I couldn’t help thinking this is no Mockingbird — but once it did [take off], it’s like a bullet between the eyes. Watchman feels uneven in places, but I understand this was possibly originally an earlier draft for Mockingbird set at a different time — this being the first book handed in to a publisher, and with encouragement became Mockingbird. In Watchman, set twenty years after Mockingbird, we see Scout take a major step in her development. Her waking up to the real world, at the conclusion of some ripping (thought-provoking) arguments, and opening her eyes to a world where even the most clear-cut disagreements have flaws. Flawed people, flawed applications, flawed victories. Winning an argument isn’t always the end but a beginning. Answering one question, even if it’s the right way, can throw up others, leading to more questions and necessary action…. And people needed to take that action. Change takes time, patience, and most importantly the right people, of which Scout is one… something those around her are eager for her to see for herself.

Sadly, there’s been much controversy over both books, but I prefer to remember a legacy of great literature delivered in such a short body of work as an achievement most writers can only dream of. If I could keep only one of these books, it would have to be To Kill a Mockingbird, not because this book is shoddy, but it is vastly different, though with purpose. This is not only about winning, but bending to win, and so, so much more. It’s complicated and addresses how life can be complicated. I can still think ‘wow’ without loving this, without viewing it with the same affection as I do Mockingbird. But a word of warning — I can also see how this book may sully that affection somewhat. Yet even that teasing edge of disquiet where one book abrades the other… I can see where that’s something the author may have set out to do.

Agatha Raisin and The Witch of Wyckhadden (audio), M.C.Beaton, (read by Penelope Keith)

Agatha stumbles across murder in her indomitable way, but suffers a more personal injury involving unrequited love, and various suitors.

July Reads 2025

 gh my favourite was The Dark Ways. Note: the books seem also to be available under different titles.

I came across Joe Donnally’s adult books and enjoyed the first read so much I bought his other books. I got this children’s trilogy with it in mind to donate to the local library after I read them, which needs such books. This series definitely shows imagination. I would have loved Jack’s adventures when I was a child, and I would have hated the parts where the horses get hurt. Filled with strange people and beasts, portals to other universes, giants, trees that come to life in different forms, magic, and threat, along with bravery, loyalty, and love. Jack, Kerry, and Corriwen form an excellent trio for this trilogy, with weaknesses and strengths that balance them out well. They’re listed as children’s books, but the amount of violence and killing may therefore surprise some, even though it’s presented lightly. Jack seems to be the only one who feels deeply sorry, and they all seem to handle the trauma too easily for 15-year-olds. It’s a difficult balance in a book to master and is unlikely to please everyone. Still, I was reading much darker books by the time I was a similar age (Herbert, King, and I’d read books like Oliver Twist when I was 8), so for a modern audience such details are likely tame now.

The Changing Man, Tomi Oyemakinde

I’m uncertain what to say about this book, except I’m clearly not its intended audience. I picked it randomly from my to-be-read mountain, not knowing it was Young Adult. Overlooking the rather awkward way the teens interact, for the first half I felt as though I was settling into a cosy horror of the urban legend variety. Is that how teenagers talk these days? I’m at a loss. Even so, the dialogue and action seemed erratic age-wise, so sometimes I struggled to keep in mind how old these teens were reportedly supposed to be. Usually, the age of the protagonist goes a long way to show the age of the intended reader, but to me these ‘children’ seemed alternately older, or younger, and finding time to giggle in a moment of crisis made their behaviour odd and childish. The pacing fluctuates almost as much, though it’s an easy read. The big reveal… well, admittedly, I did not see that coming. It’s so bizarre it’s definitely surprising. At that point, I almost decided not to finish, but curiosity won out. Not creepy or scary, and in the end pages as it was wrapping up, I’m sorry to say I was laughing. It’s not a terrible book, and will find a readership, but I’m guessing that target audience will be as varied as the plot. I even checked to see whether this was self-published, but no, it’s from a well-known publisher. I’m surprised this made a splash in the market, though I can see potential in the author.

June Reads 2025

Not a lot of reading this month owing to being busy and time away.

What You Are Looking if Is in the Library (audio), Michiko Aoyama, read by various

A charming pleasant listen with some life advice told by various characters who all visit a library, given guidance by the enigmatic librarian. Not sure what I was expecting, and I wouldn’t usually have chosen this, but some elements resonated and had me nodding. It’s too easy to get wrapped up in the worst occurrences when things go wrong, and these stories give us that much-needed poke to remember there’s more than one way to look at many situations.

The House That Horror Built, Christina Henry

I liked a lot about this book, though I guessed the way it was going, and even though it seemed to take a couple of twists, I predicted the ending. The style strikes me as YA and if that’s the intended market, then the book is excellent, though there’s enough light entertainment here for adults. I’ve another book by this author to get to.

Old Country, Matt Query & Harrison Query

I enjoyed this much more than I expected to as I often dislike books told in first person in two or multiple points of view, but this worked well in this book even though third person POV remains the best. The parts I disliked were more to do with the realities of living in the wilderness, farm life, and having to hunt. There were also moments when I was silently screaming in worry for the dog, the best character in the book. I cared much more about what happened to any animal than any of the humans. Much about Harry actually irritated me, and I cared least about him… until late in the book. This novel is the perfect example of why flawed characters are not only interesting but necessary. The plot wouldn’t have worked without the juxtaposition of Harry and Sasha’s relationship. People do things without thinking or with the best intentions that affect the lives of others, and sometimes, this applies to Harry. The ending is satisfying although I feel it has a slight plot hole if one wants to be pedantic, but I can’t say why without giving everything away. Delightfully creepy in expected places, scenes that would make a decent film. 

Cry Havoc

 I know I’m behind even with my monthly reading reviews (sincere apologies, but life, health, and other demands got in the way), but I’ll catch up on those soon, and I have something more interesting to announce.

I can at last confirm the writing news I’ve had to sit on for longer than any writer should be required to (seriously, that can be a torturous part of the job).

A quite long ‘short’ story of mine will be in Candy Jar’s popular Havoc Files featuring authors from the Lethbridge-Stewart range to celebrate anniversaries. The editor approached me to be one, and I’ll be delighted to share more information when able. For now, you can check out the press release.